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Fish Fry, Anyone?

4/21/2017

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I can see the clipping from the Synagogue Bulletin in AD 33:  "Risen Lord holds a Fish Fry for his followers on the seashore in Galilee.  Don't miss this delicious opportunity next week.  For more information, just show up!"  A silly question would be, "Why have a Fish Fry now?  Isn't Lent over?" (Oops! Living at that time, Lent wouldn't have happened yet!) Was this a bulletin misprint?   Would it be safe to gather with him in the open like this?   Could not the Romans or Jewish authorities arrest us even now?

Well after letting my imagination run above, I realize that the real story did not happen that way.  In fact, his disciples did not even know that they would see him again and be treated to this delicious meal.  He called to them from the shore and told them where to fish. They saw the 153 large fish they had caught, they knew it was Jesus who directed them to that fishing spot.   At his invitation, they had breakfast with him.  This was just one of the many times Jesus revealed himself to them, to help them regain their faith and trust after his suffering and death.  He understood the confusion and sadness that had paralyzed their very souls.  His presence time and time again, was reassuring to them.  That is how they knew for sure that he was alive.  That was how they knew for sure that all he told them had been true.  

This can happen to each of us who gives time to prayer and gives time to being in his presence.  We will be convinced of his love and understanding.   We will be among the millions of others who believed without ever seeing him or hearing his human voice. Prayer gives another certitude that no one can take away.  We may not have had the horrible experience of watching a loved one be ridiculed and crucified, but we have borne other terrible sufferings that left us devoid of hope.  He knows that and he understands the coldness of heart that we experience at these times.  He wants to lift us up.  

Prayer is an invitation. It really is a feast of sorts.   And all we really have to do is "just show up."  When my soul is frozen stiff from life's difficulties, there is always a warm fire being tended by Christ, waiting for me  to come over and be refueled with hope and courage.  I know I need this.  Do you?

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Peace be with you.

4/20/2017

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Today's Gospel is a familiar one about one of the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus to the apostles.  Though he was truly human and truly divine, he seems to act truly divine and less human when he wishes peace on those who have just rejected, deserted and thereby, hurt him.  I know that I would choose the human rather than the divine response.  Please help me rise above the hurts of daily life, Lord and seek to live on the spiritual higher ground of the Resurrection.  Please help me to really bring and wish peace on all, especially, those to whom I most want to withhold any love or peace.  Jesus, my Resurrection and Life, grant that I may RISE with you!

Let us pray for each other that we may live the Resurrection Way of bringing peace and love to all.

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Resurrection and LIFE!

4/19/2017

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New Life!  New memories to make.  New challenges.  Everything is new.  In the Northeast we are just beginning to see the grass grow greener, the flowers break through the softening earth and the beauty of spring finally come to us.  Our hearts are jumpstarted again, with the hopeful ways that the changing of the seasons effects us.

What about our souls?   Has the past Lent helped us to jumpstart our efforts in this regard too?  Well, the good news is that it is never too late to begin again. 

There is such great hope in knowing that our Risen Lord is always with us, no matter what.  He knows our hearts, our intentions and our challenges.  We do not have to face life as we know it alone.  May the beginning of the 2017 Easter Season bring a jumpstart to every part of our lives, especially those parts that try to lessen our hope, decrease our peace or block our love.   May the stone we rolled away from the tomb of our hearts.  If we feel as if we cannot do this, we know that Christ can.   Let's ask him for his help.  We are always in God's hands.  God cares for us.  Right?  Right!

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Happy New Year!

1/6/2017

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Happy New Year!  May 2017 be a wonderful year for you in every way!
We are back to our Resurrection Reflections after a little respite. Hope this finds our readers well and anticipating a year filled with God's presence and grace.   That's really what it is all about, right?

