"Faith"fully Yours

  If you are a follower of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester, the following is my reflection written for our website. I apologize for the repetition. As the patronal Feast of the Sisters of St. Joseph is celebrated on Monday, March 19, I thought it appropriate to offer a reflection on the Gospel reading for the day:  Matthew 1: 18 - 24.  The words/concepts that stand out from both the psalm of the day (Psalm 89) and the Gospel are “forever,” “faithfulness,” and “do not be afraid.”   The impression a person is left with upon praying with these words is one of confidence in something or someone greater than ourselves and one of being safe.   The news in recent weeks can leave us with quite a different sense.   Youth around our country and the world have had enough with the violence and mistreatment toward others and are banding together in action and conversation.   They are expressing their feelings of insecurity and fear in thoughtful ways.   The relationships between l

The scripture readings this weekend remind me of the joke about a flood, a boat and a helicopter ( http://epistle.us/inspiration/godwillsaveme.html ) If you are not familiar, follow the link.   Essentially the drowning man refused all the “helps” or signs God was sending while at the same time looking for something more.   God was coming to the man in ways that seemed to ordinary; the man felt that if he gave in to any of these, he was not a man of faith. In Chronicles we read: Early and often did the LORD, the God of their ancestors send his messengers to them, for he had compassion on his people.   But they mocked the messengers of God. This weekend we celebrate Laetare Sunday, “Rejoice” Sunday – this season of fasting, prayer and almsgiving is half over.   We are half way to the celebration of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection and the Church reminds us to rejoice.   I believe noticing the presence of God or paying attention to God’s messengers is the primary source

I remember spending some time with my sister and family when my nephew Max was about 3 years old.  We were visiting Disney World and making our rounds to the rides and attractions when suddenly Max let go of my brother-in-law’s hand and darted into the crowd, his attention drawn to something we had not noticed.  As Max wriggled away from us, we were at first stunned and then as we realized what was happening, my brother-in-law ran to him and picked him up, holding him tightly.  Max, of course, burst into tears at the suddenness and intensity of his father's action, while we three adults breathed a deep sigh of relief.  Max thought we were angry with him and became frightened.  We, on the other hand, were afraid of losing him or worse.  We knew the possible consequences of the cutest little boy in Disney wandering alone.  We understood that Max had not yet developed a healthy approach to strangers (he loved everyone, especially at Disney) and his childish naiveté frightened us. 

I recently viewed a TED talk by Brother David Steindl-Rast on gratefulness and happiness.  The Gospel reading for the upcoming Sunday is the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus (Mark 9: 2-10) and the second reading is that wonderful passage from Romans reminding us that if God is for us, who can be against us.  This combination of input for our prayer and reflection is quite robust. Brother David outlines a most simple method for living gratefully:  Stop, Look and Go.  I believe the scriptures say much the same.  Press the pause button in our busy lives and breathe deeply God’s lavish love and care for us, recalling that it is God who gives us all good things.  Open our eyes, ears and hearts to the wonders available to us; opportunities to embrace God present in all people and all creation, as in the persons of Elijah and Moses.  And then, we move gratefully forward, carrying with us all that is given to us with new vigor and imagination. In my role as a member of the Lead