Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

God

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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Listen

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I offer you two wee stories.  The first, a familiar story, one of many versions that can be found on the Internet.

Once upon a time was a man that prayed quietly, “God, speak to me.”  And a meadowlark sang.  But the man did not hear its song.  So, the man spoke aloud: “God, speak to me!”  And thunder rolled across the sky.  But the man wasn’t listening.

The man looked around and said, “God, let me see you.”  And the stars shone brightly in the night sky.  But the man noticed it not.  He shouted, “God, show me a miracle.”  And a babe was born.  But the man was unaware.

So, the man cried out in despair, “Touch me, God, and let me know that you are here!”  Whereupon God reached down and touched the man.  But the man brushed the butterfly off his shoulder and walked away.

The situation in the second story may have a familiar ring.  It could take place in any setting where two people live together.  But for sake of this story, we’ll say it’s a wife and husband team.  Each had been having difficulty communicating with the other.  And, each had concluded that it was the other who was hard of hearing.

So, one evening the wife sat in a chair on the far side of the room.  Her husband’s back was turned to her so he could not see her.  The room was very quiet; no TV was playing.  She whispered, “Can you hear me?”  There was no response.

Scooting a just a little closer, she asked again, “Can you hear me now?”  Still no reply.  Quietly she edged closer and whispered the same words, but still no answer.

Finally, she moved right in behind his chair and said, “Can you hear me now?”  To her surprise and chagrin, he responded with irritation in his voice, “For the fourth time, yes!”

And Jesus said: Whoever has ears to hear, ought to hear.

So, pondering both of these stories, we might ask:

+   When God speaks, do we make sure we don’t miss some part of the message because it is not packaged the way we expected?

+  Is the problem that God is not speaking?  Or, that we are not listening?

+  Or, is the third step where we fail?  Are we listening and hearing but, then, we fail to act on what we hear?

We are all familiar with Benedict’s opening word to us in his Rule.  It’s the same word that Jesus speaks in this Gospel: Listen.  According to a footnote in my Bible, the phrase “Let they who have ears, let them hear” (or a similar expression) appears approximately 14 times in Scripture.  I find this interesting because the number 14 is considered to be a symbol of salvation and deliverance.  For instance, the 14th day of the 1st Hebrew month is Passover, the celebration of the deliverance from death of the firstborn of the Children of Israel.  The angel passed by all the homes where the doorposts had been painted with blood.

That first word in Benedict’s Rule: LISTEN is the key to what he says in the last two chapters of the Rule.  If only that instruction, LISTEN, were heeded, what an impact it could make on our own happiness and it would foster peace between peoples.  Isn’t attentive listening the master key that opens our hearts for good zeal?  Deep, sensitive listening is the undergirding to mutual obedience.  The attentive listener can anticipate another’s needs; pick up on feelings, be aware that she’s pushed another’s “buttons” and recognize the need to change the course of the interaction.  To truly listen requires attentive spirit.  Celeste Headlee in her TED talk says [Celeste Headlee 10 ways to have a better conversation] “If your mouth is open, you’re not listening.  If you want to pontificate, write a blog.  Listen to people and be prepared to be amazed; everyone is an expert at something!”

Jesus and Benedict each offer us a challenging but attainable ideal.  When the monastic falls short of the ideal, we are expected to humbly ask forgiveness both from God and from our Sisters-in-Christ to whom we freely pledge to “form bonds of mutual love and respect and to call forth the best in one another.” (Community Philosophy statement 2018)

 

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

First Reading:   Isaiah 55: 10-11         Second Reading:  Romans 8:18-23 13: 1-9
Gospel:   Matthew 13:1-23
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My yoke is easy and my burden is light

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This Gospel is the same as that proclaimed a few weeks ago on the feast of the Sacred Heart.  Jesus offers us again: “Come to me – and I will give you rest – my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Let me ask you: Have you ever owned a woolen turtle-neck sweater?  And, you’re wearing it for the first time?  You soon discover that when you turn your head the collar scratches your neck?  Wear it too long and you may develop itchy red welts.  It looks so warm and cozy in the catalog and now there’s nothing you can do.  Your work day is just beginning; you have an important meeting and you don’t have a change of tops with you.  You get some relief if you sit perfectly still, for you see, it’s only when we wrestle with a “yoke” that it chaffs your neck.

