Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

Father

Stay Awake and Be Ready

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The church offers the choice of dividing the Gospel passage into two sections.  It is the part that may be omitted that tells us: “Much will be required of persons entrusted with much.”  Luke couched that grim reminder with Jesus’ comforting words to his disciples: “Do not be afraid.”  We have been entrusted with so much, individually and collectively, that the words about the reciprocal demand could frighten us into inaction.  Our fears could make us feel that our feeble attempts to bring about peace and compassion and reconciliation are futile.  But we have the assurance of Jesus: Do not be afraid for your Father is PLEASED to give you the kingdom.  God is more than willing – God is PLEASED to give us the kingdom.   Thus, we must take delight in receiving all that the kingdom has to offer.  Do not be afraid but do be prepared.  “Stay awake!  Be prepared to see and greet the kingdom from afar.  Do not be afraid.”

I close with an excerpt of Nelson Mandela’s 1994 Inaugural Speech.  (Mandela’s words could be a homily in themselves)

 

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

 

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant,

successful, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

 

Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.

There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking

so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

 

We were born to make manifest the glory that is within us,

It’s not just in some of us;

It’s in everyone.

 

As we let our own light shine,

We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

Our presence automatically liberates others.

 

Nelson Mandela’s 1994 Inaugural Speech

 

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

Have a good week. Schools are starting this week – watch out for school buses and children on the roads … safety for all.

 

 

First Reading:   Wisdom 18:6-9         Second Reading:  Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19
Gospel:   Luke 12:32-48
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Trinity Sunday

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What does this doctrine of the Trinity tell us about the kind of God we worship and the kind of people we should be?

The Gospel just proclaimed comes near the end of Jesus’ discourse at the Last Supper and is an example of the implicit teaching on the Trinity.   Jesus tells his disciples that the Spirit will declare what the Spirit hears from Jesus.  Elsewhere Jesus says, “The Father and I are one.”  If Jesus and the Father are one and the Spirit speaks what Jesus says, it follows that the three must be one.  Further evidence found in Scripture regarding the doctrine of the Trinity is found in the other readings for the feast but if one expects today’s readings to give a clear presentation of the doctrine of the Trinity – they will be disappointed.

The important question for us is: What does this doctrine of the Trinity tell us about the kind of God we worship and what does this say about the kind of people we should be?   With our three-fold vows, we are reminded of our commitment to a balance of prayer, labor and leisure.   We pray many times a day, in various ways, the familiar words of one of the first prayers many of us learned: the “Glory Be” in honor of, and thanksgiving for, the revelation of the Trinity:  Father, Son and Spirit.

This inner relationship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is such that each of them is fully and equally God, yet there are not three Gods but one God.  This is incomprehensible to the human mind. It is a mystery.  Together the three Persons in the Trinity, Father, Son and Spirit represent the fullness of love. The Father loves the Son, the Son loves the Father. The Spirit is their love for each other. But love is only a word until someone gives it meaning.  We are made in the image of a triune God – God the Father, who created us, his Son who saved us, and the Holy Spirit who continues to guide us.  To be true to our calling we must be the ones who give meaning to Love in our world.  As Paul says in the second reading to the Romans: We did not receive the spirit of slavery, but of adoption …  we are heirs of God with Christ and destined to be glorified with him.”

On this Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, we are privileged, not merely in commemorating a doctrine, but in celebrating and entering into a communion of Persons who have loved us into being, redeemed us from ourselves, and continue to call us each day to a fuller experience, a deeper lived knowledge, of God. As long as we have our feet planted “this side of the grass” it makes sense that we might not be able to completely understand how something can be “one” and “three” at the same time.  One last comparison: Consider the egg you might have had for breakfast: yolk, white and shell – three parts, one egg.  Your personal interpretation will ultimately be your best guide, and the only answer you need.

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

 

First Reading: Proverbs 8:22-31             Second Reading: Romans 5:1-5
Gospel:  John 16:12-15
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Trinity Sunday

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On this, the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, we celebrate the Church’s understanding of who God is: three unique, equal, divine persons in one God.  It is a celebration of our lived faith experience that we attempt to put into words.  We turn to the Scripture writers for a fuller understanding of this experience and for the ability to share the experience of God in our own lives.  I like Bishop Barron’s description, “The love that God the Father and the Son breathe back and forth is the Holy Spirit, the life of the church.”

But, nowhere in Scripture will you find a specific teaching of the Trinity.  However, we do find many places where the biblical experience of God is so rich that it cannot be encapsulated in a single word.  Jesus is the visible icon (as it were) of the invisible God, making the mystery of God tangible to us.  It is important that we believers have a welcoming attitude to the triune presence of God, so we are ready whenever, and through whomever, God chooses to continue to be revealed.  In this way we will be ready to listen to  and become involved in that dialogue.  Without the continued experience of Father, Son, and Spirit (or some may choose to say: Creator, Savior and Spirit) the doctrine ceases to be a lived experience.  But, if we expect today’s readings to give a clear presentation of the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity, that simply will not be the case.  Ours is a God so generous… who loves us so much, that this whole world was created for us and continues to gift to us the gift of Self through the appearance of bread and wine.  Here is a God, generosity personified, who loves us beyond our wildest imaginings.

