Benedictine Sisters of FL

Holy Name Monastery
Founded 1889

Mark

If You Wish, You Can Make Me Clean

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We each have our own variant of leprosy, don’t we?  With some it’s visible on the outside; for others, it thrives on the inside.  Our faults: scaly or hidden are made obvious by our actions, our facial expressions, our tone of voice.  And, there are those who harbor their leprosy – deep in their feelings and heart – a gut ache or pain caused by stressed nerves.  Yes, we do this even when our leprosy is old and scarred and has been in our gunny sack for more years than we can count.  You know those kinds of wounds that we take out every once in a while to nurse and keep alive.  We rehash their story privately or in unrelated situations when some word or sound, or maybe a smell reignites the fuse.  We discover that there’s an ember that springs to flame that we didn’t even realize was there all along.  But Jesus has been watching it. He’s waiting for us to reach out and plead: “If you wish, you can make me clean.”

When we do, what is Jesus’ instruction?  “Go, show yourself to the priest.”  (Here he’s not talking about the Sacrament of Reconciliation.)  This is Jesus’ way of asking us to bring our faults into the light of day, to expose them so they can be zapped with the Divine Presence.  St. Benedict speaks of submission to the will of another, humility, confession of faults and public admission of mistakes.  He quotes the psalmist – as he often does – when he says: “I will report my faults to the Lord.” (PS 31).  Benedict encourages the members to admit their fault “of their own accord and make satisfaction.”  But, he’s not naïve – he knows there will be occasions when this doesn’t happen.  You know what he says: “Be subjected to a more severe correction.”  Now that may seem irrelevant to the story of Jesus and the man with leprosy.  But it seems pretty obvious (to me) that Jesus did not go looking for the man.  The man called out to Jesus: “If you wish, you can make me clean.”  Benedict, (what a wise man!) knew there’d be more sensitive souls in community, personalities who’d need more solicitous care, compassion and consideration.  To this one, Benedict advises: “reveal (this hidden fault) “only to a spiritual guide who knows how to heal her own wounds as well as those of others”, (and equally important) “without exposing them and making them public.”

We don’t know how long this man with the leprosy had been following Jesus.  How many miracles had he witnessed before he felt compelled to step forward and the words escaped his lips: “If you wish, you can make me clean?”  Had he seen Jesus’ interaction with the woman caught in adultery or heard the story of the good Samaritan or good Shepherd?  Was it desperation that made him cry out: “If you wish, you can make me clean”?  Was he burdened with feelings of guilt for having leprosy and causing the estrangement of his family and friends since he was bound by law to “make his abode outside the camp.”? (Leviticus1:46) Did the rest of crowd step back when he moved forward to be heard?  This was a “gutsy” young man!  He was stepping into the light, drawing attention to himself and his leprosy.  He was admitting publicly that he was not clean.  He risked being shunned AGAIN!  But faith won out: “If YOU wish, YOU can make ME clean.”

As we enter the Lenten season (this week) we pray: “Jesus, if you choose, you can make me clean.”  I do want to be clean; I am ready to be made whole. Don’t look only at the faults I am aware of.  I trust that you can make the whole of me clean in your eyes.  It doesn’t matter whether or not we raise our voice to be heard above the crowd: “If you wish, you can make me clean.” It may be, that someone pushes us forward, “Now’s a good time; ask him now – He can do it!”  Do you believe in intercessory prayer?  Do the General Intercessions make any difference in the lives of those we name?   “I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation. … for, a great prophet has arisen in our midst: God has visited his people.”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

   Ash Wednesday, February 14, Mass and distribution of Ashes at 7:30 a.m.

   May you enjoy a happy Mardi Gras on Feb. 13 … and an unusual Valentine’s Day gift of the opening of Lent: a love feast extraordinaire as God opens his arms to work with you on keeping of resolutions that will shape a new you this per-Easter season.

   Celebrate with us on February 28th the anniversary of 135 years since the day the Benedictine Sisters arrived in FL from PA.  God bless all who have touched our lives with their prayers and gifts of time, talent and financial support. 

