CHRIST IS RISEN!!! Alleluia, Alleluia…

40+ days ago we began our Lenten journey in the desert looking for the embrace of Christ & landed yesterday in eternal waterfalls of His love and mercy that never run dry.

Through the Cross and Resurrection we ARE embraced by the love of Jesus Christ. Love adorned with thorns, lashed & nailed to a rugged Cross: forgiveness for us, each one, a steep price. Yet freely given, for God’s love did not stay entombed.

“Now you are ready for Resurrected Life, which will allow you henceforth to read your life backward and understand, and read it forward with hope. Hope is not some vague belief that ‘all will work out well,’ but biblical hope is the certainty that things finally have a victorious meaning no matter how they turn out. We learn that from Jesus, which gives us the courage to live our lives forward.”   Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM (Wondrous Encounters: Scripture for Lent)

On Thursday when Mama & I went out to Memorial Park (where Papa’s grave lies) I took this picture of flowers bursting into bloom…

During our last visit on March 8th everything still looked winter-bleak.  Yet spring comes bringing new life …

Because Jesus Christ rose from the grave, we know Papa is not there (alleluia!) he’s with Jesus, resting in the Everlasting Arms of God.  That’s Easter faith – filled with Resurrection alleluias.  That gives us the strength to die in hope and live with hope as we open our hearts wider to embrace & be embraced by Jesus Christ.

His Sacred Heart beats with love for each one of us…

“I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting Him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her since no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord.”  Pope Francis

It’s Easter… and oh, how we miss Papa! But the verses that best describe his life are also hope for us today and every day….

“Why do you complain, Jacob?  Why do you say, Israel,  “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”?  Do you not know?  Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:27-31

Easter blessings & Resurrection hope to all!!

grace, peace & Easter alleluias

Virginia : )

p.s. this concludes the Lenten challenge (Lent+ Holy Week + Easter Triduum) post-a-day gig here @ Roses in the Rubble.  Virginia, your humble blogger, hopes that you may have been blessed (somehow.)  She will now get back into her regular blogging grooves – one post per week (if that!) maybe 2 if she’s feeling really prolific!