Blog Posts - CR Cards

Am I Restless?

5/6/2016

Am I restless or content right now? Do I realize that all is in God's hands? Even when I believe I am surrendering to God in daily life, too often I am still holding onto some thing or some idea in order to maintain some kind of control.

Am I ever satisfied with the present moment? How difficult is it for me to change my opinion, my decision or my way of doing something? If God is with me, why should I worry?

As we focus these days on the beautiful Gift of the Holy Spirit, I hope I can be content with the present moments of my life. It is during these moments that God lives and moves and speaks to me in my very being. Is that enough for me?

Come, Thou Holy Spirit, come and renew the face of the earth as well as all that needs to be renewed within me. Until I let You come and do that, I will indeed always be restless and without peace.

."Stay In The City Until . . .

5/5/2016

". . . you are clothed with power from on high." (Lk 24:46-53)

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be "clothed with power from on hign?" Just think about it for a moment.   Would this power be loose-fitting or snug? Would it be warm and cozy? Would it be electric as the image above suggests?

It is funny when we think of the images Jesus gives us in the Gospels. Sometimes we think of all kinds of bells and whistles, but more often than not, the power Jesus is talking about will be an inner reality that is imperceptible to everyone but the individual. Think about the last time you knew the Holy Spirit was with you, guiding you and, or strengthening you. Most probably, only you knew that gift was being given to you.

There are times, though, when we do get to glimpse the power of the Holy Spirit within the people who come into our lives. We see this power in their witness, in their steadfast and joyful attitude of service and in their fearless embracing of a cross or suffering that is unbearable for anyone to carry with human strength alone.   We know that we are on holy ground when we either personally experience or witness the power of God working in another.

Jesus told his disciples and apostles to wait until the Holy Spirit's presence and power would most definitely be given to them.   He tells us the same.   There is no doubt in my mind or heart or soul that the Holy Spirit is with me. I am never alone.

Today is the day we remember how Jesus left the apostles and disciples, but he did not leave them orphans.   He had told them that during the Last Supper and he had shared that if he did not leave them, the Holy Spirit would not be sent to them. As we live these days between the feasts of the Ascension and Pentecost, let us praise the wonder of the power of God's Spirit which is always with us.   Jesus' followers saw him ascend to his Father, and most probably feeling alone and unsure. He reassured them with the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit. He reassures us too.

Come, Holy Spirit, Come!

He Will Guide You To All Truth

5/4/2016

Christ is speaking of the Holy Spirit when he says the words in today's Gospel "But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth." As we prepare for Ascension Thursday and for the coming of the great feast of Pentecost, we think of the tremendous gift of the Holy Spirit to our Church and in our lives. It is the Holy Spirit that helps us to live in the light of Jesus' Resurrection, looking forward in hope, until the day we are with Him, face to face.

It is also the Holy Spirit Who speaks within the fabric of our lives and within our very souls. The truth that we are guided to is the truth of knowing what is of God and what can take us away from God. The truth is not always welcome. Sometimes the truth stings, challenges and calls us to conversion. Perhaps that is also why Jesus says in todays Gospel that "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now." (Jn 16:12-15)

I pray today for the grace to desire to live in the truth which the Holy Spirit brings into my life. I realize that facing this truth may not always be easy, but it is needed.

Come, Holy Spirit, come!

Their Message Goes Out Through All the Earth!

5/3/2016

That's all that mattered. He is RISEN and He is LORD!   These were the words his followers shouted everywhere they went. Today, 2,000+ years later, we follow him and some, even to this day, lay down their lives in martyrdom rather than deny this sacred truth. He is RISEN. He is LORD.   He is WITH us. What else really matters in our lives?

A lot matters in my life, but when I sit myself down to pray it through, I know that all that matters to me is grounded upon my foundation of faith and my belief that He is WITH me every step of the way. I don't always realize this and I don't always want to realize this. I fool myself into thinking that I am better off taking care of myself. After all, sometimes He asks much of me.   Who wants that?!

I think his followers felt like that from time to time. When they once thought that he was asking too much of them, he answered that with God "all things are possible." He didn't say, "With God, all things are easy."   Sometimes I like easy. What about you?

