Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

Holy Name Monastery

First Sunday in Advent 2015

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waiting-on-god-bannerHAPPY NEW YEAR!  Welcome to the Year of Luke!  This year we celebrate the full cycle (minus one day) of Advent!  Just as a reminder of a piece of Catholic trivia ..  Advent begins on the Sunday closest to the Feast of St. Andrew … since the feast is on a Tuesday, the closest Sunday is before the feast.

The opening article in the most recent LCWR newsletter entitled: “What Do We Do While We’re Waiting?” reminded me of my 3-year-old niece who was patiently waiting through what her mom had told her was my private time with God.  She had lasted through her first lectio experience with her books for 40 minutes.  She sat just outside the doorway where I was, heaved a heavy sigh and said: “OK, what do I do now God; she’s still talking to You!”

Advent is all about waiting.  But not waiting for someone else who is talking to God.  Is it wonderful that we do not have to take turns – we don’t have to wait to be in touch!  Advent is active waiting – that is what is at the heart of it. Even when we don’t know that we are waiting, we’re waiting. Even when we can’t find words for what we are waiting for, we’re waiting.

One of the ancient Advent prayers supplies us with a sentiment that Benedict echoes: “Give us grace that we may cast off the works of darkness and put upon us the armor of light.”    Many Advent hymns express the same theme.  For example: “When the darkness closes in, courage fails and hopes grow dim, clear the shadows from our sight, set our troubled world aright, fill our eyes with radiant light.  Come Lord Jesus, come!

We are waiting not just at Advent, but at all times for the advent of light, that ultimate light that is redemptive and terrifying at the same time. It is redemptive because it puts an end to the darkness, and that is also why it is terrifying because the light reveals all that was hidden in the darkness.  For so long, actually for most of our lives, the darkness has been home.  We’ve become comfortable in our incompleteness.   Now to leave home is downright scary. Change my ways of interacting with God and God’s people?  Whew!  Allow my rough edges to be smoothed – mmmm, sounds irritating (no pun intended).  We are gifted with Advent time to do personal “Isaiah work” of filling in every valley; leveling every mountain so the hills will become a plain, and the rough country will be made smooth.  As the familiar banner asks:  If not now, when?

Have you ever watched, or heard about the reality shows Restaurant Impossible or American Diner Revival.  Depending on which show you’re watching there’s a well-known renovation contractor and/or a chef that comes to a failing restaurant or diner and helps turn it around.  The premise is this:

Turning around a failing restaurant or diner is a daunting challenge under the best of circumstances. Attempting to do it in less than 36 hours, even with the help of the townsfolk, may be impossible.  But they’re ready to take on the challenge.  Can it be done?

From outdated décor to hip interior, from canned food to fresh ingredients, from surly employees to service-oriented staff, they attempt to overhaul the whole shebang with straight talk, great cooking skills, innovative, creative interior decorators and an excited team of mostly volunteers.  But, most importantly, when the TV crew arrives, the expectation is that the local staff will be ready with their own litany of what is going well and what needs to change.

This chef is no Christ figure, but there is an analogy here between our Advent Scriptures and theme of this human example of a dramatic overhaul driven by someone who knows what he’s doing.  The overhaul of the dilapidated restaurant and our personal overhaul is only possible if we’ll allow our premises to be placed under new management.

That turns our attention on the person who’s coming to town in the Advent scriptures.  The Gospel from Luke connotes a double reference to the already and the not yet.  Jesus berates the crowd for knowing how to interpret the weather, but not the present time.  This is where we, too, may fall short.  We listen to the weather reports and dress accordingly.  We gather in supplies and hunker down for the onslaught of a hurricane.  We see the waxing moon and wait patiently for the night of the full moon.  Such waiting requires discernment and alertness to natural signs.  Waiting for Jesus’ presence requires a deeper discernment and alertness to the signs of His appearance – the signs of the times.  And, so we question: do our community Directional Goals reflect awareness of God in our midst –  as well as in the signs of the times and what is to come

The hymn I referenced earlier reminds us how foolish we can be to overlook signs of the coming Christ: “Wise and foolish, still we wait. Is our Bridegroom at the gate? At his voice, our hearts have stirred, listening for his healing word, confident our cries are heard. Come, Lord Jesus, come!

Advent offers us time to waken to the signs of the times – Jesus, in the voice of Luke, reminds us we must remain on high alert awaiting the coming of the kingdom – it will be dramatic but that there will be little advance warning: “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed…  the kingdom of God is among you!   Remember:  “Heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s words will not pass away.”  The last Gospel we heard as the liturgical year ended (this morning) and the first Gospel for the New Year impress upon us the same warning: Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy!

