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Child

Receive the kingdom of God like a little child

October 7, 2024 by Holy Name Monastery Leave a Comment

Isn’t it a shame that pastors have the option of omitting the last portion of this Gospel  – the part about the children.  I hope they don’t exercise that option especially after Pope Francis’ many displays of affection and regard for children.

In this Gospel the people were bringing their children to Jesus, much like they do today to Pope Francis.  It is the children (urged on by their parents) who can manage to break through security the lines, past the preoccupied patrols and approach Pope Francis.  But the disciples just don’t get it.  Jesus has summed up the lesson pointing out the value and importance of these “little ones” in the Kingdom of God. Jesus offers the children as an example of the kind of complete trust and dependence upon God that ought to be the attitude of all believers.

There is a subtle pressure in church and society to remain a dependent child.   Who is it (in life) that truly challenges you to liberate yourselves from immature dependencies to acceptance of the burdens of a responsible adults?

How can we heed Jesus’ injunction to accept the kingdom of God like a child?  Or risk never entering it?  What does it mean to be childlike, and not childish?  What qualities is Jesus asking us to hang on to in order to enter the kingdom not only beyond the “pearly gates” but right here on earth, in our community, where God’s kingdom exists?

A few qualities I think he might encourage would be:

  • Live Spontaneously – taking in every moment and the opportunities in unplanned instants.
  • How about never letting a lack of qualifications deter you –If you’ve never done something before, be fearless like a child who pulls out a kitchen drawer to scramble up to the cabinet to get the peanut butter.  Isn’t this how Olympic gymnasts start?
  • Kids Know Exercise Can Be Fun –It’s just a matter of finding an active, healthy activity we actually enjoy doing.
  • Keep an Open Mind –  Keep a childlike wide open mind and you’ll learn something new every day – maybe more than one thing.  Don’t let force of habit slow you down.   Ask questions: you’ll never get an answer if you never ask.  So, she might say NO – but did you give her a chance to say YES?
  • Express your feelings – nurture and value relationships – Open, honest, direct face-to-face expression of feelings makes communication easier, maintains sincerity and integrity in your life.  Children like nothing better than to “hang out” with their friends.  Do you look forward to unstructured time with community members – your “sisters?”
  • Use Your Imagination –  Robert Kennedy got credit, but Walt Disney said it first::  If you can dream it, you can do it!  If you have a creative idea, share it.  If it’s faster, smarter or better and see what happens.  You’ll never know unless you try.
  • Learn by Imitation – have you ever seen a little boy walking behind this father, trying determinately to imitate his father’ stride?  Or the little girl “clack-clacking” in her Mom’s high heel shoes.  St. Benedict was a firm believer in the axiom: “fake it til you make it.”  Live monastic traits until they become part of you.
  • Play  – Sometimes it’s healthy to fool around and engage in recreation for the sole purpose of having fun.

Paul in his letter to the Corinthians says: When I was a child I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became an adult, I put away with childish things.  Jesus will applaud you saying: Yes, put away child-ish ways but hang on to the delightful child-like traits that are the keys to the kingdom.

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

 

 

 

First Reading:   Genesis 2:18-24         Second Reading:  Hebrews 2:9-11
Gospel:   Mark 10:2-16
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Filed Under: Blog, Front Page, Homily Tagged With: Child, children, God, Jesus, Kingdom of God, Pope Francis

Be Perfect

February 20, 2023 by Holy Name Monastery Leave a Comment

That last line is quite a challenge, isn’t it??  “Be perfect.”

In his book: Be A Perfect Person, Stephen Manes writes:
Congratulations!  You’re not perfect!  It’s ridiculous to want to be perfect anyway.  But then, everybody’s ridiculous sometimes, except perfect people.  You know what perfect is?  Perfect is not eating or drinking or talking or moving a muscle or making even the teensiest mistake.  Perfect is never doing anything wrong – which means never doing anything at all.  Perfect is boring!  So, you’re not perfect!  Wonderful!  Have fun! … You can drink pickle juice and imitate gorillas and do silly dances and sing stupid songs and wear funny hats and be as imperfect as you please and still be a good person.  Good people are hard to find nowadays.  And they’re a lot more fun than perfect people any day of the week.

So, if we believe Manes’ assertion that we can never be perfect, and perhaps we should not even try to be, what do we do with this difficult word from Jesus?  It’s helpful to learn that the word most often translated as “perfect” actually comes from the Greek word telos, which means goal, end, or purpose.  Jesus is not urging us to be what most people think of as “perfect,” but rather to be more like what God intends for us to be.  You are a child of God, made in God’s image.  Now live like it!

