"Who in your life brought you to Jesus?"/Ponder the importance of Spiritual food to us

Augustine 9 years ago in Rochester when John was 2 years out from his healing of brain cancer.  Gus would only be about 6 months here and a strong reminder of our family gathered around John on this ongoing journey of the new John - healed from brain cancer and finding his faith through his healing.

John and I are just back from our annual trip there for an MRI and check in with the wonderful doctor that has picked up where our Dr Brian O'Neal left off.  The next steps ahead are a cognitive test to see where we are at with his brain after chemo and radiation 11 years ago.  Also a surgery to fix a nerve which moves his eye from side to side that was damaged by that same radiation.  We are in such good and caring hands there!

Finally able to get my advent wreath out on this 3rd day of Advent.  Mom and dad looking on remind me that I was quite sure that dad would still be here to share Advent with me and my family.  It all seems to be have happened so quickly now.  

The excitement builds in me each morning and I find such beauty, truth and words from my parents through the daily meditations that they left behind for me!  This morning Pope Benedict XVI spoke so eloquently about the meaning of Advent!  

I love the last few lines especially as they remind us that at this time of suffering for so many in our world, country, and families..." Advent should therefore enable us to see that something of the beauty of Advent can be found even in difficulty, illness and suffering can therefore, like a great joy, also be a personal Advent - a visit by God who wants to enter my life and turn toward me."

Blessed by this hymn mom used in her graveside and funeral mass!  The words are so wonderful!

It is as though I saw a cardinal and it was a reminder of the beautiful passing of both my parents within 7 months of each other!  

Cat Stevens with the famous version of Morning is broken

How I love to have my morning broken open by Jesus in Word, morning prayer of The Church, and my daily meditations from mom and dad by Brother Victor-Antione, and Pope Benedict XVI

Over to get gas at the farm - Ruth has made her yard one of great festive beauty!

"My man, Victor-Antione"  Dad's voice echoes in my heart, and head!  How I miss my father, and our work of prayer each day!  I am missing him so much.

When John and I went to mass at St John the Evangelist in Rochester on the feast of St Andrew... the priest spoke of how Andrew brought his brother, Peter, and others to Jesus.  He ended his homily with the question to us..."Who in your life has brought you to Jesus?"  Sitting next to John - I poked him as a big bringer of me to Jesus, my father and mother, my husband, our friend and pastor now at Holy Redeemer, Fr Denny, my 5 children including John and their wonderful spouses, Hallel's Community of the Lamb... I am brought so deep and love Jesus so much because of so many!  

Dad's well worn book is a gift each day!  I discerned a call to religious life, I shared in religious life with my father for 6 months and time to time with my daughter, nun and her amazing Community of the Lamb.  Now each day I am gifted with sharing in the religious life of this humble prayerful monk, Brother Victor-Antione!  Thanks dad!

A cardinal came to my prayer space to fill me with the true presence of my parents joining me in prayer and uplifting spiritual food with some wonderful daily meditations!  I also have an Advent book left me by dad from John Henry Neumann!  

Pat and I are trying to get to daily mass, and this morning we had Fr Denny on the altar.  His homily also ended with a question to ponder... "Think about the importance of spiritual food to us?"  The Gospel today is feeding those gathered for Jesus to heal and teach on the mountain for 3 days!  Jesus was concerned that they be fed, and so the 7 loaves and fish were broken and they were all satisfied!  Fr pointed out how hard is has been to not be able to receive Jesus due to this  pandemic and how it has reminded us about how important it is to us!

The promise from the first reading in Isaiah 25

On this mountain the LORD of hosts
will provide for all peoples
A feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,
The web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.  Isaiah 25

My mother and I sat in these chairs many times and shared from our hearts... Adding to the specialness of my time spent here being led deeply into spiritual food and being brought to Jesus by mom and dad!  

Jesus, I am so blessed by all those around me that bring me to Jesus!  My children take me deeper - each and every one of them...even the 7 in heaven that keep my eyes focused on getting there to meet them and spend eternity with them.  How much JOY to ponder my parents united with them and their two children, Mary and Lincoln, along with the 6 grandchildren of mine that are taking me to Jesus!  How I long to die to self so that you may live in me, and I may be your hands and feet and voice of Truth!  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

The two ways that we look to Jesus in Advent - in gratitude for his coming to dwell among us as a man, and his coming again as we continue to await our Savior, who will come on the last day to take us into the heavenly Jerusalem where the Kingdom of God will be fully realized.  Thank you, dad and your man, Victor-Antione for that pearl of great price.  Bless-bless, Barbara 

Danielle Rose

O God beyond all praising - mom's other amazing hymn