Too often our first impulse is to complain about all I don’t have or what isn’t going my way.  How wonderful life would be if only she would shape up.  Have you ever tried to run a three-legged race?  Then you know the give and take it requires to match strides.  But until you do, you can wind up rolling on the ground and struggling more than once to get up without each pulling the other down.

The burden of ungratefulness weighs heavy on our hearts.  When I focus on what irks me about situations or about people and, sadly, forget all the gifts the flow into my life, the chaffing of the rope tied to the gunny sack I’ve loaded on my back will choke me.  How quickly it lifts when I consider all that I DO have.  When we ease up and take God’s view, the tussle eases.  Remember, the yoke “chaffs” until we give up the control we don’t really have anyway.

Jesus saw examples of this everywhere he went.  We marvel at Jesus’ powers of observation!  How many times must he have gazed out on a field watching a pair of yoked oxen dragging along a heavy cart or trudging to keep pace with a farmer sowing the next crop?  He saw the tussle and the back and forth between the pair, only hurting themselves with the push and pull of the yoke until a smooth rhythm was set.  It behooves us to listen attentively to Jesus’ words.  To hear His invitation, ‘Come to me’ is always an open invitation.  At any time, but maybe especially at times like now, when we and our country really need the peace, rest, protection of God’s love.  We ask Jesus to come into our hearts and fill our lives with gifts that only God can give us.  Remind yourself, especially when life is challenging, that by declaring that “My yoke is easy” Jesus means that whatever God offers us is custom-made to perfectly and personally fit us at this time in our lives.

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

Tuesday, July 11, we will celebrate the summer feast of St. Benedict in a special way.  Following the 10 a.m. Mass at the Abbey church, the Saint Leo University Student Affairs dept. are hosting the Sisters and Monks at a festive indoor BBQ lunch to mark the day. 

 

First Reading:  Zachariah 9:9-10         Second Reading:  Romans 8:9, 11-13
Gospel:   Matthew 11:25-30
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Whoever receives you, receives me

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This gospel reminds us that Jesus’ message is not about a way of life founded only on love and mercy.   Ours is a way of life that is, above all else, about the person of Jesus. Jesus claims a special place in our lives, more important than our closest family and dearest ones. Being a disciple is not a photo frame around my life.  It takes center stage, directing every moment of our lives.

Jesus assures us that even the smallest gesture of mercy to those in need will not go unnoticed. And the rewards promised by Jesus extend far beyond a donation to Daystar or AIM or a Christmas gift for the elderly – even beyond a hidden act of charity.  Jesus’ kind of mercy is more than civility and good manners.  It is about day-to-day living that echoes respect for all God’s creatures and all creation.  It is gratitude expressed in a smile, an acknowledgment of another’s presence, their service and their gifts.

Henry Nouwen says: “The right question to ask is not: ‘Am I strong enough to be a proclaimer of the gospel?’  The question should be: ‘Am I sufficiently weak enough?  Am I aware enough of my own weaknesses, with my own fragile humanness with its brokenness and rough pieces to identify with others?   Do I accept my condition, or do I try to hide it and end up being hardened, rude and unaccepting of others’ humanness? Do I recognize and accept that we are all on the same journey?’”

What attracts people to our mission is not what we do, as much as why we do it.   Jesus says: “Whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”   We pray that in our sincerity, our transparency in accomplishing our mission – our ministries – our manner of life  – we can honestly say: They who see me – see Jesus – the One who sends us.