Now, that may not make things any easier, but it does help put the challenge into a more useful context.  The only way we can possibly live as Jesus is asking – repaying evil with good, forgiving and praying for those who harm us, walking the extra mile – is by living into our God-given identity as beloved children.  You know you can’t give what you don’t know; what you’ve never experienced.  Only those who have known God’s love can possibly hope to share it with others.  Jesus isn’t asking us, like some demanding parents, to make all “A’s,” get lots of trophies, be named “member of the year.”  Jesus is nudging us to live the God-given identity you received at baptism: You are a child of God!

It is Jesus who gave us the greatest example – He was the perfect model – he talked the talk and walked the walk.  Is it easy to follow His example?  Certainly not.  We struggle to overcome past disappointments, to overcome old grudges, deep-seated prejudices, smoldering resentments.  It’s our greatest challenge … not to be perfect, but to be mindful of what is getting in our way and preventing us from being the people God wants us to be.  So I ask …What is blocking you?  What fears or memories or resentments keep you from being the person God wants you to be?

What is it that keeps us from living into our identity as a child of God?  Lent is the time to remove the impediments so that you can truly embrace our God-given identity as citizens of the Heavenly Kingdom.

Recall the lines credited to Saint Teresa of Calcutta:

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you.

Be honest and sincere anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.

Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.

Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it was never between you and them anyway; it is between you and God.

 

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

Lent is coming …  may you have good, prayerful, spiritual experience … 

 

 

First Reading:   Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18         Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 3:16-23
Gospel:   Matthew 5:38-48

 

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Filed Under: Blog, Front Page, Homily Tagged With: Calcutta, Child, child of God, Lent, perfect, Saint Teresa, You mare a child of God

What Were You Arguing About on the Way?

September 20, 2021 by Holy Name Monastery Leave a Comment

Jesus and his disciples have entered a private home where they’re welcomed by their hostess.  They’re settled comfortably on cushions on the floor.  All is quiet until Jesus asks: “What were you talking about out there on the road?”  He knew exactly what they were discussing: who’s next in the line of succession?  They are like children who don’t want to tell their parents what they’ve been talking about.  Jesus doesn’t push for an answer.  He won’t humiliate or embarrass them.  Instead, He beckons forward a child.  Why a child?  Well, a child can’t make you more important in the eyes of the world.  However, a child can teach you much about ministry!

The disciples probably recalled the incident when they started to shoo the children away.  Jesus had chided them saying: “Let the children come to me.”  I suspect Jesus is so comfortable with children because of their innocence, uncluttered faith, and their often startling way of exposing the bold truth; saying it just like it is.  Jesus sees the inherent worth and value in everyone and, therefore, welcomes children just as they are.  It is not a detached encounter that Jesus has with the child.  He makes the child an active participant in his lesson.  He took the child, he placed the child among them, and he put his arms around the child.  In fact, this child, whom society deemed as lacking in worth, was of so much value to Jesus that he moved the child from the margins to the center.  Living on the margins, children can be forgotten, ignored and left to figure out the mysteries of life on their own.  You’ve heard the quote “it takes a village to raise a child.”  It’s true – it is in the center of life that children can receive the love, support, and encouragement they need to thrive and grow to become productive, good-hearted, trustworthy, faithful citizens.

Children growing up today in our country are in precarious, fragile, and dangerous places.  They have music, popular culture, technology, violence and sexuality sown into the fabric of their lives in ways that to date are unparalleled.  There is perpetual, uncontrolled text messaging and exposure to other social media, Nintendo, Wiis, X-boxes, CDs and peer pressure to participate in dangerous activity.  Today, maybe more than ever, children are abused, snatched, neglected (or the opposite over-protected by “helicopter” parents) or labeled with an alphabet of disorders (ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia) and hastily placed on medication without proper diagnosis.

There are latch-key kids, under-fed, lonely, ignored children and many are victims of inadequate health care.  Now, more than ever, vulnerable children need to be embraced by the church just as Jesus embraced children.  If the church leaves out children, it is leaving out a face of God.  If policy-makers leave out children, they place their own future in jeopardy – forgetting who it is that is going to be caring (or not) for them in their sunset years.

Jesus is talking about welcoming the one who is beyond the circle, one who needs a welcome.  So, here’s the question Jesus is asking us: Who are the people without power or status in our society?  Do we serve them willingly?  At the deepest level, Jesus’ idea of service reminds us that none of this is about us!  It’s not about our ego.  It’s not about how much we give, how much we work, how many hours we minister, whose ministry is more important.  Service is about absorbing the sufferings of our world by sharing our life – our time, our resources and our gifts.  It’s building-up the other so that she or he in turn is enabled to be Christ to others.

