Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

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I don’t have to do it all…

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In the Gospel we hear: “as Jesus entered a certain village a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home…. Mary sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.”  In tomorrow’s first reading from Genesis we have the story of Sarah slaving in the kitchen and Abraham entertaining their three guests: bowing in greeting, sending them to wash up while he scurries about getting a choice steer and giving Sarah orders on what and how to prepare the meal which he alone hosts for his new buddies.

Both Scripture readings (it seems to me) concern more than the contrast between the activists – Martha behind the scene and Abraham busy arranging the details – and the more reticent ladies, Mary and Sarah.  The incidents illustrate more than hostesses each doing what they do best to make an evening delightful.  There is a bit of all these characters in each of us – one or the other prevails from day to day, and situation to situation.

Jesus’ response to Martha’s “don’t you even care that I am stuck in the kitchen?” reminds us “only one thing is necessary.”  It causes us to realize that I, as an individual, do not have to do it all.  This is evident in our practice of taking only one role in at a time in the dining room or in a single liturgy – we acknowledge (for instance) that liturgy is a communal act where all present are on the same level: differing in gifts but equal in importance.  Everything needs to get done, there are plenty of roles to share: leaders and readers, cooks and servers, singers and keyboardists, prayer leaders and bell ringers, gift bearers and petitioners, Eucharistic ministers and the celebrant.  At times our ranks may be slim, especially when members are away or illness prohibits or limits our participation, but we strive to engage everyone in the communal roles.

This is the attitude we strive to express also in the distribution of daily chores.  No single person needs to do it all – choices have to be made.  Self-importance can creep in the way if I am not careful to realize the impression I make if I try single-handedly to assume the burden of chores failing to ask for assistance.  There are times, certainly, when we have to double up on duties but we need to be conscious of enabling others to offer service and to give them the respect of recognizing their capabilities.

The Gospel also gives us a glimpse of Jesus as a gracious guest: the object of Mary’s attentions and the recipient of Martha’s service.  Jesus knew his role as servant and the one being served – the contrast between serving and resting gently and securely in the role of being a servant or a guest.

To paraphrase some thoughts from Richard Foster in his book Celebration of Discipline:

    There is a difference between choosing to serve and choosing to be a servant (with emphasis on the word CHOOSING).  When we chose to serve, we are still in charge.  We decide whom we will serve and where we will serve and when we will serve.  And if we are in charge, we will worry a great deal about anyone stepping on us, that is taking charge over us.

     But when we choose to be a servant, we give up the right to be in charge.  There is a great freedom in this.  When we choose to be a servant, we surrender the right to decide who and where and when we will serve.  We become available and vulnerable.

We pray, then, for the grace to have a balance in our lives of being servant (a server) and of being open, receptive, gracious when others render us service – thus enabling them to achieve their God-given calling to serve.  We pray that God grant us the grace to be:

  • Humble when helpless
  • Patient when infirmed
  • Gracious when a guest
  • Comfortable when the object of service and attention, affection and praise from others
~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

Genesis 18:1-10   Colossians 1:24-28   Luke 10:38-42
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Do I Believe This?

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(Homily – adapted – from Pope Francis – delivered in April 2016 – and reflection on Veronica – the 6th Station of the Cross – indicated by italics)

We know the parable of the Good Samaritan is a lesson to teach us that we must love our neighbor, and that there’s no one in the category of non-neighbor, but beyond that, have we also learned the parable’s lesson that God treats us with the compassion of the Samaritan?

In the gestures and the actions of the Good Samaritan we recognize God’s merciful action in the whole history of salvation.  It is the same compassion with which the Lord comes to meet each one of us: He does not ignore us, He knows our sorrows; He knows how much we need help and consolation.  He comes close to us and never abandons us.  Each one of us should ask himself the question and answer in his heart: “Do I believe this?  Do I believe that the Lord has compassion for me, just as I am, a sinner, with so many problems and so many things?’  Think of this and the answer is: ‘Yes!’  But each one must look into his heart to see if he has faith in this compassion of God, of the good God who comes close, who heals us, who caresses us.  And if we refuse Him, He waits: He is patient and is always at our side.”

It is not automatic that one who frequents God’s house and knows His mercy is able to love his neighbor.  It is not automatic!  One can know the whole Bible, one can know all the liturgical rubrics, one can know all the theology, but from knowing, loving is not automatic: loving has another way, intelligence is needed but also something more … “The priest and the Levite saw, but ignored; looked but did not provide.  Yet true worship does not exist if it is not translated into service to one’s neighbor.”

