Light Bearers in Times of Darkness

“You are the light of the world. Now a light does not illumine itself, but instead it diffuses its rays and shines all around upon everything that comes into its view.” 

– St. John of Capistrano

This reminder from an ancient saint is pertinent today. As our world continues to listen and see the horrors of war, the horrors of rage, the horrors of hate we must remember we are bearers of light. We believe the Divine One is infused in us so we in turn can diffuse this divine light into the world. No matter how dark the edges of the world seem to creep around us, no matter the hurts hurled at us, no matter the aching we can carry in our heart, we are met with a light greater than this all. This light not only meets us but also makes us look at our own dark places. This light invites us to let light be diffused into the darkness and to see with new vision. This vision always brings into view the redeeming and life-giving love of God.

We can sometimes feel insignificant when we look out our hurting world. We must not let ourselves be trapped by this attitude, rather we must remember the Christ – the Divine One lives and moves has his being in us (Acts 17.28). This is an awareness of the light we are and can diffuse into the world, even if just in our little corner. This is how hope and peace take root and strengthen our common bond beyond the walls of our heart.

With November drawing near we call to mind the many great saints known to all and the great saints known only to us. We also recall our deceased loves ones and are reminded of their light. These women, men and children from all walks of life and all places are light bearers. They stand with us encouraging us to diffuse our light into the world. The darkness of the world has always been, if we place our trust in Christ, we can carry light into this darkness and transform it into a place with a great view.

Let us not be discouraged, rather let us rise with all the saints of glory and sing the resurrection song. There is light beyond us and a light within us, let us walk in the light of our Saviour on all the paths of life.

God of Light,

you have infused the light of your Son into our very being,

strengthen us so we may diffuse this light into our world,

no matter how big or how small our world may seem.

Amen.

Photo Credit: Josh Hild

 

A Letter to Saint Francis of Assisi

 

October 4, 2023

My Dear Brother Francis,

    Over the past few days as time has shifted into October, I have been paying attention to how creation is preparing for the season to come. Seeing the magnificent colors of leaves, hearing the deep swoosh of the wings of a low flying bird, tasting a delicious pear or sweet carrot, smelling the cool harvest air, feeling the touch of my habit around my body; our senses really do call us into an awareness of God.

    As I thought of this, I also thought of you. I thought of your final moments, as you laid on the bare earth, bare yourself, releasing your final breaths of your earthly life. I wonder how your senses were engaging you on this journey. I wonder if you struggled to allow yourself to be completely free and vulnerable. One last moment – one last hearing, tasting, smelling, touching and seeing of this life. Hearing your brothers’ voices in prayer, tasting Lady Jacoba’s cookies, smelling the earth, touching the hand of a dear brother and even in your limited sight seeing the contrast of darkness and light around you; each one a last moment.

    These last gifts, these final moments of surrendering I think were allowing you to know you had seen and touched all you could in your life. Trusting God was present in all your senses and life you must have seen this as invitation to let them guide you into God’s vast mercy and goodness. The closeness of Christ in these moments and the Holy Spirit ever present allowed you to be free and welcome Sister Death. I wonder if I do the same. Do I only notice my senses in the fleeting moments of a changing season? I pray I may be more attentive to them, like you were in all the moments of life. Trusting I met God again and again in the ordinary of each day through my senses, I am invited to encounter God’s magnificent and grandiose expressions of beauty. An expression of the depth of love and generosity given for me and for all.

    I know we are all on a journey to our final moments. Those last earthly moments which will release us from things both bad and good - seen, heard, touched, smelled and tasted. May I be brave enough to surrender them and be free to embrace the fullness of life you knew in Christ – Your All, in the final moments and in all moments.

    As the world celebrates and remembers you in these days, stir my heart to see, touch, smell, taste and hear the fullness of God. God is always all around us in the present moments, may I lean into this truth again renewed. I long to know Christ as you did. May I trust like you did and be attentive to the moments of each day knowing Christ is present. You allowed the Holy Spirit to guide your ways in the footsteps of Christ. May I be attentive to the pathways opening before me.

    My dear brother, as I pay attention to the changing season and my senses, I know I need to hear your words so I may continue to do what is mine to do and remain aligned in Christ – who is my All! I trust you walk with me and whisper your wisdom into my living. Peace to you my brother, much peace and gratitude.

Your little brother,

Michael

 

 

Autumn

The air has shifted

a refreshing coolness

time to take note

feel the change

an invitation

In this season

deep color schemes of leaves

warm morning skyscapes

busy harvesting squirrels

focused bird formations

an invitation

Autumn

your invitation

like an embrace

surrounds me with goodness

causes me to ponder

awakens me to moments

to be present

to appreciate

to dwell

to breathe it all in.

The goodness of God meeting me.

For Mom and For Carol

September 2023

September

Wisps of color across the sky.

Hues of pink, magenta and orange 

not seen in months.

