A Full Last Day of February

 Today, after Mass, we have a farewell reception for our Community Director, and then I have a zoom at 10:00 and we have a reunion at 3:30 with, I think, our new Community Director who was our Provincial until last August. She has a great deal of experience, and we are blessed to have her.

Here is a quote that I like: "Prayer can be a rhythm that helps us make sense in times of senselessness, not offering solutions, but speaking to and from the mystery of humanity.

Prayer is rhythm. Prayer is comfort. Prayer is disappointment. Prayer is words and shape and art around desperation and delight and disappointment and desire." Padraig O'Tauma {author and past leader of Corrymeela, Northern Ireland's oldest peace and reconciliation organization.

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 This is the last Sunday before Lent. We ask in the Collect that the whole course of our world may be directed by the Lord's peaceful rule and that the Church may rejoice, untroubled in her devotion.

This is a prayer that is urgently needed in our troubled world.

The first reading is from the Book of Sirach 27:4-7

Our faults appear when we speak.  "The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had; so too does one's speech disclose the bent of one's mind. Praise no one before he speaks, for it is then that people are tested."

Responsorial Psalm: "Lord, it is good to give thanks to you."

The second reading is from the first Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 15: 54-58

The Gospel is Luke 6: 39-45

It is time to begin to think of the season of Lent. The Church gives us six weeks to prepare for Easter. We are invited to follow Jesus as He shows us how much He loves us. 

"Just keep showing up"

 

"Just keep showing up" is very good advice. Sometimes prayer is easy; sometimes prayer is difficult. All of us go through ups and downs in prayer, but what is important is to keep showing up. It is not about what we are doing, but what God is doing in us and with us when we show up. Be there and know that God is there. We may not feel anything; we may be full of distractions; we may be crying out for help and God does not seem to hear. Do not fool yourself. God is always present and He knows why He allows us to feel that He may be absent. Trust me. God is never absent and some of those agonizing prayer periods may be full of grace for us and for others. Let God be God and just show up and be grateful for the prayer periods when all is consolation. 

Showing Up

What I think is most important for prayer is that we make ourselves show up! No matter what your definition of prayer is, you need to show up to pray. Make yourself available. I always remember what Thomas Merton said: "How does an apple ripen? It just sits in the sun!"

Matthew Kelly asks us to think about being available to God. How available are you to God? Are you ready to surrender and make yourself completely available to Him? You can make up your own prayer of surrender to God. You will not regret this complete surrender. Then, God takes over and loves you with an infinite love. God just waits for you as He longs to show us His love. Make a date with God today!
 

Just Pray

 Sometimes people spend time telling me why they are not praying: no time, it seems that God is not present, they do not see any results, etc. The thing is that pray is always possible. You do not need to feel God's presence. Just start talking to God and see what happens. Sometimes, after you have been talking, you need to be silent and listen. God responds in different ways, but remember that His first language is silence!

Matthew Kelly says that we need to begin the conversation with God. Ask God what He wants. Now that I am 90 years old, I know that God just wants to love me. I just sit there and let Him love me. Of course, that means that I am open to His love and not off daydreaming or planning what I need to do after prayer, etc. Just be there and let God love you!

Today is my sister's birthday.

"I Heard God Laugh"

 Some months ago, I bought a book by Matthew Kelly called I Heard God Laugh: A Practical Guide to Life's Essential Daily Habit. Maybe someone even gave it to me, but it has been sitting on my bookshelf and it was published in 2020 and I have a first edition. Now, I have read the book and would love to share some of it, but I need to be careful of the copyright. However, I know the author wants everyone to benefit by what he calls the "Prayer Process". It has seven points and it might be helpful to all of us to see how Matthew Kelly prays and wants others to pray. He begins with gratitude. Just begin by thanking God for what you are most grateful today. You do not need to spend a great deal of time on any of these points, but just say to God what comes to mind.

After thanking, be aware of when you might not have been your best self during the past twenty-four hours. Talk to God about this.

Then think of significant moments in your day and explore what God might be saying to you in the event or an interaction.

