Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

Benedict

Do You Think You’re Really What They Say You Are?

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At the outset let it be understood that what follows may appear to be fiction, it is not.  More than one of the evangelists spent an afternoon sharing between themselves as I listened in.

This is some of what I gleaned.  One day, when the man of God Benedict was doing Lectio and pondering how to incorporate his set of values into his manuscript directed to his followers, the evangelists Luke and Matthew entered the reverie.  What an inspiration!  The exchange continued for quite a for a spell.  Look Ben, (one of the speakers said) “you’ve consulted the writings of the one you call the Master.  May I suggest you look at what’s recorded in our sayings of THE Master.   Sure enough!  Very many of our special Benedictine values are put forth by THE Master, Jesus.

+ A SPIRIT of POVERTY: take nothing with you (is how Jesus puts it) No money bags, no suitcase, no canvas bag or pretty tote and no sandals.  Or as you say it in your Rule: “No one may presume to give, receive or retrain anything as her own, nothing at all, in short not a single item … no one shall presume ownership of anything.“

+ A SENSE of STABILITY: Jesus advises his followers: Into whatever house you enter, stay in the same house; don’t be moving from one house to another.   Benedict, you describe the first kind of monastics called cenobites.  From what you say, I sense this may be your preferred type of members.  “Those who belong to a particular monastery, where they serve under the rule of a superior.”

+ Further, Benedict, you expect these cenobites to follow Jesus’ way of life, personally and communally, practicing a SPIRIT of SIMPLICITY and ACCEPTANCE of WHATEVER IS AVAILABLES:  In your words:  Eating and drinking whatever is offered to you; whatever is set before you.

You have an obvious understanding of human nature, Benedict. Could we attribute that to your twin sister’s influence?  She took her turn as cook for her group of women whom she loved as ardently as you looked after the rough and tough gang of men that lived with you. It’s evident in your words: Taking turns serving one another, using an unvoiced system of gestures when anything is required.  And (yes, PLEASE God) it will save you a heap of trouble if you, designate a weekly reader to proclaim the Holy Word throughout the meal.

In studying your Rule, Benedict, it seems to go without saying that there will likely be no harmony in the group unless the members each and all strive to AVOID EVIL and CLING to PEACE.   The evangelists remind readers: Remember what Jesus said: “If peace is not present in the house where you find yourself, go out into the streets and shake the dust from your feet and leave that town.”  When you feel evil arising in you, get in touch with the cause – shame the devil – leave the occasion of sin.

Mark interjected a stray thought.  Consider, he suggested, what ultimately did not happen in Nazareth: no healings, no mighty deeds.  Is it much of a surprise?  After all a miracle is not just an event, but it is an interpreted event. If Jesus is not reputed to be capable of healing, any healing that does take place won’t be attributed to him. So, the crowd’s attitude is “there’s nothing here to see. Let’s just move along, move along… and find some other excitement.”

Such is true with us, with our community.  Our guests won’t experience peace and harmony, generosity of spirit and light-heartedness, beauty in nature and in liturgy if they can’t witness those qualities in each of us.  They come expecting a miracle.  The miracles happen in our interactions, first with each other, then between us and our guests.

Remember Jesus’ question to this disciples, “Who do people say I am?  And, you: “Who do you say I am?”  Who do you say these Benedictine Sisters of FL are?

Do you recall the rock opera popular in the 1970’s: “Jesus Christ, Superstar”?   This line challenges us: “Do you think / you’re what / they say you are?”  Benedictine Sisters of Florida, do you think  / you’re what they say you are?  Are you really who you say you are?

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

Thursday, July 11, is the summer feast of St. Benedict.  The feast most folks know of is celebrated on March 21.  But that day usually falls during Lent when Alleluia is suppressed and music low key …  we, Benedictines “pull out all the stops” for the summer feast.  Whisper a pray for us at Holy Name as we continue to walk into an ever-evolving future.  God bless each of you!

