Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

Luke

Which One Are You?

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cookieman-personal-touches-matter27th Sunday (October 2)

First Reading  Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4      Second Reading  2 Timothy 1:6-8,13-14
Gospel  Luke 17:5-10

In this Gospel the disciples ask Jesus for an increase of faith. The faith that is being asked for is not to have a better knowledge of our catechism. What is being asked for is a much deeper and stronger trust and confidence that our God is near us – the firm conviction that God will always take care of his own.

Our participation in God’s plans is God’s grace to us—nothing more, nothing less. Even when God works wonders through us, with our mustard seed-sized faith, we must not seek praise.  When we are graced enough to cooperate with God, the work we do is nothing more than our obligation as faithful stewards of what God has given us.   And yet, our faith enables us to believe that what we have offered in service to God, as his servants, can be made to produce (like that mulberry tree in the midst of the sea) a hundredfold.

Our relationship with God is not about a bargaining agreement; a bartering or a buying and selling contract, about giving to God and getting in return. No, our relationship with God is one of total and unconditional love. The joy and satisfaction is not in what we can do to squeeze favors from God but in what we can give and share of ourselves.

The reason for this, of course, is that no matter what we do we are in God’s debt. The very energies with which we serve God are pure divine gift to us. We are “merely servants.” It’s not a 50/50 deal with God.  We can never do more than “our duty.” However much we give to God it is a small repayment for all that has already been showered on us.

We’ve heard many everyday heroes say something of this nature, haven’t we?  When they are awarded medals or accolades for a so-called heroic act, many say “I didn’t do anything special.  I just did what anyone in the same circumstance would do.”  But, would they?  Would we – jump into murky waters of an icy cold river, onto subway tracks in the path of an oncoming train, risk being attack by a vicious animal, rush into a burning building?  Would we respond to the need of the moment, let the Spirit, whom we sometimes call “adrenaline” kick in and come to the rescue?  Or, if we had the opportunity would we consistently perform  less noticeable actions like we’ve seen lately in the news: leaving a highly paid chef’s position to serve gourmet meals in a soup kitchen, insuring that 2000 poor families get Christmas gifts, spend our weekend to provide  free health and dental care to help make people smile and laugh.  We can hope that would not hesitate, and pray our faith would sustain us to respond: “we have done what we were obliged to do.”

Remember the story that goes: There were four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.  There was an important task to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.  Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did.  Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job.  Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it.  It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done. Which one are you?

Jesus’ story today indicates that lack of faith is not really the issue when we fail to respond to the needs of others. Faith is not measured by its quantity, but simply by its presence. A mustard seed sized faith will accomplish impossible things. The real need, Jesus says is for more obedience and humility. We should view ourselves as God’s slaves who owe Him simple and unquestioning obedience. And, when we have done what He requires, we should not get puffed up with pride in our great obedience, but should simply say, “We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.”  As Benedict says in his chapter on obedience: If you notice something good in yourself, give credit to God, not to yourself.”  Keep before you Benedict’s admonishment: “Do not aspire to be called holy before you really are, but first be holy that you may more truly be called so.”

It reassuring to know we can rely on God to uphold his promises.  Recall the words of Psalm 89 that we prayed earlier this week: “God promises: I will never take back my love; my faithfulness will not fail.  I will never break my covenant or go back on my promise.”   Or take as your mantra this week the words of Jeremiah the prophet:  “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is God’s faithfulness.”  And perhaps spend some time contemplating whether, when there is a task to be done, you are a Somebody, an Anybody, a Nobody or one among Everybody….

~ Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress
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The Narrow Gate

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gate21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, August 21, 2016

First Reading  Isaiah 66:18-21                Second Reading  Hebrews 12:5-7,11-13
Gospel Reading  Luke 13:22-30

This Gospel may well be a loose collection of sayings of Jesus recalled by the author, uttered in several different contexts but brought together here under the general heading of “who will be saved?”