 Prayers on Sunday when we had our monthly Recollection Day … a quiet day of prayer, Holy Hour and Evening Prayer.  God bless you each and all with good health, much happiness and abundant peace!

 

First Reading:   Leviticus 13:1-2,44-46         Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 30:31-11:1
Gospel:   Mark 1:40-45
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Will You Come and Follow Me if I but Call Your Name?

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This Gospel reading from Mark is only a glimpse into a single day that the church wisely spreads over a few weeks of readings. It gives us the opportunity to study each event of the day more closely.  We get the impression that it would have been a challenge for the people following Jesus to keep up with Him.   You may have noticed one of Mark’s favorite words is “immediately.” He uses it twelve times in the first chapter alone.  So far in the story, Jesus has called four fishermen to leave their nets and their boats and follow him, which they did “immediately.  In last week’s portion from Mark, a demon-possessed man challenged Jesus who promptly told the unclean spirit to be silent and come out.  The demon obeyed “immediately”.

The next part of the story happens over the next few hours of the same day. The band of men went to Simon’s house, maybe because it was closest to the synagogue. Or maybe it was because Simon’s mother-in-law had the reputation for quickly putting a nice spread on the table.   But today she is down with a fever.  Simon doesn’t miss a beat.  He tells Jesus this “immediately”.   Perhaps he does this to apologize for the woman not greeting them at the door.

Jesus doesn’t say a word. He simply takes the woman by the hand and brings her to her feet. The fever is gone “immediately”. As Jesus brings her to her feet, the verb Mark uses is identical to the one he uses later in the Gospel to describe Jesus’ resurrection from the dead: He lifts her up.  The mother-in-law “immediately” responds by getting busy on dinner preparations.

Then, in the early hours before sunrise while it was still dark as night, it sounds like Jesus tiptoed out of the house.  Scripture tells us He went to a deserted place to pray (not a desert – there was not desert nearby).   This was the only place on this night, with many others to follow, where he could talk one-on-one with his Father, without interruption. But it didn’t last long.  Our English translation says Peter and the others PURSUED him.  Think of a mother having escaped to the bathroom for a few minutes of aloneness.  “Mom are you in there?”  Or a prioress who leaves her office for a few minutes. “You’re never in the office!”  Peter tells Jesus “EVERYONE is looking for you.”  Jesus’ response probably was not what they were expecting to hear.   “Let’s go to the neighboring towns so I can preach there, too. That’s my job.”  The disciples were at a crossroads, at one of those “bend in the road” moments.  Do we stick with this fellow who can never say NO to any request? Do we keep following?

That’s a choice we must make many times over in our lives.  It begins each and every day with “Shall I hit the snooze button and roll over, or turn off the alarm and get to chapel to join in communal prayer?”  It’s a choice we make in multiple ways, probably more times than we realize, throughout each day and into the evening.  What word of kindness can I share? Can I tear myself from what I’m doing to get to chapel with some breathing space before prayer begins?  At night, will I force myself to stay awake to finish this chapter or TV program, or do I go to bed so I’ll be rested for the morrow with all its new challenges and choices?

The people of Capernaum missed the point. They showed up for the miracles, but they failed to hear and absorb Jesus’ message.  It’s the same news Jesus wants to share with you, with us.  Repent, turn away from your old ways, and believe the Good News that God is with you in the NOW   Are you willing to be changed?  Will you be transformed? Will you keep following? Will you get up, as Simon’s mother-in-law did, and join the laborers to feed God’s people and further the Kingdom?”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

The Sisters remembered your intentions in our prayers on Sunday when we had our monthly Recollection Day … a quiet day of prayer, Holy Hour and Evening Prayer.  God bless you each and all with good health, much happiness and abundant peace!

