Fourth Sunday of Lent

The Gospel of Luke so often called that of the Prodigal Son really is the story of the merciful father and both of his sons. Jesus told this parable to the Pharisees and scribes. The younger son tells his father to give him his share of the estate and then he leaves, wastes all, ends up in a miserable condition and finally resolves to return to his father and admit that he has sinned and is no longer worthy to be called his son. The father has been watching for his son and sees him while he is still a long way off. The father is filled with compassion and runs to his son, embraces him, and kisses him. He orders the servants to bring him the finest robe and a ring and sandals and he will celebrate with a feast "because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found." The celebration begins but the older son, coming back from the fields, asks a servant what this means. When told that his brother has returned, he gets angry and refuses to enter the house. His father comes out and pleads with him. Well, we all know the story. The father tells him that he is with him always and all that he has is his, but now is the time to celebrate and rejoice because the younger brother has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.
I love this Gospel and it shows just how merciful the Lord is with each of us. I hope I am not the older son!

Psalm 100 expresses my mood

Of course, I must admit that Psalm 23 is my favorite but right now I am saying Psalm 100 and am copying it from the New American Bible for you to say also as it is uplifting in the midst of all the bad news we read about in all parts of our world.

"Shout joyfully to the Lord, all you lands,

serve the Lord with gladness,

come before him with joyful song.

Know that the Lord is God,

he made us, we belong to him,

we are his people, the flock he shepherds.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

his courts with praise.

Give thanks to him, bless his name;

Good indeed is the Lord,

His mercy endures forever,

his faithfulness lasts through every generation."

I think I can say this Psalm from memory, but usually find myself inventing a few of the lines. It is worth reflecting on today.

Wonderful surprise gift of 2-day retreat

On Tuesday morning I had to move back into my newly painted room; then, at of the blue came a surprise. Our 101 year old had arranged to go to Villa Maria del Mar for a two-day retreat with two other Religious. She could not go as she is now back on oxygen so I was asked to go in her place as I am so at home there and the other two going had only been once years ago. We left at 12:30 on Tuesday and returned on Thursday around 2:30. It was such a gift for me and I really heard God say when I got there and was contemplating the ocean just one word: "Listen" so I had a delightful two days of listening to God. I did not worry about a thing. I had managed to change my senior student's visit to today, Friday, and asked someone to replace me for other duties such as the Third Grade readers, giving Communion at Mass to some who cannot walk up, setting tables, etc. Now I am home, in a room with clean white walls and it is so much lighter. I have a new TV on a shelf above my desk so perhaps I shall begin to watch some things on television. I am so grateful for everything. I am sorry that I could not write my blog ahead, but I did not have any idea that I would be given this great gift of a two-day retreat in my favorite place.

Random Thoughts

The blue of the water beckons me. I love the smell of the sea and wish I could recall it now that the wet paint in the hall is making me feel that I need to leave.

I was struck when preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation by this line from Psalm 31: "I will rejoice and be glad in your mercy, once you have seen my misery..." When I was still a novice I had the realization that my misery attracts God's mercy and I think that was a grace that has helped me now for almost seventy years!
I always feel such a deep peace after receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation even when I find it hard to remember sins as we have our sins forgiven each day at Mass before receiving Holy Communion. However, some saints, including St. Madeleine Sophie could go to confession daily. 

I do not know how I got started on that, but I am thinking of how often we neglect the Sacraments. We could have the Sacrament of Healing more often here. I will suggest this.

Feast of the Annunciation

We ask in the Collect for today's feast: "O God, who willed that your Word should take on the reality of human flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary, grant, we pray, that we, who confess our Redeemer to be God and man, may merit to become partakers even in his divine nature. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

When the angel came to Mary, she was troubled, but she also was open to what God was asking of her. She could not understand how this would come about, but she was willing to conceive a son and the angel told her to not be afraid for she had found favor with God. I think that is what we all want to here from our angels: that we have found favor with God. May we be able to say with Mary, "Be it done unto me according to your word." We give ourselves again to God today and let God decide how He wants to use us.

