Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

Prayer

In Praise Of Work

by Leave a Comment

In praise of work

Scripture is very clear about the place of work in human life. The Book of Genesis is explicit: we were put into the Garden “to till and to keep it.” We work to complete the work of God in the world. Work, then, may be the most sanctifying thing we do.

The implications of a spirituality of work in a world such as ours are clear, it seems. Work is my gift to the world. It is my social fruitfulness. It ties me to my neighbor and binds me to the future.

Work is the way I am saved from total self-centeredness. It gives me a reason to exist that is larger than myself. It makes me part of possibility. It gives me hope. Martin Luther wrote: “If I knew that the world would end tomorrow, I would plant an apple tree today.”

Work gives me a place in salvation. It helps redeem the world from sin. It enables creation to go on creating. It brings us all one step closer to what the reign of God is meant to be.

Work is meant to build community. When we work for others, we give ourselves and we can give alms as well. We never work, in other words, for our own good alone.

Work leads to self-fulfillment. It uses the gifts and talents we know we have and it calls on the gifts of which we are unaware.

Work is its own asceticism. When we face the work at hand, with all its difficulties and all its rigors and all its repetition and all its irritations and accept it, we do not need to traffic in symbolic penances. What today’s work brings is what is really due from me to God. And if we do it well, we will have spiritual discipline aplenty.

Finally, work is the way we really live in solidarity with the poor of the world. Work is our commitment not to live off others, not to sponge, not to shirk, not to cheat.

Work is our sign that God goes on working in the world through us. It is the very stuff of divine ambition. And it will never be over. God needs us to complete God’s work. Now.

-from In the Heart of the Temple by Joan Chittister (BlueBridge)

Continue Reading

The Rich Fool

by Leave a Comment

Rembrandt_-_The_Parable_of_the_Rich_Fool18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, July 31, 2016

First Reading – Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23          Second Reading – Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11          Gospel Reading – Luke 12:13-21

This rich man’s world is small, just him and his possessions, and now he learns that he is to lose his life. What good are his possessions now? Jesus sums it up in two words:  You fool?”  And, continues with the reason – “This very night your life will be taken away. To whom will everything belong then?!”

The man is rankled over a continuing disagreement with his brother. He figures he can follow the customary practice of taking his dispute to the rabbi, the teacher he has heard everyone talking about. Of course, he expects a settlement in his favor. But Jesus refuses to take the case and instead gives the squabbling brothers a parable to “mull over.”  What is the point of Jesus’ story about a wealthy landowner and why does he call him a fool?

Jesus’ lesson holds a warning against covetousness – a wish to get wrongfully what another possesses or to begrudge others what God has give them. Jesus restates the commandment. The commandments are not a multiple-choice list of good ideas – they are to be applied to all. In this little parable Jesus probes the listener’s heart – where is your treasure? The thing we most set our heart on is our highest treasure.

In interpreting this parable to discover what it is we treasure most, it’s critical to assess carefully what the farmer’s error is. He is not portrayed as wicked – that is, he had not gained his wealth illegally or by taking advantage of others. He’s not portrayed as particularly greedy. Indeed, he seems to be somewhat surprised by his good fortune. So, what’s wrong we might ask with building larger barns, renting a storage unit, getting a POD in the back yard to store away some of today’s bounty for a leaner tomorrow?  Hanging on to clothing we’ve outgrown, rarely ever wear, haven’t seen since we moved in two years ago and persons who have less than we do would appreciate having it; or stockpiling furniture that serves only as a “catch all” because it’s just too nice to give away…Requesting more allowance than we actually need and giving none to charity – or accepting money gifts from lay people giving them the impression that our community does not take care of our needs. We might answer that none of this sounds so terribly wrong compared to the horrors of violence…except for two things.

First, notice what the farmer’s consistent focus is throughout the conversation – it’s all about himself. “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?” Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.”

