Easter Publications, LLC - Writing Corner

PRAY FOR PEACE, PRAY FOR UKRAINE

3/8/2022

A PRAYER FOR PEACE BY POPE FRANCIS (FOR UKRAINE)

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!
We have tried so many times and over so many years
to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms.
How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced?
how much blood has been shed?
how many lives have been shattered?
how many hopes have been buried? But our efforts have been in vain.

Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace;
guide our steps in the way of peace.
Open our eyes and our hearts,
and give us the courage to say: "Never again war!"; "With war everything is lost".
Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace.

Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love,
you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters.
Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace;
enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister.
Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us
to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace,
our trepidation into confident trust,
and our quarreling into forgiveness.

Keep alive within us the flame of hope,
so that with patience and perseverance
we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation.
In this way may peace triumph at last,
and may the words "division," "hatred," and "war"
be banished from the heart of every man and woman.

Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands.
Renew our hearts and minds,
so that the word which always brings us together will be "brother,"
and our way of life
will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam!
Amen.

(Source: USCCB https://www.usccb.org/prayers/pope-francis-prayer-peace)

Lenten Journey with Virtues in Mind

3/3/2022

For Meditation created by Deacon Joe and Easter Almuena:

1. TEMPERANCE: Hold the tongue when spoken to with an irritating tone
or hurtful words. (Proverbs 21:23)
2. JUSTICE: Work for universal peace and for the common good. (Matthew 6:24)
3. PRUDENCE: Focus on the spiritual — my relationship with God — rather than the physical,
e.g., If you eat one chocolate, how about picking up the bible and read for
at least 10 minutes? (Psalm 62)
4. FORTITUDE: Pray the “Hail Mary” when facing difficulties, or, say “Thank you, Lord”
for big and little things that tend to be annoying. (2 Corinthians 12:9-11)
5. CHARITY: Say “I love you” often but most of all, ask how you may be of help.
(Beatitudes, Matthew 5:3-12)
6. FAITH: You’ve done your best, leave everything else to God. (Romans 8:28)
7. HOPE: Say or post on social media only words that build up the person and
the body of Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Being Steady in My Relationship with Jesus

2/18/2022

My grandson Cuppy was very jealous of her baby sister when she was an infant. He had been replaced as the most loved child in the whole wide world, so it seemed, because he attempted to poke his sister's eyes many times. One time, as his mom was fixing lunch in the kitchen, she heard a loud cry. There, underneath, Cuppy's sister's eye was a red mark.

Things have changed since then. We have had the pleasure of being with Cuppy after a year for 2 weeks. Cuppy adores his sister. Cuppy is firmly and steadfastly in love with his sister. He guards her and looks for her when not in sight. Such is the love of God for us. Shall we not do the same?

Jesus calms then storm

1/29/2022

“Who then is this
whom even wind and sea obey?”
(Mark 4:41)

For reflection:
Do I know him personally?
If so, I know what he can do.

Photo: "Calming the storm" (1600/1601–1653)
Simon de Vlieger; public domain

Hope in God for a the new year

1/6/2022

How is your new year coming along?
Afraid or worried of the uncertainties of the pandemic?
Who isn't?
Thankfully, we have God who is a true father.
His Son has shown us how to live.
We have the Holy Spirit to help us rely
on the greatness and generosity
of the one who created us.

Who or what can really hurt us?

Living the Peace and Expectant Faith of ADVENT

12/6/2021

Stay still and be at peace.
God may not seem to be busy with us, but he is silently gathering.
He is gathering all resources to complete his plan.
Through you. And through me.

@Ponderings by Easter A.
Photo was taken during one my dates with my husband.

Before God in the vastness of the ocean

9/8/2021

I took a picture of my husband
as he was fishing about a week ago in the beauteous grounds of Bellows.
He delights in sitting before the vastness of the ocean
while waiting for a fish to bite.
We have had so many memories of fishing with our 5 children
when they were growing up.
On several occasions, as we were fishing under the moonlight,
down in the water from the pier,
are silhouettes of hammerheads graciously moving about.
The best part of those moments
is being together as a family, and, sometimes,
actually catching a decent fish to cook and eat for breakfast.
Precious memories!

-Easter Almuena

Here is Deacon Joe, lost in awe of God's wonder. He loves connecting with God this way.

September 03rd, 2021

9/3/2021

For meditation:

How have I been a fisher of men?
How can God's call to me to be a fisher of men
be more relevant to the needs of the present times?

To whom shall we go?

8/23/2021

God's goodness and mercy

8/13/2021

If you find yourself
a little short of the goodness of life,
imagine the immensity of God's goodness and mercy.
Perhaps tap on an experience
when you intimately witnessed God's love and generosity.

You know this:
God's love is eternal; his love endures forever.

-Photo art and reflections: by Easter Almuena.
Photo was taken at Ko'Olina.