Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

Christ

Lord, where are you going?

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Here (in this Gospel) we see Jesus troubled with the knowledge of who is about to betray him.  It is more troubling when you realize that Jesus truly did know who would betray him.  We may say: “I know what she’s thinking; I know why she did that.”  But, we don’t really – we’re second-guessing or assigning a motive based on our own behavior.”  Yet still knowing full well Judas’ heart and what would happen when they stepped into the garden after supper – watch what Jesus does.  He announces the imminent betrayal, and then proceeds to feed the betrayer:  “When he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.”  With the flavor of the morsel still in his mouth, Judas leaves to do his dirty work.  The narrator adds, “… and it was night” – the deed is done under the cover of darkness.  In this dark moment Jesus says: “Now is the Son of Man glorified.”  He speaks of being glorified and focuses on preparing his disciples for what is to come.

Not included in the text for tomorrow, but in John’s Gospel, the conversation continues, with Peter asking, “Lord, where are you going?”  Jesus responds, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward”.  Peter argues, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now?  I will lay down my life for you.”  But Jesus knows before the sun comes up, that Peter – one of his closest companions – will deny him three times.  Yet his parting words to his disciples focus not on blame for their failures.  He assures them that although he will no longer be physically present with them, they will not be alone.  He reminds them of their need for community.  “Love one another,” He counsels, “as I have loved you.”

Seems to me this is what Benedict means in RB 72 …  “Show pure love to each other…. don’t pursue self-interests… rather seek to anticipate what is better for someone else …. supporting each other with the greatest patience.”

Jesus demonstrates the kind of love he preaches.  He shows no partiality.  He does the same for the one who laid his head on Jesus breast as he does for the disciples who will fail him miserably.  Jesus washes and feeds Judas who will betray him, Peter who will deny him, and all the rest who will fail to stand by him in his hour of greatest need.  The love that Jesus demonstrates is not based on any earned merit or reciprocity.  He asks only that we freely love others in the same way He loves us.

It could not be any clearer!  Jesus to telling us it’s not by our knowledge of the church law, liturgical rites, the catechism, or even by our sense of morality, our ministerial service, attendance at funerals or obeying driver safety rules; not by my formation experience, nor by how I was brought up; it doesn’t depend on how neat or clean we keep our personal spaces, our table manners,  or whether we practice an exercise routine.  Simply put: (as the hymn says) “They’ll know we are Christians by our love.”  We won’t be tested, evaluated or judge by any measure other than this: Have our actions and interactions been loving – has our manner of living exuded love… at all times: not just when there are guests, or we are sporting a Benedictine Sisters logo shirt, or we think others are watching or that we may be overheard.

It comes down to a choice.  Like Judas, we’ve seen the evidence – we’ve witnessed Jesus’ miracles in the Scriptures and in our own life-time.  Along with other Christ-followers we’ve read and pondered and puzzled over Jesus radical teachings.  We’ve been there in spirit with the Marys who sat at the feet of Jesus absorbing his words.  We’ve stumbled and been raised up by the same Lord whose teaching we chose to ignore, disregard or just never delved into to.  We’ve followed others’ lead when we knew full well the ugliness of gossip, tittle-tattle and unacceptable language or jokes.  We forgot Jesus and our guardian angels were in the same room with us … and heard and saw it all.  We may have snubbed the prompting of the Spirit.  But, that still small voice will keep pestering us until we pay heed.  [Persistence must be one of the Spirit’s major virtues…]

As Benedict says in the Prologue, “The labor of obedience will bring you back to God from whom you have drifted.”  Ever noticed how a stick thrown into a body of water seems to flounder until it is grabbed by the drift forcing it in a particular direction.  It just can’t continue for very long going in circles or struggling against the current.  That’s you and me …  searching for a direction …  striving to give up self-will …  awed by all we’ve witnessed of God’s goodness.  Now, roused from sleep and equipped with good zeal and a determination to prefer nothing whatever to Christ, we are ready – we’re perked up and prepared to heed Benedict’s first word:  LISTEN!

