This was such a powerful prayer that I wanted to start with it today. It is such a powerful reminder of how Christ is showing us how to live, and not only that but by coming to dwell within us as the Holy Spirit.... giving us a way to follow Him in our weak and less than perfect way. That is such a good reminder to us that we are dwelling in the "helplessness of the human condition." When we think that we have it all figured out, and that we have wealth, or power, or are popular in the world... we can forget that truly we are nothing without Jesus! That all of those worldly accomplishments give us nothing lasting... except for maybe making us forget about the Lord standing in front of us, with his nail scarred hands reaching out to us in LOVE and unconditional forgiveness! Maybe forget is not the term to use, but rather the darkness makes us blind to HIM!
Such a peaceful picture of John a week ago, and the day is dawning bright and beautiful once again... hoping that the grandkids will come and spend some time here on the farm today. Cancer certainly took John and dealt him a humbling blow to his feeling of importance in this small fish pond called Marshall, MN. He had always been admired for his ability to be in front of people, and to entertain from a young age. Therefore it was such a shock to much of our town, who recognized him from plays, speech, church activities, 4H, etc... when he was suddenly struck with PCNSL on Father's day almost 3 years ago now! PCNSL is a long term for a lymphoma of the nervous system, and it is very rare to appear in a young person like John. John had been for his high school years struggling with where he was with his faith. "I don't know what I believe. My faith has never been tested." It certainly has now, and this is a new humble version of John Patrick Verly. He sees that all the thousands of prayers, that supported him, as well as the sacraments of his amazing Catholic Church, many saints interceding for him including Our Lady of Lourdes and Venerable Solanus Casey, and the love and support of his family ... have all contributed to his being here today - healed of cancer of the brain! I must admit that when I heard that it was lymphoma ( my sister, Mary, died of lymphoma at age 28) and that it was in the brain... I had hardly any hope of his recovery! But we all see that the Lord loved him enough to give him this Most Cherished Cross - cancer/healing - and not only is John changed and healed, but so are many that were following him on his journey! Prayer became something real and powerful, and lifegiving, and lifechanging. I know for me it was constant, as the air that I breath, and every beat of my heart... I had that rosary in my pocket and hand and daily said probably thousands of "Hail Marys" to get me through with HOPE and TRUST! 
Jesus, we are forever changed by your Love and healing touch... knowing that we are loved unconditionally in all that we fail to do, and do wrong. You turn that around, and allow us to see that we need you in all that we do. We fail to love as we should, especially with those closest to us in our families. Why do we hurt those closest to us, the ones we love the most in this world? May we recognize those feelings when they start to make us react before we think, and try to turn it around, and be loving and caring instead. We see your example as "a trusting lamb" in whose slaughter we take refuge. May we embrace our Most Cherished Cross, and find the resurrection on the other side. This is the tree of life and we find our joy within it's branches - feeding on You in your Word and Sacraments! Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Halleluia
My Most Cherished Cross - How I embrace him! Thank you, Jesus!
Bless-bless, Barb
I Love You Guys
"We met her in front of the soup kitchen. A tall blond woman, her face riddled with fine scars, her eyes hidden behind a pair of unfashionable sun glasses. We exchanged a few words. A Little Sister introduced herself, and put out her hand. The woman drew back her own:
"You wouldn't want to touch that!"
Dismayed by this response, we went to join the soup line. We were moved and grateful to be able to eat at the table of the poor, in this new country that we were just discovering.
She was also eating at the soup kitchen. Later we saw her again, a few streets away. She was sitting on the sidewalk, in the intense heat. She was begging with a plastic cup. We leaned forward to continue our conversation. She told us her name. We told her of Anthony's ordination and our mission.
"We are really happy to be here with you and to pray for you!"
She started to cry. She slowly put out her hand for us to shake, saying; "I love you guys."
A sharing from the Community of the Lamb, when they first came to the U.S. - they are now building a little monastery in Kansas City, Kansas! They truly take the Word of God and carry it forth - they represent Christ knocking on the door of the poor!
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