Mary and I discuss the beauty of the cottonwood tree that is hundreds of years old standing on the side of their driveway... how I love it at every stage of the seasons... but most especially at this time when the new leaves are fully out and the beautiful play of light and shade makes a beautiful background for the eye to take in! I have such powerful memories of two years ago and a newborn little girl, Rose under that dappled shade with her adoring beautiful family - now she is 2 and her baby brother is already 7 months and such a gift of joy!
Rose is now 25 months and her brother, Luke, is 7 months! Such a masterpiece of love and life!
As I was praying evening prayer last night before bed... I came across a wonderful Canticle of Colossians 1 and was so impressed by it! How wonderful to read the amazing words of St Paul to the Colossians, but also to us the followers of Christ of this age!
"Let us give thanks to the Father
for having made you worthy
to share the lot of the saints
in light.
He rescued us
from the power of darkness
and brought us
into the kingdom of his beloved Son.
Through Him we have redemption,
and forgiveness of our sins.
He is the image of the invisible God,
the first born of all creatures.
In him everything in heaven and on earth was created,
things visible and invisible.
All were created through him;
all were created for him.
He is before all else that is.
In him everything continues in being.
It is he who is head of the body, the Church!
He who is the beginning,
the first born of the dead,
so that primacy may be his in everything.
It pleased God to make absolute fullness reside in him
and, by means of him, to reconcile everything in his person,
both on earth and in the heavens,
making peace through the blood of his cross."
Canticle from Colossians 1:12-20
So blessed by this! And in the first reading from mass today we read in the first reading from Acts 19 that after St Paul baptized 12 disciples in the Holy Spirit he then went and spent 3 months - into the synagogue and "debated boldly with persuasive arguments about the Kingdom of God." I think we just heard some of those words in this Canticle and I think I am super persuaded to follow Christ at all costs as I know He is leading me into the Kingdom of God and I can only imagine how glorious that is and will be!
I can only imagine - MercyMe
"surrounded by His Glory!!!!"
The Gospel is reminding us today that no matter what we face in life and what the world will present troubles to us - "Take courage, I have conquered the world." Jesus to us, and we are given hope to persevere against all the darkness and temptation of sin that surrounds us in so many forms - TV, internet, influences of the media and misled thinking of the world, desire for material things over LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT... we are surrounded by much darkness and need to be that light placed on the lampstand for all to see!
Sharing morning office with John is delightful as is sharing morning prayer in the Magnificat with Pat! The first psalm from the office today filled my inner temple with such praise and worship!
1"How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord Almighty!
2My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
3Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
4Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.#
:4The Hebrew has Selah(a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 8.
5Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.#
:6Or blessings
7They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
8Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
9Look on our shield,#
O God;
:9Or sovereign
look with favor on your anointed one.
10Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
12Lord Almighty,
blessed is the one who trusts in you." Psalm 84
This is where the Kingdom of God is in this our world - within ourselves - the Holy Spirit dwelling within us and making us part of the Body of Christ - His hands and feet!
If we are the body - Casting Crowns... "why aren't our arms reaching, why aren't our hands healing...?"
Jesus, we are so filled with the Holy Spirit as we are given all we need to carry on as we face the troubles of this world. We can take total hope and the courage we need to share the Truth with all we meet - most especially those the closest to us in our domestic Church/family. May we never hesitate to find You and ask what you want for us each moment of each day. It will mean that we need to die to self and our personal wants and desires in order to put others first. Imagine how much that would touch and change the world if we can give without counting the cost! Thank you, Lord, for the "life-giving rain." Pat Verly Jesus, we trust in YOU. Amen and Hallelujah
Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
"Lord, make me know your ways.
Lord, teach me your paths.
Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:
for you are my God my savior.
The Lord is good and upright.
He shows the path to those who stray,
he guides the humble in the right path;
he teaches his way to the poor."
Psalm 25
We are all called to be Saints!
Danielle Rose - The Saint that is just me
Dad with his two girls 2 years ago...
Precious keepsake!
Dad with his girls 2 years later - last day of May 2014!
I just heard a great story related to this Christian song... a Christian mother of 4 and friend attended and school talent show and heard some very horrible ugly songs sung by some young girls. She invited them to come sing at her Christian festival this summer, but told them they had to sing a Christian song, so she made a CD of songs for them to listen to and maybe choose one. They chose "God girl" and said that they are going to sing it in 4H competition this summer too. A life changed? It has definitely opened the door to allow this prayer of song to enter their hearts and make a subtle change and encounter with Christ! Praise HIM! Bless-bless
So very good and true, St Therese, show us the little humble "way."
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