The relentless use of the first person pronouns “I” and “my” betray a preoccupation with self. There is no thought to using the abundance to help others, no expression of gratitude for his good fortune, no recognition of God at all. The farmer has fallen prey to worshiping the most popular of gods: the Unholy Trinity of “me, myself and I.”

This leads to, and is most likely caused, by a second mistake. This farmer is not foolish because he makes provision for the future; he is foolish because he believes that by his wealth he can secure his future.

There is danger in thinking this parable applies only to “those rich people.” To put the matter more pointedly, thinking of those rich fools enables me NOT to think of myself as a “rich fool.”

We cannot separate the warnings from the words of Jesus that follow. What’s his transition word? He begins with “therefore,” indicating that what He is saying is based upon what He has already said. Note, too, that in the text Jesus warned against “all kinds of greed” which suggests that greed has a variety of forms, some of which may tempt the rich and others that may tempt the less affluent.

Jesus’ response indicates that the man’s request was his error. But, what this man wants is a judge, not a teacher. Other teachers might be tempted to pronounce on such cases, but Jesus knew that this was not within the realm to get in the middle of a family squabble. This young man, itching for a flight, may have gotten the floor, but he did not get his request. What he got was far more than he asked for, but certainly what he deserved.

Jesus used the opportunity as a “teachable moment.” The whole exchange and the lesson stresses that life does not consist in things. It does not even consist in many things. The parable tells of a rich man, who is not rich enough. Jesus, the teacher, did not judge, but He did teach. In this parable He was not primarily teaching teachers how to teach, but rather teaching all of us how to live. To borrow the paraphrases Joe Biden’s words in his speech at the Democratic convention, referring to his wife who was a teacher: “teaching is not what Jesus did; it’s who He was.”

S. Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

Continue Reading

A Rorschach Test

by 1 Comment

luke-10-38-42-2016Last weekend’s Gospel of the Good Samaritan was an example of how a disciple should observe their surroundings and act compassionately.  In this week’s story, Mary is an example of how a disciple should listen.  Like the Samaritan, Mary is a marginalized person in society.  And, both do what would not be expected of them. As a woman, Mary would be expected, like Martha, to do the “grunt” work of all that would be necessary to provide hospitality for a guest.  But, here once again Jesus breaks with the social conventions of his time. Just as a Samaritan would not ordinarily be a model for neighborliness, so a woman would not sit with the men around the feet of a Master Teacher.

The brief story (it’s only 5 verses) of Mary and Martha has become something of a Rorschach Test. Interpreters down through the ages have taken sides with one or the other. Some see Mary as a model of the contemplative life. She was taking the role of a male disciple, so she is the darling of Feminist interpreters today. She has become the role model for women in seminaries pursuing a theological education.

Like Martha, we sometimes get caught up into warped thinking.  We forget that the important thing is not in DO-ing but in BE-ing.  Jesus teaches us to sit – to listen – to learn – to love. Martha welcomed Jesus into her house, and then went to the kitchen to fix dinner. Mary, Martha’s sister, did NOT go to the kitchen to help, but instead “sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word. That seems OK and typical, doesn’t it?  You can’t just seat the guest and then everyone abandon them to do all work in the kitchen. But it wasn’t OK with Martha. Luke says that Martha “was distracted with much serving.”  Have you had her experience?   Feeling like you are alone “in over your head” with the details of hospitality, or setting up for the workshop, or a concert gathering?

Martha needed help, but she didn’t know how to handle it.  Because, honestly she (and maybe you) did like to work, and you usually pitch in and do your part.  And, sometimes you end up working while others sit around chatting. So, you know how Martha felt.  Can’t you see it: Martha, angry at being abandoned in the kitchen, came to Jesus and said, “Lord!” Now don’t miss that little word – “Lord.” The first word out of Martha’s mouth acknowledges Jesus as Lord. Good job, Martha!

