The ‘Gloomies’: A Garage Sale Find

Most of us are familiar with Antoine De Saint-Exupèry's delightful story, “The Little Prince”. A recent garage sale find introduced us to “The Little Prince - The Planet of the Bubble Gob.” If you missed viewing this 2008 DVD, no worries. Don’t interrupt your pleasant memories of the original travels of the Little Prince by the dissonance created by the Little Prince’s familiar character on the unfamiliar planet of Bubble Gob.

During eighty-five long minutes of adventure-saving-drama, our time was salvaged by our introduction to the supporting characters - the 'Gloomies'. Hopefully, we have piqued your curiosity about the Gloomies! Aptly, they made their repeated appearance throughout the movie as ugly, black clouds with grotesque yellow eyes and maws. As is typical of storm clouds, they ushered in ominous darkness.

Eventually, we realized that the garage sale DVD deserved more appreciation than our initial dismissive reaction to it. It brought home to us that gloomies are never far from appearing in our own lives. At times, we are overwhelmed by sadness, our own dark clouds. We envied the animated movie’s invention of a “super Gloomies’ vacuum” which chased them away! Unfortunately, real life does not offer any such quick fixes.

What alternate vacuums help gobble up your gloomies?

Srs. Loretta Hagen, csj; Magdalena Vogt, cps; Nancy Wales, csj

A Failed Promise and God’s Promise

In the world of vegetable production, purveyors of GM seeds promised great things for the global community, trumpeting there would be greater food production and reduced pesticide use in a relatively short time. GM seeds were the answer for a starving world. This was in the late 80’s -90’s. Canada and United States bought into that message. Western Europe did not.

The twofold promise of genetically modified seeds was first, to make crops immune to the effects of weed killers and inherently resistant to many pests, and  second, because the plants form these seeds would grow so robustly that GMO seeds would be heralded as indispensable in feeding the population of a growing world. This would also require less spraying of crops with pesticides.

It is a failed promise.

In the past twenty years the analysis of yields from both the U.S. and Western Europe reveals little difference between crops of non-GMO seeds in Western Europe and crops using GMO seeds in the U.S. and Canada. Overall pesticide use has increased in the U.S. while in France there have been major reductions in overall pesticide use. The vaunted abundance of crop yields has failed to materialize. One would assume similar statistics in Canada. This increase occurs despite GMO being the seed of choice planted for the major crops of corn and soybeans in North America. The reality is that herbicide use on corn & soybeans has soared. Making more profits for Monsanto. Farmers cannot save their own seed and are tied contractually to purchase GMO seeds. Although Western Europe is closed to GMO, Monsanto boasts of surging markets in other places of the globe.

One is reminded of the story of David & Goliath. Yet, resistance to corporate greed is not without effect. Although some markets are certainly soaring for Monsanto, there is resistance, notably in Africa, India and South America. And they are statistically significant. Just not reported as such. There are pieces of light in the darkness of corporate deceit.

One is also reminded of a vulnerable child born in a stable, in a time of deep darkness. A light that could not be quenched. A promise that was and is fulfilled. It is to believe in the light that is stronger than any darkness of heart. We are part of those pieces of light that pierce the darkness of corporate greed every time we pray for organic farmers, buy organic food and wherever we can plant heritage seeds, whether it be on a balcony or in a field. Sometimes these seeds will be planted in our home gardens, sometime they will be the seeds of hope planted in our prayers. We all are part of bringing to birth the promise of God’s kin-dom. All are needed to quench the darkness and bring the light of God’s love to birth in our world and in our time. One seed at a time.

Linda Gregg CSJ

A Pocket Full of Miracles

With our recent 366 days of experience behind us, hopefully, everyone is a little bit wiser and kinder. Has Pope Francis' call to embrace mercy anew, changed us? Are we kinder? Have we paid closer attention to the ongoing challenges of 'Mercy-ing' so as to move us forward to a more consistent way of living?

Pope Francis is well aware of our human condition. Though the Year of Mercy officially ended in the closing days of 2016, he was quick to encourage us to stretch our hearts and continue to hone our Mercy-ing skills.

