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Solemn Palm Sunday

Posted by eph21920 on April 5, 2020 in Connected, Faith, Hope, Opportunity, Priest, Struggles

It was very strange to celebrate Palm Sunday today without being in a church. Earlier this week, our pastor sent an email with times for the Holy Week Masses to be live streamed. Then they would be available to watch later as well. He also included worship aids and ideas of how to celebrate at home with more meaning. We took his suggestion and made one of our tables into a home altar. The idea for Palm Sunday was to find a branch or large leaf to represent the palms and place it on the altar. I looked around outside for a while. The tree branches are still bare and the leaves on the ground were crumpled and wet. So, we decided to simply use the palms from last year. My parents wanted to see the Mass that was celebrated by Pope Francis, so we watched that one. Later I watched the homily given by the Deacon from our parish. Both of the men brought out the same theme. Most of Jesus’ friends left and/or betrayed Him in His time of great need. The challenge is for us not to leave Him. Especially during this time of great concern with chaos all around, and the inability to come together, we need to stay awake and vigilant. Let’s not let this opportunity slip through our fingers. I appreciated the message.

I Found God today with a faith boost to stay vigilant.

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Technicolor Dreamcoat

Posted by eph21920 on April 4, 2020 in Family, Fun, Joy, Laughter, Music

A couple of days ago, we learned that a site on YouTube would be showing musicals by Andrew Lloyd Webber each weekend. It started this weekend with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with Donny Osmond as Joseph. I had never seen this entire show, only clips. My mom felt certain that she and my dad had seen a stage performance at some point. After dinner, we got it up on the big TV and all enjoyed the show. It was just plain fun, uplifting entertainment.

I Found God today enjoying uplifting entertainment.

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Stations for Pandemic

Posted by eph21920 on April 3, 2020 in Connected, Faith, Jesus, Prayer

Early in the day, we decided we wanted to pray the Stations of the Cross. So, this evening we searched online for the different options – of which there are many right now. We came across the Stations of the Cross with prayers that were specific to the current pandemic so we prayed along with that one. It was led by Bishop Robert Gruss from the Diocese of Saginaw. I enjoyed being able to meditate on the sacrifice of Jesus while making the connection with the current state of the world.

I Found God today praying the Stations of the Cross.

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God is Still With Us

Posted by eph21920 on April 2, 2020 in Answer, Bible, Death, Eternity, Faith, Hope, Lent, Life, Priest, Struggles

A family friend called this morning and told me that her sister suggested she listen to the homily from her parish. Our friend listened to it and thought I would really enjoy it as well, so she told me how to find it. My parents and I sat down this evening and listened to it. The Mass was from this past Sunday about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. He talked about how Jesus wept with the people who were mourning and that God weeps with us even now. God is with us in all our turmoil. He said as we approach Holy Week, we may feel that we are living in the “Friday” as when Jesus was crucified and died. But we need to remember that Sunday – the day of Resurrection – is still coming. Jesus raised people from the dead in the Gospels and continues to do so even now. At one point he paraphrased a reflection he had seen regarding Nagasaki:

“I said, “God, I hurt.” And God said, “I know”. I said, “God I cry a lot.” And God said, “That’s why I gave you tears.” I said, “God I’m so depressed.” And God said, “That’s why I gave you the flowers.” I said, “God, I’m so lonely.” And God said, “That’s why I gave you family.” I said, “God, but my family died.” And God said, “So did mine. I saw mine nailed on a cross.” I said, “But God, your family lives.” And God said, “So does yours. Mine is on my right and yours is in the light.” I said, “God, I hurt. And God said, “I know.”

The priest reminded us that whatever hurts us, God it with us. When we hurt, God hurts with us.

I Found God today in a beautiful reminder that God is still with us.

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Loving the Vulnerable

Posted by eph21920 on April 1, 2020 in Answer, Connected, Grateful, Home, Hope, Love, Struggles

Every day I think about how to keep my parents healthy and safe. That has multiplied exponentially at this time. And, it seems, those around me are aware and trying to do the same thing. People are checking in on us every day asking how everyone is doing. Today I read a beautiful quote that I thought expressed the feeling well:

“And then the whole world walked inside and shut their doors and said we will stop it all. Everything. To protect our weaker ones, our sicker ones, our older ones. And nothing, nothing in the history of humankind ever felt more like love than this.” CD

I Found God today in the love for those most vulnerable.