But then Martha, who has just acknowledged Jesus as Lord, rebukes Him. First, she asks if Jesus doesn’t care that Mary isn’t helping. Then she gives Jesus an order: “Tell my lazy sister to get into the kitchen to help me.” Well, those aren’t the exact words that Luke uses to report this incident, but that’s what Martha meant! Now that kind of outburst has a tendency to make everyone angry. If you are Mary, you wonder why Martha didn’t just say – to you, rather than to Jesus – “Mary, I need some help.”  And if you are the guest – like Jesus – it’s embarrassing to have your hostess blow up like that.

Now, we would not have handled the situation like Martha did.  We might have muttered and murmured but we’ve had all the communication workshops.  We could have coached Martha how to do it differently. She could have instead of stomping into the living room and chewing out Jesus and Mary, she could have taken a quiet minute in the kitchen and. prayed: “God, I’m so angry. Something is tempting me to go out there to spew my anger all over Jesus and Mary – but I know that’s wrong. Help me to feel love for Jesus, my guest, and Mary, my sister. And then help me to ask Mary nicely for help.”

We know that Mary’s focus on her relationship with Jesus was so right.  At the same time we recognize Martha’s anger was so disruptive. Jesus said as much. He said: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

We can be such busy people, and we live in such a busy world. It’s easy to miss the important things.  In light of all the violence in our world we may feel helpless… we can pray, yes and we can join the prayer crusade that stops one minute at 9 p.m. to pray for world peace but what else can we do?  We’ve heard, and truly believe, peace begins at home.  It begins with each one of us starting with our interactions with each other… in gentle direct communication.  Hopefully we don’t engage in fist fights but we need to be on guard that we don’t “slap” another in the face with our voice tone, volume or hurtful words?   We can quiet TV violence and noise pollution with the click of a remote button but once rude words escape our lips they reverberate in the atmosphere for all eternity.

The story of Martha and Mary reinforces our belief that there is value in sitting – in listening – in learning – in loving.  When we are tempted, like Martha, to think the important thing is doing – remember Jesus’ teaching to sit – to listen – to learn – to love.  Sit at God’s company to be quiet and listen – don’t fill every second with chatter.  Treasure the moment. We may live in a Martha-world, but we don’t need to let it invade our walls.  We need to take time to be Mary.  Time to commune with the One we profess to love about all others … time for personal lectio, spiritual reading … time to BE and ask ourselves, “Do I really put God first in my life?   Would my actions prove it?  Jesus says that that’s the one thing that’s needed. He says that’s the good part that won’t be taken from us.

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Baily, OSB, Prioress

 

Continue Reading

One Minute of Prayer Every Night!

by 2 Comments

This sounds like a worthy idea … we can’t imagine the power of prayer:

hands clasped in prayer over a Bible

During WWII, there was an advisor to Churchill, who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every night at a prescribed hour for one minute, to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace. This had an amazing effect, as bombing stopped.

There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America. The United States of America, and our citizens, need prayer more than ever!!! If you would like to participate, each evening at 9:00 P.M. Eastern Time (8 PM Central, 7 PM  Mountain, 6 PM Pacific), stop whatever you’re doing, and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, for peace in the world, the upcoming election, that the Bible will remain the basis for the laws governing our land, and that Christianity will grow in the U.S.

If you know anyone who would like to participate, please pass this along. Someone said if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have. Thank you.

Please pass this on to anyone who you think will want to join us.

God Bless You!!!

~Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress
Continue Reading

Trying Not To

by Leave a Comment

boy-eating-cookieI think we all understand what temptation is.   Imagine there’s a little boy in a grocery store who walks by an open pack of peanut butter cookies. The clerk notices him eye the cookies.  “What are you doing there?” “Nothing,” replied the boy. “It looks to me like you’re trying to steal a cookie.” “No,” said the boy, “I’m trying not to.” That’s temptation!

We understand that temptation leads to trouble.  Such was the plight of the man that I read about in Reader’s digest.  This man said he was shopping in the mall with his wife when a shapely young woman is a short, form-fitting dress walked by.  He followed her with his eyes.  Without looking up from the item she was examining his wife asked, “Was it worth the trouble you are in?”  That’s the trouble with temptation.

