Gospel Reading Today Mathew 26:14-25
"The Chief Priests paid Judas thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over." Mathew 26:5-16
The reflection I read today from Not By Bread Alone is so powerful. I want to share it with you today.
"Thirty pieces of silver. It is one of the coldest phrases in the gospel. That Judas, one of Jesus' most trusted friends, would sell him into death for thirty pieces of silver sickens us. Such greed, such callousness, such evil numbs us.
Thirty pieces of silver- the price for doing away with Jesus. But in our own lives, we do away with Jesus for even lesser amounts. We sell off God and the things of God for far less.
We sell time with our families for a few extra dollars in overtime, for a promotion, for professional affirmation.
We sell those marked as "just a stay at home mom" and "a weird homeschool mom" into abuse and ridicule in order to protect our own false superiority.
We sell the poor into an eternal prison of poverty rather than part with a few pieces of our own silver.
We sell of our relationship with God for anything that is more profitable or more fun.
True, we're nowhere near as evil or as callous as Judas- but we have, at some time, collected our thirty pieces of silver."
NOT BY BREAD ALONE 2010
I replaced "nerds" and "geeks" with "just a stay at home mom" or "a weird homeschool mom". I believe in today's society, moms who devote their lives to their children are such an easy target. Mainly because deep down inside, other moms and dads want to give their time, talents and treasures as much as they can to their children but sell their time to a career or other worldly standards to obtain self worth and materialistic gain. I have many precious friends who balance both career and family. I have many friends who devote their lives solely to their family. I have many friends, my sister being one, who homeschool. They are all beautiful women of the Lord. My opinion is just this: when the career is solely to help climb a worldly ladder of nice clothes, fancy cars and big homes or because motherhood is just too hard, this is wrong. They leave their children at the feet of Jesus, toss the coins to the caregiver and head out to conquer their identity of worldly gain and success. Instead of sitting with Jesus in the precense of their children, they turn to the beauty of the almighty dollar and ego. This makes Jesus sad I am sure. Just as Judas made him sad when he chose money over Him. We are all human and all fail in pleasing God from time to time. This is just one example of our how we can let money overtake our lives and our hearts.
Meditation from Bread Alone: Who or what have you sold for the sake of your own saftey, self-preservation, or gain?
Prayer: Loving God, open our hearts to let go of the silver we stubbornly and greedily cling to. In this season of Easter transformation, refocus our vision in order to see you in every moment of our lives; re-center our spirits in your love that we may treasure the love of family and friends before all else and look forward to bringing your love into the lives of the poor, the lost, the innocent and helpless children and the hopeless among us. AMEN.
Blessings to you this Wednesday!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Preventing Betrayal in Our Children
Gospel Reading today John 13:21-33,36-38
Jesus said to Judas, "What you are going to do, do quickly.".....Jesus answered Peter,..."Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times." John 13:27,38
In regards to motherhood today after reading the gospel, I could only think about how our children in their lifetime will more than likely betray us. I know I betrayed my parents when I was a teenager and I remember I was filled with regret as they were discipling me appropriately. Just as Judas and Peter were filled with regret after turning their back on Jesus, we only hope and pray as a parent that our children will be filled with so much love from us that they will know better when they are about to betray us. And if they go ahead with the betrayal, we hope that they will be filled with regret and turn back to the light. How do we acomplish this as parents? I really don't know the answer because my children are so young and I have so much to learn, but I can only guess that the process begins NOW. Having their "hearts" at an early age will prevent mulitiple betrayals. Strict discipline done with great love is what my parents did with me and I plan on do the exact same with my children. Walking daily with Jesus alongside our children at early ages is crucial in preventing betrayal. Daily prayers, talking openly about Jesus, Heaven, good, bad, light, dark....are all so important to instill in our children daily as we go about our lives. I am already talking to my four year old son to walk in the light.
Another way, as mothers, we can help prevent betrayal of our children, is to pray daily for each one of them. I separately pray for each child daily. I am already praying that they will love the Lord our God at very early ages. I am praying for them to always follow the light. I ask St. Michael Archangel to pray for protection over them from the evil one. I am already praying for their future spouse and marriage. Call me crazy, but this is what I do to prevent fear overtaking me. I give my children to God daily and it actually helps me be at peace. I want nothing but the best for my children's future and Clint & I can only do so much. We can only shape and mold them as best as we can, but Jesus and all of His heavenly court are going to have to step in and take over...especially in this scary world we live in.
So start today! Give your children over to Jesus. You are not alone in this great task of mothering God's children. Start praying daily for your children and start talking openly about Jesus and living for the things above. Children are so receptive and it is actually amazing how they begin talking openly about Jesus and following the light after you teach them.
Blessings to you this Holy Tuesday!