 

 

 

Gospel:   Mark 6:1-6

 

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Third Sunday of Lent

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It is to US that Jesus Entrusts Himself

 

Today we have by far the most famous story of Jesus’ anger, yet none of the gospel writers mention the word anger in it. They said rather that Jesus was “consumed with zeal.”   Zeal sometimes wears the face of persistence.  This is akin to four-year Jude who, when his mother asked him what he wanted for breakfast, replied: “Soup.”  His mother explained: “Son, you know that we don’t eat soup for breakfast. We eat soup for lunch. So, what would you like for breakfast?”  “Lunch,” he replied. Now that is certainly enthusiasm in pursuit of an idea!

The author of the book “Angry Like Jesus” (2015) writes “When I began to study Jesus’ anger, I was struck by the observation that every time Scripture says Jesus was angry, he’s the only one who was. Conversely, every time others were angry, Jesus was not.”  Notice in today’s story that no one except Jesus was “consumed with zeal” when money changers overtook the temple.

What can we learn from this?  First, we have to understand that anger is an automatic response which tells us to take care of ourselves.  If we stuff our anger, and blow up later at someone who has no clue what set us off, who’d want to be friends with us?  I could find nowhere in Scripture or the Rule of Benedict where anyone says: “Don’t get angry.”  One of Benedict’s Tools of Good Works tells us: “Do not act in anger” and in the Prologue he cautions: “Keep your tongue free from vicious talk and your lips from all deceit; let peace be your quest and aim.”  Chapter 4 has this admonition which covers a multitude of situations: “Your way of acting should be different from the world’s way.”

To understand Jesus’ anger that day, we need to get a handle on how important motivation is.  It was not wrong for the merchandisers to sell animals and doves. Nor was it wrong to change money.  That was helpful to the people who came unprepared to the temple.

Notice that no one stopped Jesus when he used his whip of cords.  Notice, too, the Gospel writer did not say Jesus did bodily harm to anyone.  He overturned tables, He spilled money and swung the whip of cords so all in his path scattered.

Then, like a child who has witnessed the fury of a disappointed parent l look up calmly and ask: “So, Mom, are we still going to McDonald’s?”  The Jews overlooked Jesus angry display and asked: “What sign can you show us for doing this?”  Jesus, probably shaking his head in amazement, answered: “If you destroy this temple, which took 46 years to build, I will raise it up in three days.”  They’d remember this later when Jesus was raised from the dead.  They didn’t ask why Jesus cleansed the temple because they knew they were guilty of wrongdoing.

The Gospel tells us while Jesus was in Jerusalem for this Passover many began to believe in his name.  But still he did not trust Himself to them.  It is to us that He entrusts Himself, in Sacrament and Word.  Individually and as a faith community, we are the sanctuary where Jesus has chosen to reside.  When He enters the temple each day, will he find it oriented to the purpose for which God has created you and me?  Or will he find cause to do some cleansing and cleaning?  We pray: Jesus, cleanse us as your temple and restore us, and keep us true to the purpose for which you created us.

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

 

First Reading:   Exodus 20:1-17       Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 1:22-25
Gospel:   John 2:13-25
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If You Wish, You Can Make Me Clean

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We each have our own variant of leprosy, don’t we?  With some it’s visible on the outside; for others, it thrives on the inside.  Our faults: scaly or hidden are made obvious by our actions, our facial expressions, our tone of voice.  And, there are those who harbor their leprosy – deep in their feelings and heart – a gut ache or pain caused by stressed nerves.  Yes, we do this even when our leprosy is old and scarred and has been in our gunny sack for more years than we can count.  You know those kinds of wounds that we take out every once in a while to nurse and keep alive.  We rehash their story privately or in unrelated situations when some word or sound, or maybe a smell reignites the fuse.  We discover that there’s an ember that springs to flame that we didn’t even realize was there all along.  But Jesus has been watching it. He’s waiting for us to reach out and plead: “If you wish, you can make me clean.”