 

First Reading:   Job 7:1-4, 6-7         Second Reading:  Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23
Gospel:   Mark 1:29-39
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Be Amazed

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On this day, as Jesus begins speaking, a man with an unclean spirit (a demon) stands up and initiates a confrontation with Jesus. There are a couple of things to note about what this demon says and what that reveals.  Those gathered around may have known Jesus as an inspiring teacher.  But this wily demon knows His true identity.  Do we know Jesus as intimately as this demon?   It’s fascinating; like at a tennis match.  Attention pings back and forth from the outspoken fellow to Jesus.  It’s like nothing these people have heard before. This Jesus has authority. His words make a difference. Even the man with an unclean spirit is shocked and intrigued by Jesus. “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?”

There are times when we may be inclined to settle into the company of the humble, calm, peaceful Jesus, shying away from the power and authority of Jesus except maybe when we’ve had a day of defeat and been at cross-purposes with the world.  Then we take great hope and comfort in the power of Jesus.   We identify with the sentiments of the “cursing” Psalms.   If you are anything like me, you call on Jesus, on God our Father, the Spirit, whoever will listen to our pitiful story.  We ask God to raise a hand and make the world stand still until we catch our breath.  We grab our “beads” (rosary), do some slow breathing trying to quiet ourselves.  But nothing’s working, that is, until we recall what Jesus said to the demon: “Be quiet!”  “Come out!”

The demon recognizes and identifies Jesus as God in flesh (Holy One of God).  Listen closely – it’s also clear that the demon recognizes Jesus as a threat – as the One who has the power to destroy the forces of evil. When Jesus gets a chance to speak, the demon can only respond in one way – complete obedience.

We do well to remember that God is in control.  Those who were attentive that day Mark describes saw Jesus’ power over the demon.  Like the disciples in the storm, they heard the commanding voice of Jesus say: “Be Quiet!” (Is he talking to the demon?  Or to me?)  “Be quiet!” Be AMAZED!

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB

 

Surprise!  February is just around the corner …  Madri Gras, Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday on February 13 / 14

  Enjoy the celebrations and sit with the Spirit to do prep work to prepare for a spiritually profitable Lenten experience.  God bless!

 

First Reading:   Deuteronomy 18:15-20         Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 7:32-35
Gospel:   Mark 1:21-28

 

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Do All The Good You Can, For As Long As You Can

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In the short story, The Man Who Wanted a Key, the author describes the frustration of listening to a person who embellishes stories with irrelevant details.  He points out that there is much wisdom to be able to get to the heart of the matter.  St. Benedict reminds the monastic of this when in Chapter 7, Steps of Humility, he paraphrases Ecclesiastes (10:12) “The wise person is known by the fewness of her words.” 

The scribe who came to Jesus with the question, “Which commandment is the first of all?” was such a person–one who wanted to get to the main point.  Despite the opinion of many, there is no indication in Scripture that the scribe who raised the question was out to trap Jesus.  Mark is considered by some biblical scholars as being the best storyteller.  If it was a trap, he would have included that the scribe was aiming to get Jesus to condemn himself by saying something considered to be against the Law.  The man just wanted Jesus to get to the point: which is the first of the commandments?  Jesus gives him a much fuller answer than he bargained for.

Maybe you’re like that scribe.  Do you ever mumble under your breath: “What a better place this world would be if only everyone followed the teaching of Jesus the way I do.”  Our own shortcomings loom large before us, it’s true.  And, sadly, we can be overly aware of the failures of others.  If only they’d listen, we could fix them.  Jesus said: “Love your neighbor.”  And we each think we know exactly what he meant and how to do it.

In this Gospel reading, Jesus teaches us a special trick: how to make two become one.  There are two rules he says.  If you obey and live out of this teaching you will fulfil the law.  The first step is to love God.  The second is to love your neighbor the same way that you love yourself.  It’s not two laws, it’s one law with two facets.  This rule is so important we call it the Golden Rule.  Love and treat others in the same way that you would like them to love and treat you.  Bottom line: this means we love the other in the way she or he would appreciate.  We learn to read each other’s cues.  That takes time and is one of the blessings of the vow of stability; the promise of stick-to-itiveness.

