Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

God

Go Into My Vineyard

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“Go into my vineyard and I will give you what is just.”

 

It strikes me that this Gospel must be a source of reassurance to those that some describe as “late-in-life or delayed vocations”.    When the 5 o’clock whistle blew the persons in the parable figured they’d been overlooked AGAIN.  “I don’t I look strong enough?  What will I say to my wife and children?”  The parable describes these hopefuls as “standing around.” But if you have ever seen day-laborers gathered, hopefully waiting for a grove owner’s bus, you’ve seen people weary and discouraged before the day begins.   They sit on a bench or crouched on their haunches.  Some perk up when the bus pulls in. Hope rises, then falls, as the boss chooses a handful of workers for that day.  Experience warns the overlooked once again that there’s no room for them on the bus.

But they don’t completely give up. They live in hope.  They wait well into the day.  Until 5 o’clock, the parable says.  Staring into space, once again picturing their children with hunger in their eyes.  But wait!  Maybe (just maybe) they could pick up a few hours work before dark.  Their ears pricked up when they hear the voice of the landowner, the Master, speaking to them: “Why are you still here?  You, too, go into my vineyard.”  They labor until the whistle blows marking the end of the day in the fields.

Those who came late have worked only a small ratio of the day compared to those who were on the first bus. What a surprise when they discreetly peeked into their pay envelopes.  They’d been thinking, “This owner’s usually generous.  Wonder how much I got? Will it put supper on the table?  Whoa!  Look again.  It’s not possible that’s a full day’s wages.”   But it is!

The whole Gospel story harkens back to a line in the First Reading from the Prophet Isaiah: (God speaks) “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways.  The Master continues emphasizing how far apart God’s thoughts are from ours. “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts.”  With that consideration in mind, (that God’s thoughts are a far cry from our earth-bound thoughts) make the jump to the last line in the Gospel parable: “Am I not free to do as I wish with my own riches?  Are you envious because I am generous?”  Has God ever had to asked you that question: Are you envious because I am generous?

We shouldn’t be found sitting idly on the bench we call life.  Or worse, grumbling over “poor me”.  Nor can we stand around idle waiting to be hired.  The Rule of Benedict offers us a good personal check list:

Benedict exhorts us: Honor all persons with respect.   Accommodate a diversity of personality styles.  Do not hold your Sisters hostage with any form of tyranny or tardiness nor weigh down the group with grumbling.  No favoritism will be awarded due to rank or status, between rich and poor.  Any favoritism should be afforded to the weak and the sick.  Follow what you consider better for others.   Respect all equally!

In regard to respect for individual pathways to holiness, Benedict says in RB 73: there is always more you can do. Those who can do more, should do so.  “As observant and obedient monk, we blush for shame at being so slothful, so unobservant, so negligent.  Are you hastening toward your heavenly home?   Then, with Christ’s help, keep this little rule.  After that, you can set out for the loftier summits of teaching and the virtues, and under God’s protection you will reach them.”

Can you hear the landowner asking you: “Why are you standing here idle all day?  Go into my vineyard and I will give you what is just.”

 

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

Welcome to Fall 2023…  cooler weather and

beautiful change of season

 

 

 

 

Readings:  Isaiah 55:6-9    Philippians 1:20-24, 27a
Gospel:   Matthew 20:1-16a

 

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Forgiveness is always a choice

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In this Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, the disciple Peter comes to Jesus asking a question that’s troubling him. “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?  Up to seven times?”  Part of the Rabbinical teaching was that people should forgive those who offended them three times.  So, Peter, was trying to be more generous than the Rabbis.  Maybe trying to impress Jesus by suggesting seven times which was considered a perfect number.

Jesus’ response (seventy times seven) surprises Peter.   Seventy times seven!  Seventy times the perfect number is an endless number of times.  We should forgive with sincerity, no matter how many times someone asks.  True forgiveness doesn’t keep records.  True forgiveness does not say: “Sure, I’ll forgive you, but I’ll never forget this!”  Or, “Yes, I can forgive you this time but this is the last time.”