When we do, what is Jesus’ instruction?  “Go, show yourself to the priest.”  (Here he’s not talking about the Sacrament of Reconciliation.)  This is Jesus’ way of asking us to bring our faults into the light of day, to expose them so they can be zapped with the Divine Presence.  St. Benedict speaks of submission to the will of another, humility, confession of faults and public admission of mistakes.  He quotes the psalmist – as he often does – when he says: “I will report my faults to the Lord.” (PS 31).  Benedict encourages the members to admit their fault “of their own accord and make satisfaction.”  But, he’s not naïve – he knows there will be occasions when this doesn’t happen.  You know what he says: “Be subjected to a more severe correction.”  Now that may seem irrelevant to the story of Jesus and the man with leprosy.  But it seems pretty obvious (to me) that Jesus did not go looking for the man.  The man called out to Jesus: “If you wish, you can make me clean.”  Benedict, (what a wise man!) knew there’d be more sensitive souls in community, personalities who’d need more solicitous care, compassion and consideration.  To this one, Benedict advises: “reveal (this hidden fault) “only to a spiritual guide who knows how to heal her own wounds as well as those of others”, (and equally important) “without exposing them and making them public.”

We don’t know how long this man with the leprosy had been following Jesus.  How many miracles had he witnessed before he felt compelled to step forward and the words escaped his lips: “If you wish, you can make me clean?”  Had he seen Jesus’ interaction with the woman caught in adultery or heard the story of the good Samaritan or good Shepherd?  Was it desperation that made him cry out: “If you wish, you can make me clean”?  Was he burdened with feelings of guilt for having leprosy and causing the estrangement of his family and friends since he was bound by law to “make his abode outside the camp.”? (Leviticus1:46) Did the rest of crowd step back when he moved forward to be heard?  This was a “gutsy” young man!  He was stepping into the light, drawing attention to himself and his leprosy.  He was admitting publicly that he was not clean.  He risked being shunned AGAIN!  But faith won out: “If YOU wish, YOU can make ME clean.”

As we enter the Lenten season (this week) we pray: “Jesus, if you choose, you can make me clean.”  I do want to be clean; I am ready to be made whole. Don’t look only at the faults I am aware of.  I trust that you can make the whole of me clean in your eyes.  It doesn’t matter whether or not we raise our voice to be heard above the crowd: “If you wish, you can make me clean.” It may be, that someone pushes us forward, “Now’s a good time; ask him now – He can do it!”  Do you believe in intercessory prayer?  Do the General Intercessions make any difference in the lives of those we name?   “I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation. … for, a great prophet has arisen in our midst: God has visited his people.”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

   Ash Wednesday, February 14, Mass and distribution of Ashes at 7:30 a.m.

   May you enjoy a happy Mardi Gras on Feb. 13 … and an unusual Valentine’s Day gift of the opening of Lent: a love feast extraordinaire as God opens his arms to work with you on keeping of resolutions that will shape a new you this per-Easter season.

   Celebrate with us on February 28th the anniversary of 135 years since the day the Benedictine Sisters arrived in FL from PA.  God bless all who have touched our lives with their prayers and gifts of time, talent and financial support. 

 Prayers on Sunday when we had our monthly Recollection Day … a quiet day of prayer, Holy Hour and Evening Prayer.  God bless you each and all with good health, much happiness and abundant peace!

 

First Reading:   Leviticus 13:1-2,44-46         Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 30:31-11:1
Gospel:   Mark 1:40-45
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Because you were faithful in small matters…

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Because you were faithful in small matters…

come, share your Master’s joy.

Like the Master in this Gospel, St. Benedict teaches us “journey lessons.”  We sense a journey motif from the opening words of Benedict’s Rule when he bids us: “Listen! The labor of obedience will bring you back (“coming back” requires a journey, doesn’t it?)  “Let us get up then (he says) at long last, for the Scriptures rouse us when they say: “It is high time for us to arise from sleep… (come from the land of your dreams) …run while you have the light… go out to seek workers in the multitude of the people …”.  Listen to Benedict: “moving on in your journey of faith, (and life in the monastery) “You will say, ‘Here I am Lord’.”   Then he tells us how to prepare for our journey: “Clothed with faith and the performance of good works, let us set out on this way, with the Gospel for our guide…. Be just in all your dealings, speak the truth from the heart and do not practice deceit or listen to slander.”

