Joan Irene

Making the Modern World - GMOs: For and against

2008-09-06T12:28:00.000-04:00

Making the Modern World - GMOs: For and against
Launch the rich media text for DDT The Silent Spring from here
it is silent with interactive visuals and text of the history of DDT to present
It takes only 2-3 minutes to read but is highly informative

Making the Modern World - Medicine as new technology

2008-09-06T12:22:00.000-04:00

Making the Modern World - Medicine as new technology

Don Norman's jnd.org / essays

2008-09-06T12:09:00.000-04:00

Don Norman's jnd.org / essays

2008 International Design Excellence Award - IDEA

2008-09-06T12:04:00.000-04:00

2008 International Design Excellence Award - IDEA

Don Norman's jnd.org / user advocacy and human-centered design: Blog Reactions on Technorati

2008-09-06T12:00:00.000-04:00

Don Norman's jnd.org / user advocacy and human-centered design: Blog Reactions on Technorati

Introduction to ISD

2008-09-06T11:37:00.000-04:00

Introduction to ISD

Hello Again

2008-09-01T19:35:00.001-04:00

I have been away from blogging lectio on this site for about two years but will be renewing the practice soon.

Joan Irene

nov 25 2006

2006-11-25T08:12:00.000-05:00

Saturday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm: Saturday 46

Reading 1
Rev 11:4-12

I, John, heard a voice from heaven speak to me:
Here are my two witnesses:
These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands
that stand before the Lord of the earth.
If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths
and devours their enemies.n this way, anyone wanting to harm them is sure to be slain.
They have the power to close up the sky
so that no rain can fall during the time of their prophesying.
They also have power to turn water into blood
and to afflict the earth with any plague as often as they wish.

When they have finished their testimony,
the beast that comes up from the abyss
will wage war against them and conquer them and kill them.
Their corpses will lie in the main street of the great city,
which has the symbolic names “Sodom” and “Egypt,”
where indeed their Lord was crucified.
Those from every people, tribe, tongue, and nation
will gaze on their corpses for three and a half days,
and they will not allow their corpses to be buried.
The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them
and be glad and exchange gifts
because these two prophets tormented the inhabitants of the earth.
But after the three and a half days,
a breath of life from God entered them.
When they stood on their feet, great fear fell on those who saw them.
Then they heard a loud voice from heaven say to them, “Come up here.”
So they went up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies looked on.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 144:1, 2, 9-10

R. (1b) Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
My mercy and my fortress,
my stronghold, my deliverer,
My shield, in whom I trust,
who subdues my people under me.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
O God, I will sing a new song to you;
with a ten.stringed lyre I will chant your praise,
You who give victory to kings,
and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

Gospel
Lk 20:27-40

Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection,
came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying,
“Teacher, Moses wrote for us,
If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child,
his brother must take the wife
and raise up descendants for his brother.
Now there were seven brothers;
the first married a woman but died childless.
Then the second and the third married her,
and likewise all the seven died childless.
Finally the woman also died.
Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be?
For all seven had been married to her.”
Jesus said to them,
“The children of this age marry and remarry;
but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age
and to the resurrection of the dead
neither marry nor are given in marriage.
They can no longer die,
for they are like angels;
and they are the children of God
because they are the ones who will rise.
That the dead will rise
even Moses made known in the passage about the bush,
when he called ‘Lord’
the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;
and he is not God of the dead, but of the living,
for to him all are alive.”
Some of the scribes said in reply,
“Teacher, you have answered well.”
And they no longer dared to ask him anything.

The way that it will be in heaven is different than on earth.
There will not be marrying in heaven. Those children of God there will be like angels.
Jesus was asked a question by the Saducees to challenge him.
God is a God of the living. I believe in the importance of being present to the moment.
The Lord is my rock and salvation. This morning I give thanks especially for the blessings received.
I pray for the wisdom and love and mercy to be Christ to others in this new day.

nov 24 2006

2006-11-24T05:27:00.000-05:00

Memorial of Saint Andrew Dung-Lac, priest and martyr, and his companions, martyrs
Psalm: Friday 46
Reading 1Rev 10:8-11 I, John, heard a voice from heaven speak to me. Then the voice spoke to me and said:“Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went up to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. He said to me, “Take and swallow it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey.” I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and swallowed it. In my mouth it was like sweet honey, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. Then someone said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”

119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131R. (103a) How sweet to my taste is your promise!
In the way of your decrees I rejoice, as much as in all riches.
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!
Yes, your decrees are my delight;they are my counselors.
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!The law of your mouth is to me more preciousthan thousands of gold and silver pieces.
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!How sweet to my palate are your promises,sweeter than honey to my mouth!
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!Your decrees are my inheritance forever;the joy of my heart they are.
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!I gasp with open mouthin my yearning for your commands.
R. How sweet to my taste is your promise!

Lk 19:45-48 Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them,“It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.”And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

The temple was being disrespected by turning it into a marketplace. The sprirtual presence is not something to be equated with any material goods and in fact in my opinion sprirtual goods can be a barrier to true discipleship. Have I left the material possessions of the world in my current life as a Benedictine Sister? Not completely and by nonWestern standards not very much has been given up. By current American standards I have given up many of the modern electronic personal devices such as Bluetooth and tiny earphones, IPods, newer cameras, new clothing fashions, TV shows, I have one closet of clothes and 3 drawers of clothes total. I have perhaps too many books 3 almost 4 bookcases worth in my home and my work office combined. I think in some ways that I have become too worldly but it is difficult to know at what point something becomes more than a tool or instrument and turns into a possession that is a distraction from simplicity in spiritual life. I have one room that I live in that is about 8 ft by 12 ft which is packed with things. Somehow as soon as I give up a possession something replaces it. There are an enormous amount of papers that have a way of increasing that even though so much can be done on computers, these papers seem to need to be saved for periods of time and filed. I think it is very true that we do not possess our possessions but they possess us taking the time of our life in aquiring, maintaining, moving and disposing them.

Nov 23 2006

2006-11-23T06:54:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving Day
Sir 50:22-24 And now, bless the God of all, who has done wondrous things on earth; Who fosters people’s growth from their mother’s womb, and fashions them according to his will! May he grant you joy of heart and may peace abide among you; May his goodness toward us endure in Israel to deliver us in our days.

Ps 138:1-2a, 2bc-3, 4-5
R. (2bc) Lord, I thank you for your faithfulness and love.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all of my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise; I will worship at your holy temple.
R. Lord, I thank you for your faithfulness and love.
I will give thanks to your name, Because of your kindness and your truth. When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me.
R. Lord, I thank you for your faithfulness and love. All the kings of the earth shall give thanks to you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth; And they shall sing of the ways of the LORD: “Great is the glory of the LORD.”
R. Lord, I thank you for your faithfulness and love.

1 Cor 1:3-9 Brothers and sisters: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always on your account for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, that in him you were enriched in every way,with all discourse and all knowledge, as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you, so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lk 17:11-19 As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten persons with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said,“Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply,“Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

The leper that thanked Jesus was the only one of the ten that after being healed returned to Jesus and gave thanks. He was the Samaritan, a foreigner and in the society of Jerusalem an outcast group. He was able go to the temple priests as was the practice and then return to Jesus. He is told that his faith has saved him.

I think the other nine as human nature would have it were off rejoicing and did not give a thought to give thanks for being healed. I wonder if they even went to the temple priests as instructed. It is a matter of once getting what they wanted they forget totally about thankfulness.

Today is a day for giving thanks. The history that I remember being that the early European settlers in America did not know how to gather the foods and hunt well enough in the new land and on Thanksgiving the Native Americans brought the starving people food and they sat together and feasted and gave thanks for having enough to eat. Did the settlers then proceed to continue to give thanks to the Native Americans? Well the history of America shows a great slaughter and injustice done to the many tribes and kinship groups of Native Americans across the country in the following years. The settlers seemed to have forgotten later to give thanks, or perhaps the waves of newer settlers that followed just ignored the obvious need to respect the indiginous peoples.

I see Thanksgiving as a time of giving thanks for family, friends and food. I also see it as a time to remember the charity of the Native American people toward the newer American settlers. I pray that today is day of grace and kindness for many and that those who do not have food or family or friends will find some comfort and nourishment. I have never truly lived a day in my life in hunger as many people in the world do daily. I thank the Lord for this and ask for the vision to see and help with more ways to feed the hungers of others locally and globally.

Nov 22 2006

2006-11-22T05:40:00.000-05:00

Memorial of Saint Ceilia, virgin and martyr
Rev 4:1-11 I, John, had a vision of an open door to heaven, and I heard the trumpetlike voice that had spoken to me before, saying,“Come up here and I will show you what must happen afterwards.” At once I was caught up in spirit. A throne was there in heaven, and on the throne sat one whose appearance sparkled like jasper and carnelian. Around the throne was a halo as brilliant as an emerald. Surrounding the throne I saw twenty-four other thrones on which twenty-four elders sat, dressed in white garments and with gold crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning,rumblings, and peals of thunder. Seven flaming torches burned in front of the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. In front of the throne was something that resembled a sea of glass like crystal. In the center and around the throne there were four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back. The first creature resembled a lion, the second was like a calf, the third had a face like that of a man, and the fourth looked like an eagle in flight. The four living creatures, each of them with six wings, were covered with eyes inside and out. Day and night they do not stop exclaiming: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty,who was, and who is, and who is to come.” Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,the twenty-four elders fall downbefore the one who sits on the throne and worship him, who lives forever and ever. They throw down their crowns before the throne, exclaiming: “Worthy are you, Lord our God,to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things; because of your will they came to be and were created.”

