Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

Gabriel

“I must be personally present in my gift.”

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When is the last time you sought a big rock to dash your unruly thoughts against?  Uttered something in a language you never studied?  Or, like what happened to St. Benedict, had a goblet crack down rim to stem and spill out its poisoned contents?  After all we live at HOLY NAME monastery and the evangelist Mark quotes Jesus telling us these will be our signs if we are baptized and believe in the Holy Name!  And, on top of that we have the command to: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.”

A little overwhelming, isn’t it?  But we had best take the message to heart all the while assured by the words in the Gospel: Jesus took his seat at the right hand of God but they (meaning we) went forth and preached EVERY-WHERE, while the Lord worked with them.”

Praise God the full brunt of the message does not fall on us alone.  But we must take seriously our commitment to shoulder our share of the burden to spread the Good News to all with whom we come into contact. We write a new page of the gospel each day through all that we do and by whatever we say.  Others read what we express with our lives.  We express what we believe in a variety of ways in multiple community documents:  in our PHILOSOPY statement, our MISSION statement, our VISION statement, our CORPORATE COMMITMENT and our CORE VALUES.  We recognize and acknowledge our responsibility to harken to Jesus’ call personally and to contribute to its fulfillment in the context of our Benedictine vocation.

There is an ancient beautiful story about the ascension of Jesus into heaven. When the grand welcome ceremony was over, the angel Gabriel quietly approached Jesus and shared some doubts.  “I know that only very few in Palestine are aware of the great work of human salvation you have accomplished through your suffering, death and resurrection. But the whole world should know and appreciate it and become your disciples, acknowledging you as their Lord and Savior. What is your plan of action?”  Jesus answered, “I have told all my apostles to tell other people about me and preach my message through their lives. That’s all.” “Suppose they don’t do that,” Gabriel responded. “What’s your Plan B?” Jesus replied, “I have no other plan; I am counting on them.” That fanciful story reminds us that Jesus is counting on each one of us to make Him known, loved and accepted by others around us.

Our mission is both easy and hard: easy to understand but hard to carry out.  Words of Pope Benedict XV express well the attitude and the necessity of self-giving: “My deep personal sharing in the needs and sufferings of others becomes a sharing of my very self with them….  I must give to others not only something that is my own, but my very self. I must be personally present in my gift.”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

Congratulations Graduates, one and all. 

Happy Mother’s Day, ALL who “mother” us in a variety of roles – thank YOU!

 

 

First Reading:   Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11         Second Reading:  Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13
Gospel:   Mark 16:15-20
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Ascension

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So when is the last time you “grabbed the devil by the tail?”  Or sought a big rock to dash your unruly thoughts against?  Uttered something in a language you never studied?  Or, as it happened to St. Benedict, had a goblet crack from rim to stem and spill out its poisoned contents?  After all, we live at HOLY NAME Monastery and the evangelist Mark quotes Jesus telling us these will be our signs if we are baptized and believe in the holy name!  And, on top of that, we have the command to: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.”

A little overwhelming, isn’t?  But we had best take this message to heart all the while assured by the words that follow in the Gospel: Jesus took his seat at the right hand of God, but they (meaning we) went forth and preached EVERYWHERE, while the Lord worked with them.”

Praise God the full brunt of the message does not fall on us alone.  But we must take seriously our commitment to shoulder our share of the burden to spread the Good News to all with whom we come into contact.  We express this in a variety of ways in multiple community documents:  in our PHILOSOPY statement, our MISSION statement, our VISION statement, our CORPORATE COMMITMENT and our CORE VALUES.  We recognize and acknowledge our responsibility to harken to Jesus’ call personally and to contribute to its fulfillment in the context of our Benedictine vocation.

There is an ancient and beautiful story about the ascension of Jesus into heaven. When the grand welcome ceremony was over, the angel Gabriel quietly approached Jesus and shared some doubts.  “I know that only very few in Palestine are aware of the great work of human salvation you have accomplished through your suffering, death and resurrection. But the whole world should know and appreciate it and become your disciples, acknowledging you as their Lord and Savior. What is your plan of action?”  Jesus answered, “I have told all my apostles to tell other people about me and preach my message through their lives. That’s all.” “Suppose they don’t do that,” Gabriel responded. “What’s your Plan B?” Jesus replied, “I have no other plan; I am counting on them.” That fanciful story reminds us that Jesus is counting on each one of us to make him known, loved and accepted by others around us.