Jesus, is our LIGHT and we have just celebrated the beautiful historical event of his coming into our world as our one and only Savior.  This makes me think of two things that I offer as a reflection for you today:  First, no matter what darkness I or you may be experiencing at this time of our lives, we are never in complete darkness because Jesus, our LIGHT is with us.  How do I know that?  Because after his Resurrection from the dead, he assured us that he would be with us until the end of time.   Even when the natural light of our world seems to go out, I can find the LIGHT at the end of my own personal tunner within.  I can always find that Jesus is within me, lighting my way through any darkness.   It is not always easy to walk with this inner LIGHT of Christ, when all else is cruelly dark and seemingly lifeless.  It feels as if the darkness surrounds me and I am emtombed.  But, like Lazarus of old, it is then I find that I have to wait a while for Jesus to call to me to "come out".  He frees me from any inner or outer darkness.  He restores my life in so many ways.  After experiencing this once in my life, I have a certitude within that no matter how dark it gets, He is always with me.

Today is the 126th birthday of the founding of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Resurrection!  It is a great day for these women who live to bring the hope, peace and joy of the Risen Christ to all others.   They've given their lives to Him and spend their every moment as instruments of hope for the people of today.  When others lose the LIGHT, they are there to help them find it again.

What's the second thing I am thinking about today?  Well, it is simply that we need and, thank God, have a SAVIOR.  We need to be saved from our own personal sins and weaknesses.  We need to he empowered through God's grace to do the things we find humanly impossible to do, such as forgiving someone who has hurt us, etc.  He has come!  We rejoice!  Our Savior is always with us!

A blessed New Year!  Hope to hear your feedback from our reflections from time to time.   Blessings and thanks!

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Blessed Are You!

9/8/2016

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                                                                                                                                              Artist:  Liz Lemon Swindle
  . . . holy, Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise, for from you rose the sun of justice, Christ our God. (Alleluia verse from today's Mass) 

Today is the feast of the birthday of Mary.  What a wonderful feast!  When we think of people who have left an everlasting mark upon our world and upon us, days like birthdays, become very special to us.  There is a leap of gratitude that we can claim in our hearts when we think of the birth of St. Teresa of Calcutta, of Pope Francis, or of a good friend or relative that we will always remember with joy. 

​God asked Mary to be the instrument of bringing Christ into our world.  Blessed be the day she was born and gratitude fills us when we recall her personal story of faithfulness, even amidst great suffering. 

​It is hard for me to realize that some people in our civilized society, do not know who Mary is or why we honor her in our Faith.  Some think we treat her as a goddess.   Some think we venerate her.  Neither of these two notions are true.  We only honor her because she had the generosity to bring us our Savior.  How different our world and our lives would be if this did not happen.

​Resurrection Spirituality encourages devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  We call her Co-Redemptrix, for she stood under the Cross and her Son, our Savior, gave the ultimate gift of love for us.  It was at that time when, while still alive and suffering, Jesus looked down at his Mother and the apostle John to say "Woman, behold your son (John) and Son,(John), behold your Mother."  ​John, representing all who would love and follow Christ, cherished Mary as his spiritual mother.   The Church through the ages, has regarded Mary as our mother too.

​As the Cross precedes the Resurrection in our lives, there are times when, in our trials and tribulations, when it is good to pray to Mary, who understands suffering as only a mother could.  It matters not what hurts us or blocks our happiness and holiness.   She will help us.  She will intercede with her Son for us.  She will stand beneath the Crosses we accept each day.

​Thank you, Mary.  Happy Birthday!  

