A Backward Glance as We Look Ahead…

We have turned our faces to the future. Our June gathering has set the course, and it will not do for us to try to live in the past. But I am going to suggest a quick glance.

It is not by chance, I don’t think, that Sister Mary Hortense named her book “Rooted in Hope.” No, I think she identifies something about our community. Yes, our past shows we are women of faith and women of great courageous charity. But most of all, we have been women of hope. I think it is a distinctive quality in our Dominican communal charism. “Providence has guided us in the past, and will continue to guide us in the future.” (Mother Benedicta)

Pope Francis reflected on hope during his audiences back in late 2016 and early 2017. I’m going to listen in to what he had to say, and reflect on how this might shed a bit of light on our future. I will share what I learn with you these next months.

I begin by reminding us all of the Word from last month: “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; give thanks in all situations, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” (1Thess. 5:17-18)

I repeat that this sounds like an irrational invitation. It is, for one who has no hope. It is only for those who move into the future with hope that this scripture makes sense.

Francis agrees. We face dark times. We see nothing beyond the darkness. We seem powerless…politically and religiously for it is clear that the world is in a crisis of faith. Yet the Word assures us that God does not leave us to ourselves; that God has us by the hand. In the midst of all the news of gloom and doom, Isaiah boldly proclaimed to us back in early July, “Lo, I will spread prosperity…like a river…as a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; (Is. 66, Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

So hope keeps on the lookout for comforters. Keep on the lookout for them. They bring us hope, for they heal our afflicted and fearful hearts. No, they may not bring loud laughter, but they bring a smile, Francis says. A smile brings hope…an expectation of God. We smile when in our desert state we see new green growth…when we see a child, for both raise up hope within us. Scripture shows us that the future belongs to the little ones. So we ourselves must become “little ones.” Hand in hand we begin our journey into the future with a knowing little smile…rooted in hope.

What We Need for the Road

After the celebration of the big feasts…Pentecost, Trinity, Corpus Christi, the Sacred Heart…the liturgy introduced us to fact of “being sent out.” The texts were about missioning, about getting on the road. So what does that mean for us “stay at home Christians” who merely take a trip to Walgreens and back?

Being missioned is not about milage. It is about presence. We’re missioned to our families, to our jobs, to our neighbors. We are to be Good News for them. That means we are going to bring a message, intentional or not. We are a word…just being present wherever we go.

So we may not consider ourselves a missionary, but we are on mission. The people around us are waiting for a good word. First and foremost, we are a word…like it or not, so maybe we can check out how we ourselves are being “worded.” The first word we bring is ourselves.

As worded women and men, we are either good news or bad news. We are either in touch with the Word who has taken up residence deep within us, or we are presenting our ego-self to others when we enter their presence. Now how will we know?

The ol’ ego has a distinctive voice. All we need to do is learn to recognize it, and then put it in its place so it doesn’t rule. The ego-voice blames, shames, complains, whines, and rages. Memorize the little diddy for quick recall. Then just notice, that’s all. When it gets in a tizzy, when it has a fever, when it gets swollen with itself, then you will notice what’s going on. It’s the ol’ man or woman that Paul says should be dead because of baptism. But like some Frankenstein, it continues to try to make a comeback. Send it back below the waters.

You have Someone else in charge now, Someone who has brought you an Easter Gift. It’s a kind of peace the world cannot give. Don’t let yourself be robbed. So the word these weeks is going to equip you with all you need for the road. It may only be the road to your kitchen, but when you are present there, may there be peace.

Where are you, Jesus?

Where did you go?

You are not where you used to be, walking, talking with us…

Now you are wherever we are.

Help me to remember that.

Now it’s my turn to be walking and talking…

to be sent wherever my day takes me, if even only down the hall.

I’m a woman…a man…on a mission.

I’m a word for somebody…your word.

The Challenge…Rejoice always…?

