Transforming Love

The story of Jesus giving the blind man sight is indeed an encounter of transformation. Through the gift of God’s love Christ gives sight to the blind. As I read and heard this gospel story this weekend I was reminded of a reflection I wrote in my journal earlier this week. The blind man gaining sight struck me as a powerful sign of God’s transforming love and spoke to me of my encounter of that same love.

The kingdom of God is the fullness of love alive and equal among all people and creation. God’s love is always present, always available, always free, always grace-filled and always merciful.

In a conversation about prayer this week someone said to me “who you love and who loves you.” My first thought was God. I smiled and had this moment of peace, similar to when a surge runs through the heart upon hearing something it needs. This surge was more of a profound opening it was like a piece of my heart that needed to be awakened was and yet my heart already knows this truth. There is depth in this reality/truth.

Who I love is God.

My amazing God who gives me life and calls me to life and fills me with endless opportunities, skills, talents and blessings. Who has created all things, is present in creation and in the depths of my heart. Who is my hope, my constant, my strength and my all (and I discover this more and more).

God who is the creativity that runs through me, the actions that I use build his kingdom and my very breath.

God who guides my path, leads me in ways that are everlasting and fills my life with amazing people who help point the way.

God who inspires me with ways to live the gospel, to be present, build community, celebrate love, seek forgiveness, be light, grow, dream and be open.

God who loves me so much that He blessed me with his Son Jesus who is not only my savior, but also my brother and friend.

Jesus who knows my journey, walks with me always until the end of time and who willingly gave his all for me so I may know love, share love and be love (even when I forget how or struggle to share it/live it).

Jesus who shines his light into my darkness and calls me beyond it, who stirs in me -  life and breath and ways to live like him, for him and invite others to do the same.

Jesus who is my core, who is that light at my center which will never be extinguished. He who calls me to radiate (and is the reason why I do), he who is my all and awakens in me the desire to be an open vessel, a living icon, a living tabernacle.

Jesus, who is my way, my truth, my life and who gifted me with the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit who moves and lives and has his being in me. The Spirit who awakens me even more to God’s love. The Spirit who calls me at the depths of my being and soul and sends me forth armed with hope and love to be a witness.

The Spirit who works in ways both great and small. Who peels back the layers that I allow to be put on. The Spirit who calls me to openness, to be a vessel where God pours life in and I in turn am transformed and pour God into my world, not to be emptied but rather to be filled again and again.

The Spirit who is life, breath and freedom. Who in moments that I feel unequipped or empty reminds me that Christ is ever present and God is love and these gifts are mine and free. The Spirit who in freedom calls me to fullness, to trust, to depth, beyond the false realities and in to life, in to being embraced by and transformed by love.

I am loved so very much and I love God so very much. The love God has for me is shown over and over again in my journey. The love I have for my God is my very life – lived for God by sharing it with others, trusting in God’s divine plan for me and being open to this gift.

God, my Loving Father,

Jesus my Savior and Brother,

Holy Spirit my Breath and Life,

God your love pierces 

every part of my life 

and who I am,

I love you. I thank you.

Amen.

Who do you love?

Who loves you?

I hope you can see through the journey, people and circumstances of life that the answer to those two questions is God and know how much God loves you.

May we continued to be brought to the light of God’s love and be aware that we are no longer blind but awakened to love.

Transformative Relationships

As we move towards the middle of Lent, transformation continues to be part of the journey. The Gospel for the 3^rd Sunday of Lent is that of the encounter at well of the Samaritan Woman and Jesus. Now this is a story about transformation. The Samaritan Woman is changed after her encounter with Jesus and because of the change in her life she leads others to change in their lives (encountering Christ).

Over the course of this past week relationships have been the undercurrent of what feels like everything. I know that is not revelatory news as we are social beings we are always involved in relationships. However it feels like my thoughts, prayers, ministry, work and so on have all had this hinting of “what about?”

What about this relationship is it healthy and good?

What about this relationship does it need healing?

What about this relationship is it empty?

What about this relationship does it need to deepen?

What about this relationship for this person has impacted my life?

And so on…

I guess I have been evaluating my relationships. The good, the not so good, the struggling, the hurting, the hopes, the worries, the “what abouts?” It has caused me to ponder the people who fill my life for moments, seasons, years, or lifetime. It has caused me to ponder how I have encountered Christ in relationships and how I offer Christ in relationships. My heart is full and yet there is an aching. My heart is at peace and yet there is a longing. My heart is nurtured yet if feels so vulnerable.

This gets me back to the Samaritan woman. She too was questioning Jesus and in conversation with him. She too was asking the “what abouts” and the “what ifs”. She too had a fullness and yet an aching, a peace yet a longing, a nurtured yet a vulnerable heart. Jesus saw that and offered her life-giving water and she accepted. Jesus said to her “I am he” and she came to know a true fullness, a true peace, a truly nurtured heart.

