The Lamb in our lives

How I love and look to the Lamb in my life!  This is reverberating in me today as in the first reading from Revelations we see the Lamb being adored and glorified for; "Worthy are you to receive the scroll and break open its seals, for you were slain and with your Blood you purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation.  You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on earth."  After just having the joy of a conversation with my Little Sister Hallel/Susan from Rome yesterday... I do believe that those that follow the Lamb and have been saved by His Blood and Baptized by His waters of Baptism into The Church "will reign on earth."  As this icon shows coming from the side of the spotless Lamb/Christ comes the healing waters of Baptism and the Blood that washes away the sins of the world!

Little Romeo sporting his fuzzy buns cloth diapers from Maria's blog today.  Some of my most happy days with my nest years were seeing those diapers on the line each day.  This year the days for putting clothes on the line is ending early...  I know that at least two of my girls have used cloth with their babies.  They have changed a lot since they were babies.

 

Talking to Hallel yesterday was a delight!  We were wanting to update her about John's prayer requests for job hunting and that he has a girlfriend, Amy, in his life.  Both were news to her and we just feel better knowing that she is taking our needs with her to prayer daily and mass daily and Adoration daily, and contemplative prayer morning, noon, evening and night... a lot of exposure to The Lamb!  Hallel's order is called The Community of the Lamb, and the motto they live by is; "Wounded, I will not cease to love."  I was first told that by Little Sister Sarah as we walked down the dirt path in Saint Pierre.  It touched me deeply and I asked her if it were hard.  "Yes, it is very hard to live by when you live so closely with others."  So true for all of us with those the closest to us in our domestic Church/family.  That is where our walls come down and we show our true colors in anger, and impatience, and criticizing, and trying to change (which is pointless and frustrating as we do not change each other), and whining, and crying, and hurting, and being begrudging when asked to do something, and telling white lies to cover up, and all the ways we can pull others down. 

Looking at the Lamb and attempting to learn from the meek and lowly and humble - facing slaughter with no complaint as He bears all our sins upon Him!  "Wounded, I will not cease to love."  Such a tall order for us as we attempt to carry/drag our Most Cherished Cross and follow after The Lamb!  The Lamb who made the Cross into the Tree of LIFE covered with all the fruit that fills us with The Fruits of the Spirit!  …21envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.…  Galatians 5

We have a barometer of knowing if we are living the motto of the Lamb - what kind of fruits are coming forth in the midst of our homes and work and play and every part of our lives? 

 A visit to Kansas City when the little Monastery was being built, and Halle was here for a visit.  Thanksgiving 2 years ago - Nancy brought Bernadette at only 2 weeks old!    Coming together as a family whenever we are given that gift is huge for us!

 The LIGHT that shines on the roof of the chapel in KC - the LIGHT on the hill named Lumen Christi - LIGHT of Christ!

 Hallel shows Mary how to prepare for mass.  Such life lessons are received from our daughter's expanding our family with her entering The Community of the Lamb!

Mary with her namesake - the shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of the Americas!

 Pat was just sharing this morning that there is much adjustment and difficult times as we join into the sacrament of marriage.  It is, like the Eucharist, a daily sacrament we are finding and we need to share prayer throughout the journey.  We have found comfort and help in sharing morning and evening prayer as well as the readings for the day found in the Magnificat - see www.magnificat.com

 Ruth and Paul are heading up to do a presentation for Farm Bureau/young farmers.  Ruth shared that she used this amazing photo for their marriage.  "To be looking at a Saint is about as good as it gets, right?"  I was just sharing the ice storm that hit on their wedding day, and how they barely made it up to their plane to fly to Rome the next day.  They made it and just 2 days after their sharing the Sacrament of Marriage they had their marriage blessed in Rome - "Please bless us with a happy healthy marriage."  Paul is asking.  I would say that Saint John Paul II is interceding for them and answering their heartfelt prayers!  Yes, there are struggles/the cross, but that is where we find LIFE/LOVE/LLIGHT!

 Our two oldest girls with a newborn dairy calf in the barn, where we used to milk cows morning and night.  Farming is a way of life and not just a job!

 Little Sister Hallel working on some doors for the new Little Monastery - Lumen Christi - in KC some time back.  Now she is learning Italian and having some time with Pope Francis ( a few masses and a general audience here and there), and meeting some of our friends through TEC and church that are in Rome now. 

 I found this is Susan's room when she left to join the Community of the Lamb in Sept of 2008!  You had better believe that the tears flowed like a river!  The Cross was embraced and LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT is found!

 After Susan left for France... the 6 little sisters had come to Kansas City, Kansas to start a foundation here in the U.S.  The first one!  How grateful we are that they are here.  We are longing to go and visit them soon, even with Hallel in Rome for the year - they are our family.  As Simon said this day of their first visit to the farm; "We are all family!" So true, Simon!

