Church becoming Christ!

My sister, Carol, and her son, Alex, in front of the amazing doors entering into the Church of the Assumption on Friday evening.   We had all just attended our the wedding of my sisters' youngest daughter, Emily, in this glorious church in downtown St Paul.  Today being the 7th Sunday of Easter and the following week leading up to Pentecost... these doors remind me that this day and the following week ...he Church was animated by Christ's going to Heaven and sending the Holy Spirit, to become Christ to the world! 

Overnight our world has been washed clean by lifegiving rains... the crop is in and Pat hoped and prayed for rains to come and give the seeds in dry earth the moisture to burst out of their shells and die to give life.  This is ringing so clearly to me this morning after spending some time yesterday bringing the team together for the next Together Encountering Christ retreat.   The main scripture we base the weekend on is John 12:24-26
24" Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."

Cross references:John 12:24 : 1Co 15:36John 12:25 : Mt 10:39; Mk 8:35; Lk 14:26; 17:33John 12:25 : S Mt 25:46John 12:26 : Jn 14:3; 17:24; 2Co 5:8; Php 1:23; 1Th 4:17  I was going to delete these cross references that copied along with the scripture, but I thought that it could be interesting to read some other places in the Word that speak of how we are to gain eternal LIFE and more importantly bring LIFE into the world!  More so to those within our Domestic Church/family!  This day is a big day for our domestic Church - we will be gathering at Church at the 8a mass for little Rose Ida's baptism! 

I am so blessed to have my parents with me still!  They are instrumental in bringing our entire family through the amazing "doors" of the Roman Catholic Church!  All 13 of us became Catholic 40 years ago, after my dad, a Protestant minster, heard Jesus call him through his Word - Isaiah 55: 1-2! 

Isaiah 55:1-2

New International Version (NIV)
Invitation to the Thirsty
55 “Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare."
Very much speaking of the Eucharist we are fed with, and the Truth we have found within the beauty and wonder of the True Church!  Jesus speaks to us of the Truth today in the Gospel... John 17: 11-19  "The do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.  Consecrate them in the Truth.  Your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world so I sent them into the world.  And I consecrate myself to them, so that they also may be consecrated to the truth."  The truth will set us free!  Thank you, Jesus!

Time to get ready for the huge family celebration of Rose entering into our glorious Church through the waters of Baptism!  Little one year old Augustine will be there to share his light and love with Rose, as his parents become her Godparents - praying for, and lovingly sharing their faith in Jesus and His Church with her - the TRUTH!  Jesus, we trust in you and lift little Rose Ida into your loving arms and the beauty of YOUR CHURCH!  Amen and Halleluia!

Bless-bless, Barb

"I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord.  I will come back to you, and your hearts will rejoice."
"Bless the Lord, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his Holy Name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
Halleluia!"
Psalm 103 from mass today - a grand Hallel Psalm!  A Psalm of the highest - "tallest" PRAISE!