After that, ask God to forgive you and give you a deep, abiding peace.

Then, you might talk to God about something God might help you change in your life.

Then, you may want to pray for others.

End with an Our Father.

For me, Kelly is really giving us a way to make the Ignatian Examen. What I like about Kelly's chapter on "Life's Essential Habit" is that he is teaching us to pray in a way that is easy and possible for all.

Life among the Stars

 In one of my guided images, I found myself wandering around among the stars in the universe. It was a thrilling experience; I felt the vastness of the sky, the multitude of stars the brilliance of each, etc. I was given a new understanding of part of the universe that I have never studied. 

Take some time to fly into the night sky and visit the stars! I think that God has given each of us a star.

Today is a Holiday honoring two Presidents

 I am realizing more of the greatness of many of our presidents because I am reading the book, The Soul of America: The Battle For Our Better Angels by Jon Meacham. I have not had time to read much yet, but I am really liking what I am reading. Meacham wants us to understand what is happening in present day America by looking back at critical times in our history when hope overcame division and fear.

What we need to do together is unite to overcome the intolerance and greed that is dividing our country. We need to pray much and continue to fight for voting rights for all. I think it would be good if anyone running for important office such as President, Governor, Congressman, should only be allowed to spend a certain amount as it seems to give more power to those who are rich or who cultivate the rich. I hate the money spent on lobbying when we could be helping those right here in the United States who are living in poverty. We have families who struggle to feed their children in a land where people can spend thousands of dollars betting on a game! Something is wrong, but we have come through many bad times, and I have hope for the future if we can just elect people who really do want to work for the common good of all.

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

 The Collect for today's Liturgy: "Grant we pray, almighty God, that, always pondering spiritual things, we may carry out in both word and deed that which is pleasing to you."

Who among us can say that we are "always pondering spiritual things?

The first reading is from the first book of Samuel 26

Responsorial Psalm 103: "The Lord is kind and merciful."

"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name...."

The second reading is from the first Letter of Paul to the Corinthians: 15:45-49

The Gospel is Luke: 6: 27-38

Jesus is telling us that we must love everyone, even our enemies. We are to do good to those who hate us. We are to love our enemies and our reward will be great and we will be "children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

And then Jesus tells us to "Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you..."

It is a Gospel to pray over this Sunday!

Finding a Place for Prayer

 This is a picture of the Oakwood chapel taken, I think, from my chair which is in the front row just to the left of the edge of this picture. I find that I pray best when I am sitting in my chair in the Chapel. I can also pray in many other places, but there is something special about praying in front of the Presence of Our Lord in the tabernacle. 

Some people find it easy to pray out walking. I find the ocean is most helpful for me of all the outdoor places where I have prayed. I think the important thing is to find what is most helpful for you. God is waiting for you everywhere. We are the ones who are so easily distracted. I also find that my room is conducive to prayer, as long as I have cleared my desk. Disorder for me is a distraction. 

Reading Scripture

 We are fortunate to have weekday Masses by the Dominicans and then have Jesuits on the weekends. One of our Dominican priests really knows Scripture and can connect the Old and New Testament passages with great ease. He inspires me to read more Scripture. God has given us many ways to know Him and we can find God by not only reading Scripture, but by His Presence in others, in nature, in the entire universe. However, I have the Word of God sitting on my bookshelf and need to open it daily. We should all be reading a bit of the New and the Old Testament to deepen our interior life. We find time for other things.

I love to read but must confess that I have not kept my resolution to read some Scripture each day; I do prepare the reading for Mass, and we have the Psalms and other readings in our night prayer here at Westwood, but it is not the same as prayerful reading of a Gospel or One of the Letters of Paul just to see what God is saying to me today. Maybe this will be a good Lenten Resolution.

March opens with Mardi Gras and it is also one of our Sisters 104th birthday. she is still very active and very holy. I met her outside yesterday and she showed me that we have nine new rose bushes. She is so alive and now can drive herself around in an electric chair. She is still able to come to everything and we are so blessed to have her.