I just had to borrow this picture once again from Ruth's great family farm blog - http://familyfarmexperience.blogspot.com/ Why? Because today Jesus washes the feet of his disciples and tells us to do the same to those in our lives - our domestic Church/family and beyond. There is such a feeling of accomplishment when you put those dirty tired little ones in the tub and they come out glowing and smiling and snuggly! I also work many retreats and footwashing is a powerful part shared at different times throughout. I have been on both the giving and receiving end of foot washing, and both sides is a very powerful experience. And finally, if you attend Holy Thursday services over the years since I have been Catholic - going on 42 years now - you will have had the times in those years that you have had your feet washed as part of the service. One year we received an anonymous letter from someone very touched by the sight of Pat washing the feet of his daughter. This blog post speaks of a father's place in raising up daughters of LIGHT for the world - http://choosingtruth.weebly.com/1/post/2014/04/dads-we-need-you.html Have you ever experienced it for yourself? Both the having your feet washed or washing the feet of others?
Today as I was reading the sharing of my friends in facebook - I noted that many were every excited about today being Holy Thursday - the first day of the Tridium!
"Today is one of my favorite days of the year! Love Holy Thursday!" Such a surprising and wonderful statement reminding me that today we received our LIFE here on earth - the living Body and Blood in the Eucharist! May we look to the example of Mary and Simon. When we consider all that Our loving and forgiving Savior has done for us, if we only turn to HIM and die to self so that He may live in us... how can we not be filled to overflowing in gratitude and want to return that love and forgiveness to all those we encounter - seeing Christ in them?
Our family is where we are called upon to wash feet! It was a beautiful sight to see how an act of kindness brought on a new act of serving out of love and thankfulness.
Jesus, may we approach these days of the Tridium with a sense of how special and set apart they are for us... You although our "teacher" and "master"- "rose from supper and took off his outer garments... took a towel and tied it around his waist... poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciple's feet and dry them with the towel around his waist...If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that what I have done for you, you should also do." John13- the Gospel for mass tonight - Holy Thursday May all the times you have washed our feet and served us in healing and forgiving and miracles come flooding over us as we feel the water surround our feet in your basin of service out of LOVE... and filled with those life-giving waters may we then yearn to wash the feet of those around us - allowing them to know that this LOVE and service only is through The Holy Spirit within which fills us with the fruits of the Spirit! " But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness," Galatians 5:22 Jesus, we trust in YOU. Amen
Jesus, may we approach these days of the Tridium with a sense of how special and set apart they are for us... You although our "teacher" and "master"- "rose from supper and took off his outer garments... took a towel and tied it around his waist... poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciple's feet and dry them with the towel around his waist...If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that what I have done for you, you should also do." John13- the Gospel for mass tonight - Holy Thursday May all the times you have washed our feet and served us in healing and forgiving and miracles come flooding over us as we feel the water surround our feet in your basin of service out of LOVE... and filled with those life-giving waters may we then yearn to wash the feet of those around us - allowing them to know that this LOVE and service only is through The Holy Spirit within which fills us with the fruits of the Spirit! " But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness," Galatians 5:22 Jesus, we trust in YOU. Amen
A sense of family sharing a service to others is a great thing indeed!
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
Antiphon before the Eucharist tonight
"Where true charity is dwelling, God is present there.
-By the love of Christ we have been brought together:
- let us find in him all gladness and our pleasure;
-may we love him and revere him, God of the living,
-and in love respect each other with sincere hearts.
Where true charity is dwelling, God is present there.
-So when we as one are gathered all together,
-let us strive to keep our minds free of division;
-may there be an end to malice, strife and quarrels,
-and let Christ our God be dwelling here among us.
Where true charity is dwelling, God is present there.
-May your face thus be our vision, bright in glory,
-Christ our God, with all the blessed Saints in heaven:
-such delight is pure and faultless, joy unbounded,
-which endures through countless ages world without end. Amen."
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
Antiphon before the Eucharist tonight
"Where true charity is dwelling, God is present there.
-By the love of Christ we have been brought together:
- let us find in him all gladness and our pleasure;
-may we love him and revere him, God of the living,
-and in love respect each other with sincere hearts.
Where true charity is dwelling, God is present there.
-So when we as one are gathered all together,
-let us strive to keep our minds free of division;
-may there be an end to malice, strife and quarrels,
-and let Christ our God be dwelling here among us.
Where true charity is dwelling, God is present there.
-May your face thus be our vision, bright in glory,
-Christ our God, with all the blessed Saints in heaven:
-such delight is pure and faultless, joy unbounded,
-which endures through countless ages world without end. Amen."
Life is a gift we are given and then give without counting the cost!
"Grant, almighty God, that just as we are renewed by the Supper of your Son in this present age, so we may enjoy this banquet for all eternity. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen." Prayer after Communion
"Grant, almighty God, that just as we are renewed by the Supper of your Son in this present age, so we may enjoy this banquet for all eternity. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen." Prayer after Communion
From the Luminous mysteries by Danielle Rose - Listen to him - the Transfiguration
Danielle Rose - The Eucharist
Leaves coming forth in the house - mid-April snow outside. May our wintry souls find warmth in the Love and forgiveness of Christ and bud forth in the newness of LIFE - May our Most Cherished Cross bring forth fruit as it has become for us the Tree of LIFE!
So beautiful and only here for a short time - Pat says that this snow will give us some moisture for the fields to work up nice, and to go down and take the frost out of the ground. So other than keeping an eye on the calves - that they don't get sick- last night after the snow they bedded them a nice deep warm dry place to lay and recover from the wet cold of the day. Lord, protect our baby animals. Amen
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