Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

Prayer

What Was Plan B for Jesus?

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The Angel Gabriel asked Jesus, “What’s your Plan B?”

In the Ascension story Jesus tell his disciples, and us: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.” Really – the “whole world” and to “every creature?” And, Jesus, that part about picking up serpents with my bare-hands – it will take very special graces for me to comply. The Gospel is reminding us we have to remain in a state of readiness for a challenging, exciting trip. We need to set aside fear and trembling and any hesitation. We’re on a mission! We are those commissioned to go forth and proclaim the Gospel of life and love, of hope and peace. And, although Jesus says: “GO” we really don’t have to travel anywhere. We preach by the witness of our lives and as St. Francis of Assisi said: “When necessary use words.”

We sing about our commissioning in the hymn-text (by Jeffrey Rowthorn) “Lord, you gave the great commission … with the spirit’s gifts empowering us, for the work of ministry.” We are entrusted and (here’s the key word) enabled to continue Jesus’ own work – to share the news of God’s love in word and deed. Not only that, we are instructed to invite our co-workers, our oblates and guests and others to help bring God’s kingdom to fruition. We have a shared mission, a common goal.

The challenge of sharing the Good News, of spreading peace throughout the entire world must begin with our humble acknowledgement that it is the Spirit of God that will lead the way. Relay racers will tell you that the critical moment in the race is the passing of the baton from one runner to another. More relays are won or lost at that moment than at any other time in the race.

The feast of the Ascension might be compared to the passing of the baton. On this day over 2,000 years ago, Jesus passed the baton of responsibility for the Kingdom of God to his followers. Jesus commissioned them, and us, to complete the work he had begun. Practically speaking what does this mean? In any role in community, in any ministry and in employment settings we must discern when it is time to “pass the baton” – when is it time to let someone else (a new-comer, an upstart, a confrere) take on the ministry that’s been mine “forever.” How can the other use their God-given talents if I hold tight-fisted to a position God is calling that person to minister in? What opportunity am I rejecting because I am too intent on clutching a task that God is beckoning me to let go of? Christ’s Ascension, his return to his Father was his “Mission Accomplished” – the culmination of God’s divine plan for Christ. Let us pray for the insight and courage to know when our mission – mini or final – is accomplished.

On this day of hope, encouragement and commissioning, let us renew our commitment to be true disciples everywhere we go, beginning with our pew partner, our community members, our families and our parish, “living in a manner worthy of the calling we have received.”

There is an ancient beautiful story (maybe you’ve heard before) about the ascension of Jesus into heaven. When the grand welcome ceremony was over, the angel Gabriel quietly approached Jesus and shared some doubts. “I know that only very few in Palestine are aware of the great work of human salvation you have accomplished through your suffering, death and resurrection. But the whole world should know and appreciate it and become your disciples, acknowledging you as their Lord and Savior. What is your plan of action?” Jesus answered, “I have told all my apostles to tell other people about me and preach my message through their lives. That’s all.” “Suppose they don’t do that,” Gabriel responded. “What’s your Plan B?” Jesus replied, “I have no other plan; I am counting on them.”

Jesus is counting on each one of us to make him known, loved and accepted by others around us. He has no other plan than to depend on us! How well do we measure up to the task? If we believe that in Baptism we became part of the Body of Christ, and if Christ has no hands but ours in this world, how can we figuratively sit on our hands or keep them in our pockets?

 

Solemnity of the Ascension – June 2, 2019                                            Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

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First Sunday of Lent 2018

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In the liturgical cycle of readings, this Gospel from Mark was originally only 2 verses – later the church added 2 verses – but it is still the one of the shortest Sunday readings.  It tells us only that Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit immediately after his baptism to be tempted by the devil for 40 days.  Why do the evangelists make a point of 40 days?  You know that: it recalls the 40 years that the Israelites wandered in the desert.  And remember the prophet Elijah journeyed in a desert for 40 days and nights, making his way to Mt. Horeb.  Some say that 40 is simply a symbolic number.  Even if it is, Jesus chose to follow that symbolism as a lesson to us.  We set aside 40 days for our season of Lent, to travel through a wilderness of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer.

According to St. Benedict the purpose of Lent is to purify our way of life and to wash away negligences of the past, to make reparation for what we have done or failed to do.   He names five practices to help change our hearts

  • refuse to indulge in evil habits,
  • devote yourself to prayer,
  • holy reading,
  • compunction of heart and
  • self-denial.

We’ve heard the expression “practice makes perfect” so often that the full meaning may have lost its impact on us.  But consider the Olympic skater who has to forego serious practice for close to a year due to an injury.  Then only last month found out he would be in the Olympic competition.  In two rounds he fumbled, fell – he received a creditable score but did not do his personal best.  Until the third round, the fourth round … then he shone!

Each year at the beginning of Lent we may feel like that skater.  We’re not doing our personal best.  Lent gives us a “third round.”  As Benedict says in Chapter 49, during Lent we are called to be the kind of person we should be every day.  Lent gives us a jump-start of courage to pick up the practices that will support the values we profess to believe in.  The biggest temptation most of us have to face is to “give up” because we stumble, maybe fall – like that skater we may have to put a hand on the floor once in a while to balance ourselves.  The only way  to rise to the challenge of Easter is to persevere … in doing what we know is right, in being faithful to what we’ve promised God, in heeding that first word in the Rule – “listen” – and in loving others as God loves them, and us.

This evening at the close of prayer we will ask God’s blessing on our attempts to be what we were created to be.  We promise to pray for each other and ask God’s gift of strength and courage to persevere in our Lenten resolutions.

 

BLESSING RITE (for resolutions papers)

Aware that Lent is not merely a time of atoning for sins but a time of preparation.  We prepare throughout Lent to become at Easter what we were once baptized into: Christ’s own body.  We will practice habits which will break us open, let God in, and train us to love like Christ.

Therefore, our loving God, we come before you at this time in our lives to bring, praise – a plea – and a promise – that we will gently remind ourselves that (all) “Lent is a process of rending our hearts, filling the broken places with God’s love, and fearlessly loving as Christ loved.

We place before you, O God, our sincere promises to use your grace to become the people You call us to be.  Trusting in your all-powerful goodness, we dare to ask:

  • L) Give us renewed fervor to be faithful to our commitments. AMEN
  • L) Help us to be compassionate and supportive to one another.  AMEN
  • L) Bless our efforts to make a good Lent.  AMEN
  • L) And support us to be faithful to our Lenten resolutions.  AMEN
 ~by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress
Genesis 9:8-15         1 Peter 3:18-22         Mark 1:12-15
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