Jesus asked his disciples: “What were you arguing about on the road?”  Every time we travel with Jesus we are “on the road.”  Because Jesus himself is the Road: he is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  We are being asked what we are doing while on the Way.  The disciples refused to answer and kept silent.  Will you be a silent one?  Or will you speak out on behalf of the needy ones?  The ones Benedict is referring to in RB 72, when he advises: “Anticipate one another in honor, not following what you consider useful for yourself, but rather what benefits the other.”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

First Reading:   Wisdom 2:12,17-20            Second Reading:  James 3:16—4:3
Gospel:   Mark 9:30-37
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Filed Under: Blog, Front Page, Homily Tagged With: Child, children, disciples, future, Jesus, kids, ministry, parents, What were you arguing about on the way?

That’s What Were Supposed To Do

September 25, 2018 by Holy Name Monastery Leave a Comment

Jesus teaches his disciples that the greatest are those who serve all.

Today the disciples are uncharacteristically silent, afraid and ashamed, seemingly unaware that Jesus had overheard their arguing.  A small child, like an eager puppy, has managed to squirm his way through the crowd and is waiting for Jesus to notice him.  Jesus lifts him up and the child settles comfortably onto his lap.  The child unknowingly becomes the lesson.

Now, don’t fail to understand the significance of this action.  You see, in first-century Palestine, children were without status or power, possessing no legal rights whatsoever.  They were totally subject to the authority of others.  Most often, when children are mentioned in the Scripture, they’re lumped together with the others considered lowest on the food chain: women, cattle and foreigners.

Using the child as an example, Jesus is teaching us that when we serve the least ones among us, we serve Jesus himself.  Who are the people today without power or status in our society that Jesus is calling us to serve?  Do we do so willingly?  Does our hospitality extend to the people Jesus would choose?  This is the criteria upon which we will be judged.

Jesus says: “See, the greatest people in the kingdom of God are not the rich and powerful.  They are the weak and powerless; not the ones with the most servants, but the ones who serve others the most.  The “greatest” are the servants of others … wash the dishes, do the laundry, sweep the floor, pull the weeds, visit the sick, sign up to read, take non-drivers shopping – you know the list … it goes on and on filled with everyday tasks that help make community life run smoothly.

What is the one human quality that was underlying the argument among the disciples?  The quality that drives us to success while causing all sorts of problems at the same time?  Ambition.  Ambition is one of the driving forces in our lives.  It propels us to excel in our jobs.  It pushes us to reach our goals.  It can give us a reason for living.  Ambition is one of the tools that the world uses to measure success.  But, it is only one tool.

If we measure success the way the world does, we will overlook some ordinary people who did extraordinary things.  They probably did not realize what a role they played in the “Greatest Story Ever Told” until perhaps they looked back on history form God’s heavenly perspective.

Just to name a few, let’s look at a some of the Scriptural figures we know – what do we remember them for?  Noah built; Abraham moved; Moses led; Josiah restored; David conquered; Nehemiah repaired; Ruth stayed; Jeremiah preached; Mary said “yes”; Joseph accepted; the poor widow gave; the Apostles went; the early church persevered.

An everyday example presented itself recently in a back-page news story about a couple of school children.  One had gotten into some minor trouble and was going to have to walk a few laps instead of playing at recess.  She wasn’t taking the news very well.  Another student, a by-stander who wasn’t even a close friend stepped up quietly to offer encouragement.  She whispered to her peer that she wouldn’t have to walk alone; she’d walk with her to cheer her on.  When the teacher remarked what a wonderful thing she had done, the student shrugged and replied, “It’s no big deal.  It’s what we’re supposed to do.”

Can you image our world if everyone had the same attitude?  It’s those kinds of thinkers who are changing the world.  Those who forgive, love, go the extra mile, and live righteously, not out of a sense of obligation, not to be seen and applauded by others, but simply because “that’s what we’re supposed to do.”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress
First Reading  Wisdom 2:12,17-20               Second Reading  James 3:16—4:3
Gospel  Mark 9:30-37
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Filed Under: Blog, Front Page, Homily Tagged With: Child, disciples, God, Jesus, Scripture, teaching, what we're supposed to do

Words can also have an equally powerful ability to bring about healing and reconciliation… something we all need to keep in mind.