By the time Benedict wrote Chapter 67 one can tell he’s had some experience with monks who journeyed far from the home monastery.  We know that Benedict, in his youth, had escaped “big city life.”  So, he wanted to protect his monks from the evils and temptations of the prevailing society.  Those at home are to remember the absent ones in prayer for their confrere’s safety and protection from temptation.

I have to smile when I read what Benedict cautions next.  He certainly knew human nature: “No one should presume to relate what was seen or heard outside the monastery.”  Benedict didn’t want stories of the world to creep in and cause dissension or dissatisfaction to rankle or upset his community.  We need to be on guard that we balance charitable interest in each other versus the drive to know every intimate detail about what was seen or heard on the other’s journey.

Benedict is solicitous of his monks sent on a journey that they appear neither embarrassingly shabby nor be clad in “rich folks” clothing.  He charges the superior with checking that hemlines are a decent length and the members’ clothing be suited to the weather.   And, it’s obvious that times were different when Benedict walked the earth.  He makes provision that the members be LOANED underwear from the wardrobe that is to be laundered and returned after the trip.

In line with his admonition to pray always, Benedict reminds his monks when they are on a journey to keep an eye on the sun and listen for the bells from neighboring abbeys announcing prayer times. Benedict reminds them though at a distance too far to join the community, they should “observe the prescribed hours” as best they can.  Thus, probably began the custom of the Angelus.

The Rule closes with this journey-question: “Are you hastening toward your heavenly home?  Then keep this little rule … as you set out for loftier summits of the teaching and virtues we’ve mentioned.”  Benedict, in his own unique way, shares Paul’s message to the Philippians: “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”   Benedict adds this promise: “Under God’s protection” (together) we will reach our heavenly home.”  That’s the same promise Jesus makes to his trustworthy followers: Because “You were faithful in small matters … come, share your Master’s joy.”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

Have a pleasant Thanksgiving… give thanks for all that has been and open your heart to all that will be…give another a reason to rejoice on this day.

 

First Reading:   Proverbs 31         Second Reading:  1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
Gospel:   Matthew 25:14-30
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It isn’t over, til it’s over!

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The dynamic in this Gospel is an ages-old story.  It happens in families, between friends, in the work force and in monastic community.  The situation Jesus poses is rather straight-forward.  Two sons are given the same task by their father: one asserts his objection, right up-front but in the end obeys his father’s wish.  The second son signifies obedience in his words but his actions betray his words.

The question that Jesus poses is direct: Which son did what the father wanted?  Jesus could ask us the same question.  Do our words reflect our obedience to God?  God desires a full conversion of heart –  that our actions (and our words as well) will give evidence of our love for God.  The older brother had no intention of working and had the honesty to say so.  He was in the wrong, but he was honest.  The younger brother was the opposite.  He said the expedient thing knowing what his father wanted to hear but he had no integrity.

For Benedict obedience is central.  As postulants when we officially knocked on the door and asked to be received as a candidate we were greeted with the question: “What do you seek?”  We declared that we’d come to the monastery to hear and seek God.  To do that you have to be willing to listen and then obey God’s voice as heard in personal prayer, in the voice of the superior and in interactions with each other.  Benedict asks that our obedience be open, honest, prompt and positive, (even if it is painful) and given without murmuring.

We would do well to recall both this gospel story, and Benedict’s words about obeying with alacrity, when we are asked to do a favor for one of our sisters or a co-worker.  We know that for Benedict, murmuring was an abomination, anathema, a curse in community and any sign of grumbling was to be censured.

In one of her first commentaries on the Rule, Joan Chittister suggests: Say to the member who signs up for a task but then complains, “Please don’t sign up.  Kindly give the community the gift of not murmuring about it.  The rest of the community will get the work done.  Please just stay home and keep a smile on your face.  Don’t do the work and then poison the environment of the house with murmuring.”

Oh, you may think: it’s easy for you to talk about obedience.  You’re the prioress, who do you have to obey?  Bear in mind that the leader, any leader, may have some authority with her position, but the power lies in the hands and will of the membership.  Obedience in monastic life is mutual.  It springs from the bloom of mutual respect.  Without both, there is no community.  There is just a group of women living under the same roof.  Thankfully for all of us, in life, growth is always possible.  It’s not how we start that matters, it’s how we finish!  “It isn’t over, til it’s over!”

 

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

Have a pleasant week!  Happy feast of your Guardian Angel and the Feast of the Holy Rosary!

 

 

 

Readings: Ezekiel 18:25-28    Philippians 2:1-Be like
Gospel:   Matthew 21:28-32
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Go Into My Vineyard

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“Go into my vineyard and I will give you what is just.”

 

It strikes me that this Gospel must be a source of reassurance to those that some describe as “late-in-life or delayed vocations”.    When the 5 o’clock whistle blew the persons in the parable figured they’d been overlooked AGAIN.  “I don’t I look strong enough?  What will I say to my wife and children?”  The parable describes these hopefuls as “standing around.” But if you have ever seen day-laborers gathered, hopefully waiting for a grove owner’s bus, you’ve seen people weary and discouraged before the day begins.   They sit on a bench or crouched on their haunches.  Some perk up when the bus pulls in. Hope rises, then falls, as the boss chooses a handful of workers for that day.  Experience warns the overlooked once again that there’s no room for them on the bus.

But they don’t completely give up. They live in hope.  They wait well into the day.  Until 5 o’clock, the parable says.  Staring into space, once again picturing their children with hunger in their eyes.  But wait!  Maybe (just maybe) they could pick up a few hours work before dark.  Their ears pricked up when they hear the voice of the landowner, the Master, speaking to them: “Why are you still here?  You, too, go into my vineyard.”  They labor until the whistle blows marking the end of the day in the fields.

Those who came late have worked only a small ratio of the day compared to those who were on the first bus. What a surprise when they discreetly peeked into their pay envelopes.  They’d been thinking, “This owner’s usually generous.  Wonder how much I got? Will it put supper on the table?  Whoa!  Look again.  It’s not possible that’s a full day’s wages.”   But it is!

The whole Gospel story harkens back to a line in the First Reading from the Prophet Isaiah: (God speaks) “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways.  The Master continues emphasizing how far apart God’s thoughts are from ours. “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts.”  With that consideration in mind, (that God’s thoughts are a far cry from our earth-bound thoughts) make the jump to the last line in the Gospel parable: “Am I not free to do as I wish with my own riches?  Are you envious because I am generous?”  Has God ever had to asked you that question: Are you envious because I am generous?

We shouldn’t be found sitting idly on the bench we call life.  Or worse, grumbling over “poor me”.  Nor can we stand around idle waiting to be hired.  The Rule of Benedict offers us a good personal check list:

Benedict exhorts us: Honor all persons with respect.   Accommodate a diversity of personality styles.  Do not hold your Sisters hostage with any form of tyranny or tardiness nor weigh down the group with grumbling.  No favoritism will be awarded due to rank or status, between rich and poor.  Any favoritism should be afforded to the weak and the sick.  Follow what you consider better for others.   Respect all equally!

In regard to respect for individual pathways to holiness, Benedict says in RB 73: there is always more you can do. Those who can do more, should do so.  “As observant and obedient monk, we blush for shame at being so slothful, so unobservant, so negligent.  Are you hastening toward your heavenly home?   Then, with Christ’s help, keep this little rule.  After that, you can set out for the loftier summits of teaching and the virtues, and under God’s protection you will reach them.”

Can you hear the landowner asking you: “Why are you standing here idle all day?  Go into my vineyard and I will give you what is just.”

 

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

Welcome to Fall 2023…  cooler weather and

beautiful change of season

 

 

 

 

Readings:  Isaiah 55:6-9    Philippians 1:20-24, 27a
Gospel:   Matthew 20:1-16a

 

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