How many of us have shrugged and said, “The devil made me do it!” and used that as an excuse when caught doing something we weren’t supposed to?  It’s a convenient defense.  But there’s one problem: the devil can’t MAKE us do anything.  He may be clever, but he’s not all powerful.  It may feel that way, however, when we’re dangling on temptation’s hook, because the devil has a tried and true strategy for luring us into his net.  First, he lays out the bait.  He knows us like a skilled fisherman knows fish.  He notes our habits, observes our hangouts; then he drops a custom-made lure right in front of our noses.

Then, comes the appeal.  He can’t make us bite, but he does know what happens when we catch a glimpse of the tantalizing bait … like the snapshot promo on TV.  We’re drawn in, we linger over it, we toy with the idea, roll it over in our minds until it consumes our imagination … we just HAVE to know what the gossip tid-bit was we overheard is all about.

Now the struggle really begins.  Our conscience jabs us in the ribs, the red flags go up, the warning sirens go off but the invitation looks so delightful.  What do we do?

Benedict knew about this, didn’t he?  Remember in chapter 43 where he warns if the monastic comes late for chapel, if though ashamed, she should still come inside lest she be tempted to return to bed and sleep.  Or, worse he says, settle down outside and engage in idle talk, thereby giving occasion to the Evil One.  They should come inside so that they will not lose everything and may amend in the future.”

Either we will resist or yield, swim away or swallow the temptation whole.  When you give in you know the feeling of emptiness and the pain that sticks in your neck.  But, be alert when you do resist – be ready for the temptation to come from a different direction.  However, when you’ve resisted you will know a feeling of freedom that envelopes you.

It seems there are three general kinds of temptations that our adversary still uses. He often tries to work his wiles on the heels of a spiritual high point in our life.  Or it may come at a time of physical weakness, or when we’re are alone and are more susceptible to temptation – then be prepared for a major attack.    Jesus experienced the devil’s temptation, just after his baptism and the Father’s affirmation; when he was hungry following his 40-day fast, when he was alone in the desert.  Thus he could sympathize, no, –  empathize with us,

This Gospel lesson alerts us to the dangers – the allurement of the devil – to be tempted to be independent – like a two-year-old’s “I’ll do it myself.”  Or we may give into temptation to take the easy way out.  It will be less suffering, no struggle, no sacrifice … why work to conquer our self-will when the world could be handed to you on a silver platter – give you a free ride?

The one thing common to all three of the temptations described is that Satan attempted to distract Jesus from his mission and to destroy his relationship with his Heavenly Father.  You may have to fight the battle more than once to win it.  Don’t give up!  There is truth in the story of what Martin Luther said when he was asked how he overcame the devil.  “When the devil comes knocking at the door of my heart, asking who lives there,” Jesus comes to the door says: “Martin Luther used to live here, but he has moved out.  Now I live here.”  When Christ fills our lives Satan just has no entrance.

You may have learned this little ditty of a prayer as a child.  It’s still a good one for nightly protection:  I liken it to a child’s compline (evening prayer) –

“Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,
Bless this bed that I lie on.
Before I close my eyes in sleep,
I give my soul to Christ to keep.

Four corners to my bed,
Four angels ’round my head,
One to watch, one to pray,
And two to bear my soul away.

I go by sea, I go by land,
The Lord made me with his right hand,
If any danger come to me,
Sweet Jesus Christ, deliver me.

For he’s the branch and I’m the flower,
Pray God send me a happy hour,
And if I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.

 

Continue Reading

Fourth Sunday of Advent 2015

by Leave a Comment

May the last few days building up to Christmas not become too hectic doing for others …  save time for you and the Babe whose birth we will celebrate on Friday! 