I heard yesterday of the death of a dear friend, June McNally. Please pray for her and the family.

Third Sunday of Lent

Jesus tells us a parable about a fig tree. This fig tree had been planted in an orchard but when the owner came to look for fruit on the tree, he found none. This was the third year that the tree had not born fruit so he told the gardener to cut it down. However, the gardener replied, "Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it. It may bear fruit in the future. If you do not cut it down."

Now, we can draw many lessons from this parable. What is Jesus trying to tell us? First, that he is willing to wait and give us still another chance to bear fruit. Or is he the gardener who wants to cultivate the ground and fertilize it? Jesus has told us that we are to bear fruit and our fruit will remain. Let us pray not to be like the barren fig tree.

The first year that I was superior of the community in Coquimbo, Chile, we were very poor and living in the poorest region so we barely had enough to eat as we were five living on the salary of one workman which is what the parish paid us for taking care of the church, making the hosts for all the churches, and even cleaning the church. Well, we had a fig tree in the back of our house and it had never given fruit. The year I arrived it was laden with fruit and the community had enough to fruit to eat for the first time. They all thought it was a miracle. I think the goodness of the Lord made that fig tree bear abundant fruit.

Slow me down, Lord

I took this off of our bulletin board as it seems worth sharing, especially as I have been hearing from others ever since I had pneumonia that I had to slow down.

Slow Me Down, Lord

Amidst the confusion of my day,
give me the calmness of the everlasting hills. Teach me the art of taking minute vacations, of slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to read from a good book. Remind me to look upward at the towering oak, and know that it grew tall and strong because it grew slowly and well. Slow me down, Lord.

Now, I hope I am taking time to contemplate the flowers as I have begun walking each day. I also had the inspiration in prayer to use my I-pad only in the evening as I am spending too much time on it playing games. I love playing Words with Friends, Scrabble, and even doing the jigsaw puzzles, but I am going to cut back and use my Bible instead of my Bible app until the end of Lent - at least I am going to try to do this; I think I am attached to the I-pad!

God is never in a hurry

This is a picture of Iceland. Sometimes a picture captures me. I begin to use my imagination and get carried away. Actually, I am now trying to concentrate on the Lenten readings. I am using as I mentioned before, Judy Cannato's Quantum Grace: Lenten Reflections on Creation and Connectedness. Here is what she says for the Third Sunday of Lent in the first paragraph:

"God is never in a hurry. Even when the need is urgent, the Holy One doesn't rush, but manifests as a divine Patience that allows us freedom to learn hard lessons and discover the truth through the mistakes we have made."

I guess that made me stop and think of the many times I have wanted to hurry God. He will not be hurried and teaches me to have patience. Really, patience is one virtue that is hard for me to practice. I am mostly impatient with myself. God works slowly and keeps showing me His desire for me to slow down, too. I do not need to do today what can easily be put off for tomorrow. That sounds like heresy to me, but a wonderful Religious once told us that she found time for prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament just by reminding herself that she could postpone many things until the next day. I sometime think I am a procrastinator, yet God is telling me to slow down and enjoy the present moment.

In the boat

I continue to see myself in a boat with Jesus. Sometimes, it is a small boat just for the two of us. Sometimes, it is one of those large ships that is carrying the entire Province; at other times, I see a fleet of ships with a flag ship setting the direction and moving the fleet forward. All of these images came with the personal reflection asked for by our "dream catchers", but they have stayed with me.

I am at the age where I just want to be in the boat with Jesus. I am finding this Lent too full of things to be done and I need to slow down and, hopefully, clear out as one has the distressing habit of collecting things that are not essential. My room is too small for non-essentials. I guess I will tackle the bottom shelf in my bookcase today. It seems to be the place where I am putting things I do not know what to do with and I suspect much could be given away without my even missing it.

Sometimes I find putting order exteriorly helps me to clear out the clutter that may be accumulating in my interior life. If I would keep remembering that I am on a journey, I would leave behind what is not necessary to take. 

What would allow our life to be agile and dynamic for mission?