Ps 150:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6 R. (1b) Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!
Praise the LORD in his sanctuary, praise him in the firmament of his strength. Praise him for his mighty deeds, praise him for his sovereign majesty.
R. Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!
Praise him with the blast of the trumpet,praise him with lyre and harp, Praise him with timbrel and dance, praise him with strings and pipe.
R. Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!
Praise him with sounding cymbals,praise him with clanging cymbals.Let everything that has breathpraise the LORD! Alleluia.R. Holy, holy, holy Lord, mighty God!

Lk 19:11-28 While people were listening to Jesus speak, he proceeded to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the Kingdom of God would appear there immediately. So he said,“A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’ His fellow citizens, however, despised him and sent a delegation after him to announce,‘We do not want this man to be our king.’ But when he returned after obtaining the kingship, he had the servants called, to whom he had given the money, to learn what they had gained by trading. The first came forward and said,‘Sir, your gold coin has earned ten additional ones.’He replied, ‘Well done, good servant!You have been faithful in this very small matter;take charge of ten cities.’ Then the second came and reported,‘Your gold coin, sir, has earned five more.’And to this servant too he said,‘You, take charge of five cities.’ Then the other servant came and said,‘Sir, here is your gold coin;I kept it stored away in a handkerchief,for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man;you take up what you did not lay downand you harvest what you did not plant.’ He said to him,‘With your own words I shall condemn you, you wicked servant. You knew I was a demanding man,taking up what I did not lay downand harvesting what I did not plant; why did you not put my money in a bank? Then on my return I would have collected it with interest.’ And to those standing by he said,‘Take the gold coin from him and give it to the servant who has ten.’ But they said to him,‘Sir, he has ten gold coins.’ He replied, ‘I tell you,to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Now as for those enemies of mine who did not want me as their king, bring them here and slay them before me.’” After he had said this, he proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.

It seems a hard lesson that the one who has will gain more and the one who has not that even more will be taken away. To me it is an encouragement to have courage in decisions and commitments in order to use the little wealth that I have entrusted to me by God to the fullest. If I live a life in hesitation and fear there will be no benefit, no profit, no earned interest from the gifts and richs that God has given to me. It is a significant ending to the gospel story that when Jesus told this parable he was on the way up to Jerusalem. The readings are pointing to the end times in the first reading and in the passion of Jesus nearing the end in the gospel according to Saint Luke. The liturgical year has only one week left before Advent and the preparations for Christmas begin. I look forward to Advent as a time of hope filled watchful waiting in the anticipation of joy.

Nov 21 2006

2006-11-21T05:09:00.000-05:00

Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Rev 3:1-6, 14-22 I, John, heard the Lord saying to me: “To the angel of the Church in Sardis, write this: “‘The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this: “I know your works,that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember then how you accepted and heard; keep it, and repent. If you are not watchful, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come upon you. However, you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; they will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy. “‘The victor will thus be dressed in white, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father and of his angels. “‘Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” “To the angel of the Church in Laodicea, write this: “‘The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God’s creation, says this: “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, ‘I am rich and affluent and have no need of anything,’ and yet do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments to put on so that your shameful nakedness may not be exposed, and buy ointment to smear on your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and chastise. Be earnest, therefore, and repent.“‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him,and he with me. I will give the victor the right to sit with me on my throne, as I myself first won the victory and sit with my Father on his throne. “‘Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5
R. (Rev. 3: 21) I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
He who walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue.
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; By whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
Who lends not his money at usuryand accepts no bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be disturbed.
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.

Reading II
Heb 10:11-14, 18
Brothers and sisters:
Every priest stands daily at his ministry,
offering frequently those same sacrifices
that can never take away sins.
But this one offered one sacrifice for sins,
and took his seat forever at the right hand of God;
now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool.
For by one offering
he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated.
Where there is forgiveness of these,
there is no longer offering for sin.

Lk 19:1-10 At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus,who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,“Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.”And Jesus said to him,“Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”

The first reading reminds me of several weeks ago when Abbott Primate Notker Wolf OSB visited here at the monastery. One of his messages was that a community needs to be truly alive with the gospel life. The true sense of a Christian life is vibrant and full and without making a list of charities or ministries there is a sense of being on fire for love of the Lord and fully alive. There is a living presence of God in a Religious community. The Holy Spirit can be a powerful presence in the discernement and life of a community. Some communities may have a dwindling of the flame and aliveness in Christian life. It is a thing that as the Abbott Primate pointed out that any visitor can quickly see and discern from a Religious community.

The tax collector is a person scorned by his society of the time but Jesus is ready and eager to share a meal with him. Jesus is criticized for being with sinners but teaches that he is seeking and saving what is lost. Zacheus is immediately responsive to Jesus and willing to give any worldly possessions that the Lord would be pleasing to God. I pray this morning for my Religious vocation and that I have today the readiness to put aside any worldly goods or possessions and put following the Lord always first in my heart and in all my decisions and acts along with my path that I chose daily. I trust in the salvation that the Lord has brought to all those who believe and walk in God's ways.

Nov 20 2006

2006-11-20T05:45:00.000-05:00

Rev 1:1-4; 2:1-5 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show his servants what must happen soon. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who gives witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud and blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near. John, to the seven churches in Asia: grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne. I heard the Lord saying to me: “To the angel of the Church in Ephesus, write this: “‘The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands says this: “I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate the wicked; you have tested those who call themselves Apostles but are not, and discovered that they are impostors. Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name, and you have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. Realize how far you have fallen. Repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”’”

Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
R. (Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Blessed the man who follows notthe counsel of the wickedNor walks in the way of sinners,nor sits in the company of the insolent,But delights in the law of the LORDand meditates on his law day and night.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
He is like a treeplanted near running water,That yields its fruit in due season,and whose leaves never fade.Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.
Not so the wicked, not so;they are like chaff which the wind drives away.For the LORD watches over the way of the just,but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Those who are victorious I will feed from the tree of life.

Lk 18:35-43 As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging, and hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what was happening. They told him,“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” The people walking in front rebuked him,telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more,“Son of David, have pity on me!” Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him;and when he came near, Jesus asked him,“What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.” Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.” He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God.

The first reading today is an admonishment to keep the love of God and others close to my heart and in all of my thoughts and acts. To wander or stray from the love is to stray from the faith. The acts of love are an important living of the glory of God.

In the gospel story, the blind man who was along the road to Jericho had asked for healing and Jesus told him that his faith restored his sight. When the healed man gave glory to God the gathered people were touched and also gave glory to God. The healed man had shared the love of God with others in his celebration of being touched by God in healing. It is a lesson in perserving that at first the crowd had rebuked the blind man who was calling out to Jesus and told him to be silent but then the man called out to Jesus even louder.

Why would the people passing by tell the blind man asking for healing to be silent? Perhaps they did not understand the calling out of this man. Jesus asked the man what he wanted. I come this morning before Jesus in prayer and ask for healing of my blindness in how I see others and to renew in me this morning a loving and steadfast heart. I pray that I can bring the light and love of Christ to others in all of my acts this new day with all of the people I encounter. I pray that I will have an open heart to those who are calling out to Jesus for healing today and everyday.

I am praying this morning especially for a generous young man I know who today is donating his stem cells to help a cancer patient. He is healthy and has volunteered to help a person who he does not even know. This is the love of others that the world needs. I pray that he does well in the procedure and recovers to full strength and health rapidly after the donation. I pray that others see him as a sign of the glory of God and a light to others.

vows video from september 2 years ago

2006-11-19T06:44:00.000-05:00

nov 19 2006

2006-11-19T06:32:00.000-05:00

Dn 12:1-3 In those days, I Daniel, heard this word of the Lord: "At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people; it shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book. “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace. “But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever."

Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11 R. (1) You are my inheritance, O Lord!
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,you it is who hold fast my lot.
I set the LORD ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence; because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!
You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever.R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!

Mk 13:24-32 Jesus said to his disciples: "In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken." And then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds' with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky." Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

The gospel is a foretelling of the end times. There is know time that we will say in advance this is when it will be. The word of the Lord will be a guide for the signs that the Lord teaches here are to be seen and that is how I will know. The sun will be dark, there will be stars falling and the Son of Man will be seen coming in the clouds to gather his elect.

The message is what to watch for and also to be one of the elect to be collected by the Son of Man. The word of the Lord stands as witness to what I need to do to be a disciple and one of the elect to be with God at the end times. The world is passing and faith is everlasting. The love of the Lord is my treasure, my inheritance, my jewel beyond compare, my compass in the storm and the meaning in my life.

Sister Joan Irene

2006-11-18T05:54:00.000-05:00

Saturday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

1 Jn 5-8 Beloved, you are faithful in all you do for the brothers and sisters, especially for strangers; they have testified to your love before the Church. Please help them in a way worthy of God to continue their journey. For they have set out for the sake of the Name and are accepting nothing from the pagans. Therefore, we ought to support such persons, so that we may be co-workers in the truth.