The servant in Jesus’ story seemed so sincere when he begged for mercy, a little time to repay his loan, that the king gave him more than he requested.  He erased the man’s whole debt. And what did the servant do?  He went out, found one of his co-workers who owed him money, laid into him and began to choke him.  When his co-worker begged for leniency, a little time for repayment, the unforgiving servant refused the gift he had just be granted.

When the king heard this, you can imagine his reaction.  He became furious, called the unforgiving servant in, and turned him over to the jailers to be tortured until he paid back all he owed.  One wonders how being thrown into prison enables one to pay back a debt.  It’s next to impossible unless the person sells off everything they own, or if their relatives and friends set up a “Go Fund” on Facebook.   Jesus’ point is that forgiveness is not about quantity.  The lesson is clear.  If we hoard God’s mercy for ourselves while showing no mercy to others, we risk forfeiting the effects of God’s mercy in our own lives.

Forgiveness is always a choice.   When we realize how much God has forgiven us, over and over without keeping a record, shouldn’t that realization alone produce in us a generous spirit of empathy and compassion toward others?   Twenty-four hours a day, day in and day out, we hear and see evidence of acts of domestic and national terrorism and violence as well as devastation wrought by natural disasters.  We see how violence begets violence, and hate begets hate.  This practice of an “eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” only results in everyone ending up blind and toothless.

We can each begin where we are, in our little world, our family, our community, our friends.  We can make a start with the first step Jesus gave us. GO!  Don’t wait for the other to make an approach.  Jesus assures us if we follow this first directive Jesus gave us, we’ll come to be like the child who was saying her bedtime prayers. As she went down the list of family members, asking God to bless them one-by-one, she omitted her sister’s name. Her mother injected:  “Why didn’t you pray for Susie?” She looked up but paused.  What didn’t her mother understand?  “I’m not going to ask God to bless Susie because she broke my doll’s arm.”  “But,” her mother said, “Don’t you remember Jesus said to forgive your enemies?” “That’s the trouble,” the child said with a sob.   “Susie isn’t my enemy.  She’s my sister.”

 

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

 

Readings:  Sirach 27:30-28:9       Romans 14:7-9
Gospel:   Matthew 18:21-35
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Who Do You Say That I Am

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You!  Yes, I mean you!  Jesus is asking you: “Who do YOU say that I am?”  He’s not looking for the answer you learned at your Mama’s knee or the Catholic catechism answer.  Nor does he want what the books say or the bumper stickers, or the easily accessible Internet.

Jesus made his first question easy – who do people say that I am?  The disciples parroted back what they’d heard others say, but Jesus pushes them to move to what they are hearing within their own being: “But you, who do you say that I am?”  Like the disciples, each of us must answer the question for ourselves based on our own lived faith experience AND God’s word revealed in the privacy of our lectio-moments of intimate conversation with God.

How we answer Jesus’ question “Who do you say that I am?” has everything to do with who WE are.  In some ways our answer says as much or more about us than who Jesus is to us.  It reveals how we live and what we stand for.  It guides our decisions, and determines the actions we take, the words we speak.  We need to constantly remind ourselves: It’s not what people look at, it’s not what we say.  It’s what people hear, how they interpret, what they remember.

In some sense there is no “once and for all time, finally and forever” answer to Jesus’ query: “Who do you say that I am?  We are constantly engaging his question and in so doing, we not only discover Jesus anew.  We discover ourselves anew.

During the coming week you are invited to look into a mirror (real or imaginary) and turn the question around.  Ask Jesus: “Who do you say that I am?  Why do you love me so much?”

 

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

Have a good week!  Be safe from the coming storm and pray for folks who may not be so fortunate.

 

 

 

Gospel:   Matthew 16:13-20
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Come!