As this parable opens, Luke reminds us that Jesus is making his way to Jerusalem, teaching as he goes. When from out of the crowd he hears a question called out giving him a chance to make a prophetic statement. A few weeks ago, the question was “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Today it’s “will only a few be saved?”

Jesus answers with two parables – referred to as the “narrow gate” and the “door” although the same Greek word is used for both gate and door.  It’s the translation that may be misleading.    It’s interesting to me that Jesus says many won’t be strong enough to get through the gate.  He doesn’t say slim enough.  It sounds as if the walls can be pressed aside if you just have enough strength.  To digress a moment … I thought of this image at the construction meeting earlier this week.  The discussion was about the well that has to be sunk to provide water for the fire sprinkler system.  The pipe will have a protective casing on it so it will not be subject to water erosion or enjoyed by underground rodents that visit our garden.  When drilling the well they ensure that the opening is wide enough to accommodate whatever diameter of pipe it takes to get the needed  water pressure ( 4’, 6’ 8’ pipe) before inserting the casing … in Jesus language, that it is strong enough to let the required flow of water get through.

Jesus says: “Many will seek to enter and will not be able” … so, maybe the overwhelming crowd will be too many all at the same time pushing and shoving to get through the opening?

This question to Jesus had people squirming: “Will only a few be saved?”  Will I be among them?  How can I be in that count?

The answer to the “will only a few be saved?” is no. In the end, many will be saved, but many who thought they would be saved will not be saved. The parable is a prophetic warning that it will take repentance, forgiveness, faith …   in order to be saved.  “Many are called but few are chosen.”

But, remember Jesus also said, “When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.”  Don’t delay your planning to be among the chosen … what’s the saying: don’t put off to tomorrow what can be done today?  Lectio and personal prayer; some form of fasting whether from food, or technology or juicy gossip is a daily opportunity.

Jesus answer to the crowd lets his hearers (and us) know that the “door of opportunity” will not remain open indefinitely.  When the door is closed, it is closed and will not be reopened for persons whose only claim is that Jesus once visited their temple / their church, their town and village or preached in their streets or that they once saw Jesus in a crowd.   Remember the 10 virgins … 5 missed the boat due to a lack of “NRRO future planning.”  And, recall the Gospel lessons we heard this past week: the first shall be last … and the last will get the same reward as those who signed on to Jesus work crew early in the day.

We’ve all probably seen the famous painting of Jesus knocking at a door with knob …  the door to our hearts must be opened from the inside.   That’s true but there are also doors with visible knobs that we must have the courage to open from our side….  To let in the immigrant, the wanders, the seekers, the faithless, the weary.  Could we say we are on the inside listening for outsiders to lift the knocker asking entrance.  Or, there doors waiting for you to twist the knob on, or push aside, to get a glimpse of what’s on the other side? It takes courage, doesn’t it, to be on either side of the door:  A big breath before stepping up to knock on the door of a stranger and a gasp of apprehension to open the door to an unexpected knock, especially if there is no peep hole to reveal at least a shadowy shape of the caller.

Some years ago I belonged to a parish group that studied various styles of meditation.  One was “wall” or “gate” meditation.  I invite you to try it …  and then I will share my experience.

Get in a relaxed position … lying down risks dozing off but sitting runs that same risk … just don’t try this particular type of meditation standing up or walking …   So, relax your body, close your eyes and in your mind start walking along the edge of a wall or fence … not on it, beside it –  until you see an opening or door … walk through – who’s there – do you see Jesus? – who is with him?  What are they saying to each other or to you …  Just let the reflection go where it will …

In my first experience… as I crossed through a low stone wall, I sensed Jesus seated with a circle of 10 – 12 others – he motioned for me to come sit beside him …  looking around I recognized and could name all but one person …  I have no memory of who they were BUT several years later I was introduced to a Sister from another community and I startled and instantly realized she was the one who had been in that circle.