Ps 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commands. His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house; his generosity shall endure forever. Light shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,who conducts his affairs with justice; He shall never be moved; the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

Lk 18:1-8 Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought,‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’” The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

The first thing on my mind this morning is how this is the 32nd week in ordinary time and going into the 33rd week. The readings in general are beginning to point to and refer in differing ways to the end. "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" This is a time that has come and has not yet come. Jesus is speaking this and he is the Son of Man. I understand this to mean when he comes again at the end time.

The dishonest judge in the gospel parable is willing to give to the widow because of her persisting and no other reason. This is how my faith needs to be. Through the good and bad and through the times of not seeing the fruits of my faith I need to be steadfast in my belief in that Jesus died and was resurrected and God is always with me at my side in all that I live through. That there is everlasting life for those who believe. My faith will heal me and make me whole. Faith is a gift from God with a continual giving connection to God. The Lord is my rock and my salvation. I continue to walk with the Lord through each moment and each day with joy that the living and loving God is with me in all that I do.

taken last saturday

2006-11-16T05:31:00.000-05:00

nov 16 2006

2006-11-16T05:29:00.000-05:00

Plmn 7-20 Beloved: I have experienced much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the holy ones have been refreshed by you, brother. Therefore, although I have the full right in Christ to order you to do what is proper, I rather urge you out of love, being as I am, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus. I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus,whose father I have become in my imprisonment,who was once useless to you but is now useful to both you and me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I should have liked to retain him for myself, so that he might serve me on your behalf in my imprisonment for the Gospel, but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary. Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while,that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord. So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me. And if he has done you any injustice or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, write this in my own hand: I will pay. May I not tell you that you owe me your very self. Yes, brother, may I profit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

Ps 146:7, 8-9a, 9bc-10R. (5a) Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
The LORD secures justice for the oppressed, gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets captives free.
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
The LORD gives sight to the blind. The LORD raises up those who were bowed down; the LORD loves the just. The LORD protects strangers.
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains, but the way of the wicked he thwarts. The LORD shall reign forever; your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.

Lk 17:20-25 Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply,“The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.” Then he said to his disciples,“The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. There will be those who will say to you,‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’ Do not go off, do not run in pursuit. For just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.”

I think that in the gospel, Jesus is saying that for the disciples life will not be clear and sure as a believer there will be times with no signs and there will be times of great longings for the coming of the Son of Man. Before the Kingdom comes, Jesus must suffer and be rejected, then he will light up the sky as lightening does. I think perhaps it is a message that I as a disciple will experience this too, the suffering and rejection by my generation or people of my time before the Kingdom comes and yet the Kingdom is in my midst right now. I think the willingness to endure for the sake of the kingdom as Jesus did is a part of the faith. Somehow there is always one type of a cross or another that has to be carried in life.

I do not believe that I was born only to suffer and I do not think that God wants to see me suffer. I do believe that it is part of having a strong faith to be ready and willing to make sacrifices and accept what life has brought me in the course of my living out my faith with an open, loving and willing heart. I believe I am called to love in all times and situations.

Jesus taught "forgive them for they know not what they do." I believe that the forgiving heart is the healing heart and that it frees my body heart and mind as a forgiver to let go of all past pain or suffering. God calls me to love all people not just friends and those who are kind to me. As a Christian there is a call to always love and act and live in that love as a child of God.

I find tremendous strength, joy and renewal in this call to love all and as a consecrated Religious Woman feel that my consecration frees me personally further to love all without exception in Christ whoever they are and whatever they may have done in their lives. The words come easily but living the life takes a constant daily turning to God each morning and a renewal of the commitment to love God and love all people.

Of course there are times when I pray and ask God "is this what you want of me" and "am I supposed to be here doing this now." I pray for the knowledge of God's will for me and discernment in what I do. I have been fortunate to have definite guidance and affirmations on the path of my life as I ask for God's way and not my own. I feel there is no greater joy or call in my life than being a Religious Sister and rejoice that this is what God has lead me to in my life. God speaks to me in every flower, butterfly, rain cloud, gust of wind, friend, family member, Sister and more. God speaks to me in every breath of the day and each day and I am blessed to feel fully alive and vibrant with the light of the love of God to share with all each day.

last weekend

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last weekend

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last weekend

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last weekend

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grub lunch last week

2006-11-15T05:49:00.000-05:00

bleeding heart last week

2006-11-15T05:48:00.001-05:00

last week

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last week

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nov 15 2006

2006-11-15T05:46:00.000-05:00

Ti 3:1-7 Beloved: Remind them to be under the control of magistrates and authorities, to be obedient, to be open to every good enterprise. They are to slander no one, to be peaceable, considerate, exercising all graciousness toward everyone. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deluded, slaves to various desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful ourselves and hating one another. But when the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

Ps 23:1b-3a, 3bc-4, 5, 6
R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; Beside restful waters he leads me;he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side With your rod and your staff that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before mein the sight of my foes; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Lk 17:11-19 As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying,“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said,“Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply,“Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

The Lord is my salvation, my shepherd, my everything. The Lord is my source of healing and life. The Lord has cleansed and healed me and I am eternally grateful. All that I am is in the Lord, with the Lord and from the Lord. I am an instrument of the Lord and without the Lord I am nothing. I am thankful every day for my faith and that I live in the House of the Lord. Every day is a blessing.

I like a multitude of Christians have a great love of the psalm for today. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He leadeth me beside still waters. I find a tremendous sense of love and comfort in this psalm as if I am being warmed and wrapped in an enormous blanket of love and protection that is with me at all times from God. There is a peace and joy in faith that is beyond words that gives me strength and renewal in each day. I thank the Lord this morning for the gift of faith and the sense of the peace and loving presence of the Lord that greets me every day. There truly is no other thing that I desire in my life but to continue to walk with the Lord in my daily life and every path and way that I choose.

taken this week

2006-11-14T06:14:00.001-05:00

taken this week

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taken this week

2006-11-14T06:13:00.000-05:00

Nov 14 2006

2006-11-14T06:11:00.000-05:00

Ti 2:1-8, 11-14 Beloved: You must say what is consistent with sound doctrine, namely, that older men should be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, love, and endurance. Similarly, older women should be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to drink, teaching what is good, so that they may train younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, chaste, good homemakers, under the control of their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited. Urge the younger men, similarly, to control themselves, showing yourself as a model of good deeds in every respect, with integrity in your teaching, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be criticized, so that the opponent will be put to shame without anything bad to say about us. For the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good.

Ps 37:3-4, 18 and 23, 27 and 29
R. (39a) The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Trust in the LORD and do good, that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security. Take delight in the LORD, and he will grant you your heart’s requests.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
The LORD watches over the lives of the wholehearted; their inheritance lasts forever. By the LORD are the steps of a man made firm, and he approves his way.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Turn from evil and do good that you may abide forever; The just shall possess the land and dwell in it forever.
R. The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

Heb 9:24-28
Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands,
a copy of the true one, but heaven itself,
that he might now appear before God on our behalf.
Not that he might offer himself repeatedly,
as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary
with blood that is not his own;
if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly
from the foundation of the world.
But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages
to take away sin by his sacrifice.
Just as it is appointed that human beings die once,
and after this the judgment, so also Christ,
offered once to take away the sins of many,
will appear a second time, not to take away sin
but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

Lk 17:7-10 Jesus said to the Apostles: “Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’? Would he not rather say to him,‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished’? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say,‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’”

The gospel teaching is asking me to serve the Lord first then to have my food or needs attended to after having served. I need to attend to what the Lord is calling to before my own needs then I will know that I have fulfilled God's will in my life. There is great joy in walking in the paths of God rather than my own. I willingly devote myself and give myself to God and everything is provided for me and flows out of that.

Each day in each moment I pray that I continue to turn from evil and do good in my every act and thought and feeling. I take delight in the life that is close to God in all that I do. I am grateful for the gift of faith and continue to treasure and encourage the growth of my faith daily. I pray to not be conformed to the ways of the time and the worldly but to the Lord's ways in all that I do this day. I pray that I am a loving light in the world in all that I do this day.

I am grateful for the blessings of yesterday and pray for the vision and strength and open heart to be a blessing to others this day in all that I do at home in the monastery and at the university today.

taken 2 days ago

2006-11-13T05:26:00.001-05:00

taken 2 days ago

2006-11-13T05:26:00.000-05:00

photo this week

2006-11-13T05:24:00.000-05:00

wild violets this week

2006-11-13T05:23:00.000-05:00

nov 13 2006

2006-11-13T05:21:00.000-05:00

Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini, virgin

Ti 1:1-9 Paul, a slave of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ for the sake of the faith of God’s chosen ones and the recognition of religious truth, in the hope of eternal life that God, who does not lie, promised before time began, who indeed at the proper time revealed his word in the proclamation with which I was entrusted by the command of God our savior, to Titus, my true child in our common faith: grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior. For this reason I left you in Crete so that you might set right what remains to be done and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you, on condition that a man be blameless, married only once, with believing children who are not accused of licentiousness or rebellious. For a bishop as God’s steward must be blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled, holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents.

