I had the gift of making it to mass this morning for the hugely wonderful solemnity/feast day of St Peter and St Paul! While John, Pat and I were sharing morning prayer afterwards... I was reminded that two years ago we were visiting Little Sister Hallel in Kansas City on this day! We had made icons with Hallel and Paul and Simon had made one with their two patron saints on it for the occassion. It was a powerful time for us to go and embrace our wonderful Hallel/Susan - 4 carloads of Verlys all went down on seperate occassions to see her before she left for France. This is also reminding me that it has been two years that she has been in France! It was a wonderful thing for us all to go and share in the life of the Community of the Lamb at that time, and now there are two new members of our family that Hallel has not met, nor have they had the experience of the Community there. I just have to think that soon she will be coming back to the U.S. to help with all that it is going to take to finish the little monastery they are in the midst of building this summer. Hallel has discovered that she loves to do woodworking and manual labor. There will be plenty of that to do with the furniture they will have to build, and the inside work of finishing up the spaces. She had traveled to Kansas City back 4 years ago, and helped them build the chapel in their old Belgian rectory they had been given to live in here in the heart of our country - in a very poor neighborhood... which is exactly as they desire to embrace poverty in this way!
The chapel was a place where we all shared times of prayer throughout the day... it was very sweet to watch little Simon, at that time he was 5, sitting beside his aunty Sue/Hallel. Look at the example of prayer, and joy, and placing the Word as Christ in our lives... We are all touched by our time with the Community, and having a daughter/sister/aunt who has said "yes" to her spouse, Jesus Christ! Simon discovered that he was named after a most human man, St Peter, yet knowing the Truth that will set us free man- Simon Peter - The first Pope and the rock upon which the Church is placed! Such an amazing legacy to his name! 
It is with some sadness that I know that this old building is now torn down to make room for the little monastery! Yet, there will be a new humble, yet so beautiful, chapel filled with the power of constant prayer and Jesus in the Word... this in the heart of our country is so needed, and there to heal the wounds of our world and our country! I know that Hallel and her community are praying for our son-in-law today as he is traveling to Alfghanistan! "Proclaim the Word; be persistant whether it is convenient of inconvenient, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching." 2 Tim 4:2
Putting on the blue apron - 4 year old Mary learned to work beside her Hallel in service to the Community. Jesus, it is such a gift to have this day tie us back to our time with the Community of the Lamb and our Little Sister Hallel! She is part of our beating heart - our family - that gives us LIFE and LOVE! Our family is so large within our wonderful glorious Church! It includes now that many more daughters and sons through the Community of the Lamb! We have not lost Hallel, rather we have enlarged our family to include so many that know and love you with their lives of poverty, chastity, and obedience! How we learn and grow to LOVE and serve you through our time with them! How we are blessed by their prayers surrounding us daily. The prayers they poured over us 3 years ago with John's cancer/healing journey was powerful in the total picture of healing and a deep journey of FAITH! May our arms not ache too much to hug our sweet Hallel, but rather give her to YOU and trust in how much you care for every hair upon her head - with every beat of her heart and every breath that she takes - "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus..." WE are forever blessed by her vocation and example to us. Thank you, Jesus! May all those named Paul and Peter be blessed with such powerful and joyful memories and celebrate with great JOY and Blessings on this Holy Day! Jesus, with Peter and Paul at your side, we trust in you! Amen and Halleluia
Bless-bless, Barb
The spot where a little Monastery is now putting down roots in our country - we are forever blessed! Thank you, Lord! St Peter and St Paul bless the Community of the Lamb this day and forever... as well as all those that desire to follow in your footsteps as disciples of Our Lord, Jesus Christ!
"How can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him in whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!' "
St Paul to the Romans 10: 14-15
Christ in his glorious WORD and the BREAD OF LIFE in the tabernacle! So much for our Journey called Domestic Church/Family!
The Wheat - may be die as a grain of wheat and bear much fruit this day!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4wojcSO9Ww If we are his Body by Casting Crowns really says it all today!
No comments:
Post a Comment