As I write this I am listening to Bishop Daniel Flores speak on evangelization - http://rediscover.archspm.org/resources/video.php?id=10685 "Only love can change things" - Pope Benedict
Pope Francis is saying - "This is what LOVE has to do - it is what we evangelize... what Christ exemplifies. It is a sacrifice, and it brings JOY!"
From Nancy's camera...
As I continue to listen to Bishop Daniel Flores - he is comparing the 3 last popes and aren't we all doing that now? It is very good! Take the time to listen to this. "Jesus always feeds, and then Jesus says..." "Jesus draws people, Jesus teaches people, Jesus feeds people, Jesus sends people." We are called to go out! "His miracles were signs but he didn't heal everybody." "We are sent to be amongst the people that were otherwise not accepted... prisons, nursing homes, hospitals, detention centers... Jesus preached to the periphery and then touched the interior. If we are a people to be sent as Jesus calls us we touch those at the periphery! Someone who is standing at the wall and doesn't fit in with everyone else... Who's not here at church and why? Those who feel that they have no access... any sort of belonging to something worth while. Jesus has always been about people who know people... model in the Gospel -divide them up in groups and feed them yourselves. At the end of mass -" I am going to divide you up in groups and you discuss how you can reach out to someone that isn't here. We are here at mass, because we think this is important, and we, The Church, are called to evangelize. "
Berna trying on Rose's ruby slippers to her great delight!
This day is a wonderful feast day - the Presentation of Mary at the temple!
"The first way we look at a person - we don't look at them as person and what their sins are - we look at them as people loved by Christ." Pope Francis "The Gospel is meant to be lived every moment of every day." "We are the ones that know how to throw a party! Love wins! We reaffirm that at the end LOVE wins because Christ is risen! Life is tough and there is lots of problems, but we rejoice because the victory belongs to LOVE - We know how to throw a party! If the invited will not come - go to the highways and the byways and invite them! The feast day - the procession - take out the statue and sing with the statue ahead - those that have left the church are sticking their head out the window and being reminded of their faith! The hope we have in the beauty of Christ and his Bride, The Church!" These are all notes from Bishop as he ends his sharing! So true! We truly do know how to throw a party - special celebrations with each day in our Church - This attracts those that have fallen away and reminds them of the JOY that they found here in The Church!
I am sorry for the disjointedness of this sharing this day, but it was really wonderful to listen to Bishop Flores speak as I was writing and with that final piece about celebrating feast days - it really ties into the glorious one for today! "Today is the prelude to God's munificence, and the announcement of salvation; in the Temple of God the Virgin is seen openly, foretelling to all the coming of Christ... The most pure temple of the Savior, his most precious bridal chamber, the Virgin, sacred treasury of God's glory, enters today into the house of the Lord, bringing with her the grace of the divine Spirit. Wherefore the angels are singing: 'Behold the heavenly tabernacle!'... Wherefore let us cry out with all our strength: 'Joy to you, fulfillment of the Creator's plan!' At the moment when the young girl Mary was presented in the Temple, everything that humans build was already diminished by the praise in her heart." Rilke
Luke on great grandma's lap with the chrism of Baptism still on his head - even yesterday when I lifted him out of his carrier - I could smell that beautiful smell! Luke is wearing the baptismal outfit that his grandfather, Larry, and all his brothers wore, as well as his father, Paul and his two brothers, and now Luke is the 3rd grandson to wear it! Clothed in heritage and the beauty of Family united in Faith!
Jesus, this day is filled with so much! The darkness and cold winds reminding us that winter is here is what we look out the window to see. Yet, within our inner temples we are filled with such great LIGHT and we smell the incense of our joyfilled prayers rising to YOU! A day of such LIGHT as we recall the presentation of young pure Mary - your temple - in the Temple! May all the young girls in our homes be presented to YOU alone, O Lord. May they always know of your LOVE for them and that they need to always listen to your voice and direction in their lives. May they always know that being your Bride would be such a beautiful option for them to consider. Set apart to LOVE and serve YOU alone , my Lord! May we each embrace our Most Cherished Cross this day, and follow you down the narrow path to LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT! Jesus, we trust in YOU. Amen and Hallelujah
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
"Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship." Romans 12:1
"Go then, go, O Queen of the world, O Mother of God, go joyfully to the house of God, and there await the coming of the divine Spirit who will make you the Mother of the Divine Word."
St Germanus
This is a picture of the beauty of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT - a little new life washed clean in the waters of Baptism into the Bride, The Church, and Christ! Openness to LIFE makes LOVE grow bigger not get stretched more thin!
Danielle Rose - Pursue me - vocations/discernment
Danielle Rose - Hail Holy Queen
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