I had the gift this morning of going to mass and Holy Hour of Adoration after. I had a smile come to me as I was lifting up the Joseph and Maria family in Texas... I pray for all of their children with the two in heaven as Maria has had two mischarriages after Therese and David - she is now 4 months pregnant with their 5th child! It was so cute when they told now 4 year old Therese that there was a new baby coming - "WoW! When we get to heaven we are going to have to have a van for all those kids!" So sweet and it reminds me of those times on long trips with our van full! Is there ever a time when a family is closer than when we are sitting touching one another in a vehicle traveling somewhere? No! We are all in this tin can traveling for hours sometimes, and it is the epitome of family sharing and sometimes discomfort as we transport people and luggage and Christmas presents etc to a far off destination. Being the one that moved away from the Twin Cities to live on the farm in Southwest Minnesota... I was usually called upon to travel the most with my ever growing brood of kids. Our minivan would be so full that I would have a present or kid on my lap ( before manditory seat belts much less car seats)... the kids would be buried in sleeping bags and pillows back there, and every now and then I would have them poke their heads out so that I could see that they were alright! Such bonding memories! And that is what Therese is envisioning in her mind with all the brothers and sisters that she will meet someday! I love to imagine the joy and bonding that will take place when we are united with our 6 in heaven. We will know of all the prayers and love they showered upon us as they sat at the feet of their loving and forgiving Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Along with Mary our Mother of Heaven and Earth! Thank you, Therese, for your sweet loving and joyful way of remembering all those that are LIFE in heaven, and are there for us to look to and rejoice in meeting them someday! Yes, we will have a big bouncy happy bus to have all of them on board with us on our journey called Eternal LIFE!
I always thought that our Ruth Ida was the best ever oldest child- big sister, but I am starting to see that Therese is equally wonderful in her embrace of all her younger siblings! I have felt that as hard as losing those children was - that it brought our family to a very profound closeness, and also gives us a tie to heaven that causes us to not lose sight of keeping on the straight and narrow path that leads there. It was very much stressed today in the readings of mass and in Father's homily about how we can look at the wounded flesh of our resurrected Lord and remember that He experienced all the pain of the Cross that we have in our sufferings in this life. We can approach Him and be resurrected to Eternal LIFE with him... "When we, like the disciples in today's Gospel, are 'startled, terrified or troubled,' what restores our peace? The humanity of Jesus Christ. The risen Lord says to the distressed disciples, 'Look at my hands and my feet... Touch me and see." Jesus woos us away from our anxiety with the words, 'Why do questions arise in your hearts?' For the pierced man who stands before us is our Answer.... Those who dare to look at his wounds and live as 'witnesses of these things' hear the risen Christ say, 'Peace be with you.' "
Dear Lord, the closeness of family is sometimes more than we want... yet it gives us a feeling that we are surrounded by LIFE and LOVE! May we always cherish that LIFE whether we find that it is here or in heaven waiting to be united with us. That tie to heaven is a gift, and a bond that will never break. May that big van/bus be filled with joyful sharing and prayer as we travel into the Sonrise - Your Eternal LIFE and glory! May we embrace our Most Cherished Cross and may your wounds give us the strength to go forward and the courage to face all the challanges that come with LIFE in this world. May our Domestic Church - our family - be a place where we no longer have fear or are troubled but reside in your Truth! May we share that Truth with all those that we come in contact with. As you said to Abraham in the reading from Acts 3 today - "In your offspring all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Halleluia!
I am missing my sweet family in Texas today... Bless-bless, Barb
"May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.”
― St. Thérèse de Lisieux
A picture of PURE EASTER JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! May we all embrace our Faith in the Risen Christ and how He gave us Eternal LIFE in this way!
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