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Jesus Was Asleep

9/2/2016

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​And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with waves; but Jesus himself was asleep."     Mt. 8:24
Right now there are people in our nation who are devastated by the effects of a hurricane.  As we feel for their losses and respond to their needs in any way that we can, I know that prayers for their safety and resilience is something we can also offer to them at this time.
​Often when we are caught in the various storms of our lives, be it illness, or disappointment, or betrayal or the weather, we sometimes wonder where God is and why this "thing" happened?  The mystery of the "mystery of suffering" continues to exist for all of us.  I remember seeing a story on the news about a couple who had their home destroyed by a hurricane and packed up to rebuild in another state.  One could only shake their head in disbelief to find out that after rebuilding, this new home was also destroyed by the floods of another hurricane that hit our country a few years later.  
​When I think of the quote above, I marvel at the fact that while a hurricane-like storm was rocking the boat he and his disciples were in, he remained sleeping until they woke him up.  Is it a stretch to think that sometimes it seems as if Jesus is sleeping in our boat too?  The boat of cancer recurrence, the boat of divorce, the boat of prejudice, the boat of injustice . . . ?   Sometimes we need to shake the boat a bit and call out, "Lord, I am perishing!  I need you!"
If this is where you are right now, calling out in desperation, from a hurricane or any other mystery of suffering, faith shows us that we have an evacuation route all set, if we can trust a bit longer.   I know that I need to do this many times.  I need to remind myself that when he rose from the dead, he destroyed the things that bring me suffering, and with him, I will somehow rise above them.  This takes faith.  Let us pray for an increase of faith today.

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Thanks for Your Patience!

8/26/2016

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We'll be back soon!
It's been a BUSY summer!
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The Fountain of Life

7/21/2016

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​​Responsorial Psalm 36 today has the refrain "With you is the fountain of life, O Lord."  The image of a fountain, like an overflowing glass of cool water on a hot and humid day, always comforts me and helps me to understand the concept of God's unconditional love.  God's love never stops flowing into my life.  God never shouts "Enough!" or shuts the replenishing water of love and grace off.  I have only to go through my personal life history, with all of the ups and downs, to see that God's love has always been there, even in the rough times.

​God's love is ALWAYS THERE.  God will never leave us orphans or walk away from us.  God will be with us even when we go through the fire or storm.  How can I not connect this with my deep belief in the Risen One who said to us "I am with you always until the end of time"? 

​There are many people in need of remembering this, Lord.  There are so many who forget that the glass of cool water, your love and faithfulness is very near.  I pray for them now and for all who need help with reaching out for the presence and consolation you always offer. 
​Jesus, my Resurrection and Life, grant that we may rise with you!  Rise from our sins and failings, our mistakes and hardships, our discouragement and fears.   Come Lord Jesus, quench our thirst!
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The Sting of Death

7/15/2016

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At least 84, including 2 Americans, dead after truck rams crowd in France


Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. but thanks be to God
who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved, be firm, steadfast, always fully devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
​1 Cor 15:55-58


Where would we be without out faith in the presence of the Risen Christ who is with us constantly in our life's journey? He has defeated death by his own death.  He has restored life through his own resurrection.  When death comes to us, even in horrible violent ways, our lives are not ended, they are changed.

As we pray for the recent victims of terrorism in France, for their families and loved ones and for their country, may they be filled with the strength and presence of the Risen Lord.  "Oh Church, stand in the light!  Our God is not dead, He's Alive, He's Alive!"  (Matt Maher)


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How We Can Learn From Each Other!

7/14/2016

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Today is the feast of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Native American maiden who lived and died in Upstate NY and Canada.   It is a special day when we remember how this simple girl, afflicted with physical problems and what we would categorize as child abuse today, reached the heights of sanctity in her own unique way. 

I can see why in today's liturgy the Gospel is the familiar one from Mark 11:28 - 30 -- "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest."  After much suffering, ridicule and hardship, St. Kateri is enjoying eternal happiness. 

Sometimes while on earth, we miss the point that this is just a place we are passing through.   I know that there are times I hem and haw about an inconvenience, illness or problem that may come my way.   It can be annoying and disappointing when my plans do not work out.  I can easily think that this world is all there is.  Kateri and other saints can help me to regroup and re-center my priorities.  They have lived and died inwardly, while on earth, to the human condition that can be so trying.   They truly lived Resurrection Spirituality by transforming suffering into prayer and an opportunity to become closer to God and others.

St. Kateri, thank you for your life's lesson.  Pray for us that we may regroup and re-center when we forget the glory promised those who carry their cross with love and follow him to the end.
That is definitely what our life on earth is all about!



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    Resurrection Reflections are written by
    a Sister of the Resurrection from our New York Province.
    Learn more about us at www.resurrectionsisters.org.

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