Compassion is the center of the parable, centering on this word that means ‘to share with’.  The Samaritan had compassion that is, his heart, was moved; he was moved within!  See the difference.  The other two ‘saw,’ but their hearts remained closed, cold.  Instead, the Samaritan’s heart was attuned to God’s heart itself.  In fact, “‘compassion’ is an essential characteristic of God’s mercy.  God shares with us – He suffers with us; He feels our sufferings.”

(Francis reminds us 🙂  the Samaritan’s concrete, personal actions teach us that compassion is not a vague feeling – it means to take care of the other even to paying in person.)  It means to commit oneself, taking all the necessary steps to ‘come close’ to the other, to the point of identifying oneself with him: “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

The story of Veronica that we recall in the 6th Station of the Cross points to the power of witness in an act of compassion.  What does Veronica do?  Not much – she steps from the crowd, wipes a man’s face.  What does Veronica mean to our spirit?  Close to everything.

The image on the veil stands forever as reminder of the unmitigated horror of which injustice is capable.  The image of the veil stands forever as a mute witness to the crime of all times – and the destruction of goodness at the center of us, in us, around us forever.

As Pope Francis says: “The parable of the Good Samaritan is a gift to all of us, and also a commitment.  Jesus repeats to each one of us what He said to the Doctor of the Law: ‘Go and do likewise’. …  Jesus bent over us, made Himself our servant, and thus He saved us, so that we too are able to love as He loved us.”

Veronica’s act of compassion puts us to shame.  Her unblinking action puts us all, and each, on notice: for the sake of what life lesson would you step out from the crowd and draw attention to yourselves?  To what kind of care would you bend your life so that the world will never forget?

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

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Discipleship

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A key theme of this and last Sunday’s Gospel is discipleship—its challenges, its difficulties, and its rewards.  Sharing in the mission of Jesus is difficult, but everyone is called to do it, not just some professionals trained for ministry.  Even for us today, the harvest is plentiful.  We should pray to the master of the harvest to send out workers for his harvest.

In this particular Gospel passage, Luke quotes Jesus promoting some of our special Benedictine values.  Sometimes amessage is so important that it must be told over and over again, repeated so that people will really hear it, so that they will allow the message to take root inside them and bear fruit through what they do.  Jesus reminds His newly appointed missionaries: “Do not be afraid.”

 

Jesus repeats this message time and again.  It is a message those around him need to hear.  It is a message all of us need to hear.  Do not be afraid! This knocks the cobwebs from the dark corners of our lives.

Do not be afraid, Jesus tells the disciples late one night when he walks across the lake and climbs into their boat.  Take heart!  You don’t have to struggle against this storm any more.

Do not be afraid, he tells the anxious, worried father whose child lies deathly sick.  Only believe, and your daughter will get well; she’ll be restored to you.

 

Do not be afraid, he tells disciples sitting in a circle round him.  Not now, not ever!  Your Father knows every last hair on your head, and he delights to give you the kingdom.

Jesus repeats this message –– because it’s important, and because we find it hard to accept.  He’s aware that fear comes easy to us, as easy as breathing.

Today Jesus repeats this message.  Do not be afraid!  He repeats it as he sends out seventy–two of his disciples to prepare the way in every place he will visit.

These seventy-two –– we are not given their names.  They are not prominent, like John or Peter or Andrew.  They are quiet, unassertive, ordinary folks.  These seventy-two –– we do know their number.  A number that stands for wholeness and completion.  These seventy-two represent all and each of us.

I suspect not all 72 of the appointees would have success stories to report.  Some might have turned out like the one about these two missionaries who were going door to door.  They knocked on the door of one woman who was not happy to see them.  She told them in no uncertain terms that she did not want to hear their message and slammed the door in their faces.  To her surprise, however, the door did not close and, in fact, almost magically bounced back open.  She tried again, really putting her back into it and slammed the door again with the same amazing results-the door bounced back open.  Convinced that one of the missionaries was sticking their foot in the door, she reared back to give it a third slam.  She felt this would really teach them a lesson.  But before she could act, one of them stopped her and politely said, “Ma’am, before you do that again, you really should move your cat.”

Have you tried to slam the door on God’s invitation?  What is the “cat” that keeps the door open?  Look after that cat – you’ve been abusing it – it needs your tender care.