Ps 24:1b-2, 3-4ab, 5-6R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD, a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Lk 17:1-6 Jesus said to his disciples, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him.” And the Apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

Included in the same teaching of faith and the avoidance of sin is the importance of forgiveness. The smallest amount of faith can do great things. Sin will creep into every part of life "inevitably" it is my part to see that it is not through me that others sin and that I forgive over and over others if they repent their sins. Great acts are possible with faith in God through the power of the Lord.

There are of course daily temptations to do things my way rather than God's way. I pray this day that my acts in this new day may all be pleasing to God and overflowing with love for God and my neighbors.

photo taken yesterday

2006-11-12T06:24:00.000-05:00

bee on a marsh flower this week

2006-11-12T06:22:00.000-05:00

frangipani this week

2006-11-12T06:21:00.000-05:00

taken last week

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nov 12 2006

2006-11-12T06:16:00.000-05:00

1 Kgs 17:10-16 In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her, "Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink." She left to get it, and he called out after her,"Please bring along a bit of bread." She answered, "As the LORD, your God, lives, I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son;when we have eaten it, we shall die." Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid. Go and do as you propose. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son. For the LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'" She left and did as Elijah had said. She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well; the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.

Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!
The LORD keeps faith forever,secures justice for the oppressed,gives food to the hungry.The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
The LORD gives sight to the blind.The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;the LORD loves the just.The LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,but the way of the wicked he thwarts.The LORD shall reign forever;your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!

Mk 12:38-44 or 12:41-44 In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation." He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."

Do I give to the Lord and God what little I can afford or all that I have? If I can not give all to God freely with my whole heart and soul then perhaps the little gifts are a sham and just for show like the scribes showing off their robes and prayers for others. Do I give for what others can see or because of what is from my heart and soul and mind?

I pray daily to remember to give of myself to others as the will of God reveals their needs to me. I do not have very much money with a slim monthly cash allowance for simple items such as shampoo, clothing, gifts for others and an occasional snack or lunch out. I do not go shopping very often perhaps once a month. I find it freeing to not be ruled by materialism and consumerism and see that it leaves more time in my life for meaningful activities instead of simply acquiring and maintaining possessions.

I see the giving the small coin as being similar to giving the other person room to talk. To give silence at times allows the room for a person with supportive responses to say more of what they need to. To give that little extra time to a person who needs it is a gift that may be like my last few coins. The time may be precious and scarce but the person that I am being present to may need my time more than anything else in the word. I have been constantly working on keeping my heart and mind open to others and ministering to all.

I have lately been ministering most to university students and find it enormously rewarding. I have kept confidentiality with them. I make myself available for them to walk in and see me all day every thursday. They can call my cell phone or email anytime. I am most grateful for the opportunity and privilege to be able to be in the position of being a university instructor. It is a blessing to be able to work with these dedicated, intelligent and talented young people as they strive to be the best in an academic program that is extremely challenging and difficult for all. They are learning to be nurses and healers and to make decisions that are life and death critical choices everyday. I pray that I may give them the support, the heart, the attitude, the tools and the information that they need to be the best nurses and healers possible to help many with intelligence, kindness and compassion.

Dr Jean Watson (internationally known nurse theorist from Coloradao) this summer in her local talk said that the nurse or healer can only truly heal themself. I think that the understanding of this is a key to being an effective healer. In my belief, God is the only one who can heal me and I need to be open to accept God's healing. When I am whole and well, I am able to better heal others. When I have understood my own wounds, I am better able to heal others. When I am open to others, my heart and mind is freed of my own smallness and expands with the joy of life and giving and loving.

I pray this morning that I may be open to whatever God is calling me to and that I may continue to have the privilege and joy of teaching others to be instruments of healing. I pray also to remember to give when I do not think I have enough left to give as the widow did with her coins.

taken today

2006-11-11T11:41:00.000-05:00

taken today

2006-11-11T11:36:00.000-05:00

taken last week

2006-11-11T06:48:00.000-05:00

Nov 11 2006

2006-11-11T06:46:00.000-05:00

Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours

Phil 4:10-19 Brothers and sisters: I rejoice greatly in the Lord that now at last you revived your concern for me. You were, of course, concerned about me but lacked an opportunity. Not that I say this because of need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself, to be self-sufficient. I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress. You Philippians indeed know that at the beginning of the Gospel, when I left Macedonia, not a single church shared with mein an account of giving and receiving, except you alone. For even when I was at Thessalonica you sent me something for my needs, not only once but more than once. It is not that I am eager for the gift; rather, I am eager for the profit that accrues to your account. I have received full payment and I abound. I am very well supplied because of what I received from youth rough Epaphroditus,“a fragrant aroma,” an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Ps 112:1b-2, 5-6, 8a and 9R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commands. His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,who conducts his affairs with justice;He shall never be moved;the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear.Lavishly he gives to the poor;his generosity shall endure forever;his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

Lk 16:9-15 Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones;and the person who is dishonest in very small mattersis also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him. And he said to them,“You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.”
To be Christian means to be willing to be without food or supplies and be rich in the Lord. If the material needs become my ruler instead of the Lord, I have lost touch with my faith. God provides and there are times that I am well supplied but my priority is to serve the Lord and all else follows after that. I need to daily turn my heart and soul to what God is asking of me and not the world. If I do what is pleasing to others but not to God, I have lost my way on the journey. Being trustworthy in small things is something that creeps into every day. It is a matter of not keeping something that is an office supply and belongs to the organization that I work for unless I am using it for work. It can be as simple and inexpensive as a pencil but the principle is the same and it is a level of honesty. If I can not be trusted with a pencil, then I can not be trusted with far greater things. The honesty and truth in living is also part of being Christian in the living out of all the days choices and ways.

I honestly strive to be upright in all my daily ways of living and choices. I do this not to impress myself or others but to be on the path that God has given me and to be loving and please God in my heart and acts daily. I like the saying that it is easy to talk the talk but we have to walk the walk. I rejoice in morning prayer returning my heart and soul and mind to God and the path on the journey.

Some of my friends say the kingdom can be here and now. I just know that the way is to do what is pleasing to the Lord and follow the Lord's way. I have been blessed many times with gifts from God perhaps that is what my friends who say the kingdom is now mean. It is a joy to have faith and a loving sense of the divine presence. I pray this day that my faith journey continues to deepen and that I stay on the path of doing the will of the Lord in all that I do today.

taken last saturday

2006-11-10T05:31:00.000-05:00

nov 10 2006

2006-11-10T05:30:00.000-05:00

Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, pope and doctor of the Church

Phil 3:17—4:1 Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us. For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their “shame.” Their minds are occupied with earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified Body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.

Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
R. (1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”And now we have set footwithin your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a citywith compact unity.To it the tribes go up,the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,to give thanks to the name of the LORD.In it are set up judgment seats,seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Lk 16:1-8 Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. He summoned him and said,‘What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.’ The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I shall do so that,when I am removed from the stewardship,they may welcome me into their homes.’ He called in his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’ Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.’ And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.”

"For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their “shame.” Their minds are occupied with earthly things.".......There are many who would call themselves holy and call themselves Christian and yet they live a life of indulgence in the worldly goods with their minds on those matreial thinds. I know that I myself at times take great joy in simple earthly pleasures like a good meal or a new well made cotton sweater...Where do I draw the line? When do I know that I have neglected putting God first? Being overly pious with complete denial can be extreme and an over compensation in some ways. Where is the path that is balanced and aligned with God?...One thing that I look at is what time I spend thinking about and attending to an aquiring things...my life in the monastery is simplified but not one of total denial but rather using only what I really need and keeping things simple.

I watch my diet but have come to the conclusion that a total preoccupation with eating the right diet and correct foods has a lack of balance and gives too much time to the earthly. I keep it simple and look at times at the overall amount of portions and cut back on desserts and eat more fruits and vegetables but not all the time. I watch my diet more when my weight has gone up 5-10 pounds and then relax and do not spend much time or thought when it is stable. I try not to overly invest time and energy in my diet but simply make wise choices from what is available.

I am not sure about what St Paul means by "their glory is in their shame." I will need to read more and ponder this to understand it better.

I have known at times attachments to material things and made an effort to give freely of what I have and share with others and release myself from any attachments to the material objects in life.

I was taught from a young age to share my toys and as I grew to give away all of my toys from younger ages to the younger children in my extended family. I thought that was what every family did and was happy to see my younger cousins enjoying toys that I had enjoyed when I was their age. I never regretted it and think it was a wise decision to do this on my parents and my aunts and uncles part. One of my cousins, was sweet enought to years later let me know that one of the dolls that I had given her was a collectible item now and worth hundreds of dollars and she offered after telling me that to give it back to me. I told her thanks but of course she could keep it. I asked if she was going to sell it she said no she really wanted to keep it but had felt she needed to offer it to me if I wanted it. I thought that was really kind of her. The kindness and love of my family has been one of the greatest treasures and sources of joy in my life. I am thankful to God for the blessing of so many truly honest kind and giving people who love me in my family and my extended family. I am also blessed with my friends who have treated my like family and am praying for all of them today with a grateful heart.

taken nov 9 2006

2006-11-09T05:43:00.000-05:00

Nov 9 2006

2006-11-09T05:37:00.000-05:00

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 The angel brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the façade of the temple was toward the east; the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple, south of the altar. He led me outside by the north gate, and around to the outer gate facing the east,where I saw water trickling from the southern side. He said to me,“This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah, and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh. Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh. Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.”

Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9R. (5) The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
God is our refuge and our strength,an ever-present help in distress.Therefore, we fear not, though the earth be shakenand mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,the holy dwelling of the Most High.God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;God will help it at the break of dawn.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
The LORD of hosts is with us;our stronghold is the God of Jacob.Come! behold the deeds of the LORD,the astounding things he has wrought on earth.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!

Jn 2:13-22 Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here,and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me. At this the Jews answered and said to him,‘What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered and said to them,“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews said,“This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his Body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.

In the gospel Jesus teaches that his own body is a temple. I forget this at times in the midst of daily demands. God has given me this reminder to treat my own body as a temple of the soul and the promise of resurrection. This is more precious than any other knowledge or possession.

The first reading is included in the liturgy for the dedication of new churches. It is a reminder of the purifying powers of water. It also reminds me that the plants and trees our given us to use in healing ways as medicine and nourishment. I had studied books by pharmacists on the healing powers of plants. I think it is unfortunate that the part of pharmacy training in this country that used to require the identification, gathering and prepartion of plants as medicine was discontinued in the 1950s. It is a powerful and effective way of treating and healing.

nov 8 2006

2006-11-08T06:23:00.000-05:00

Phil 2:12-18 My beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work. Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life, so that my boast for the day of Christ may be that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. But, even if I am poured out as a libation upon the sacrificial service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with all of you. In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.

Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14R. (1a) The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: To dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD and contemplate his temple.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORDin the land of the living.Wait for the LORD with courage;be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Lk 14:25-33 Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troop she can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”
There is a plan in the kingdom. The things of this world are of little use in the kingdom. Carrying faith to completion means keeping my eyes on the kingdom and being willing t make any and every sacrifice to be close to God. The journey requires steadfastness and a willness to let go of the worldly. I pray this morning for continued strength and faith and a willingness to let go of the worldly in my life whatever for that might take materials things or pride or whatever God asks of me this day.

taken nov 5 2006

2006-11-07T06:18:00.000-05:00

nov 7 2006

2006-11-07T06:17:00.000-05:00

Tuesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Phil 2:5-11 Brothers and sisters: Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and, found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess thatJesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Ps 22:26b-27, 28-30ab, 30e, 31-32 R. (26a) I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
I will fulfill my vows before those who fear him.The lowly shall eat their fill; they who seek the LORD shall praise him:
“May your hearts be ever merry!”
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people. All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; All the families of the nationsshall bow down before him.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
For dominion is the LORD’s,and he rules the nations. To him alone shall bow downall who sleep in the earth.
R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
To him my soul shall live;my descendants shall serve him. Let the coming generation be told of the LORD that they may proclaim to a people yet to be bornthe justice he has shown.R. I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

Lk 14:15-24 One of those at table with Jesus said to him,“Blessed is the one who will dine in the Kingdom of God.” He replied to him, “A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many. When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those invited, ‘Come, everything is now ready.’ But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, ‘I have purchased a field and must go to examine it; I ask you, consider me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to evaluate them; I ask you, consider me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have just married a woman, and therefore I cannot come.’ The servant went and reported this to his master. Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ The servant reported, ‘Sir, your orders have been carried out and still there is room.’ The master then ordered the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled. For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.’”

God has prepared a banquet for us. And yet there are those who will not come to join in the feast. There are always excuses and there is always one more thing to do rather than to come and sit with the Lord. There are times that I am struck with awe at the richness and fullness of a life in faith, and yet there are many who have the offering and with free will pass it by move on to other things and choose other life paths. I am filled with a love of God and impelled to proclaim the Good News while at the same time I know there are those who have make choices to not walk with God or listen to or see God. I have a love of all whether they believe or not. Faith is sweet and personal given by God but a choice to accept God's invitation to the banquet or not.

nov 6 2006

2006-11-06T06:09:00.000-05:00

taken nov 5 2006

2006-11-06T06:08:00.000-05:00

Nov 6 2006

2006-11-06T06:05:00.000-05:00

Monday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Phil 2:1-4 Brothers and sisters: If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also everyone for those of others.

Ps 131:1bcde, 2, 3 R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor are my eyes haughty; I busy not myself with great things, nor with things too sublime for me.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted my soul like a weaned child. Like a weaned child on its mother’s lap, so is my soul within me.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.
O Israel, hope in the LORD, both now and forever.
R. In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.

Lk 14:12-14 On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees. He said to the host who invited him,“When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

The gospel reminds me of the so common situations when people are ever so kind but it is obvious that the person they are being kind to is in a position of power and very likely to reward their actions in a short time. Acts of kindness just to love and to give without counting the cost are what I see being asked of me from this gospel reading. My reward is not necessarily in this life but at he resurrection.

The psalm refrain "In you, O Lord, I have found my peace." is a beautiful prayer in itself which I will pray today. Are my motives truly to help others in all that I do. I pray every morning that I am on the path that God has called me to and that the acts of the day are aligned with the will of God. I do find great strength and peace in my faith. God is my rock and my salvation all else is passing.

this morning

2006-11-05T09:56:00.000-05:00

photo this morning on nov 5 930a

2006-11-05T09:54:00.000-05:00

taken nov 2 2006

2006-11-05T05:51:00.000-05:00

Nov 5 2006

2006-11-05T05:50:00.000-05:00

Dt 6:2-6 Moses spoke to the people, saying: "Fear the LORD, your God, and keep, throughout the days of your lives, all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you, and thus have long life. Hear then, Israel, and be careful to observe them, that you may grow and prosper the more, in keeping with the promise of the LORD, the God of your fathers, to give you a land flowing with milk and honey. "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today."

Ps 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51 R. (2) I love you, Lord, my strength.
I love you, O LORD, my strength, O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
My God, my rock of refuge,my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold! Praised be the LORD, I exclaim, and I am safe from my enemies.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
The LORD lives! And blessed be my rock! Extolled be God my savior.You who gave great victories to your kingand showed kindness to your anointed.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.

Heb 7:23-28 Brothers and sisters: The levitical priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office, but Jesus, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away. Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them. It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens. He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests, but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law, appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever.

Mk 12:28b-34 One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,"Which is the first of all the commandments?" Jesus replied, "The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, 'He is One and there is no other than he.' And 'to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself' is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him,"You are not far from the kingdom of God." And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

The law of love is the condensed message of the entire Bible in one small paragraph. It is a prescription for living as a Christian. At the end of the passage, its says the scribe did not dare to ask Jesus more questions. The scribe was trying to set a verbal trap for Jesus and must have been astounded and impressed with Jesus' answer to him.

I think that awe and being in awe is a part of acknowledgement of the divine presence. The scribe must have been in awe and surprised to hear from Jesus that he was not far from the kingdom of God.

I believe that the gospel passage is a common bond for all Christian Churchs to share in and celebrate our same faith. There are many times people wish to separate the church and I on the other hand would like to see all Christians embrace our faiths and join together in worship and love. I pray this morning for Christian unity in the world. I pray that as a Christian I may spread the love and peace of Christ in the world.

taken nov2

2006-11-04T06:27:00.000-05:00

november 4 2006

2006-11-04T06:26:00.000-05:00

Memorial of Saint Charles Boromeo, bishop

Phil 1:18b-26 Brothers and sisters: As long as in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Indeed I shall continue to rejoice, for I know that this will result in deliverance for me through your prayers and support from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. My eager expectation and hope is that I shall not be put to shame in any way, but that with all boldness, now as always, Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me life is Christ, and death is gain. If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I shall choose. I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit. And this I know with confidence, that I shall remain and continue in the service of all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound on account of me when I come to you again.

Ps 42:2, 3, 5cdef R. My soul is thirsting for the living God.
As the hind longs for the running waters, so my soul longs for you, O God.
R. My soul is thirsting for the living God.
Athirst is my soul for God, the living God. When shall I go and behold the face of God?
R. My soul is thirsting for the living God.
I went with the throng and led them in procession to the house of God. Amid loud cries of joy and thanksgiving, with the multitude keeping festival.
R. My soul is thirsting for the living God.

Rom 5:5-11
Brothers and sisters:
Hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
For Christ, while we were still helpless,
died at the appointed time for the ungodly.
Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person,
though perhaps for a good person
one might even find courage to die.
But God proves his love for us
in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
How much more then, since we are now justified by his Blood,
will we be saved through him from the wrath.
Indeed, if, while we were enemies,
we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son,
how much more, once reconciled,
will we be saved by his life.
Not only that,
but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Lk 14:1, 7-11 On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

I recall sitting at a church function about seven years ago and I was in the least desirable seat in the hall hoping to be called to a better seat but it never happened. I had not gone to the event expecting to be treated to a place of honor but when I was there I was hoping to get a better seat and it never happened. I guess the other side of the gospel reading is to be content with my lot at the moment. God will exalt those who are humbled but in God's time not in my time necessarily. When I seem to be tired or tried or not comfortable with what I have been given, I need to remind myself to keep my eyes on the "prize" the life in Christ and eternal life in heaven. All is dust. So much of what is important at the time is really ephemeral and not the essence of what my heart and soul need for nourishment to walk with God.

