Our dear Ruth (Strawberry Grandma) left us five short years ago today...
There are so many wonderful memories (I'm thinking of one in Wyoming when she had my (old at the time) 110 box camera backwards and took a lovely picture of her nose) and I'm sure everyone still feels her presence, I certainly do, she is not gone nor forgotten but instead lives on in heaven and in each of our hearts until we all shall all meet again.
Eternal rest grant unto Ruth O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her, may her soul and all the souls of the fatefully departed, through the Mercy of God, Rest in Peace Amen!
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@chicago_co37632@mattrobinson@iburnsteel We were so very blessed to enjoy an absolutely idelic childhood, I grew up less than two miles from the Pope's childhood home and we both had WWII Dad's we probably even crossed paths at the Dolton pool.
Dear friends, as we step into this June day in 2026, it feels like the world keeps handing us reasons to worry. Headlines about economic shifts, personal health concerns, or the quiet pressures of daily life can make fear feel like an old, familiar weight we carry without even noticing.
Yet the beautiful words from Romans 8:15 remind us that we were never meant to live under that heavy spirit of slavery to fear. Instead, we have received a spirit of adoption, one that calls us beloved children of God. This changes everything about how we face what comes our way.
Think about the small, everyday moments that tug at our hearts right now. Maybe it is uncertainty about work or finances, the ache of watching loved ones struggle, or simply the exhaustion that builds when the news cycle feels relentless. These are real burdens, and it is okay to name them. But the verse gently invites us to pause and remember who we truly are.
We are not trapped in cycles of anxiety that pull us backward. We are held by a Father who knows our names and walks with us through each uncertain step. That truth brings a quiet strength, one that does not ignore the challenges but refuses to let them define or control us.
Today, let this promise settle into your heart like a warm light. When fear whispers that you must handle everything alone, recall that you belong to a love far greater than any worry. Take a gentle breath, reach out to someone who needs encouragement too, and trust that hope is already at work.
May this verse bring you peace and courage for whatever this season holds. You are not alone, and you are deeply loved.
#FearNot220 #135of220 #Catholic
Beloved brethren, gathered in the bosom of the one holy Catholic Church, let us ponder deeply the words of the Apostle to the Romans: 'we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.' Written from Corinth around the year of our Lord 57, as Paul prepared to carry alms to Jerusalem before turning his face toward Rome and ultimately martyrdom, this epistle unfolds the mystery of justification by faith. In the shadow of the imperial city where Caesar claimed divine honors, Paul declares that through our Lord Jesus Christ we have obtained access by faith into this grace wherein we stand. The Early Fathers, those pillars of the apostolic tradition, expound this hope with luminous clarity. St. John Chrysostom, in his homilies on Romans, teaches that the boast here is no empty vaunting of human merit but a joyful confidence rooted in the reconciliation wrought by Christ's blood. For as the golden-mouthed preacher declares, having been justified, we no longer fear the wrath to come but exult in the promise of partaking in the very glory that shone upon Tabor. St. Augustine of Hippo, wrestling with the Pelagian error in his treatises on grace, reminds us that this hope is the anchor of the soul, forged in the furnace of tribulations which produce patience, and patience experience, and experience hope that 'maketh not ashamed.' The Catena of patristic wisdom further illuminates how the Apostle contrasts the glory lost in Adam with the glory restored in Christ, the second Adam, so that we who were children of wrath become heirs of the divine nature. In the catacombs where martyrs' blood watered the seeds of faith, this boasting sustained the faithful amid persecution, for the glory they hoped to share was not of this world but the uncreated light of the Trinity. Let us therefore, with the Fathers, lift our voices in exultation, for the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. #FearNot220 #FearNotUNPLUGGED #178of220 #Catholic
🌟 #FearNot220: Verse #071of220 🌟
'Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.' (Isaiah 41:10)
Dear friends in Christ, in the quiet whispers of our hearts, where fears often linger like shadows at dusk, this timeless promise from Isaiah echoes with divine assurance. God, our loving Father, doesn't merely observe our struggles from afar—He is intimately with us, His presence a steadfast anchor in the storms of life. As Catholics, we are called to embrace this truth, drawing strength from the sacraments and the communion of saints who have walked this path before us.
Reflecting on this verse, I am reminded of the wisdom of St. Augustine, that great Early Church Father, who in his Confessions pondered the nearness of God amidst human frailty. He wrote, 'You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you.' Augustine teaches us that fear arises when we forget God's indwelling presence, when we wander from the interior castle of our souls where He resides. Just as he found solace in turning inward to the Lord, so too can we, inviting the Holy Spirit to dispel our anxieties and fill us with peace.