At Noon Prayer earlier this week God spoke to us from long before Jesus walked this earth – long before he endured disappointment and betrayal and death.  To this day God promises:  “I will never take back my love; my faithfulness will not fail.  I will never break my covenant or go back on my promise.”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

5th Sunday of Easter (May 19, 2019)
First Reading Acts 14: 21-27 Second Reading   Revelation 21:1-5a
Gospel John 13: 31-33a, 34-15
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Who do you say that I am?

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This is an interesting reading, and even a bit odd, giving us another insight into Jesus’ teaching methods.  First with those who are closest to him – who have been traipsing around the country for almost three years.  This is the group who believe in him so he is quick to correct their human thinking that gets in the way of their perception of just who he is.

I can see him (can you?) walking casually along with the twelve … the mix of who is nearest him changing every few minutes – as the group shifts, they compare notes about what he said to their group with what the others heard.  He stops and turns to the group and queries: Who do people say that I am?  Was He really in the dark?  After all he is God, doesn’t he know everything?  Was he simply opening an opportunity for the disciples to express their loyalty to him? 

At first, the disciples do not offer their personal feeling.  They repeat what they’ve been hearing: some say John, the Baptist (why they’d mix up the cousins, I don’t know), others say Elijah, or one of the prophets.  When Jesus continues: “But, you, who do you say that I am?”  A pregnant pause …  waiting for a brave one to speak up.  Heads turn to Peter who seems to be never afraid to offer an opinion.  He doesn’t fail them: “You are the Christ, son of the living God.”

Jesus seems quick to caution the disciples: “Don’t tell anyone.” (Doesn’t he know by now that this is a sure-fire way to get the rumors flying?)  Does Jesus want us to hold miracles we experience or witness close to our hearts?  To be like Mary after the shepherds’ visit – pondering all these happenings in her heart?”  Or are we to be like the disciples, quick as Jesus said, don’t tell until after the Son of Man has risen, shouted their Alleluias and spread the Good News?

Our scene in today’s reading, turns from Jesus conversation with the disciples and his followers to what is to come.  Peter quakes in his boots conjuring up what Jesus is describing.  This is his friend!  So, he takes Jesus aside and in shock rebukes him, criticizes the one he has just acknowledged is the Son of God.  “No! No you’ve got it wrong …. That can’t happen to you.”   

Have you ever done that …  told Jesus he’s got it wrong?  The hurricane can’t hit here.  My friend, my parent, my child can’t die now.  Please tell me that (whatever it is) didn’t happen.

Jesus cautions Peter, and us: “Wait a minute.  You are not thinking like God… you’re thinking like a human being.”   

With that, Jesus summons the crowd.  Did you ever notice the settings that Scripture describes when Jesus speaks to the crowds on the plain, on a hillside or from a boat … and there were thousands of them?  No mic, no PA system, no big screen TV …  How did he do it?  I wonder, did the people really hear his voice or did they hear him in their heart …  or was it like the game of Gossip …  his words spread rapidly from person to person???  (Just an aside.)

 (Back on track)  Jesus next lets us know what it will take to continue to be a disciple of His.  Three qualities: deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me.  Easy as one, two three?  Not quite.

 First: deny your worldly ways, drop your egotistical thinking and self-seeking and cease all the ifs, ands and buts you that raise in opposition to Jesus’ message. 

 Second: take up your cross.  It is fashioned for, personalized for just for you.  No two crosses are exactly the same.  You know the story of the person who rejected her God-given cross.  She asked God to exchange it for another.  So, God showed her his treasury of crosses.  You know which one she chose …. The very one God knew all along would best fit her shoulders. 

 Third: This is the good part …  follow Jesus.  You don’t have to invent the way – Jesus has already cut the path for you.  Knock and the door will be opened.  Seek and you will find.  Listen and you will hear. 

 So, when at Mass, just after the homily, be ready to answer God in the words of the Creed: Who do YOU say that I am?