Jesus said to Judas, "What you are going to do, do quickly.".....Jesus answered Peter,..."Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times." John 13:27,38
In regards to motherhood today after reading the gospel, I could only think about how our children in their lifetime will more than likely betray us. I know I betrayed my parents when I was a teenager and I remember I was filled with regret as they were discipling me appropriately. Just as Judas and Peter were filled with regret after turning their back on Jesus, we only hope and pray as a parent that our children will be filled with so much love from us that they will know better when they are about to betray us. And if they go ahead with the betrayal, we hope that they will be filled with regret and turn back to the light. How do we acomplish this as parents? I really don't know the answer because my children are so young and I have so much to learn, but I can only guess that the process begins NOW. Having their "hearts" at an early age will prevent mulitiple betrayals. Strict discipline done with great love is what my parents did with me and I plan on do the exact same with my children. Walking daily with Jesus alongside our children at early ages is crucial in preventing betrayal. Daily prayers, talking openly about Jesus, Heaven, good, bad, light, dark....are all so important to instill in our children daily as we go about our lives. I am already talking to my four year old son to walk in the light.
Another way, as mothers, we can help prevent betrayal of our children, is to pray daily for each one of them. I separately pray for each child daily. I am already praying that they will love the Lord our God at very early ages. I am praying for them to always follow the light. I ask St. Michael Archangel to pray for protection over them from the evil one. I am already praying for their future spouse and marriage. Call me crazy, but this is what I do to prevent fear overtaking me. I give my children to God daily and it actually helps me be at peace. I want nothing but the best for my children's future and Clint & I can only do so much. We can only shape and mold them as best as we can, but Jesus and all of His heavenly court are going to have to step in and take over...especially in this scary world we live in.
So start today! Give your children over to Jesus. You are not alone in this great task of mothering God's children. Start praying daily for your children and start talking openly about Jesus and living for the things above. Children are so receptive and it is actually amazing how they begin talking openly about Jesus and following the light after you teach them.
Blessings to you this Holy Tuesday!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Our Children Won't Always Be Around....
Gospel Reading Today John 12:1-8
“You will always have poor people with you, but you will not always have me.” John 12:8
We all get grouchy from time to time; mainly because we get burned out of all the things that constantly have to be done. Yesterday, I was such a grouch. First of all, my husband has been working nonstop and ended up so sick this weekend. So he was in bed all day and for me, yesterday was just an ordinary day. We had gone to church on Saturday night so we could rest on Sunday…..what wishful thinking that was! My one-day of rest turned into hectic chaos of crabby kids, piles of laundry, dirty baseboards, a flowerbed full of weeds….all staring at me in the face. I was wishing I were the one sick in bed. We went to the park and I found myself filled with self-pity and bitterness. I was thinking to myself, “I don’t want to be swinging my children today!” As I pushed Clementine higher in frustration my resentment rose higher. “Today is my day off from all of this!”, I exclaimed in my soul. So needless to say, Kim had a nice big pity party yesterday.
First of all, we are human. After constantly caring for little ones with no break, we eventually will break ourselves. We lay down our lives day in and day out and there will be days we will be filled with self-pity. A Priest once told me that as mothers, we have to have time away every once in awhile. As Jesus would climb a hill to pray and have “alone time”, so do we mothers need some alone time. Sundays are usually my day to slip away for an hour or two to have a cup of coffee and sift through some gardening books at Borders. But when Clint has a busy week at work and I am caring for these little ones 24/7, I start to get worn out and broken. I was screaming at God in the middle of the night on Friday, because all I wanted was one night of rest. “Just one, God! I am not asking for much….just some sleep!” I usually get a full nights rest every 2-3 weeks.
I am reminded in the gospel reading today that just as Jesus told Mary, Lazarus’s sister, that He would not always be around, our children will not always be around. As I watched quietly yesterday as Clementine danced in her Easter dress and gloves in the other room, I was reminded that she will not always be a little girl. These times are precious and quickly passing. I look to the next couple of weeks with no glimpse of a break from children and chores. Just as Mary broke the expensive jar of oil all over Jesus’ feet, I need to break my vessel of selfishness and self-pity and let the fragrance of compassion and love fill my home and cover my loved ones. This is my prayer today.
As we begin Holy Week, let us remind ourselves that we are human. But let us also remind ourselves of the agony and heartbreak Jesus and the Blessed Mother felt through the Passion. Instead of becoming angry and bitter, they embraced the cross with Love for all of us. Because we are human, we are broken and let us ask Jesus to pick us up and carry us through the trenches of Motherhood.
Blessings to you all this Monday!
