Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

disciples

It’s just not going to be the same.

by Leave a Comment

Today’s Gospel is an expression of an impending separation cushioned with a promise of an abiding presence. Jesus is speaking to his disciples at their last supper together.  And it must have been a LONG, many-course supper given the length of Jesus’ discourse. He lovingly reassures those gathered with him that even though he must leave them, he is not abandoning them.  In his stead, he promises, he will send the Holy Spirit.  And, on that day they will realize that He and the Father God are one.

When a lifetime friend moves far away we can reassure one another that we’ll stay in touch but we also probably agree [even if we do have FaceTime and Instagram]: “It’s just not going to be the same.” This may have been the feeling of the disciples.  Jesus is saying “goodbye”.   This is not just a farewell before going on a short trip, when they will see one another again in a few weeks or months.  It’s a more permanent farewell. He is preparing them for the shock of his violent death and the collapse of their plans for the future. Everything is about to change for them “It’s just not going to be the same.”

Jesus is sensitive to the feeling of loss they are about to endure. He’s telling them quite clearly, “It’s just not going to be the same.”  He knows they won’t make it on their own.   Their human courage, like ours, just won’t  be enough – they’ll need continued support to spread Jesus’ message after He is gone.

So, Jesus makes a FANTASTIC, and unbelievable promise:  He is going to the Father and he will send the Holy Spirit to guide them as they face new challenges.  There are going to be new issues and suffering for what they believe. But they will become aware of Jesus’ abiding presence.

We may be 2000+ years away from those disciples around the table with Jesus that night; but we too have experienced loss and need. We have said many goodbyes to family and community members.  We’ve experienced big changes in our lives.   There have been times when we’ve needed to be strong ourselves and for others: times of grave illness, worry over a troubled or addicted loved one, sorrow over a broken relationship or an uncertain future.

Those are the times when we’ve known: “It’s just not going to be the same.” And it wasn’t.  God sends us curve balls when we least expect it.  But, like a skilled ball player we can still hit a home run.  God gives us the strength to stay faithful and the wisdom to maneuver life’s many twists and turns.

Who could have foreseen, or even imagined, this day when we would be lesser in number?  These are times when we know well the feeling: It’s just not going to be the same.

Our duty, our challenge, then, is to believe, to trust that we DO have the Spirit with us – in Word, the Eucharist, in each other.  We believe Jesus has kept his promise to give us the gift of the Spirit – an abiding, permanent dwelling with each and every one of us.  We believe Jesus when he says: I will send the “Advocate” – a counselor, a consoler, a mediator – divine energy that will bind you together with one another, and all you in God.

A Thomas Merton prayer speaks to me when all I do know is: “it’s just not going to be the same.”

 “My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.  But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.  And, I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.  I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.  And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it.  Therefore, will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.  I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”

                                    [Thomas Merton, Thoughts on Solitude, 1956}

 

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

 

 

First Reading:   Acts of the Apostles 8:5-8, 14-17         Second Reading:  1 Peter 3:15-18
Gospel:   John 14:15-21
Continue Reading

On the Road to Emmaus

by Leave a Comment

Two of the disciples of Jesus were on the road that leads to Emmaus. They were low because their Master had been crucified like a common thief. But now they’d heard reports that their Master was not dead at all. Reliable sources have told them that he had appeared to some of their most trusted friends. Was he really alive? Should they believe the good news or the bad? And that’s our dilemma, isn’t it? DO WE BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS OR THE BAD? The good news is that Christ is alive. The bad news is how little impact that event is having in our world.

The Jewish custom required that the two disciples invite Jesus to a meal. Hence, they invited Him for a night’s rest in their house–and Jesus accepted the invitation. During the meal, when Jesus broke the bread, the disciples realized that this stranger was not a stranger after all – this was Jesus, the Risen Christ. Later they said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us when he opened up the Scriptures to us?”  Hidden for a time, Jesus took delight in revealing himself in the breaking of the bread.  Mangiare! Eat up! It’s good for you!

