Trip to Maryland

A beautiful time with special people in a magical and peaceful place ! Thanks be to God!

Sunday

Went to Marilyn’s church at Harriet Chapel in Thurmont where she preached to an appreciative and warm congregation. Then accompanied by John Harmonson, a church member, we went to Mary’s Grotto in Emmitsburg. This was a beautiful and spiritual experience as well.

This one (below) says “Virgin of the Poor” and indeed the paths were filled with a diversity of people, many from other cultures and places who sought the peace and blessings of the Mother of the poor” We were blessed by our time there.

I am the Mother of the Poor

Monday, Funday

Blessings to all!

Finally some rest!

Tuesday

Amen! It restores our souls to be Close to our loving God through the gift of nature and all creation! From today’s Scriptures: “ Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 4:15). “ Those who sew in tears shall reap rejoicing”(Psalm 126). “Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant…Just so the Beloved of God did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28). As l reflect on service it is and has been no burden at all but the greatest joy and privilege to share in God’s precious kindom on earth and to see it spread and grow where the seeds fell is the most amazing foretaste of heaven. For thereby the word is spread where we could never go ourselves. Oh, yes, it is a time of rejoicing-Thanks be to God! !

AMEN!

Wednesday and Deer and Visits

Today we start the day with seeing the deer in the background outside and visiting with Jo and then go to see Cousin Marianne SMYTH in Silver Spring, Maryland with Cousin Jackie.

Three Cousins/ Marianne, Jackie and Judy

It was a great joy for us to visit Cousin Marianne SMYTH who is also a Roman Catholic Woman Priest with ARCWP.

Thursday- one more day to go…

Last day in style

Jesus told his followers: ” I was a stranger and you invited me in” and you gave me food and drink and clothing and looked after me…so you are the ones who are blessed and will inherit the kingdom prepared for you. Those who fail to enact this justice and mercy to the “least of these” fail to do it to him, and are not inheriting the eternal life Jesus offers. ( Matthew 25: 31-46).

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is crystal clear on so many things yet we who claim to follow it are often not getting it. Growing out of God’s love and the letter and the spirit of the laws of Moses we are clearly told to care for and not to oppress the stranger, the “alien” among us. The writer of Exodus reminds us that we are not to mistreat or oppress strangers in our land as we too were once aliens and we should know how it feels (Exodus 22:21; Exodus, 23:9).

On Saturday June 28, 2023 there was a major march of migrant workers and their supporters here in Fort Myers, Florida. CBS News reported that “Thousands of marchers walked four miles from the downtown Centennial Park to Palm Beach Blvd. area to protest the new Senate Bill 1718″ that is more repressive than ever in denying the rights of the migrant workers who do the work no one else wants to do, and do it well. Employers who hire more than 25 workers are subject to high daily fines and imprisonment for hiring those without legal papers.

Marchers who were interviewed said that many migrants are already leaving Florida. Who will pick the crops will be a new problem to solve. One respondent, Brianda Tapia, said “we’re all equal”. And another’s sign said “Nuestro Trabajo Merece Respeto”- our work merits respect! Indeed! The showing of thousands of marchers was more than anyone expected. It was a great showing of solidarity and , yes, hope that their voices could be heard and respected. We can only hope, for our own sake as well as theirs, that this is so. That this can really be so in this land of the free.

Below is a poem that I wrote in 2006 about a Protest March for migrants that took place then. The words ring true now, and even more so for little has changed except to get even worse for the “Strangers in our land”.

JUDGE FOR YOURSELF HAS ANYTHING CHANGED?

t

The Silenced

have come

forward and

claimed their

rights to assemble

and speak freely

From The FlameKeeper and Other Poems , Judith A B Lee, pp. 235-238 ( 2007, PublishAmerica, Baltimore).

Let us join in protest and in prayer for the plight of the immigrants in this land of hope and glory.

Let us pray for the respect the worker deserves no matter where he or she came from and how they are here. Jesus said: when you welcome the stranger, you welcome me. Let us welcome Jesus today.

Blessings and prayers,

Pastor Judy Lee RCWP

The Good Shepherd Ministries of Fort Myers, Florida,

July 7, 2023