Pentecost Hope

One of my favorite Pentecost readings is from the Vigil Mass: Ezekiel 37:1-14.  Ezekiel is shown a plain of dry bones.  A depressing scene...but when he prophesies as God commands him the bones come back to life.  God then makes the promise to Israel: “...I will open your graves and have you rise from them....I will put my spirit upon you that you may live.”

The Easter season begins with Christ's Resurrection—the first fruits from the dead—which is a promise of our resurrection and victory over death. How is this done?  St. Paul says (Romans 8:11) through Christ's Spirit who is given us on Pentecost.  Imagine: the gift of the Spirit is only the first installment of what is to come!  How great is the mercy of God!

The House of Israel was despairing: “Our hope is lost.”  This is the devil's trump card: despair.  May the gift of the Spirit this Pentecost renew hope within you. May he bring you back to life.  May you know God's mercy.
 “O my people! I will put my spirit within you that you may live....I have promised and I will do it.”

Divine Mercy

Imagine Peter after the Resurrection. I imagine—knowing myself—that although he knew he was forgiven by Jesus for his denial, he was still unable to forgive himself. He did not trust himself and did not feel able to carry out the role Jesus gave him as a “rock” of faith and leader of the Church.

In the Gospel of John Peter decides to go fishing—his “normal” life before Jesus. But when Jesus appears, his love is stirred and he impetuously swims to shore to be with him.  After eating Jesus pulls Peter aside: “Peter, do you love me?” Jesus tells Peter, “Feed my lambs.” “Tend my flock.” “Feed my sheep.”

What is Jesus saying? Yes, you failed, but I still choose you; I still want you to carry out the role I have appointed for you. I believe in you.

May this story lead us to a renewed trust and love for God, even we we fail him and fail ourselves. O Jesus, I will trust in you!

Mystery

For me the image of God as Father is a powerful one. He is my Spouse and Friend and Guide. I endured a terrible trial that left me wondering why God—my Father—had not protected me from it as he has protected me from so much in the past. God did not desire this suffering but He allowed it...I didn't understand.

But God IS a Father—a parent. He doesn't necessarily protect us from all suffering (like Mary did not try to stop Jesus from carrying the Cross) but he is there "carrying us all along our journey" (Deut 1:31) and suffering with us. What parent doesn't suffer double watching their child suffer?

Why didn't God shield me from this evil? I don't know, but I do know He—my Father—was with me throughout it, enabling me to come away stronger and using it as a source of grace for others.

Ash Wednesday

Man is a duality
of mysterious grandeur and pompous aridity,
a vision of God and a mountain of dust,
It is because of his being dust
that his iniquities may be forgiven
and it is because of his being an image
that his righteousness is expected.
(Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel)

 On Ash Wednesday we are marked with ashes as a reminder of whence our bodies came and to what they will return.  These forty days are a reminder of to what we aspire: Easter resurrection and union with God.  Wishing you a blessed Lenten season!

Be Still

"The Lord himself will fight for you. You have only to keep still." (Exodus 14:14)

You have only to keep still...how hard that is for us to do!  We feel we must do something when we have a problem but in reality we sometimes make it worse by doing what we think will "fix" it. 

That doesn't mean to be passive.  It means seek God's will and do it.  For there would have been no miracle if the Israelites didn't go forward into the Red Sea.

What a scary scenario: an army rushing at you from behind. Moses yelling at you to walk into the midst of what used to be a sea.  The wind howling.  Chaos!  So "be still," God says.  Quiet your heart and go forward in God's will knowing that he, himself, will fight for you. Deo Gratias!

150 Years

On January 7 we are celebrating the 150th birthday of our Co-foundress, Mother Mary Michael. Mother was not "romantically" minded when it came to the spiritual life but extremely practical and yet very cheerful. She emphasized the importance of being faithful in the little things of our life. The hidden "little fidelities" please God greatly and enable us to be faithful in bigger matters as well. Every Christian can use this idea of little fidelities as a way of deepening their relationship with God.

May our imitation of Mother Mary Michael who did ordinary things extraordinarily well and extraordinary things in an ordinary fashion help us grow in our love for God.

(for more about Mother Mary Michael, see our website.)

Merry Christmas!

 

And the Word was made flesh...

 and dwelt among us...

  

And we have seen his glory.

 

Merry Christmas!