August 21, 2017 by Holy Name Monastery Leave a Comment

Today we are with Jesus when he meets a distraught woman with a special needs child.  Maybe you have seen her, too, at the local Publix or Walmart or you might remember the parent of a child in your school, or a child-relative in your family or you’ve seen her trying to shop at Daystar.  This is a mixed breed woman; a foreigner.  Her family has disowned her.  And when she told her boyfriend she was pregnant he fled.

Somehow this courageous woman has survived as a single mother. But, when her daughter began having seizures, gossipy opinions surface: “She deserves what she gets. See what happens when you make the kind of decisions she’s made.”  On top of that she is a woman in a society in which women have no real value or standing.  To make matters worse she’s a screamer with a crazy kid.  Now, she is out of options.

But, she’s heard that a Jewish miracle-worker is passing through the area.  He’s reported to have authority over demons.  She’s tried appealing to all the pagan gods of her culture, but none answered her plea.  Maybe, just maybe, this Jesus is the answer to her prayers.

The woman approaches Jesus, requesting that he heal her demon-possessed daughter.  At first Jesus says nothing.  It appears he is ignoring her.  The disciples ask Jesus to send her away, and Jesus seems to agree, remarking that he was sent to minister to the Jews alone.

But she’s already endured a series of obstacles that would threaten the best of us.  She’s jumped social hurtles to ask a favor of Jesus and she will not be deterred.

She persists, paying homage to Jesus, and yet again Jesus denies her request.  She can’t believe what her hears – is he being rude to her?  Did he really refer to her using a Jewish word of derision for Gentiles, “dog.”  But the woman cleverly turns Jesus’ own words against him.  Only then does Jesus grant her request and heal her daughter.

So, let’s consider why Jesus would lead this mother through a humbling process for pursuing her request.  He stays in conversation with her but seems harsh.  Could it be Jesus used this encounter to help her develop a deep courageous faith that would sustain her for the rest of her life not just this one-time healing?

She is tenacious in her pleading.  With the odds stacked against her, she pushes forward.  When she gets knocked down by life’s circumstances and criticism, she gets back up.  When others told her to quit, to get lost because she was wasting Jesus’ time, she continued to keep Jesus attention.

Notice she referred to Jesus as Lord, acknowledging that He is worthy of praise.  Don’t miss the lesson that she praised Jesus in the midst of her pain.  She is obviously a very humble woman.  Perhaps Jesus had her in mind when he spoke the beatitude “Blessed are the meek, they will inherit the earth.”  Never confuse humility with weakness. Pride would have been offended by the “dog” comment.  Pride would have returned insult for insult, and pride would have gone away empty; without a miracle; without a healthy, whole child.

It’s a nice story but what does it teach us?  Lessons in skilled, reverent, peaceful confrontation; tenacity, humility and focus on the important matter for winning a hearing with a happy outcome.

The past couple of weeks the world has been on edge, at the escalating acts of violence and the war of words between the North Korean regime and President Trump.  The spiraling verbal threats may be the result of mounting public frustration with the lack of solutions to a serious problem but a frightened world cannot dismiss the situation as mere venting of empty words.  Indeed, the harsh language appears to be increasing in the intensity of potential danger of a rash move being made by one side or the other.  The world has seen too many incidents to ignore or downplay words that have had the power to do real damage.  The old adage “sticks and stones may break your bones but words can never hurt you” has long been proven a false premise.  But words can also have an equally powerful ability to bring about healing and reconciliation… something we all need to keep in mind.

Let us remember also in our intentions this weekend the people who are waiting in terror for Monday’s total solar eclipse.  Thousands are gathering for the once in a life time event but others view it as a harbinger of doom.

Heeding the example of the Canaanite woman we must come to stand before God, united in our plea for an end of racism in our country and for peace in our world, for calmness to conquer brashness, humility to counter pride and tenacity to win out over discouragement.

There is a tale told about former President Andrew Jackson.  His childhood friends were reminiscing about their childhood with Andy and expressing surprise at how successful he’d become considering all his flaws – he wasn’t as smart as some and many were stronger.  They recalled how the class bully would throw Andy three out of four times when they wrestled.  A listener asked: “What happened on the fourth time?”

Andy’s friend spoke up: “I guess that was Andy’s secret. He just wouldn’t stay throwed.”