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress
First Reading  Isaiah 50:5-9a                Second Reading  James 2:14-18
Gospel Mark 8:27-35
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Pope Praises Evangelization Through Prayer, Care For Creation, Welcome

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Pope Francis speaks during a Sept. 8 meeting with a group of Benedictine sisters at the Vatican. Forming a community of women from different backgrounds and uniting them in prayer, in care for the earth and in hospitality to others is a powerful witness of Gospel values, Pope Francis said. (Credit: CNS photo/Vatican Media.)

ROME – Forming a community of women from different backgrounds and uniting them in prayer, in care for the earth and in hospitality to others is a powerful witness of Gospel values, Pope Francis told a group of Benedictine sisters.

“Today there are many people in the world who seek to reflect in their lives the tenderness, compassion, mercy and acceptance of Christ,” the pope said Sept. 8. “To them you offer the precious gift of your witness, as you are instruments of God’s tenderness to those who are in need.”

The pope met about 120 Benedictine nuns and sisters from a variety of independent monasteries and congregations participating in a symposium in Rome. The theme was the admonition from the Rule of St. Benedict, “Let all be welcomed as Christ.”

Making a monastery a place of “welcome, prayer and generous hospitality” is an “essential work of evangelization” that always must be expanded and strengthened, the pope told the women.

He also thanked them “for the special care you show toward the environment and for your efforts to protect the gifts of the earth, so that they can be shared by all.”

Many of the Benedictine monasteries are found “in places of great beauty where people go to pray, to find silence and to contemplate the marvels of creation. I encourage you to continue this style and service, so that God’s wonderful works can be admired and speak of him to many persons.”

The life the women live within the monastery walls, lives and relationships that visitors can observe and sense, also is a Gospel witness, the pope said.

“Your life in community bears witness to the importance of mutual love and respect,” he told them. “You come from different places and experiences, and each of you is different, and so the way you accept one another is the first sign you offer in a world that finds it hard to live out this value.

“We are all children of God,” Francis said, “and your prayer, your work, your hospitality, your generosity, all combine to reveal a communion in diversity that expresses God’s hope for our world: a unity made of peace, mutual welcome and fraternal love.”

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Just Like Kneading Dough

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Have you read the reflection for tomorrow in THIS DAY?  Or, if not, do you remember watching someone, maybe your mom or grandmother making bread and kneading the dough – making biscuits or rolls or maybe you’ve seen someone tossing pizza dough?  Just thinking about it, don’t you get that feeling???  You can’t just “watch” – you have to get your hands on it, in it.  That reflection in THIS DAY continues with a quote from C.S. Lewis, “If you want joy, power, peace, eternal life, you must get close to, or even into, the thing that has them.  Thomas couldn’t just nod his head and blindly accept the news his friends excitedly shared that Jesus had visited them.   He had to put his hands on Jesus …  feel the warmth of His body, trace the scars.  The NASA engineer, a woman of color, I heard recently at PHSC, speaking of aspirations said it this way: You can’t aspire to something you’ve never seen.”  Thomas had to feel Jesus to know He was really, REAL.  You know what it is like when we haven’t seen a friend for a long time, we have to clasp hands, hug each other to assure ourselves us the moment is REAL.

This weekend we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday.  How can we learn mercy if we never see mercy in action?  That thought alone should be an impetus to model a spirit of mercy in all our interactions.  Mercy isn’t weakness – it takes patience, insight, control of your tongue, a peaceful spirit to be merciful.

The celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday is a relatively new addition to our church calendar.  It was first promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 2000, the day that he canonized Saint Faustina.  Christ appeared to a Polish nun, Sr. Maria Faustina Kowalska, in a series of visions that took place over almost eight years.  In one of the visions Christ asked Sister Faustina to pray for nine days, beginning on Good Friday and ending on the Saturday after Easter—the eve of the Octave of Easter.  Thus, since the 9 days of a novena are commonly prayed in advance of a feast, the Feast of Divine Mercy—Divine Mercy Sunday—was born.

Sister Faustina is quoted from her diary:

“Oh, if only all souls knew Who is living in our churches?”  This belief is a taste of what Thomas experienced when, in his presence, Jesus appeared the second time to his disciples.  He was invited to “touch and believe”.  He recognized Jesus, his doubt was vanquished, and he professed His belief in Christ.