“You will always have poor people with you, but you will not always have me.” John 12:8
We all get grouchy from time to time; mainly because we get burned out of all the things that constantly have to be done. Yesterday, I was such a grouch. First of all, my husband has been working nonstop and ended up so sick this weekend. So he was in bed all day and for me, yesterday was just an ordinary day. We had gone to church on Saturday night so we could rest on Sunday…..what wishful thinking that was! My one-day of rest turned into hectic chaos of crabby kids, piles of laundry, dirty baseboards, a flowerbed full of weeds….all staring at me in the face. I was wishing I were the one sick in bed. We went to the park and I found myself filled with self-pity and bitterness. I was thinking to myself, “I don’t want to be swinging my children today!” As I pushed Clementine higher in frustration my resentment rose higher. “Today is my day off from all of this!”, I exclaimed in my soul. So needless to say, Kim had a nice big pity party yesterday.
First of all, we are human. After constantly caring for little ones with no break, we eventually will break ourselves. We lay down our lives day in and day out and there will be days we will be filled with self-pity. A Priest once told me that as mothers, we have to have time away every once in awhile. As Jesus would climb a hill to pray and have “alone time”, so do we mothers need some alone time. Sundays are usually my day to slip away for an hour or two to have a cup of coffee and sift through some gardening books at Borders. But when Clint has a busy week at work and I am caring for these little ones 24/7, I start to get worn out and broken. I was screaming at God in the middle of the night on Friday, because all I wanted was one night of rest. “Just one, God! I am not asking for much….just some sleep!” I usually get a full nights rest every 2-3 weeks.
I am reminded in the gospel reading today that just as Jesus told Mary, Lazarus’s sister, that He would not always be around, our children will not always be around. As I watched quietly yesterday as Clementine danced in her Easter dress and gloves in the other room, I was reminded that she will not always be a little girl. These times are precious and quickly passing. I look to the next couple of weeks with no glimpse of a break from children and chores. Just as Mary broke the expensive jar of oil all over Jesus’ feet, I need to break my vessel of selfishness and self-pity and let the fragrance of compassion and love fill my home and cover my loved ones. This is my prayer today.
As we begin Holy Week, let us remind ourselves that we are human. But let us also remind ourselves of the agony and heartbreak Jesus and the Blessed Mother felt through the Passion. Instead of becoming angry and bitter, they embraced the cross with Love for all of us. Because we are human, we are broken and let us ask Jesus to pick us up and carry us through the trenches of Motherhood.
Blessings to you all this Monday!
Friday, March 26, 2010
"Live" Your Marriage
Gospel Reading today John 10:31-42
"If I do not perform my Father's works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father." John 10:37-38
How many times have we heard the saying, "Actions speak louder than words"? The gospel is telling us today that you have to play the game, not just stand on the sidelines and coach it. I am reminded this morning that one of the greatest purposes of marriage is to help each other get to Heaven. Bringing our husbands closer to Christ each and every day is so important in our vocation of marriage and vice versa. If we are so consumed in raising our children and taking care of our home or having a career and trying to balance it all, our husbands will begin to take back seat. This is a spiral down effect. We have to remember the marriage came before children. So as we meditate daily on the gospel readings and focus on motherhood through this blog, it is essential to remember that our husbands and marriages come first. As hard as it is at times, we have to remember this great lesson. IF our actions and energy are so focused on raising disciples for Christ that our husbands get lost in between, this is not living the gospel fully. To completely have "the Father in us", means to be able to love everyone in our care with total and selfless love. As we become so tired of giving of ourselves all through the day to the little ones, that doesn't mean we can withhold ourselves from our husband at the end of the day. It only means to give of ourselves even more to the one who we had in our care way before the little turkeys showed up.
Tuesday night, Clint and I went on a date. We went to a local seafood joint, bellied up to the bar, and had more fun eating 2 dozen oysters, 4 lbs of crawfish and a few cold schooners of beer! We have to remember of where it all began... On our way home we were singing old songs that reminded us of when we fell in love. After almost ten years of marriage, we like to return back in our hearts of when we first met. This is so important to do. It helps you to fall in love all over again. Just like when reading and meditating on the Passion of Christ before Easter, so it is important for us to reminisce on falling in love.
So in order to bring our husbands closer to Christ, we have to "live" our marriages...not just talk about it or look in the distance. So get a baby sitter and go out on the town with your hubby. Laugh, love and have good talks. In this way, you will be the face of Christ for your husband. Give your all and everything to him.....don't hold anything back and something "magical" will happen. Abundant graces will flow from Heaven and will bless your marriage. You and your husband will be reconnected and all will be well. :)
Blessings to you this Friday!
