1/1/2008
Talents Parable
Happy, love- and peace-filled, New Year!
We believe that,
as in the Parable of the Talents (MT 25:14-30)
we have an
urgent obligation to
take Christ seriously enough
to share his mission of human liberation,
justice and dignity
with others.
Spirit and Lifestyle
Sunday's reading from Paul (Colossians 3:12-19) modeled for us how to
share this mission:
" ... clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,
meekness, and patience.... Above all clothe yourselves with love,
which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace
of Christ rule your hearts."
Here's a prayer from the Breviary for the New Year:
God of the nations, look upon the lands devastated by war and show us
the way to peace. Turn our guns into plows and our bombs into bread.
Remove hatred from our hearts and vengeance from our memories. Give
us the wisdom and the will to end terrorism and war whether in lands
far or near, or in the confines of our families and communities. Help
us to remember that we are one world and one family. Let all the
peacemakers of all times and all places, especially those who
suffered persecution and death for the sake of justice and peace
guide us in our actions. Let us be people of peace. Amen.
1/8/2008
Be Humble
We are, therefore,
sharers of the Good News
through witness and service.
It is only through
the way we live, love and serve
that we can truly witness to
the Christ who served,
and invited us to do likewise.
Only in following His way faithfully
dare we claim the name Christian.
"If I, the Lord and Master, have
washed your feet, you should wash
each other's feet. I have given
you an example so that you may copy
what I have done to you." (Jn 13:14-15)
Spirit and Lifestyle
Claudia Milligan sent me a beautiful reflection on the 27 months she
spent in Guatemala. I asked her if I could send you part of this
reflection and she agreed. Thank you, Claudia.
"Learn to humble myself, to understand that the journey is about the
questions, not the answers, to understand that I have one answer, not
THE ANSWER, to understand that making assumptions shows a lack of
respect for others and me, to learn the value in each moment with
each person.
LISTEN
Listen from your heart. Often I am thinking about what to say while
someone is speaking. Do I really hear what is being said.... not only
the words but the feelings? Do I listen from my heart and not just my
head?
Inquire. Ask questions; don't make assumptions. Do I really
understand what is being said? Do I make assumptions about people and
situations? Do I ask questions to get to the real meaning?
Stop talking. Questions and answer may come when I am quiet. Do I
spend enough time in silence to "hear" my Voice from within? Speak
from the heart. When I speak, do I really speak from a deeper, more
thoughful place or do I just say the words that come quickly to my mind?
Truth. Do I understand that when I speak my truth, it is just my
truth and not THE TRUTH? Am I open to hearing others and their
perspective of the truth? Someone else believes his truth is the
truth. Am I open to hearing other ideas and thoughts?
Emotions - no, Feelings - yes. Can I separate from the emotions and
the drama of the event by recognizing how I am feeling? Do I get
trapped in the game and respond emotionally? Is my feeling of sadness
or anger, really about my fears? Do I recognize my feelings of
gratitude and express them?
Now. Am I present in every relationship or am I listening to the
thousands of voices in my head? Am I paying attention and being
present to the person or place or task I am in right now?"
What a profound way to witness and serve.
Cecily
1/15/2008
The Spirit
The spirit and calling
of the VMM missionary is,
first and foremost,
one of love and service
in and to the world.
As lay people we give a
special witness
to the reality that all
the People of God
are called to involvement
in Christ's mission.
All who hear God's Word
are called to respond.
Bishops, builders and nurses alike
must work together, equally,
towards the coming of the Realm of God.
Mission is given to us all.
Spirit and Livestyle
Recently the Gospel reading was Luke 4, 14-22a. Jesus reads from
Isaiah: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed
me to bring the good news to the poor." Isaiah was he first to use
frequently the word "Good News" but at the time he was writing
nothing seemed good: his people had just returned from a long exile
in Babylon, burdened with countless trials, sufferings and losses.
Community had to be re-created, everything had to be reconstructed.
Five centuries later Jesus makes his own the Good News, the new way
in which God works for the poor, prisoners, blind and oppressed.
Again the conditions are not favorable: they are living under Roman
occupation and injustices abound. Jesus intends to show in words and
actions that God takes care of the poor and wants to change their
destiny.
Today "bad" news dominate but we still possess the Good News. Our
spirit and calling is still, first and foremost, one of love and
service in and to the world. Let us pray the following prayer:
Entire populations, Lord,
Know once again the horror of war and of famine.
Millions of children are captives of an economy without soul or heart.
There are countless violations of human rights.
It is urgent, Lord, that the Good News be heard and fulfilled.
Bring about today that we, the people, rise together
To liberate the captives of this world and to relieve the suffering
of the poor.
I will be away in Guatemala and El Salvador on the next two Tuesdays.
If someone would like to do a reflection, that would be great!
Cecily
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