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Happy Easter!
Easter isn't just a day. Easter is a season. And Easter is the way we should live...all the time. The victory has been won. Sin and death have been conquered. Alleluia! Our Lenten desert experience has ended... but we're still in the desert of COVID-19. We have learned, and are living out new terms; Social Distancing, shelter-in-place, Lock-Down. We're taking unprecedented actions to protect ourselves from an unseen enemy. Most of us have everything we need in our homes for our day-to-day life...... except close contact with the people we love the most! Yes...We are still in a desert! BUT....even a desert blooms with beautiful flowers. Even the dry, dusty desert in Israel blooms... Click the link below or copy it and paste it into your browser search bar to see the desert in Israel in bloom. https://images.rove.me/w_1920,q_85/zxhsd8d1scahozinofv9/israel-desert-bloom-season.jpg (You can also do a search for 'desert in bloom' and images of desert flowers will come up) What's the Point? In the midst of desert times, there are 'flowers' all around us. In the midst of struggles, there are blessings. We just have to be aware and watching, or we'll miss them. During the past few days and weeks I've been in touch with family and friends, mostly by phone (there's a blessing.... we all have the ability to connect with people by phone!) In many conversations we've lamented about not being able to get together like usual. But I've also heard and seen beautiful interactions that have lifted my spirits. I heard about the father of a family who, because they couldn't go to Mass on Holy Thursday, chose to enact the gospel by washing the feet of his wife and children. I heard a story about a young couple who sought out a priest to privately baptise their new-born infant. I saw family members surprise us on Easter Morning by arriving at our home to set up a bubble machine in our yard while they drew a cross, flowers and Alleluia messages on our driveway with chalk. I saw (and heard!) local fire companies drive through the neighborhoods to delight the children by bringing the Easter Bunny to the community. I've seen local TV networks, who have been relentless in reporting about the crisis in the Catholic Church, allow our Catholic Mass to be broadcast. I've spent more time talking with my mother, and hearing more stories about her life...stories I had never heard before. I've connected with people I haven't talked to in a very long time. I've spent more time praying, reading scripture, and doing private devotions during this time than I am able to when my schedule is full and I'm on the go. And my house has never been cleaner!! Yes.. even though there have been moments of sadness and uncertainty, there have been blessings! What blessings have you experienced in this desert? What 'flowers' has God placed in your life recently? Spend some time today reflecting on the good that is present in this current situation. And be sure to thank God for it! Don't forget to read Today's Readings: Acts 2:14-33 Psalm 16 Matthew 28:8-15 In Christ's Peace... Carol Mullins
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WELCOME TO SAINT JOHN PAUL II PARISH COMMUNITY
