{"id":30856,"date":"2023-04-02T16:37:22","date_gmt":"2023-04-02T23:37:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sacredheartsisters.com\/?p=30856"},"modified":"2023-11-28T13:47:37","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T21:47:37","slug":"come-and-be-with-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sacredheartsisters.com\/2023\/04\/02\/come-and-be-with-me\/","title":{"rendered":"Come and Be with Me"},"content":{"rendered":"
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by Sister Diane Heiss, SDSH<\/p>\n

Photo Detail of “Mystery of the Crucifixion and the Eucharist”<\/em> by Isabel Piczek, Heart of Jesus Retreat Center Chapel \u00a9 1994 Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart<\/p>\n

How often have we rejoiced in the birth of a family member, a dear one\u2019s success, or the presence of a friend?\u00a0 How many loved ones have we worried about and prayed for during times of sickness, trouble, or loss?\u00a0 How often have we had to say the final good-bye to a loved one who was dying?\u00a0 All of these are a part of life, as summarized in the Book of Ecclesiastes (Eccl. 3: 1-8) and popularized well over 50 years ago by the Byrds\u2019 song:\u00a0 Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season) Jesus, truly human as well as truly divine, was no exception to all of our human experiences except sin.\u00a0 In the Letter to the Hebrews, we read that Jesus can sympathize with us because he has been tested in every way, yet without sin. (Heb. 4:15).\u00a0 When the Fourth Eucharistic Prayer is used at Mass, we hear that Jesus was “a man like us in all things but sin.”<\/p>\n

The holiest week of the Liturgical Year starts today with Palm Sunday. \u00a0As baptized members of the Body of Christ, we have the special privilege of accompanying Jesus. Out of the many ways to be with him, we offer a few suggestions for private or family prayer and activities. \u00a0May these spark your prayerful creativity of how to come and be with Jesus <\/strong>and keep him company in his final joys and sorrows.<\/p>\n

PALM SUNDAY (or PASSION SUNDAY).\u00a0 <\/strong>Jesus enters Jerusalem in triumph.<\/em>
\n*Read the story of Jesus\u2019 entry into Jerusalem aloud: (Mt. 21:1-11, Mk 11:1-11, Lk 19:28- 40, or Jn 12:12-18).\u00a0 Perhaps the children might want to act this out.
\n*Go online for directions on how to weave palm branches into crosses and try it.
\n*Have a special family prayer together allowing each one to share successes and triumphs, and after each sharing conclude with \u201cWe thank and praise you, Jesus.\u201d
\nHOLY THURSDAY.\u00a0 <\/strong>Jesus celebrates the Last Supper \/ First Mass with his apostles during the Passover Dinner.
\n<\/em>*Find suggestions online for a traditional and a Christian celebration of the Passover and try one with your family.
\nYou might want to include washing each other\u2019s feet.
\n*Read chapters 3 to 12 of the Book of Exodus to learn more about the Passover (or Ex. 12: 1-12 for a summary).
\n*Watch the movie Moses, Prince of Egypt.<\/em>
\n*Attend the evening Celebration of the Lord\u2019s Supper and stay awhile to keep Jesus company at the Altar of Repose.
\n*Jesus said to his apostles \u201cMy soul is sorrowful even to death.\u00a0Remain here and keep watch with me.\u201d (Mt. 26: 38)
\nSpend some quiet time at night in prayer, simply to be with Jesus.
\nGOOD FRIDAY.\u00a0 <\/strong>Jesus offers his life on the cross out of a personal love for each of us.
\n<\/em>*Attend the Celebration of the Lord\u2019s Passion and\/or the Stations of the Cross.
\n*Keep noon until 3:00 p.m. as a quiet time of prayer, remembering Jesus\u2019 suffering and death.
\nHOLY SATURDAY.\u00a0 <\/strong>Jesus lies buried in the tomb.<\/em>
\n*Decorate Easter Eggs which remind us of the new life of Our Risen Lord and\/or make Easter cookies.
\n*Make Easter cards for sick or elderly family and friends.
\n*Make Easter baskets by weaving ribbons through strawberry baskets, adding Bible messages along with candy. *Attend the Easter Vigil and bring home holy water.
\nEASTER SUNDAY.\u00a0 <\/strong>Jesus rises from the dead.<\/em>
\n*Attend Mass, rejoicing in the gift of eternal life gained for us by Christ\u2019s suffering, death, and resurrection.
\n*Have an Easter egg hunt using plastic eggs filled with Bible verses about God\u2019s love, joy, and new life as well as candy. \u00a0For help in finding quotes, in the internet search bar type \u201cBible quotes on God\u2019s love\u201d etc.
\n*Take a walk in a lovely area with spring flowers and thank Jesus for His limitless love for you.
\nFIFTY DAYS OF EASTER:<\/strong>\u00a0 Celebrate, celebrate, and celebrate<\/em> the resurrection of Jesus.<\/p>\n

JESUS LOVES YOU!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Published in Orange County Catholic paper 4\/2023 – click for original article<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"by Sister Diane Heiss, SDSH Photo Detail of \"Mystery of the Crucifixion and the Eucharist\" by Isabel Piczek, Heart of Jesus Retreat Center Chapel \u00a9 1994 Society Devoted to the [...]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30858,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[101,3,84],"tags":[114],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2024-05-26 21:12:50","action":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sacredheartsisters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30856"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sacredheartsisters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sacredheartsisters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sacredheartsisters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sacredheartsisters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30856"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sacredheartsisters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30856\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31428,"href":"https:\/\/sacredheartsisters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30856\/revisions\/31428"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sacredheartsisters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30858"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sacredheartsisters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sacredheartsisters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sacredheartsisters.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}