"If I do not perform my Father's works, do not believe me; but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father." John 10:37-38
How many times have we heard the saying, "Actions speak louder than words"? The gospel is telling us today that you have to play the game, not just stand on the sidelines and coach it. I am reminded this morning that one of the greatest purposes of marriage is to help each other get to Heaven. Bringing our husbands closer to Christ each and every day is so important in our vocation of marriage and vice versa. If we are so consumed in raising our children and taking care of our home or having a career and trying to balance it all, our husbands will begin to take back seat. This is a spiral down effect. We have to remember the marriage came before children. So as we meditate daily on the gospel readings and focus on motherhood through this blog, it is essential to remember that our husbands and marriages come first. As hard as it is at times, we have to remember this great lesson. IF our actions and energy are so focused on raising disciples for Christ that our husbands get lost in between, this is not living the gospel fully. To completely have "the Father in us", means to be able to love everyone in our care with total and selfless love. As we become so tired of giving of ourselves all through the day to the little ones, that doesn't mean we can withhold ourselves from our husband at the end of the day. It only means to give of ourselves even more to the one who we had in our care way before the little turkeys showed up.
Tuesday night, Clint and I went on a date. We went to a local seafood joint, bellied up to the bar, and had more fun eating 2 dozen oysters, 4 lbs of crawfish and a few cold schooners of beer! We have to remember of where it all began... On our way home we were singing old songs that reminded us of when we fell in love. After almost ten years of marriage, we like to return back in our hearts of when we first met. This is so important to do. It helps you to fall in love all over again. Just like when reading and meditating on the Passion of Christ before Easter, so it is important for us to reminisce on falling in love.
So in order to bring our husbands closer to Christ, we have to "live" our marriages...not just talk about it or look in the distance. So get a baby sitter and go out on the town with your hubby. Laugh, love and have good talks. In this way, you will be the face of Christ for your husband. Give your all and everything to him.....don't hold anything back and something "magical" will happen. Abundant graces will flow from Heaven and will bless your marriage. You and your husband will be reconnected and all will be well. :)
Blessings to you this Friday!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Confession is like a Holy Therapy Session
The Annunciation of the Lord
Gospel Reading today Luke 1:26-38
"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Luke 1:38
Today is the feast day of the Annunciation of the Lord.....when Mary said, "Yes" to be the Mother of Jesus. What a friend, mother and example we have in Mary. Our faith gives us so many abundant gifts, one in which is the love and example of the Mother of Jesus. Being cradle Catholic (catholic since birth), I knew we honored her but it is not until I became a mother that I have grown to appreciate her friendship and constant care for us...the children of her Son. There are so many misconceptions of the importance the Catholic Church places upon Mary, the Mother of God. I like to say it is like asking a friend to pray for you, but the only difference is that she is the Mother of Jesus! We simply ask Mary to pray for us....we don't worship her, we don't place her equal or higher than God. We simply honor her because she is the Mother of Jesus and we ask her to pray for us. Mary's greatest goal is to bring us closer to her Son. By praying the rosary, we pray the gospels. We meditate on the life of Jesus. The rosary is like beautiful background music to the gospels as we pray the Hail Mary's (which is a gospel reading Luke 1:28)we are watching Christ's life unfold before our eyes. The rosary has brought me so much closer to Christ....it has been life changing for me. So thank goodness for her YES, we have eternal life. Thank you, Mary! I have to admit that I am not as faithful in saying yes to God's Will. I tend to want my own will at times, especially when it is a little scary (like the thought of having more children!). But I am reminded in today's gospel that God's Will is perfect. Although Mary was so scared and worried, she trusted in the Lord and His plan was make perfect through her. If we could only be more willing to say Yes, this world would probably be so much of a better place.
Last night, we had reconcilation Mass. As I have become closer to Christ, I yearn for confession. For me, it is a holy therapy session! To actually say out loud your sins is so theraputic and then to know like it says in today's gospel, "the power of the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you." Luke 1:26-38 We become full of grace when the Priest prays over us and through the Holy Spirit we are forgiven. The amazing freedom and grace you feel the days following confession is amazing! So for all of the Catholic moms out there, this is such a wonderful therapy session for you if you have been angry with your children, bitter or angry with your husband.....go to confession and feel the peace and grace from Heaven decsend upon you the minute you walk outside. This is what Lent calls us to do....repent, turn from sin, and follow the light of Christ.
Blessings to you this Thursday!