Now this leads me back to my “what about” questions. I need to reflect on Christ present in my relationships and how I receive his life-giving water from others and how I offer it to others. In the words of St. Teresa of Avila – “Christ has no body now but yours, no hands, no feet, no eyes, no ears but yours.” How can I be the hands and feet, the eyes and ears of Christ in my relationships? I am open to those who offer Christ to me?

Relationships are always transformational. I am grateful for so many for so many reasons. I am most grateful for a relationship with Jesus Christ for my life is constantly being transformed – whether I am ready for it or not and to that I say Jesus I Trust in You.

Jesus – Life-Giving Water and Cup of Life

As I try to pour out my life

You are my strength,

You sustain me and nourish me.

In the moments when

I feel I can’t hold the cup

You gently come and raise it up.

In the moments when

I can raise the cup

Your reflection is seen and

I am called to be open and

To be a vessel for You to be held in.

Amen.

Transfigured and Transformed - Follow Up

One of the readers of this blog has asked me to provide some insight into a few of my reflections in my latest post. So I thought I would make an addendum to my previous post to address the question that has been raised.

The reader states:  You wrote about denying ones "holy calling" and that pretty much hit straight into my heart and what you said of "if we stay in it we will never experience more gifts and blessings". Are you saying, we should leave places that are "good to be here" moments for the opportunity to be transformed? 

When I speak of the “holy calling” I am speaking of our dignity and gift of being a beloved Child of God. I know too often in my life I forget that I am holy and created in the image of God. I forget that I am on the road that leads to sainthood; that being a saint is my call today not an award in death. I find it is sometimes too easy to deny this “holy calling” and simply “fit in”. Transformation continually draws me closer to Christ, his truths and the fullness of life that he desires for me. I know in my own journey there have been times that I have denied this by focusing on my self-serving wants instead of my relationships with others and my baptismal call of priest, prophet and king. Our “holy calling” demands us to be in relationship and to build the kingdom, this we must not deny or we are left alone trying to build a tent for an event that is over or afraid to come down the mountain and live our life transformed.

When I wrote about “if we stay in these good to be here moments we will never experience more gifts and blessings” I was speaking of those times that nourish us, encourage us and fan the flame within us that we wish would never end. These moments like the Transfiguration are short lived but have profound impacts on our life. Think about Peter, James and John in the amazing moment of the Transfiguration - they wanted it to be permanent, for it to be the way for life to be. As wonderful as what that would have been they would have missed walking deeper and further with Christ.

For example I was recently involved in a musical; it was an amazing experience. The weekend ended and I didn’t want it too, I wanted to stay in that moment and live it over and over again. It filled me up, it was a “good to be here” moment. However that weekend and production could not go on forever, what does go on forever is the impact it had on me and how it is challenging me to live that goodness in my reality of daily living. Another moment in my life that is a “good to be here” moment includes coffee with a good friend – the conversation is passionate and full. However if we remained having coffee forever we would never experience growth, challenges or new encounters to come back and share creating again a “good to be here” moment. A final example for me is Christmas. I love Christmas and as much as I would love for it to last forever I know that when the season ends I am challenged to live out the Christmas message in the non-Christmas days of the year and encounter Emmanuel in new ways. In doing so I am opened again for the beauty that is Christmas.

I have come to learn that Christ is constantly at work in our lives in the “good to be here” moments, in the tough moments, in the discerning, in the ordinary, in the grand, in the opprotunities to take a long look back, in our ministry, in the choosing to stay where we are because it is right, in the decisions that call us to make tough choices and so on. These moments shape our lives and our journey of faith so that we can live out our life vocations well, claim with dignity our “holy calling” and help others to claim their “holy calling” as well. We are called to be transformed letting the light of Christ imprint it’s self upon us so we may radiate Him each day, then those “good to be here” moments deepen the Christ event of where we are in this time and place.


I hope these further reflections clarify my take on our "holy calling" and our many "good to be here" moments. Thanks to the reader for asking the question.

Continued Lenten Blessings.

Transfigured & Transformed

The Gospel for Second Sunday of Lent is always the Transfiguration of Christ. It is a beautiful reminder of how we can be transformed, about the light that sits within us, about our belovedness and about courage.

Being transformed is never easy for we like the way things are or at least we are comfortable with them. Transformation calls us to change, to depth and to newness and that can be tough to do and cause great fear… and yet time and time again Jesus says "do not be afraid". These four words of encouragement he says again after his transfiguration to Peter, James and John. It’s the prompting they need to move deeper into the journey with him and to move from staying where they are to where and who they are called to be. This will lead them to the cross (and even abandon him) but through the cross into the life of resurrection which destines us all to be great and saints.

