Saturday, December 14, 2013

St John of the Cross - Two miracles of LIGHT/LIFE/LOVE!

John was not in the house at Ruth's for 5 minutes and Patrick was laying on his shoulder - they spoke to each other of great comraderee - One with his nonverbal loving response, and the other with words of how he had prayed so hard for his little nephew born dead and the sickest baby in NICU for 2 1/2 weeks...both had faced death and darkness and come out into the perfect LIGHT!  John had tears standing in his eyes as Patrick nuzzled into his shoulder - it was as though they felt deeply their bond of healing in the deepest parts of their souls!  So appropriate is this on this feast day of the saint known for finding interior healing resulting in the Peace for all the world to see!  "We must dig deeply in Christ."  St John of the Cross.  This has been revealed to both Patrick and John, and the journey of both took so many into a deep place of PRAYER!  We have all heard of the famous - Dark Night of the Soul - which St John faced and discovered interior healing/Peace!
The cold has brought us into a closeness of Family that we are finding to be so special - we knew that it would be an early Christmas for us!  This has certainly happened, and continues with a housefull of cousins and siblings - now great-grandma Ann has come in the door!  She is sitting at the table holding little 6 week old, Luke, and watching Ruth working at her cross stitch.  The men are gathered around visiting along with grandma and the girls. Christmas music playing is adding to it all!  The great happiness of a family enjoying each other's company, and finding the great glue that binds us eternally together - Faith/Family/Farm!  We encounter our blessings in LIFE so deeply and powerfully when we are given this gift of time together!  It seems that the winter weather goes hand and hand with this time... as the last time we all gathered was last April just as we were snow bound by a huge snow just as we arrived with Maria and family from Texas and Little Sister Hallel for her first home visit!  There is a beautiful thing about the closeness you have with the winter...  Yes, it can get to the point of cabin fever, but we are a long way from that now!
Therese is aglow out in the snow this morning with her cousins! 
"In his exploration of the movement through the dark night of the soul to union with God, St John used the imagery of a house grown still and silent to describe the soul so centered in God by prayer that it is free to leave the self behind and become absorbed in the presence of the promised Prince of Peace. From this inward stillness flows the outward peace for which the world longs."  With the house full of so much LIFE - I can say that a picture using a house for me would be the vision of JOY as there is a house full of 8 little ones playing and eating and laughing and crying and all under the watchful eyes of 3 older generations all caring for their needs and finding JOY and Happiness in being blessed by their words of wisdom and simplicity.  As I was sharing with John the story of Therese I shared on here yesterday about the roots and the blossom - in relation to her patron St Therese of Lisieux.  John was amazed to hear the depth of her philosophical soul and understanding!  Where does it come from - her domestic Church/home and her finding that inner stillness of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT from which comes the Truth!  Her love for Jesus, and His Bride, The Church is very evident in her deep sharings of LIGHT!
Watching the little ones out in the snow - Great-grandma has made our time complete!
Rosie ready to go out with the older 5
Jesus, we are filled with that Peace that comes from the inner place of Prayer without ceasing!  We are so filled with JOY as we gather with all the activity of the LIFE we have been blessed with.  To have the healed Patrick here to hold and watch, and the newest arrival of precious little Luke!  The JOY and LOVE abounds for each of our blessings and the ability to share it closely in this early winter!  Keep all those safe that are traveling - most especially Billy when he flies back to Canada tomorrow and Nancy as she travels to make our picture complete tomorrow evening!  We long to have our Hallel here with us, but we know of her prayers without ceasing for each one of us!  St John we look to you as you show us the path to happiness as we "must dig deeply in Christ!"  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke with my little Luke
I walked in the door of Ruth's today and she announced that Luke was "smiling and smiling and cooing this morning!"  Yes!  He is engaged and a part of the family in more and more ways!
"Where have you hidden,
Beloved, and left me moaning?
You fled like the stag
After wounding me;
I went out calling You, and You were gone.
Shepherds, you that go
Up through the sheepfolds to the hill,
if by chance you see
Him I love most,
Tell Him that I sicken, suffer, and die...
 
Extinguish these miseries,
Since no one else can stamp them out;
And may my eyes behold You,
Because You are their light,
And I would open them to You alone."
The Spiritual Canticle by St John of the Cross (1591)
Loving little 6 week old Luke!
Inside warmth - outside JOY!
The boys are out helping grandpa feed the cows and calves now... then a wonderful family lunch gathered at Ruth's
The look of great fun and memories to last for a very long time!
Missing Joseph - I always think of Third Day and from them - I need a Miracle seems right today
 
Third Day - Trust in Jesus

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