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爱之信 Peaceful Lent and Joyful Easter

(2012-02-23 20:45:37) 下一个

Yesterday marked the first day of Lenten season 2012, the forty days (not counting Sundays) leading to Easter. You have probably heard about "Fat Tuesday", also called "Mardi Gras", when, traditionally, people use up all the fat in the household and have a carnival celebration.  The day after "Fat Tuesday" is "Ash Wednesday", that is when people go to church to receive a black cross marked on the forehead. The ashes came from burning last year's Palm Sunday branches, mixed with Holy oil.

While I was in a Catholic hospital, two ladies approached people and asked if anyone would like to receive Ash Wednesday blessings, my heart leapt for joy. They were like angels to me.  I rose and one lady gently crossed my forehead and said, "Remember that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return."(Genesis 3:19)

When I went home, my husband was watching TV, and he pointed to a newscast lady with a cross on her forehead. I threw a kiss to her in the air, it was nice to share faith with a fellow believer. When we went to the evening mass at church, we saw people were all very solemn with black marks on their foreheads, even little babies may receive a blessing, we felt so humble. The priest talked about “if you are fasting, do not pout about it", I elbowed my son, he blushed and felt sorry for telling me that his lunch had no meat and 'tasted like paper'.

At dinner, we discussed about what we were going to give up this lenten season, my daughter suggested giving up fast food, I was so happy to hear it coming out of her mouth. Years before I had suggested that, and my husband and the kids were reluctant, when Lent ended and Easter came, they had a "backlash" and went out and bought so much! Some people give up sweets, some give up coffee and send the money saved to charity, some give up drinking alcohol, some give up anger, I give up pleasure reading for spiritual reading.

Lent is a season for renewal, we use this time to bring forth positive changes in our lives. Listen to the stirrings of your heart, what are you longing for? A more peaceful home, heart or relationship? 



《I thirst for you》~ I call this "a love letter from our Lord"

I Thirst for You

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock… (Rev. 3, 20)

It is true. I stand at the door of your heart, day and night. Even when you are not listening, even when you doubt it could be Me, I am there. I await even the smallest sign of your response, even the least whispered invitation that will allow Me to enter.

And I want you to know that whenever you invite Me, I do come – always, without fail. Silent and unseen I come, but with infinite power and love, and bringing the many gifts of My Spirit. I come with My mercy, with My desire to forgive and heal you, and with a love for you beyond your comprehension – a love every bit as great as the love I have received from the Father ("As much as the Father has loved me, I have loved you…" (Jn. 15:10) I come - longing to console you and give you strength, to lift you up and bind all your wounds. I bring you My light, to dispel your darkness and all your doubts. I come with My power, that I might carry you and all your burdens; with My grace, to touch your heart and transform your life; and My peace I give to still your soul.

I know you through and through. I know everything about you. The very hairs of your head I have numbered. Nothing in your life is unimportant to Me. I have followed you through the years, and I have always loved you – even in your wanderings. I know every one of your problems. I know your needs and your worries. And yes, I know all your sins. But I tell you again that I love you – not for what you have or haven’t done – I love you for you, for the beauty and dignity My Father gave you by creating you in His own image. It is a dignity you have often forgotten, a beauty you have tarnished by sin. But I love you as you are, and I have shed My Blood to win you back. If you only ask Me with faith, My grace will touch all that needs changing in your life, and I will give you the strength to free yourself from sin and all its destructive power.

I know what is in your heart – I know your loneliness and all your hurts – the rejections, the judgments, the humiliations, I carried it all before you. And I carried it all for you, so you might share My strength and victory. I know especially your need for love – how you are thirsting to be loved and cherished. But how often have you thirsted in vain, by seeking that love selfishly, striving to fill the emptiness inside you with passing pleasures – with the even greater emptiness of sin. Do you thirst for love? "Come to Me all you who thirst…" (Jn. 7: 37). I will satisfy you and fill you. Do you thirst to be cherished? I cherish you more than you can imagine – to the point of dying on a cross for you.

