Two and a half years ago Susan, now Little Sister Hallel, became the Godmother of Maria's new baby girl, Therese! Susan was living in the Discrerment House near ST Thomas at this time and was finishing up her degree in Catholic Studies and Philosophy. She put in her year at the request of her confessor/spiritual director, but knew that she was not where the Lord wanted her. Susan/Hallel has always been googoo about babies and little children, so to know that she has sacrificed that for her calling to religious life is a sad thought for me as a mother, and I know that it is hard for Hallel too! But I also know that her love for her spouce - Jesus Christ - is so big that she trusts totally that this love for children will become a part of her life with the community of the Lamb! She has already shared of opportunities she has to share with children as she is out amongst the poor and those that come in contact with them from day to day...
I have shared how huge that the Gospel of the day is for the Community of the Lamb! They start the night before reading it and "mendicate" the Word! They chant each line up to 6 times and then sing it up to 10 times! You can not imagine what comes out to grab you when you meditate on these sacred words in this way! Things that you never "heard" or "saw" before come to you with suddenness and clarity! Today's Gospel in Luke 12: 39-48.. the overriding message is "You must be prepared...the Son of Man will come." And as ST Paul of the Cross writes and addresses this from the Gospel today - "Much will be required."
Newborn Therese with a statue of her namesake, St Therese of the Little Flower!
I thought that this scripture verse in Morning prayer was something pretty amazing!
"Behold, I have left open a door before you, which no one can close." Revelations 3:8
That is quite a thought and when I put it in the context of these last 16 months with the three big things going on with our kids... John's brain cancer, Susan's joining the Community of the Lamb, and Nancy's year of courtship- marriage- and now pregnancy... This is a powerful way to look at each of these journies... Alone they would have each been out of this world, but to have the 3 of them together is out of this galaxy! Then I should also mention that Maria had her second child, David in the middle of everything too! No wonder I was brought to total tears of amazement as John walked me down the aisle at Nancy and Bill's wedding!
The reading from Matt from morning prayer this morning:
"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few." Matt 7: 13-14
But it is wonderful to trust that the Lord does open the door for us to go through as we read earlier in Rev! And "no one can close" that door that is there for us to go through! Look for the light in the doorway ahead of us and walk through it! Jesus has left it open for us and so we should have no fear of getting off on the wrong track! Just ask Him in prayer and Trust in His hand on us! It is all too wonderul and I for one feel very loved and cared for!
At Bucca's Therese found her namesake! Too cool for words!
I will say that there is no turning back and no shutting the door that has been opened ahead of us! Sometimes we would like nothing better than to slam it shut and never remember it or to have to walk through it... I am thinking specifically John's brain cancer! But we must... there is no turning back and this gate we entered into His sheepfold is certainly narrow and "cut in the shape of a cross." "Yet Christ leads the flock safely through to the place of pasture he has prepared for us." See http://www.magnificat.com/
Maria and Joe have always shared daily mass in their courting years and marriage... Therese did not stop that... she is just days old with mom and dad... in the womb and out... mass is a part of each day!
A grand Hallel psalm - 100
Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy.
Know that he, the Lord, is God.
He made us, we belong to him,
we are his people, the sheep of his flock."
Now that is High Praise and that is what Hallel is all about! When Susan took that name a year ago in August on the vigil of the Queenship of Mary... The foundress of the Community of the Lamb... Little Sister Marie, told Susan... Now you will have to be that to the world around you... joyful praise...Hallel!..uia! Hallel tells us that each time someone says her name that they are giving God joyful praise each time! Now that is cool and I think that God appreciates it... because doesn't He deserve our lives and everything we say and do to be the Highest of Praise! We worship you and praise you and give you all the glory and Honor, dear loving Father of Heaven and Earth! All that is wrapped up in that one little humble name... Hallel!
The summer before Susan left for France and John left for college...
I would like to end this with some words that really are so powerful from the saint for today - St Paul of the Cross - he lived in the 1700s and had a ministry for the poor and the sick, so I am sure that he saw many situations like John's.."Much will be required"
"The truth of God's love was shown on the cross of his beloved Son, Jesus.
And the way to grow in our relationship with God in times of physical and mental stress is to strengthen ourselves by doing the things that God desires.
It is a sign of great holiness when one is resigned in everything to the will of God. Everything that God wills is for our good.
He knows how to console us when we least expect it.
If anyone hurts you, look on him as someone of great value and, with the eyes of one who loves, see him as the person chosen by God to clothe you in holiness and in the patience, silence, and meekness of Jesus Christ."
Hallel with her kids! She has truly taken the truth shared here to heart in her life of sacrifice, and poverty, and chastity, and obedience!
"If you can learn to see God's will as a source of strength, taking every difficulty you go through as something which comes not just from circumstances but from the loving hand of God your creator, you will soon be speeding along the short road to holiness.
The troubles we have in life, if we see them as part of God's loving plan and accept them as being what he wants for us, will actually help us to grow in knowledge and love of him."
Now with Ruth too!
"Even when things are at their worst, keep your peace of heart and accept whatever God sends you as being for your good.
God is your guide, your Father, your teacher, your husband.
In everything that happens the best thing you can do is abandon yourself to his will." St Paul of the Cross (1775)
May our prayers rise as a beautiful aroma of love and praise:
Dear Loving Savior, and your compassionate Mother of heaven and earth... we love you and praise you to the highest realms of heaven! WE are so filled with wonder at how you touch our lives so personally, and ask that we are given the ability to accept it all as according to your plan, and coming from you... to allow us to grow and to serve YOU! May we "abandon" all that holds us back from being totally yours... anger, fear, resentment, laziness, distractions by all that surrounds us in this material and self centered world, lies, and we could go on and on. But ahead is that door open with your LIGHT streaming out... showing us the Truth and the Life! We walk forward with faith, hope and trust! Jesus, we trust in you! Amen and Halleluia!
Bless-bless, Barb
Early morning time together - riding along with Pat to the elevator with a semi of corn... Prayer in the truck was great! Thank you Lord, and bless the farmers!"Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong." I Cor 16: 13
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