A Spiritual Journey To Easter – How To Find Peace

spiritual journey to easter

As I am guided along my spiritual journey of Holy Week toward Easter, I came to understand that knowledge of God is not the same as a personal relationship with God.

Through prayer and reading, I realized that for me to obtain a personal relationship with God I first needed to understand my human relationships to grasp how to approach God. This led me to the revelation that I have, in Scripture, the story of the followers of Jesus. I began to read and practice Lectio Divina in an attempt to ascertain, so as to feel, the emotions of the people who encountered Jesus. 

I’m sharing this booklet with you of my spiritual journey through my reflections from Palm Sunday through Easter. On each day I leave us challenges to guide us to deeper understandings of the feelings of the season which lead us to hope and inner peace.

This booklet contains my reflections in my attempt to feel, emotionally, as did Jesus’ followers so that I, too, could have a closer personal relationship with Him.

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Merry Christmas! What Does Today Mean?

Merry Christmas! What Does Today Mean?

Christmas has arrived!  That magical time of the year when all seems to be at peace; when nature seems still, wars have paused, enemies have celebrated together, kids believe in magic and the hope of treasure.  A time when most of us recall how we spent the season as a child, longing once again for that simplicity of life.  Amidst all the secular commercialization, this time of the year still seems to hold a special place in our heart and mind.

In a little town in Italy, named Greccio, in the year 1223, St. Francis of Assisi, led an evening prayer service for the townspeople. To make the event meaningful he decided to recreate, live, the nativity scene of the birth of Jesus. Prior to this event, the displaying of nativity scenes was unheard of.  But for St. Francis, the importance of the nativity event was in his belief that it was a real event.  Historically, in the town of Bethlehem, a child, later to be named Jesus by his parents, was born.  Francis, believing that this child was the son of God born into our world, wanted the people of Greccio to fully understand that our God is approachable and humble for He was born as one of us.  What better way to explain this concept than by reenacting the scene with real people! As a result, over a thousand years removed from the town of Greccio, people worldwide display Nativity scenes.

In my reflections I ask myself, “This Christmas how can I make real that which happened over 2,000 years ago”?  Every year, since I was a child until now, I watch the classic show “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”.  The original version brings back so many fond memories, and now as an adult I continue to enjoy it for the meaning of the story. The Grinch couldn’t take away Christmas by taking away the people’s “stuff”.  Christmas, for the Who’s in Whoville, meant a lot more than what they had or didn’t have.  For them, Christmas was an internal experience of the heart.  A deeper sense of what the season is all about.

What is Christmas all about?  Is it the birth of a child, the son of God, into the world?  And if so, what does that mean for me today?  The humble birth of Jesus is a sign of the love God has for us, and that love needs to be put into action in the love we have for others.  In order for us to fully love another we first need to love and respect ourselves.  As God becomes one of us He shows us the importance of us as humans.  If God respects us than we also need to respect ourselves   We were worthy enough for our Lord to become one of us, it is important for us to feel that worthiness within ourselves.  When we love ourselves we are more fully able to love those around us, and that outpouring of love makes “real” the presence of God in our lives.

So, what is this season all about?  Loving ourselves and loving others so that the love of God may be present in our world.  This is what St. Francis tried to show the people of Greccio.  I hope Francis’ message continues today in the nativity scenes we have set up.  This Christmas season find ways to make Jesus real in the lives of others.  If we all did this, gave the present of love to another, just think of how different our world be.  Each day is a new opportunity for us.  Let’s take the magic of this season and make today a magical day of love.

I wish you and your loved ones a very merry, blessed and peace-filled Christmas!!

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Mary’s Example Of Faith And Trust – Christmas Eve

Mary’s Example Of Faith And Trust - Christmas Eve

As a child, I recall Christmas Eve as one of the longest days ever! As an adult, I find this day filled with anticipation and excitement, for spiritually I know that tomorrow we commemorate the birth of Jesus my Lord. But today the birth is not my focus, rather, my focus turns to His mother, Mary. She was an unwed teenager from a small town in a desert who was asked the impossible; to trust so deeply in God when asked to bear God’s son. I have no doubt that Mary’s “yes” came with some hesitation and trepidation. And I’m sure she did not always have a pleasant time of it when dealing with her future husband, her family, and just the fact of being pregnant in general. Yet, through it all, Mary never gave up.

Jesus was born to this poor teenage girl in a stable in a small town in the far reaches of the Roman empire.  He was born to a girl who took a leap of faith and trusted in her God. She persevered, not knowing the outcome.  Onward she traveled, despite hardship and fear.

For me, Christmas is not only a time of celebration and remembrance; it is also a time when I feel challenged to live the example set forth by Mary; to trust, in faith, in my God; to persevere along the journey even though I may be scared or not understanding its end or purpose in my life.  Today, let’s follow the example of Mary, a poor young teenage girl, who struggled the best she could, and in the end provided the world with its savior.

I share this song for your reflection (words are below). This song sums up for me how I imagine Mary felt. How do the words speak to you?

