Love Actually

Tags

anniversary, Eucharistic liturgy, feast, John, Jubilee, love, meal, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

During this Easter season there are so many great scriptural stories of what it was like in the first century of the Christian era. All the wonderful encounters that the disciples had with people who caught the significance and truth of what they were sharing about God’s love in Christ sometimes makes me desire that kind of direct revelation in our day. This morning, however, as I read the gospel (JN 15:9-17), I became aware again of the gift that is still – and always – available to us as a vivid experience of God’s love. Let me explain.

In addition to the wildly joyful celebration in March of all the Sisters of St. Joseph, Albany Province, who are marking jubilees (anniversaries) of 25 to 75 (and, as last year, 80!) years of religious life, many of us have a personal celebration as well for family and friends. Since a number of the jubilarians live at the Province Center (our home that doubles as the administrative center as well), the province offers the opportunity for all those Sisters to gather their guests together on one day of celebration. Family members come from far and near – some staying for some days – to share a Eucharistic liturgy and sumptuous meal after which each jubilarian has a designated room for extended visiting. Yesterday I was privileged to participate in the “love fest” of one of those families and I saw throughout the day what I think Jesus would have been proud of as the fulfillment of his commandment for us to “love one another as I love you.”

Thunderous applause accompanied the conclusion of the chaplain’s praise of the lives of our Sister-celebrants. During the communion rite, as we sang “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord,” I was touched to see a young man, most likely a grand-nephew of one of the older Sisters, wiping tears from his eyes. Seeing the joy of family groups at dinner that included members from 3 to perhaps 93 years of age was delightful. Tables with mainly Sister companions for those whose relatives have gone to God reminded me of the deep commitments that we have to one another as friends in community. Most significant was the moment toward the end of the afternoon in our group where one of the brothers had to leave for work. As he stood, each of the family members – oldest to youngest, male and female alike, in-laws included, stood for kisses and hugs and a simple “I love you” that spoke volumes of family ties, regardless of distance or differences.

“Remain in my love,” Jesus said. And so we do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The New Covenant

Tags

heart, jeremiah, Jubilee, knowing, love, pledge, sing, song, St. Joseph, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Our most cherished annual gathering, to honor St. Joseph (feast day 3/19) and those Sisters celebrating a jubilee in religious life (40, 50, 60, 70, 75 years this time), was held yesterday. The liturgy was glorious and we “sang our hearts out!” As I thought of that turn of phrase this morning I felt more deeply the truth of our covenant with God as expressed in today’s first lectionary reading from Jeremiah 31:31-34.

Speaking on behalf of God, Jeremiah says, “The days are coming when I will make a new covenant…” We sang – with accompanying gestures, tracing a heart over our inner, physical, beating hearts: My song will be for You forever, You the music in my heart! Jeremiah continues: “I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts.” Our song proclaimed: I will pledge my love forever; I will call your name out loud. I will reach my hand out to you and I know you’ll reach for me.

The new covenant is sealed in love, is lived in love. There need be no fear of abandonment in this way of relating. It is as certain as the steady beating of our hearts. There can be no greater knowing, no greater blessing than this! Praise God!

 

 

 

 

 

You Never Know…

Tags

Alan Cohen, Alphonsus Rodriguez, charisms, consistent presence of God, gifts of the heart, Hearts on Fire, Jubilee, presence, Sisters of St. Joseph, small kindness, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, transfiguration, unifying love

Yesterday I wrote about charisms, the gifts we possess and offer to the world. These are not material gifts but gifts of the heart. Sometimes we band together with others to strengthen what it is that effects some change or gives some hope to the world. Often we have little or no sense of the impact of our presence in the lives of others. Sometimes it is the smallest kindness that saves another person in an hour of need. Mother Theresa said something like: “We need not do great things but only little things with great love.”

I’m thinking of this today for three reasons. Alan Cohen’s daily inspiration page for August 2nd spoke of an experience he had from giving a talk that he thought had been totally ineffectual. People began calling him soon after, however, on the recommendations of those who had participated in his presentation and praised his work. Secondly, I opened Hearts on Fire to three short prayers of a Jesuit named Alphonsus Rodriguez, following one after another on the page thusly:

1. Lord, let me know you. Let me know myself.
2. Lord, do your will and not mine.
3. I’m just coming, Lord.

A short commentary follows which says that “these three brief aspirations are examples of Alphonsus Rodriguez’s way of praying. For many years this humble lay brother answered the door at the Jesuit college on the Mediterranean island of Majorca, where he tried to see Christ in each of the guests who came to the door.”

Closer to home, my major task for today is to write a sermon for this coming Sunday, to be presented at a liturgy that will be last jubilee celebration of us, the golden jubilarians of 2017. I have been moved beyond my expectations by the effects of this special year, most obviously because of the joy shared among the five of us who have over the years, in mostly subtle but occasionally overt ways, experienced the connection of our vowed commitment to each other in God. This last celebration will be special. As we mark the feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus, traditionally the day on which the Sisters of St. Joseph professed their vows, we will honor one of our own in her hometown, at the church where she was baptized and formed into adulthood in faith. I hear that the town of Coxsackie is excited at the prospect of such a celebration, no more than we ourselves, because of our honoree’s willingness to pour herself out in kindness to everyone she encounters. Mary Rose has gone about her 50 years in an unassuming way and has endeared herself to us because of her genuine living out of our community’s charism of unifying love.

Today, then, I encourage you to pray for, and maybe connect with, someone in your life whom you know to be an example of that quiet, consistent presence of God in your life. No need for great deeds; great love will do.

