The Transfiguration and Two Graces: Listening, and Seeing!

LENT II

“In the prayer at the beginning of the Mass we asked the Lord for two graces: “To listen to Your beloved Son”, so that our faith might be nourished by the Word of God, and another grace — “to purify the eyes of our spirit, so that we might one day enjoy the vision of glory”. To listen, the grace to listen, and the grace to purify our eyes.

This is directly related to the Gospel we heard…”

(excerpt of Pope Francis’ homily on the Transfiguration, March 16, 2014)

For me, the story of Jesus’ Transfiguration, tells the truth about what happens when we go with Jesus, away for quiet prayer, especially when there is an issue of suffering, as Jesus took Peter, James and John with him right after he had told them the hard news of his coming Passion.  What seems, then  gives way to what is, as surely as the person of Jesus became transformed and shining, divinely beautiful, while God told the apostles, This is my beloved Son, Listen to Him.

As Pope Francis says it, the graces of prayer change our hearing and our sight, so that what we bring to prayer, takes on a new light, coming from the Lord himself and his  silent message of love and support, his inspiration, and kind call for outreach.

Sister Wendy Cotter, CSJ, Ph.D

Ready, Set, Go

The genesis for my Ash Wednesday blogpost is a paragraph I recently read when leafing through a book on my friend’s coffee table. Edward Hays, in his reflection book, The Lenten Labyrinth, provides a pithy guide for our Lenten observance.

In the book’s foreword, the spiritual writer concisely depicts the spiritual magnitude of the gift of Lent. He proclaims:

“Rejoice, you are about to begin a great adventure

and a journey of transformation

which holds the power to change - to radically enrich

- your way of thinking and believing.”

The author strikes a surprising note using the word, “Rejoice!” for active Lenten participation. Many readers would be familiar with the association of rejoice and Laetare Sunday in Lent. However, the pairing of rejoice to include the whole of Lent is a novel idea and might take the Lenten participant off guard. More personal reflection is needed to discover how claiming this juxtaposition of rejoice and Lent might switch things up and provide us with a new Lenten experience.

Furthermore, the author having prescribed the Lenten spirit as, “Rejoice!” goes on to set its starting point, as beginning “a great adventure.” Its route is, “a journey of transformation” and its destination is interiorizing “a new way of thinking and believing.”

Hays advises us to think of ourselves as pilgrims on an annual pilgrimage. He emphasizes that our spiritual trek is in solidarity with other sojourners. How might our six- week Lenten experience be shaped if we thought of it as making a quasi-Camino? The writer encourages:

“Know that as you prepare

to make the first step on this journey,

you are doing it in the company of other pilgrims.”

On this Ash Wednesday, Christians are invited to begin their journey of transformation by stepping forward to receive the telltale mark of ashes on their foreheads and once again hear the ancient call, “Repent and believe the Good News.” Hays reminds us:

“While it will be private

- or rather a personal - retreat or renewal,

at the same time, it will be a global venture,

shared with your brother and sister Christians.”

Are you ready? Let’s go!

-Sister Nancy Wales, csj

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Fifth Sunday of Lent:  Gospel Reflection:  John 12:20-33

Some Greeks approached Philip and put this request to him.

“Sir, we would like to see Jesus” (verse 21)

Our Christian faith is similar to an archeological dig.  You look at the surface and you can learn a lot. You brush away the dust and then you can learn even more.  You dig deeper, you learn more. But you have to start with the basics.  You can’t understand God and the complexities of our faith unless you first start with the most basic. 

In today’s gospel, some Greeks came to Philip and asked to see Jesus. One of the dynamics of John’s gospel is that “to see” is more than simply to see something with your eyes.  For John, “to see” is “to believe” ... to see Jesus means more than simply catching a glimpse of a celebrity who is performing miracles.  It means that you really want to get to know and believe in Jesus and the teachings He offers to those who believe. 

Question:  How often have you felt that strong attraction – that desire to actually see … experience … the presence of Jesus in your life?  Personally, I often experience God’s “deeper presence” whenever I am on retreat.   When the retreat ends, I don’t want to leave.  Like the apostles, I want to build a tent and stay forever!  I want to feel the desire to “see” Jesus … to be in His presence.  I am not satisfied knowing about Jesus; I want to see Him … I want to be in His presence.  What does this mean?