You and I wouldn't be disciples today if the Early Church looked for the easy way out. Just read some of the Acts of the Apostles or watch the movie Risen to see how courageous and convinced they had to be that HE IS LORD and HE IS RISEN!

Lord Jesus, my RISEN LORD, help me to renew my courage and confidence in your presence in my life. Keep me faithful to your teaching, and never let me be parted from you. Amen.

April 29th, 2016

4/29/2016

Do you want to know what steadfast love is? Click below. :)

May the words of today's Responsorial Psalm refrain touch my heart and help me to be as faithful to God and others as I can be.

May these words be meditative food for thought and prayer today:

My Heart is steadfast, O God; my heart is steadfast; I will sing and chant praise! (Ps 57:8-9, 10, 12)

We Are Glory Bound!

4/28/2016

We give glory to God and thank God for the great MERCY that has been poured into our lives!
Click the button below if you would like to join us in our GLORY BOUND MISSION of MERCY!

Sorry It Has Been A BUSY Time!

4/27/2016

We are in the midst of a Parish MISSION which has taken much of our time! We'd like to share it with you, for those who may want to journey with us for the next few days. We'll be back to our Reflections next week!

Peace,

The Sisters

P.S. Pardon the singing at the beginning!!! Good for our humility! :)it.

Thank you and MORE!

4/20/2016

Before we share our reflection for today, we just wanted to take the time to thank the close to 400 readers of our blog and Resurrection Reflections! We hope that they have been moments of grace for you. All of our readers are in our daily prayers.

We'd love to hear from you, so don't be shy!

Now, to our sharing during a week that has been super-busy!

"I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness." (Jn 12:44-50)

What joy it is to be in the light! Doesn't everyone experience this in the United States as spring finally arrives?! It is delightful to drive home from work in the daylight and to have longer hours to catch a quick walk around the neighborhood while it is still light out.

How beautiful the image that Jesus gives us today as we think of him as being the world's light! Light dispels the fears of darkness. Light brings warmth and a lighter spirit after the cold, dreary days of past seasons.   I can also see how this image of Christ as my Light, brings a renewal in my soul. No matter how my yesterdays were, today is a new day, and the light of Christ is shining for me!

As our parish prepares for a wonderful MISSION during this Year of Mercy, I pray that this light will surround us. I pray too, for those I know who walk in darkness right now. Sometimes it isn't easy to enjoy the light when I know someone else is in darkness. I've been there and I know how awful it can be.   This morning I prayed by name for those who I know are stuck in the shadows of life.   Sometimes it is impossible for me to help them, but I know that it is not impossible for God.

As we enjoy the LIGHT of our lives, may we ever encourage others to do so too.

Whoever Eats This Bread Will Live Forever

4/15/2016

      Alleluia! He is RISEN!   Then, get out there and LIVE!

    All is HOPE! All is LOVE! All is FULFILLED! ALLELUIA!

           Let us NOT live as those who are without HOPE!

                              We will live FOREVER!

Let the Earth Cry Out With JOY!

4/14/2016

Have you ever met someone elderly who sparkles with JOY?   Have you ever tried to learn how to live likewise?   Did they just practice for a very long time and finally got it right?   Were they from a loving family and absorbed a joyful spirit just by being part of the joyful environment they grew up in?   Maybe. Maybe not.   Perhaps they suffered very much and realized at one point in their lives that God loved them, no matter what.   Perhaps they learned the art of turning over their heartaches and disappointments to God and going on in life?

I try to be a joyful person. I think I am, but I know there are times when anger, resentment, injustice and other things "that should not be" steal my joy away from me.   Well, if the truth be told, my joy wasn't stolen from me. I let these things take my joy away or I actually handed my joy over to them.   In reality, there are times I have given up on joy.

Resurrection is all about JOY! Enough said?   I need to realign myself with this fact and check myself when I forget. That's okay, though, for Resurrection means dying and rising too: dying to myself when I realize I need to improve and rising again, when I don't feel like it.

Jesus, My Resurrection and my LIFE, grant that I may rise with YOU!