Isn’t this what our Father-God did?  The WORD became FLESH in Jesus our Christ.  And that LOVE cost God the Father and the Son the life of the Son.  Love is a decision we make that we want to respond to others like Jesus would.  We ask the same question as the scribe, “Which, of all I see before me to do, is first in God’s eyes?  What should be first on my list of priorities, what is my most important date with God for today?”  Jesus’ reply is so simple it is no wonder we don’t dare ask him any further questions.  We need only to let his reply echo in our hearts, asking for the grace to understand what it means to put love as our highest priority.  St. Benedict puts it this way (in chapter 72): “Foster fervent love: be the first to show respect to the other … pursue what you judge better for someone else …  show reverent love to God; prefer nothing whatever to Christ.”

St. Paul tells us: “We are God’s work of art.”  When the other rankles your nerves and tries your patience, remind yourself: “This person before me is God’s work of art.”  That can be especially hard to do UNLESS I first acknowledge “I am God’s work of art.”

John Wesley provided a thought-provoking description of how one might obey the great commandment: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

~ Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

Hope you had a Happy All Hollows Eve

and enjoy a pleasant All Saints’ Day – a prayfull All Souls’ Day

 

 

First Reading:   Deuteronomy 6:2-6             Second Reading:  Hebrews 7:23-28
Gospel:   Mark 12:28-34

 

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Who Do You Say That I Am?

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This is the same Gospel story we will hear again in two weeks: today it’s Mark’s version; later this month we will hear the evangelist Luke’s memory of this same event.

We read:  Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”  They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”  Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”  Peter said in reply, “The Messiah of God.”  He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.  (But, what follows He agreed I could share with you.  It’s part fact; a good bit fantasy – or is you might say, prayer.)

The early morning sky held promise of a beautiful sunrise.  I was sitting by the lake when Jesus quietly joined me.  I sensed He was inviting me into an in-depth conversation.  Let’s walk a bit for our heart-to-heart exchange.  Notice all the lovely things God places in our path: the trees and plants, the squirrel scurrying along clutching an acorn so big the weight is making balance a challenge.  Do you hear the gleeful voices from nearby – the happy sounds of children at recess?  Listen closely to the clear shrill song from above of birds welcoming the new day.

(I suggest to Jesus) “This looks like a good spot, let’s sit a spell.”  Jesus is in a pensive mood.  He sits quietly, pondering, staring at the water.  Turning to me (and to you) with a quizzical look on His face, He asks: “What are people saying about me?  Who do people say that I am?”  Quiet surrounds us as I ponder my tumbling thoughts.  I’m always curious to know what others say about Jesus.  But, this time His question invites a personal response.  At first I echo what Peter said: “You are the Messiah of God.”  Probing deeper, I realize that for me, Jesus is everything.  He knows me intimately.  But with this question he’s asking how well I know Him.  The thoughts of my heart tumble around.  I turn to Him and take a hesitant chance: “Let me ask you this: Who do YOU say that I am?  Why do you love me so much?”  Without a second’s hesitation, Jesus smiles, shakes his head and touches my heart with his response.  I needed that warm fuzzy.  His message is what I will carry, treasure, nurture in all the days that follow.

May I suggest to you: Today be brave; in your private time with Jesus turn his question back to Him: “You, who do you say that I am?  Why do you love me so much?”  Sing your own tune for the words of our Responsorial Psalm: “I love the Lord because He heard me; because He inclined His ear to me the day I called … and freed my eyes from tears and my feet from stumbling.  Alleluia!”

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

Have a pleasant, stress-free week

Stay safe – be healthy – know peace!

 

First Reading:   Isaiah 50:5-9         Second Reading:  James 2:14-18
Gospel:   Mark 8:27-35
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Growing Within US

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Mark’s Gospel is full of stories, parables about the Kingdom of God.  The fourth chapter alone has three stories and all three are about seeds.  In one story Jesus tells of a farmer who planted seed in both good and not so good soil.  That’s the story Jesus elaborates on making it easy to understand. But the second, (which was the first parable that was just read) is a little more mysterious.  It describes how the seed grows without the farmer knowing how.  The third marvels at how large beautiful plants can grow from such tiny seeds.