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress
Isaiah 66:10-4                        Galatians 6:14-18
Luke 10:1-12, 17-20
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Our issue in life is not whether we shall be burdened. The question is with what we shall be burdened – to what will we be yoked?

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This week we will celebrate the birthday of our country (4th of July).  Sometimes during the U. S. Independence Day celebrations we hear quoted all or part of the poem inscribed on the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free… send these, the homeless tempest-tossed to me.”  One of the Gospel choices for the 4th of July (the same as for the feast of the Sacred Heart) is taken from Matthew, Chapter 11.  Jesus offers rest to those “who labor and are burdened.”  Listen again to the words of invitation: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free… send these, the homeless tempest-tossed to me.”  Let us pray that these are not just words – may they truly reflect the attitude of our peoples, our government.

I find it interesting that every state in the union has some reference to God, Lord, Christ or a “supreme being.”  For instance, here in Florida’ the constitution opens with the words:  We, the people of the State of Florida, being grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty…”  Nine state constitutions specifically deny unbelievers the right to hold office and/or to serve on a jury.  We pray this week that God will guide our country, beginning with us, to be a more inclusive, compassionate people.

Here’s the deal: if you will accept His “easy yoke,” your burden will light.  You did notice that Jesus says: “Take my yoke upon you.”  It is a voluntary acceptance.  By declaring that his “yoke is easy” Jesus means that whatever God offers us is custom-made to fit our needs and our abilities exactly.  God just does not give us burdens without supplying the graces, the strength and courage to shoulder the task.  You know the story of the individual who asked God for a different cross.  So, Jesus took her to the storehouse of crosses where she examined every cross more than once.  When she finally chose one Jesus said, “My dear, that is the very cross I already gave you.”  Our cross will not fit on anyone else’s shoulders or heart.  It is mine alone and if I refuse it, who can take it on their shoulders?  What won’t get done?  Will it lie abandoned for all eternity?

The second part of Jesus’ claim is: “My burden is light.”  He means if we voluntarily put our God-given yoke on our shoulders and walk in a direction set by the Divine Master, the yoke won’t chaff our flesh.  The direction we are being led just happens to be the one that the master knows will lead us to green pasture, refreshment, peace and true joy.  Jerome Kodell describes happiness as a “gift from people and events outside ourselves.”  Joy is a gift of the Spirit and is generated from within when we walk heart to heart with our God.  When oxen trudge ahead, they can’t envision the pasture at the end of the trail.  All they see is a long, dusty road beneath their hoofs.  But, that does not stop them.  They plod on to a destination known only to the overseer.  The yoke, the burden that we voluntarily take up in love is received from the hands of our loving God, placed on us in love and is meant to be carried in love.  Love makes even the heaviest burden light.  We only need to quiet down for a few moments in the green pasture of prayer and adoration to attune our ears once again to the voice of the Master.

Light burden = easy yoke.  Or is it vice versa?   You may reply that it sure doesn’t feel that way most of the time.  This could be for one of two reasons.  One: because we are not allowing the Lord to help us carry the weight.  Remember Jesus let Simon help him with his cross.  Or it may seem heavy because we are not keeping God’s pace.  We could be dragging our heels or racing ahead.  Either way, we are chafing and straining.  A yoke is fashioned for a pair — for a team working together. So we are not yoked alone to pull the plow by our own unaided power.  We are yoked together with Christ to work with Him using His strength.  St. Benedict challenges us in chapter 72 of his Rule to lovingly carry each other’s burdens: “anticipate one another; patiently endure one another’s burdens, practice the most fervent love, tender charity chastely.”

The yoke chaffs when either member of the team tries to get ahead or one or the other of the pair doesn’t carry their share of the load or sits down on the job.  It’s like when community members tug and pull against each other or when common practices are carelessly disregarded.  When conflicts are resolved, the yoke once again rests evenly and thus easily on the shoulders of both who share the burden.  You know it, you can sense it when community members walk side by side with a common aim in view.  Each one lovingly regulates her step to keep pace with her sister.

Another reason the yoke may feel burdensome causing us to feel weary is that what we are carrying may simply not be the Lord’s yoke, but one of our own choosing or one we have usurped form another.  We feel tired, worn out.  Take time to discern why.

There are many sources of tiredness, weariness, and fatigue.  Physical fatigue may be the most benign.  There is the fatigue that comes from stress, fatigue that comes from worry, fatigue that comes not only from worrying about the future, but also worrying about the past and fatigue that comes from trying to be perfect, to be something we are not.  

