guardian angel icon written by Sister Dianne

 

august 20 2006

Prv 9:1-6 Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven columns; she has dressed her meat, mixed her wine, yes, she has spread her table. She has sent out her maidens; she calls from the heights out over the city: “Let whoever is simple turn in here; To the one who lacks understanding, she says, Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding.”

Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;his praise shall be ever in my mouth.Let my soul glory in the LORD;the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me,let us together extol his name.I sought the LORD, and he answered meand delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,and your faces may not blush with shame.When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,and from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Eph 5:15-20 Brothers and sisters: Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord. And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

Jn 6:51-58 Jesus said to the crowds: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you,unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

Jesus in the gospel of John here is offering the faithful a new covenant. He says "unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever." Life in Christ promises eternal life found in the body and blood of Christ which is meant to be shared by all believers. The Eucharist and the Resurrection are at the center of our life in Christ, a living of the new covenant of salvation.

I am most grateful to be able to live in the House of the Lord. The time of having a day of prayer together three times during the day and often but not always daily Eucharist is a treasured blessing. Communal prayer is a part of my life as a Benedictine Religious Sister that I especially value and find that it sustains, strengthens and renews me. My time in the early morning daily in Lectio is another source of food for the faith and the soul that is constantly opening my heart and turning my face to God. Next weekend our entire community will gather for our annual community weekend. I pray today especially for the Sisters who have had to be away from the monastery that they may be renewed and reunited in prayer, spirit and wholeness when they gather again and share this coming weekend with all the Sisters.