 

 

 

 

 

A Teachable Moment

Tags

Benedictine, Christ, Christian, crucifix, fullness of life, joy, Jubilee, overcome, presence of God, Roman Catholic Church, sign, spiritual journey, St. Boniface, Teilhard de Chardin, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, the way of the cross, weight of the cross

I keep trying to ignore my first thought for today’s post. It comes from the reflection I just read on the life of St. Boniface whose feast the Roman Catholic Church celebrates today. Boniface was an English Benedictine monk who gave up being elected abbot to devote his life to the conversion of the Germanic tribes in the 8th century. It was not an easy task, http://www.franciscanmedia.org reports. I had determined to abandon that topic for something more upbeat or light-hearted when I read the line of the commentary following the biographical information. It said: “Boniface bears out the Christian rule: to follow Christ is to follow the way of the cross.”

While I would not dispute the teaching that suffering is part of life and that Jesus is a model of how to accept and bear one’s suffering as a transformational practice, I take issue with the inference in the above statement that the cross is the entire or desired way of life for the Christian. The often quoted line of Teilhard de Chardin provides a needed balance for me. “Joy,” he said, ” is the most infallible sign of the presence of God.”

So why am I still talking about this? As it happens, I had an experience two days ago that moved me to a deeper place. It’s one of those analogies that seems far-fetched and maybe irreverent, but it helps me so I beg the indulgence of those who do not see it so.

On Saturday I participated in a very joyous Eucharistic liturgy for the family and friends of one of my “jubilee companions.” There are only five of us who entered the convent together 50 years ago so we plan to be present, if possible, at each of these individual celebrations. My participation in this event included the task of carrying the cross in the entrance procession at the beginning of the liturgy. I had never before performed that particular task at our Motherhouse and was surprised at the weight of the heavy metal, 5-foot crucifix when I lifted it. To hold it high processing down the very long aisle to the altar was no small task. At the same time we were singing joyfully: Let us bring the gifts that differ and in splendid varied ways, sing a new Church into being, one in faith and love and praise.

What struck me in that moment was very symbolic (perhaps only to me). Feeling the weight of the cross at the same time as the joy of such a communal gathering was a powerful image of possibility in the Christian life. Although our lives can be fraught with difficulty at times, we needn’t be overcome. The joy that comes from the spiritual journey in community, modeled in the life of Christ with his companions and the Spirit that remains with us, can and must enliven faith and engage our hearts in love. These realities are not separate but constitute a unified whole that is, in fact, the way to the fullness of life.

Golden Moments

Tags

Alan Cohen, blessing, daily interactions, Golden Moments, heart of God, hello, Jubilee, love, power, strangers, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, tone, triumps

Still basking in the glow of last weekend’s beautiful golden jubilee celebration that I experienced with so many kind words and gestures, I was immediately interested in Alan Cohen’s daily reflection for this date because the title was actually “Golden Moments.” After a personal anecdote, he continued with what is surely a worthy way to look at life. (I especially like his concluding sentence.) See if you agree.

It is not through world-shaking triumphs that we build our life, but in the common daily interactions. The tone of our voice can win or lose a business deal, and a thoughtful hello can change a stranger’s attitude. We never really know how far a little blessing will go. Go beyond the norm of expected kindness by even a little bit, and you will become a miracle-worker.

Never underestimate the power of a kind word or act. Even if your gift does not seem to be received, your heart will soar. Love is always received in the heart of God, where we all live.

Postscript

Tags

age, community, Jubilee, message, St. Joseph, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Today is Monday – time to resume the “headset” of the workaday world after a weekend of blessed celebration. One of the loveliest parts of the weekend was coming home yesterday to mark the actual feast of St. Joseph, our patron, which this year in community we noted on the day before and in the Church celebrate today on the day after (because of the pre-eminence of the third Sunday of Lent). We had a delicious dinner and I got presents from my housemates! Tucked in one of the jubilee cards was a colorful stiff square of a card written on both sides whose message was the following, which I believe will find itself in a central place in my bedroom and my life for what I hope will be years to come!

SIDE ONE: Each age has its own special joys and experiences. I am always  the perfect age for where I am in life.

SIDE TWO: I am at peace with my age.

Jubilee

Tags

celebration, gratitude, Jubilee, kindness, Leviticus, mercy, milestone, religious community, Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

One of my favorite biblical concepts comes from the Book of Leviticus where the practice of “Jubilee” is defined. It speaks of a time – every 50 years – when slaves are freed, land that has been taken is given back to the rightful owners and all remember the kindness and mercy of God. Even the land is given consideration as the fields are allowed to lie fallow, so that they can rest and be restored. All of this was done not only in reparation on a human level but to heal relationship with God. The resulting celebration was one of great rejoicing.

Adaptations of this ancient custom are many depending on culture and religious practice, the most common of which being wedding anniversaries of 25, 50 and nowadays occasionally 75-year celebrations of marriage. In my religious community, we celebrate on the Saturday closest to the feast of St. Joseph, our patron saint whose feast is March 19th. Thus, today there are 25 Sisters celebrating anniversaries in increments spanning from 50 to 80 (yes, 80) years in religious life. In an amazing burst of longevity, we have 3 Sisters who are 98 years old who will be present with us in our chapel this morning in Latham, New York.

I am one of five on the younger end of the celebratory group, celebrating 50 years of God’s grace. It is, as was mentioned above, not just a day but a whole year of recognition, of reflection on how we have lived our lives so far, and a time to make a determination of how we want to proceed in the adventure of growing older physically and stronger spiritually. It is a time of great gratitude for the blessings of our lives and a recommitment to God and the community that has enabled our growth to maturity.

I invite everyone who has come to a milestone moment of any kind in life to join us today in remembering what brought you to that moment and to give thanks. And if, in this year, you celebrate a special birthday or anniversary of some kind, please remember us and join us in our prayer of gratitude today.