Like the Canaanite woman and Andy, if life circumstances throw you down, don’t stay “throwed.”  You’ve heard it said that Benedictine community life is a series of beginnings.  Like a daruma doll, those weighted-bottom Japanese good-luck dolls, we just keep bouncing upright – as one author put is: we fall down and we get up.  Or as the saying goes: seven times down; eight times up.  So let us stand firm in praying for peace that we may hear the same response Jesus gave to the Canaanite woman: “Great is your faith!  Let it be done for you as you wish.”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
1st Reading Isaiah 56:1, 6-7,
2nd Reading Romans 11:13-15; 29-32,
Gospel Matthew 15:21-28
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Filed Under: Blog, Homily Tagged With: Child, criticism, disciples, Faith, humility, Jesus, pride, Woman

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 22, 2015 by Holy Name Monastery Leave a Comment

Mark-9_35Jesus and his disciples enter a private home. Jesus asks his disciples about the argument they had while they were journeying.  Their arguing about who is the greatest is on one level amusing.  Jesus asks them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” And they are like children who don’t want to tell their parents what they’re talking about.  Or adults, when there is dead silence when the principal or prioress enters the room.  I think Mark is amused.  Jesus doesn’t push for an answer.  He won’t publically humiliated or embarrass them.  Instead He calls forward a child.

Jesus could have just told taught them his lesson. Why did He use a child?    Well, remember in first-century Palestine, children were without status or power, possessing no legal rights.  They were viewed as mere property and largely ignored by most adults. Secondly, Jesus used a child to teach about service because children really can’t do anything for adults.  A child can’t make you more important in the eyes of the world. However, a child can teach you much about ministry!

Think about it, every parent (or older sibling) knows what happens when there’s a new baby in the house. That child demands everything! From day one it must be served, every need must be met by a willing adult. Children take constant care and attention. If they are ignored, they let you know all about in loud and irritating fashion.   Children teach us what giving and service are all about.   And the giving does not stop …  often into adulthood.

Jesus used a child but notice that he does not say “receive this child.”  Rather He says: Receive one such as this.”  Children need to be served, but they cannot serve us in return. That is a lesson we all need to take to heart. Too often, we only serve those who can do something in return for us. Jesus would have us reach out to those who are the neediest. He would have us serve those who cannot, or will not, serve us in return. He directs us to do as He did and give our all for those who may break our hearts in return.

So, this leads to question: Who are the people without power or status in our society? Do we serve them willingly? Jesus teaches that God’s judgment of us will be based on this criterion alone.

We see this no better portrayed than in the upper room with Jesus’ washing the disciple’s feet even as he offers the new covenant meal, and later hanging on the cross, offering himself.

At the deepest level Jesus’ idea of service — humble servanthood — reminds us that none of this is about us!  It’s not about our ego. It’s not about how much we give, how much we work, how many hours we minister, whose ministry is more important. It’s not about our wants and needs, or what we think others must do for us.

Service, instead, is about absorbing the sufferings of world by sharing our life — our time, our resources and our gifts. It’s building-up the other so that she in turn is built up to be Christ to others.

 Jesus asked his disciples:  “What were you arguing about on the road?” This is another key word: ‘road’. Every time we travel with Jesus they are “on the road”. Because Jesus himself is the Road: he is the Way, the Truth and the Life. We are being asked what we are doing while on the Way.   The disciples refused to answer and kept silent. They were ashamed. It was not the kind of talk suited to people on the Way. They had been arguing about which of them was the greatest; who would become the leader of their group if Jesus’ prediction of death proved true?  They could hardly say, “Well, since you are going to be killed in the near future, we were wondering which of us should take over.”

With a child in his arms, Jesus says, that to accept, to welcome persons such as this little one, is to welcome him. To be concerned about the wellbeing of another person, oblivious to the cost – putting the focus on the other rather than on what serves one’s own self.   Benedict captures this sentiment in RB chapter 72, in quoting the Letter to the Romans:

Anticipate one another in honor,  vie in paying obedience one to another – no one following what she considers useful for herself, but rather what benefits another…

What had caused the disciples to even begin thinking along the line of who Jesus’ successor would be?  Could it have had something to do with the fact that Jesus had chosen only three of them, Peter, James and John to go with Him up the mountain?  As they walk, they talked and the brewing question just sort of came up.  The three had been elated when they came down the mountain.  But, they had been admonished by Jesus not to talk about what they had seen or heard.  The nine felt left out.  When they were talking among themselves the issue seemed important. But, when they stood before Jesus, they suddenly saw how silly, immature, arrogant and self-centered they had been. He was talking about the matters of eternity.    And, all they could do was fight about who should be first!

When this life is over and we are before God; all of our petty, silly striving to be first will be seen to be as childish. Would you rather stand before Him in embarrassment because you wanted to be first? Or, would you rather stand there and hear: “Well done, good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things.. enter thou into the joy of you Father.”   The choice is ours.

 

                                                                                                          Mass Reflection by S. Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

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Filed Under: Homily, Prayer Tagged With: Child, First, humble, Jesus, Least, Mark

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