Apr 27, 2016
I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit… (John 15:1-8)
God is the vine, we are the branches. What does this quote from scripture mean in light of the Year of Mercy? One thought is a posture of being in the world. God offers mercy to us daily and we, in turn, offer acts of mercy to the world. How will we, as Precious Blood people, respond with acts of mercy? How will we respond as Christ’s reconciling presence of mercy in our world? Spend some time during this Easter season thinking about those questions. Permit the ministry of mercy to flow through your veins. The world is crying out for mercy. Let’s be branches of mercy.
-Sr. Joni Belford, CPPS (O’Fallon)
This reflection comes from the Easter Reflections, prepared by the Precious Blood Family of communities:
Adorers of the Blood of Christ (US Region)
Missionaries of the Precious Blood (Atlantic, Cincinnati & Kansas City Provinces)
Sisters of the Most Precious Blood (O’Fallon, MO)
Sisters of the Precious Blood (Dayton, OH)
Sisters of Saint Mary of Oregon
Easter Reflections is available for printing here.
Apr 26, 2016
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. (John 14:27)
Today’s Scriptures tell us that Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, and so enter into His glory. We are aware that no follower of Christ will be spared trials and crosses in this earthly life either. Yet no matter what suffering may come our way, in John 14 Jesus assures us in these comforting words: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you…. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid….” With the firm promise of this priceless gift of peace and of His presence, may we bravely endure our sufferings in union with Him on earth, and eagerly anticipate the delight of being in His loving Presence forever!
-Sr. M. John Therese Miller, SSMO
This reflection comes from the Easter Reflections, prepared by the Precious Blood Family of communities:
Adorers of the Blood of Christ (US Region)
Missionaries of the Precious Blood (Atlantic, Cincinnati & Kansas City Provinces)
Sisters of the Most Precious Blood (O’Fallon, MO)
Sisters of the Precious Blood (Dayton, OH)
Sisters of Saint Mary of Oregon
Easter Reflections is available for printing here.
Apr 25, 2016
Greet one another with a kiss of love. (I Peter 5:14)
In a first reading of I Peter 5:5-14, it can seem dull and uninspiring just like Benjamin Franklin’s POOR RICHARD. Both are words of practical advice. Peter is writing to both the young and the elderly about relating to each other in a hostile environment. He closes with “Greet one another with a kiss of love.” In the Eucharist we share the kiss of peace as a sign of our unity before we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus. In today’s Eucharist will my kiss of peace be the “kiss of love” of which Peter writes? If not, what do I need to do to make it a “kiss of love,” mercy peace?
-Sr.Olivia Woltering, ASC
This reflection comes from the Easter Reflections, prepared by the Precious Blood Family of communities:
Adorers of the Blood of Christ (US Region)
Missionaries of the Precious Blood (Atlantic, Cincinnati & Kansas City Provinces)
Sisters of the Most Precious Blood (O’Fallon, MO)
Sisters of the Precious Blood (Dayton, OH)
Sisters of Saint Mary of Oregon
Easter Reflections is available for printing here.
Apr 24, 2016
My children, … I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. (John 13:35)
In the final verse of today’s gospel Jesus once again calls us his children and commands us to love one another as he has loved us. In others words, we are to love each other as a parent loves his or her child.
The love a parent has for his or her child is probably the most powerful example of selfless love I have witnessed. Most parents will do almost anything to care for, protect or lead their child in the right direction even when it is painful for them.
It is comforting and challenging to know that this is the kind of love that God has for each one of us. He was willing and did make the ultimate sacrifice for us through Jesus the Christ and his death on the cross. But it didn’t end there. The resurrection brought new life. It is not the same as life before the resurrection but transformed. We too are transformed as we walk with the Lord through this life. God can and does work through every situation and will transform us if we allow it to happen.
How does our love mirror that of our parent God? Where does it fall short? What more can each of us do to better imitate Christ and by so doing, build the kingdom?
-Fr. Larry Hemmelgarn, CPPS (Cincinanti)
This reflection comes from the Easter Reflections, prepared by the Precious Blood Family of communities:
Adorers of the Blood of Christ (US Region)
Missionaries of the Precious Blood (Atlantic, Cincinnati & Kansas City Provinces)
Sisters of the Most Precious Blood (O’Fallon, MO)
Sisters of the Precious Blood (Dayton, OH)
Sisters of Saint Mary of Oregon
Easter Reflections is available for printing here.
Apr 23, 2016
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father…
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, …whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do…
If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
(John 14)
We recognize the Father in Jesus and in the people we meet each day. How do we experience God working in our ministries as Precious Blood members? Jesus´ Blood continues to flow into all of humanity- reconciling, purifying, giving new energy. Let us ask in Jesus´ name, with confidence, in this Year of Mercy, that we may accept the challenges Jesus presents to us as His disciples. May the works of Mercy be our fountain of inspiration as we experience the Father and Jesus present in our family, in community, in those with whom we work, in the most vulnerable of our society, in the sick, in the Immigrants, in the imprisoned- Christ among us today.
-Srs. Maria Luisa Miller, CPPS and Edna Hess, CPPS (Dayton)
This reflection comes from the Easter Reflections, prepared by the Precious Blood Family of communities:
Adorers of the Blood of Christ (US Region)
Missionaries of the Precious Blood (Atlantic, Cincinnati & Kansas City Provinces)
Sisters of the Most Precious Blood (O’Fallon, MO)
Sisters of the Precious Blood (Dayton, OH)
Sisters of Saint Mary of Oregon
Easter Reflections is available for printing here.
Apr 22, 2016
I am the way and the truth and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
Jesus is the way, the channel of radical forgiveness and mercy. He is the truth which sets us free; we are His people and He is our God. Jesus is the fullness of life; He gives us his Body and Blood for the journey, lifting us up in loving mercy to eternal life.
Jesus came to teach us about forgiveness and love. A love stronger than death. A merciful love expressed in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. We go to the Father by dying to self and living for God alone. Our God is a God of forgiveness and hospitality, a companion on the journey here on earth and in heaven.
-Sr. Josephine Pelster, SSMO
This reflection comes from the Easter Reflections, prepared by the Precious Blood Family of communities:
Adorers of the Blood of Christ (US Region)
Missionaries of the Precious Blood (Atlantic, Cincinnati & Kansas City Provinces)
Sisters of the Most Precious Blood (O’Fallon, MO)
Sisters of the Precious Blood (Dayton, OH)
Sisters of Saint Mary of Oregon
Easter Reflections is available for printing here.