Literally, the word parable means “a riddle.”  Jesus told more than 40 riddles or parables during his ministry.  Usually when a person tells you a riddle, they eventually tell you the answer.  But Jesus only explained one parable to the crowds – the parable of the Sower and the Seed.  Mark lets us know that Jesus did explain everything to his disciples in private.  Then, Jesus ascended into heaven and took the answers with him!  So that leaves us, with a lot of figuring out to do.

I’m told that one of the most amazing seeds in the world is Chinese bamboo.  It lies buried in the soil for five years before above-ground sprouts begin to appear leading one to believe it has died, is dormant, or stunted or defective seed.  During those long five-years it is important to cultivate, water and fertilize it regularly.  When the seedlings finally emerge from the ground, you can almost watch them grow before your very eyes  – growing at an astonishing rate, ninety feet into the air in just six weeks.  That’s fifteen feet a week, more than two feet a day, two inches every hour.  Why does it take so long to emerge, and then grow so fast once it does?  Plant experts say that during its first five years, the seed is busy building it’s elaborate root system underground that enables it to grow ninety feet in six weeks.

We can be tempted to want parables to unfold in neat little, decodable life-lessons.  But that’s not Jesus way.  He simply floats the parable out there, to rise or fall on ears of those who hear more than is said.  Those who have learned to really listen and read between the lines.

I am reminded of a short film that was popular in the 1970s – produced by a Canadian film maker: “The Parable.”  It was described by critics as “a very subtle Christian worldview.”  It raised eyebrows and questions about the prophetic role of the artist.  There were teachers’ guides galore explaining the symbolism in the story.  However, the film maker said he did not see Christ in the story.  It was not his intention to do anything other than tell a good short story and maybe win an award.

Parables are like dreams.  I can learn about universal symbolism but only the dreamer herself can discern the deep and hidden meaning of her dream.  We may both have dreams about rocks falling on us but each of us must interpret what the rocks represent.  You cannot explain for me what my dream about floating like a manatee down the Peace River means for me.  You may guess what it might mean for you if you had a similar dream.  If I am deathly afraid of water it may terrorize me while it may mean calm and serenity for you.

Remember the Chinese bamboo: God’s Kingdom grows within us in a similar way.  It takes a long time to emerge.  Sometimes it takes so long we wonder, “Did the seed of God’s kingdom planted in me at Baptism ever take root?  Maybe it fell on a rock in my heart and died.  Maybe it got choked by the thorns of my sins.”  More often than not, the seed of God’s Kingdom is building an elaborate root system inside.  Its growth may not be visible for a long time, but eventually something wonderful and beautiful will emerge.

This means that we need to trust God who in the first place planted the seed of the Kingdom in us.  He understands what’s happening inside us because he sees into the heart, even though we don’t.  We also need to be patient with ourselves and with each other.  Even though the Kingdom may not seem to have taken root in you, and you don’t seem to be getting any holier, there’s no need to be discouraged.  Keep on cultivating the seed with private and communal prayer, Eucharist and Lectio.  And, trust that others are making similar efforts to cultivate the seeds in their lives.  Hold in your mind the image of that bamboo … so much happening beneath the surface that the God of surprises patiently cultivates to bring to blossom in our lives!

~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB, Prioress

 

In your prayers, kindly remember S. Elizabeth and her family …  Sister’s nephew Janosh and his 3-year-old son, Daniel drowned over the week-end in a rip tide tragedy at Apollo Beach, FL. 

May they rest in peace!  And may the family be sustained in faith and the comfort of friends who mourn with them.  Sister is with the family in Riverview …  some information can be found on BayNews 9 and Facebook.

Elizabeth Mathai (srelizabeth@ymail.com)

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