Where is the Cross of Christ?

Today is a beautiful day in the Church - Feast of the Exultation of the Holy Cross.

I have a wonderful video for those of you who have ever wondered what happened to the actual cross of Christ.

It is very short, but very informative. I hope you enjoy it. It can be found at:  https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/video/2024-09-14-reflection-638

I have also embedded it in my blog at janetcassidy.com

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
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Choose wisely

The natural way for a human being to be created is by love, between a husband and a wife, as God intended.

But there are times, as we all know, that a human is created through violence, casual recreation or in situations where they are not wanted and are considered an inconvenience.

None of these circumstances, of course, changes the reality that a living human being has been created. And in none of these situations can it be said that the baby bears any "fault" for coming into existence.

Even if you don't believe in God, these are things on which I think we can all agree. And if you are a science person, again, there is no argument about these.

What doesn't make sense is that a tiny new life can be snuffed out--intentionally. Yes, it's true, in our country, the United States of America, you get to live as long as someone else thinks you should. And if they don't think you should . . . well you know how that goes.

Let's not get bogged down in the weeds and allow our babies to become pawns in political and legal debates. 

Let's find a way to work toward--and assure--that every baby, no matter how it is conceived, or into what state it might be born (or health condition it might have), is given the full dignity and right to life it deserves. 

A baby's right to life must be given primacy over all the other rights of a woman.

Even if you carry the banner for women's rights, you are surely smart enough to recognize that "women's rights" meet their limit when it comes to taking the life of another.

It's too bad that we can't find one presidential candidate that understands this and is truly pro-life. Lacking such a narrow litmus test for choosing the next president, we will need to widen our requirements and at least elect a leader who exhibits maturity, decency, and wisdom in other areas of leadership.

We can still pray that, as a country, we will one day ban all statewide abortions, and continue our national ban, but while we are waiting for that miracle to happen, let us choose wisely come November.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com
janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy

Parting words

I wasn't able to attend the funeral of Fr. James Swiat, our former pastor, who passed away July 21, 2024 (maybe you knew him?), so I contacted the church from which he was buried to see if his funeral was still available to watch online. It is.

The following words, in part, spoken as sort of an introduction at his funeral really summed up for me something beautiful:

"We gather to grieve, because we are human. To rejoice because we are Christian. To give thanks because we shared in the life of Fr. Jim."

I think these words touched me because it can be a temptation to try to suppress grief, especially for people of faith who like to focus on the heavenly banquet at which our loved one is now (hopefully) seated.

However, just because we look forward to the joy of eternal life, does not mean that grief doesn't have its rightful place in the experience of loss. I think the three-fold summary of grieving, rejoicing and thanksgiving are a proper perspective for us to take up.

Maybe you will want to remember this, and hopefully it will help you the next time you are faced with any situation that evokes a mixed pot of emotions. Walk through them. Allow them to overlap, and embrace them, allowing them to work for you.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy