Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

James

Second Sunday of Lent

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“Jesus took Peter, James and his brother John off by themselves and led them 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.  Then 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 must 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…. Some days they are like a little pebble on our path.  Or, they can be like a grain of sand inside your shoe.  Other days, they are like boulders for which we need a backhoe to lever them inch by inch.  Everyone’s mountain is different. But, 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 and rest, and keep our eyes open to see God’s glory.  We must stay alert, careful not to misread the signs; have the insight to know that we are at the top.  We 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 you 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.  I don’t think the change was 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 the miracles of the moments of your life?

When you have had a “mountaintop experience” you don’t forget it!  When the veil was removed from your eyes and you beheld Jesus as He really is, you can recall every detail of the moment.  Maybe it was while you were on retreat, or a day of recollection, during adoration or Stations of the Cross, or out of the blue.  Maybe it was in the privacy of your own room or in a crowd.  Maybe it happens at the Consecration of the Mass or when you look across the dining table or at a confrere across the aisle in chapel.

God is already there; is right here NOW.   Jesus invites us up the mountain and 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.

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

 Have a good week.

 

 

First Reading:   Genesis 12:1-4a        Second Reading:  Timothy 1:8b-10
Gospel:   Matthew 17:109
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Miracles Happen Everyday

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I feel fairly certain that I am not the only among us who has awakened one day with an urgent feeling to call a particular person for a reason you can’t figure out.  Or have you found yourself driving a route that was not exactly the one you usually follow only to learn later on why your guardian angel planted that idea?  Do you think it possible the day Jesus asked three of his disciples to go with him up the mountain to pray was one of those days?  He just knew in his bones he HAD to go to that place and felt a need to invite Peter, James and John to accompany him.  It was only after they got to that level spot that He realized his Father’s intention.  It’s not quite clear to me if Jesus wanted company while he prayed or was hoping they’d join him in prayer.  In either case they were gifted with a glimpse of His glory.

But, first they had to agree to hike up that mountain with him.  Jesus calls each one of us to examine what mountain we must climb to see God’s glory.  You can call the mountains whatever you will – it’s your personalized mount to climb: hurdles, challenges, enticing temptations, near occasions of sin, quirks of personality, broken resolutions, pet peeves… Some days they are like a little pebble on our path that we casually kick aside.  And some days they’re tiny grains of sand inside our shoe.  They’re no bother when you are sitting still but the instant you start to move it quickly makes itself felt.  Other days, they are like boulders we can’t move with a backhoe.  Everyone’s mountain is different; but, to witness God’s glory, we must climb the mountain with our name on it.

And, when we reach the mountaintop, we must stay alert, have the insight to know that we are at the top.  The disciples could have missed Jesus’ transfiguration if they:

  • had not awakened at the right moment
  • had been too busy taking in the view
  • were wondering how they going to be up on this mountain anyway
  • and, who’s going to catch the fish for tonight’s supper.

You fill in the blanks…you know what it is that keeps you from seeing God’s glory.  What causes you to miss the “small miracles” of “everyday transfigurations” in yourself, in each other, in nature.  We need to thank God when we get to the top of the mountain; but we can hardly stay there.  There are more mountains to climb.  While you are at the top, if only for an instant, don’t miss the transfiguration.

Jesus did not become “more God” that day on the mountain.  I don’t think the change was so much in Jesus, as it was in the disciples.  They were ready.  They had climbed the mountain and now their eyes were opened to witness the miracle of the moment.  Transfigurations or “miracles” are all around us IF we but have the eyes to see.

  • Miracle of God’s graciousness when a person holds a door open for another
  • Miracle of God’s mercy when a mistake is not challenged in public
  • Miracle of God’s steadfastness when day after day others gather with me for communal exercises
  • Miracle of God’s perseverance when we come through tough times – individually and as a community
  • Miracle of God’s humility when reconciliation occurs
  • Miracle of God’s generosity when an offer is extended before the favor is voiced
  • Miracle of God’s humor when it rains on our picnics
  • Miracle of God’s artistry in the beauty of nature that surrounds us
  • And always, thank you, God, for the miracle of tomorrow: the gift of a new sunrise, a new slate, a new beginning.

