Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

Advent

Third Sunday of Advent

by Leave a Comment

This Third Sunday of Advent is familiarly known as Gaudete Sunday – a Latin word that means “rejoice” – the first word (in Latin) of the Entrance Antiphon at Mass: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I say, rejoice.  Indeed, the Lord is near.”  We mark Gaudete Sunday by lighting a rose-colored candle (in the Advent wreath) and the celebrant at Mass may wear rose colored vestments.  The church rejoices because we are halfway to Christmas.  I refer you to the First Reading from Isaiah: “The parched land will exult, will rejoice and bloom with abundant flowers, and rejoice with joyful song.”  We are called to be a joyful people.  The Promised One is approaching and is nearer at hand.

I get the impression, though, in today’s early post-pandemic world that “joy” is on the decline.  The theme of joy is a rare commodity.  When someone asks: “How was your day?”  We might hear ho-hum tones: “It was OK” or “Could have been better” or “I’m just so tired of doing the same thing every day.”  Or “I’m exhausted.”  Or “Don’t ask me.”  To have joy is to have a deep sense of delight.  The Greek origins of the word “joy” literally means “for the heart, in its deepest place of passion and feelings, to be well.”  That’s what it’s like to have joy.

So why is joy so rare?  To experience joy in one’s life, four qualities must co-exist.  First, joy takes time.  Joy comes of living a “savored” life.  Take the time, make the time to smell the roses, to observe the pace of a sandhill crane crossing the street or to glory in a sunset or moonrise.  There is an old monastic saying that describes joy.  “When you are sipping tea or watering a plant, or gazing at an icon, do just that.”  Be present in the moment.  Such moments are pregnant with God’s real presence, promise and providential care.

Second, to know joy requires acceptance – a “yes” to life – YES to the hand we’ve been dealt.  You may have discovered at some point that the script we’ve been handed in the play of life is not the part we thought we were trying out for.  Joy requires a deep willingness to accept that we are God’s creatures and that God is at work according to God’s good pleasure.  Joyful persons do not live in a state of resentment for what might have been or what “used to be.”  In God’s plan, there is a reason why today is not tomorrow.  We need each of our todays to prepare us to receive the promise of tomorrow.  Remember the phrase from our COVID prayer: “We live in full union with the God who loves us and wants only our good.”

Third, for a joyful spirit desire is required.  We have to want joy.  Joy is a gift, a gift of the Spirit.  If you want the gift of joy, ask God for the gift with your heart open and ready to accept the gift in whatever way God hands to the gift to you.

And, fourth, to be joyful we need stability, patience and endurance.  Maybe that’s why Jesus says: “Truly I tell you… you will have sorrow… but your sorrow will turn into joy.”

Life for most people is not picture perfect.  But there is much joy to be found if we simply LOOK for JOY.  Be on the lookout to SEE and REFLECT the JOY that is right before your eyes waiting to be seen.  The more we dwell on our everyday blessings, the more joyful moments seem to multiply in our lives.  And by experiencing more joy in my own life, I have more JOY to give away.  To quote Henri Nouwen: “Joy does not simply happen to us.  We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.”  JOY is a beautiful gift to embrace, celebrate and give away at Christmastime.  

~by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

First Reading  Isaiah 35:1-6, 10                       
Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24  
Gospel Reading  Matthew 11:2-11

 

Continue Reading

Advent Out-reach Project

by Leave a Comment

Benedictine Sisters

2022 Advent Out-reach Project

Periodically the Benedictine Sisters of Florida solicit contributions to a project that they have discerned to support.

We are collecting for the Franciscan Poor Clare Sisters, San Damiano Monastery in Fort Myers Beach, Florida that was destroyed by Hurricane Ian.

To make a contribution, write check payable to Benedictine Sisters of FL – note for Advent Outreach Project – we’ll send lump-sum donation to the project.  Or you may donate through our website (link below).  Be sure to select the  “Advent Outreach” designation.

www.benedictinesistersoffl.org

 

Thank you! May God bless you for your generosity.

Continue Reading

First Sunday of Advent

by Leave a Comment

Advent is all about waiting.  But it’s not waiting for our turn because God’s line is busy.  Is it wonderful that we do not have to take turns – we don’t have to wait to be in touch!  Waiting is at the heart of Advent, active waiting.  Even when we don’t know that we are waiting, we’re waiting.  Even when we can’t find words to express what we are waiting for, we’re waiting.