Here are some doors you may want to visualize, open and peer beyond  …  Lord, Lord, open to me.

church_cross-door doors brick1 old_door_double colored doors barn doors stone dooroffice door1
~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

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Availability

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availabilityThroughout his Gospel, Luke demonstrates that God’s promises to Israel are fulfilled in the person of Jesus.  In this part of Luke’s story, Jesus and his disciples are approaching the city of Naim when they come upon a large funeral procession. Luke does not tell us how Jesus knows that the deceased is an only son of a widow.  Did He know the family or was the scene and the ritual all too familiar to him and his disciples?   Whatever the reason, had Jesus not been present to the moment and available to its significance it may have gone without noticed or ignored by the evangelist as well as the passersby.

Before I continue: a disclaimer is called for: Much of what follows is borrowed or adapted from Robert Wicks’ little volume entitled AVAILABLILTY.

The virtue, the gift of availability is indeed a simple but a great gift.  The freedom to be present when needed is something special.  It is an opportunity to be spiritual – to be open to relationship in the deepest, most elegant sense of the term.  However, this wonderful state of living often seems hidden or distorted.  Today, availability is a premium because it is not only a gift but also sometimes a great challenge for many of us – one that we need to more fully understand and address if we are to be able to continue to be present in the full sense of the word.  Availability is not only a gift; it is also a problem.

Some of us are “too available.”  Thus, true availability becomes watered down. We become too busy to pray, too tired to reflect, and, ironically, too stimulated interpersonally present to others.

Others among us pull back in anxiety.  Being available to God seems to raise too many questions or doubts.  Spending time alone is no longer relaxing; instead we feel lonely or preoccupied with our faults and failures.  And being with others doesn’t seem to help either; in some cases, we feel used, left out, or misunderstood.  The end result is that our expectations for intimacy are not realized and we feel the need to pull back more than ever.

The situation is not merely a sad one; it is a dangerous.  Without a sense of availability to self, others, and God, life loses it spirituality.  Relationships suffer, break down, and we are left with a void or sense of confusion.

We must address availability with the imperative that openness to the personal and interpersonal is essential if the Spirit is to be heard and felt. Any blocks to relationship must be removed if we are to prepare ourselves always for the continual coming of what is Good.  The very vitality of living out the Gospel depends on our being involved –  in an ongoing way – in the process.

When we spend time, especially unplanned time, with others it is not so much that we TAKE TIME OUT OUR DAY to be with them as that we had make the other part of our life.  For instance, today’s funeral for Kurt … because we generously welcomed them into our home God, through us, was enabled to share compassion, comfort and hospitality to a large group of mourners.

Jesus absorbed the widow’s sorry, made it his own and offered deep compassion and consolation to her even before he raised her boy from the funeral bier.  Did Mary witness this incident or did others relate to her?  Later when her son died do you think  she recalled he’d brought this Only son back, and Lazarus, too, back to life?  Did she live in hope that such a miracle would be granted her son?  Someday we may know.

Picking up cues, recognizing a silent need – reaching into self and out to others: this kind of attitude is at the heart of a life that reflects an appreciation of the gift of availability.  This attitude merits being kept in mind as we look at some of the basic problems we encounter in trying to be available to ourselves, others, and God.  Though the concept is simple, living a life of true availability isn’t easy for most of us.  It takes a conscious desire and effort to be present to all the nuances of the present moment.  Some people see only the dark clouds gathering; others see the rainbow emerging.  Let us be present to the moments when rainbows quietly and slowly are revealed in our lives.  Jesus would have missed the funeral scene if he had been too intent on getting to the farmer’s market in town.

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

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Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Epiphany3_YearC_scrollAfter the opening verses in today’s Gospel, Luke leap frogs over the chapters where we would find the Infancy Narratives, Jesus’ baptism by John, the temptations Jesus faced in the desert, and the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.  The writer picks up in chapter four where we find Jesus in the synagogue on the Sabbath – it seems obvious this was his custom.  No one seems surprised to see him there.  What does raise some eyebrows is when he stands and reads from the scroll handed to him.  He announces his mission is in continuity with Israel’s prophetic tradition.  He speaks of a “year acceptable to the Lord” making reference to the Jewish tradition of Sabbath every 7th year and jubilees celebrated every 50th year – times when the land was left fallow and food stores were to be shared equally with all.  A time of renewal in which debts were forgiven and slaves were freed.