Gospel Reading today Luke 1:26-38
"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Luke 1:38
Today is the feast day of the Annunciation of the Lord.....when Mary said, "Yes" to be the Mother of Jesus. What a friend, mother and example we have in Mary. Our faith gives us so many abundant gifts, one in which is the love and example of the Mother of Jesus. Being cradle Catholic (catholic since birth), I knew we honored her but it is not until I became a mother that I have grown to appreciate her friendship and constant care for us...the children of her Son. There are so many misconceptions of the importance the Catholic Church places upon Mary, the Mother of God. I like to say it is like asking a friend to pray for you, but the only difference is that she is the Mother of Jesus! We simply ask Mary to pray for us....we don't worship her, we don't place her equal or higher than God. We simply honor her because she is the Mother of Jesus and we ask her to pray for us. Mary's greatest goal is to bring us closer to her Son. By praying the rosary, we pray the gospels. We meditate on the life of Jesus. The rosary is like beautiful background music to the gospels as we pray the Hail Mary's (which is a gospel reading Luke 1:28)we are watching Christ's life unfold before our eyes. The rosary has brought me so much closer to Christ....it has been life changing for me. So thank goodness for her YES, we have eternal life. Thank you, Mary! I have to admit that I am not as faithful in saying yes to God's Will. I tend to want my own will at times, especially when it is a little scary (like the thought of having more children!). But I am reminded in today's gospel that God's Will is perfect. Although Mary was so scared and worried, she trusted in the Lord and His plan was make perfect through her. If we could only be more willing to say Yes, this world would probably be so much of a better place.
Last night, we had reconcilation Mass. As I have become closer to Christ, I yearn for confession. For me, it is a holy therapy session! To actually say out loud your sins is so theraputic and then to know like it says in today's gospel, "the power of the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you." Luke 1:26-38 We become full of grace when the Priest prays over us and through the Holy Spirit we are forgiven. The amazing freedom and grace you feel the days following confession is amazing! So for all of the Catholic moms out there, this is such a wonderful therapy session for you if you have been angry with your children, bitter or angry with your husband.....go to confession and feel the peace and grace from Heaven decsend upon you the minute you walk outside. This is what Lent calls us to do....repent, turn from sin, and follow the light of Christ.
Blessings to you this Thursday!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
The Truth of Motherhood Will Set You Free!
Gospel Reading Today John 8:31-42
"If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32
The gospel reading today immediately made me think of realizing the truth in motherhood. Once a mother knows the truth & purpose of motherhood, she becomes free. Free from the lies of Satan and the world regarding motherhood. When the mother knows the truth, the chains are broken. She is released from the prison of self pity, self worthiness and selfishness and set free to run in the lush green pastures of joy through self abandonment to Christ. As we begin to see our lives played out as servants of Christ, our daily works become noble, honorable, good, pleasing, and perfect. Each diaper we change, sippy cup we give, knee we kiss becomes holy. We hear the cries in the middle of the night as the voice of Christ and go in haste to care for Him in our little ones. We lay down our yearnings to keep sleeping to go and check on the sick. Instead of throwing a pillow and yelling out a curse word (like I use to do), I offer it up as a form of fasting/prayer ang gently and lovingly tend to their needs.
Our little homes become Cathedrals & we start living the gospel when we are set free with the truth. The truth of motherhood is: Mothers did not come to this earth to be served, but to serve. The mother who is humble shall be exhaulted. The mother who is exhaulted shall be humbled. Our Queenship lies in Heaven not with the ways of this world. That is why every mother's knee shall bend in the name of Jesus. When a mother bends her knees to pick up a child, she picks up Jesus. When a mother bends down to wash her children in the bathtub, she is being cleansed in Christ as the bathwater transforms into Holy Water. Every act of motherhood when performed in love is holy. Perfect Love=Sacrifice. We have the greatest example in Jesus who sacrificed His life for us. He didn't expect to have praises, he didn't demand luxury, he didn't become bitter towards His Father....He did everything with a servants heart and everything out of complete and perfect love. As mothers, we can accomplish pure joy in our duties here on earth by seeing Marriage & Motherhood as the works of Christ on earth. This is the exact reason why our vocation is one of, if not the, holiest & greatest work we can do on earth. Nothing else matters when compared to this vocation.....no career, no wardrobe, no house, no vacation can measure up to the great importance that we have under the roof of our homes. This is the truth of motherhood and I hope in hearing this message to day you will start living in Freedom.
Today, look around you and see the face of Christ in your husband and children. Whatever you do for the least of these people, you do for Him.
Blessings to you this Wednesday!
"If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32
The gospel reading today immediately made me think of realizing the truth in motherhood. Once a mother knows the truth & purpose of motherhood, she becomes free. Free from the lies of Satan and the world regarding motherhood. When the mother knows the truth, the chains are broken. She is released from the prison of self pity, self worthiness and selfishness and set free to run in the lush green pastures of joy through self abandonment to Christ. As we begin to see our lives played out as servants of Christ, our daily works become noble, honorable, good, pleasing, and perfect. Each diaper we change, sippy cup we give, knee we kiss becomes holy. We hear the cries in the middle of the night as the voice of Christ and go in haste to care for Him in our little ones. We lay down our yearnings to keep sleeping to go and check on the sick. Instead of throwing a pillow and yelling out a curse word (like I use to do), I offer it up as a form of fasting/prayer ang gently and lovingly tend to their needs.
