Maureen Condon

Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice - December 21, 2024

The people in darkness have seen a great light. Isaiah 9:2

For millennia people have celebrated the return to longer daylight by counting the hours, hosting a feast, burning a yule log, hosting a reflective event, lighting candles; the options are endless. Who doesn’t love daylight. This year, however, my solstice reflection has focused more on the gifts that darkness offers. Recently we have had some stunning night skies. We have had 4 supermoons this year, unusual southern views of Northern lights, several meteor showers and amazing views of constellations. We would have enjoyed none of these were it not for the darkness that amplified them. City dwellers miss out on so much of these experiences because of too much light.

Carl Jung believed that enlightenment comes from becoming aware of our shadow self rather than from imaging the light. Light and darkness for me are two sides of a necessarily balanced coin. On Dec 21st this year challenge yourself to celebrate the gifts of both light and darkness.

-Maureen Condon, CSJ Associate

Image: Kacper Szczechla @wyroq/ Unsplash

Holy Thursday

Jesus, the Christ, was a faithful Jew and so it is no surprise that he gathered together his disciples to celebrate the Passover as had been done for generations.

With careful preparation he gathered them and for the most part He followed the long adhered to rituals of telling the story of the Passover, discussing the story, drinking wine, eating matzah, partaking of symbolic foods, and reclining in celebration of freedom. What a surprise it must have been for all gathered when He raised the bread & wine saying THIS IS MY BODY & blood which was to be offered up within the next few hours. Then he asked them to do likewise in His memory. Do this to Remember Me.

How do you handle change ?

We become so used to doing things in a particular way that when that changes we become uncomfortable, cautious, even suspicious. We’ve always done it this way ! How wonderful it is to see Jesus leading the way by calling us to creatively interpreting our faith and greater fidelity. There is more than one way BE Faithful.

 -Maureen Condon, CSJ Associate

5th Sunday of Lent

5th Sunday of Lent 2024

As we get ever closer to the Easter Triduum the readings greet us with welcome, the reality of suffering with purpose and ultimately hope.

The first reading (Jeremiah 31:31-34) tells us that God is making a new covenant with us, that we will all know our God, that our iniquity will be forgiven. Welcome to the fold!

Hebrews 5:7-9 reminds us of our call to be faithful, as Jesus was, to the unique individual we are called to be. Sometimes answering that call tests our faith. Suffering with purpose!

“ Are we brave enough to accept this invitation?”

For me the Gospel (John 12:20-33) brings it all home. Jesus proclaims the need to “die so as to rise and bear much fruit”. He is troubled knowing the future for him will be beyond difficult but also acknowledging “it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father glorify your name”.

Do I know who I am called to be? Am I brave enough to accept that invitation? How will I live through the challenges knowing I am ultimately glorifying God’s name.

Given the time of year I am deeply aware of the acknowledgement that “unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains a single grain; BUT if it dies it bears much fruit. (John 12:24-26)

May you bear much fruit!

-Maureen Condon, CSJ Associate

St. Patrick’s Day 2024

“Did your Mother come from Ireland?”  

Well, mine did and so St. Patrick’s Day was always a cause for celebration. Lots of music, corn beef & cabbage, Irish stew with lamb, warm soda bread, maybe a wee nip & company with whom to share stories made the whole day a prayer of thanksgiving for our Irish heritage.

St. Patrick (actual name-Maewyn Succat) wasn’t Irish. He was born in 385 A.D. in either Scotland or Wales to Roman parents. As a teen he was sold into slavery in Ireland but escaped to a monastery in England. He later became a priest then bishop and returned to Ireland as a missionary taking on the name Patrick. He is best known for his use of the three leafed shamrock to explain the blessed Trinity, three persons in one God. He is the patron saint of engineers based on the number of churches he built throughout Ireland and is said to offer protection from snake bites.

On reflection, what I think is most wonderful about this feast is that it is an occasion not only for the Irish to come together in joy but the world to celebrate together. There are parades all around the world, lots of green attire, laughter, music and merriment. I wonder if St. Patrick ever considered that he would become the patron saint of unity in joy.

Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhuit - Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you!

-Maureen Condon, CSJ Associate

IMAGES: Yan Ming, K. Mitch Hodge/Unsplash

Laetare Sunday - Rejoice!

Midway through this year’s Lenten journey we are invited to REJOICE and for good reason. The New Testament readings (Ephesians 2:4-10, John 3:14-21) remind us of the gifts we have received freely from our generous God; the love of God, the grace of faith, Jesus, a call to good works and eternal life. 

Mind-blowing! Humbling! Eliciting gratitude!

How do we respond to free gifts? In the movie “Pay it Forward” a junior high school class were invited to think of an idea that would change the world for the better. One young lad thought of paying forward good deeds. A simple example I experienced recently was going through the “Tim’s” line and finding out the person ahead of me had paid for my order! I couldn’t thank them because they were already gone but I was able to pass on their generosity by doing something good for someone else.

Simple Ways to Pay It Forward

  • Letting someone go in front of you in line

  • Paying for a stranger's coffee or meal

  • Sharing your green thumb

  • Donating blankets, pajamas, socks, and toiletries to shelters

  • Leaving a big tip for a server or waiter

  • Returning another person's shopping cart

  • Sending an email or card of gratitude.

I don’t think God needs my gratitude, but I need to show it. Our call to good works is one way of acknowledging our acceptance and gratitude for the blessings we have received; pressed down and overflowing (Luke 6:38).

-Maureen Condon, CSJ Associate

Header Image: Isaac Hernandez/Unsplash