“ I am not satisfied knowing about Jesus; I want to see Him … I want to be in His presence.”

It is not necessary to see in the literal sense to believe. We know this in Jesus’ words to Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (20:29). The purpose of the gospel is to record Jesus’ signs and words for those who have not seen yet but have come to believe.

Reflection:

Have you “seen” Jesus? 

Have you really seen Him, and do you really “believe” in Him?  

Do you accept him as your Lord and Saviour?

OR

Is everything in your life still “same old … same old”?

Something to think about.

Sister Dorothy Ryan, csj

Lenten Reflection

The Fifth Week of Lent

In preparation for this reflection, I read over the scripture readings for the fifth week of Lent.  Two readings, in particular, spoke to me.  The first reading was the story of Susanna and the second the Annunciation to Mary that she was to become the Mother of Jesus. Both were God-fearing women.  The law of God had been taught to them and I believe had taken root in their receptive hearts.  This left them open to God’s plans for them.   Both women had to make crucial decisions that would deeply impact their lives. The decisions they made could have resulted in their deaths.  Susanna and Mary chose to be faithful and trust God in their decision-making.  This took deep faith and courage.  God used the prophet, Daniel, to prove Susanna’s innocence and Joseph’s dreams to affirm that Mary had done nothing wrong. They had each made the right decision.  Their decisions were not just for their time but have been read, reflected on, and have inspired believers for thousands of years.

It seemed appropriate that I am finishing this reflection on International Women’s Day.  As a pandemic weary pilgrim, I am both inspired and challenged by these women.  I am reminded of God’s promise to give me a new heart and so I find myself praying for the grace of a heart open to possibility and the unknown and the trusting faith to make the right decisions in my life.

As individuals and as a congregation we are involved in the decision-making process. We are discerning what is emerging for us as individuals and a congregation.  Some of us are considering if this is the time to let our names stand for leadership and all of us are preparing to make decisions about who will take on the role of congregational leadership and the direction the congregation will take into the future. May we all move forward in this time of decision-making with open, responsive hearts that will help us make the right decisions for our time, the dear neighbour, and all of God’s creation.

-Sister Lucy Godfrey, csj

Lent 4 - Is it Time to Reboot?

Annually, about now in the Lenten Season, I seriously begin to consider that it would be a good idea to reboot. I am not literally suggesting that I need to restart my computer; I’m meaning ‘reboot’ figuratively, as Merriam-Webster defines it. Reboot means “to start (something) anew : to refresh (something) by making a new start or creating a new version of (something)”.

As I get set to reboot and intensify my preparation for Easter, I find myself returning to the words penned by the Concord Pastor, Fr. Austin Fleming. In his nightly prayer on the eve of Ash Wednesday, he shared the words below with his Facebook followers:

 … What am I going to do for Lent this year?

A better question for me to ponder, Lord:

What are you going to do for me this Lent?

How will you move in my life this Lent?

What changes in me might you want to make?

What gifts have you to offer me

that I might better love and serve you?

What do you want to do for me in my prayer?

What will you say to me? share with me?

What are you going to do in my life this Lent, Lord?...

I was struck by how the Concord Pastor flipped around the whole idea of this religious season for me and others. Instead of having us concentrate on our own Lenten plans such as, “What am I going to do for Lent this year?”, Father Fleming offers us a whole different way of approaching Lent. He encourages us to forgo our feeble attempts at change and put our focus on the Soul Healer. He suggests that we ask what the Healing One might want to bring about in us this season and then try to work with The Soul Healer’s plans.

On the verge of rebooting my Lenten efforts, I am pondering, “What if I fervently prayed with the pastor’s series of questions?” What if I focussed on asking, “What are YOU going to do in my life this Lent, Lord?” and then listened carefully to what YOU whispered in my heart.

Is it reboot time for you too?   Are you willing to join me in a Lenten Reboot?

-Sister Nancy Wales, csj