Our little homes become Cathedrals & we start living the gospel when we are set free with the truth. The truth of motherhood is: Mothers did not come to this earth to be served, but to serve. The mother who is humble shall be exhaulted. The mother who is exhaulted shall be humbled. Our Queenship lies in Heaven not with the ways of this world. That is why every mother's knee shall bend in the name of Jesus. When a mother bends her knees to pick up a child, she picks up Jesus. When a mother bends down to wash her children in the bathtub, she is being cleansed in Christ as the bathwater transforms into Holy Water. Every act of motherhood when performed in love is holy. Perfect Love=Sacrifice. We have the greatest example in Jesus who sacrificed His life for us. He didn't expect to have praises, he didn't demand luxury, he didn't become bitter towards His Father....He did everything with a servants heart and everything out of complete and perfect love. As mothers, we can accomplish pure joy in our duties here on earth by seeing Marriage & Motherhood as the works of Christ on earth. This is the exact reason why our vocation is one of, if not the, holiest & greatest work we can do on earth. Nothing else matters when compared to this vocation.....no career, no wardrobe, no house, no vacation can measure up to the great importance that we have under the roof of our homes. This is the truth of motherhood and I hope in hearing this message to day you will start living in Freedom.
Today, look around you and see the face of Christ in your husband and children. Whatever you do for the least of these people, you do for Him.
Blessings to you this Wednesday!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Experiencing the Life of Christ in our Midst
Gospel reading today John 8:21-30
"You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong woth this world, but I do not belong to this world." John 8:23
This morning I reflected on The Passion and then wrote a Lenton/Easter letter to my family; therefore that doesn't leave me much time to write this morning on the blog. This past year, my brother and his wife suffered the loss of their 19 year old daughter to a 2 year battle of brain cancer. Morgan suffered more than I might ever witness intense suffering ever again. She endured 9 brain surgeries and the day before she died, her way of getting around was by crawling. Her mother had to feed her three times a day through a feeding tube. My letter to the family was to compare Morgan's suffering to The Passion and the sorrow of the Blessed Mother to Morgan's mother and father. I realized as I wrote the letter that in this world "below", we can experience what Jesus himself experienced as well as His Mother....the good, the bad and the ugly. My ,just the other day, experienced a "transfiguration" through confession. She walked away seeing all of the blessings in her life instead of the negative aspects. She realized through God's mercifu love that life is hard for everyone in all different types of ways. While some are witnessing the Passion of Christ in their loved ones others are witnessing the Birth of Christ, the Discipleship of Christ, the Transfiguration of Christ, the Tempation of Christ through a desert experience. Here below, we can experience Heaven and the Life of Christ if we just look around among us.
As mothers, hopefully we can open our minds up to living in Christ's precense every step of the way of raising children and caring for our families. We can help open the eyes of our husband and children (someday adults) to the life of Christ in each of us and those around us. Below is the letter to my family. Feel free to replace your loved ones or someone you know in the place of my brother, sister-in-law and loved ones in Heaven.
Blessings to you this Tuesday!
A Lenton Reflection and Easter Blessing March 23, 2010
To my dear family,
As I was praying the rosary this morning and meditating on the Passion of Christ, a story unfolded in my mind of how our family has witnessed the Passion right in our very midst. Some of our family members have lived the Passion. We have witnessed the love and sorrow of the Blessed Mother through Traci, the care and compassion of Simon who helped Jesus carry his cross through Klint.
Agony in the Garden
As I reflected on the Agony in the Garden, I thought about Dr. Garnett telling Traci & Klint the news of the brain tumor with tears streaming down his face. I can only imagine Klint and Traci behind closed doors as they fell to their knees in agony of the news. Praying for God to take this suffering away from Morgan, but also asking for His will to be done, just as Jesus did.
Scourging at the Pillar
After hearing the news, the dread of what was to take place lingered in their hearts and in their minds, just as it did when Jesus was handcuffed and taken to be scourged. Through all of the surgeries, Morgan was scourged and just as the Blessed Mother watched Jesus in complete grief and agony, so did Morgan’s blessed mother along with all of her loved ones watch in sorrow.
Crowning of the Thorns
Little Morgan experienced the crowning of the thorns through multiple brain surgeries. She wore her crown with courage and with out self-pity. With each “stab of the crown” (brain surgery), she had fear but complete trust in God’s will. I will never forget what she said about her last and final surgery. “If I make it, I make it. If I don’t, I don’t.” She had suffered so much that she had given everything up to God. I assume that is how Jesus himself felt as He stood before the crowd.
The Carrying of the Cross
We witnessed Christ’s love through Klint & Traci as they helped Morgan carry her cross. Just as Mary was able to reach Jesus on his third fall and they embraced each other in love through their eyes, so did Traci embrace Morgan with God’s love every moment of her suffering. Just as Simon was chosen to help Jesus carry His cross, so was Klint chosen to help Morgan carry her cross in this life…and Klinty helped carry her cross with God’s complete and perfect love.