I pray this morning for patience and perserverance in my faith journey. I pray for a humble and loving heart that is open to all and nonjudgmental to all. My greatest hope is to be in the kingdom of God and that my works are pleasing to God and serve God and others and that is where my heart and treasure belong. There is great joy in simple faith tried in the furnace like gold. The divine presence is my hope and inspiration for all that I do. I am grateful for a rich and full prayer life daily. This for me is the kingdom now.

nov 2

2006-11-03T06:10:00.000-05:00

nov 2

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nov 2

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nov 2

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nov 2

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nov 2

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nov 2

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nov 2

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nov 2

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nov 2

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nov 2

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nov 2

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nov2

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nov 2

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nov 2

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nov 2

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nov 2

2006-11-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

fl aquarium nov 2 2006

2006-11-03T05:59:00.000-05:00

nov 3 2006

2006-11-03T05:58:00.000-05:00

Phil 1:1-11 Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the holy ones in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,with the bishops and deacons: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you, praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the Gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right that I should think this way about all of you, because I hold you in my heart, you who are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel. For God is my witness,how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception,to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Ps 111:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. (2) How great are the works of the Lord!
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heartin the company and assembly of the just.Great are the works of the LORD,exquisite in all their delights.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
Majesty and glory are his work,and his justice endures forever.He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;gracious and merciful is the LORD.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!
He has given food to those who fear him;he will forever be mindful of his covenant.He has made known to his people the power of his works,giving them the inheritance of the nations.
R. How great are the works of the Lord!

Lk 14:1-6 On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees,and the people there were observing him carefully. In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus spoke to the scholars of the law and Pharisees in reply, asking,“Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath or not?” But they kept silent; so he took the man and, after he had healed him, dismissed him. Then he said to them “Who among you, if your son or ox falls into a cistern,would not immediately pull him out on the sabbath day?” But they were unable to answer his question.
There are those who are in the church who have self righteousness and choose to see the rules and the law and the hierarchy as the most important thing to uphold. Here the teaching of Jesus of the law of love turns over that old way and calls Christians to the unselfish acts that God presents to us to do on all days and in all places with a true belief in the goodness of God and the need to act as a believer. It is one thing to say that I believe and another to act with love as a true beliver. I pray to God today for strength, compassion, patience and mercy that I may show the love of God to all I encounter this day.

taken 10 29 2006

2006-11-02T06:22:00.000-05:00

taken 10 29 2006

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taken 10 29 2006

2006-11-02T06:20:00.000-05:00

November 2 2006

2006-11-02T06:19:00.000-05:00

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

Wis 3:1-9 The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them,and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; they shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the LORD shall be their King forever. Those who trust in him shall understand truth,and the faithful shall abide with him in love: because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with his elect.

Ps 25:6 and 7b, 17-18, 20-21R. (1) To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,and your kindness are from of old. In your kindness remember me,because of your goodness,
O LORD.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Relieve the troubles of my heart,and bring me out of my distress. Put an end to my affliction and my suffering; and take away all my sins.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Preserve my life, and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, because I wait for you, O LORD.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Rom 6:3-9 Brothers and sisters: Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. For a dead person has been absolved from sin. If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him.

Jn 6:37-40 Jesus said to the crowds: “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”

The promise is that all who believe will have eternal life and be raised up on the last day. There is a gospel song about keeping my "eyes on the prize." The journey may be long or trying but the reason for the walk and knowing that I am walking with God each step no matter what happens, is what keeps me on the path as a believer.

I have many thoughts and prayers for the faithful departed. On this day I often think first of my mother who lived and died in great faith and love. There are many more who I will remember today. As a hospice nurse and at some other times, I have had the privilege to be with people at the moment of their death. Their time with me was a gift to me and also an affirmation and testament to my faith in God.
Today I thank God for the many blessings received and in quiet times throughout the day will recall with a grateful heart those faithful departed that I have known.

Nov 1 2006

2006-11-01T06:23:00.000-05:00

Solemnity of All Saints
Rev 7:2-4, 9-14 I, John, saw another angel come up from the East, holding the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who were given power to damage the land and the sea,“Do not damage the land or the sea or the trees until we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal, one hundred and forty-four thousand marked from every tribe of the children of Israel. After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue.They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.They cried out in a loud voice:“Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb.” All the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures.They prostrated themselves before the throne,worshiped God, and exclaimed: “Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me,“Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?” I said to him, “My lord, you are the one who knows.” He said to me,“These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.”

Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6
R. (see 6) Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;the world and those who dwell in it.For he founded it upon the seasand established it upon the rivers.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? or who may stand in his holy place? One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,who desires not what is vain.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD, a reward from God his savior. Such is the race that seeks him,that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Reading II 1 Jn 3:1-3 Beloved: See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure.

Mt 5:1-12a When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”

The beatitudes are a heartfelt message of love from God. The Gospel promise of reward in heaven. The disciples of Christ can expect as followers and believers to be persecuted, insulted and tried because of their faith. The Lord is teaching to respond to this treatment with rejoicing to be a disciple, a children of God who is doing the will of God. The message that I receive is to expect resistance and every sort of persecution when I am on God's path that it in some ways is an affirmation that I am indeed on God's path.

I love that the Lord was teaching a crowd from the mountain. It is a place of being closer to the skies and a view of the lands from above. Mountains have a God given majesty and beauty that to me convey the power and vastness of God and God's creation. I have had some special memories that I look back on with joy of climbing mountains, one of them six years ago in the Alps with my dad I remember fondly and the joy that we shared together of the immense landscape and the relaxing time sitting on the top of the mountain just enjoying the view smiling.

Tonight in our monastery mass, I will be the reader for the second reading above. I think it is a promise of the goodness of God and the salvation of those who trust in the Lord. The Lord will not leave us comfortless. The Lord has mercy on those who hope in the Lord and believe in everlasting life. I pray especially today that I can share that hope with all who I encounter in this day.

taken oct 29 2006

2006-10-31T06:01:00.000-05:00

morning light fall 2006

2006-10-31T06:00:00.000-05:00

October 31 2006

2006-10-31T05:58:00.000-05:00

Eph 5:21-33 Brothers and sisters: Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the Church,he himself the savior of the Body. As the Church is subordinate to Christ,so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,that he might present to himself the Church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,that she might be holy and without blemish. So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it,even as Christ does the Church,because we are members of his Body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church. In any case, each one of you should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband.

Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5R. (1a) Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,who walk in his ways!For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vinein the recesses of your home;Your children like olive plantsaround your table.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Behold, thus is the man blessedwho fears the LORD.The LORD bless you from Zion:may you see the prosperity of Jerusalemall the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Lk 13:18-21 Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.” Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”

Until it is leavened was the theme of a vocation conference about a year ago. I was asked to make a drawing to be used to go with this theme. Before the final drawing, I had done lectio on the meaning of yeast and breadmaking and the role of women in breadmaking in Biblical times. In some parts of the Bible yeast is something which is bad or spoiled, yet with the bread making the old and spoiled is used to make something that is good and new.

It is interesting that all the depictions of ancient times and breadmaking that I found were of women making bread not men. It seems to be an activity that was primarily done by women. The bread is the body of Christ and the body of the Church food for the world and the hungers of the world.

To be able to build goodness and nourishment in this worlk is a gift and a blessing. I pray that I may bring light and love to others this day in my acts and prayers of this day.

oct 29 taken 2006

2006-10-30T06:10:00.000-05:00

oct 29 taken

2006-10-30T06:09:00.001-05:00

oct 30 2006

2006-10-30T06:09:00.000-05:00

Oct 30 2006

2006-10-30T06:06:00.000-05:00

Eph 4:32–5:8 Brothers and sisters: Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. So do not be associated with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.

Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6 R. (see Eph. 5:1) Behave like God as his very dear children.
Blessed the man who follows notthe counsel of the wickedNor walks in the way of sinners,nor sits in the company of the insolent,But delights in the law of the LORDand meditates on his law day and night.
R. Behave like God as his very dear children.
He is like a treeplanted near running water,That yields its fruit in due season,and whose leaves never fade.Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Behave like God as his very dear children.
Not so the wicked, not so;they are like chaff which the wind drives away.For the LORD watches over the way of the just,but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Behave like God as his very dear children.

Lk 13:10-17 Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath. And a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect. When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said,“Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.” He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply,“There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.” The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the mangerand lead it out for watering? This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?” When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

Jesus cured the crippled woman in the temple on the sabbath. Was she crippled by her sins? Whatever the cause of her infirmity, Jesus had compassion for her suffering and wished to relieve her suffering on the spot and not wait until the sabbath was over. The leaders of the synagogue were indignant that Jesus had done this healing act on the sabbath. The goodness of the act was not as important to them as the following of the law. When Jesus explained the compassion and reason for healing and setting this woman free from suffering the crowd rejoiced but his adversaries were humiliated. Embarrassment can be a social emotion, a cue to me that there is something that I have done that is wrong. I pray that if I have that sense when being taught by someone who is doing God's will that I will accept the correction with love and continue on God's path and not reject it and live as the hypocrites of the temple did.

