Three Holy Days

From the Heart...

Nearly everyone has a favorite holiday.  My favorite is these three holy days ~ the Triduum.

Holy Thursday liturgy is rich with beautiful memories from the life of Jesus.  Throughout scripture we are lucky to have a view of Jesus sharing meals with his friends but none so memorable as Jesus sharing the Passover meal on the eve of his death.  During this meal, Jesus chose to give us the gift of the Eucharist and while I have intense love of the Eucharist, the most beautiful elements of Holy Thursday for me are the moment that Jesus knelt to wash feet and when he knelt in prayer and agony in the garden.  The two show the very human side of our Lord. 

 

As Jesus washed the feet of his friends, he gave us the most humble example of how we should treat each other.  He sat with his friends sharing a meal knowing that he would be facing death.  In time of trouble, Jesus showed us to whom we should turn, our loving Father.  In agony he prayed that God would release him, yet honored God and surrendered to his will. 

Good Friday.  Two cross beams – a symbol of torture and a symbol of my salvation.  The silent solemn gathering as we behold the wood of the cross always brings tears to my eyes.  As I venerate the cross, I can’t help but wonder if I am worthy of the suffering that he bore on my behalf.  When I think of the nails piercing those beautiful hands, I am filled with an incredible sense of being loved - for he showed us that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend.  I am forgiven and redeemed by his blood.

Easter vigil ~ darkness is turned to light as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.  I love watching the spread of light as darkness is pierced by each flickering flame.  It is incredibly moving to witness someone stepping into the baptismal waters and stepping out claimed for Christ in anticipation of their confirmation and first Eucharist.  The gates are open for he is alive.

Come celebrate these three holy days.

#washfeet   #iamforgiven    #beamazedbythelight

Shalom,

Tina

Operation Rice Bowl

From the Heart . . .

Every year we religiously take home the CRS Rice Bowl at the beginning of lent.  When our children were young, we were pretty consistent in praying for highlighted family of the week.  Every year I would begin lent with the intention of making the weekly recipe.  We would throw our spare change in throughout the 40 days, and if we found that we weren’t too generous with our spare change, we would put a $5 or $10 in the rice bowl before turning in our rice bowl on Holy Thursday.  Does this sound familiar to you?

As our children grew and our gathering around our dinner table declined, we have gotten out of the practice of using the rice bowl as a form of prayer during the Lenten season.  Inspired by the 40^th anniversary of Operation Rice Bowl, I am trying to get back into the practice of truly using the rice bowl to help me, and my family, practice the three pillars of lent ~ prayer ~ fasting ~ giving.

I love the daily reflections and the suggestion of the sacrificial giving for the day.  I especially liked the suggestion of putting $1.00 in the rice bowl for every chair at your dining room table.  This really hit a heartstring for me because the dining room table is the heart of our home, even if we aren’t gathering for a meal.  As I put that $6.00 in the rice bowl, I realized that each dollar doesn’t represent the chair, it represents my child who is able to comfortably sit and never have to worry about being hungry.  Perhaps that dollar will bring comfort to another mother somewhere in the world who struggles daily just to feed her child, let alone provide shelter and comfort. 

With the help of CRS Global Kitchen, we have made two of the recipes and have found them to be quite delicious.  Perhaps since two of our children have served our global community, I am more aware of global solidarity than I ever was before.  Looking for a way to celebrate Lent? 

Prayer:  Pray the Rice Bowl Prayer and read the message for the day

Fasting:  Prepare the suggested dish ~ or eat simply at least one night of the week

Giving:  Be intentional with your sacrificial giving

#4Lent4Life  #prayfastgive #40yearsofserving

Shalom,

Tina

The Desert

From the Heart . . .

Recently Father Balash spoke about the desert in his homily.  As he talked of the desert being filled with things that bite and burn and sting I could not help but feel that this is exactly where I am right now – in the desert.  The sting of death has burned a hole in my heart and I wonder if it will ever be full again.  I find myself withdrawing inward much like Jesus withdrew to the desert to enjoy quiet time with God.

The more I reflect on Jesus praying in the desert and my current journey in the desert of my heart, I am gaining a new awareness of the power of prayer.  I have spent a lifetime turning to God but none of what I have experienced holds a candle to how I have clung to God these past several months as I watched my beautiful mother as she lay dying.  I cannot find words to describe the inner peace that comes when one surrenders all that they are to God.

Father Balash described the desert also as a place of life, for in the coolness of evening, desert flowers bloom and creatures come out of their hiding, no longer in fear of the blistering sun.  It made me think of my little Christmas cactus, a gift given to me years ago by a student.  While that cactus has not bloomed every Christmas, I remember how it bloomed the year my son and daughter-in-law were expecting their first child and low and behold, that cactus bloomed this year.  It was a vivid reminder to me that life goes on.  Those beautiful pink flowers reminded me that the life which awaits us is so much more than what we have experienced here on earth.

Father reminded me that I am not alone in this desert . . . Jesus paved the way for me . . . Jesus went there first, and he stands right alongside me as the hole in my heart is filled with visions of everlasting life.  When I vision my beautiful mother in the arms of the holy one I realize there is no sting in death after all.

#jesusopenedthegates #heisalive #iamforgiven

Shalom,

Tina

Corporal Works of Mercy

From the Heart . . .

During these past cold, blustery winter mornings, I have found my thoughts turning to the homeless.  Where do they find shelter and warmth?  This brings to mind the corporal works of mercy. I am sure that the beds at Warren Mission have been filled to capacity these past few weeks as they shelter the homeless.

 One night last week on my drive from the Parish to my home in Warren, I noticed bags hanging all along the rod iron fence in front of City Hall.  I came to find out that an organization put together a hat and glove drive; placed the items in clear Ziploc bags and hung them around the city for the needy to keep warm.  Would this thoughtful work of mercy fall under the call to clothe the naked?  I think so!

One month ago, teens and parents from our parish prepared and served lunch at the St. Vincent DePaul Dining Hall.  It was cold that morning as well, and I can’t help but think of the guests who will be standing in line during these unseasonably cold days waiting for those doors to open in order to receive a nice warm meal.  I learned that it was quite an honor to feed the hungry.

Always ahead of his time, Jesus gave us simple tweets to live by:

#feedthehungry #clothethenaked #shelterthehomeless #visittheimprisoned #careforthesick #givedrinktothethristy #burythedead

Shalom,
Tina