Holiest of weeks

On Palm Sunday we gathered to wave palm branches and cry out, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" We remember Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. This day of great rejoicing is soon followed by deep, heavy human emotions: confusion, betrayal, abandonment and grief.

Our Lord's Passion is the holiest of weeks. Jesus was fully present to each emotion, fully alive as he walked the road to Calvary. Jesus gave himself to us completely in order to submit to His Father's plan for our salvation - yours and mine. 

We pray for the grace to enter into this week prayerfully and reverently. Give us courage to be unafraid to bear witness to the ultimate sacrifice: Jesus crucified on the cross. 

Last week we celebrated St. Joseph's Feast Day with Gloria's class and attended a funeral Mass for five unclaimed persons. Josephine and Coryn stepped out on on their own to speak about the Universal Call to Holiness at a local parish and returned home renewed and alive in the Spirit. Thank you, Lord.

This past Saturday we gathered with our missionary community to commission our newest missionaries: Luciana, Madeline, Zach, Layni, Eleanor and James. This new group will be sent forth together in April to serve in Costa Rica. Pray for their Spanish language acquisition and a grace-filled transition into a new culture.  

Last week we celebrated St. Joseph's solemnity and hosted a housewarming party in St. Joseph's honor. 

St. Joseph has been a longtime patron for our family and he helped us powerfully in the location of a home in town that is only one mile to our parish St. Mary Magdalen. As we praised God with song during our housewarming celebration, one person had a vision of a fountain of fresh water springing forth from our home to the communities that surround us - even flowing all the way down to the bayou at Big Woods. What a vision, what a beautiful gift to be a place of peace that overflows for others to participate and receive the living water of Jesus. 

One continual desire we have with our humble abode is to receive visitors and house guests for a small respite from their travels, or simply to break bread together with Christ-centered fellowship.

We recently welcomed friends from Ohio who brought their child to be baptized into God's family by the Holy Spirit: Goddaughter, Naomi Rose.

We recall the imagery of a spring thaw: All that was frozen and dormant is awakened to new life. As our penitential sacrifices melt away after Good Friday, new tender shoots in our prayer life begin to bud and blossom for 50 days of walking ever more intimately with Our Risen Lord. 

May it be so.