"Gus must think he in paradise!" "Well, he kinda is!"

Rose is a caring big sister... She brings mommy Luke's hat to put on as we are leaving the church basement after mass and sharing caramel rolls together.  As we were coming down for rolls after mass - we took the elevator full of 7 kids excited and happy!  Six year old Mary said - "Gus must think he is in paradise!  He can go up to the balcony and play with us and now ride the elevator down to the basement for rolls!"  Ruth spoke what I was thinking - "Well, he kinda is in paradise!"  Yes, we have just left the feast of Heaven and earth, when Jesus and all the heavenly host are present as we are given the Body and Blood of Christ!  As I bowed to the lifted bread at the consecration in the midst of a mass of kids and activity all around me - I truly had the powerful sense of realization that this humble appearing piece of bread is in reality God! I voice the words of St Thomas the doubter - "My Lord, and my God!"  How that helps me to focus on the Truth of his Body there for me!  Also with the lifting of the cup of His Blood! 

Gus playing with his sister the other day and both smiling -so rare to capture! 

Nancy did capture these the other day and I am borrowing them this morning as I write about Gus...  Nancy and her two just headed out for home, and Bill will be boarding a plane to all gather at home - united as a family after two weeks apart!  Looking back over the last two weeks so much has happened in the way of family and faith and special times shared.  Fr Paul talked at in his homily today about working through those times in relationships when there is hurt and anger.  I cannot say that we had much of that going on other than a flash of anger amongst the little ones - we had 5 under 6 in Texas and a lot of the time 7 under 8 here in Marshall!  Pat was intrigued by how he could watch tempers flare - especially Gus would have a quick reaction of anger when things didn't go his way.  But then he would say he was sorry and go back to playing.  May our anger one with the other pass as quickly.  John just called saying that these were hard readings at mass today- "I have to say that loving my enemy makes me uneasy - I don't do very well with that one."  Yes, we need to do better with that when you take it to the point of thinking about our enemies, who they would be and then finding love in our hearts for them.  "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and on the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust..."  Matthew 5:38-48

Time at great-grandma's in her sunroom on a sunny cold 7th Sunday of Ordinary time. 
Lord, we must hold onto your small slice of heaven here on earth - the Faith and love we share in our domestic Church/family home, and the taste of paradise we are graced with as we gather around your Table of the Feast of Heaven and earth and YOU in your Word!  May we hold with a firm grip on all we are given for our journey of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT!  May we take all we have been given and return that willingly with those around us.  Remembering that we need to treat our bodies as a Temple knowing that the Spirit of God dwells in us!  Thank you, Lord, for the wonder of family times shared in these last weeks and on our travels!  Thank you for our triumphant return to St Patrick's Cathedral with our healed miracle Patrick!  Thank you for our visit with our family - the Community of the Lamb in Kansas City, and all their prayers that continue to surround us and John as he continues to ask for your plan and path to be opened before him.  "Knock and the door will be opened unto you!"  Yes, Lord we are knocking, seeking and asking.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

 Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
Group pictures from our trip - the kids in the warm Texas sun - how they loved to play in the dirt with shirtsleeves on!

 A family walk with a mountain view!

A rose from St Therese shared with my wonderful Therese!

 Thanking St Patrick!  So many powerful prayers and moments shared here in this beautiful Church!

A warm family time in KC!  Thank you Lord for bringing this Community into the heart of our country to bind it's wounds and bring LIGHT into the darkness!

Danielle Rose - the saint that is just me

Danielle Rose - See You in the Eucharist

We know that we are close to Hallel each time we gather as a whole Church for the Eucharist!