Perhaps what this means can best be illustrated within another story.

A man was stumbling along in a desert, thirsty and with little hope of survival.  All he had was one small disposable bottle of water.  When it was gone, he knew that certain death lay in store for him.  But, wonder of wonders, as he topped the next dune, he saw what he took to be an old decrepit shed.  He dragged himself on his elbows over to it, hoping he might find some source of water.

Ah, thank God, there was a pump outside the shack.  Frantically, the man pumped the handle.  Nothing happened.  Then his eyes fell on a crude hand-lettered sign that read: “This pump must be primed to work.”  His dreams of survival seemed dashed.

He held up what was left of the bottle of water, rolled it across his cheek, cuddled it, kissed it and prayed for faith.  Then he acted.  He primed the pump with all the water he had.  He closed his eyes and pumped the handle.  Wonder of wonders out came streams of fresh, cool water!  He was saved because he gave of all he had.  (Based on a story in Unity Magazine November 1986).

Pope Benedict XV expressed well the attitude and necessity of self-giving:  “My deep personal sharing in the needs and sufferings of others becomes a sharing of my very self with them….  I must give to others not only something that is my own, but my very self, I must be personally present in my gift.”

Like the man who sacrificed his last drop of water on the rusty, frozen pump we step out in faith with no plan B in mind.  In the words of a hymn made popular several years ago by the Medical Mission Sisters: “Give it all you’ve got!”

God loves a cheerful giver, give it all you’ve got.

He loves to hear you laughing when you’re in an awkward spot.

When the odds add up against you,

It’s time to stop and sing:  Praise God to praise Him is a joyous thing!

 

~Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

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Contemplating the Assumption of Mary

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Contemplating the Assumption of Mary

From Fr. Ed Lamp – August 15, 2021

Original Author Andy Alexander, S.J. – January 1, 2000

Mary looked over at John writing at his table and smiled.  He had always looked so young and the years had not aged him very much.  She could understand why Jesus had such a special place in his heart for John, with his gentle ways and his easy love for people.

She gathered her cloak around her against the cold and closed her eyes as she thought about the many years of her life.  So much of it was beyond understanding and yet she believed it and accepted it.  She had been given a courage, faith and humility that could only be a gift from God.  How else could she have overcome her fears and said “Yes” when Gabriel asked her to be the mother of the Savior?  Her son, Jesus, had been a wonder in her life.  She had not always understood all of what he did but she knew he had a special role on earth.  Their hearts had been bound together in faith and an unbreakable love.  She had watched him leave home, teach, heal and challenge the authorities.  Her heart had been pierced with such sorrow when he was arrested and tortured and finally put to death.  Her faith in the Father had carried her through those days, and the incredible joy-filled days that came after.

“Imma?” John, said using the most intimate Hebrew form of “mother.”  He laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.  “You are so quiet these days.”  She smiled at him with affection.  “Dearest John, my life has been long and I have so much to be grateful for.  These years together have been so full.”

It was true.  In the weeks after he had risen, Jesus had spoken to them of a new order, a new way of life.  She had resisted the urge to cling to him and not let him go again.  She had to trust.  “I will be with you always,” he had said.  In her heart, she knew it was true and once again opened her life fully to God’s will.  She had watched with joy as Jesus was taken up into the clouds.  In the years that had followed, his message and life had given hope and meaning to a growing number of followers.  She had spoken to so many of the disciples and followers in those times.

Jesus was in her life, too, in a vivid and very real way.  She felt his presence with her as she grew tired.  She spoke to him from her heart constantly, just as she did when he was on earth.  She felt a strong connection that was as unexplainable as it was real.  She closed her eyes again in thought.

“Imma,” came the familiar loving voice.  “Blessed are you among women.”   She knew it was different.  She was not in John’s house but with Jesus, standing in a place that filled her with a different kind of joy.  “My son,” she said softly as they embraced.  She felt his cheek firmly against hers.

She did not know how or why.  There were no questions and no answers for this.  He had promised her she would be with him and the Father.  She touched her body in wonder and knew she had been drawn to a different place by power not her own.  It was her same body and yet different, more vibrant.