Make your own litany of miracles.  God is already there.  Jesus invites us to follow His lead going up the mountain where we just need to open our eyes to witness the transfiguration.

~ Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

Have a pleasant week.  Celebrate “wearin’ of the green” with the Irish on Thursday, St. Patrick’s Day and the Italians on Saturday, St. Joseph Day – St. Joseph bread for the poor.  May God bless all peoples with cause to celebrate Divine Goodness.

 

First Reading:  Deuteronomy 26:4-10     Second Reading:  Romans 10:8-13
Gospel:  Luke 9:28b-36
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The Mercy of Unanswered Prayer

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We never know quite where people are going to go in life, or where we ourselves will end up, do we?  These two brothers, James and John, have aspirations for greatness.  Or did they?  In another version of this Gospel, it is Mama Zebedee that speaks up asking that her sons be Jesus’ closest assistants when He comes into his kingdom.  For her, it was a matter of family pride.  “Jesus, look at my boys here – they left me to follow you, so I depend on you to see that they don’t get left behind.”  It sounds to me like either Mama pushed her sons forward (you know how moms can be) or was the boys’ dream, too?  We can learn from the exchange between the mother and Jesus and Jesus and the boys.  For one thing, we don’t always know the full impact of what we are asking for.  Had James and John, or their mother, realized the full weight of what they had asked … they may have been the ones crucified next to Jesus on the cross.

Mama’s request is not that much different from some of our prayers, is it?  We remember that Jesus has told us, “Whatever you ask for in my name, I will do it.”  The catch is that when we ask in the name of Jesus, we are asking that His will prevail over ours.  Have you prayed and asked for something that you didn’t get and then later on realized that it was a real blessing that God didn’t answer your prayer in the way you wanted?  Maybe you prayed you make good time on the highway and later learned you might have been involved in a horrific accident had you been just a few miles down the road.  You were the recipient of what some refer to as “The Mercy of Unanswered Prayer.”  There’s an answer, and a gracious one – just not the one you were hoping for.  The gracious response comes for a merciful, loving Savior who knows what we really need.

This Gospel reminds us that like James and John we are still in “servant training.”  Jesus said to them, “Can you drink the cup that I drink?  Can you share in my fate?”  James and John are not ready yet for the responsibility their mother seeks for them.  At this point they need more training in life lessons.

James and John learned a lesson all believers learn.  We may receive some recognition from others, but we should not seek it.  Rather, the words of Jesus ring in our ears, “First things first.  Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be the slave of all.”

We hear many stories of kindness, heroism and servanthood.  One such story is about a woman who found a stack of checks and a deposit slip all in the name of “Stacy.”  Rather than looking for “Stacy,” the lady took the checks to the bank and deposited them in Stacy’s account.  She shared with the teller that the owner would likely come in soon all upset about losing the checks.  Tell her the money was found and deposited.  Then tell her to read this note which said, “Hi, Stacy, I found your deposit and brought it to the bank.  I don’t know if you take the train to work in the morning, but there is a homeless man who sits by the station nearby here every morning.  If you would like to pass on the good deed, he could use a cup of coffee and a bagel tomorrow morning.  Have a great day.”  That was a Monday.  The man was seen having a bagel and coffee every day the rest of the week.  It seems Stacy was very happy about having the lost money deposited in her account.