In thbethlehem2is Gospel reading Mary, the girl-mother goes to visit Elizabeth, her cousin, who, in advanced age, is also with child.  She traveled approximately 103 miles over not the kindest terrain.  It sounds like perhaps Elizabeth learned of Mary’s approaching arrival.  Whether or not, Elizabeth greets Mary with full recognition of the roles that they, and their unborn children, will play in God’s plan for salvation

Thus, it is appropriate in this season of Advent that we consider the role of Mary. Mary is the one who believed that God’s word to her would be fulfilled.    Mary shows us “blind” faith, deep trust and an abiding peace.   She ask only, how can this be – listens to the angel’s reply …. nods her head and sets off across the hill country to be midwife to her cousin.  Her faith enabled her to recognize the work of God in her people’s history and in her own life. Her openness to God allowed God to work through her so that salvation might come to everyone: those who had gone before her and all of us who come after.

Martin Luther King, Jr once described faith as: ”taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole stair case.”   This is Mary … the angel sent by God said it can happen, so who am I to question God?   At this stage, she has no idea what is in store but she has said her Yes and she will be faithful to it.  May we always be like Mary, open and cooperative in God’s plan for salvation.

A few years ago there was a TV ad that ended with the question: Have you said ‘Yes’ yet?”   It is a question that tomorrow’s Mass are asking each one of us.  Have we made the most important preparation of all? Yes to the Father, Yes to Jesus, Yes to all that we will experience in the coming year, Yes to every call that God makes and will make of us?  We learn from Mary, and her son Jesus, how to say an unqualified, unconditional and unreserved YES!  That’s where the real joy and happiness of Christmas lies. All the rest is (so to speak) tinsel on the tree of our lives!

As Advent time winds down it is almost impossible not to be sucked into celebrating the feast before it occurs.  We struggle to remain grounded in the spirit of Advent.  Like children we just can’t wait for the big birthday party.  It’s as though even the most beautiful liturgies and symbols fail to communicate, because God is so much greater than all our frail efforts.  But, God doesn’t need our feeble attempts in order to communicate with astonishing clarity.    If we look and listen closely – like we look forward to the rising sun each morning from the breakfast table – we remember God is greater than any Advent wreath.  When the rich melodies of the O Antiphons course through us we are reminded we do indeed stand on holy ground.

On Monday we will mark the shortest day of the year.  Isn’t it strange that we refer to it as “shortest day” not the longest night?   The light of day gradually increases and we witness the sunrise earlier and earlier each day.

And, the Advent wreath’s purple candles increase until all four give light to our darkness and hinting at the more brilliant light that God promised: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.”  God hasn’t forgotten or given up on us.  How fitting to have had the Penitential Service this past week … Any debt or guilt we may have felt or imagined is erased: the jail door sprung. The prison gate opens as wide as a proverbial smiley face!   The light within us is even more dazzling than you can imagine!

In the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer we hear a message of hope and reassurance:

“Just when everything is bearing down on us to such an extent that we can scarcely withstand it, the Christmas message comes to tell us that all our ideas are wrong, and that what we take to be evil and dark is really good and light because it comes from God.  Our eyes are at fault, that is all.  God is in the manger, wealth in poverty, light in darkness, succor in abandonment.  No evil can befall us; whatever others may do to us, they cannot but serve the God who is secretly revealed as love and rules the world and our lives.”

Let’s not be counted among the people who miss out on the gift that God sent to them. You see, God’s Gift didn’t come in a beautifully wrapped package. God sent Jesus, His only Son, as His gift to us. Jesus’ mother was young virgin…his earthly father was a poor carpenter…he was not born in a beautiful palace…he was born in a manger. Not a very pretty package, is it? But do you know what? It was the greatest gift the world has ever known. It was the gift of salvation and it had your name on it.

Our prayer bubbles forth in the words of Psalm 40 (which we prayed in Noon Prayer yesterday) “O God, your wonders and designs are beyond imagining; you have no equal.  Should I proclaim your blessings, they are more that I can tell!”

Continue Reading