For many people, Advent is an opportunity that is little understood, under-appreciated and commonly ignored.  Advent is about learning to wait.  It is about not having to know exactly what is coming tomorrow.  Advent teaches us the difference between expectation, anticipation and waiting; suspense, eagerness and “twiddling your thumbs to pass the time”.

We are waiting not just during 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.  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?  That 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?

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 on 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!”

The final line of this Sunday’s selection from Matthew’s Gospel reminds us: “You must be prepared for, at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”  That does not refer only to the hour of our death.  You may remember the valuable lesson an Abbot shared with his Rabbi friend: “The messiah is among the ranks of your community”.  We are challenged to be Messiah to each other, to treat each other with gentleness, respect, and courtesy for each one is the Messiah among us.

Our conversations can turn to stories and concerns focused outward, on the other rather than the self.  There is a rare sprinkling of “I” and “my” and “mine”.”  Attention is directed away from the self to shine our light on others.  We radiate the blessings of life, not the gloom of sadness, sickness, tiredness, or woe.  We become more fully human, full of compassion and full of consciousness.  Our community Advent practices help hone the attitude of prayerfulness, almsgiving and compassion.

So, we pray: “May the God of Israel increase our longing for Jesus our Savior and give each and all of us the strength to grow in love, that the dawn of Jesus’ coming may find us rejoicing in his presence and welcoming the light of Truth.”

 

~by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

First Reading  Isaiah 2:1-5                        
Second Reading Romans 13:11-14  
Gospel Reading  Matthew 24:37-44
Continue Reading

What Shall We Do?

by Leave a Comment

Two phrases jump out to me in this Gospel: “What should we do?  and “Exhorting them in many ways, he preached the GOOD NEWS to the people.”   Good news, Luke says???  The Scriptural reading we’ve been hearing for the past two weeks isn’t quite what I’d term “good” news.   We’ve been hearing predictions of occurrences of unimaginable proportions … taking down mountains, flattening hills, wiping out valleys, hearing voices crying in the desert, watching for signs in the sun, the moon, the stars, dismay, perplexity, roaring sounds and people dying of fright.  And this is GOOD news?  Seems a little too real with daily news alerts of COVID spinning off variants of the virus and active cases on the rise.  Snow storms are billowing across the northern states and this morning we learned of the loss of lives and devastation from tornados in Kentucky and Arkansas.  There are floods and toxic drinking water in Hawaii.  Fires are deliberately set and ravaging our forests; wildlife and residents escaping for their lives.  Threat of war, discord, political “cat fights” and gun violence is a growing reality.

And, we find ourselves striving for Benedictine peace at the half-way point in Advent 2021.  We sense it in the rose colored liturgical appointments and candles.  They all symbolize “relax” – be joyful!  In the days when it was popular to use the Introit of the Mass, we sang – “Guadete!  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice!”  Storms, conflicts, disease and dissension call us to give voice to the petition in the opening prayer for tomorrow’s Mass.  We beg for a gentle rain on the earth.  “Drop down dew from above, and let the clouds rain down the Just One; let the earth be opened and bring forth a Savior.”

John’s message today is simple.  He doesn’t ask the tax collectors to stop collecting, nor does he encourage the soldiers to go AWOL.  He says, Share what you have, be honest, do not oppress people.  What he preaches is at the same time easy and difficult; simple and challenging. How can I bring the Divine into my daily ordinary actions to make my faith a living thing so my walk echoes my talk?

One thing is certain – John’s audience knew where they stood with him.  And, he knew clearly his place in God’s story.  “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming.  I am not worthy to loosen the strap of his sandals.”  Another translation says: “untie the laces of his sandals.”  Why, I wonder, did he say “loosen, untie” which would leave the wearer’s shoes flapping on his feet or sliding off his feet so he is barefoot?  Is this an allusion to the spirit of hospitality expected of all Christians?  It brings to mind Benedict’s admonition of the ages old practice of first washing the guest’s feet for which the shoes would have been untied, loosened, removed.  And look at Jesus on the cross – his bare feet exposed to the elements and on-lookers’ abuse.

