Sunday, January 19, 2014

Theme of the Lamb

An old forgotten picture of a much younger Therese and her kitty, Herbert, that grandpa got for her the winter they lived with us while Joseph was in boot camp.  The thing about so many pictures - as they get further away they are lost and forgotten to me.  Then you find them and rediscover the beauty of them.  A gift!  I feel the softness as I gaze at this.  Today is a much beloved Gospel as John the Baptist points to Jesus as the Lamb of God!  The Lamb has always been powerful for me, but more so since our daughter Susan now Little Sister Hallel returned from her year long study in Rome with her heart on fire for the Lamb, after spending time with the Community of the Lamb in Rome!  The motto they live by says it all..."Wounded, I will not cease to LOVE."  How Jesus reveals this to us as although God, He took on the form of a man, and faced a horrible death on the Cross although He was without sin... for us!
A precious picture of Nancy Anna with her new son, Augustine.  Gus will be 3 in May, and Nancy is expecting her 3rd child in June!  She is on the 1 1/2 year schedule for adding to her family, and is so blessed after waiting longer than the other girls to find her Most Cherished Cross.  What you may ask it that?!?  Well, once again I will share the letter she received from her little Sister Hallel on the occasion of her engagement to Billy.
  "Nancy, Look I am writing you a letter... aren't you impressed? Well, you better be because both you and I know how often this happens. I am writing to tell you now extremely excited I am about your engagement to Bill. I have to admit, when I got the news I wasn't really shocked but that night as it sunk in during adoration and the next day during mass I was so happy. My heart overflowed with joy for you. How beautiful to know that you have found your... most cherished cross. While I have never had the experience of being married, from what I hear is that he will truly be your cross. But not your cross as human eyes look at it, as a thing to run away from, as a thing of torture but rather as that which is truly the tree of life. It is only when clinging to the cross that one can truly live, it is the source of all life and of all love. Your marriage to Bill will be this, not something to run away from when it gets hard and when it hurts, but something to hold tight to, especially when it hurts because it is in this that you will find life and love. Know that it is through your marriage that Jesus wants to show you his great love for you and also that the best example that you can give to the world of Christ's love is a marriage lived in truth. So, in other words, know that I am so happy for you and that I love you a whole lot. Know that you are in my prayers during this crazy time of wedding planning; that you may not go crazy but rather learn to love each other better and that you may both have great joy and great peace. Remember to pray for me too! God Bless, Your little Sister Hallel "
I can tell that Therese is now older and wiser (?) at 5 going on 6 - when she was here and I wanted to do her hair - she seemed a bit unsure of what grandma would be making her look like.  Here when she was 3 going on 4 it was much easier.  And look how cute?!?
From the first reading today - Isaiah 49:6  "I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth."  Jesus asks us to follow after HIM carrying our Most Cherished Cross!  To be the Lamb in our lives as we serve and love and care and hope and bring peace without counting the cost. 
A picture Hallel took in Rome of St Agnes with her lamb... Susan chose St Agnes for her patron saint!  Her name means lamb and she truly sacrificed her life for her love for her Spouse, Jesus!  She was young a beautiful and wealthy and many men wanted to marry her, but she had given her heart to Jesus.  They even put her in a house of prostitution to try to break her down, but the only man to try to touch her was struck blind, and she left there untouched!  She then went to her execution like a bride going to meet her groom at her wedding - with great JOY!  How I long for that day myself- to be forever united with my Lord!  Agnes is such a powerful saint to call to our aide in this day and age - when so many are put in a house of prostitution by all that bombards us of the evil kind!  It is all around us and with TV and computers it is only a mouse click away!
Sharing mass in the sunlight.
Lord, may we go forth into this day - Rise Day at TEC this day- holding close to our hearts the message of sacrifice/dying to self so that the LIGHT may enter the world shown us by the Lamb of God!  It can become for us a small slice of Heaven here on earth, if each day we battle the darkness and allow the LIGHT to grow more and more within us by keeping away from the house of prostitution that surrounds us!  Jesus, we need to fight off the temptations to fill our minds and hearts with things that are dark and evil.  May we turn off the TV and computer and spend time praying and studying edifying books and reading about YOU and your call to holiness in our lives, hearts, minds, souls, domestic Church/families, work and play.  Jesus, we are yours and long to see your face in all those we meet this day.  Continue to bring all those gathered for TEC this weekend ever closer to YOU, The Lamb of God!  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
"Let us follow the Lamb wherever he goes."  Rv 14:14
Praying in the chapel in Kansas City!
Ray Boltz _ I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
 
 
 

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