 Winter almost 30 years ago!  I now see these beautiful faces so familiar in my grandchildren!  So blessed to have them return and be shining lights for the world.  So amazing to share Faith as a Family - united in Jesus and His Bride, The Church!

 John and Hallel walking up the hill in Kansas City on one of our precious times together.

 Hallel meeting Patrick for the first time... saying to David; "Do you know who I am?"  "No, but you look just like my mom."  So amazing to have the love and prayers of our family in blue - The Community of the Lamb!

 Visiting Maria when she considered a call to the Poor Clares for 4 months.  So powerful to realize that the enclosure is necessary to protect them from the influences of the world, and allow them to pray without ceasing for the needs of those living lives of Faith/Family/Farm!  The world would be so much darker and helpless without all those prayers!

 Maria took Patrick to meet her special Poor Clare Sisters, who had prayed for his healing after his traumatic birth - born dead and brought back to life- with so many others!

 Sweet Bernadette a year ago...  I love her smile, the LIGHT, and Our Lady with her precious Son of God in the background!

 Talk about the love of The Call going down through the generations!  I loved the idea of a call to such an amazing LIFE, and then two of my daughters truly lived the life and considered it - one saying "yes!", and now my granddaughters are acknowledging that it would be a beautiful choice for them, if the Lord asks it of them!  So amazing to consider being a Bride of Christ!

 For each other we are The Most Cherished Cross.  Jesus, allow us to give without counting the cost.

 My Patrick in El Paso meeting St Patrick in the Cathedral of St Patrick's where so many prayers were said for grandson, Patrick two years ago.

 Grandson, Patrick, in his mother's arms... healed and grateful!

My parents and grandson, Dominic, about 5 months ago.  They modeled for me openness and love of all LIFE!  They are parents to 12 - with 2 in heaven.  We are the parents of 12 with 7 in heaven.  I think we needed more prayers than they did.  It certainly is a Cross we will only understand someday when we are united with them in heaven.

 I know that I am getting carried away today... but The Lamb and the tears of Jesus for Jerusalem in the Gospel today... How I long for us to take to heart how we are to die to self so that He may live in us and the Fruits of the Spirit may show we are Christians by our lives!

 Beautiful Maria with her 4th child here on earth, her 6th total, little precious Romeo!  Hallel has yet to meet her 3 youngest nephews!  Each of her sisters has had a little boy in the last year.  When we finally come together imagine the joy and the celebration!

Talk about a picture of beauty!  Two gloriously beautiful handmade rosaries from my friend The Rosary Girl, Liz, and a worn and showing the prayers rosary gifted to Patrick's family just days after his traumatic birth!  An older gentleman gave it to them after his many prayers on it for his son with downs syndrome, Patrick!  No more wonderful gift!

 

Jesus, so much pouring forth this day as we are reminded of The Lamb in heaven that shows us the path we are to follow.   May we find the strength we need to give without counting the cost... filled with the knowledge and love of You in all that fills our lives with the good and the hard.  May we take up our Most Cherished Cross and embrace it to find LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT.  May our tears water the seeds of all that is good and may the fruits of the Spirit fill our lives for all to see... most especially those the closest to us in our domestic Church/family.  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

The Eucharistic Chapel in El Paso - St Patrick's Cathedral.  Many hours of prayer were spent here, and were answered!

 

Bless-bless, Barbara Luke

 

"You should know, children, that to find this happy lot, a man must die to all created things.  Joy and sorrow, whether in body or mind, or in flesh and blood, must be indifferent to him.  He must love God alone.  He must diligently cultivate the interior virtues with a view of gladly suffering all adversity.  He must behave himself very virtuously, be fond of a hidden life, never complain, never seek outward comfort - very different from those who have made little progress in virtue, who know little of God in their interior souls."  Fr John Tauler (1361)

 A view out the front window this early winter. ... I think the birds are in shock this winter, too!

Snow out the window of the little Church my dad served for 3 years in Colman, SD.

Pursue me - Danielle Rose

 Once again a Hallel Psalm in mass today!  Psalm 149!

Let them praise his name in the festive dance,

let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.

For the Lord loves his people,

and he adorns the lowly with victory.

The Lamb has made us a kingdom of priests to serve our God.

True Love by Danielle Rose

Susan played this over and over before she left to join The Community of the Lamb!  It still brings tears to my eyes at the LOVE it speaks of!

This is ringing in my heart after hearing my granddaughter, Mary, pray it last night when we prayed with the kids before bed.   We will have the gift of doing that the next two nights, too, as they are staying with us while mom and dad are off to a convention/anniversary get away without the kids.  Lord, be with us all and guardian angels watch over all of us!