This weekend, Catholic parishes throughout the world are celebrating WORLD MISSION SUNDAY.  Collections are taken for the Society of the Propagation of the Faith in order to support the work and witness of the mission of the Church.  The liturgy speaks of the power of our witnessing to the difference Jesus makes in our lives.  Hopefully, our servant attitude will demonstrate and inspire others with a caring heart and justice in action for the poor and vulnerable. We trust in the power of prayer, don’t we?  We know that prayer is not magic.  God is not a Genie in a bottle.  We don’t say a prayer with the expectation that we will come out on the other end of our Lectio time fully grown in the Spirit, perfectly new, totally finished.  As St. Teresa Avila, (whom we celebrated on yesterday) says: “Prayer is not just spending time with God…if it ends there, it is fruitless.  Prayer is dynamic.  Authentic prayer changes us.”  And we know that it takes consistent effort to effect the words of a familiar hymn: “Make us true servants to all those in need, filled with compassion in thought, word and deed.” 

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

October is DOMESTIC AWARENESS month.  You are invited to participate in a Virtual Prayer Service on October 26th, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.  The service is sponsored by the East Pasco Ministerial Association.  Prayers will be of offered by the various NEPMA members including the Benedictine Sisters of Florida.  We all offer a prayer for our neighbors, the residents of Pasco county and people throughout our world.                   

To connect go to.

https://www.facebook.com/NorthEastPascoMinisterialAssociation

 

First Reading: Isaiah 53:10-11                   Second Reading: Hebrews 4:4-16
Gospel Reading: Mark 10:35-45
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Leadership through Service

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This lesson we just heard from Mark is interesting in that it differs from how Matthew related it.  Maybe it tells us something about the two evangelists.  In Matthew’s version of the story, it was the mother of James and John, who asks Jesus to give her sons positions of importance in the coming Kingdom.  Matthew must have thought that it was unbecoming for an apostle to make such a bold request.  Mark, however, appears to be more honest.  He wants us to understand that the disciples were very ordinary people.

Mark also gives us some insight into the character of James and John.  They may have been lowly fishermen but they certainly were not shy about taking this opportunity to look out for their future.  Like the other disciples, they believed in Jesus.  They were confident of his leadership – they just wanted be sure they were included.  They wanted to ride on his coat tails.  We all have seen that … people who are impressed with titles – who want to be buddy-buddy with the boss just because she has the title and they think she has the power.  Jesus did have the power but He wanted to impress upon the two brothers the price they’d have to pay for the privilege they wanted …  the service they’d have be prepared to render.

Jesus’ response to James and John reveals what He means when he speaks of greatness.  His definition is inevitably linked to service.  That which makes a person great is not their ability to rule over others.  Rather, it is the ability to invest one’s self for the welfare of others.  In a world where most people want to put as little as is possible into life and to get out as much as possible, our Lord speaks of a better way.

Jesus calls us to that “better way” today.  Only when we are willing to put more into life than we take out – to put service to others in a place of honor-only then, Jesus tells us, are we worthy to be called his followers.

The author Sue Monk Kidd says in her memoirs: we humans need stories almost as much as we need the air to breath.  Jesus often began: Sit down, let me tell you a story.  So, listen now to a new story with the same meaning as the gospel we just heard.

Once upon a time (that tells you it’s going to be a pretend story or a fable)… Well, once upon a time, in a far-off country, a king had twin sons.  One was strong and handsome.  The other was intelligent and wise.  As the ruler aged, everyone speculated about which son would be the king’s successor – the strong son or the wise son.

In this land, the sign of kingship was a royal ring.  Just before the king died, he had a copy of the royal ring made and presented one ring to each of his twin sons.  The chief advisors to the king asked him, “How shall we know which son wears the authentic royal ring?”

“You shall know,” answered the king, “because the chosen one will reveal his right to rule by his self-giving service to our people.”

[Richard Carl Hoefler, Insights, October 1988]

Sitting down, Jesus called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress
First Reading   Isaiah 53:10-11             Second Reading   Hebrews 4:14-16    
Gospel Reading  Mark 10:35-45 (shorter form Mark 10:42-45)
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