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Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
There was a professor in our seminary who was teaching us homiletics. He was trying to impress upon the students the importance of using facial expressions to express feelings when preaching. "When you speak of heaven," he said, "Let your face light with a heavenly glow, when you speak of hell, your everyday face will do." Sometimes, our "everyday face" reflects the hell we are going through. For the two disciples who were walking to Emmaus after hearing their Master's death, the facial expression reflected a "hell" of deep sadness and disappointment they were going through.
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Happy Easter! In this season of renewal and hope, I am moved to share a profound story that has touched my heart deeply, imparted to me by one of the Holy Cross priests. It is the story of a community member who, in his final moments, shared a revelation that resonates deeply with the spirit of Easter. As he lay on his deathbed, he whispered with a serene smile, "I rejoice," expressing his joy and anticipation for what awaited him beyond this life. His words, "I am so happy to see what awaits me," remind us that in the journey of faith, death is not an end but a gateway to a new beginning.
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Brief and contemporary inspiration focused on hope and family prayer will be delivered to your inbox! Articles include live video, written word, and links to resources that will lead you and your family deeper into faith.
The Lord's Resurrection provoked many emotions. It was fear and joy for His followers who first knew of it, the women who went to His tomb. Upon seeing the tomb empty, the two Marys went away quickly, "fearful yet overjoyed." They ran for fear, they ran for joy, and they ran for love.
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Today, known as "Spy Wednesday," commemorates the day of betrayal when Judas agreed to hand Jesus over to the authorities for thirty pieces of silver (the price of a slave at that time). The Gospel of Matthew narrates this event. We learn that Judas was seeking an opportunity to betray his master. We also learn how Jesus planned to celebrate His last Passover supper with his disciples in a house prearranged by Him. During the meal, Jesus declared that one of his disciples would betray him and hinted that it was Judas.
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In his article, "The Fragrance of the Ointment," J.R. Miller says that the fragrance of Mary of Bethany's ointment that filled the house is a beautiful symbol of Mary's life. "She was not an active follower of Christ, except in her home and quiet daily life. She did not leave all and go with Him, as some other women and men did. Her name is not connected, even in tradition, with anything startling or great. Our first glimpse of her is her sitting at the Master's feet as a learner. Into her heart, she received the words of the Master, which were life to her. Like a handful of spices, they fell into her heart and transformed her life into radiant beauty."
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Holy lives of inspiration | Learn more about our faith
“Denounce! Let us denounce him!” – “Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail and take our vengeance on him.” These are words we hear in the reading of the prophet Jeremiah's report about his friends and close associates. They wanted the prophet destroyed. In the Gospel, we have also heard Jesus faced similar challenges from his own people. They wanted him dead.
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