I Thirst for You. Yes, that is the only way to even begin to describe My love for you. I THIRST FOR YOU. I thirst to love you and to be loved by you – that is how precious you are to Me. I THIRST FOR YOU. Come to Me, and I will fill your heart and heal your wounds. I will make you a new creation, and give you peace, even in all your trials I THIRST FOR YOU. You must never doubt My mercy, My acceptance of you, My desire to forgive, My longing to bless you and live My life in you. I THIRST FOR YOU. If you feel unimportant in the eyes of the world, that matters not at all. For Me, there is no one any more important in the entire world than you. I THIRST FOR YOU. Open to Me, come to Me, thirst for Me, give me your life – and I will prove to you how important you are to My Heart.

Don’t you realize that My Father already has a perfect plan to transform your life, beginning from this moment? Trust in Me. Ask Me every day to enter and take charge of your life. – and I will. I promise you before My Father in heaven that I will work miracles in your life. Why would I do this? Because I THIRST FOR YOU. All I ask of you is that you entrust yourself to Me completely. I will do all the rest.

Even now I behold the place My Father has prepared for you in My Kingdom. Remember that you are a pilgrim in this life, on a journey home. Sin can never satisfy you, or bring the peace you seek. All that you have sought outside of Me has only left you more empty, so do not cling to the things of this life. Above all, do not run from Me when you fall. Come to Me without delay. When you give Me your sins, you gave Me the joy of being your Savior. There is nothing I cannot forgive and heal; so come now, and unburden your soul.

No matter how far you may wander, no matter how often you forget Me, no matter how many crosses you may bear in this life; there is one thing I want you to always remember, one thing that will never change. I THIRST FOR YOU – just as you are. You don’t need to change to believe in My love, for it will be your belief in My love that will change you. You forget Me, and yet I am seeking you every moment of the day – standing at the door of your heart and knocking. Do you find this hard to believe? Then look at the cross, look at My Heart that was pierced for you. Have you not understood My cross? Then listen again to the words I spoke there – for they tell you clearly why I endured all this for you: "I THIRST…"(Jn 19: 28). Yes, I thirst for you – as the rest of the psalm – verse I was praying says of Me: "I looked for love, and I found none…" (Ps. 69: 20). All your life I have been looking for your love – I have never stopped seeking to love you and be loved by you. You have tried many other things in your search for happiness; why not try opening your heart to Me, right now, more than you ever have before.

Whenever you do open the door of your heart, whenever you come close enough, you will hear Me say to you again and again, not in mere human words but in spirit. "No matter what you have done, I love you for your own sake Come to Me with your misery and your sins, with your troubles and needs, and with all your longing to be loved. I stand at the door of your heart and knock. Open to Me, for I THIRST FOR YOU…"

"Jesus is God, therefore His love, His Thirst, is infinite. He the creator of the universe,
asked for the love of His creatures.
He thirst for our love… These words:
‘I Thirst’ –
Do they echo in our souls?”
Mother Teresa

~Have a Peaceful Lenten and Joyful Easter Season!~

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阅读 ()评论 (30)
评论
京燕花园 回复 悄悄话 回复~叶子~的评论:
谢谢叶子姐姐,给雪儿念了大姨写给她的话,她的脸上乐开了花。

As we prepare ourselves for the celebration of Easter, we find peace through letting go.

Blessing to sister Leaf and your family (^O^☆♪
~叶子~ 回复 悄悄话 写得真好!尤其喜欢这句话:

Lent is a season for renewal, we use this time to bring forth positive changes in our lives.

