butterfly jan 22 2006

 

butterfly photo today jan 22 2006

 

jan 21 taken

 

jan 21 2006 taken

 

jan 21 2006 taken

 

ibis lakeside taken jan 21 2006

 

wonderful weed jan 21 2006 taken

 

lake jovita taken jan 21 2006

 

turk's cap jan 21 2006 taken

 

jan 22 2006

Chapter 5: On Obedience
The first degree of humility is obedience without delay. This is the virtue of those who hold nothing dearer to them than Christ; who, because of the holy service they have professed, and the fear of hell, and the glory of life everlasting, as soon as anything has been ordered by the Superior, receive it as a divine command and cannot suffer any delay in executing it. Of these the Lord says,"As soon as he heard, he obeyed Me" (Ps. 17:45). And again to teachers He says,"He who hears you, hears Me" (Luke 10:16). Such as these, therefore, immediately leaving their own affairs and forsaking their own will,dropping the work they were engaged on and leaving it unfinished,with the ready step of obedience follow up with their deeds the voice of him who commands. And so as it were at the same moment the master's command is given and the disciple's work is completed,the two things being speedily accomplished together in the swiftness of the fear of God by those who are moved with the desire of attaining life everlasting. That desire is their motive for choosing the narrow way,of which the Lord says,"Narrow is the way that leads to life" (Matt. 7:14), so that, not living according to their own choice nor obeying their own desires and pleasures but walking by another's judgment and command,they dwell in monasteries and desire to have an Abbot over them. Assuredly such as these are living up to that maxim of the Lordin which He says,"I have come not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me" (John 6:38).
The reading today from the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict is giving a message that is intertwined with the Gospel message of today. The willingness to immediately drop the nets, the personal ways of living, and to follow Jesus. To follow without hesitation and to give the self will over to the will of God who is our source of all. Obedience that is ready is the first step of humility. Humility is of the earth, it is in my eyes being very real and losing false, foolish, frivolous ways. Obedience is one of the monastic vows. It is not a mindless, submissive, weak state. It is a freeing and empowering state to be humble and not burdened by false desires and misplaced paths. It gives energy and soundness and joy to be truly humble.

Of course, I am far from the example of humility and it is a case of regularly reminding myself of the path I am on and that all good and love comes from God and totally giving myself to God who gave me all that I am.

butterfly in the wind taken 2003

 

Jan 22 2006

Mk 1:14-20 After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them,“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.
I always think of my first CCD class I ever taught of third graders at Blessed Sacrament School in Paterson, NJ. This reading was the basis of the first lesson that I taught with them and we talked about being disciples called by Jesus. We also did a puppet show reenacting the calling and the fishermen leaving their boats and nets and following Jesus. I still pray for those children. It was such a blessing to be able to be with them and share growing in the faith together. Their prayers and genuine love of the faith, concern for the poor and gentle honesty were so touching and beautiful. I think of them also often with the Lord's Prayer and can still picture them in church with their little hands stretched out to God as they prayed in the front rows as a group in the church on sunday after the CCD class.

What does it mean to truly repent? Have I left my nets by the shore totally to follow Jesus? Is there a part of my following that is not complete? A part of my living that is still self centered rather than Christ centered?

I do feel there is a part of me that has not totally given over all to Jesus. There are some selfish, false needs still acting in my life. I turn these over in prayer this morning and pray for a conversion of heart that my life may be totally Gospel led and my devotion and life totally Christ centered. I will work on shedding all that is false, selfish, worldly in order to truly leave my nets behind and follow with empty hands and an open willing heart.