Today, we are finally going to be treating the questions asked by our creative "dream catchers" in preparation for a special Chapter to be held in 2021 on how to organize ourselves and how to share our resources.

What would allow for life to be agile and dynamic for mission?

I think the Pope has been telling us to go out and be with those who are needy in any way: here we have some who are needy, some who are dependent on others, some who have memory loss, others who cannot walk, etc. I think we need to start with the reality around us as each of us is called to further the mission by prayer and our love and concern for others. Sometimes it is by writing notes or e-mailing others; sometimes it may mean still giving spiritual direction and being a welcoming person.

How can our Province be more agile and dynamic?
I think we need to continue to strengthen our ties to our associates, even to having some mixed communities of religious and lay people, continue to have our houses open to others and, as a Province decide how we can contribute more to receiving and helping immigrants and refugees.

With regard to the Philippine Region, I think we are going to need to unite Provinces and have more exchange of persons, but this needs to be gradual and we all need to learn how to converse in Spanish. Perhaps I should say that all who are not yet 75 should be studying Spanish. We are so sure that other countries will know English that we sit back and do not take language study seriously. Fortunately our young religious are learning and having some months living in another country. I really think this is important for our future.

I do not think I am capable of saying how I think the International Society can be more agile and dynamic for mission, but feel that the International Communications team has a big part to play in helping us see how we can collaborate more. And I love the idea of international volunteers. I guess, after twenty years in Chile, internationality is something I cherish as part of our Society's charism and mission.

These thoughts are off the top of my head and I look forward to hearing from others here on Wednesday, but I really want all of our associates, colleagues, friends and readers if this blog to pray now for this special chapter that will see many organizational changes to lead us into the future.

Feast of St. Joseph

St. Joseph is a quiet man, but most have been a great model for Jesus to learn about an earthly father. Joseph must have taught Jesus all he knew about carpentry; he would have taken him to the synagogue, taught him the psalms, and certainly would have been the one to explain so many of the Jewish customs to Jesus. Males were separated not only in the synagogue, but even walking.  I think Jesus turned often to Joseph when he did not understand or wanted to learn about something. Remember that Jesus was just like us except for sin; he had to learn to speak, to walk, to talk, and then to learn all that a Jewish boy needed to learn as he grew up. I suspect Joseph took great pride in forming Jesus to be a skilled carpenter. I wonder if God spoke at other times to Joseph in a dream. We know how obedient he was when God told him not to fear to take Mary as his wife and then when he was asked to flee to Egypt with Mary and their infant son. He was a man of great faith and trusted God. These are qualities that Jesus showed he valued in all his followers later.

We are celebrating again today

It seems that the Archbishop of San Francisco postponed the celebration of St. Patrick's Day until today in order to give preference to the Second Sunday of Lent. We did have a lovely Mass and Irish food, but our happy hour will be tonight.
I thought I would just give you St. Patrick's Breastplate as a prayer for today.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

St. Patarick's Day

It is the Second Sunday of Lent, but also St. Patrick's Day so we are celebrating with a special Happy Hour in the evening and our Provincial will be officially installing Sister Sally Rude as our new Community Director. I have lived with Sally when we were both in the West Pine community and I know how good she is for community life, hospitality, and openness to all. Since then, she has had terrific international experiences and brings all this to us now.
The Gospel for this Sunday is Luke's account of the Transfiguration of the Lord. I love the fact that Jesus invited his special friends, Peter, James and John, to go up the mountain with him to pray. And off they went not knowing that God would use this moment to transfigure Jesus in their presence and that they would hear the words, "This is my chosen Son; listen to him." Let us listen to Jesus today.

The reflection by Sister Miriam Pollard in Give Us This Day, begins by saying that "the Transfiguration story is the story of our own journey into the nature we were created to explore and inhabit. Into what the Eastern Church calls our deification. Bus wait, this is not to be a quiet, uneventful march into the sunset.
We who are to be melded into the divine and human life of the Eternal Son will pass through that cleft in the rock through which his glory shines--just as He did, by sharing in the contradiction, pain, and abandonment that he is about to claim as his own...."