You will recall on Easter morning, Jesus told the disciples to “go home” – this time they “go back” -walking 7 miles to Jerusalem to share their story.   They were probably pondering all along the way how they, like Mary Magdalene, did not recognize Jesus.  For Mary the revelation (Jesus’ delight) came when she heard Jesus’ voice.  For the Emmaus disciples it was the breaking of the bread.    That continues to this day, Jesus meets us on our way to Emmaus, in the ordinary experiences of our lives, and in the places to which we retreat when life is too much for us. The story warns us, however, that the risen Lord will take delight in coming to us when we least expect him.

In the story of Winnie-the-Pooh, Pooh and Piglet are taking their evening walk. For a long time they walk in the kind of silence good friends can share.  Finally, Piglet asks, “When you wake up in the morning, Pooh, what’s the first thing you say to yourself?” “What’s for breakfast?” answers Pooh and then asks. “And what do you say, Piglet?” Piglet says, “I say, I wonder what exciting thing is going to happen today?”   You and I can’t really plan to meet the Risen Christ because we never really know when or where He’s going to show up. But you can be sure of this: He will show up.  Take delight in his revelation!

Have you heard about the little boy who told his mother, “I’m going out to play ball with God.”  When his mother asked him just how he could do this, the little boy answered: “Oh, I throw the ball up to His sky, and He throws it back to me.”  Jesus will not disappoint you – You can depend on Him – throw the ball up – He will toss it back – be careful it does not land on your head because you failed to recognize him in the unexpected moment.  Consider when an idea comes to you “from out of the blue”.  Might it be God throwing it back to you with the prayer you tossed in his lap?  Might it be God’s way of saying: “Catch!  You can handle this one?”

How about the tale of the young boy walking home through the park after attending a Sunday school class? Somehow, he couldn’t stop thinking about the Bible lesson for that day. What impressed him most was when the teacher said, “You will find the risen Jesus in everyone you meet.” As he continued through the park, he noticed an old woman sitting on a bench. She looked lonely and hungry. So he sat down next to her, took out the chocolate bar he had saved and offered some to her. She accepted it with a beautiful smile.  They sat together in silence, just smiling at each other.  When the boy was leaving, he had gone short distance when he ran back to the bench, and gave the woman a big hug. When he arrived home, his mother asked, “What’s making you so happy today?” He said, “I shared my chocolate bar with Jesus.” Before his mother could ask more questions, he added, “You know, she has the most beautiful smile in the world.”  Meanwhile, the old woman returned to her little apartment where she lived with her sister who remarked, “You seem really happy today.  “I am,” she replied, “I was sitting in the park, eating a chocolate bar with Jesus. And, you know, he looks a lot younger than I expected.”   Isn’t that the lesson in today’s gospel?  We will meet and experience the risen Jesus in unexpected places and persons.  Make someone smile and take care to notice God’s delight in the smiles returned to you.

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

 

Next issue of TIDE is in the mail …  if you are not on our mailing list you can find it on line at www.benedictinesistersoffl.org

  God bless you and your family.

 

 

 

First Reading:   Acts 2:14         Second Reading:  1 Peter 1:17-21
Gospel:   Luke 24:13-35
Continue Reading

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

by Leave a Comment

Wow!  Talk about conflicts!  Jesus keeps teaching us to love our neighbors as ourselves, love our enemies and do good to those who hate us.  Now he says, “Hate your mother and father, your brother and sister, your wife and children, even your own life.”   Obviously, you cannot have it both ways: Love everybody and hate your family.

Jesus is inviting us to think it over seriously.  Listen to Him: “To be my disciple is unusually difficult. You must make a TOTAL commitment.  Nobody, absolutely nothing, can come before me. I am your one Lord and God. In case of conflict, your nearest and dearest must take second place.”

I’ll share now what Richard Rohr has to say on taking that first step to discipleship: recognize, acknowledge and accept the truth that we are everywhere and at all times in the presence of God.

We cannot attain the presence of God because we’re already totally in the presence of God. What’s absent is awareness.  Each time you take another breath, realize that God is choosing you again and again—and yet again. We have nothing to work up to or even learn. We do, however, need to unlearn some things, and most especially we must let go of any thought that we have ever been separated from God. Religion is to help us let go of illusions and pretenses so we can be more and more present to what actually is. We have to learn to see what is already here.