The first reading is about the way of life of the Christian community. There is to be no talk of immorality. This is for me the way of chastity which is in all ways not making light of anything that is off the path of God's way and will. Our culture and times are filled with ways to joke about the immoral and this only lowers those involved and in my opinion pulls them from God's way. I do not consider myself anything other than equal to others but very determined to remain on God's path to eternal life and love and peace in this world and the next as a daily way.

October 29 2006

2006-10-29T10:15:00.000-05:00

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jer 31:7-9 Thus says the LORD: Shout with joy for Jacob, exult at the head of the nations; proclaim your praise and say: The LORD has delivered his people, the remnant of Israel. Behold, I will bring them back from the land of the north; I will gather them from the ends of the world, with the blind and the lame in their midst, the mothers and those with child; they shall return as an immense throng. They departed in tears, but I will console them and guide them; I will lead them to brooks of water, on a level road, so that none shall stumble. For I am a father to Israel, Ephraim is my first-born.

Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 R. (3) The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,we were like men dreaming. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Then they said among the nations,"The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad indeed.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the torrents in the southern desert. Those that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Although they go forth weeping,carrying the seed to be sown, They shall come back rejoicing,carrying their sheaves.
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

Heb 5:1-6 Brothers and sisters: Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring, for he himself is beset by weakness and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest, but rather the one who said to him: You are my son:this day I have begotten you; just as he says in another place: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Mk 10:46-52 As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me." And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more,"Son of David, have pity on me." Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man, saying to him,"Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you." He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see." Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you." Immediately he received his sigh tand followed him on the way.

Blindness is not always physical. The Lord readily provides healing to the man who called out and asked for healing. The man was persistent in asking for healing. Jericho was a walled town in the promised land in the oasis, an old city built around a spring. Elisha purified the spring at it's source with salt. The spring is still known as the spring of Elisha which is thought to have healing properties. Many medicinal plants including balsam were grown there. At one point Cleopatra was given Jericho as gift from Antony, she returned with balsam and grew it in groves in Egypt. Herod's winter palace was in Jericho with gardens where it was warmer than Jerusalem. Jericho was the last stopping place on the way for Passover to Jerusalem. The town must have been crowded at the time the blind man was calling out for healing in the midst of a town filled with pilgrims. In Deuteronomy there is a curse for those who pass a blind person in need.

Jesus asks the man what he wants to be done. Jesus wants to hear this. Jesus dialogues with those he cures and it is a part of the healing. It is a sign that the man is healed by his faith. It appears that the man's sight is returned. (The above two paragraphs paraphrased from Sister Jill Bevilacqua,Vatican Radio, Oct 27, 2006)

The news of violence in the world is contrary to the gospel message of love and healing. As a Christian, I am called to open my heart, mind and soul to others with compassion, mercy, love and healing. I as a healer only have the ability to heal myself in order to be an instrument of the Lord in healing others. I ask this morning in my lectio and reflection to see with eyes cleared of any blindness, illusion or lack of love. I ask for the courage and compassion of true faith to be a light and source of love and healing. I pray to meet the Christ in all people and to be Christ to them. This morning I ask the Lord again for a healing of all blindness that I may have in seeing all people as children of the Great Creator God.

Yesterday, I attended a dance, music, prayer circle of Native Americans in the neighborhood of the monastery. There was white sage burning as a purifying scent which is similar to the healing scent of balsam and the purifying agent of salt. To me the life I lead is purifying or defiling in my thoughts, heart and acts daily and calls for a daily turning to God who is able to purify, forgive, heal and give strength for the journey on this earth and in the world to come. I pray to see all people of all faiths as my true brothers and sisters with love and reverence for the life and spirit within.

October 25 2006

2006-10-25T05:41:00.000-04:00

Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Eph 3:2-12 Brothers and sisters: You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly earlier. When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy Apostles and prophets by the Spirit,that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same Body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. Of this I became a minister by the gift of God’s grace that was granted me in accord with the exercise of his power.To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery hidden from ages past in God who created all things, so that the manifold wisdom of Godmight now be made known through the Churchto the principalities and authorities in the heavens. This was according to the eternal purposethat he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,in whom we have boldness of speechand confidence of access through faith in him.

Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6
R. (see 3) You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior. With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;among the nations make known his deeds,proclaim how exalted is his name.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;let this be known throughout all the earth.Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midstis the Holy One of Israel!
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Lk 12:39-48 Jesus said to his disciples: “Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” Then Peter said,“Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied,“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the men servants and the maidservants,to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”
This morning as I am praying and listening to the gospel it is speaking to me at a time that my heart is heavy and my burden as a servant of the Lord is full. It is the way of the Lord that more will be demanded and entrusted of those who have much. I know sometimes that I need to remember that what seems like a burden is a joy an glory to be able to be doing the will of the Lord in my daily life. It lightens my heart to see this and rejoice in the graces and blessings that have been given.

I see the world no longer as an infant on milk but as a fully adult disciple and listener who has the fuller responsibilites that come with understanding what I am being called to do as a believer and disciple. The days of wandering in ignorance are long past and for that I am also grateful. Seeing the world as it is with all the sins and suffering is an experience that evokes a shared suffering and call to serve others first as one who believes in Christ is called to do.

I pray that I may stay alive in my service and love of others and not grow weary in giving to others. May my love of God and love of neighbor guide all that I do this day and may it remain in my heart and mind with me throughout the day.

october 23, 2006

2006-10-23T20:20:00.000-04:00

Monday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Eph 2:1-10 Brothers and sisters: You were dead in your transgressions and sins in which you once lived following the age of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air,the spirit that is now at work in the disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the desires of our flesh, following the wishes of the flesh and the impulses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us,even when we were dead in our transgressions,brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved),raised us up with him,and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus,that in the ages to comehe might show the immeasurable riches of his gracein his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.For by grace you have been saved through faith,and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast. For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for good works that God has prepared in advance,that we should live in them.

Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4ab, 4c-5 R. (3b) The Lord made us, we belong to him.
Sing joyfully to the LORD all you lands;serve the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful song.
R. The Lord made us, we belong to him.
Know that the LORD is God;he made us, his we are;his people, the flock he tends.
R. The Lord made us, we belong to him.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,his courts with praise.
R. The Lord made us, we belong to him.
Give thanks to him; bless his name, for he is good:the LORD, whose kindness endures forever,and his faithfulness, to all generations.
R. The Lord made us, we belong to him.

Lk 12:13-21 Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,“Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” He replied to him,“Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” Then he said to the crowd,“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” Then he told them a parable.“There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.He asked himself, ‘What shall I do,for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ And he said, ‘This is what I shall do:I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you,you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’ But God said to him,‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.”
Storing goods is a waste of time when we are going to die the next day. I do not know what day will be my last and so I strive and often miss the mark but continue to strive to live each day as if it is my last. Only God knows when my time to leave this world for the Kingdom will come. I pray that I will be ready. All that matters is love and God all else is passing and dust.

saint scholastic holy name monastery painting

2006-10-22T19:13:00.000-04:00

October 22 2006

2006-10-22T19:02:00.000-04:00

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is 53:10-11 The LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life,and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him. Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear.

Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22 R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Upright is the word of the LORD,and all his works are trustworthy.He loves justice and right;of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,upon those who hope for his kindness,To deliver them from deathand preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Our soul waits for the LORD,who is our help and our shield.May your kindness, O LORD, be upon uswho have put our hope in you.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

lMk 10:35-45 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him,"Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." He replied, "What do you wish me to do for you?" They answered him, "Grant that in your glorywe may sit one at your right and the other at your left." Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drinkor be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" They said to him, "We can." Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink, you will drink,and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to givebut is for those for whom it has been prepared." When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. Jesus summoned them and said to them,"You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentileslord it over them,and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you.Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be servedbut to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Sometimes I think that my wanting to be a Religious Sister could be Like James and John wanting to ask for special seats of honor. With true faith there is no need to ask to be in a seat of honor with the Lord. The Lord loves those who are humble of heart. I know that I have a loving heart and sometimes to just be a Sister is more of a social role than a true role of faith. I pray to do the will of God with love everyday and serve the Lord God with my whole heart and soul and being. I pray for a listening heart and willing mind and body. I am grateful for the extraordinary good health that I have been blessed with and the rewarding ministries that I have been given. I pray tomorrow to follow God more closely, more fully and be a light to others of love in the world.

october photo 2006

2006-10-20T06:24:00.000-04:00

october 20 2006

2006-10-20T06:23:00.000-04:00

VERONA, POPE ADDRESSES ITALIAN ECCLESIAL CONGRESS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 19, 2006 (VIS) - This morning, the Pope travelled to the Italian city of Verona. On arrival he went directly to the Fair of Verona where he pronounced an address in the presence of more than 2,700 people - bishops and delegates from all Italian dioceses - who are participating in the 4th Italian Ecclesial Congress on the theme: "Witnesses of the Risen Christ, Hope of the World."

The past three ecclesial congresses were held in Rome in 1976, on "Evangelization and Human Promotion;" in Loreto in 1985, on "Christian Reconciliation and Human Community;" and in Palermo in 1995, on the "Gospel of Love for a New Society in Italy."

"This 4th national congress," said the Pope, "is a new stage on the journey of implementation of Vatican Council II, upon which the Italian Church is embarked; ... a journey that embraces evangelization ... undertaken in constant union with Peter's Successor."

