Without a TV... a quiet home of continual reminders of our faith in the Truth! At breakfast we talked about the two books Therese has been gifted with about the lives of St Therese and St Bernadette. We are reminded of the beautiful difference these two young women made in this world of increasing darkness. St Therese died at 24 and St Bernadette at 35. It brought wonderful memories flooding me to look at the watercolor pictures of Lourdes as we have been there twice in the last 3 years - beseeching Our Lady to intercede for us in the healing of John, our 23 year old son. To think that St Therese died at close to his age! So young - with so much life ahead for John. But for Therese... she left us a legacy of how to live life as a child - This morning in morning prayer we are reminded of our culture "which values autonomy and self-reliance, we sometimes imagine that we can call only on our personal strength to shoulder the burdens of those we care for and to face our own difficulties. The Gospel reminds us again and again that God's love is our true source of strength." This is so powerfully lived out by Hallel's community in which they rely on others for their food - they are a begging order, following the example of their founder St Dominic. The first time Susan/Hallel went to beg with the Community of the Lamb in the U.S.... they were given a can of tuna to eat with their lunch. As they sat down to eat, they realized that they couldn't open it, so they had to go and knock on a door to have someone open the can for them. To be that dependent on others, is something that goes very much against everything we value as Americans. We think that we need to have everything we could possibly need so that we do not have to ask others for help. Yet, our Lord and the saints remind us that we need to be humble.
Thinking of beautiful simple France today. The meals there are a thing to be leisurely enjoyed with many courses and visiting. Just as in Maria's home here there are only visual reminders of the beauty of our faith surrounding us. I am looking at an icon of the Holy Family and the Franciscan Jesus with a small sign which says - This is How One LOVES - here as I sit at the computer. It is quite powerful to realize that all the food that we enjoyed, while visiting in France a year ago, was given to them. They get so much given to them, that they do not even have a garden as it would be too much. They also are deeply committed to relying on others for their food. Hallel shared in her letter the other day that she had been in charge of getting the food for the large gathering in Saint Pierre this summer, and how generous the Lord had been with them in spite of the economic crisis there! Such a lesson in Trust and Humility!
Jesus, we love you and thank you for the awesome examples of humility we are blessed with in this world. A world that is so confused in the darkness and lies of Satan. We look to the Light - Our Lady, Your Word, the Sacraments and Truth of YOUR Church, the Saints... we are drawn to be YOURS totally and without reservation. May we go forth into this day becoming more and more yours and less and less a self-centered man. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Halelluia
Bless-bless, Barb
"I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me." Phil 4: 13
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