Paul's transfiguration resulted in joy, inner peace, gratitude and praise amidst his trials and tribulations. He always was able to bounce back and keep his freedom in the Spirit. I suspect St. Patrick also had these same attitudes and modes of acting. Let us pray that we may all be transfigured with Jesus.

Seasons of Interior Life

This is one of the pictures that I took of Lake Tahoe when I was there at the beginning of February. I was invited to go again for four days over this week end, but no one to drive us so here I am remembering what a peaceful time it was and thanking God for the beauty I experienced during those days when I was still recovering from pneumonia. We had six days away instead of four because of the blizzard that made the roads impossible. I think they are still having more snow this week end but it is sunny here and the tulips are appearing so we will soon have Spring weather.

Our interior life has its seasons, too. I guess Lent makes me feel that I am in a season of change. I am trying to discern the interior paths that the Lord is leading me on at this point in my life. I think, as my readers must know by now, that our interior life is more exciting than our exterior life, but we need to be able to reflect on it a good deal before we can begin to find the words to describe how the Lord is working in us now. We do better when we describe some interior grace that is now in the past, but God is working in each of us now in the present! What does your interior terrain look like at this point in your life?

Climbing a Mountain

Sometimes we think that we are being asked to climb an interior mountain that seems beyond our strength. It is impossible without God's help, but He is with us and asks only that we take one step at a time. I think this is good advice not only for our interior life, but our exterior life. As we grow older, many things seem beyond our strength. God walks with us and tells us to slow down, breathe deeply, walk one step at a time. I repeat here the little prayer we sing so often at the end of our reunions here at Oakwood; it is one that helps me so much and I often say it after Communion, during the day, and especially when I am awake at night.

"Breathing in, breathing out
I am calm; I am smiling.
You in me, I in You.
Present moment, wondrous moment,
Peace to the world, peace to the world."

Listen to God

I would suggest that we continue to reflect on yesterday's blog post on our journey to Easter. I keep hearing a call to live the Beatitudes and I think the Chapter on the Beatitudes in the Pope's Exhortation on Holiness, published last March, is so important for all of us. I cannot understand why we have not been hearing more about this important document written for all Christians. I do hope my going through it in this blog last year has helped many. I think we are all called to holiness and the Pope has spelled out the practical means for each of us to attain the holiness that the Lord expects for each of us.

I am also struck by something Cardinal Martini wrote about the need for us to do lectio divina every single day.  And then I read somewhere that it is good to take a Gospel and just use it for this slow, meditative reading as we listen to God. He speaks to us in many ways, but Scripture is one way to let God speak to us, so do try this during Lent. 

Lenten Journey to Easter

In this month's "Give Us This Day" there is a reflection on our "Lenten Journey to Easter" by Jane Deren, PhD and I want to share it with you today. It calls us to prayer.

Lenten Journey to Easter

We walk this Lenten Journey 

with immigrants and refugees,

lost, unsure of their journey's end, 

still longing for a home.

We walk with those in poverty,

unable to live lives of dignity,

besieged by hunger and fear,

trying to hold on day by day.

We walk with those mourning

what is happening to God's creation,

calling us all to better care and stewardship

of the earth, its creatures, and all growing things.

We walk with women who are trafficked,

who are abused, who are harassed,

who still live in the silences,

and who want to flee the darkness.

We walk with peacemakers,

walking a very rocky road toward peace

when so much conflict rages

and so many fan the flames of violence.

We walk with all those carrying burdens,

yet we walk in faith and hope.

Despite the suffering of the Cross,

we walk toward an Easter dawning.

We move toward the seemingly impossible

Resurrection, a time of justice and peace.

We walk, called forward through the darkness

by the Risen Christ;

In his name we pray. Amen

Trust the future

Entire families out here in California go off to ski either near Lake Tahoe or into Utah. The children learn to ski at an early age and love to conquer the different slopes until they are able to ski on the steepest and most difficult.

