Alleluia!

Don't forget the ALLELUIA moments of life!  It isn't all drudgery and pushing ourselves constantly to "get through" a day or week or year.   I guess it is human nature to spend time thinking of the negative things that happened or could happen, but a follower of Christ, St. Augustine tell us, is to be an "ALLELUIA" from one's head to one's foot!  

This beautiful painting of Mary and Elizabeth at the Visitation conveys the ALLELUIA that Jesus came to bring.   What joy filled their hearts as they shared all the God, the Almighty had done for them.  

I write this as I prepare to leave for a family wedding, a time of great joy and hope and certainly a time when we will sing ALLELUIA from our inmost hearts.   But this is a one-time event, and when it is over, the ALLELUIAS need to continue in the lives of the newlyweds and in my life too.

Perhaps it would be a good practice to write an ALLELUIA list each day, thanking God for all that we are grateful for.  Nothing is insignificant in God's eyes and hopefully, not in ours either.  I woke up well and was able to get myself out of bed and walk today.  I had breakfast with my sisters in community and then prayed together with them before and during Mass.   I have a family.  I have friends.  I have co-workers are a pleasure to be with.  I know many good people from our parish.  I have a vocation that brings me into their lives in good time and in sad times to help them.  You get the picture, there is much to be grateful for, every single day.

As RESURRECTION or ALLELUIA PEOPLE, what do you have to be grateful for?   God is with us in times of suffering, but it is not all suffering!   God is with us in times of JOY too! 

I'm going to try to remember to write an ALLELUIA list every night before I retire.  How about you?