Benedict XVI recalled the figures of Paul VI and John Paul II, whose contributions to past congresses "strengthened the Italian Church's confidence in being able to ensure that faith in Jesus Christ may continue to offer meaning and guidance for life, even to the men and women of our own time."

"The Resurrection of Christ," said the Pope, "is a historical fact of which the Apostles were witnesses, certainly not creators," and "a decisive 'leap' towards a profoundly new dimension of life." This "concerns, in the first place, Jesus of Nazareth, but with Him it also concerns us: all the human family, history, the entire universe." For this reason the Resurrection constitutes "the core of Christian preaching and witness."

The Resurrection "inaugurated a new dimension of life and reality whence emerges a new world that constantly penetrates our own world, transforming it and drawing it in. All this is brought into practical effect through the life and witness of the Church. ... Indeed, we are called to become new women and men in order to be true witnesses of the Risen Christ, bringing, in this way, Christian joy and hope into the world and ... into the human communities in which we live."

Italy, said the Holy Father "appears to us as a land in profound need of, and at the same time receptive to, such a witness." Italy "participates in the predominant culture of the West ... according to which only things that can be demonstrated and calculated have rational validity while, at a practical level, individual freedom is held up as a fundamental value to which everyone must submit. Thus God is excluded from culture and public life, and faith in Him becomes more difficult, also because we live in a world that is almost always presented as our being of our own making, in which ... God does not appear directly. He seems to have become a stranger, superfluous."

"Ethics are brought within the confines of relativism and utilitarianism, and any moral principles that are valid and binding of themselves are excluded. It is not difficult to see how this kind of culture represents a radical break ... with the religious and moral traditions of humanity and is not, then, capable of establishing a true dialogue with other cultures in which the religious element is strongly present."

In Italy, nonetheless, the Church "is a living reality that maintains a widespread presence among the people," and "Christian traditions are often still firmly rooted." Furthermore, an awareness exists of "the gravity of the risk of breaking with the Christian roots of our civilization, ... even among people ... who do not practice our faith."

In this context, "our attitude must never be one of refusal and closure. ... We must maintain and, if possible, increase our dynamism; we must open ourselves trustingly to new relationships, and not neglect any of the energies that can contribute to the cultural and moral growth of Italy."

"Christianity," the Pope stressed, "is open to everything that is just, true and pure in cultures and civilizations. ... The disciples of Christ, then, recognize and welcome the true values of the culture of our times, such as technological knowledge and scientific progress, human rights, religious freedom and democracy." However, with their awareness of "human frailty, ... they cannot overlook the interior tensions and contradictions of our age. Hence evangelization is never a simple adaptation to cultures, but always involves purification, a courageous break that leads to maturity and renewal."

"At the roots of being a Christian, there is no ethical decision or lofty idea, ... but a meeting with the person of Jesus Christ," said Benedict XVI. "The fruitfulness of this meeting is apparent ... also in today's human and cultural context," he added, using the example of mathematics, a human creation in which the "correlation between its structures and the structures of the universe ... excites our admiration and poses a great question. It implies that the universe itself is structured in an intelligent fashion, in such a way that there exists a profound correspondence between our subjective reason and the objective reason of nature. It is, then, inevitable that we should ask ourselves if there is not a single original intelligence that is the common source of both the one and the other."

"This overturns the tendency to grant primacy to the irrational, chance and necessity. ... On these premises, it again becomes possible to broaden the horizon of our rationality, open it to the great questions of truth and goodness, and unite theology, philosophy and science, ... respecting their reciprocal autonomy but also aware of the intrinsic unity that holds them together."

The Holy Father then turned his attention to the question of human beings and love, affirming that people "need to be loved and to love. For this reason they question themselves and often feel disoriented in the face of the harshness of life, and of the world's evil that appears so strong and, at the same time, so radically meaningless. ... Hence the question arises, repeatedly and insistently, as to whether our lives can contain a secure space for authentic love and, in the final analysis, whether the world really is the work of God's wisdom."

After highlighting how God "is the source of all creatures," and how He "loves man personally and passionately, and wants in His turn to be loved by him," the Pope indicated that in Jesus Christ "God becomes one of us, our brother in humanity, and even sacrifices His life for us."

"Precisely because He truly loves us, God respects and safeguards our freedom. Against the power of evil and sin, ... He prefers to place the limit of His patience and mercy. This limit is, in concrete terms, the suffering of the Son of God."

Pope Benedict pointed out how "the cross, quite naturally, frightens us, just as it provoked fear and anguish in Jesus Christ; however, it is not a negation of life from which, in order to be happy, we must free ourselves. Rather, it is God's extreme 'yes' to man, the supreme expression of His love and the source of full and perfect life. It contains, then, the most convincing invitation to follow Christ along the path of self-giving."

The Pope emphasized the need always "to be ready to respond to whosoever asks us for the reasons of our hope." We must respond "with that gentle strength that comes from union with Christ. We must do so in all fields: at the level of thought and of action, of personal behavior and of public witness. ... May the Lord guide us to live this unity between truth and love in the situations of our own time, for the evangelization of Italy and of the world today."

Going on to consider the topic of education, the Pope indicated that "true education needs to reawaken the courage of definitive decisions, ... which are indispensable for growth and for achieving anything worthwhile in life, and especially for ensuring that love can mature in all its beauty." In this context, he recalled how Catholic schools still have to face "old prejudices that generate harmful and no longer justifiable delays in the recognition of their function and in the authorization to carry out their activities."

"The Church in Italy has a great tradition of providing aid and showing solidarity to the needy, the sick and the marginalized," said Pope Benedict, adding: "It is extremely important that all these forms of witness of charity ... remain free from any ideological leanings or party sympathies. ... Practical activity is important, but even more important is our personal involvement with the needy and with the suffering of our fellows."

On the subject of the civil and political responsibilities of Catholics - a question that had been considered during the congress - the Pope recalled the distinction between the things of Caesar and the things of God. "Religious freedom," he said, "which we perceive as a universal value particularly necessary in today's world, has its historical roots here. The Church, then, is not nor does she intend to be a political player. At the same time, she has a profound interest in the good of the political community, the soul of which is justice."

The Holy Father underlined the fact that politics "is an undertaking of the greatest importance, to which Italian lay Christians are called to dedicate themselves with generosity and courage, enlightened by faith and the Church's Magisterium, and animated by Christ's charity."

There are, said the Pope, "great challenges" that require "particular attention and extraordinary commitment." These include "wars, terrorism, hunger, thirst and terrible epidemics. However," he continued, "it is also necessary to use the same determination and clarity of intent to face the risk of political and legislative choices that contradict the fundamental values and the anthropological and ethical principles that are rooted in the nature of human beings. This is especially so as regards the protection of human life at all stages, from conception to natural death, and the promotion of the family based on marriage, opposing the introduction ... of other forms of union that would contribute to destabilizing it, obscuring its special nature and its irreplaceable social function. The open and courageous witness that the Church and Italian Catholics have given, and continue to give, in this matter constitutes a precious service to Italy, which is also a useful stimulus for other nations."

The "real strength" we need to face our duties and responsibilities, he said, is to be found "by nourishing ourselves on Christ's Word and His Body, ... and by adoring Him in the Eucharist. ... In the union with Christ, we are preceded and guided by the Virgin Mary. ... Through her, we learn to know and to love the mystery of the Church, ... we learn to resist that 'interior secularization' that undermines the Church of our time, a consequence of the processes of secularization that have profoundly marked European civilization."

Having completed his address, the Holy Father travelled by car to the episcopal palace of Verona, where he had lunch.

At 4 p.m., the Pope will preside at a Eucharistic concelebration in the city's Bentegodi Stadium, before returning to the Vatican this evening.
PV-ITALY/ECCLESIAL CONGRESS/VERONA

october 20 2006

2006-10-20T06:14:00.000-04:00

Eph 1:11-14 Brothers and sisters: In Christ we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him,were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.

Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 12-136R. (12) Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;praise from the upright is fitting.Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;with the ten.stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
For upright is the word of the LORD,and all his works are trustworthy.He loves justice and right;of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.From heaven the LORD looks down;he sees all mankind.
R. Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own. Reading II

Lk 12:1-7 At that time: So many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples,“Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees.“ There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.”

The message that I am hearing in this gospel reading is that just as God knows of every sparrow, God knows every hair on my head and values me. I am to beware of hypocrisy and secrecy. All that is said in secret will be made known. All that is in the dark will be made light.

My mother and father were great examples to me of honesty and openness. All problems and issues and challenges were talked about truthfully. There were no secrets held back. My mother told me everything about everyone in the family and the neighborhood. She would sometimes explain what she thought was going on with a person's behavior and what the background history was. She would tell me how she dealt with certain actions of others and why and would add...'I am telling you this so that you will understand more when you are making decisions about this type of thing when you are older.' I was at times surprised at how much she told me but realized that the extra truths that she had shared did make it more possible to understand what, how and why people were behaving in certain ways. I thought growing up that this was what all families do. I thought they all had meals together and all talked with each other and shared their stories and supported each other. I knew that there were some families in my neighborhood that were somehow different but did not realize how different they were until I was much older.

I pray for the courage and wisdom to use the truth to serve the Lord in all ways and to greet the Christ in all people that I meet in this day.