Our Lord’s Ascension –Abundant Life –Pentecost – The Body of Christ

Vincentian Day of Prayer and Fast June 3, 2014 

Dear Vincentian Brothers and Sisters:  You are all in my prayers.  Each morning I pray for the Vincentian family around the world.  I know some of us need more prayers than others and I leave it in God’s hands.  He knows your needs and will meet them.  Wow! It is June already.  This month is so rich in faith with Ascension & Pentecost.  We are truly blessed.  This is our flood season and everyone here is praying for dry weather and sunshine.  If we get rain as the snow melts from the mountains, it becomes very abundant and not in a good way.  We pray for all disasters and special requests for peace in Nicaragua and the return of the beautiful kidnapped girls in Nigeria.  Pray always.

Our Lord’s Ascension – The life God wants for us begins now.  Do not wait for any other invitation.  Now is the time.  Can you imagine the feeling of the disciples when Jesus ascended into Heaven?  They must have been walking in circles, lost and confused. In spite of their training from the master, things did not sink in.  They, like us, know the Spirit is with us but we don’t know what it means.  It took them awhile to grieve the loss and let the message sink in.  We sometimes avoid the gifts of the Resurrected life.  We still think about what the world will give in career, finance and pleasure.  We already have this in the Trinity.  Our Lord’s ascension gives us all we need.  Do not resist the life of God, it will give more and enhance what the world gives.  It is all His.  Welcome to your new life.

Abundantly Life – “I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly.”  ~John 10:10b.  Jesus came to earth as one of us in every way but sin.  His life was for us and He lived to die for us.  Amidst any turmoil we have in our general daily living, Jesus offers us an abundant life and promises to be with us always.  Is there a greater love?  I always told my children and grandchildren, whenever they feel abandoned, picked on and unloved, know the God loves them forever and will never stop loving.  There is not a greater love.  If we live the Gospel daily and make it a part of us we will have that abundant life and share it with others.  Our abundance is not material things – worldly expectations; it is life in Christ filled with joy; it is life in the Father filled with unequaled love and it is life in the Spirit guiding and protecting us.  This is Abundant Life.  Embrace and enjoy.

Pentecost – Our life is filled with diversity, but there is only one Lord.  Begin living your eternal life today.  Pentecost is what unifies the Church.  Sure, we are all different, but the same in one Lord. Our unity is realized in the teachings of Christ.  The Pentecost draws us together; all languages, cultures, young or old all fall together to make up the Body of Christ.  It is for all of us.  We are all invited to join in and work together in Christ’s mission of salvation. Our life is full and rich in diversity and we are called by one God into unifying grace.  Alleluia!  This sounds like the Vincentian Family.

The Body of Christ – Transubstantiation is the changing of bread and wine into the body of Christ.  My grandson who is receiving his First Holy Communion is a little frightened ad nervous.  He came to our house yesterday and we went over everything with him.  Interestingly enough, he gets it, except the concept of the body and blood.  He didn’t mind taking the body because he loves bread, but he is not sure of drinking the blood.  We used some very creative methods to show what it is without making it seem magic.  The light bulb worked the best.  Without electricity it is an ordinary light bulb, but in the lamp it shines brightly.  He got it.  The bread and wine becomes Jesus in our hearts.  Tony came up with “He is the Light inside us.”  Our grandson is ready, but nervous and he still doesn’t want to take the wine.  We really do learn a good deal from children.  It occurred to me so many adults in the Church do not get it.  I believe the Eucharist is the most amazing miracle and changes me each time.  I am changed.  I pray my grandson feels this as well.

Enjoy each day, smile at others, pray for others and rejoice in your life.  Remember to pray each day for priests, deacons, bishops and Pope Francis.  Pray also for those in religious life, we need their leadership and support.

Blessings,

Lynn

Lynn L’Heureux is Special needs co-coordinator & Advisor of the Society of St Vincent de Paul Calgary Alberta Canada.

Her newsletter is translated into 3 languages, hopefully soon to be 4. They have a group which brings the prayer into China and it is translated into Mandarin and other Chinese dialects.

Subscribe to her weekly newsletter Vincentian Day of Prayer and Fast (English and Spanish) by sending an email to calgaryssvpadm@gmail.com