"That we may burn with your love before all the world.."

Little Augustine enjoys some simple playtime on the floor of a coffee shop down the street from the church where we just celebrated first Friday mass together... as we were walking there Nancy explained that she had come here with her sisters and sister in laws on her wedding day, after they had gotten their hair and nails done and before they got into their dresses... a place with very special memories, and now with her special little boy so glowing in the sunlight with a smile of contentment in the sun.  He played with grandma's scarf from Egypt - a gift from Nancy when she visited her friend, Rana, there.  You would think that he would watch us enviously eating our fabulous flakey rolls and drinking our wonderful coffee, but he happily played with my scarf and studied how he could reach out and pull the chair back and forth.  I hope and pray that this prayer from the Magnificat this morning is true.."that we may burn with your love before all the world!"  I certainly felt that feeling when I returned from my TEC retreat 2 weeks ago, and now after the gift of spending some quiet prayerful time with my parents in their home in quiet St Croix Falls... I am so blessed by the recognition of his transfigured face!  "As Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands, he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant while he conversed with the Lord."  Exodus 24: 29

My 3 days away were filled with such special times of family/faith/prayer!  Megawatt and I do feel that feeling that I have come into the presence of the Lord in such deep ways and close ways.  My day with John in Rochester - starting with prayer at 5a as we headed down the dark street from Nancy's house...both admitting that we are a bit worried about the results, and for me the idea that they will be taking a leap of faith and not having us come back to check for 6 months!  As John said that morning - "I feel fine, so I should expect nothing but good news, so I will expect that!"  Then the special trip home... just listening to his talk about classes and professors that are touching him and those that are not and why... super fun to hear about a former band member - rock- who is now teaching John a class on how to teach marketing and promoting... he is so inspiring to him in his enthusiasm and is I am sure in a sense "burning before the world".  Yes, he might be a secular example, but to John he is inspiring although he suffers with only 40% of his heart, and severe disabilities!  Then to see that he is really stretching his boundaries, and asking God to direct him with total trust that there is truly an amazing plan for him.  He descibed how at the big job fair - dressed in his suit and armed with 12 resumes... he saw a man sitting at a small table..."He had on a polo and jeans and no one was talking to him, so I stopped and  talked to him and gave him my resume... It turns out that he has a small marketing business that is growing and I am going in for an interview tomorrow."  John also got a call on the way back offering him a job, but he just told him that he is not ready to commit to one thing yet..."I want to keep my options open, but thank you."  This could be so interesting... last year at this time it seemed that the looming cancer, which is so evident with his loss of hair permanently... that people didn't want to take a chance with him, but now with another year of being cancer free, and John much more confident after selling insurance all summer and realizing that he does have a gift to make people comfotable one on one..."I realized that I am not afraid to make fun of myself and that puts people at ease."  He has learned so much about himself and armed with his close encounter with God through prayer and healing of his brain cancer... the future is very bright and burning with the presence of the Lord!  John has truly been transfigured in the Cross and LOVE of his loving and forgiving Savior, Jesus Christ! 

Jesus, we thank and praise you for the great blessing of your  presence in our lives.  We are glowing from the inside out as we come to know of your LOVE and LIFE!  We trust that we will be YOU and see YOU in all that we do and in all those that we come in contact with especially those in our domestic church - our families!  We long to come into your presence daily in our prayertime, and to feel that the "skin of his face had become radiant while he conversed with the LORD."  Each day we can come down from the mountain as we find the time and take the time to pray.  How I love to get into my car to travel to work or a trip as I am blessed with the time to pray my rosary - filled with all the meditating on your life and also all those that I pray for beginning with my family!  The 4 hour trip yesterday - returning home from my parents in St Croix Falls was so gloriously rich!  I wept at times as I encountered you and your LOVE and deep concern for so many!  Jesus, I fall before you and trust in your healing and LOVE and forgiveness!  Jesus, hold us close to your heart burning with love for us, and may we come to our world and lives - burning with your love before all the world!  Jesus, we trust in you!  Amen and Halleluia

Bless-bless, Barb

"Lent is a time of transformation.  As we gaze in the dark faith of prayer upon the glory of God revealed in Jesus Christ, we are transformed into his likeness.  As we leave the work of prayer for the work of charity in our world, we live in his likeness."  see http://www.magnificat.com/

This deserves a grand Hallel psalm - one of tall praise!

Psalm 104

"Bless the Lord, my soul!

Lord God, how great you are,

clothed in majesty and glory,

wrapped in light as in a robe.

May the glory of the Lord last for ever!

May the Lord rejoice in his works! 

He looks on the earth and it trembles;

the mountains send forth smoke at his touch.

I will sing to the Lord all my life,

make music to my God while I live.

May my thoughts be pleasing to Him. 

I find my joy in the Lord.

Let sinners vanish from the earth

and the wicked exist no more.

Bless the Lord, my soul."

I praise you and honor you, my LORD and my GOD!  Halleluia!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sharing Mother Angelica's stations of the Cross - so amazing - see http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/stations/face.htm!  Also would suggest taking some time to check out Nancy and Maria's blog -

http://dosmallthingswithlove.blogspot.com/  It is very sweet and deep in Catholic wisdom from a young wife and mother perspective!  Thank you, Lord!