As we enter more deeply into this post-Easter time, a scripture has caught my attention and it occurred to me that it was spot on as a way to live out our charism/mission statement and focus as a community. It was so challenging that I will post it here and then comment only of the first imperative it offers.  It is found in the first piece of scripture written, the first letter to the Thessalonians:

“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; give thanks in every situation,

for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Thess. 5: 17-18.

Paul, who has had an unforgettable encounter with the risen Jesus, is not kidding. But what are we to do with this scripture? I suggest we keep “tasting” it  - like a piece of hard candy, until we get to the raspberry in the middle.

That first imperative, “Rejoice always…” makes me want to say, “But this would mean I can’t be moody…I can’t worry…I can’t fear the future…and I do!” Paul, are you telling me that because you have looked into the face of the transformed human Jesus your moods, your worries, your fears became a waste of time? Are you telling me the same?

Why are you, who were beaten, shipwrecked, and finally beheaded, always quietly rejoicing, no matter what life dealt out to you? What had you discovered?

Then it dawns on me that because you have his word for it, you have something more powerful than the most elaborate insurance policy. Ah…but there’s the catch, for you, and for me: you took him at his word. I still need to really do that…seriously. I too have been told…”Do not be afraid…I have loved you with an everlasting love…I will be with you until the end…” So that’s it. That’s why, no matter what happened to you, your soul wore that confident little grin. You knew you had the ultimate security come hell or high water. So that’s my challenge. I have to make the leap. I need to set my face like flint…hanging on to that assurance. I need to keep focused, like you, on that unforgettable face. It’s my post-Easter Penticostal challenge.

Rooted and Growing

We are deep into ordinary time...which really isn’t so ordinary after all. 
It’s the time for the Paschal Mystery, the mystery of his and our dying and rising rhythm to get strong roots and put out green growth that shows.So what are we looking for? We’re looking for ways to protect our Easter gift of peace. It’s the peace the world can’t give...his kind of peace. But isn’t this like a willow the wisp, daily escaping through our fingers like water? A pipe dream? I no longer think so.Bad things happen. We aren’t going to escape them, and we are wasting our energy if we are trying to so control our lives to try to do so. 

How do we meet these ups and downs in his peace? I’ve come to think of these down times like manure. Awful stuff. We don’t keep it in the kitchen. But out in the garden and spread properly, this awful stuff grows marvelous things. Now, no matter how we try, this awful stuff remains awful stuff. We aren’t being Pollyanna here. But this comparison has proven very helpful to me.It all started with a scripture quote: “Rejoice always; pray continuously; give thanks in all situations, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess. 5: 17-18) 

At first read, I thought, “You have got to be kidding!” But Paul isn’t fooling around. Then I gave it a try. The results shocked me.First I had to figure out why I should “Rejoice always.” Then it dawned on me that by Jesus’ resurrection I had been given ultimate security. There is no better ultimate insurance plan. My ultimate future has been taken care of. That put a quiet little knowing grin on my soul. I really DID have a reason to “Rejoice always.” Then this “pray continuously” thing. After all, we do have to do the laundry and a few other things! But lovers know all about this. While they drive, while they vacuum, there is this little background awareness of that one-I-love. It’s a little like that. 
This kind of prayer is like back-ground music to my activity. 

Finally, there was the kicker. “Give thanks in all situations?” Even when the manure odor is unmistakable? Right on. When I quietly said, “Thank you...” and trusted it had a purpose, lo and behold! It held my soul in quiet peace, even when all hell broke loose around me. So, I dare you. Check it out for yourself. It’s really today’s paschal mystery custom designed for your little life....rooted and growing.

 First you fill me with heavenly assurance. 

Then you clothe me in your kind of peace. 

Then you tune me in to your theme song “always with you...”

 And then I learn to trust even in the stinky stuff. 

Because nothing escapes your plan. 

Thank you for what you have rooted and are growing in me, Jesus.