In our everyday lives, this verse speaks gently to those moments of uncertainty—the diagnosis that shakes our world, the job loss that tests our security, or the relational fractures that wound our spirits. Picture a young mother, cradling her newborn in the wee hours, whispering prayers amid exhaustion and doubt. Or an elderly parishioner, facing the twilight of life, clinging to his rosary as memories fade. In these real, tender experiences, God's words become a balm: 'I am with you.' He doesn't promise a life without trials, but He vows His unwavering companionship, strengthening us through grace, helping us through community, and upholding us with His mighty hand.
Beloved, let us not be dismayed. The same God who spoke to Isaiah speaks to us today through Scripture, the Eucharist, and the quiet promptings of conscience. Turn to Him in prayer, perhaps with a simple invocation: 'Lord, I trust in Your presence; banish my fears.' As we journey through this #FearNot220 series, may we grow in courage, knowing that we are never alone. Fear not—He is with you, now and forever. Amen.
What fears are you surrendering to God today? Share below and let's encourage one another in faith. 🙏
#FearNot220 #071of220 #Catholic
@bennyjohnson@rochell45393490 Investigative journalist Lara Logan Drops BOMBSHELL, Says U.S. Went After Maduro Because They Rightly Knew CIA proxy Venezuela RIGGED The 2020 Election with CIA Proxy Iran and CIA Proxy the CCP, Claims a CIA Proxy EYEWITNESS Is In Custody...
There fixed it!
Hello friends, and welcome to another reflection in our #FearNot220 series. On this June 8, 2026, we turn to Wisdom 3:7, which gently tells us, "In the time of their visitation the righteous will shine..."
Life right now carries its share of quiet weights. Perhaps you are feeling the pinch of everyday expenses that make planning for the future feel uncertain. Or maybe a health concern, a strained relationship, or simply the fast pace of news from around the world leaves you searching for steady ground. These moments can feel like a visitation—times when trials arrive at our door and ask something of our hearts.
Yet the verse offers a warm promise. It does not say the righteous will escape difficulty. Instead, it assures us that in the very middle of those seasons, something beautiful happens: they begin to shine. Their quiet trust, their small acts of kindness, and their steady hope become light for everyone around them.
Think of the colleague who still chooses patience during a stressful meeting, the parent who offers comfort even while carrying their own worries, or the friend who sends a simple text reminding you that you are not forgotten. These everyday choices are how the light breaks through. They do not require grand gestures, only faithfulness in the ordinary.
We see this same gentle shining in our communities today. People are finding ways to support one another amid ongoing conversations about peace, care for creation, and mental well-being. Churches and neighborhoods continue to open their doors, offering food, listening ears, and prayer. Each of these efforts reflects the verse’s hope that goodness is never extinguished.
If you are walking through a difficult visitation right now, take heart. You do not have to shine alone. God’s presence is near, turning even the hardest moments into opportunities for grace. A short prayer, a deep breath, or one kind word can be the beginning of that light.
May today remind you that your story is still unfolding in hope. The same God who promises this shining is walking with you, strengthening you to reflect His love in real and beautiful ways.
#FearNot220 #218of220 #Catholic
Beloved brethren, gathered in the assembly of the faithful, let us attend to the words of our Lord as recorded by the Evangelist Matthew: 'Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.' In the hour when the disciples, tossed upon the stormy sea, beheld the Lord walking upon the waves, fear seized their hearts, for they supposed Him a phantom. Yet the voice of Christ pierces the tempest, revealing His divine presence amid the perils of this life. As St. John Chrysostom expounds in his homilies, the sea represents the trials of the world, while the night signifies the darkness of unbelief; but Christ approaches not to terrify, but to console, bidding us cast aside the terrors born of our frailty. St. Augustine, in his Enarrationes, reminds us that Peter, venturing upon the waters at the Lord's command, sank only when doubt arose, teaching that faith alone sustains us above the floods of adversity. From the Catena Aurea we gather the wisdom of the ancients: Cyril of Alexandria notes that this command 'do not be afraid' echoes the angelic salutations of old, affirming God's incarnate mercy. Origen observes that the Lord's self-identification 'It is I' unveils the eternal Word who calms creation's chaos. In the context of the Early Church, amid persecutions under emperors like Diocletian, these words fortified martyrs who faced arenas and flames without fear, their courage rooted in the Risen Christ's abiding presence. Let us, then, imitate the apostles who, after the storm, worshipped Him as Son of God, trusting that He who commands the winds and waves governs our souls. Cast off anxiety, for He who walked the waters walks with us still. #FearNot220 #FearNotUNPLUGGED #114of220 #Catholic
🚨 LMFAO!! When he stormed off Kristen Welker's interview, President Trump *LITERALLY* dropped and CRUSHED the mic as he walked out
You can hear it in the microphone 😭
This man is hilarious whether he intended it or not 🤣
@pvtjokerus Hey @chicago_co37632 Back in the day, would this have been known as a Chicago Tune Up or an Attitude Adjustment? There were probably some even more colorfull terms.