                                                                                                       Reflection by S. Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress
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Novemeber 21st and 22nd was the Feast of Christ the King

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pontius pilateThis Gospel is a very familiar incident in the life of Jesus – many reflections have been written about it – so, today I offer you a different perspective on the occasion …  this one was related to me by Claudia, the wife of Pilate [adapted]

I wonder sometimes, if they might have been friends this Jesus and my husband Pilate. If they had met in some other circumstances, I think they might have liked each other. Afterall, they were about the same age. They were both passionate, committed, opinionated. Bullheaded sometimes.  And intelligent too.   Except they thought so differently.  Jesus was a Jew. Pilate was a Roman. And Pilate never understood the Jews.  “You can’t get a clear answer out of them about anything,” he would fume. “Ask them a straight, logical question and they tell you a story or sing you a song!”

Pilate knew perfectly well he would never have gotten the appointment as Governor if he hadn’t been married to me, the granddaughter of the Emperor Augustus. And even at that, Judea wasn’t exactly a plum of an appointment. But Pilate hoped that his next appointment would be more prestige, a little closer to Rome; something he and I would both be proud of.

But in Judea things had gotten off to a bad start – he’d had a showdown with the Jewish leaders over whether Caesar’s image could be displayed in the temple area. It was a dumb thing to fight about and Pilate knew it. “But I’ve got to show them I am strong and resolute, Claudia,” he said to me. “If I show just a hint of weakness, if I back down even an inch, that snake of a high priest, Caiaphas, will take every slight advantage that I give him.”

Judea was a ‘no-win’ situation for him. The bureaucrats in Rome just read the bottom line. Did he collect his quota in taxes? Did he avoid any embarrassments? If the answer was “yes” to those questions, you stayed on and maybe eventually got promoted to a better posting. If “no” you were recalled to Rome and sent to shuffle papers in an office somewhere. Judea was so much more complicated than they realized.

Pilate tried. How he tried! He read that blessed policy manual every night and memorized every procedure. But of course the manual procedures never fit reality. “Who wrote this stuff anyway,” he fumed. “I bet they’ve never been outside of Rome. They sure as the dickens have never been out here in the boonies of Judea.”

And then the Jesus business broke. It was a recipe for disaster. Pilate couldn’t win this one and I knew it and I think he knew it. I even had dreams about it. “Get this man Jesus out of your life, Pilate,” I said, “No matter what you do, you’ll lose,”  “I’ll do what’s appropriate and necessary, Claudia,” Pilate said in his official voice, which meant that he was frightened. “I will interview the prisoner and judge him according to our Roman justice. He will be treated fairly.”  And there the conversation ended.

When they brought the prisoner up to the Prætorium. Pilate met them outside, a gesture of good will.  He interviewed Jesus there in front of the Jewish leaders.  “Look,” he finally said. “the guy is just a little crazy, and yes, a bit of a trouble-maker. But he hasn’t done anything to deserve execution. I mean, I can’t have him killed just because you people don’t like him. What I’ll do is have him flogged. That’ll straighten him out.”  Well, you should have heard the hullabaloo. “We want him dead!” they yelled. “Give us Barabus! We want him crucified!”

Listen. My husband has integrity. He wasn’t about to execute a man unless a crime had been committed, and blasphemy against the Hebrew God was no crime in Roman eyes. But Pilate was no fool either. He knew that Caiaphas had his ways of getting messages to Rome.  What followed was a mish-mash of political maneuvering and charges and counter charges. I don’t quite know what happened. I was in bed for most of it, fighting one of my migraines.

But I won’t not soon forget what happened when Pilate dragged this Jesus up into our quarters, away from all the yelling and screaming outside. That was when it struck me how alike they were, and yet how different. Two men of talent and integrity speaking to each across such vastly different realities.

In spite of all the pressure, Pilate still wanted to do the right thing. “Look,” he said to Jesus. “Give me a reason, give me something, anything that’ll satisfy that mob–something I can put in my report to Rome so I don’t have to have you killed.” Jesus looked right back at Pilate–looked through him. But he said nothing.

Pilate lost his cool. “Look, don’t you know I have the power of life and death over you. I can send you out to be torn apart by that mob, or I can save your hide.”  “You have no real power over me,” said Jesus. “No power that really counts. You and I are caught in this evil drama. You have your role to play and I have mine.  “All right,” said Pilate. “What is your role except to satisfy the blood-lust of that mob?”  “I am called to live the truth,” said Jesus.  “What is truth?” Pilate asked quietly, almost cynically. Jesus looked at him intently. And yes, compassionately. But he said nothing.   “Look, I asked you a question. What is truth?” Pilate lost his cool again. He paced around the room and banged his fist against the wall. But both men knew, I think, that Jesus could not reply in any way that Pilate could comprehend.