The Crucifixion
The agony Mother Mary and Simon felt as they watched Jesus crawl to the cross and be crucified and given a sponge of wine to drink, so was the agony of Klint and Traci as they watched Morgan crawl on her hands and knees and how they had to give her food and water to drink. Just as Jesus cried out, “My God, My God! Why have you forsaken me!”, so too did Morgan cry the same words. And in the middle of the night of May 27th, Morgan breathed her last.
We all say the same thing that people have been saying about Jesus for over 2,000 years. Why did God take Morgan in this way? Why did He take Morgan so young, just as Jesus was only 33 and still had His whole life ahead of Him? We don’t know the answers, but what we do know is that our beloved family members, Klint and Traci, kissed the face of Jesus. They held His hand through Morgan’s suffering. They experienced the complete horrifying agony of Jesus and they continue to experience the complete sorrow of the Blessed Mother. Good Friday for them, will last longer than three days….it will last until they die. Morgan’s resurrection has already taken place. And someday, Traci and Klint’s faces will shine like the sun and their smiles will be as big as all of the disciples when Jesus descended up them. For they will see Morgan again, just as we are promised to see Jesus face to face. This is what Easter is all about. We celebrate death being only the beginning of life. Because Jesus suffered on the Cross we get to live forever. And through Morgan’s redemptive suffering, one or many of us might be saved. Because of her suffering, one of us might have been given eternal life. We don’t know why this happened to our sweet Morgan, but we can only believe it was for the most amazing purpose….a purpose so big that it was only created by God himself.
Every Sunday as I witness the miracle at Mass as bread is turned into the actual Body and Blood of Christ, I picture our loved ones descending from Heaven and standing next to the alter. I see Pappy just as clear as day, standing their with his hands folded with his little sweet smile. I see Grandma looking so beautiful in her 30’s with her hair done just right and that sparkle in her eye. I see Mary Elizabeth so happy to be standing next to her daddy. I see Teteen, pleased as a peach that I am in Mass and receiving Jesus. And Gussy, is smiling and just thrilled to be in Heaven.
And then there is Morgan…….I see her sitting next to Jesus on the steps in front of the alter. She has a cute little bob haircut and she is laughing with Jesus and is blissfully happy. She and Jesus sit there side by side, understanding one another as they have shared the Passion and Resurrection.
This coming Holy Week, I hope you all can take this and find a new meaning in the Passion and in Easter. That there is HOPE. That even though we are here on earth and our loved ones are in Heaven, we are one. That when you receive Jesus’ body and blood, you are united with Him along with our loved ones. We are the closest to our loved ones through the Eucharist. As we take in the body and blood of Christ into our bodies, we are fed with Eternal Life. We have been given food from Heaven…..the very food that now nourishes Morgan.
I hope you all have a blessed Holy Week and Happy Easter. Just as Jesus is risen, so will we ALL be risen together and spend eternity in Heaven as one happy family.
I love you all very much.
In Christ,
Kimmy
"You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong woth this world, but I do not belong to this world." John 8:23
This morning I reflected on The Passion and then wrote a Lenton/Easter letter to my family; therefore that doesn't leave me much time to write this morning on the blog. This past year, my brother and his wife suffered the loss of their 19 year old daughter to a 2 year battle of brain cancer. Morgan suffered more than I might ever witness intense suffering ever again. She endured 9 brain surgeries and the day before she died, her way of getting around was by crawling. Her mother had to feed her three times a day through a feeding tube. My letter to the family was to compare Morgan's suffering to The Passion and the sorrow of the Blessed Mother to Morgan's mother and father. I realized as I wrote the letter that in this world "below", we can experience what Jesus himself experienced as well as His Mother....the good, the bad and the ugly. My ,just the other day, experienced a "transfiguration" through confession. She walked away seeing all of the blessings in her life instead of the negative aspects. She realized through God's mercifu love that life is hard for everyone in all different types of ways. While some are witnessing the Passion of Christ in their loved ones others are witnessing the Birth of Christ, the Discipleship of Christ, the Transfiguration of Christ, the Tempation of Christ through a desert experience. Here below, we can experience Heaven and the Life of Christ if we just look around among us.
As mothers, hopefully we can open our minds up to living in Christ's precense every step of the way of raising children and caring for our families. We can help open the eyes of our husband and children (someday adults) to the life of Christ in each of us and those around us. Below is the letter to my family. Feel free to replace your loved ones or someone you know in the place of my brother, sister-in-law and loved ones in Heaven.
Blessings to you this Tuesday!