And, there’s that question Luke’s text raises: “What should we do?”  John’s answer is unique in Luke’s account, he responds by offering specific actions:

If you have more than you need, whether in terms of food or clothing, you must share.

Stop stealing from your neighbors.

And stop using your power to take advantage of each other.

In other words, no more hoarding, no skimming, no extortion.

The question, then, to each of us, in flashing neon lights, is – “What should I do?  What should we do?”  How shall we respond to the Advent of our Emmanuel that our prayers, our hymns and our intercessions are talking about?  How can we meet the promise of the season with real, meaningful expectation when everywhere around us the world seems to be caught up in merrymaking, crowd gathering with death hovering “out there”?  How can we celebrate in a deserving manner the solemnity of our God come to earth?

Today, faithful John has a gift for us wrapped in rough brown burlap and the coarseness of a camel’s hair shirt.  He jolts us out of our pessimism and any moodiness or reluctance.  His exhortation shakes us awake from our sleep to an awareness of the sparkle in the eyes of a new born Babe, the giggle of a child’s Knock-Knock joke, the welcome look on an elder’s face, the grateful tears of the recipients of our good deeds.  We see evidence of a warming heart as life-giving words fall gently on world-weary ears…and, we know our answer to the question…WHAT SHALL WE DO?  

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

First Reading:  Zephaniah 3:14-18a     Second Reading:  Philippians 4:4-7
Gospel:  Luke 3:10-18
Continue Reading

Caution. Construction Ahead!

by Leave a Comment

Luke’s Gospel quotes the prophet Isaiah, describing the road we must travel throughout Advent (and in our lives) in order to see the signs of the times and reach the One foretold – our Emmanuel.

Like Mary and Joseph, we must travel through valleys, between hills and over mountains to reach the place where the census is being taken.  We have to weather life’s troubles, storms of despair and disappointment.  And, look out at the horizon from the joyful mountain peaks of our lives to view the beauty God has laid out for us.

And, then there’s the Magi.  They traveled to see the new-born child bringing with them a sack-full of Christmas presents.  With our families spread across the nation and world, and now with the pandemic, the ritual of travel toward togetherness is threatened by fear of contagion rather than anticipation of pleasure.  But, we journey onward each Advent season.  We journey toward Bethlehem to witness the miracle of Jesus’ birth.  We journey toward the end of all time, when Christ Jesus will come again.

If you took long road trips as a kid, you may have played travel games to help pass the time (and reduce the number of back-seat squabbles).  When you saw the sign “Exit Ahead” did you wish and wonder, “Are we there yet?”  Like those trips, we continue down the road to Bethlehem where we see some signs along our way.  Last week, Jesus warned us to be alert, watching for God’s unexpected activity in our lives and in our world.  Today, the sign we see is one that most of us dread seeing while along our highways – “Road Construction Ahead.”

Why is it that we tend to get upset when we see a sign for road construction?  That’s a sign that in the not too distant future (though probably more distant than we’d like) the road work will be complete.  But still, when we see that sign ROAD CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN NEXT WEEK, or see orange barrels or the concrete barricades we begin to get uptight and look for an alternate route.  Road construction signs signal: “inconvenience, hassles, delays.”  Is that what we feel when we see today’s signs in the Scriptures?  Road Construction.  Two more weeks until we get to sing Christmas carols outside of choir practice.  How long until we can hang the decorations on the tree?

Are you facing a sign of work in progress – Proceed with Caution!  Can you hear John the Baptist shouting out with the powerful words of the prophet Isaiah?  Does he bellow like a highway foreman, “Prepare the way of the Lord!  Make that path straight!  Fill that valley!  Get that mountain outta here!  Hey, what happened over there?  It’s all crooked!  Make it straight!  Smooth out that rough place!  We gotta show everyone the salvation of God.  Get busy!”

If you’ve observed road construction you know it is labor-intensive.  It’s not like a Lego project.  How’s God’s construction company doing with you?  Are you making new inroads to acknowledgement of the need for improvement?  This Advent, have you been working to smooth rocky relationships?  What about making repairs on your approach to people?  Are you consciously striving to be direct – saying what you mean and meaning what you say?  Are you bolstering up the pillars of your prayer life?  Are you repairing older sections of your highway to God?  Are you blasting out the bad habits and fortifying your daily schedule so there is a new, wider, safe path to settling into the spirit of Lectio?