God wants us to discover this Love and celebrate it.  The fact is: God wants to be found and is constantly calling out to us – but not necessarily with words. He gives us so many opportunities – so many times when we travel through even the darkest tunnels of our lives and then come out the other side to encounter, unexpectedly, something surprisingly, great beauty and holiness.  As I came through the connector this past week, I found myself surprised and confounded by a glimpse of an awesome glorious dawn!  The words of Sirach spring to mind: “As the rising sun is clear to all!  How beautiful are all God’s works!  Even to the spark of a fleeting vision.”

As long as we have our feet planted on “this side of the grass” it makes sense that we might not be able to completely understand how something can be “one” and “three” at the same time.  We need symbols to help us delve deeper and deeper into the mystery of the Trinity e.g. St. Patrick’s shamrock or three-leafed clover … three leaves, one stem.  Or consider the egg you might have for breakfast: yolk, white and shell – three parts, one egg.  Or we might’ve heard the Trinity compared to an Apple….  ONE apple, three different parts: skin, flesh, and seed.

This is a feast, a solemnity beyond words.  The Holy Trinity is a privilege and not merely a commemoration of a doctrine.  Through the celebration the Trinity we enter into a communion of Persons who has loved us into being and continues to call us each day to a fuller experience, a deeper lived knowledge, of our Triune God.

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

 

First Reading: Deuteronomy 4:32-34. 30-40             Second Reading: Roman 8:14-17
Gospel:  Matthew 28:16-20
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Trinity Sunday

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This past week, as you know, we returned to Ordinary Time.  However, it’s as if today the Church says: “Wait a minute – there IS one more idea we need to explore.  Let’s celebrate our Triune God.”

But if you expect today’s readings to give a clear presentation of the doctrine of the Trinity, you will be sorely disappointed. In fact, the word “Trinity” is not found in the Scripture.  One writer has said if Jesus were to ask the question today, “Who do you say that I am?”, a modern theologian might answer: “Thou art the Logos, existing in the Father as His rationality and then, by an act of His will, being generated, in consideration of the various functions by which God is related to his creation, but only on the fact that Scripture speaks of a Father, and a Son, and a Holy Spirit, etc. etc.”  Jesus might have replied: “What’s that you say?”

We may not be able to understand the how of the Trinity, but it is important to understand the why.  The concept gives us a more personal, a more dynamic experience of God.  We are made in the image of God, and, therefore, the more we understand God the more we can understand ourselves.   The mystery of the Blessed Trinity tells us about the kind of God we worship and about the kind of people we should be.

Here is a generous God who loves us beyond our understanding! This whole world was created for us.  God gave us Himself in flesh, to suffer with us and die for us.  Here is a God so generous as to continue to offer Himself to us through the appearance of bread and wine.  Here is a God whose generosity spills over for us in gifts of wisdom and understanding, courage and piety, knowledge and counsel and fear of the Lord.  Here is a God who loves us beyond our wildest imaginings.

God wants us to discover this and celebrate it.  The fact is: God wants to be found and is constantly calling out to us. But he does not necessarily call out to us with words. We are given many opportunities; so many times, when we travel through even the darkest tunnels of our lives and then come out at the other side of the encounter to discover, unexpectedly, something surprising and beautiful and holy.  There is an example from this past week, when I came into the connector and was surprised by an awesome glorious red dawn!  Recall the reading earlier this week (from Sirach): “As the rising sun is clear to all, so the glory of the Lord fills all His works.  How beautiful are all God’s works!  Even to the spark of a fleeting vision.”

Recall the analogy of a community to a three-legged stool.  As individuals in community, we need God and others.  The stool becomes lopsided or falls if any one leg is shortened or missing.  It takes all of us to make community: God, me and all our members.  Sometimes we may feel it really doesn’t matter if I miss an activity; that the meals, card games, choral prayer will still go on whether I am present or not.  And, it will!  And it will be done in your name.  There are legitimate reasons to be absent, but never, ever feel that your presence doesn’t count or is not important or significant.

A recent study reports that people between the ages 25 to 44 saw a nearly 30% increase in heart attack deaths over the first two years of the pandemic.  Another study tells us that people who experience prolonged feelings of loneliness are 26% more likely to suffer a heart attack.  So, let’s be on the watch for symptoms of loneliness in ourselves.  And, likewise, be on guard that we are inclusive of each other.

This celebration of the Trinity reminds us of the limitless possibilities of God.  Our god is One God, and cannot be contained but must co-exist as three persons. Let us seek out God in divine magnificent creativity, in all the manifestations as Father Mother as Sister Brother, as Counselor, Friend.  God is waiting for us.  Ours is a God who wants to be found.