I am happy for your daughter who decides to give up fast food. Proud of her~
京燕花园 回复 悄悄话 回复花甲老翁的评论:
谢谢花甲大哥的共鸣。我是随着先生和孩子们入了天主教,他们都是“摇篮里的天主教徒”。我很喜欢教会的传统和包容性。以前听到教派之间的争论我会好紧张,后来听神父说大家都是一棵大树上的分支,我心灵平静了许多。不论我们去哪间教会,那颗爱主爱人的心是一样的。

也祝福花甲大哥和大家!主佑平安(^O^☆♪
京燕花园 回复 悄悄话 回复piao11的评论:
飘姐姐过奖了,您是我们可爱的大姐姐,真诚,热情,勤劳,幽默。。。欣喜看到姐姐,一定要开心多关爱自己哦。

我们这儿也暖和了,很多树都开了花,我们自己也休整一下身心,再开出最美的女人花吧!祝福嫩姐(^O^☆♪
花甲老翁 回复 悄悄话 我喜欢天主教多过基督教,因为天主教重视修行.
各位 , 复活节快乐 .
piao11 回复 悄悄话 宝贝儿~你是走在生活前沿的人~你的生活热情和真诚,都沉淀在你的文字中。。。。

宝贝儿,我们这儿天气转暖了~

问好楼下姐妹们~祝好。
京燕花园 回复 悄悄话 回复安娜晴天的评论:
抱抱亲爱的晴晴妹妹,真巧在茫茫网络和你相遇,今天你是我的小天使。好开心听到你最近的生活,我们虽然远隔重洋,一起在斋月祈祷中感受心灵的碰撞。

我们舍弃一些享乐,更探究人生最重要的事情,让我们一起努力吧。欣喜你和小宝安娜要成行罗马了,我也想把去年的罗马和梵蒂冈游记继续写。这个时候去罗马,比冬假更暖和,白天也长。我想你们会有心见教宗,他每周三公开接见信众。

为你们祈祷,主爱永驻心间(^O^☆♪
京燕花园 回复 悄悄话 回复点缀的评论:
谢谢点缀兄的共鸣,我们很幸运,有主爱在心中,担不起的重担卸给主。

很感恩,也祝福你,主佑平安(^O^☆♪
京燕花园 回复 悄悄话 回复tenyu的评论:
张开双臂欢迎藤玉姐姐来美国,到加州前告诉我啊!姐姐每半年就到一个新的国度啊,真是像你网名一样“海阔天空”的生活。

你要当大姐姐吗?我和宝宝是妹妹。桐儿姐姐呢?等你到纽约见了她悄悄查查户口,哈哈。

祝福玉姐姐一帆风顺,主佑平安(^O^☆♪
安娜晴天 回复 悄悄话 在斋月读到你的这篇文章很高兴。这段时间我没有上网,也没来看望你。今天本来想潜水,但是还是留言了。
我们信仰天主的儿女,这7个星期是斋月, 我会反省,舍去一些心爱的东西。今年第一次禁食,我们叫 heil Fasten,我是第三天了。希望能做到5天就满意了。希望随着禁食,清理身体和内心,迎接复活节。还有, 我也订了旅行,和安娜宝贝复活节去罗马朝圣。
祝福姐姐全家斋月平安吉祥。
京燕花园 回复 悄悄话 回复freshview的评论:
谢谢亲爱的月儿,主佑平安!你的女儿好让我感动,记得你写过她上了很好的私立高中,让孩子在智慧和心灵上都得到滋润。

你说了lent rice bowl我才去看到,真好,所以四旬期不只是舍弃什么甜品,咖啡。。。还有更重要的给予,在给予中我们获得宝贵的东西。

祝福你的全家平安喜乐(^O^☆♪
京燕花园 回复 悄悄话 回复DUMARTINI的评论:
杜姐姐你家那里还在下雪真美啊。我们这里四五年才下一场,现在玉兰,海棠,梨花,梅花都开了。

今年复活节在四月八号,从圣灰星期三开始四旬期这段时间,我们可以做好心理调整,准备迎接万物复苏的春天和复活节。

祝福杜姐姐周末愉快(^O^☆♪
点缀 回复 悄悄话
信仰很重要,赞有信仰的人和事。。。
tenyu 回复 悄悄话 回复京燕花园的评论:
燕儿靠近你们的时间近啦~~我在纽约要呆上半年,期盼能去加州。。。
燕儿到底谁大谁小你排排顺序好吗?有可能我最大O(∩_∩)O哈哈~
freshview 回复 悄悄话 燕儿写的很温馨,读来让人感受到在主里那份自省和奉献的灵和心。。。
我从女儿那里听到了关于四旬期斋月,fasting, rice bowl的介绍,孩子很有感触,让我也为此很高兴。

