Tag: Love

Inspiration

Easter Sunday:  Jesus’ Resurrection! He is Risen!

Smitten With Goodness

Do I recognize the miracles in my life?

As we live Authentically Yours, as God’s beloved, we are confident God’s Mercy Endures Forever: let us be His Light. As we have journeyed through Lent and an intensified Holy Week, I hope your heart is rejoicing and full of light in the fact that God’s mercy endures forever.  He is risen!  He has risen, indeed!  Alleluia!  I hope your faith has been strengthened and your heart has been lovingly pruned and purified so it is bursting with love.  Christ suffered greatly to grant us access to eternal life.  The time is now for us to mature spiritually and Be His Light in the world. 

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Inspiration

Day 46: Holy Saturday. Jesus in the Tomb 

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Reflection by Jacquelyne Rocan

How do I honor my family and friends that have died?

On Holy Saturday, we are in a time of sadness and loneliness as Jesus lies in the tomb.  However, while we are in this day of waiting and watching, we are comforted in the knowledge that Jesus will rise from the dead on Easter Sunday, securing our eternal salvation and conquering death by the sacrifice of His life.  Jesus, the spotless, pure Lamb of God, paid the penalty for our sins by this sacrifice, conquering death both spiritually and physically.  We are assured that we now have the opportunity to join in eternal life with God after our earthly journey has been completed.

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Inspiration

Day 45: Good Friday.  Jesus’ Trial, Crucifixion, Death, and Burial 

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Reflection by Jacquelyne Rocan

Do I forgive my enemies?  

Good Friday is the most difficult day of the year.  Jesus’ journey, which began with praise and adulation on Palm Sunday, now turns to the pain and sorrow of being falsely accused, condemned, mocked, tortured, abandoned by most of His followers, sentenced to death, crucified, and then dying and buried.  I walk along this journey on Good Friday with Jesus through the Stations of the Cross and recognize the role that my sin played in Jesus’ crucifixion and death.

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Inspiration

Day 44: Holy Thursday. Passover/Last Supper/Mandatum (Washing of the Apostles’ Feet)

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How have I offered myself in humble service to others?  

We have spent the past 40 days of Lent renewing and reinvigorating our faith in preparation for Easter.  The sacrifices and penances we have made have softened our hearts to be ready to enter the Easter Triduum — Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil — in which we commemorate the passion, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The Easter Triduum allows us to walk in Jesus’s footsteps during His final hours on earth.

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Inspiration

Day 42: Tuesday of Holy Week.  Jesus Visits the Mount of Olives/Judas Negotiates the Betrayal of Jesus 

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Have I betrayed God? 

It is hard to think about betrayal. We all want to believe we are loyal and true in our relationships.  But there is confusion and difficulty when our hearts are involved. Relationships can be difficult and we need mercy and compassion to make them work.

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Inspiration

Day 41: Monday of Holy Week.  Jesus Cleansing the Temple 

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Reflection by Jacquelyne Rocan

Do I live out my faith in service to others?

On this Monday of Holy Week, we follow Jesus after His triumphant entry into Jerusalem that we celebrated on Palm Sunday.  Today, Jesus, along with his disciples, entered the Temple.  Seeing the money changers in the Temple, Jesus overturned their tables and cleared the Temple.  As related in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus stated “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves” (Luke 19:46).  Part of the symbolism of Jesus’ actions that day demonstrates to us that faith is much more than outward religiosity that was taking place in the Temple; faith must bear spiritual fruit in the life, heart, and soul of each believer and be shared with others.

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Inspiration

Day 40: Palm Sunday.  Jesus’ Triumphant Entry Into Jerusalem

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How did I praise God today? 

As we contemplate Holy Week on this Palm Sunday, we must remember what our Lord endured for our salvation.  He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin on the altar of the cross and washed away our sins with His blood.  We must also recognize our responsibility to ask for forgiveness for the sin in our life.  For it is sin, big and small, that made Christ suffer the torment of the cross.  Our crucified Lord on the cross is a vivid image of His love for us.  Meditating on His Passion strengthens us against temptation, moves us to frequent confession, and keeps us on the path of salvation.  Through our praise, we give away ourselves and live in the right order. Jesus gave His all for you and me but can we really say we do the same in return? 

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Inspiration

Day 38: Opening My Heart to God’s Blessings

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Reflection by Jacquelyne Rocan

What touched my heart today?

In the midst of my busy days, I sometimes fail to take the time to stop and appreciate all of the beauty and gifts around me.  Like all of us, I try to keep up with many things — prayer time, meetings, appointments, emails, phone calls, meetings, etc. — but I often feel that I am missing something important.  

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Inspiration

Day 37: God Always Sees Me

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Reflection by Jacquelyne Rocan

Was I hurt today without anyone noticing?

Last year, I celebrated a work anniversary milestone.  During a staff meeting, my manager presented me with a token representing my years of service and then quickly moved on to other business.  I was a little surprised but did my best not to dwell on it as this is not unusual for where I work.  Then, two weeks ago, one of my colleagues celebrated the same work anniversary milestone as I had the prior year, but this time, there was a big celebration and a lot of recognition for my colleague.  It was hard for me not to compare the two situations and become upset by what I perceived to be disparate treatment.  I was hurting but did not share that hurt with my colleagues.

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