Breath of Heaven

I have traveled many moonless nights

Cold and weary with a babe inside

And I wonder what I’ve done

Holy Father, You have come

Chosen me now to carry Your Son

Do You wonder as You watch my face

If a wiser one should have had my place

But I offer all I am for the mercy of Your plan

Help me be strong, help me be help me

Breath of heaven

Hold me together

Be forever near me

Breath of heaven

Breath of heaven

Light in my darkness

Pour over me Your holiness

For You’re holy

Breath of heaven

Hold me together

Be forever near me

Breath of heaven

Breath of heaven

Light in my darkness

Pour over me Your holiness

For Your holy breath of heaven

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Rest Stop (Good Friday) … love

Good Friday, love, Jesus, Easter, joy, hope, serenity

Love; the complete and selfless giving for another; a desire to allow the other to shine and to grow.  On this day, Good Friday, Christians recall Jesus, who out of love, willingly gave Himself to suffer and to die so that we may shine and grow.  Jesus, the night before, agonized and prayed over this decision of suffering and dying, hoping for another way to carry out our salvation. But in the end, in response to the message Jesus hears in prayer, He says “not my will, but Your will be done.” In trust, faith and love Jesus freely suffers and dies for us.

How do we express love for others?  Do we, in faith, trust enough to share our love?  When we are suffering and find life difficult, in faith do we turn to Jesus who not only suffered, but who also found life’s situations difficult to endure?

Today, in faith and trust, knowing that Jesus understands what it’s like to make difficult decisions, to suffer, to feel physical and emotional pain, and to love, do we turn to Him in prayer and ask for guidance, for strength, for hope, for peace, for …..

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Rest Stop (Holy Thursday) … forgiveness from betrayal

Da Vinci, last supper, Jesus, Judas, passover, serenity

The Last Supper by Da Vinci

As I mentioned in my earlier post, Holy Week is a spiritual time for me filled with much emotion. The apostles who followed Jesus gave up their livelihood and families to follow a person whom they hoped was their longed-for messiah; the savior of the Jewish people.  After spending much time with Jesus, the apostles experience the awesome high of walking into Jerusalem with the crowds praising the man they are following.  Imagine how they felt, knowing that they are with an important person, and they are one of only 12 selected personally by Him!  Think of how this would make you feel.  But then come the events at the end of the week that will change their lives forever.

The night of Passover, as Jesus dines for the last time with his apostles, we learn that one of the selected twelve, Judas, will betray and hand over Jesus to the authorities, and Peter will deny, not once but three times, that he knows Jesus.  The rest of the apostles, the closest friends of Jesus, flee and hide.  Think about this … one of Jesus’ closest companions turns Him over to be arrested; His selected leader, Peter, will deny ever knowing Him; the rest of the friends run away; at a time when Jesus needed His friends’ support the most!

Historically, around the year 33AD, the Roman Empire ruled the known Western world including Jerusalem and the Jewish people.  Over time, as the apostles slowly come to an understanding of Jesus as the Son of God, they long for the day that He will save them from the Romans.  This was part of the reason for Judas’ betrayal, to force Jesus’ hand into fighting the Romans to whom he turned over Jesus.  Neither Peter nor Judas understood that Jesus was a Savior of souls, not a conqueror of the Romans.  The freedom Jesus brings is an inner freedom, not a physical freedom.  Therefore, when Jesus is arrested and neither He nor the angels come to save Him, the apostles become scared and confused.

Put in the historical context it is a bit easier to understand why Peter, although not fleeing the scene like the rest, denies knowing Jesus.  It is not necessarily to betray his friend, but out of a sense of fear and confusion.  Peter doesn’t want to be arrested, too.  Peter is scared and confused.

forgiven, life, perspective, Jesus, Passover, Holy Thursday, Easter, hope

Jumping ahead in the story, after the resurrection of Jesus, He finds Peter to reconcile with him.  He allows Peter the opportunity of forgiveness, but not just a simple “I’m sorry”, but a deeper reconciliation based on love and compassion.  Jesus approaches Peter not to reproach him for his denial, but to simply ask Peter if he loves Him.  Peter responds with “yes, you know that I love you.”  Can you imagine the emotions Peter is experiencing?

Personally, a song from the early 1990’s by the rock band Savatage seems to sum up the emotional exchange of Jesus and Peter during their reconciliation.  The song, “Believe”, was  not written for this purpose, but it speaks to me in a way of framing the depth of the emotions felt by Peter and Jesus as Peter is asked if he loves Jesus.  This is the verse from the song which I attribute to Peter’s words to Jesus.  As you read the verse, place yourself in the scene of Peter, confused and afraid, ashamed and embarrassed, standing before the risen Jesus:

“I never wanted to know; Never wanted to see; I wasted my time Till Time wasted me.  I never wanted to go; I always wanted to stay; ‘Cause the person I am are the parts that I play. So I plot and I plan and I hope and I scheme to the lure of a night filled with unfinished dreams.  And I’m holding on tight To a world gone astray; As they charge me for years I can no longer pay.”