Luke clearly acknowledges that he himself never saw Jesus. His gospel was written at least 50 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Yet he wants to assure his readers that what he writes is accurate and is based on the experiences of people who did know Jesus personally. At the same time he lets us know he is not writing a biography. His purpose is not to relate a chronology but to tell us the meaning of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection for our personal lives and why we should accept and follow Jesus as our King and Lord.

People get different things out of going to church, depending, it would seem, on what they expect to get when they go there.  There’s a story about an elderly couple that was walking out of church one Sunday. The wife said to the husband, “Did you see the strange hat Mrs. O’Brien was wearing?” “No, I didn’t,” replied her husband. “Bill Smith badly needs a haircut, doesn’t he?”  “Sorry, I didn’t notice.” “You know John,” said the wife impatiently,” Sometimes I wonder if you get anything at all out of going to church”.

I wonder what the people who were in the synagogue that day when Jesus read aloud expected to get out of the service. Certainly they didn’t expect to see Jesus stand and read a portion of Scripture, let alone comment on it.

What did this message mean to the people in the synagogue? What does it mean to us today? It meant that day what it means today: that Jesus in the promised Messiah, the anointed one sent by God to redeem his people. It means that Jesus frees His listeners from the bonds of sin and guilt.  He came then, and He continues to come each and every day, to set us free. Why do we continue to try to solve our problems by ourselves instead of turning to God?

We are all captives to something, whether it is our ministry, our role in community, favorite TV shows, certain foods especially ones that aren’t good for us, shopping or something else. All of us can awaken to God’s anointing power. It constantly inspires, enlivens and guides us.  It soothes, comforts, welcomes and transforms us.

We can listen to that still small Voice of God within or in the words of a mentor and spiritual director or our comrade in community.  Or we can refuse to listen, we can refuse to believe, and we can refuse to let it make a difference for us, but it is still true. The Word of God stands forever!   Jesus’ one-sentence sermon that day in the synagogue was the shortest in history, but it is also one of the most powerful.

And, we believe it because we believe in the one who spoke it.  We love the man Jesus and believe he is the Son of God.  When Jesus taught in the synagogue, people listened but they did not understand everything, and perhaps they understand nothing at all. However, they were struck by a word, a sentence and they remembered it.  They continued to think about it…  Sounds like our lectio experience.  That’s when the Spirit goes into action and enlightens us, at first only a little, and later on more powerfully and persuasively.  That’s why it is important to spend open-ended time with the Word, with God.  We may have some favorite prayers we say that someone else wrote.  But how would you feel if one you call “friend” only shared with you something they’d memorized as a child or words from someone else’s pen?

We decide how to nourish our minds and feed our spirits by choosing what to read and to watch, what to reflect on.  And, we decide how to protect our minds and spirits by not reading or watching what does not uplift us and make a positive impact on our lives and those we engage with in conversation.  Like Scholastica and Benedict on that memorable night, we want to spend time in “holy conversation.”

Sometimes we forget how precious the Word of God is.  A powerful example is in this true story.  In 1964 the Romanian government released religious and political prisoners. Among them was one who had spent nearly three of his fourteen years in prison in solitary confinement. After his release, he wrote a book entitled In God’s Underground in which he describes how one day a new prisoner was brought in. The upper part of his body was in a plaster cast. When the guards withdrew, he slipped out a small tattered book secretly hidden between his skin and the plaster cast. None of the other prisoners had seen a book for years. They asked him what the book was. It was the Gospel of John.  The author of the story writes that he took the book in his hand and no life-saving drug could have been more precious to him. From that day the tattered little book went from hand to hand, many learned it by heart and each day they would discuss it among themselves. That reminds us that sometimes we forget the importance of the Word of God in our lives.