A Lenton Reflection and Easter Blessing March 23, 2010
To my dear family,
As I was praying the rosary this morning and meditating on the Passion of Christ, a story unfolded in my mind of how our family has witnessed the Passion right in our very midst. Some of our family members have lived the Passion. We have witnessed the love and sorrow of the Blessed Mother through Traci, the care and compassion of Simon who helped Jesus carry his cross through Klint.
Agony in the Garden
As I reflected on the Agony in the Garden, I thought about Dr. Garnett telling Traci & Klint the news of the brain tumor with tears streaming down his face. I can only imagine Klint and Traci behind closed doors as they fell to their knees in agony of the news. Praying for God to take this suffering away from Morgan, but also asking for His will to be done, just as Jesus did.
Scourging at the Pillar
After hearing the news, the dread of what was to take place lingered in their hearts and in their minds, just as it did when Jesus was handcuffed and taken to be scourged. Through all of the surgeries, Morgan was scourged and just as the Blessed Mother watched Jesus in complete grief and agony, so did Morgan’s blessed mother along with all of her loved ones watch in sorrow.
Crowning of the Thorns
Little Morgan experienced the crowning of the thorns through multiple brain surgeries. She wore her crown with courage and with out self-pity. With each “stab of the crown” (brain surgery), she had fear but complete trust in God’s will. I will never forget what she said about her last and final surgery. “If I make it, I make it. If I don’t, I don’t.” She had suffered so much that she had given everything up to God. I assume that is how Jesus himself felt as He stood before the crowd.
The Carrying of the Cross
We witnessed Christ’s love through Klint & Traci as they helped Morgan carry her cross. Just as Mary was able to reach Jesus on his third fall and they embraced each other in love through their eyes, so did Traci embrace Morgan with God’s love every moment of her suffering. Just as Simon was chosen to help Jesus carry His cross, so was Klint chosen to help Morgan carry her cross in this life…and Klinty helped carry her cross with God’s complete and perfect love.
The Crucifixion
The agony Mother Mary and Simon felt as they watched Jesus crawl to the cross and be crucified and given a sponge of wine to drink, so was the agony of Klint and Traci as they watched Morgan crawl on her hands and knees and how they had to give her food and water to drink. Just as Jesus cried out, “My God, My God! Why have you forsaken me!”, so too did Morgan cry the same words. And in the middle of the night of May 27th, Morgan breathed her last.
We all say the same thing that people have been saying about Jesus for over 2,000 years. Why did God take Morgan in this way? Why did He take Morgan so young, just as Jesus was only 33 and still had His whole life ahead of Him? We don’t know the answers, but what we do know is that our beloved family members, Klint and Traci, kissed the face of Jesus. They held His hand through Morgan’s suffering. They experienced the complete horrifying agony of Jesus and they continue to experience the complete sorrow of the Blessed Mother. Good Friday for them, will last longer than three days….it will last until they die. Morgan’s resurrection has already taken place. And someday, Traci and Klint’s faces will shine like the sun and their smiles will be as big as all of the disciples when Jesus descended up them. For they will see Morgan again, just as we are promised to see Jesus face to face. This is what Easter is all about. We celebrate death being only the beginning of life. Because Jesus suffered on the Cross we get to live forever. And through Morgan’s redemptive suffering, one or many of us might be saved. Because of her suffering, one of us might have been given eternal life. We don’t know why this happened to our sweet Morgan, but we can only believe it was for the most amazing purpose….a purpose so big that it was only created by God himself.
Every Sunday as I witness the miracle at Mass as bread is turned into the actual Body and Blood of Christ, I picture our loved ones descending from Heaven and standing next to the alter. I see Pappy just as clear as day, standing their with his hands folded with his little sweet smile. I see Grandma looking so beautiful in her 30’s with her hair done just right and that sparkle in her eye. I see Mary Elizabeth so happy to be standing next to her daddy. I see Teteen, pleased as a peach that I am in Mass and receiving Jesus. And Gussy, is smiling and just thrilled to be in Heaven.
And then there is Morgan…….I see her sitting next to Jesus on the steps in front of the alter. She has a cute little bob haircut and she is laughing with Jesus and is blissfully happy. She and Jesus sit there side by side, understanding one another as they have shared the Passion and Resurrection.
This coming Holy Week, I hope you all can take this and find a new meaning in the Passion and in Easter. That there is HOPE. That even though we are here on earth and our loved ones are in Heaven, we are one. That when you receive Jesus’ body and blood, you are united with Him along with our loved ones. We are the closest to our loved ones through the Eucharist. As we take in the body and blood of Christ into our bodies, we are fed with Eternal Life. We have been given food from Heaven…..the very food that now nourishes Morgan.
I hope you all have a blessed Holy Week and Happy Easter. Just as Jesus is risen, so will we ALL be risen together and spend eternity in Heaven as one happy family.
I love you all very much.
In Christ,
Kimmy
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