As Canadian author, Louise Penny’s, Inspector Gamache, wisely states, “We are all blessed and blighted.” If this be true, mercy is both ours to give and receive, and thus Mercy-ing offers ample opportunities for New Year's resolutions. Even with the best of intentions, resolutions can easily slip away from our consciousness.

Would it be helpful to imagine 2017 as a year of miracles? Miracles? Would you be surprised to discover that there are miracles in your own pocket right now? God-given miracles to be extended through your hands. Carrying pocket miracles out into the world, is a simple, easily remembered New Year's resolution.

"If your hand is willing,
you could pull a small miracle out of your pocket,
a small gift - a note that made a soul stronger,
a cup of something warm to soothe someone's knotted places,
a hand to help someone up,
open arms just to embrace the overwhelmed and whisper grace.
Carry pocket miracles out into the world..."

contemplativemonk.com

Srs. Loretta Hagen, csj; Magdalena Vogt, cps; Nancy Wales, csj

Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more?

Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more? Dr. Seuss “The Grinch that Stole Christmas” That little bit more is a lot more that the warm and fuzzy occasion the residents of Whoville celebrate in this classic Christmas tale.

Christmas celebrates God irrevocably joining the human race. As St. John’s prologue puts it “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14), and different translations of this passage help us to peel back some of the shattering truth of this central mystery of our faith. “The Word became a human being and, full of grace and truth lived among us.”

(Good News Bible) Eugene Peterson’s translation “The Message” puts it this way: “The Word became flesh and moved into the neighbourhood”. The original Greek is more vivid with the Word “pitching his tent among us”. This reminds us of the presence of God dwelling with the Israelites in the Tent of Meeting in the desert. This God willed to embrace the fleshiness of our humanity, to become one with us in all things except sin (Heb. 4:15). Jesus is God’s supreme self-communication to us and He takes on flesh. Flesh, all that is transitory, mortal and imperfect and, at first glance incompatible with God (Jerome Biblical Commentary) was what God embraced and has never unembraced! Do we really believe this?

Remember Moses at the burning bush being told to take off his shoes because he was standing on holy ground? Since God came among us and walked on this ground, ate and slept upon it, all ground is holy.

All the colored lights, decorations, Christmas trees and carols, presents, special food, even Santa, Charlie Brown and his tree, Scrooge and Tiny Tim and, yes, even the Grinch who tried to steal Christmas are all part of what might help us, who are flesh and blood, body as well as spirit, rejoice in the mystery of the incarnation. Yes, there is a lot about Christmas that is just commercialism and consumerism but there is also Emmanuel - God-with-us, reminding us that we are loved, that God has come to us in all the vulnerability of a baby, that God has not given up on our world. Our hopes are grounded in this miracle.

By Sr.Trina Bottos, Sister of St. Joseph of Sault Ste. Marie

Originally published as President’s Message in the Newsletter of the Federation of the Sisters of Joseph of Canada. Used with Permission.

Love and Light at Christmas….

A few nights ago there was a young Syrian girl who used a social media platform to alert the world to the plight of the people left in Aleppo as fighting continued to destroy what was left of the city. She sent out a plea to the world community to help rescue her people who were left behind. I was moved by the courage of this young girl who was only ten or eleven years old and who spoke, not out of fear, but out of love. And you may ask what does this young Muslim woman have to say to us about Christmas?

The Christian community around the world celebrates, not just the story of a child born a long time ago, but how that story is still alive among us today. The voice of that young Syrian girl reminds us that God really lives among us today and is seen in the face of a young Syrian girl crying out not just for herself but for all those who suffer in her city.  God comes among us in so many ways and through so many people who manifest love in our world. In her, I heard the cry of God, reminding me that Love dwells within me and among us.

The meaning of Christmas and the Incarnation invites us into this mystery of who we are in God. Love is not something we do, it is who we are.  

As we gather with family, friends, and neighbours, it is time for us to awaken the love that is within and live from that place where each of us can help transform the world moment by moment through the loving way we respond to all that comes into our lives.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, from the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada!

Joan Atkinson, CSJ