Transformation is ongoing and maybe that is why we at times deny this "holy calling". It is easier to say to the Lord, like Peter did “it is good for us to be here”. There is no denying that at times it is very good to be where we are and we don’t want to leave that moment, just like Peter and his companions in the moment of Jesus’ transfiguration. The thing that always strikes me about these type of moment is that if we stay in it we will never experience more gifts and blessings, we will never be strengthened to face challenges or obstacles, we will not grow, we will become stagnant and soon desire something else which will not satisfy us. Being transformed over and over again in those ‘good to be here’ moments leads us into deeper relationship with Christ, with each other and calls us to share the light that is within us.

In the Transfiguration we read the line “his face shone like the sun and his clothes became dazzling light”. I believe that the power of light that dwells within us is affirmed in that moment. Christ’s light is so strong that it cannot be contained, it pierces our darkness and enflames the light that is within each of us. We each have that light and it is up to us to ensure it burns bright. I am firm believer that the light of Christ dwells in each of us and each of us has the potential to share it, however we too often fear the light that is within and don’t let it penetrate our lives and the lives of those around us. I wonder if we deny our belovedness because of how intense the light is that dwells within and that it will call us to the full life we are called to and to share our life (even lay down) our life for others.

We all know people who radiate light into the world, it just exudes from them. These people touch our lives and spark the flame that is within us. These people seem to have a way of empowering others, affirming others and calling out the belovedness of others. I can think of a few people in my own journey that have been this for me and how much that has impacted my life journey and deepened my faith and challenged me to share my light. I am grateful for the gift of light bearers and how Christ illuminates in and from them. They are encouragement for me to fan my flame and keep it burning; this is the hope which I have spoken of many times before.

It is here at my core that this hope is rooted and in this hope is courage to live my life radiating Christ; knowing that my light is secure; remembering that Jesus said "do not be afraid"; to live knowing that I am a beloved Child of God and to continually be open to the transforming light which is God’s love, mercy and grace. Yes this truly what transformation is for me and for each us.

God,

through Christ Jesus your beloved Son,

your light pierced our darkness

and claimed us as your beloved children.

May we have the courage to claim your

light that dwells in each of us

and share it with others

so we too may transform the world

moment by moment, one day at a time.

Amen.


So here is to Week 2 of Lent and the gifts of light, being transformed, gratitude for light bearers and courage to live as a beloved Child of God.

How can we radiate our light this week?
Who do we need to thank for being light in our lives?
What fears do we need to let go of?
How will we courageously claim our belovedness?
What is stopping us from being transformed?

Transformed By Being A Lost Apostle

Over the course of the past 6 months Br. Donnie and myself have been rehearsing for the musical production Lost Apostle. It was written by an amazing local artist. This past weekend was show time and what an amazing experience!

We were blessed to be able to be part of a cast and crew of 52. These 52 people are not only talented musicians, actors, singers, artists, seamstresses, and stage hands but also very dedicated, welcoming, generous, kind and simply good people. The cast and crew were completely volunteer and came together to bring the musical to life for 4 shows. They came together because of a love of music, a love of community, a love of family and a love for the elderly (for which all the proceeds raised go towards their care). It truly has been an amazing experience for both Br. Donnie and myself. It has challenged us, opened us up, caused many great discussions and stirred our hearts, our faith journey and awakened again those beautiful gifts that God plants deep in our hearts that surface when the time is right.

Not only did we get to create with this amazing cast and crew, we were privileged to walk into their lives beyond the stage. Friendships developed, conversations deepened, family bonds were extended and real life pulled at us to bring the gospel to life.

Let me give you a brief storyline of the musical to give you a sense why it has been a mazing experience; for not only were the cast and crew amazing but so was the story. It begins in the days of the earthly ministry of Jesus and tells about four people who encounter him and how their lives are changed. Peter, Judas, Mary Magdalene and Beth tell their story and how Jesus called them. In their stories our story unfolds and much of what stirred in them stirs in us. Hopes, dreams, desire, hurts, pains, lies, being trapped, passions, loneliness and transformation all are expressed. These I know have been a part of my journey and open me up to Christ, how he is speaking to my heart and to trust in him.

The musical continues in the modern day and tells of how we so easily become trapped in lies, through poor choices, greed, judgment and power. The chaos that unfolds, the agony of despair and those moments of being shattered that can haunt us all is played out in the musical. This is not where the musical leaves us or our lives for the beautiful gift that is love always wins and hope is always ours because of the Resurrection.

So in these early days of Lent this musical is sending me some reminders that I would like to share as an inspiration for our Lenten journey.

I am reminded of the gift of transformation and openness.

I am reminded that the challenges of life always have a gift in them.

I am reminded that dignity, dedication and sacrifice are values that Christ showed us how to live.

I am reminded that the cross leads to the resurrection; which is eternal life.

I am reminded that I have so much to be thankful after being a part of this musical and always.

I am reminded that each of us have the power to share love in the simplest ways which will indeed change the world and inspire others to do the same.

Now the Lenten tasks becomes to take these reminders off the page and bring them to life just as the musical was taken from the pages of the script and score and brought to life.  The power is within each of us because Christ dwells there. How do we choose to live?