The refrain of the song, which I attribute to Jesus responding to Peter, is both powerful and comforting:

“I am the way I am the light I am the dark Inside the night I hear your hopes I feel your dreams And in the dark I hear your screams. Don’t turn away Just take my hand And when you make your final stand I’ll be right there I’ll never leave And all I ask of you… Believe…”

On this Holy Thursday, let’s reflect on:

  • Trust.  How can I trust even when I don’t fully know the person or the situation?  What can I do to get a better understanding when events happen of which I am unfamiliar?
  • Forgiveness.  Holding onto resentments and anger led both Peter and Judas to depression and despair.  How can I learn to forgive others, and truly move on.  How can I learn to forgive myself?
  • Love.  How can I truly love another even when they disappoint me?  How can I try to more fully understand their context and what is happening in their life.  Can I embrace them as Jesus embraced Peter?

Life is not easy; but by placing ourselves into the drama of the apostles and Jesus during this critical week in their lives can give us guidance and teach us lessons.

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Rest Stop (Palm Sunday) … the start to an emotional week

palm Sunday, Easter, joy, hope, love, peace, serenity

Today, for Christians around the world, Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, the days leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Spiritually, Holy Week has always been a special time for me as this week is a high point of much emotion in the life of Jesus, His early followers, and for me.  In my personal spiritual journey I try to understand what it was like living in the time of Jesus. I read historical books as well as the Bible in my attempt to more deeply understand and feel the emotions of the people of the time. In my effort for a deeper and closer relationship with God, I immerse myself into the Bible stories, trying to feel what they felt; experience what they experienced. This week, Holy Week, is a recollection of not just an ancient story, but a retelling of real events which happened to real people who lived real emotions, real feelings, and real experiences.

Our challenge this week is to enter into the emotions of the apostles and the bystanders as they experienced the events leading up to the betrayal, arrest, death and later resurrection of Jesus. The emotions of this week begin today, with the joyous celebration of Jesus entering, as a beloved hero, into Jerusalem. Later this week the joyous celebration and exaltation of today becomes the confusion of Thursday as one of their own betrays and hands over Jesus to the Romans to be arrested. Quite quickly the feeling of confusion turns to fear and depression on Friday when Jesus is tortured and later killed as a common criminal.  Jesus, for whom they left family and jobs, is now dead, betrayed by one of their own!  Three days later comes the bewilderment and hope as news spreads of Jesus’ resurrection Sunday morning!

As this week unfolds I will share with you my reflections and feelings of the events of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.  I invite you to join with me in my spiritual journey this week.  Share with us your reflections and emotions as you journey through this holy week.

My challenge for today:

  1. What can I do to more deeply understand the emotions and reactions of the apostles as they triumphantly enter Jerusalem?
  2. What can this week teach me about my faith life?
  3. How do I hope to have my life changed by this exercise of delving into the emotions of the stories of this week?

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Rest Stop (Ash Wednesday) … letting go

Untitled image

Today, Christians around the world will receive ashes on their forehead as a reminder that we came from dust and will once again return to dust. Therefore, “Ash Wednesday” is a time to pause, reflect on our lives, and make plans to remove from our lives those aspects of ourselves which do not lead us closer to our God.

The practice of pruning our lives of those areas which are not healthy or which take us away from our inner-peace, produces a sense of humility as we realize that we are not perfect, but that we have the ability to learn from our imperfections. Letting go allows us to be true to ourselves, and open to the guidance of others.

There are people who exemplify humility, and for me, the ideal example comes from Saint Francis of Assisi. He was a wealthy son of a powerful merchant father, who, after gaining personal insight, gave up everything to live in poverty and to serve the poor in the spirit of Jesus. It wasn’t simply the giving up of everything that made Francis humble; it was his attitude and way of living.  In the book “The Way of St. Francis: the Challenge of Franciscan Spirituality for Everyone“, author Murray Bodo, OFM writes:

“The radicalness of St. Francis is not in his poverty, but in his response to the Gospel of Jesus.  He lives it.  And that is what is so astounding to the people of his time.  They don’t think it can be done.  Nor do we today.  … Francis’ whole life is a proclamation that the love of neighbor can only be secured when the Gospel is lived sincerely…”

In other words, living our lives focused on our values, and in a true sense of a love of neighbor, will keep us grounded (humble) and focused on our priorities (simplicity).  Today’s closing prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours morning prayer nicely sums up what  I am saying: “Change our selfishness into self-giving.  Help us to embrace the world you have given us, that we may transform the darkness of its pain into life and joy.”

What can we do to help us attain humility and simplicity?

  1.  Spend 10 minutes each day in quiet, focusing your thoughts on simple phrases and your breathing.
  2.  Spend time watching and reflecting on the nature around you.  Do you see the ant, flower, bird, leaf, dog, cat, etc.  What are they doing?

  3.  Make a list of your life’s priorities.  Those items at the top of your list need your full attention.  The rest, well, decide what is necessary and what is merely clutter in your life.

  4.  Help others. Love your neighbor.

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