Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

Advent

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

EVERY ENDING HOLDS THE SEED of a NEW BEGINNING

by Leave a Comment

The readings this weekend, and for the past few weeks are about endings.  But we know that every ending signals a new beginning.  Every “good night” holds the promise of a “good morning!”  The sunset kisses the earth good-bye for a brief moment in time and surprises us with its rising on what seems to be the other side of the earth.  Every death is s hand-off to new life.  St. Augustine echoes this concept when he calls to God: “O Beauty, so ancient, so new.”  Every “good-bye” uncovers a “hello,” every ending a step to a new adventure.  When does the “NEW” become “NOW”?  When does “tomorrow” turn to “today”?  And do we let go of yesterday?  Where does it go?  The character Tevya in Fiddler on the Roof sings about this phenomena, “Sunrise, sunset, Swiftly flow the days.  Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers, blossoming even as we gaze.  Sunrise, sunset, swiftly fly the years, one season following another.”

Have your experiences proven this concept to be true?  When we watch the “news” do we know what is accurate reporting and what is fake news, or what some refer to as “an alternate truth”?  In the gospel it is refreshing to hear Jesus testify to the truth.  In the verbal exchange between Jesus and Pilate, Jesus reveals, “For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.  Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

In John’s Gospel, Pilate asks – “What is truth?”  Jesus answers – “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  A few evenings ago I was half-watching TV when out of my distraction I heard “So, what is truth?”  I’d started this reflection earlier in the day so the question seemed like part of another reality.  A World War II veteran was sharing that upon retirement from active service, he’s been “down in the dumps” experiencing a lack of appreciation for his years in service for our country in defense of freedom and truth.  Then he’d recalled Jesus words, “The truth shall make you free.”  He had turned his bitterness into working with youth when he came to the realization that “The truth that makes you free, is the truth that stirs you to action.”

Isn’t this exactly what Jesus’ life and teachings call us to?  This weekend we observe the feast of Christ, the King.  The feast was instituted in 1925 and was raised to a solemnity 2015.  At that time Pope Francis added to the title of the day – “the living face of the Father’s mercy.”  We are celebrating a ruler who, in mercy, was willing to die for us, for all humanity, to give us true freedom.  Jesus radically redefined the concept of kingship in contrast to the oppression so prevalent in His day.  He’d exchanged the trappings of a king for a place among the poorest of the poor.  In place of a red carpet he’d had a rude stable floor strewn with hay.  Later in his life, it was palm branches that lined the way beneath a donkey’s feet.  His crown, not one of gems, but a crown of thorns.  His mode of transportation usually on foot.  Of his home, Jesus said “Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

But why read a scene from the passion today?  How does that help us understand what Jesus’ kingship means?  We always feel some vagueness in calling Jesus “king” partly due to the changing attitudes toward kings throughout history.  We ponder – how can He be, at the same time, both Suffering Servant and king?  It’s a strange question that Jesus turns on Pilate.  “Do you ask this (are you a king) on your own or have others told you about me?”  It pushes us to question ourselves – Is Jesus my King?  Do I know Him on my own?  Does it spring from my own experiences?  Or is my relationship with Jesus based on borrowed thoughts from books I’ve read?  The sermons I’ve heard?  Do I sing with conviction the sentiments of the kingly hymns that spring to mind: “Come, Christians, Join to Sing; Rejoice, the Lord Is King, When Morning Gilds the Skies, All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name.  Hail, Redeemer, King Divine, The King of Glory.  At the Lord’s Feast we sing, praise to our victorious King.”  And, we must not overlook the triumphant echoing of a favorite Christmas carol – “Joy to the World!”

On this last Sunday in the church year, we hear from the Book of Revelation (Sunday’s second reading) – “Behold, he is coming and everyone will see him; the Alpha and the Omega, the one who is and who was and who is to come.”  By the end of this week we will be jump-started into the Season of Advent …  another experience of an “ending” that is a “beginning” – a time of waiting for the One who will come.

