Our extended family arose for a shared breakfast and prayers and tears and hugs... as our son in law, Joseph returns to the Army today... We discovered that it is the feast day in our amazing Church - the Most Holy Name of Jesus! How we cling to that to find comfort and strength!
Therese lovingly hugged her daddy and it brought tears to all of our eyes..."If you think the name of 'Jesus' continually, it purges your sin and kindles your heart; it clarifies your soul, it removes anger and does away with slowness. It wounds in love and fulfills charity. It chases the devil and puts out dread. It opens heaven, and makes you a contemplative. It puts all vices and phantoms out of the lover." Richard Rolle....Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus... we need you to help us through this hard place and understand the need to seperate a young family..
One last hug and love that will last for the months that they will be seperated! "Daddy, I love you... Keep yourself safe and happy." 
Just as they head out... the two little ones will spend the day happily with their cousins a few miles down the road, while Maria and Joseph have 3 hours of travel to share and say their goodbyes... Sometimes life is hard to figure out... it is very hard for us to understand as we have been planted here, and my husband has never even left for work everyday... his work is here! So different, yet we do see that serving our country is necessary for the freedom that we are blessed with and take for granted. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus...
Feeling the need to send him off with some shared prayers... Joseph sat on a chair and we all put our hands on him... little Therese held his hand. Each prayed over him and then we sang the blessing song that we have used at TEC all of these years..."May the Blessing of the Lord be upon you. We bless you in the name of the Lord..." How appropriate today - in your name - JESUS! More tears to wipe... Joseph is assured that with me this is to be expected on a regular basis... "This is just normal around here with mom!"
They had many wonderful months together this past summer/fall... relaxed and loving and bonding... now they have all the strength that they need to see it through all this time apart. We are here for Maria and the kids... Pat just called over to Ruth and Paul's and the 5 kids are running around sceaming and happy like a bunch of "Indians."
How's that for a silly and fun bunch? These happy times will carry them through. In the name of Jesus, we know that you look to Him and He is with you always! 
The Lord Jesus promised,"Whatever you ask in my name,I will do" - John 14:13. For "the name 'Jesus" contains all... His name is the only one that contains the presence it signifies"- CCC 2666. "You have had yourselves washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ" -I Cor 6:11. For there is no "other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved" - Acts 4:2.
"God of all the living, you sent your only-begotten Son to enlighten the world with the warmth of your love. Enkindle in our winter-bound hearts the fire of charity, that we may burn always with zeal for you, though Christ our Lord. Amen" - Closing prayer for morning prayer - see http://www.magnificat.com/ The "winter-bound hearts" really spoke to me after this already long and difficult winter.. struggling to slowly get to the nursing home for the last 3 days... and the experience of being snowed in there for 28 hours 3 weeks ago.. thankfully Maria and Joe have good roads today! You can never be too sure this time of year! 
From the first reading for mass today, that is being said in every corner of the world.... from the tiny church in the middle of Africa to ST Peters in Rome - "His commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us...This is how you can know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh belongs to God....We belong to God and anyone who knows God listens..." I John 3:22-4:6
"In the name of Jesus every knee must bend, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth; every tongue should proclaim to the glory of God the Father: Jesus Christ is Lord." Phil 2: 10-11 He gives us the Hope, Strength, Faith, Trust that we need to get over the bumps in the journey of life! WE know that without a doubt!
Put yourself in this scene and take heart... all those that are facing difficulties!..."Jesus went around all of Gallilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people. His fame spread to all of Syria, and they brought to him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics and he cured them. And great crowds... followed him." Matt 4: 12-17, 23-25 - The Gospel for today! We are so filled with great confidence that our God come as man - Jesus is answering all of our needs!
Therese and David know that Jesus is with them, and they have always known that as even in their mother's womb they have attended daily mass... It has been good for us to "see" Maria's devotion to our Lord's presence in the Eucharist and the way that we are fed and given strength through that amazing Gift of Himself to us! These amazing words from Allen Hunt in his book, that I am in the midst of reading, Confessions of a Mega-Church Pastor... "Holiness is palpable and prevalent in the Catholic Church because God comes to us in the Eucharist and the altar with the great gift of Himself, His body and blood. Through that offering on the altar God then infuses us with His Holiness and with His grace in the body and blood of Christ."
"Over time, day in and day out, prayer, devotion and the Mass have an overwhelming effect in our lives. They produce holiness." Allen Hunt... I can see the effect that all this exposure to Jesus has had on Maria and her children... as they face this hard time of seperation from her husband and their father. WE the extended family also need the strength that these blessings of The Church provides for us!
So with tears in our eyes and a warm hug and a bless-bless on the forehead... we send Joseph off to the path that the Lord has opened before him! 
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus... your name reminds us in all of our being of your miraculous works in this world starting with your becoming man and dwelling among us - showing your love for us in healing all of our pain and ills and also teaching us the Truth! We come to you within our deepest soul and spirit and ask for your Holy Spirit to dwell within us... give us all we need to follow you and to serve those around us - especially those in our families. Jesus, we trust in you! Amen and Halleluia!
"Your name, O God, is oil poured out. Your name is Jesus, that is Savior. As long as my soul is sick through sin, oppressed with the heavy burden of the body, anxious and distrubed by tne dangers and miseries of life, so long, O Lord, your name is for me oil... But when my soul is suddenly illumined with the light of grace, cleansed from all the defilement of sin, and feels itself filled with consolation, with spiritual strength and unspeakable joy, then I can say to you with delighted praise and in joy of spirit,'Your name, O Lord, is for me oil poured out. For the grace of our visitation makes me fully understand the true meaning of your name, which is Jesus, Savior. For it is your gracious presence that saves me from sorrrow and from sin." Fr Walter Hilton (1396)