“You said ‘Yes’ to the Father’s request, Imma,” Jesus said to her.  “Your life was prepared in a special way and you followed it with such faith.  You made my work possible.”

Mary knew that somehow she was experiencing the resurrection in a way others would have to wait for.  As she had so many times before, she paused and opened her heart in prayer.  “The Almighty has done great things for me.  Holy is his Name.”

 

In your prayers please remember the people of Haiti.  Early reports say that the earthquake there (7.2 magnitude) caused catastrophic damage with many people still trapped in the rubble.  We pray for the health and safety of everyone impacted and for the emergency responders and medical teams as they work during this devastating time to help people in the aftermath.

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Ascension of our Lord

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So when is the last time you “grabbed the devil by the tail?”  Or sought a big rock to dash your unruly thoughts against?  Uttered something in a language you never studied?  Or, like happened to St. Benedict, had a goblet crack down rim to stem and spill out its poisoned contents?  After all we live at HOLY NAME monastery and the evangelist Mark quotes Jesus telling us these will be our signs if we are baptized and believe in the holy name!  And, on top of that we have the command to: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.”

A little over-whelming, right?  But we best take this message to heart all the while assured by the words that follow in the Gospel: Jesus took his seat at the right hand of God, but they (meaning we) went forth and preached EVERYWHERE, while the Lord worked with them.”

Praise God the full brunt of the message does not fall on us alone.  But we must take seriously our commitment to shoulder our share of the burden to spread the Good News to all with whom we come into contact.  We express this in a variety of ways in multiple community documents:  in our PHILOSOPHY statement, our MISSION statement, or VISION statement, our CORPORATE COMMITMENT and our CORE VALUES.  We recognize and acknowledge our responsibility to harken to Jesus’ call personally and to contribute to its fulfillment in the context of our Benedictine vocation.

There is an ancient beautiful story about the ascension of Jesus into heaven.  When the grand welcome ceremony was over, the angel Gabriel quietly approached Jesus and shared some doubts.  “I know that only very few in Palestine are aware of the great work of human salvation you have accomplished through your suffering, death and resurrection. But the whole world should know and appreciate it and become your disciples, acknowledging you as their Lord and Savior.  What is your plan of action?”  Jesus answered, “I have told all my apostles to tell other people about me and preach my message through their lives. That’s all.” “Suppose they don’t do that,” Gabriel responded. “What’s your Plan B?” Jesus replied, “I have no other plan; I am counting on them.”  That fanciful story reminds us that Jesus is counting on each one of us to make him known, loved and accepted by others around us.

Perhaps what this means can best be illustrated within another story…

A man was stumbling along in a desert, thirsty and with little hope of survival.  All he had was a one small disposable bottle of water.  When it was gone, he knew that certain death lie in store for him.  But, wonder of wonders, as he topped the next dune, he saw what he took to be an old decrepit shed.  He dragged himself on this elbows over to it, hoping he might find some source of water.

Ah, thank God, there was a pump outside the shack.  Frantically, the man pumped the handle.  Nothing happened.  Then his eyes fell on a crude hand-lettered sign that read: “This pump must be primed to work.”  His dreams of survival seemed dashed.

He held up what was left of the bottle of water, rolled it across his cheek, cuddled it, kissed it and prayed for faith.  Then he acted.  He primed the pump with all the water he had.  He closed his eyes and pumped the handle.  Wonder of wonders out came streams of fresh, cool water!  He was saved because he gave of all he had.  (Based on a story in Unity Magazine November 1986.)

Pope Benedict XV expresses well the attitude and necessity of self-giving: “My deep personal sharing in the needs and sufferings of others becomes a sharing of my very self with them….  I must give to others not only something that is my own, but my very self, I must be personally present in my gift.”

Like the man who sacrificed his last drop of water on the rusty, frozen well we step out in faith with no plan B in mind.  In the words of a hymn made popular several years ago by the Medical Mission Sisters: “Give it all we’ve got!”

God loves a cheerful giver, give it all you’ve got.

He loves to hear you laughing when you’re in an awkward spot.

When the odds add up against you,

It’s time to stop and sing:  Praise God, to praise Him is a joyous thing!

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress
First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11                             Second Reading  Ephesians 1:17-23 or Ephesians 4:1-13 (shorter form: Ephesians 4:1-7,11-13)
Gospel Reading  Mark 16:15-20
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