The conversation stopped. There was nothing else to say. Jesus would die. And Pilate knew he’d spend the rest of his life rehearsing that conversation. “Why couldn’t he just explain to me, logically and rationally what he was up to?” Pilate asked that question over and over.

I too have rehearsed that conversation. I am back in Rome now, by myself. Pilate has been banished from the capitol.  Pilate did not understand Jesus or any of the Jews.

And yet I wonder:  If Pilate and this Jesus had met some other way, perhaps they would have learned to like each other – if they had a chance to really talk, without the pressure. Pilate, the logical philosopher might have discovered the poetic dreamer deep inside himself. And Jesus the poetic dreamer, might have shown to Pilate the philosophy on which his dream was built.  There would have been respect at least. And just perhaps they might have seen themselves as brothers.

                                                                                                   Reflection by S. Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress
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How Well Do You Read Signs?

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reading signsLast Sunday we heard Jesus’ observation about the contributions being made to the temple treasury and the example of sacrificial giving that he saw in the poor widow’s offering.  If we read Mark’s gospel continuously from that incident to yesterday’s Gospel, we also know about Jesus’ prediction about the destruction of the Temple, his teaching about the costs of discipleship, the woes that will accompany the end times and Jesus’ instruction to his disciples about the need for watchfulness so that they will not be caught unprepared for the final judgment.

This past Sunday’s Gospel continues Jesus’ teaching by offering signs to look for that will indicate that the coming of the Son of Man is near. His words and images draw upon Old Testament imagery, especially images found in the Book of Daniel.  In the historical context, Jesus is actually describing the coming destruction of the Temple and the ruination of the nation, as both fall under GOD’s judgment at the hands of the Roman Empire.

Next, Jesus says: “Learn a lesson from the fig tree.”  The emphasis, of course, is not on what kind of tree – the warning is: WATCH.  Jesus could have said citrus trees or olive trees.  But, he says “fig trees” and happily for us we have a lot of experience with fig trees that we had right outside our dining room windows at the old monastery. When the branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, we know that another season of fruit is near.

After Jesus tells the parable of the fig tree, He gives several brief parables to show what the response one should have when the signs appear.

We know that Jesus’ words are not spoken to frighten his disciples, nor should they frighten us.   The prophetic Word of God is as sure and secure as the rest of His message.  They are offered to prepare us for the changes we will experience during our lifetime and at the end time. Our consolation and hope is found in the lasting nature of Jesus’ words and God’s never-ending love for us.

When you see the things happening that Jesus talks about, know that he is near, at the gates.  “But,” says Jesus, “of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”   Then, He assures us: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”  Or, said still differently, the coming judgment and destruction that Jesus predicts will be the very signs that will vindicate his message.
Let’s drill down a little deeper into one phrase of the text — “of that day or hour no one knows.”   We do not know exactly what Jesus in his prophetic ministry would say to us in our moment of history, but we do know that the general thrust would be similar to what he has already said:  In the face of struggle, persecution and difficult times, when the tide of public popularity turns against God’s people, I tell you: remain faithful even though you do not know the future, even though you do not know the day or hour of your deliverance.

So, how, as followers of the Jesus, do we prepare?  In the face of struggle read the signs of the times.  How well do you read signs?  Can you train yourself to be more observant of the signs?  By personality do you notice signs in nature?  Road signs?  How well do you read non-verbal body language?   Do you work to sensitize yourself to recognize everyday signs?  How do you heighten your sensitivity to spirit signs?  Do you use Scripture, the Rule, the example of a favorite saint, a confessor or a friend-guide?  What helps you to listen more keenly to your heart?  In the quiet of the night – when sleep eludes you – or out walking or driving along a familiar road; riding alone in the elevator, climbing the stairs, passing through the hall at a leisurely pace; setting the table, readying yourself for communal prayer in the chapel – do you hear God’s whisper in your heart?

Cultivation of the inner spirit helps prepare us to see the direction of the cultural wind we face, whether agreeable or antagonistic.    God does not usually shout to us in fury or in a tumultuous hurricane.  Much of the time God speaks softly – so stay tuned.  In the face of cultural garbage and shifting government structures or a changing church, we steady ourselves not to be tempted to hoard food and possessions.  We guard against the temptation to build a hermitage and hide out.  We pray to be strengthened to stay in the fray?  Many things will just happen in our lives – things not scheduled by the calendar or our clock or our watches or the bell.  With all the scheduled things to do we are called by today’s Gospel to also keep our hearts attuned to the significance things that just happen.