Life’s greatest burden is not having too much to do, nor having too much to care about because some of the happiest folk are the busiest and those who care the most.  Rather, the greatest burden we have is our constant engagement with the trivial and the unimportant, with the temporary and the passing and with ultimately what we have no control over or could have predicted.  Pray often, and sincerely: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” (A.A. Simplicity Prayer)

The issue we contend with is not whether we shall be burdened, but with what we shall be burdened.  The question is not “Shall we be yoked,” but “To what and with whom shall we be yoked”?  What we need, according to this wonderful gospel paradox, is a different yoke – the yoke of Christ.  Jesus is interested in lifting off our backs the burdens that drain us and suck the life out of us, so that we can be free to accept the burden he has prepared just for us – the yoke that is guaranteed to give us new life, new energy, new joy.  We are called, not only to find inner peace, refreshment and rest for ourselves, but also to live the kind of life through which others, too, may find God’s peace.  The solution is easy – as a popular saying goes: “Let go!  Let God!”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

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Religious Freedom Week

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Today (June 22nd) in the United States, marks the opening of Religious Freedom Week, a time to reflect upon the challenges people of faith around the world are facing regarding their right to freely exercise their religion in their homes, houses of worship, and the public square.  The theme and intention for each day of the week will be highlighted on the hall bulletin board opposite the Formation / Liturgy office and remembered each day in the intentions at Evening Praise.  The Catholic bishops’ office of Religious Liberty will highlight three regions of the world where persecution of religious minorities is severe: the Middle east, Myanmar and Nigeria …  The bishops are asking that we be in solidarity with people throughout the world who suffer for their faith.

“One of the things people don’t understand is that the freedom of religion is more than the freedom to worship,” said Barbara Samuells, founder of Catholics for Religious Freedom.  “Most Catholics in the United States are ‘blissfully ignorant’ when it comes to threats to religious freedom.”

“They say, ‘I can go to church on Sunday, so there’s no problem with my religious freedom.  The biggest challenge for everyday Catholics who do understand about religious freedom and what needs to be done is getting people’s attention.”

The week has its roots in the “Fortnight for Freedom,” a two-week observance launched when the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops were working to get overturned a portion of the Affordable Care Act, referred to as the HHS mandate, that required all employers who provide health insurance to cover interventions that contradict Catholic teaching.

“The Fortnight for Freedom became so strongly associated with the HHS mandate that efforts were made to rebrand it to raise other issues as well. Emphasis was shifted to more about awareness, reflection, prayer and action.  Last year the USCCB changed its religious liberty committee from ad hoc to permanent status.

The theme of this year’s Religious Freedom Week is “Strength in Hope.”  Here in the U.S. the Catholic Bishops are using Religious Freedom Week to advocate for religious freedom in the areas of adoption and foster care.  The opioid crisis is putting a strain on the foster care system and the number of children in need of care is going up while the number of foster families is doing down.  The committee also is focusing on questions that have been put to nominees for positions on the federal bench. These questions that cast doubt on a nominee’s ability to serve because of their Catholic faith amount to an unconstitutional religious test for nominees.  Such questions – for instance interrogation about membership in the Knights of Columbus – may discourage our eligible and talented younger generation from going into public service fearing being scrutinized that way.

The focus of a number of “weeks” have expanded from the original Fortnight for Freedom to include the issue of religious freedom – Catholic Schools Week, National Migration Week, and National Marriage Week.

In the Gospel just read the disciples who encouraged Jesus to “dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages to find lodging and provisions.”  You heard Jesus solution: “Give them some food yourselves.”

That’s the challenge before us.  What, exactly, does Jesus mean by “food.”  The story is about food for the body in a deserted place.  People who live in fear and hiding lest they be persecuted or killed over the practice of their religion, certainly live in a deserted place.  The “food” they desire is the courage, the support to sustain them in faith.  We pray this week that all people of goodwill will be free to seek the truth and live in accordance with that truth.   May they find strength in hope, convinced that, as St. Paul wrote to the Romans, the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)  In the midst of current challenges may they, and we, (like the theme of the week says) seek the kingdom and find strength in hope.

PS: A little story with a Eucharist theme

One day (in a Montessori class of 4-5 year-olds) I had shown a filmstrip.  (Remember them?  They were the precursors of PowerPoint and Smart Boards?)    After the class had viewed the story of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes, I asked them to tell me the story.  Martha was so animated that the rest of the class sat mesmerized as she explained what happened.  “There was a little boy named Benjamin who had some bread.  He gave it to Jesus.  Jesus raised his eyes to heaven, thanked his Heavenly Father, and said (click your fingers) Bing!  And there was enough for everyone!” (Clue: The cue to move to the next picture frame.)