Our storyteller today (Matthew) has Jesus giving his disciples some instructions about how they are to represent him.  He doesn’t baptize them first. He doesn’t have them memorize a creed. He doesn’t give them a vet’s manual so they can identify sheep from goats. He certainly doesn’t ask them about their age, culture, social circles, gender preferences or why he should hire them. He doesn’t even give them the assurance of salvation.  In fact, he tells them it’s not about them at all.  What he represents is even more important than life itself.  He tells them their task is to represent Him and in doing so they represent the ONE who sent Him.

So, that’s IT.  Be hospitable and everything else will follow.  Why did Jesus make hospitality the basis for his ministry?  Perhaps because it is essential to building relationships.  It is the first step to overcoming fear, finding understanding, and giving respect.  Ultimately it is the foundation of bringing about a peaceful world. It is the source of harmony.

Jesus lived to change the world and change it, he did – one person at a time.  To this day Christ lives in, with and through us to change the world one person at a time. Each act of kindness, each word of welcome, each act of hospitality binds us together in love and moves the universe that much closer to peace.  This is not the fragile peace that the world gives; but the peace of God that transcends selfishness, greed, hostility, prejudice, hatred and even war. This is the peace  which can begin with something as simple as a smile, a greeting, an act of hospitality.  If you doubt this, I challenge you to think of a time when you were shown unexpected hospitality that at least improved your day and may even have changed your life.

You see, hospitality is at the heart of our faith.  It starts with a heart open to the influence and working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  We welcome God’s “interference” (so to say) in our everyday dealings with each other.  We don’t make plans so much as pray to uncover our role in God’s grand plan.  If we miss cues, well, who is going to say our lines?   A Christian, a Benedictine, is simply someone who is hospitable, one who practices “radical hospitality.”  So shall it be among we who promise to “commit ourselves and our resources to respond with the compassion of Christ to the hungers of the people of God.”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 

May you have a happy and safe 4th of July!

 

 

First Reading:  2 Kings 4”8-11, 14-16 a         Second Reading:  Romans 6:3-4, 8-11
Gospel:   Matthew 10:37-42
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Sheep in the Midst of Wolves

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In this Gospel passage, we rejoin Jesus during the first year of His public ministry.  Jesus directs the disciples to keep their focus on God.  He reminds them that those who can harm the body do not have ultimate power; God does. Persecution and suffering may not be avoidable or prevented but Jesus’ reassures us that God is always and forever at our call to care for us and protect us.  He is using here a rabbinic argument technique which compares a light matter to a heavy one.  His idea here is to overcome fear and encourage the disciples, and us, to trust God.

We see in the gospels, how on the one hand, Jesus grants the disciples remarkable powers to heal the sick, exorcise demons, cleanse people with leprosy, even raise from the dead.  But at the same time, Jesus he warns the disciples they are to undertake their mission in complete vulnerability and dependence on God with an awareness that they go as “sheep in the midst of wolves.”

From the moment we are born, we know fear – we squall at the change in our environment.  The startle reflex is tested in a baby’s first well-baby check-up.   Separation anxiety develops by 6 months and may raise its ugly head later in life feelings of abandonment.  Over time we may grow to fear even those who are closest to us.

Jesus recognizes that fear may cause failure on our part.  Jesus’ disciples, and we, courageously leave the security of home and family to follow a dream.  Jesus is starkly realistic about the threats we will face and at the same time he builds the case for why we should not let fear win out or hinder our ministry.

Jesus offers us a life-time coverage insurance policy and he share with us how it will work.  “Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I will put in a good word for you with my heavenly Father.  But woe to you who deny me before others; I will shake my had and tell my Father: I do not know this one.” (paraphrased)

The parting words of the Gospel selection leave us hanging with the feeling of the very fear Jesus seeks to dispel.  But with confidence we can pray the sentiments of the Responsorial Psalm (Ps 69): “I pray to you, O Lord, for the time of your favor. In your great kindness answer me with your constant help.  In your great mercy turn toward me.  See, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts be ever merry!”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

May you be safe from violent weather and blistering heat… stay hydrated… on fluid as well as the Word of God.

 

First Reading:  Jeremiah 20:10-13         Second Reading:  Romans 5:12-15
Gospel:   Matthew 10:26-33
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