Sunday, April 04, 2010

Signs of Spring~Mosaic Monday


Orange, yellow and pink
Purple, the colors of spring
Creation Glory!

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Thanks be to God!!!

Please visit Mary and The Little Red House. Her pictures are grand and so are the pictures of others!

He Is Risen!!
Alleluia! Alleluia!

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Thanks be to God!

Friday, April 02, 2010

Good Friday

It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit; and when he had said this he breathed his last. Luke 23: 44-46

Waiting in Darkness

The darkness before Jesus died symbolizes the coming of the day of the Lord...This Iroquois prayer expresses the feeling of that moment:

We wait in the darkness!
Come, all ye who listen,
Help in our night journey;
Now no sun is shining;
Now no star is blowing;
Come show us the pathway;
The night is not friendly;
The moon has forgot us;

We walk in the darkness!
David Schiller, editor, The Little Book of Prayers, p. 322)

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Thanks be to God!

Join us today by saying the rosary between 12:00 noon and 3:00 p.m. as we pray for world peace. God bless you all!

Thursday, April 01, 2010

Tea Talk


Strange how a teapot can represent
at the same time the comforts of
solitude and the pleasures of company.
~Author Unknown

I'm having
...Irish Breakfast tea with just a bit of sweetener.

My teacup is...is part of a Chocolate Set hand painted by a former neighbor and given me by DH for my birthday and Christmas many years ago. Sipping from this cup brings a flood of memories.



I'm feeling...the anticipation of one who must get on with the day and finish it before I can participate in what I consider the most important part of this day, Mass celebrating Christ's institution of the Eucharist.

On my mind...Preparing to be in the proper frame of mind to celebrate these Holy Days!

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Thanks be to God!

Now won't you join me and visit Ruth at Celebrate Friendship is hosting Tea Talk at her house? Share a cup of tea with us.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Deridens alium, non inderisus abibit...

Sanctuary, St. John the Baptist Church
3/28/2010


In my reading I sometimes go to the bookshelf and pick up a book I haven't perused in some time. Today I chose to open Latin Sayings for Spiritual Growth by Archabbot Lambert Reilly, O.S. B. from St. Meinrad Archabbey. What happened when I opened it was not so much surprising but relevant to the season of Holy Week.

If you are reflecting this week on the Passion of Our Lord then you will put yourself in the crowd. You will witness in the Holy Countenance the pain. You will hear the jeering crowd with its condemnation. You will see the sneering faces and the hear the verbal abuse of the Anointed One. I found this offering timely for me while on this journey and so I offer it for your reflection.

Deridens alium, non inderisus abibit
("The mocker doesn't go away unmocked")
Traditional

We live in an age of irony. Nothing, it seems is to be taken seriously, and certainly nothing is beyond the reach of mockery.

Satire and poking fun have their place, but when the tone of the ridicule and contempt hijacks an entire age and literally nothing is sacred, something is very wrong.

When we nurture the virtue of justice, we're aware that everything that God created has a divinely ordained purpose. We human beings may, in some ways, be ridiculous and hapless creatures, but when the laughter fades, here we stand: beloved children of God.

How do we deal with the flaws and foibles of those around us? Are they reasons for judgement or fun? Do we make any attempt to understand why people are the way they are or do we take the easy way out, blithely criticizing?

The question is, do we treat others as human beings or as objects for our amusement or sense of superiority?

And what happens the, when we look in the mirror? What has treating others unjustly, as less than human, done to our own humanity? (pp 170-171)
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I have wondered about those who stood at the foot of the cross and mocked Jesus, sneering and challenging him to save himself if he is God...When the earth quaked and the Temple veil is torn in half did they then realize he was the Messiah?

And so before I can pass judgment on these I must ask myself. "Do I, too, mock others for their beliefs, ridicule them for their traditions, treat them as less than myself because they don't "speak the language?" Why is it I become in sensed when I'm placing a call and am asked to choose #1 if I speak English and #2 if I speak another language. What in heaven's name causes me to be unkind? And why do I make remarks like, "If they live here they should learn the language." How do I know that they are not learning it? Who am I to judge. Why should the same offer of support be offered to them so that they might feel justified? Their life is certainly no less valuable in the eyes of God than mine! Shame on ME!

Jesus Christ did not die for those who spoke Aramaic. He didn't die for the Jewish people. We all know why and how he died. What we need to CONTINUE to learn is how I am to live the message for which he DID die, that we might live the Greatest Commandment. "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all our mind, and your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10: 27) And then we must understand that when we live this law we too will find ourselves ridiculed, rebuffed, shunned, the brunt of jokes. I only pray that I will have the courage, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to deny the temptation to ridicule, humiliate, or injure others with my words. No unkind words came from the mouth of our Savior. They shouldn't come from mine either!

