all seven had been married to her

November 23, 2019 6:00 am

“Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless.  Finally the woman also died.  Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her.” (LK 20: 29-33) 

Poor woman: moving from one brother to another, no time for mourning, no respect for her feelings and emotions, all because her husbands “died childless.” The Greek version is more accurate; instead of “had been married to her,” it says: “had her to wife.” They had her—she was part of the tradition, part of the rules, part of the law. How often do we keep our “idealistic” version of our spouses, “having” them and obliged to fulfill our version?

“Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.” (Gospel Acclamation) 

Bless the Lord

November 26, 2013 9:38 am

“Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
58 Bless the Lord, you heavens;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
59 Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
60 Bless the Lord, all you waters above the heavens;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
61 Bless the Lord, all you powers of the Lord;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
62 Bless the Lord, sun and moon;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

(Daniel 3: 57-65)
63 Bless the Lord, stars of heaven;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.

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Limitless hope

November 23, 2013 9:38 pm

The Sadducees who doubt in the Resurrection have come to my mind who set a trap for Jesus, asking Him about following husbands of one wife.
And I see many Sadducees around me – they try to obscure the image of God with their comments, cynical remarks and ironic behaviour and they try to prove that He doesn’t exist.

But He does not abandon us, He comforts us and gives us faith. Over 2000 ago and today He replies to the Sadducees:

“The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’” (Luke 20: 34-37)

This is Good News. so full of hope, and dignity, for me, for you and for everyone.

Jesus doesn’t want us to become or to remain Sadducees, because that would mean that we’d remain on your own, tragically alone and hopeless.

Dorota

Not my way but especially for you

November 16, 2013 9:42 pm

One day I asked our children to prepare the table for dinner. I expected them to do it the way I normally did it with them. For me it has some importance how the table is made, which napkins are used and whether everything is well placed.

The moment they started I knew they didn’t do it “my way”. I managed not to criticise them but in fact I was a bit intrigued – instead of putting dinner plates first and then soup plates and arranging the cutlery, they put together the complete set for a concrete person in the kitchen, They chose everyone’s favourite plates and cutlery and emerged with a full set and put it on the table.

As a final result we didn’t have the festive tableware but each of us could feel special as each cover said” It’s for you!”.

I felt how great a gift it is to have nearby someone loved and how important it is to say this to my nearest and dearest every day. This experience has become a motivation for me.

Greetings with my favourite mug,

Dorota

The desert and the cross

November 6, 2013 10:42 am

“Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:27)

When I walk the crowded street and I pass by hundreds of people – young, elderly, in their prime, some of them smiling, some sad – I understand that each of them bears a cross and none is more important than the other. A cross that seems small may have a knot that rubs so much as to open a never healing wound. And the cross that seems big ma be light. It is of no importance, a cross is a cross.

What is important is to accept the cross and carry it and not to run away pretending that it doesn’t exist.

To understand my cross I had to go to the desert – even though I was at home, at work and had my duties to do. At my own wish I cut off the media and the noise but I was filed with the sense of emptiness and loneliness. I knew that God was with me but I didn’t understand Him at all/ The obligation of prayer helped me stand by Him and later came concrete signs and persons sent by Him to lead me out of the desert.
Thank you, God, for  my cross- the one that I carry and for my brothers and sisters in faith who carry their crosses in trust. Thank you for the grace and strength that you give us so that we can accept and carry our crosses.

Greetings,

Dorota

Walking with a cup of tea

October 8, 2013 10:23 pm

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”(Luke 10: 41-42)

The intensive weekend in Wrocław has come to an end. This was good time for many couples. And I must say that our marriage has benefited from it as well because we could listen once again to the lectures and see what we have managed to change and improve and what areas still need improving. We could find a new encouragement.
Although family duties and the never ending urgently-to-do-list must be dealt with instantly, my heart tells me not to forget the tea. Hot tea in big mugs so that it cools down more slowly. I must not forget the cup of tea with the Husband, on the sofa, this is the best place to talk.

Our marriage is a common journey, sometimes easy, sometimes difficult, but always together. We must not forget to stop to have a cup of tea.

Dorota

Good time

September 20, 2013 9:30 pm

“After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers”. (Luke 2: 46-47)

I am often astounded by the natural wisdom of our children. I remember a situation when after a “sermon” on my part my daughter told me “Mum, don’t be angry with us when we make mischief. Be calm because we still have a lot to learn”.

I must admit she was 100% right and as a child in a kindergarten she was able to put it in words clearly. And I must also say that this was a lesson for me and thanks to it I was able to correct my attitude and the way of speaking. You can learn a lot from children.

But sometimes more time is necessary for such a natural wisdom to reach me, sometimes I also need more time to take up what others teach me.

Jesus devoted 3 days to teachers. He spent with them three days so that they had time to admire, understand and see. He also has the time for me. The only thing for me to do is to find some time to sit with Him and to talk about some things with Him.

Dorota

Like St. Paul

September 10, 2013 10:49 am

I keep thinking about the time it took Father Jarosław to prepare for the race, about the effort and the intention he carried and I remember that he an the previous one in the intention of families.

Such an effort is not just a drop but a lake in the sea of needs. Therefore I express my admiration and congratulate. This is a great testimony of overcoming weaknesses and dispiritedness. It is worth taking up such a fight with oneself ifor peace in Syria. But also so that we could be strengthened by God and get to know His mystery and love.

It is like Paul writes:

“I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”. (Colossians 2:1-3)

Dorota

12 hugs

August 24, 2013 12:47 pm

Apparently, people need twelve hugs a day to feel well. These may be physical, verbal or visual hugs.

This is so because we need food for our feelings, a food coming from other people or spiritual food that we get from prayer or meditation*.

I must agree with it when I watch our kids, who, by their nature, need much hugging all the time, even in a conflict situation.

I must agree with it when I am waiting for and appreciate each good word, a compliment from my husband, children and friends.

I must agree with it when I experience extraordinary peace and appreciation when I spend time with God at the Adoration. He has seen me and could say a lot of good things about me whan I was still under the fig tree.

“When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

(John 1: 47-48)

If it is so, I shall hug today, in a more aware way, above all those whom I love very much, so that they never doubt that. And I wish the same to you.

Have a nice day.

* read in “7 Habits of Highly Effective Families” by Stephen R. Covey

Dorota

It's not outdated

August 20, 2013 10:03 pm

“But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.”” (Judges 6:23)

When I read these words at the beginning of the day, my attitude to many matters and situations changes immediately.

Although I am grown-up, I need such assertions very frequently much as such a sensibility is outdated today. But I need a sense of security, I need a good word, I need a warm relationship.

I wonder how my family feel today. Do I give them this feeling of security in return, do I support them? Not only by thoughts but with concrete words, gestures. Perhaps they need it as well but they are ashamed to talk about them?

Regardless of what it is like, I would like to assure them about it because the Lord has told me about it today and has strengthened me.

Because “with God all things are possible”. (Matthew 19: 26)
Dorota