As individuals that form this community I believe we make valiant efforts to sift through all that bombards us and continue to make the choice (our corporate commitment) to meet the needs of the left-out, locked-out and dropped-out?

How can we do this day in and day out and year after year?  By heeding Jesus’ directive to the disciples who accompanied Him in the garden the night before his death:  stay here, watch and pray.   Watch: seek GOD in and about the events of the day asking for GOD’s Wisdom to let us see GOD’s perspective so we discover our moment within our cultural context.

And, pray:  clear off space in our lives for GOD. Remember, to pray is not to read books about God, about spirituality or prayer, or to think about those topics.  To pray is simply – pray!  We don’t even have to start the conversation. Simply let God in and sit in expectant silence, with a listening heart.  A disciplined, determined prayer practice, sustains us (individually and as a community) in the battle of our heart’s faithfulness to the LORD.

Let us strive to keep in mind that we are called not so much to DO the Good News – though faith-in-action is important.  We are called to BE the Good News – a model of all that is implied when we call ourselves Christian and Benedictine.

                                                                                                                   Mass Reflection by S. Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress
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Two Cents

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two centsI would venture to say that most hearers or readers think that this Gospel passage is only about the widow or about how honorable the poor are for being generous.  If we do, we’re missing the point.   Of course we cannot simply look at the story of the widow: (having lost her spouse – possibly at a young age given men’s’ life expectancy then – she might have had no children; now she’s considered a burden to both her parents and her in-laws.

Jesus commended her giving, in contrast to that of the scribes, because she gave everything she had! She could have kept one of those coins for herself, but she willingly gave everything she had to Jesus.  That widow could never have known what her gift would accomplish. She walked into the Temple, ignored by the rich, the religious and those caught up in the celebrity worship of the day. She walked in with her little gift and she gave it without fanfare – no trumpet blare, no applause. Everything that poor woman had earned for her own needs was given willingly to the Lord. She is an example of extravagant giving!

The rich gave, too.  Some came in with great fanfare, standing back and tossing in their gift for the greatest effect. Others gave with a frown on their face, holding onto their coins as tightly as they could to the very last second. Others probably stopped to make sure that everyone was watching them as they gave their offerings. They wanted to be recognized, honored and in control – they wanted a say in everything.  People like that are dangerous, divisive people! They are religious fools.

They received their applause and they walked proudly away. This poor widow gave her “two cents” and walked away, but her gift is still giving today. How many people have been challenged to go ahead and give their little because of this woman’s example?

Why would she bother to give such an insignificant gift? Her two cents among the thousands of dollars given by the wealthy seems so small. Why bother? This little lady is everything the religious scribes and the rich hypocrites were not. Why would she bother to give such an insignificant gift?

It’s her attitude that speaks volumes: humble, unassuming, unpretentious.   One’s attitude makes all the difference.  How we give is far more important than what we give!  Reminds me of a definition I heard many moon ago of the difference between cooperation and collaboration.  Cooperation is when all the stakeholders put their money on the table; collaboration happens when they put their hands in their laps.

In her quiet giving she was preaching a powerful sermon. Hear her as she humbly explains:

  • I give because God loves me and I love in return
  • I give because I trust God
  • I give because God has given to me

Three other lessons we might glean:

  • God will do great things with our small offerings –We do not know what any others giver put in the basket that week in the temple. But, after over 2,000 years the tiny gift of that widow has been multiplied into untold billions as people have been motivated to give out of their own poverty.
  • The Lord will settle His accounts one day – The scribes and the wealthy men there that day had their reward then and there – they blew their own trumpets – they got public attention and admiration. This widow will receive hers later! Do what you do for God – just keep it simple and silent.  Be honest: have you ever taken credit for a gift NOT given … failed to contribute to a collection (like we do for Daystar, the Heritage Christmas or AIM) but smiled as if you had contributed when the community is praised for its generosity?
  • God does not want our money; He wants us – He wants our love and our devotion and when He has that, He has everything else that we possess. When God has us, He has our pocketbooks.

So, in summary, the important lesson we might take from this story is: that real giving is sacrificial and reckless.  How much of your personal monthly allowance do you dedicate to doing good for someone else?  Do you contribute at the end of the month if you have something left over?  Or do you automatically designate 10% of your allowance to a cause each month?

If you remember nothing else, remember this: the attitude of your heart in giving makes all the difference.  How we give is far more important than what we give!

                                                                                                                Reflection by S. Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress
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All Saints’ Day, also known as Day of All Saints, Solemnity of All Saints and Feast of All Saints

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All Saints DayNovember 1st is All Saints’ Day when Roman Catholics honor all saints, known and unknown of the Christian church.  This solemnity comes from Christian tradition of celebrating the martyrdom of saints on the anniversary of their death.

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