                                                                                                 Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

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Second Sunday in Advent 2015

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Friendships can grow apart unless…..

friend driftReading about John the Baptist reminded me of the evening, long ago during the liturgical transition, when we were using “purple pages” for prayer services.  Liturgists often provided a focal visual in the chapel.  For Vespers, I had designed a desert area, low on the floor, with sand (on a sheet thank goodness!) and rocks and cactus plants.  The display included a sign (not very large) that read, in the words of the entrance hymn, “What did you go out to see.”   When our elderly, arthritic Sister Annunciata came into the chapel, Sister Anna Marie (her peer) was already seated.  She watched as Sister Annunciata inched forward step by step and bent down until she could read the sign.  What happened next set all of us laughing, Sister Anna Marie said aloud:  “What did you go out to see?”

Luke’s Gospel quotes the prophet Isaiah, describing the road we must travel throughout Advent (and our whole lives) in order to see the signs of the times and reach the One foretold: our Emmanuel.

Like Mary and Joseph we must travel through valleys, between hills and over mountains in order to be counted.  We weather life’s troubles, storms of despair and disappointment, look out over the vista from the joyful mountain peaks of our lives to view the beauty God has laid out for us.

Like the Magi we bring gold, incense and myrrh for our Infant King – the gold of charitable deeds, our incense arising from prayerful hearts, minds and voices; and the myrrh of illnesses, infirmities and troubles to unite with the redemptive sufferings of Jesus.

Our community stationery proclaims: we are “touching lives through prayer and service.” But, without deliberate attention, daily practices can become pro forma, only a formality repeated by heart, a mindless routine UNLESS we are continually in touch with the workings of God within through a rich prayer life – faithful to the practices of lectio and meditation, Eucharist, private and communal prayer – not simply seasonal: Advent, Lent and annual retreat …  but daily.   It may be helpful to make a pie chart of your 24-hour day … what percentage do you give to keeping company with God.  We may be tempted to say “all my work is a prayer.”  That can be true if you start and end the day with the Sign of the Cross.  But, friendships can drift unless we do the work of keeping them alive. We need a jolt of spiritual energy at intervals during the day.  We want to guard against making a sham of people’s trust that we are a prayerful people.  Benedict knew this when he laid out times for gathering for Divine Office, times to read and study, times for rest, manual labor, eating, conversation and quiet.  Today we are personally responsible for what we do with much of our time.   Remember, what S. Bernie quoted from CALL to LIFE: we listen DAILY to God’s call and respond with good zeal.”   Group meditation for us is a practice of the past.  But, a strong community can count on the group, assured that each individual member has taken time each day to reflect on the Word, and be with the Word, and discern its significance in her own life as well as power and push of the Word in the life of the community.  That’s how we are able to grow in the ability to come to consensus, refine relational skills, and nurture the gifts of mutual forbearance and forgiveness…   in reciprocated love and respect.  It takes dedication, determination and perseverance not to be the bad apple in the barrel.

On the road to Bethlehem, we will meet construction along the way, or be the one under construction.   In the Gospel last week, Jesus warned us to be alert, watching for God’s unexpected activity in our lives.  In this weekend’s readings, we see sign we dread: Road Construction Ahead.  We mutter: “Didn’t they just finish working on this road?” We get impatient when we see road construction signs, because they speak to us more of inconvenience, hassles, and delays, rather than the benefits that are hidden in the distant future.  The sign reminds us: Proceed with Caution.

We can hear John the Baptist shouting with the powerful words of the prophet Isaiah, almost like a highway foreman, “Prepare the way of the Lord! Make that path straight! Fill that valley! Get that mountain outta here! What happened over there? It’s all crooked! Make it straight! Smooth out that rough place! We gotta show everyone the salvation of God. Get busy!”  Time is running out – the day of the Lord is near!  In three short weeks Christmas will be here – our Emmanuel will appear!

                                                                                                                 Reflection by S. Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

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