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Signs of the Times

Posted by eph21920 on March 31, 2020 in Children, Connected, Creation, Hope, Life

It was a beautiful day and I’m getting cabin fever, so I went out for a walk. Along the way, I became keenly aware of the changes in the world around me from just 2 weeks ago. Like everything, there is a negative and positive side. The first thing that caught my attention was the empty school with their sign displaying “E-Learning”. No children playing, no parents waiting, not one car in the parking lot. There were fewer cars travelling as well. What was a very busy 6 lane road held a smattering of cars now and again. There were more people on the sidewalk and in the park than on the street, but the playground was closed and taped off. It was quieter. The baseball diamond held a dad and his son doing some batting practice instead of teams going head to head with families watching. In the neighborhood, a large group of children played together without a care in the world. In one driveway, someone had drawn a joyful masterpiece. A little further on, I spotted the mountain that stood tall as if to remind us that it had endured afflictions and transformations too numerous to count and that this too would pass. The lilies were ready to bloom and the irises were popping up in abundance. Dandelions and tiny purple flowers were just starting to appear. Spring is around the corner with it’s promise of new life. Nature will not isolate or quarantine. It will continue in it’s seasons, and so will we.

I Found God today reflecting on the way our lives have changed in the past 2 weeks.

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Hope-filled Timely Advice

Posted by eph21920 on March 30, 2020 in Answer, Bible, Connected, Faith, Hope, Life

I have been continuing to work on my Bible class and enjoying reading the scriptures. I always find comfort, wisdom, and peace. Even though the words were written about 2000 years ago, they still speak to the problems of our current society. At the same time, the answer remains the same – hope, faith, love, and trust in God. Today I finished reading Paul’s letter that he wrote to the Philippians while he was in prison. It touched my heart as so much of it could have been speaking about our current condition. Here are some of the lines that struck me the most from Philippians chapter 4:

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Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.
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Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

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Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

I Found God today in His words that are encouraging, valid, and timely.

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“Normal”Sunday

Posted by eph21920 on March 29, 2020 in Answer, Faith, Family, Food, Happiness, Home, Life, Music

As our time staying at home keeps ticking by, we are finding ways to do things as “normal” as possible. This morning after breakfast and everyone was dressed, we made our way downstairs to the big TV and found the website to our parish. We were able to watch and participate in Mass celebrated by the priest and deacon. Usually on Sundays after Mass, we go out for brunch. So today I ordered pick up from a local restaurant. We even got my dad’s favorite eggs benedict. My parents had tickets to the symphony this afternoon, which of course was cancelled. However, the philharmonic was broadcasting a selection of concerts from previous years, so we turned on the radio and listened to that. It was the closest we could get to a “normal” Sunday and really it felt pretty good.

I Found God today experiencing a “normal” Sunday.

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Produced a Family

Posted by eph21920 on March 28, 2020 in Children, Connected, Family, Grateful, Love

We had our family gathering on Zoom this afternoon. We were able to find a time that worked for everyone from Mountain to the Eastern time zone. Everyone in the family joined in. The screen resembled that of the Brady Bunch opening, so we had to act it out. This time my grandchildren took advantage of the opportunity and kept us very entertained. When we signed off, my mom got a little teary eyed and commented that she was just thinking that all of those people started with her and my dad. What a blessing.

I Found God today in gratitude for my family.

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Praying With the Pope

Posted by eph21920 on March 27, 2020 in Connected, Faith, Home, Hope, Pope, Prayer, Sick, Trust

The other day I learned that Pope Francis was offering a special blessing to those who would join in praying with him for an end to the pandemic. I found that EWTN would be airing the event, so my parents and I watched and participated from the living room. It was surreal to see Pope Francis in the empty courtyard, walking up to the podium by himself. It was pouring rain and he didn’t even have an umbrella. When the camera faced out, looking at his back, you could see people lined up just outside the barriers, holding umbrellas, and standing 6 feet away from one another. The sky was bleak and continued to darken, but the reflection and prayers were enlightening. The Gospel story was read about the apostles in the boat during a storm, while Jesus slept. They woke him wondering if he didn’t care if they all died. Jesus asked them why they were afraid and what had happened to their faith. The pope’s words were timely, encouraging, and hopeful. You can see the video here. It takes up the first hour of the time.

I Found God today participating in a world wide prayer for an end to corona virus.

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