Easter Is...

 Easter is waking up a bit earlier, walking with your mom to Mass, and feeling like the disciples who were walking on the road to Emmaus. 

Easter feels like taking in a breath of fresh air and enjoying the scenery, plants, food and coffee you're having for breakfast while reflecting on the priest's homily. 

Easter feels like slowing down. It is taking in the beauty and gratitude of life.

 When I was on my way to the Easter Vigil last week, waling rather quickly in order to get a good seat, there was a lady who was walking behind me. I saw some roses as I was walking and thought to myself it would be nice to smell the roses (and slow down), but I didn't. Instead, she did and said, "nice to slow down and smell the roses." What a premonition, and nice thing to do and remember. 

Easter is reflecting on Christ's Passion, and the glory of His Resurrection and the mystery of it all, the magnitude and sheer love of it all. Hope, joy and peace all wrapped together. 

Saints Along the Way

 I was thinking of some saints who reminded me of somethings during my trip to Monterey and Carmel.

-St. Joseph: Helping us find parking spaces for our car, at least 3 times!

-St. Josemaria: Watching the ducks swimming in the pond, it reminded of his metaphor of ducks.

-St. Maria Faustina: Seeing the ocean, in its beauty and vastness, reminds me of comparison to God's infinite mercy, stated from her diary. 

-St. Junipero Serra: San Carlos Cathedral and Mission Carmel

-St. Therese of Lisieux: Ordering and eating a vanilla eclair from a French bakery...hmmm delicious!

-St. Mother Teresa: Reading a book about her

-The disciples on the road to Emmaus: Heard this Gospel at Mass and my mom and I were like them, walking together to go to Mass in beautiful Monterey.