Stay the Course

I suspect that all of us, at some point in our lives, were faced with a challenge that called for a great deal of endurance and perseverance. The goal was almost within reach but the energy was faltering, self-doubts were creeping in, and the temptation to give up was increasingly gnawing at our resolve. Yet, having come so far, we felt compelled to stay the course, a little longer anyway, just in case, and we did achieve what seemed unachievable.

Could this be happening to us at this mid-point on our Lenten journey? The enthusiasm with which we undertook this soul quest on March 01 might be waning; some guilt may have set in over our perceived lack of fidelity to the spiritual practices and discipline we had embraced at the onset; calling everything off might seem the honest thing to do. Yet, we have made it to the 4^th week, by God’s grace. And just as we may be teetering between abandoning the journey or carrying on, this Sunday’s Scriptures remind us that the Lord is our shepherd, that He is there to restore our souls, to comfort us in our walking, be it through the darkest valley, and lead us with His rod and His staff to pause by restful waters.

All around us, nature has also come to a decisive moment as new life seeks to break through earth’s winter-hardened surfaces.  As a community of beings in this hemisphere, we are indeed all on a journey from death to life together, with God’s love embracing everyone and everything every step of the way, ‘weak knees’ and all.  The glory of the Resurrection is already beckoning us.

This is a time to remember that the journey is always about returning to God’s love, to the dear neighbour and to the promise of new life. This is a time to reach out to each other already on the journey, to welcome and encourage new pilgrims, and stay the course. The path is made by walking. (Antonio Machado)      

Nicole Aubé csj    

Today is World Water Day

Earth, air, water………..and the greatest of these is water. In my mind, water out scores air because it mixes with so many other essential molecules to produce new products/elements, hence I consider it the greatest element for life. Our primitive cell division took place in a sack of watery fluid even before we could breathe, while our mother gathered food filled with watery juices from planet earth. So water is key. Science likewise, tells us 55 % of our blood is water while 70 % of our planet is covered with water.

In 1993 the United Nations General Assembly officially de3signated March 22^nd as World Water Day. So how might we creatively celebrate this day? As an example, last year the Windsor Jewish Community Centre put on a Gala Art Show which featured Handle’s Water Music played by the local symphony, while contemporary dancers in the HMN Dance Company gave a breathtaking performance which was followed by an art exhibit on the theme of water. For me it was a beautiful visceral experience which now more than ever, has deepened my appreciation for water. 

Even when it creates chaos, heavy rains and flooding, I sense the anger of water acting out because of the pollution we as inhabitants have created on our planet. Balance in our relationship has been violated and it is ours to restore.

Pat St Louis csj

Finding the Presence of God in All Things Great and Small

In our overly busy lives, it is sometimes difficult to “Be still, and know that I am God”.  Yet in stillness we can reach the centre of ourselves, and there we are in touch with the Holy Spirit dwelling within our hearts.  A day spent in nature can restore our souls.  An hour spent contemplative sitting can restore peace.  But sometimes, when we feel driven by events rather than being the drivers of our lives, a pause in our day right where we are, in front of our computer, is enough to recharge our spiritual, mental, and physical energy. 

This blog is an invitation to enjoy a seven minute pause in the business of your day.  Sit back in your chair; plant your feet firmly on the floor, and click on Richard Sidney’s photographic account of his explorations.

Pat McKeon, CSJ

Photo: Richard Sidey

Richard Sidey | Expedition Photography from GALAXIID on Vimeo.

Up from the Waters

As we begin Lent it is an opportunity to imagine what it must have been like to witness John the Baptist and the countless women and men who had gathered to hear his message and be baptized with water, to have seen Jesus baptized and to hear God say, “This is my Son, the Beloved with whom I am well pleased.” We journey forth in Lent desiring that we will hear God say, you are my daughter, you are my son, with you I am well pleased. It all begins with water. The waters of baptism gave us life. Lent reminds us we must rise from those waters and journey forth.

Many of us may think about past Lents when, perhaps as children, we may have engaged in “competition” to see who could give up more during Lent, many abandoning the promise quickly. As we grow older we realize it is not what we give up but rather what we are doing to continue Jesus’s ministry. In the Gospel of Ash Wednesday, however, we are reminded that we should never draw attention to what we are doing as a Lenten discipline, whether it be an act of charity, spending more time in prayer or doing without a favourite item. Whatever we are doing, it should allow us to prepare for the celebration of Easter.

There can be no more dramatic Lenten image than the scene described in Jesus’ temptation by the Devil. Jesus, weakened by the lack of food and water, is confronted by the Devil who seems to offer Jesus a way out of His situation and yet, despite the temptation and His weak body, Jesus refuses and after the Devil departs Jesus gets refreshment from God.

The images Matthew gives us of the struggle between good and evil is one we all experience. It hopefully allows us to begin our Lenten journey by recognizing that Lent is all about choosing the world of light and life over the world of darkness and death. It is about trusting in Jesus’ promise that if we choose to unite ourselves to Him we also rise with Him to eternal life. Let the waters of Baptism flow over you as you rise from the water and be refreshed in the love and mercy of God.  May we allow the Holy Spirit, which we received at Baptism, to guide each of us as we walk together as sisters and brothers united in our desire to draw our strength from the life-giving waters of Baptism. Like Jesus, we cannot just sit in the water. We must rise and live the promise He offers.

We here in North America are exceptionally fortunate to have so much water available to us.  Many of us, unlike the multitudes in drought stricken countries, enjoy the refreshing waters of a pristine lake or stream cooling us in the summer, refreshing us daily. May this Lent be an opportunity for all of us to rise from the waters of Baptism and accept the invitation of Jesus to follow Him on our life journey fully aware of the promise He offers us in the waters of Baptism.  He extends the invitation to all of us to see ourselves as sisters and brothers united in a desire to share the love and mercy of God with all the members of the human family.

Fr. Ian Riswick, who is a priest friend of Sister Magdalena Vogt cps and chaplain of the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood in Toronto