Such a simple directive is hard for us to understand. We have a “merit badge” mentality. We worship success. We believe that we get what we deserve, what we work hard for, and what we are worthy of. It’s hard for Western people to think in any other way.

Experiencing radical grace is like living in a different world. It’s not a world in which I labor to get God to notice me and like me. It’s not a world in which I strive for spiritual success.  Unfortunately, many good people are afraid of gratuity.  But God cannot be seen through such a small and dirty lens.

I suggest that this week we check our spiritual spectacles, clean off any smudges and be open to receiving the radical graces God has ready waiting for us.   In the Gospel, the two brief parables (a person constructing a tower and a king marching into battle) make Jesus’ lesson obvious – don’t start what you cannot finish. Jesus is asking us for TOTAL commitment.  We can only commit if we are prepared to put God before everything else.

We pray with words of the Responsorial Psalm: “In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge; teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.  Fill us at daybreak with your kindness that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

Please remember in prayer our Sister Jerome Leavy whose funeral we will celebrate Tuesday morning, Sept 9th at 10am.  Wake service and visitation will be 7pm Monday in our monastic chapel.

May Sister Jerome rest in eternal peace!

 

 

First Reading:   Wisdom 9:13-18b         Second Reading:  Philemon 9-10, 12-17
Gospel:   Luke 14:25-33
Continue Reading

Fifth Sunday of Easter

by Leave a Comment

Jesus is troubled by the knowledge of who is about to betray him.  He announces the imminent betrayal to his disciples.  Take particular notice of how he responds. He proceeds to feed the betrayer.  Judas then leaves to do his dirty work, and the narrator adds, “and it was night” (13:30).

Jesus continues – focusing on his mission and preparing his disciples for what is to come. He tells them (and us)  in tender words (“little children”) “I will be with you only a little longer.  Where I am going, you cannot come.” The conversation continues after our lectionary text, 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 speaks up: “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”  Jesus gently responds by predicting Peter’s denial of him.

In the coming chapters Jesus will talk about the Paraclete, the Advocate who will teach and advise and comfort them and us.  But for now he focuses on the need for his disciples to live in community, to love one another as he has loved them (and us).

Jesus could not be clearer: It is not by our theological or liturgical correctness, not by our moral purity, not by our impressive knowledge – that everyone will know that we are his disciples. It is quite simply by our loving acts — acts of service and sacrifice, acts that point to the love of God for the world made known in Jesus Christ.

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

 

 

 

First Reading:   Acts 14:21-27         Second Reading:  Revelation 21:1-5a
Gospel:   John 13:31-33a, 34-15
Continue Reading

Believing Can Bring Sight

by Leave a Comment

Each day since Easter we’ve heard post-Resurrection stories of personal encounters. The resurrected Christ has visited the disciples and his mother Mary in the Upper Room to breathe peace upon them.  We’ve heard the story of how Jesus slips in and out of the company of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.   In John’s narrative Peter’s head is whirling at all that was going on.  It appears his message to the others is: “This is too much for me; I’m going to clear my head. I’ll be back later. I’m going fishing!” A few of the others jumped aboard.  At daybreak a very human Jesus appears to these disciples who’ve spent a night of non-productive fishing.  We know that Jesus must have known this but still he calls to them: “Children, have you caught anything to eat?”  Then he suggests to them that they toss the nets on the other side of the boat.  Lo and behold, the nets encircle 153 large fish!”  No one dares ask him: “Who are you?”  To their astonishment, Jesus invites: “Come, have breakfast.”

Last Sunday the church made sure that we heard the message that Jesus came a second time to the group in the Upper Room.  Again, He came right through “locked doors.” He greeted the fearful group: “Peace!”  And He turned to address Thomas to quiet his fear that the one the disciples claimed they had seen a week ago might be an imposter.   Nothing could keep Jesus away from those who had been his companions for three years.

