I would normally consider this matrixing, but i could have sworn i saw the face of Christ reflected (very clearly) in the golden doors of the tabernacle as they swung shut at mass a couple hours ago. At any rate, happy Easter everyone!
Easter is such a time for miracles. There is picture at the minute of a Monstrance of Light over St James's Church in Medugorje doing the rounds.
I'll tell you a tiny little Miracle that happened to me last week. I had booked to go to Instantbul in Turkey next Friday for a week. But then the troubles began. A new Travel Credit Card would not arrive in time. The two flights involved long stop overs in Germany of 18 and 8 hours. I would have to get up at 2am in the morning and drive a 100 miles and my car battery started going flat. My dog needed vaccination boosters to go into a kennel for a week and I could not get an appointment in time. I could not get a kennel to take my dog because he is a huge Japanese Akita. So I was down in the dumps about maybe having to cancel. I had made such a mess of things. But whatever way it happened the sun shone very strongly through my kitchen window and it looked like a solid pillar of light. I have lived in these appartments for over twenty years and never saw such a thing before. It really cheered me up. I understood that while I wanted to go, maybe God does not want me to go just now. So if I can't find a kennel to take the dog I think I will give up today. But I am not unhappy about this. So many obstacles.
Man proposes and God disposes. I lost some money, yes. But thank God I have got back my peace of mind. So many difficulties and worries , it was driving me round the bend. I wonder how people like those in commerce cope? Speaking of 'Signs''
Padraig i totally understand this. I have learned over the years when one obstacle after another gets in the way of my doing something or going somewhere I just let it go. God protects us through these obstacles to turn us in another direction. Sometimes of course it can be the enemy's malice but prayer and surrender helps to discern that. I had a lesson in this years ago. We moved to another town without selling our house. It was a big financial strain. Three times the house almost sold but then it fell through. I had been begging God to help us. But no answers. Finally when the 3rd time sale seemed to go bust I snapped and got very angry with God. I gave Him quite an earful i am ashamed to say. I cried out "its not fair!" And I heard the inner Voice say "it wasn't fair when I hung on the cross" and I said "but you're God. You can do it. I cant!" And then I felt ashamed and I said none too graciously "all right. Your Will. Not mine. To whom Can I go but you?" The very next day the sale went thru and my husband had a job offer somewhere else for a lot more money. I told the Lord how ashamed I was that I hadn't trusted Him. He replied (smiling--i could hear it in His voice) "Remember this." And I have. He knows what He is doing always and its always for our best good.
I don’t mean to hijack a thread but I had a really nice Tridium weekend and I felt very close to God (esp during adoration on Holy Thursday after mass). But today is just something else, I’m tired of all the responsibility I have and being alone I dealing with it all. I lost my temper this morning and have not been able to calm down and can’t settle my brain into prayer. It makes it even worse when you experience such peace to then have chaos thrown into your face. I don’t do well with stressful situations
You're not alone. I too had a wonderful Holy Thursday. Very grace filled Today was another story. "Someone" is trying to steal your peace. Don't let him do it. Go for your spiritual warfare prayers!!!
Easter Sunday Mass - So, I arrive. I pick up my candle and hymn book and find a seat. I am always wary at Easter and Christmas Masses lest I find myself seated near people who have come for reasons other than to worship God. A few years ago, I was near two teenagers dragged along presumably by non-practicing parents 'because it's Easter'. Those boys couldn't hide their amusement at what was going on during Mass and allowed me to know that they found my attempts at hymn singing particularly hilarious. I couldn't help feeling angry and distracted by their lack of courtesy. So, this year, I take my seat and a group of about 10 people come in, ages ranging from late teens to late thirties. Two of them, young men in their early twenties, I guess, sit in front of me. They do not genuflect, bow or make any other mark of respect before taking their seats and they have not bothered to collect hymn book or candle. I fear the worst. A greeter has noticed that they have no candles and provides them, they appear to be amused at this. Mass commences and they decide to have a chat and do so occasionally as Mass continues they do not kneel at the Consecration but remain seated. At Communion, they have a discussion which I guess is about whether to join the line or not, one shakes his head the other mimics receiving on the tongue and they both laugh. One, to my horror, joins line to receive and does so just ahead of me. I have heard priests at Christmas Masses in the past remind the congregation that they may not receive unless they are Catholic and have recently confessed. I wish they would all do this at every Christmas and Easter Mass. Witnessing such things is a real distraction and irritation not to say abomination. I have prayed for those two young men and would ask you to do the same and rest of the 'twice a year' crowd who receive presumably sacrilegiously.