I think it is safe to predict you won’t hear the celebrant at Mass say “BING” – although it may ring in your head.  However, at the sacred words of consecration there will be enough for everyone – enough of Jesus for our whole world!  He is only depending on us to make room in our hearts and in our lives to respond generously and without hesitance to his query: “Where may I eat today? Where may I rest?”

June 23, 2019 – Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ                                                                                                                                            Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

Genesis 14:18-20     1 Corinthians 11: 23-26     Luke 9: 11b-17
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The Holy Trinity – There are Clues

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I quote Richard Rohr: “I think it’s foolish to presume we can understand Jesus if we don’t first of all understand the Trinity.  We will continually misinterpret and misuse Jesus if we don’t first participate in the circle dance of mutuality and communion within which he participated.”

The reality of the Holy Trinity a mystery – an incomprehensible concept.   Thankfully, mysteries can be talked about.  They can be described.  They have clues that our minds can grasp.  A mystery remains a mystery unless and until we grasp it in its totality.  But, when it comes to God we simply cannot grasp the total reality of God.

We know, because we’ve been taught, that the inner nature of God, in whose image and likeness we are made, is Three Persons who, however distinct they are, totally belong to each other.  Humans, because they are made in God’s image, are made to belong in a special kind of belonging.  We (Benedictines at Holy Name Monastery) are free persons who chose to live in a community where we are mutually dependent on each other for full existence.  While there is a style of belonging that enslaves – a possessive belonging – there is also a belonging that gives freedom, the freedom to be who we are as persons.

The concept of the Holy Trinity is a mystery, but not a total mystery.   Mysteries, after all, are made up of clues. In a mystery story we pursue and piece together clues in order to see the whole picture.  So it is with the Holy Trinity.  We have lots of clues about the Holy Trinity.  And when we pursue them and piece them together we get a good glimpse into what kind of a god our God is.  God is all about love.  And when we live in love we live in God, and God lives in us.  Living in love, however, does not mean we must all be exactly the same.

There’s a great deal of confusion about this in today’s culture.  But it’s ridiculous to think that all persons must be the same.  We aren’t meant to be ducks in a row, waddling to the same tempo.  We honor our Triune God in whose image we are made.  God the Creator is a distinct Person; the God the Son, our Savior is a distinct Person; and God the Holy Spirit is a distinct person.  Distinct though they are, however, they exist in one being of infinite love.  They exist in one unbreakable bond, in one infinite union of being together.

While all of that remains a mystery to us, it is not so mysterious that we cannot live with each other in a reality of life that reflects and shares in the reality of God’s life.  To live a God-like life we must forgive rather than condemn.  We must build-up and affirm rather than tear down.  We must see the best, not the worst.  We must be self-sacrificial and not self-centered.  We must be giving rather than grasping.  We must offer hope, not despair.  We must heal rather than wound.  All of this is best affirmed and nurtured in what we know as a community.  There is nothing in life that more closely reflects the reality of the Holy Trinity than genuine family life.   This concept is mimicked in intentional community life.  For it is in such a setting that we not only belong but also where we discover, nurture, and affirm our own unique and individual personalities.  It is in living the reality of being truly a community that we have a glimpse into the life of the Trinity.

In our community prayer, a “Trinitarian-like movement” echoes the rhythm of our whole lives.  In Lectio we go up to the mountaintop with Jesus, we have conversation with Him there, and we return to everyday life among his people.  Notice, too, in our communal prayer, a three-fold movement: we sit, we stand, we bow.  In our chants, we don’t always have to harmonize (singing different but complementary melodies) but we do strive to keep our voices in harmony with each other – one heart, one voice, one love.

We all have different views about the mystery we celebrate today.  We have different views in our heads about who God is and what God is like.   But I think we agree:  God is love and we are made in God’s image.  But, love is only a word until someone gives it meaning.  To be true to our calling we must be the ones who give meaning to love in our world.  We, Benedictine Sisters of Florida – and our Oblates and Volunteers – put flesh on that calling through our Corporate Commitment: We commit ourselves and our resources to respond with the compassion of Christ to the hungers of the people of God.

~Reflection By Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

First Reading   Exodus 34:4b-6,8-9                  Second Reading 2 Corinthians 13:11-13
Gospel  John 3:16-18                    
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