Maybe God is opening up for you a new area of possibility – a new awakening to how you can expand your life of service and hospitality.  What new road is God building in your life?  No matter how we might like to think that we’ve got it all together, sooner or later we all need to make a little heavenly highway repair.  Our God promises to help us fix what’s broken in our lives; to come to our rescue and strengthen those areas of weakness that plague us so.  Jesus can remove those piles of junk, fill in the potholes, and strengthen the sagging places if we but stop trying to “do it my way” and allow God to be the one to put up the sign – “Caution.  Construction Ahead!”  And, then allow God to be the boss, the foreman, the project manager.

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

First Reading: Baruch 5:1-9                   Second Reading: Philippians 1:4-6,8-11
Gospel Reading: Luke 3:1-6
Continue Reading

Waiting

by Leave a Comment

Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

Advent is all about waiting.  But not sit on your-hands and see what happens kind of waiting.  Nor waiting for someone else who is talking to God to hang up.  It’s more like a glorious party line.  You can pick up (or click on at any time).  Whenever you’re ready.  It is wonderful that we do not have to take turns – we don’t have to wait to be in touch!  At the heart of Advent is ACTIVE waiting.  Even when we don’t know that we are waiting, or what we are waiting for, we’re waiting.  Even when we can’t find words for what we are waiting for, we’re waiting.

We’ve been waiting for so long, actually for most of our lives, that the darkness may feel like 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 ways made smooth.  As the familiar banner asks: If not now, when?

There is a TV reality show on restaurant revival that is introduced with a premise that sounds like a good Advent theme.  “Turning around a failing restaurant or diner is a daunting challenge under the best of circumstances.  Attempting to do so …  may be impossible.  But we’re ready to take on the challenge.  Can it be done?”

From outdated décor to trendy 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, creative interior decorators and an excited team of mostly volunteers.  The most important ingredient to the success of the project depends on the employees.  When the TV crew arrives, the expectation is that the local staff will be ready with their litany of what is going well and what they’d like to see changed.  They are looking for help to determine, and then implement the next best steps to be taken.

There is no pretense each week to portray the chef as a Christ figure, but one may see an analogy between our Advent Scriptures and the theme of this human example of this dramatic overhaul driven by someone who knows what they’re doing.  The overhaul of the run-down and failing restaurant, and our personal overhaul, is only possible if we’ll allow our goals and projects to be placed under wise management.  For us that’s Jesus, the One who’s coming to town in our Advent scriptures.

The Gospels that we’ll hear throughout the Advent season make frequent two-fold references to the already and the not yet.  This Sunday, Jesus berates the crowd for knowing how to interpret the signs in nature, but not the present time, the already.  This is where we, too, may fall short.  Often, even before one’s feet hit the floor, we tune in (or ask Alexia) for the day’s weather conditions, adjust the AC or heater and dress accordingly.  At the threat of a hurricane, we gather in supplies and hunker down.  We see the waxing moon and wait patiently for the night of the full moon.  This kind of waiting requires a common sense alertness to natural signs.  But the kind of waiting Jesus is talking about requires a deeper discernment and alertness to the signs of His appearance – the signs of the times, our times.

Advent offers us a new opportunity to awaken to the signs of the times.  In the words of John the Baptist, we hear the voice of Isaiah warning us to be alert for “the voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord.”  The last Gospel we heard as the liturgical year ended (this morning) and the first Gospel for the new liturgical year impress upon us the same warning: Be vigilant! Pray always! Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy!

One of the ancient Advent prayers offers us sentiments that Benedict echoes in the Rule: “Give us grace that we may cast off the works of darkness and put upon us the armor of light.”  Many Advent hymns express this same theme.  For example (the hymn we sang on Friday) – “Wise and foolish, still we wait.  Is the bridegroom at the gate?  Clear the shadows from our sight, fill our eyes with radiant light.  Come, Lord Jesus, come!” 

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

First Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16                   Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2
Gospel Reading: Luke 21:25-28,34-36
Continue Reading