At that 2nd visit in the Upper Room Jesus praises those who do not seek proof.  On the other hand, neither does He condemn those who seek a sign.  He meets us where we are on our faith journey. He does not condemn Thomas for wanting to see proof in the nail marks.  Instead, he offers living proof to help his unbelief.  “See my hands; put your finger here.”  And then He nurtures maturity in faith when he says: “Blessed are they who have not seen but have believed.”

In Monday’s gospel there is an exchange with Nicodemus about the wind. From whence does it come, and where does it go?  Jesus gently tries to explain, “If I tell you of earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?”  If only if we understood that seeing may not be believing but believing can bring sight.

 The lessons remembered by John continue.  “God does not ration the gifts of the Spirit; the Father gives everything to the Son.”  As the evening grows long, the disciples go down to the sea.  It grows dark as they rest and row and drift in the boat.  When they are several miles from shore, one by one the Apostles perk up and point to a silhouette of a man who appears to be walking on the water toward them A calming voice is heard: “It is I.  Do not be afraid.”  Those who are familiar with the voice of God will immediately recognize when Jesus speaks.

Today we hear a curious detail. John relates that before Peter jumps from the boat into the sea, he grabs his clothing “for he was lightly clad.”  He puts on more clothes to jump into the water?  Is that typical of what we tend to do?  If you think about it, it probably is.   We don’t want to leave anything behind even when it only adds weight to our journey.  What does Jesus tell us to do?  Not, grab all your belongings, we’re going on a journey of a lifetime.  Rather he says: Feed my sheep; feed my lambs.   Follow me!

What is your excess baggage?  What needs to be left behind?  We have to clear out old expectations if we are to have room to welcome new experiences.

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

 

 

 

First Reading:   Acts 5:27-32; 40-41         Second Reading:  Revelation 5:11-14
Gospel:   John 21:1-19
Continue Reading

Second Sunday of Lent

by Leave a Comment

“Jesus took Peter, James and his brother John off by themselves and led hem up a high mountain.”  This transfiguration account appears just after Jesus has reminded the disciples, “Whoever loses your life for My sake, and the gospel – will save your life. Jesus lets these remarks soak in and take root for six days before he sets off up the mountain with Peter, James and John in tow.

The story (I believe) calls each one of us to examine what mountains we have yet to climb to see God’s glory.  We could apply the story to death or a near-death experience, but if we do that, we miss the everyday mountains that we must scale.  Call those mountains what you will, we must climb them to witness God’s glory: hurdles, challenges, enticing temptations, near occasions of sin, quirks of personality, Lenten resolutions, pet peeves…   They can be like a grain of sand inside your shoe.  Other times, they may feel like huge boulders that we need a backhoe to lever inch by inch.  Everyone’s mountain is different. To witness God’s glory, we must each climb our own “mountains”.

As we become aware that we are nearing a mountaintop, we must relax take a breather, yes, but with our spirit-eyes open to see God’s glory.  Stay alert, careful not to misread the signs; have the insight to know that we are at the top.  Gaze on the God of the Revelation.  In awe we may wonder: Why did God choose me?  Why does God love me so much?

What causes us to miss the “small miracles”, the “everyday transfigurations”?  The “Emmaus” moments along the path to Life? Gently remind yourself, that Jesus and the disciples also went back down the mountain.  Thank God when you get to top and do not be distracted with worry over “what’s going to happen next?”

Jesus did not become “more God” that day on the mountain.  It seems to me the change was not so much in Jesus, as it was in the disciples.  They were ready.  They had climbed the mountain.   And their eyes were open to witness the miracle of the moment.   What are those moments in your life?  Maybe it happens at the Consecration of the Mass or when you look across the dining table or at confreres across the aisle in chapel.

God is already there; is right here NOW.   Jesus invites us to go up the mountain with Him.  He leads the way.  We must open our awareness to witness the transfiguration. God reveals the Son little by little to those who take the time and interest to stay with him.  When we follow His lead, stay with the experience, do what it takes to build our relationship, foster life with the Other; in essence we live out our vow of stability; our promise of “stick-to-tive-ness.

 

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

 

First Reading:   Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18        Second Reading:  Philippians 3:17-4:1
Gospel:   Luke 9:28b-36

 

Continue Reading