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

Have a good week and a splendid Thanksgiving

  Stay safe – be healthy – know peace

 

First Reading:  Daniel 7:13-14        Second Reading:  Revelation 1:5-8
Gospel:  John 18:33-37
Continue Reading

Rejoice! The God of Peace is at Work among Us!

by Leave a Comment

 

I don’t mean to slight or undervalue the testimony of John the Baptist that was just read (in John’s Gospel).  After all, he’s “The voice of one crying out in the desert.”  He was the star of the show last week with his cry: “Make ready the way of the Lord!”  This week let’s turn our attention to the admonitions of St. Paul – in our second reading – in his Letter to the people of Thessalonica about how to prepare the way of the Lord.  Paul says: “Rejoice always.  Pray without ceasing!  In all circumstances!”  IMPOSSIBLE!   You say.  Always?  Without ceasing?  In all circumstances?  Who can possibly do that in today’s world with all the violence, discord, illness and death?  But Paul has an answer for us.  “THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD.  DO NOT QUENCH THE SPIRIT.  Test everything; retain what is good.  Refrain from every kind of evil…..  the One who calls you is faithful, and will accomplish it.”

With his solicitous instructions, Paul sounds like “helicopter parents” as they drop their children at a new neighbor’s: “Remember what I’ve told you: Always be respectful. Listen closely.  Put away the toys you play with.  And, if you forget everything else, remember: ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ go a long way.  Call me if you need anything.”  Most times the kids know the spiel by heart, “Okay, Okay!  See yah Mom.”  Many of us may have memorized Paul’s exhortations.  Maybe our ears will perk up this round when we hear tomorrow’s reading proclaimed.

You may be surprised, if you consciously look for good, at all the positive things, all the surprises that God sends you each day – making Paul’s words ring true when he says: “The one who is faithful, will accomplish it.” In the 1950s the number one book on the New York best sellers list was Norman Vincent Peale’s: The Power of Positive Thinking – for 48 weeks – that’s almost a full year.

Peale said he wrote the book “with the sole objective of helping the reader achieve a happy, satisfying, and worthwhile life.”  His techniques were simple and, the best part, if you are serious about it, they were achievable.  For example:

  • Believe in yourself and in everything you do
  • Break the worry habit and achieve a relaxed life
  • Improve your personal relationships
  • Be kind to yourself

Bet you’re thinking, that sounds like advice of someone I know?  Like maybe John the Baptist, the Proverbs, my mother or grandmother… and certainly Jesus!

Perhaps one of the most reassuring statements in history is “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”  I have not examined my Bible to prove it, but “Siri” tells me that the phrase “Do not be afraid” can be found 365 times in the Old and New Testament.”  Think about it: that’s one time per day, for a full year that the expression is recorded in Scripture.  Goodness only knows how many times in the short span of our own lives someone has said words meaning: “I’ll be with you; you don’t need to be afraid.”

Simple reminders like those given to a child before a first piano recital, or acting in play, or the first day at a new school.  Or right here in this house, assurances to the first-time table reader, or Lector, or cantor.  Sometimes the advice is silly, at other times, simplistic.  But, if we let it soak in, it works.  “Keep your eyes on me, I’ll be the one smiling.”  Sometimes it’s hard to believe …  like the person who says: “This dog doesn’t bite – I’ll hold him.  “Don’t be afraid!”  This one is from a movie but could have been heard in our back yard.  Julia Roberts and Richard Gere are pushing their way through a tall grass short-cut.  She says: “Watch out for snakes.”  He: “I don’t like snakes.”  She: “Then walk nice; snakes won’t get you.”

Now – here it is the 3rd week in Advent – rose candles and vestments to remind us: “Be joyful!”  The church offers us once again for our consideration – Paul’s admonitions as we await the celebration of Jesus’ birth and His final coming.  Paul is insistent that Christ will come again!  Pandemics, death, pain, suffering, turmoil, sadness do not get the last word.  We await a Savior who has conquered Death.  This period of waiting, though, is not a time to twiddle our thumbs.  The words, the phrasing that Paul uses are all active verbs (nothing passive about it).  Rejoice!  Pray!  Give thanks!  Test EVERYTHING.  Retain!  Refrain!  Model what is good and peaceful!  Allow God’s Spirit to shine in your midst.”  And why?  Because: “The God of peace is really at work among us.”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

First Reading: Isaiah 61:1-2a,10-11             Second Reading  1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Gospel John 1:6-8, 19-28

 

Continue Reading