A morning of prayer/Sweet end to our meals/sharing a small slice of heaven/"salvation perfect through suffering." Hebrews 2

 Is there anything more wonderful than dessert?  And dessert held by beautiful children with huge smiles and angelic voices giving them the melody to march their feet and bear forth their sweet finish to a wonderful meal shared at Open Table at the Little Brothers new monastery/Light of Mary, the Mother of God in the heart of the poor in Kansas City!  The best on all levels!

From the first meal we shared with the Community over 10 years ago... we look forward to this most special end for a meal.. that of JOY and happiness as we have just shared a small slice of heaven amongst our Family of the Lamb!  The children suddenly disappear and then the cue of singing brings them forth from the kitchen with their sweet gifts for all!

 Dominic with two children that live close by, and arrive alone to share in the meal and the dessert procession... their favorite.  It is wonderful to see the love that is given them and the plate of dessert they are given to bring home to their mother.  The Open Table is for them and all to come and have food and sharing of the Word and LOVE of Christ in action and Word!

Sitting next to a man, who just lost his wife and is the very poor in our midst!  Hallel shared that when she got out to come for Open Table that her crutch went down into the mud and the snow and she lost the rubber end to her crutch down there..."Carl, dug down and got it out for me!"  How he finds their love comforting and he returns that it his humble service to them.  Such a beautiful sight to behold!

 One way is the refectory where we shared our meal and our hearts, and the other is the Spirit filled chapel of LIGHT of Mary, the Mother of God!  Able to spend some time in prayer here with Pat and Little Sister Judith sitting in the corner grabbing some precious time with her Spouse, Jesus Christ, before our meal.

 When we entered the Monastery of the Little Sisters/Lumen Christi/Light of Christ... we were shown this statue over the Word - Mary the bearer of the Word and Protector of the Word.  She had been carried around the neighborhood in a procession during a retreat... Christmas Retreat for young and old..From a newsletter about the retreat...

                             Joy of the Gospel proclaimed to the Little Ones
Under the gray sky, on Monday afternoon, we headed out in procession with the statue of the Virgin Mary.  With all the young adults we entered into one of the poorest houses of  the neighborhood.  There in Carl's house, we proclaimed all together "to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God."  Carl's house is officially the first little monastery of the Word.  Carl looked at Mary and said "Look, she's smiling!"
"And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home."  John 19:27

The icon in the chapels of the Community!!!  Jesus eating Mary's chin out of his total LOVE for his mother!  I have seen the my girls with their babies kissing and sucking on their chins as they love and depend upon their mothers totally for nourishment, love and protection from any harm!

Prayer and dishes is how Hallel describes her life as a Little Sister... they are the poor!

May 2019 be under the gaze of Mary, Mother of God... she has born the Word, Jesus Christ to the world and through Him comes all LIGHT/LOVE/LIFE!

https://catholicsprouts.com/?fbclid=IwAR12x_e9kdBncFaMx1swsZv4zJcZ8yIn6GqID6Sbo0GoRY13M_FnW40wx2w
Listening to Nancy's podcast for Catholic kids - Catholic Sprouts!  So wonderful to share our Faith with our children with JOY!

I have written this today in two parts... been to town and visited with Ruth in between, so I need to bring this to a close for today.  My heart is so full after my wonderful family times over the weekend in KC with two of our daughters!

I was gifted with prayer with Pat from The Magnificat this morning and the readings shared.  Then prayed the office on the phone with John!  It seems like once a week we can manage to share morning prayer on the phone.. not sitting side by side on the couch.  It is still a wonderful blessing and the petitions we share for family is a very powerful time as John's ministry and heart for prayer come forth led by the Holy Spirit!  How I have witnessed the Holy Spirit at work in the men in my life!  Husband, Pat, dad, Robert and son, John!

Jesus, I am led closer and closer to you and your mother through the gift of prayer!  Yes, many times we are lifting up the ways we are called to suffer on this journey, but that is when we turn to you and trust and find our salvation... From the first reading in Hebrews 2 today...For it was fitting that he,
for whom and through whom all things exist,
in bringing many children to glory,
should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering.
He who consecrates
and those who are being consecrated all have one origin.
Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them "brothers" saying:

I will proclaim your name to my brethren,
in the midst of the assembly I will praise you."
Jesus, we trust in you.  Bless-bless, Barb

The Spirit at work in John's life through brain cancer!

 

"I plead with you – never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire and never become discouraged. Be not afraid." – Pope St. John Paul II