~by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

First Reading: Exodus 34: 4b-6, 8-9   Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13
Gospel Reading: John 3:16-18
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Be Courageous

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Today’s reflection on the diocesan website
is by
Sister Roberta Bailey, O.S.B.
We are a joyful community of disciples proclaiming the
Good News and inviting all people to encounter the
love and mercy of Jesus Christ.
St. Bonaventure

“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.” – Matthew 11: 25

Unless you grew up in a parish, or went to a school or college dedicated to St. Bonaventure, (or maybe happen to be a Franciscan), it’s likely you never heard of today’s saint who lived in the 13th century.  He is known as a preaching mystic who closely joined theology with holiness of life.  At his funeral Mass it is said “many were in tears, for the Lord granted him the grace, that whoever came to know him was forthwith drawn to a deep love of him.”

Bonaventure (it strikes me) is a perfect match with today’s Gospel.  A worthy example of the kind of relationship Jesus had with his Father God.  You sense this closeness in the way He addresses His Father.  “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.”  It is what comes next that tugs at your heart strings.  “No one knows the Father, but the Son.”  In our parlance, isn’t He saying: “Papa, no one knows you like I do.”  Then, He includes us in that special bond between child and parent. Jesus assures us He will reveal the Father to those to whom “it shall please the Son to reveal him.”

Jesus came into the world to fulfill the plan of the Father and He gave himself completely to that mission. No matter what happens in life, even a pandemic, Jesus is always with us, blessing us and revealing the Father’s love to draw us closer to God.  His is a genuine invitation to “come to me all you who labor”.   Am I open to receiving that precious gift from God’s own Son?  Please, God, let not pride keep me from knowing God’s gift of love and wisdom and the truth “that that sets us free”.

Am I open to receiving that precious gift from God’s own Son?

Please, God, let not pride keep me from knowing God’s gift of love and wisdom and the truth “that that sets us free”.

Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, O.S.B., is currently the prioress (president) of the Benedictine Sisters of Florida in Saint Leo. Sister serves on the diocesan Commission for Religious.  She is the former principal of St. Anthony Catholic School in San Antonio, Florida, and Saint John Paul II Catholic School in Lecanto, Florida. This year, Sister Roberta is celebrating her 60th Jubilee in religious life.
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Solemnity of the Trinity 2020

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With this weekend’s Scripture readings the Church seems to be saying “Wait a minute – put the brakes on your return to Ordinary time.  There’s another idea to explore.  Let’s celebrate our Triune God.”  But we know the idea of one God in three persons remains a mystery, so what can I say???  Sometimes it is better to believe than to be able to explain.  You know that about many things: can you explain how you put a printed page in a FAX machine that reads it and spits out a printed copy miles away?  Most of us could not explain how electricity works or the WiFi we trust will connect us to the world?  We just believe it’ll work at our command …  and feel disappointment and frustration when it fails us.  We stand strong in our belief of a Triune God though words fail us.

The Gospel of Matthew (read today) and the writings of St. Paul shed light on the concept of Trinity that the early Christians held.  We just heard Jesus say: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  Somewhere along the line we studied Trinitarian theology: the Didache, Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Origen, Gregory, Patrick with his shamrock imagery, and Augustine with his story of the child trying to empty the sea into a tiny hole in the sand.

But, if we expect these writers and the Scriptures to give a clear presentation of the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity – that simply is not the case.  We may lack an understanding of the how of the Trinity, but it is important to understand the why.  The concept gives us a more personal, more dynamic experience of God.  We are made in the image of God, and, therefore, the more we understand God the more we can understand ourselves.  The mystery of the Blessed Trinity tells us about the kind of God we worship and about the kind of people we should be.

We were created to live in relationship, in unity – giving of ourselves to one another as God exists in relationship.  But, look around today: the sit-ins and the marches are recurring evidence that divisions continue.  We are divided along all kinds of lines: national, religion and racial, gender and sexual orientation, socio-economics and politics, the insured and the uninsured, the “haves” and the “have-nots.”  People identify themselves primarily by what distinguishes and separates them from the rest of God’s people.

We sing “God is Love.”  What exactly does that mean?

Here is a God that is so generous… who loves us so much, He cannot contain Himself.  Here is our God who wants to be discovered and celebrated.  The fact is: God wants us  – waits day and night – to be found.  Here is a God who is constantly calling out to us – but not necessarily with words.  Here is a God who surprises us with gifts like one morning coming into the connector or dining room and being surprised and confounded by an awesome glorious sunrise.  Or a double rainbow after a Florida rain.

Remember the analogy of the three-legged stool?  As individuals in community we need God and others …  the stool becomes lopsided or falls if any one leg is shortened or missing.  Community takes all of us, all the “legs”: God, me and all our members.  Sometimes we may feel it really doesn’t matter if I miss an activity – that the meals, card games, choral prayer will still go on whether I am present or not.  And, it will – and even in your name.  But, never ever feel that your presence doesn’t count or is not important and significant.

This celebration of the Trinity reminds us of the limitless possibilities of God – one God who cannot be contained, but must co-exist as three persons.  Let us seek God out in all His creativity, in varied manifestations – as Father, as Brother, as Counselor, as Companion and Friend – is waiting for us.  Ours is a God who wants to be found.

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

First Reading Deuteronomy 4:32-34;39-40       Second Reading Romans 8:14-17
Gospel Matthew 28:16-20                                     Intention Health Care Workers
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