Fr Craig annointing John just before his brain biopsy July 2009...John has no memory of this time - the pressure was building up in his brain due to the cancer there. Yesterday at about 1p John was giving his talk at the retreat called TEC - Together Encounter Christ. He had planned to share his cancer journey. I had a rosary in my pocket and in the midst of the craziness at the nursing home... I was thinking of him and attempting to lift him up in prayer.
This is a letter that I wrote to be read on the first day of TEC...
So often in the last year and a half.. the Paschal Mystery is what I cling to! Realizing that we find the resurrection and joy in our lives through the cross! I will never forget when this was shared with us by a Little Sister of the Lamb… “You have to pass through the cross to find the resurrection!” Yes! There is so much truth, faith and hope to be found in the midst of the suffering that comes to us with life. He tells us that we need to take up our cross and follow him. We are forever changed and brought to Life with and In Him! I love to envision the cross as the tree of life – it has branches with leaves and fruit and blossoms all over it, because this is the true tree of life – The Cross!
Prayer, or our love communication between God and ourselves as we walk the journey of our lives… is so real and powerful! We are healed today after being shocked with cancer coming too close to home – our 21 year old son had a 7 month journey with brain cancer, and a year ago we were told that it was finally gone! So many prayers were and are being lifted up for his continued health and recovery, and we know that they have worked to give us all that we need, and our faith to fill us with His truth –Jesus says to us; “I love you with my life and you are mine. I will care for all your needs – leave all behind and come to me and be mine! I will carry you when you are too weak and worried… I am in control!”
Tonight we are given the gift of laying all our burdens at His feet in the Confessional – He knows them without our telling him, so hold nothing back- give it all to Him, and be free to follow him into a new and better life- carrying forth the Tree of Life, our Cross!
Today with the weather in the forecast - I am off to work with the prayer that I will return home and not have to live at the nursing home for the next few days... so far so good with not a flake of snow on the ground yet. Jesus, as my thoughts continue to fly to TEC and our family that is there serving and experiencing you in a wonderful and powerful way. Most of all learning to come to you in that very personal and deep place called PRAYER! There is a river of peace and love to be found there. A spring of water that refreshes the soul and quenches our thirst for the way, the Truth and the Life! Keep the weather away so that we can share with our loved ones this day and protect all those out on the roads. Be with all those working and attending TEC on this Rise Day! He is risen, and He has taken all of our sins and distractions to the grave with Him! They are buried forever and now we are to take the Tree of Life - the Cross and follow whereever He may lead us. Jesus, we trust in you! Amen and Halleluia!
What a perfect picture of the notion that we work and pray - Pat on his knees fixing the baler in the midst of baling but also in the midst of our starting to face the storm in our lives - the sudden appearance of John's cancer! We must and are blessed richly by persevering in prayer! Every step of rise day today is lifted up in prayer as I try my very best to serve those at the nursing home in the midst of this winter storm. Bless-bless, Barb
"Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? The temple of God, which you are, is holy." I Cor 3: 16-23
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