Do we recognize the Christ among us?  When the Eucharistic minister looks you in the eye to greet you: “Body of Christ.  Blood of Christ” is our AMEN simply a rote, expected response?  Or does your AMEN signify a true conviction that “yes, you and I are Christ for each other?”  If we cannot greet Christ in each other, how will we recognize Jesus at the pearly gates?

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 4:32-35    Second Reading   1 John 5:1-6
Gospel John 20:19-31
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First Sunday of Lent 2018

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In the liturgical cycle of readings, this Gospel from Mark was originally only 2 verses – later the church added 2 verses – but it is still the one of the shortest Sunday readings.  It tells us only that Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit immediately after his baptism to be tempted by the devil for 40 days.  Why do the evangelists make a point of 40 days?  You know that: it recalls the 40 years that the Israelites wandered in the desert.  And remember the prophet Elijah journeyed in a desert for 40 days and nights, making his way to Mt. Horeb.  Some say that 40 is simply a symbolic number.  Even if it is, Jesus chose to follow that symbolism as a lesson to us.  We set aside 40 days for our season of Lent, to travel through a wilderness of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer.

According to St. Benedict the purpose of Lent is to purify our way of life and to wash away negligences of the past, to make reparation for what we have done or failed to do.   He names five practices to help change our hearts

  • refuse to indulge in evil habits,
  • devote yourself to prayer,
  • holy reading,
  • compunction of heart and
  • self-denial.

We’ve heard the expression “practice makes perfect” so often that the full meaning may have lost its impact on us.  But consider the Olympic skater who has to forego serious practice for close to a year due to an injury.  Then only last month found out he would be in the Olympic competition.  In two rounds he fumbled, fell – he received a creditable score but did not do his personal best.  Until the third round, the fourth round … then he shone!

Each year at the beginning of Lent we may feel like that skater.  We’re not doing our personal best.  Lent gives us a “third round.”  As Benedict says in Chapter 49, during Lent we are called to be the kind of person we should be every day.  Lent gives us a jump-start of courage to pick up the practices that will support the values we profess to believe in.  The biggest temptation most of us have to face is to “give up” because we stumble, maybe fall – like that skater we may have to put a hand on the floor once in a while to balance ourselves.  The only way  to rise to the challenge of Easter is to persevere … in doing what we know is right, in being faithful to what we’ve promised God, in heeding that first word in the Rule – “listen” – and in loving others as God loves them, and us.

This evening at the close of prayer we will ask God’s blessing on our attempts to be what we were created to be.  We promise to pray for each other and ask God’s gift of strength and courage to persevere in our Lenten resolutions.

 

BLESSING RITE (for resolutions papers)

Aware that Lent is not merely a time of atoning for sins but a time of preparation.  We prepare throughout Lent to become at Easter what we were once baptized into: Christ’s own body.  We will practice habits which will break us open, let God in, and train us to love like Christ.

Therefore, our loving God, we come before you at this time in our lives to bring, praise – a plea – and a promise – that we will gently remind ourselves that (all) “Lent is a process of rending our hearts, filling the broken places with God’s love, and fearlessly loving as Christ loved.

We place before you, O God, our sincere promises to use your grace to become the people You call us to be.  Trusting in your all-powerful goodness, we dare to ask:

  • L) Give us renewed fervor to be faithful to our commitments. AMEN
  • L) Help us to be compassionate and supportive to one another.  AMEN
  • L) Bless our efforts to make a good Lent.  AMEN
  • L) And support us to be faithful to our Lenten resolutions.  AMEN
 ~by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress
Genesis 9:8-15         1 Peter 3:18-22         Mark 1:12-15
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Have You Admitted It?

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The feast of Christ the King was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925, during a time when respect for Christ and the Church was waning.  Today, the same distrust of authority exists.  The magnitude and the manifestations of the problem have evolved over the years to the point that Individualism has been embraced to such an extreme, that for many, the only authority is the SELF.  In such a system, the idea of Christ as King is rejected.  In our own liturgies we sometimes avoid the use of the title King and Lord.