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Thanks be to God!

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Happy Birthday, Ron!

Posted by Picasa
Today he is 65, my "Man for All Seasons." He is a man of many talents and skills. A man who has a wonderful sense of humor. He is kind and charitable, one who will offer you his coat if you had none, his shirt if you need one and his house if you require one. God bless you this day and always, Dear Husband!

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Thanks be to God!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Wisdom from Thomas Merton

I found myself personally touched by these words of Thomas Merton today. I was touched by the reality again of a LIVING church. A church that suffers in pain and is jubilant in celebration of our Savior. This reflection is from Lent and Easter: Wisdom from Thomas Merton.

With Christ in Our Bloodstream

The liturgical cycle renews our redemption in Christ, delivers us from the servitude of sin and from the corruption of a "fleshly" mode of being. The liturgical cycle shows us that though we are caught in a struggle between flesh and spirit, thought we are indeed the "fighting Church"--the Church militant--yet the victory is already ours. We possess the grace of Christ, who alone can deliver us from the "body of this death." He who is in us is greater than the world. He has "overcome the world," the life-giving atmosphere of the Spirit, and her blood-stream is cleansed of the elements of death. She lives in Christ, and with Him praises the Father.
Thomas Merton, Seasons of Celebration, 52-53

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Blessed Is He Who Comes In God's Name
As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen saying,

"Blessed is the king,
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in Heaven,
and Glory in the highest Heaven?"

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, order your disciples to stop." He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out."

As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, "If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes."
Luke 19: 36-42
Prayer
Today I unite with every person, of every faith, who regards Jerusalem as their holy city. I consider the tears of Jesus. Wash me in your tears, Lord, as I ponder my ignorance of your peace.


Lenten Journal
Consider the rhythm of the liturgical cycle and how it can bring a life-giving cleansing to your life.
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I wonder why it is that I do not live each week as I do this coming week. As I further pondered these words, wonder how it is that as the life blood of the Church I sometimes seem to be so anemic in my practices. Why am I not more aware of my salvation to the degree I feel it in the coming days? The Monday after Easter Sunday is no different than tomorrow, yet my whole being is anticipating this week in sorrow mixed with joy! I AM saved. Yet the rest of the year I take it so much for granted that I don't even recognize who I am. I have for the last Lenten days worked very hard at being more understanding, compassionate, aware of other. In years past I have done the very same thing. Yet, I lose this willingness to to see Christ in others as also redeemed and fail to see Christ in them. I'm praying this year that this period of "life-giving cleansing" will continue onward...See Christ in all and continue to treat them as He as always treated me. I can do no less. I can only pray that I will not return with such zeal to the "servitude of sin."

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Thanks be to God!

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Picture Puzzle Day

Green and yellow, what lovely colors. They speak of hope and optimism. If there are two things this world need now are HOPE AND OPTIMISM. I think pessimism has carried us through the winter. Now we have to let it go and rise to a new day.




Daffodil yellow
Fragrances sweet and mellow
Spring rises in them.



Click to Mix and Solve
Join me please today as we share a spring day just before we begin to celebrate the beginning of the holiest weeks of the year. Let us begin with hope that comes to fruition in the Resurrection.

I would ask you to share a picture of hope, as you see it, and challenge all of us to enjoy it as we put all the pieces together. Something broken that we can make whole. Enter the world of JigZone and play along today!

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Thanks be to God!

Please share your hope by inviting us through Mr Linky.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Tea Talk



Tea is drunk to forget the din of the world.
~T'ien Yiheng

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Yes, it's Thursday again and I find myself looking forward to it every week now. I sit with my tea and ponder nothing. It's very relaxing and relieves stress a new day can bring.

I'm having...Pomegranate Pizzazz herb tea with just a bit of sweetener.

My teacup is...my teapot/teacup set. I got it when we were in California a number of years ago when we visited David and Kelly there. It reminds me of the wonderful aroma of lemons and strawberries. It was an all around beautiful place to be.




I'm feeling... Grand! It is Thursday and there is only one day until the weekend. This week has not be very stressful at work. The doctors are in Florida on Spring bread with their children.

On my mind...getting properly prepared for Holy Week.

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Thanks be to God!

Now won't you join me and visit Ruth at Celebrate Friendship is hosting Tea Talk at her house? Share a cup of tea with us.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Sharing~~Bottled Water



I found this to be most enlightening. And though I don't used much bottled water, we Do keep it at home in case of an emergency. How much bottled water do you drink? Thanks to Sister Mary Alice Zander, SP.

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Thanks be to God!