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It is the 4th hour of the night; sometime between 3 and 6 a.m.  The sun is just beginning to peek over the horizon.  Earlier, Jesus had shepherded his disciples into a boat and pushed them off deeper into the lake.  Jesus himself headed toward one of his favorite places for solitude, up the hillside by himself.  Out on the lake, until a few minutes ago, everyone in the boat was asleep or in that twilight state between sleep and alertness; that brief moment when you’re not quite sure if you’re awake or still dreaming.  Suddenly, the rocking of the boat shook them all awake.  Gasping for air they shouted to each other: “Where’s Jesus?”

Then Peter spied Jesus in the mist and heard “Come!”  At Jesus’ beckoning, Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.  As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, his feet found steady grounding even in the liquid churning sea.  It’s difficult, isn’t it, to keep your eyes on the goal when there is a whirlwind surrounding you?  But, remember, as long as we keep our eyes focused on Jesus, on our overall goal, and on each other, we’ll stay afloat with a tangible sense of peace.  Don’t disregard that fact that it was at dawn when Jesus came toward his disciples walking on the water.  You may have to squint until your eyes adjust to the darkness to make out clearly your surroundings.  But listen!  It’s not a ghost.  There is a whisper that, strange as it seems, is booming over the sound of the threatening waves of the storms in life: “Do not be afraid.  It is I.”

Jesus is reaching out a hand toward us, but it will fall empty to his side if we do not reach out in return.  Jesus, in the person of our donors, reaches out with eager hands to help us; sometimes in ways we may not be sure we really need.  For the gift to be received we figuratively grasp their hands in acceptance of their generosity.  We strive to respond without fear when we see them walking on the water toward us with their gift of self.  Like impulsive Peter, we speak up: “If that is really you, Lord, command me to come to you on the water.”

There is a story about Mark Twain on one of his visits to the Holy Land.  He and his wife were in Capernaum.  One moonlit night they were walking along the Sea of Galilee and decided to take a romantic boat ride.  Twain asked how much the charge would be.  Assuming the couple to be wealthy Americans the owner of the boat told them an outrageous fee.  Mark Twain thanked him and walked away.  After a few steps he turned to his wife, “Now I know why Jesus walked!”

At some point in our lives, we just have to leave behind the safety and security of our boats.  We have to step into the realm of the unknown.  We must be willing to trust our life to our God’s care.  It’s difficult to leave our safety nets.  We work hard to insulate ourselves from the danger of failure.  The threat of the unknown can be paralyzing.  It’s pretty comfortable in the boat we’ve constructed.  It’s not fancy but we have everything we need.  Then God invites us to step out of our boat and venture into an unknown future.

Gesturing with his hand, Jesus repeats, “Come.”  Why did Jesus not go to Peter; why did he beckon him to “come”?  That’s the lesson for us.  We can’t sit, as they say, on our laurels, in our boat and do nothing.  When the storms of life are blowing all around us, Jesus says: COME.  Like a parent coaxing an infant to take a first step.  “You”, Jesus says: COME; Come apart and rest in Me.  I am always within reach.  Grab that life jacket or that raft or an inner tube and get those arms and legs moving.  SWIM!  Pray, yes, but don’t forget to paddle, swim or row.  Take your time if you need to; catch your breath.  And don’t worry about calming the storm; I’ll take care of that.  You just calm yourself.  Look around.  You will spot me in the mist, beckoning to you: COME!

 

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

Please join us this week as we pray that all people will realize the profound impact of gun violence. Help us to be peaceful and diplomatic in times of trouble. Guide us, we pray towards peace, and away from all forms of disrespect and violence.

   We also call to mind this week the peoples of India who, on August 15th will be celebrating the 77th Independence Day, marking 76 years of freedom from British rule. In India, the people are suffering the effects of the Monsoon season: heavy rains and flooding; loss of crops in infestation of creatures seeking higher ground. 

