"Look into my soul and see the LOVE which dwells there first for My Lord and his Bride, The Church, and then for this man before me, My Most Cherished Cross through which I have found LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT for the past 40 years!"
I was given a box of pictures after my mother-in-law's photo albums were sorted through... this from our wedding was one I had never really seen before, and it was an odd red color of age which made it quite unappealing. When I pushed the black and white button... it revealed a sweet moment at some point during our sacrament of Matrimony in The Basilica of St Mary on August 3, 1978... we are approaching 41 years!
Both the readings in mass today are filling me with that glorious LIGHT and LIFE as the LOVE of our Lord pours fourth those He encounters through His Disciples and His Resurrection and walking with them on the road!
The first reading is from Acts when the crippled man at the gate to the temple is healed by Peter and John...
Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold,
but what I do have I give you:
in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk.”
Then Peter took him by the right hand and raised him up,
and immediately his feet and ankles grew strong.
He leaped up, stood, and walked around,
and went into the temple with them,
walking and jumping and praising God.
Acts 3
Talk about brightness coming into the Temple and people being brought into The LIGHT of The Truth by witnessing this man's healing and LOVE for Jesus as a result! Lord, How I long to be such a witness to so many around me that know you not!
How I prayed for another one after John to show the world that we did not stop because "you had that boy after 4 girls"... Another one was not to join us here on earth, but John had 2 brothers we lost at 20 week stillbirth and are buried at the cemetery. They keep our eyes on heaven to be united with now 7 children and 5 grandchildren.
What better Gospel today than the Resurrected Lord on the road to Emmaus? Jesus walking with us on this journey and many times we don't recognize him as we plod along with downturned hearts and minds. We complain and pour out our disappointment to him that things are not going according to our plan for our lives...
Jesus listens and He must truly become frustrated with our being "slow of heart" as he repeatedly reveals himself to us and closes doors ahead of us to keep us from going astray... the Good Shepherd for his lost and mindless sheep! The Word has filled each day with so much, and I am experiencing daily the "hearts burning within" me when The Holy Spirit speaks to me and guides me DEEP in the readings for the day- Jesus there for us!
The turning point for the two disciples on the road with Jesus was when he shared His Body in the Eucharist with them! So True and so important for Jesus to come to us and dwell within us. No, our plan is not where we find happiness and His wisdom is mysterious for our lives... Jesus is in control and we want His Plan to be ours!
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
R. Rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord.
Psalm 105 today seems to speak of our Easter JOY and celebrating together the newness of LIFE!
Jesus, we are overwhelmed by all that you give us each day on this journey of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT as we embrace the Tree of LIFE/Our Most Cherished Cross and carry/drag it down the narrow path according to your plan for our lives! We can find a small slice of heaven in our domestic church/family if only we die to self so that you may work and live and breath within us. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah!
Baby Hector on mommy's shoulder in Washington. We are working on some fake plans to get their family here for some family time on the farm this summer! Pat of I flying out there to help them drive the 2 days back here! When talking to my mom this morning... she thought it was crazy to do all that. "It is worth it mom to have our family together!" Yes, indeed! Bless-bless, Barbara Mary Luke
Another peaceful healthy little boy - 7 week old Hector napping on his big sister, Therese.
"There's the pretty pretty mommy that I love!"
In the last year... I suddenly started to call Pat..."Honey." It has really made my love flourish more and our relationship is more loving than it has been over these 40 years. I joked that after 40 years of wandering in the desert had we found the promised land? But it does seem that we have found a land flowing with milk and "honey", and I would advise using this loving way of speaking to your spouse... it helps to feel more loving in the midst of the day to day irritations and conversations. Pat noticed my change right away and his response was sweeter to me!
Now this!!!
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