Here today we are having SUN and it could reach 60! I think that Ruth will be working on getting her porch ready for spring, and Pat is thrilled to have the big rain drying in the warm sun. He prayed today in thanksgiving for a calf they had treated during the cold wet who is now much better!
So much thinking about my mother as she is gone 2 weeks today. The readings from mass today portray 2 other women one unjustly condemned and the other justly. Mom has gone to face her maker, and over these last few years she has been so childlike struggling with dementia, depression, and chronic lung issues. I would look back and see her standing in the doorway watching me leave after repeatedly asking me to stay with her. There is comfort in knowing that she went quickly to be with Jesus with only about 8 hours of suffering. A wish of hers granted.
The words from the Gospel yesterday allow me to find peace as none others in my mother being alive for eternity with her loving and forgiving Lord, Mary, all the saints, and all those that have gone ahead of us. I will pray for her soul and her journey along with my sister, brother, and Pat's parents, brother, and all the dead... Yet, Christ's words fill me with JOY and Hope!
Jesus told her,
“I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die..."
John 11
My mother struggled with many difficult things over these last years, yet there was never any doubt that she loved her Lord, and followed Him the best she could! Being able to share our journeys as much as we did was my most precious gift!
Today's readings are very powerful in reflecting on my mother's journey in light of these two women... My mother, like Susanna, would stand up for the Truth no matter what it meant for her to deal with. Family drama, misunderstood intentions for her children, speaking out her message of wives being submissive to their husbands much as St Paul teaches in Ephesians... talk about a hotly misunderstood teaching in this day and age!
Ephesians 5:22-33 MEV
Wives, be submissive to your own husbands as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head and Savior of the church, which is His body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, and that He might present to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. In this way men ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord cares for the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I am speaking about Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Nancy and Bill uses this in their wedding sharing that after going through Theology of the Body by St JPII this was important to them, and Truth!
The amazing Gospel today from John 8 - the woman taken in adultery! How does this relate to my mother? The unconditional LOVE and Mercy from Jesus towards this woman caught in sin. He asks her to go and sin no more - Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”
Yes, we are forgiven over and over by Jesus as we lay our sins at the foot of his Cross in the Confessional and leave there filled with The Holy Spirit to lead us better down the narrow path carrying/dragging our Most Cherished Cross to LIFE eternal! My mother strived and burned to share The Truth with ALL - visit her site where all her books and studies appear! https://www.catholicdiagramteacher.com/
The world grows dark yet His LIGHT shines forth!
So much comfort today in the 23rd psalm from mass most especially... He refreshes my soul in regards to my mother now in His LIGHT - bright sunlight in this pasture!
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
So much comfort today in the 23rd psalm from mass most especially... He refreshes my soul in regards to my mother now in His LIGHT - bright sunlight in this pasture!
Responsorial Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
R. (4ab) Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
Forgiven, O Lord, we bow down before you and ask that we can die to self so that you may live in us and use us to your honor and glory! May we be your hands and feet and mouth to share The Truth! We are called to face the persecution and criticism and misunderstanding - may we go forward down the narrow path carrying/dragging our Most Cherished Cross without fail! You are in control and we are nothing without you. Jesus, we trust in you. Amen
My father now alone... another voice for The Truth! How I have been blessed by having both of my parents together and united in our Faith in Jesus, Mary and The Church! Two weeks ago this changed, yet there is huge comfort in knowing that my mother now is able to see perfectly how each one of us need her prayers and help on this journey of LIFE/LOVE/LIGHT! Bless-bless, Barb
Danielle Rose - The Saint that is just me
Danielle Rose - Nothing compares to you
O God, beyond all praising - St Michael Catholic Church, Stillwater
Zach Williams
Kutless - take me in to the holy of holies
No comments:
Post a Comment