The one and only time Jesus allowed himself to be treated like a king is recalled in the Holy Week liturgies.  Those Passion Gospels pointedly remind us that Jesus’ kingship is one of love and sacrifice, not power and domination.  In retrospect, the mocking, derisive jabs that Jesus endured served to proclaim his true identity: the messiah, the chosen one, the king of the Jews and our savior and the savior of all people.

Today’s particular Gospel (from Matthew), doesn’t use the word KING, but it does refer to Jesus in glory, seated on a glorious throne, with all the nations assembled before Him.  It makes it obvious, we won’t experience Christ’s reign all on our own.  We’re really part of something bigger than our own little selves, when we live “under” the reign of Christ.  We’re gathered with many people of varied kinds and you heard how Jesus described us – sheep and goats.

The full title of this celebration is “The Solemnity of Christ, the King of the Universe.” During the Jubilee year of Mercy, Pope Francis added another part to the title: “…the living face of the Father’s mercy.”  This title seems to be somewhat of a paradox.  When we think of the king of the world, let alone the king of the universe, we might tend to imagine a powerful, distant leader, disconnected from ordinary people.  But on the other hand, Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy, the one who binds up our wounds, heals us, blesses us, and saves us.  It may seem peculiar that He can be both the King of the universe, and the face of mercy.  However, the combined readings for the solemnity give us a glimpse of how Christ is both king and the face of the Father’s mercy, all at the same time.

The wonderful thing about Jesus’ use of parables is that we can identify ourselves with one or more of the characters in the story.  When we read or hear a parable it’s sort of like looking in a cloudy mirror.  There’s not much precision, but the general image is there.  You begin to squirm with the feeling: “This one’s about me.  He’s talking to me.” It’s that way with this parable of the sheep and the goats, the saved and the damned.  Both groups question:  When did we treat you, or not treat you, in the ways you describe?  And Jesus tells them straight forward: “Whenever you did (or did not do) for one of these least ones” – that’s how you treated me.

So, where do you see yourself in the story?  Do you belong to those that care, (the ones on the right), or those who simply didn’t have enough time to be bothered (those on the left)?  Or, like me, does it depend.  One day you see yourself on one side and wish you could honestly say you were on the other?  We’ve given of our time, our treasure, and our talent – and sometimes we’ve withheld them – depending upon a number of factors, some of which we’d be ashamed to identify.

But there’s another group in the parable that may be overlooked.  The message is so simple that we fail to see the BIG point.  There were those who helped, those who couldn’t be bothered, and then there were those who needed help!

So, here’s the BIG question for today.  Your salvation many hang on your answer.   When have you seen yourself as one who needed help?  The answer is awfully important because Jesus seems to identify Himself as those who are hungry or thirsty.   But, notice, He didn’t only identify Himself as one among many – NO, He identified Himself as living in those very people.  He was born poor and helpless, born in need and died in need.  He lived and moved and had His being in need.  Not among the poor ones – within each of those poor ones – no matter what features you see, Christ’s face speaks to us in the voice of each person.

Our connection is in this Gospel.  Christ will come and judge us by how merciful we have been to others.  The King of the universe wants us to be the face of his mercy to one another.  You heard how we will be judged.  Did we feed the hungry, clothed the naked, and visit the sick?  By giving mercy to others in the same way that Christ has given mercy to us we proclaim God’s mercy and Christ’s kingship to the world.  How will you proclaim his reign and his kingdom today?  Have you admitted that you are in need, that you’re not self-sufficient, that you`re on spiritual food stamps, and that you and Jesus find each other in need?  Jesus speaks in this parable in the first person: “when did YOU see ME in need?”

So which group DO you belong to in the parable?  Just how DO you identify yourself in it?  Could it be true that you just might have to change how you identify yourself not only in the parable but in real life?  Perhaps this is a moment of grace for you; perhaps you’re being touched again by God?

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

34th Sunday  Feast of Christ the King
First Reading           Ezekiel34:11-12; 15-17                            Second Reading      1 Cor. 15:20-28
Gospel   Matthew 25:31-46
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