A gentle coolness in the breeze.

A freshness which speaks to the

fullness of the journey.

Grey blue clouds come and go.

Like a blank canvas their invitation

is to ponder and be.

Green fading to lighter shades.

Knowing the time has been

well spent and cherished.

Another harvest from the garden.

The surprise of each picking

still delights the heart.

These sacred days filled with much.

The Season of Creation is the gift 

of this season changing month 

- September.

August Abundance

 

Filled and overflowing

is the bucket

with garden delights

many the variety

the colors exuberant 

you can smell

you can taste

the goodness already.

The kingdom of heaven

must be like this

rich, vibrant, delicious,

nourishing and healing.

I realize once again

we catch glimpses 

of the kingdom now

in the changing seasons

of life.

God is good.

Photo and Harvest Credit:  D. Perras

Declaring the Praise of Grandparents and Elders

- Feast of Saint Ann and Saint Joachim

        Elizabeth and Martin, Raymonde and Francois, Margaret and Lawrence, Phil, Sr. Mag, Laura and Fred, Joyce and Art, Martha, Rose, and Dot. These are the ancestors who have “left behind a name” in my life who I recall on this Feast of Saint Ann and Saint Joachim the savta and saba; the grandparents of Jesus. I do so declaring their praise (Sirach 44.1) for the impact they have had on my life.

The beautiful gift about a Feast Day such as this one of Saints Ann and Joachim, is it reminds us we come from story, from birth to death story is part of the fabric of who we are. The people we share this life with, the ancestors and elders such as Laura and Fred and Rose and Dot in my life, are storytellers helping to unfold the mystery of the love of God. All of us are story tellers, and we are woven into the great story of Christ. Like his Grandparents Ann and Joachim, our lives intersect into the story of Jesus as we carry forth the blessings of seeing and hearing the good news on this side of the resurrection. 

Jesus the great storyteller continually invites us into the deeper story of God’s love. I would like to imagine he was taught story not only from his parents but also from his grandparents. As his grandparents told him stories of the great ancestors of faith, the mighty journey of prophets and sages, and shared with him the wisdom of elders both women and men from his story, he must have caught glimpses of his Abba’s love and presence. 

My grandparents Elizabeth and Martin and Raymonde and Francois were amazing storytellers. I can recall as a child being captivated as they told story making everything bigger than my small life, as an adult I came to appreciate their wisdom. Their eyes sparkled and their words flowed easily as they shared stories of our ancestors, travels to Canada, updates on relatives, and spoke of their own journeys of faith and serving others. The story of their own lives woven into my own, as “their name lives on generation after generation.” 

As I prepare to gather with family members to celebrate the legacy or the shoots which have sprouted up of Elizabeth and Martin. I can’t help but think of how their witness to Christ is woven into our family – even if not all the members can see it, the grace of God has been made known and is present. It causes me to ponder again: How am I telling my story? How are our stories speaking Christ into the world?

The words of Jesus to his disciples about blessed are ears and eyes which hear and see, are an invitation to each one of us and our stories. We have a responsibility to respond to God’s gifts poured into our lives and to be aware of the graces of God. When we do so, we see how our story and our journey is blessed. Blessed because Christ meets us and blesses us whether we are learning to walk as the poor in spirit or in mourning, with meekness or in our hungering for righteousness. Whether it is in the way we share mercy or are rooted in purity, or in the way we share peace or struggle with persecution. Our story is part of the ongoing story which is and will be told of how God is present in our day.

Who are the grandparents and elders who have been witness for you? Who are the ancestors who declared Christ in your life? Who are the wise ones who need to have their praises sung? Which grandparent or elder are you remembering today? 

God, these are ancestors we remember and honor today on the feast of Saint Ann and Saint Joachim, the grandparents of Jesus. We entrust them to your tender care and mercy. We thank you for their witness of Christ your Son and the way they shared their stories, their faith, their gifts and embraced your grace. We hold them close and trust they continue to walk with us in holiness; blessed among your holy ones. Amen.

Photo Credit: Paolo Bendandi

 

Bless the Name of God

I will bless your name forever my God,

for you are the author of life,

abundant in goodness,

rich in blessings,

generous in love

in every season.

I will bless your name forever my God,

for it is woven into all of life,

from bees and watermelons,

cities and forest groves,

humanity and relationships

in every time and place.

I will bless your name forever my God,

for you meet me in the struggles,

guide me in ways everlasting,

show me true delights and wonder,

know the honest beating of my heart

in every moment.

I will bless your name forever my God,

for your name is declared 

with morning songs of the birds,

in the quiet pauses in the evening,

when work must be done

in every season and time. 

I will bless your name forever my God,

for summer bursts forth its fullness,

autumn shows its transforming depths,

winter weaves its warmth,

spring speaks of freshness and life

in every place and moment.

I will bless your name forever my God.

- inspired by Psalm 145

Photo Credit: Thomas Park