I have never skied. However, it is a sport that intrigues me. I love to watch it on TV (I guess that should be past tense as I seldom watch anything on TV!). There is something so freeing as the best skiers are able to soar into the air and still land on their skies to continue their journey down the ski slope. I would like to have that freedom in my inner life. I think the Holy Spirit sometimes urges me to set out down a new path and helps me to jump obstacles when I trust that the Spirit will also see that I land safely. 

We are in a moment of trust both to see what is going to happen to Religious Life in general and how we can organize ourselves to face the challenges that await us. We are growing older and fewer people are entering religious congregations. We are being led by the Spirit to create new ways of keeping our charisms alive in the Church. The Church is being asked to change its ways and reach out to all. Let us pray for the future and trust the Holy Spirit.

A special Monday

This morning at 8:00 I have a group of mothers of children in the school who have made the Busy Person's Retreat with me and who are interested in growing in their relationship with Jesus. We usually have some silent prayer and then read the next Sunday's Gospel and share.
At 9:00 we have a final Mass to say goodbye to Clare Pratt who has been our Community Director here at Oakwood for the last nine years. We are sad to lose her but happy for her at the same time. She has been a perfect example of what our vocation calls each of us to be and I have been so enriched just by knowing her and making some directed retreats with her plus these past two plus years here at Oakwood where I have seen her gift of self to all of us each day. 
Our call as a community now is to continue to have the same spirit of love, hospitality, and prayer for the whole world as Clare has taught us by her living our charism day be day.
We had a beautiful Mass yesterday with our regular Sunday community plus special invited guests. There was a lovely reception afterwards with speeches and then dinner with many RSCJ guests, etc. Our Provincial came for this, too. Now we welcome our new Community Director, Sally Rude, who I have lived with and know she will work to continue the spirit of this community and bring joy to each.

First Sunday in Lent

This Sunday's Gospel is on the temptations of Jesus in the desert. He must have told his friends about being tempted. Jesus spent 40 days in the desert before beginning his public ministry. Let us realize that the 40 days of Lent are also a preparation for us to deepen our faith, pray and seek to follow the Lord more closely. Each of us is on this journey so let us pray not to enter into temptation but to use this Lent to stay with Jesus and learn from Him that He is meek and humble of heart.

Judy Cannato says that we often tend to hold back and wait for others to get things started. During Lent God says, "Don't wait for others. Start right here, right now, in your midst. "You choose life, You fast in a way that heals breaches. You remove oppression from your midst." This is what Jesus did and what we are supposed to do.
So, what am I going to do today? I should at least write what I think Jesus is asking me to do this Lent so I can refer to it. A good resolution will be broken early, if it is the right resolution.

One thing we can all do this Lent is to act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with our God. The Lord wants us to change our hearts so that we are open to receive Him however He comes. The poor, the outcast, the neighbor who drives us crazy, -- it doesn't matter who comes to us as we are to love all with the same love that Jesus loves. Let us ask for the grace to enter into the Heart of Jesus today and draw forth His love for the world! He loves each of us unconditionally and asks us to love one another. Then we will act justly and be able to walk humbly with our God!

Ash Wednesday should have reminded us that we are dust and into dust we shall return. But, Judy says we are really star dust and have been around for a very long time. Scientists tell us that "all matter that now exists was formed almost fourteen billion years ago and has been recycling ever since. We are part of a vast universe of energy particles that continues to renew and recreate. Literally, we are the dust of stars."

Lent is a time to remember what is essential in our lives. We do not live by bread alone and the devil is still active and lying in wait to tempt us as we begin this Lent with good intentions. Ignatius of Loyola told us that the devil studies each of us to find our weak spots and then he attacks. Let us be awake and vigilant and take time to dialogue each day with the Lord to discern what He wants of us.

