Our Invitation

The sky overhead was a bright blue, as I drove to church this Easter Sunday morning.  Tiny snowflakes drifted in the air (to my surprise), and all around I saw beauty.  I thought of the snowflakes as being remnants of the dusty gates of heaven, evidence of their long being closed, but which now were open, and well-oiled by His blood.

And where we now, once again, are all invited in.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Te Deum

You are God: we praise you;
You are the Lord; we acclaim you;
You are the eternal Father:
All creation worships you.

To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.

Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:
Father, of majesty unbounded,
your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,
and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.

When you became man to set us free
you did not spurn the Virgin’s womb.
You overcame the sting of death,
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.
We believe you will come, and be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.

Holy Saturday Odds and Ends

It’s the day after Good Friday and all it’s ceremonies, rituals, and events, and the day before Easter celebrations.  It’s kind of an in-between day, and it seems that way to me.  It’s kind of a calm day for me, with much faith matters before and after, and only curiosities today.

*  In recent times I’ve noted that things which block my will are often things which are meant to give me pause, and to ask: “Is there a reason, Lord, why my will is being blocked?  Is there something You’d rather have me do, or become aware of?”  And often, I’ve discovered new insights I might have missed.  So this morning when I pulled into the 7-11 for my usual coffee, I paused when my routine was blocked:  There was a duck sitting in my parking space!  Now, I did ask God about this, however no great insights have come to me, except to keep looking around ---- maybe He’s warning me to duck??

*  Driving to church yesterday afternoon, I noticed the bumper sticker on the car in front of me.  It said: “Before I saw you in the womb, I knew you.”  And it was only after I read this that I noticed the car’s license plate:  KNOW HIM.  No message from God, but a pretty good one, in my opinion, from the driver in front of me.

*  I wrapped all the Easter baskets on Thursday.  Today is delivery day to my neighbors and a friend, and their children.  It’s something I learned from my parents, and especially my mom, they never forgot the kids on Easter.  I don’t either.

*  Had breakfast with my friend this morning.  He kept repeating how crazy the Tiger’s game was yesterday --- they lost their home opener in 13 innings, 13-10.  It was the longest ball game since 1908, running 5 ½ hours.  With my friend’s illness, I know he forgot all the game’s details and even its length, but (unfortunately) he did remember the score, which he repeated over and over again, even with a mouthful as he ate his breakfast.  I guess it WAS a memorable game.

*  Tomorrow is Easter Sunday, and April 1^st.  And to all the atheists, Jews, and skeptics of His time I say:  April Fools’.  You thought you killed Him on Good Friday, but He rose again.  April Fools’!  

And I pray you have a happy and blessed Easter day.  He is risen!

This is Passion Week

I can’t tell you how many people I know who would describe their life, right now, as one of great suffering.  Many are disheartened; some are scared.

I pray for them.

But as for giving them counsel, all I can say is:  Take heart.  All sufferings are for a purpose, but there will com an end, and you shall rise again.  That is the message we need to take comfort in this week, as we trudge along.  This is our Passion Week.

Jesus showed us how to suffer, as we recall this week, but He showed us something else:  We are not alone!!   He said: “I will be with you always,” and He also said: “Be merciful even as your Father is merciful.”  In the midst of His Passion, He knew He was not alone, and He will not leave us alone in ours.

“There is a very deep connection, emphasized in Scripture, between one’s relationship with God and one’s relationship with others.  The divine blessing will be measured out to me according to my attitude toward my neighbor.”  (The Eight Doors o the Kingdom, by Jacques Philippe, P143)

In our passion, in the carrying of our cross, we are not alone.  He is with us, and so is our neighbor, who will show mercy to us and walk with us in our trials.  As we ponder His Passion this week, and our own sorrows, let us not forget to look around and see and thank those who are helping us, and to show mercy to those neighbors we see in need.  Don’t let them walk alone.

Happy are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.