In your prayers bet God’s mercy and kindness for the peoples who are suffering the devastation of fires, flooding and extremes of heat.

 

First Reading:   1 Kings 19:9a,11-13a         Second Reading:  Romans 9:1-5
Gospel:   Matthew 14:22-33
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Transfiguration Sunday

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In the chapter before this Gospel passage Jesus asked His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”  They came up with a variety of answers.  Then Jesus asked “But what about you?  Who do you say that I am?”  You’ll remember Simon Peter’s answer, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Well, Peter was correct.  But, a couple verses later we see that Peter still did not understand the full meaning of the declaration he had made.  When Jesus predicts His death, Peter takes him aside and rebukes him. “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!”  To which Jesus replied: “Get behind me Satan!  You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

In today’s Gospel of the Transfiguration story of the uncovering of Jesus’ face and clothing reveal who Jesus really is!  Peter, James and John witnessed, if only for a moment, the glory of God revealed in the Son.  This was the true Jesus.  Time and stick-to-a-tive-ness in the relationship strengthened the bonds of friendship and discipleship.

The same goes for us.  Every time we come together for worship or any communal gathering or interaction with another is an occasion for a mountaintop experience.  Maybe it happens for you every day at the Consecration of the Mass or when you look across the chapel or the dining table.  Pope Francis challenges us in his July “Pope Video” saying: “If you are the same at the end of Mass as you were at the beginning, something is wrong.”  The transfiguration, in the exact way it happened in today’s Gospel, happened only once.  But the disciples had many more mountaintop experiences when the REAL Jesus revealed His fullness little by little to those who took the time and interest to stay with him and to follow his lead.  That’s how we build relationships, by spending time with each other; by getting to know and understanding the other, experiencing life with the other.  It’s how we live out our vow of stability.

We manage to do this when we engage in the exchange at the reception of the Eucharist.  Eye to eye we exchange a proclamation, not simply an announcement, of what we hold in our hands and on our lips AND who is standing right before us.  “Body of Christ.  Blood of Christ!”  The minister greets us (hear that, greets US.)  And our “AMEN”, spoken confidently, affirms our belief that we are indeed “the Body of Christ.”  And in turn, it reminds us that the person holding the Precious Cup out to us is the “Body of Christ” standing right here before us in flesh and blood.  But it can become routine, just words we’ve memorized.  Our AMEN says we believe Jesus is here but does it move us beyond the cup to lock eyes with the person who stands in front of us?

If only, every time we open our mouth we were conscious that it is Christ using us to extend His love.  If our ears heard not simply the words spoken by the other but could sense God saying, “This is my beloved child in whom I am well pleased; hear her.”  How often words might die on our lips before they stir the air with sentiments that are not Christ-like.  It would be the death, wouldn’t it, of criticism or harshness of tone; of hurtful and negative comments about what’s over and done, out of our control.

Benedict realizes that “peace on earth” is a utopian dream even in a community of like-minded, good-hearted people.  He bades the superior to inspect beds for contraband like food and knives.  He instructs community officials what to do with recalcitrant members.  He recommends the recitation of the Our Father three times daily in petition for forgiveness for human frailty.

Peace most assuredly is our vision and mission.  Thus, we aim to extend the peace that we wish for each other at Mass, to flow throughout the day and beyond our doors.  We echo the words of Peter, James and John: “Lord, it is good for us to be here.”  But Jesus reminds us not to get too comfortable: “Rise,” he says, “Tell the vision to no one.”  So, how do we spread the Good News?  Live it! It’s that simple!

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

August 6 was our monthly day of Recollection with Holy Hour and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrement.  We pray also for our families and relatives, Oblates, guests, and benefactors.   May peace reign in our world!

 

 

First Reading:   Daniel 7:9-10,13-15         Second Reading:  Peter 1:16-19
Gospel:   Matthew 17:1-9
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If God came to you in a dream…

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If tonight God came in your dream and told you to ask for one thing and one thing only, what would it be? 