祝福平安喜乐和燕儿一家相伴相随!
DUMARTINI 回复 悄悄话 过复活节?这么快?哎呀 我们这儿依旧漫天白雪,。。。

问京燕mm好!
京燕花园 回复 悄悄话 回复南山松的评论:
谢谢阿松,也祝福你!

Have a peaceful Lenten and joyful Easter season. Blessings (^O^☆♪

南山松 回复 悄悄话 写得真好,让人心动。。。

Have a Peaceful Lenten and Joyful Easter Season!
京燕花园 回复 悄悄话 回复御树林枫的评论:
是吗林枫妹妹,想必你对鞋情有独钟。想到那首歌~敢问路在何方?路在脚下。我们可以选择开心,积极地生活,每天为自己做点儿小事犒劳一下,一直在为工作为家庭为孩子付出,我们也值得把自己的需求放首位。

祝福妹妹,新春新气象,快乐幸福(^O^☆♪
京燕花园 回复 悄悄话 回复清风明月的评论:
从这周三到复活节前这四十天是四旬期斋月,所以心理上也做好准备迎接Easter。今年复活节是四月八号,每年都变化,象中国春节一样,是Moveable Feast, 也按阴历算,每年春分满月后第一主日就是复活节。你这明月要告诉我们阴晴圆缺哦,希望你每天都晴空万里,朗照人间。

今年雪儿主动说不吃快餐我真欣慰觉得孩子懂事了,如果不能常年坚持至少四旬期先努力一下。祝福(^O^☆♪
御树林枫 回复 悄悄话 "we use this time to bring forth positive changes in our lives"这是我每次买鞋时想的~~~说借口也行~~

生活需要积极的态度,去推动‘positive changes “。
清风明月 回复 悄悄话 Easter不是4月份吗?燕子,你慢点,俺都跟不上趟了, :))

你女儿那句:“giving up fast food” 可是真理啊, 这快餐真要少吃, 

周末快乐!


京燕花园 回复 悄悄话 回复tern2的评论:
Thanks sis, big hugs! My mother used to say time flies when life is good. She talked about how they used to look forward to payday in the olden days. Yet we know money could not buy us everything!

It is the inner peace that we all search for, wanting to be loved, wanting to be accepted, wanting to be appreciated... I am so lucky to have met you and other sisters, we love & appreciate each other deeply.

Sending you a big heart for the day, another Valentine's(^O^☆♪
京燕花园 回复 悄悄话 回复花自飘飘零的评论:
是呀飘飘妹妹,春天万物复苏,姹紫嫣红。

We may also grow spiritually at this time, be more at peace with ourselves and others, count those grace-filled moments in our lives.

Blessings for a peaceful Lent and joyful Easter(^O^☆♪
京燕花园 回复 悄悄话 回复tenyu的评论:
抱抱藤玉姐姐,送一个大沙发给姐姐静静坐一坐,我们每天都在忙碌,春天到了,复活节脚步渐近,可以放慢脚步,听听心灵的渴求。

在桐儿姐姐家看到玉姐姐要来美国半年,真是惊喜!祝福姐姐平安(^O^☆♪
tern2 回复 悄悄话 well written!
Time flies--a peaceful Lent and joyful Easter again??? If sis did not mention it, I would have not realized it.
True, let's bring forth positive changes in our lives at this moment, and listen to our heart...
Have a lovely weekend , sis!
花自飘飘零 回复 悄悄话 时间过的真快啊。。。转眼就到easter了:)
we use this time to bring forth positive changes in our lives.
tenyu 回复 悄悄话 沙发终于更新了!
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