Ash Wednesday

This is a special day for we begin the season of Lent that leads us into Holy Week and the whole Pascal Mystery.
Some, if not, most Catholics, take Lenten resolutions that either consist in not doing something during Lent, or a positive one that promises to do something during Lent. The idea really is to spend this special season getting closer to Jesus and being with Him during Holy Week and then entering into His Joy on Easter Sunday when the Risen Christ begins to appear to others to console and strengthen them and us.
I am asking the Lord to show me what He wants me to do for Him during Lent. I know I am to slow down and I am thinking of the inner attitudes of Paul: his joy and inner peace; gratitude; and praise. These brought about a transformation in Paul and the Lord seems to be nudging me to concentrate on gratitude and praise this Lent. I see being grateful not just to the Lord, but to all and the same for praise. I need to learn how to both praise God and praise others. 
I found a book that I think will be helpful for some spiritual reading during Lent. It is one by Judy Cannato and the title is  Quantum Grace: Lenten Reflections on Creations and Connections. It takes the Sunday readings and has some questions for reflection and journaling so I think it will be helpful. 

Shrove Tuesday

Today really is Shrove Tuesday! We have had so much going on here at Oakwood that it seems time really is flying. I guess when we begin to feel that there is not enough time, we need to sit down and think: "I have all the time there is. No one has more than I do. There are only 24 hours each day and I have the gift of those 24 hours every single day!
Last Saturday we celebrated a 101 birthday and then I left to see a friend in hospice. Today we have a party for Shrove Tuesday but yesterday we prepared a special reunion for Sister Clare Pratt who leaves us next Tuesday after nine years here as Community Director. She will be so missed, but we want to be cheerful so we had "The Follies" - the opening number is a dance by our two African sisters, then those who could walk danced in all wearing blue and with caps or hats. Then came all those who had walkers, at least those who had the kind where you can place them, put on the brakes, turn around and sit down. They did their dance with hands and feet while sitting but were dressed in red. Then we had the wheel chairs pushed by designated ones. Those is the wheel chairs wore white and had colorful neckpieces and had to wave them in time with the music. Then, the last act was three who have electric carts who drove in and out. These "bikers" were in black. It was really quite a performance! Lots of fun! Now, have a happy, holy Lent!
"

Shrove Monday

I know it is only Monday, but why keep the pancakes for Shrove Tuesday? Both days are celebrated before Lent begins. What is important amidst the celebrations is to prepare for the holy season of Lent. We need to pray for our world and do some sort of penance during these six weeks, but I feel that the Lord will show each of us what He wants of us if we just take the time to pray about it.

I am writing ahead as I am going to visit one of my friends who is on hospice. Her daughter will pick me up on Saturday and bring me back on Sunday and I am so glad I will be able to go to see her.

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

This Sunday's Gospel has Jesus saying to his disciples: 

"Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?"

Jesus tells us that we do not even notice the wooden beam in our own eye, yet we want to remove the splinter form another's eye. And Jesus goes on to say that every tree is know by its own fruit. "A good person our of the store of goodness in his heart produces good..."

That gives us plenty to reflect on today. Also, this coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday and we need to think about how we will spend the season of Lent this year.

Paul's Second Mode of Action

Freedom in the spirit characterizes Paul's second mode of action. He knows that he has reached a place in which he no longer acts through pressure or conformity to external standards. He acts out of his inner abundance, according to Martini. He is "truly able, consequently, to take on fervent attitudes that would otherwise be reckless for him to ty to imitate."
Paul is free from every currant of popular opinion. He has an inner strength that even holds out in opposition to Peter. Martini will tell us that "this freedom is not arbitrary or presumptuous but rather comes from a sense of absolute and total belong to Christ as a slave, as a servant."
Freedom is the source of the humblest service. It is worth reading Galatians 5:1-13) as you reflect on this mode of action.
We have much to learn from Paul.

Paul's modes of action

Paul had the ability to always bounce back no matter what the circumstances. He was chased out of one place after another, but he just kept going and preaching and getting up and so Martini will tell us that "this ability to bounce back is more than human; anyone, after so many failed attempts, would be humanly unnerved. We do not possess this tirelessness; even he did not possess it. It is a manifestation of what we will call 'charity' or 'love': "Love endures all things" (1 Cor 1:3-7).

It is the love of God: "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Romans 5:5).

Tomorrow we will look at his other mode of action after his transfiguration.