 

Once upon a time there was a farmer who owned a small parcel of land. The land was stony, but the farmer worked hard, and for a while he was blessed with a certain happiness and contentment. But then he began to feel that there was something missing in his life, and he felt empty as a result. One evening a stranger passed that way and asked for a night’s lodgings. The farmer was grateful for the distraction.

Around the fire that night the stranger began to talk about diamonds. He told the farmer that if he could find a diamond, even one no bigger than the nail of his little finger, he would never have to do another type of work. The farmer was very impressed. He didn’t get a wink of sleep all that night thinking about diamonds.

Next day the stranger departed leaving the farmer more than a little unhappy. As the days went by he got more and more restless. He began to neglect his farm. Finally, he sold it cheaply, and went off roaming the world in search of diamonds. He travelled far and wide but never found any.  Meanwhile, the man who bought his farm was out ploughing. One day the plough turned up a stone which shone in the sunlight. It turned out to be a very valuable diamond. When he went back to the spot, he found lots more. It turned out to be one of the richest diamond mines ever found.

Come to think about it, our story is much like that. Many years ago, perhaps over a hundred or so, our predecessors recognized a treasure across the street from their home.  There was this piece of land with a stunning view and a perpetual breeze, awesome sunrises and sunsets.  They buried it with a citrus grove and went out with joy to serve the people of God in many places.  And, when the time was right, our time, we sold what we had and came back with joy to reclaim our treasured “pearl.”

When Jesus told his story He asked the disciples: “Do you understand all these things?”  Like the disciples we answer without hesitation, “Yes.”  But, maybe our voices quiver and there’s a question mark in our expression.  But, there is also the conviction in our hearts that we will extend God’s kingdom wherever we live, whatever the restrictions we struggle with, whatever the types of resources we have at hand or are missing.

 The Kingdom of God was always clear to Jesus but to us it will always be somewhat mysterious.  As we are formed in the mind of Jesus – and identify with His mindset, His vision becomes ever more clear to us.  In everyday terms, we who live here in east Pasco County Florida, have not changed our mission or our vision and likely will not change.  The words of a Quaker hymn come to mind: “We bend and we bow and shan’t be ashamed”.  Our mission remains the same; it just takes on a new shape.  Why did our Sisters come from Pennsylvania to settle in this area?  Was it not to feed the education hungers of the local children?  Long before we wrote formalized philosophy statements and directional goals, our Sisters “fed hungers” in a variety of roles in Texas and Louisiana and from the top to the bottom of Florida. They worked in internal ministries and as nurses and home caretakers, seamstresses, coif makers, packing house workers, gardeners, … you name it, someone probably tried it.  Our aim is, and has always been, to foster life in community – to BE community for each other: to pray and work; to interact with the care and respect St. Benedict describes in his Rule, particularly in RB Chapter 72. “Be the first to show respect to the other”.  Or in our own words: to be the first “to respond with the compassion of Christ to the hungers of the other.”

Jesus presents to us a variety of examples to help us conceptualize His Kingdom: a hidden treasure, a box filled with gold coins buried somewhere in a field; the Kingdom as a precious pearl, a jewel found by a businessman who astutely sold everything he owned in order to buy it; a fishing net filled with fish both good and bad, wheat and weeds growing together.  The illustrations abound: leaven in dough, light, salt, a seed, a ripe harvest, a pearl, a royal feast and a wedding banquet. These parables all have to do with a person finding something of such tremendous value that they are willing to give up everything they have to possess it.  The Gospel reading concludes with a curious statement about the scribe who understands the kingdom of heaven.   How do we identify God’s Kingdom here on earth?

 

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

First Reading:  1 Kings 3:5,7-12         Second Reading:  Romans 8:28-30
Gospel:   Matthew 13:44-52

 

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