How is this for a picture for the first day of spring? It seems fitting to use this special picture for a surprise feast day for today... a historical one for St Photina, who is the Samaritan woman at the well! We find this powerful story in John 4:4-42, and it fits well with the Gospel today where Jesus speaks of recognizing I AM as we gaze upon him in his sacrifice for us!
"When you lift up the Son of Man,
then you will realize that I AM,
and that I do nothing on my own,
but I say only what the Father taught me.
The one who sent me is with me.
He has not left me alone,
because I always do what is pleasing to him."
Because he spoke this way, many came to believe in him. John 8
And one of those was St Photina! He recognized her sinfulness and his Mercy surrounded her as he offered her the water of eternal blessed LIFE! We are all sinful and why hide it from him? He knows all there is to know about us! Lay it at his feet and be healed in the Sacrament of Reconciliation! Such a glorious gift to receive during this Lent, so that Easter may be filled with all that is LIGHT/LOVE/LIFE/embracing our Cross and being washed in the blood of the Lamb!
I am pondering a lot of being washed clean by the waters of LIFE as I have not managed to get to Reconciliation yet. For one reason or another I have not made it there yet, and I am longing to get that accomplished in the next few days! I could be heading for some days with my parents tomorrow, and know that the young priest there has confession before mass each day... fake plans are forming as I long to be set free!!
St Photina experienced that cleansing, and also the LIFE giving waters that quench our thirst with each new day with our Jesus and His Bride, The Church. Thinking of my parents and the verses from Isaiah 55:1-2 that led us into the Catholic Church 46 years ago...
Isaiah 55:1-2 New International Version (NIV)
Invitation to the Thirsty
55 “Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
I have always called this Eucharistic and in many ways it is. I also see in the light of St Phonita how it speaks of the LIFE giving waters that give us LIFE everlasting and how we are constantly filled with the well spring of the thirst for Jesus and ALL that he has to give us each and every moment of every day, and we are satisfied and quenched with so very much! Gushing sparkling cool waters of great JOY!
My heart is full of prayer this day for many in my life! The Lord certainly keeps us close to his heart burning with love for us as we lift up the needs of so many! Hearing that there is comfort found in being so lifted up is not just make believe... Prayer is REAL and powerful!!! I look at so many examples of prayers answered and healing in my life!!!
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/johns-cancer-stories.html
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/the-story-of-little-lamb-grandson.html
Those 10 years have included many crosses and now with this beautiful answer to the question of; "what does the Lord want from me?" They both see the Truth of I AM having a perfect plan for them. Prayer has been huge for their relationship going forward and to this day, and their JOY is written all over them! Jesus tells us in the Gospel today that we will recognize him when he is lifted up for us on the Crosses of our lives. Yes!!!
Lord, my thoughts and prayers are with my sister in law in surgery right now. With new lives in the womb, and with many needs in families and illnesses. You are in control and we place all in your hands and trust! Your Mother, Mary most Holy, is always there to hold us close to her Immaculate heart and bring our needs to you. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen
Thinking about the struggles with the baby calves in this weather... Bless-bless, Barbara Mary Luke
"When a child is given to his parents, a crown is made for that child in Heaven, and woe to the parents who raise a child without consciousness of that eternal crown!"
– Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
Yes!!!
LOVE!
This made me smile!!! If anything Scott is wordy, but so wise! He and I are soul mates in our love, love, love for The Church!!! And our journey here from Protestantism!
I am longing for my hour in Adoration...
St Photina
Samaritan Woman at the Well
Convert, Evangelizer of the Faith, Martyr
Name meaning: “resplendent” or “shining with light”
Historical FEAST DAY - March 20
By the well of Jacob, O holy one, /
thou didst find the Water /
of eternal and blessed life; /
and having partaken /
thereof, O wise Photina, /
thou wentest forth proclaiming Christ, the Anointed One.
thou didst find the Water /
of eternal and blessed life; /
and having partaken /
thereof, O wise Photina, /
thou wentest forth proclaiming Christ, the Anointed One.
(Megalynarion for St. Photina, according to the Byzantine usage)
St Photina, pray for us -
that we may have zeal for the faith!
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