Sunday, 27 May 2018

In God We Live, Move and Be



We live and move and have our being
because we are loved
always until the end of the age.

We live and move and have our being
because we are created
in the image and likeness of God.

We live and move and have our being
because we are renewed
through the life, death and resurrection of Christ. 

We live and move and have our being
because we are embraced
by, in and through the Holy Spirit.

We live and move and have our being
because we are children
of a Triune God who is love, hope and life.

We live and move and have our being
because we are called
to anchor ourselves and to be rooted in faith.

We live and move and have our being
because we are blessed
in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.






Saturday, 19 May 2018

Pentecost: The Gift of Peace



It was evening on the day Jesus rose from the dead... he came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After this he showed them his hands and his side.... Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit...” 
– John 20.19-23 

We often think of the Holy Spirit as a dove hovering around or as flames burning. Do we ever consider the image of a gift being opened as a symbol of the Holy Spirit? Jesus gives us the very gift of his spirit (see scripture above). This is an intimate gift and one that continues to be opened and given our whole lives long. This gift of God’s peace truly is the powerful gift of Pentecost (a great gift for a birthday).



This gift of Jesus himself who endured pain, suffering and death; who trusted in God; who was open to God’s will; who showed us love – given, sacrificed, alive and true can only be given in peace; a peace that fires the flames of our hearts and calls us to be agents of peace, mercy and love.

So the greatest gift of Pentecost is yes the gift of the Spirit of Jesus and this gift is truly bound in peace. It is opened in so many moments. Do we miss these moments?

In a world full of chaos,
in another tragedy,
in times of devastation
still the gift of Christ’s peace is present.

In the cancer diagnoses,
in the death of a child,
in the pain of hurting marriage
still the gift of Christ’s peace is present.

In the broken promises,
in the broken bonds,
in the broken reconciliation
still the gift of Christ’s peace is present.

In the loss of communication,
in the demands of deadlines,
in the egos we often carry
still the gift of Christ’s peace is present.

In the bloodshed and war,
in the hungry and thirsty,
in the lonely, poor and abandoned
still the gift of Christ’s peace is present.


How we ask? We must remember that Christ’s peace is more powerful than any moment we encounter. I wonder if we fail to see it because we don’t want to accept that it is present and calling us to change, to life and filling us with strength? I wonder if we fail to see it because we say, “we got this God – we can handle it!” and let our ways become the way instead of Christ’s peace being the way?

We must let the peace of Christ enter in,
we must let the peace of Christ settle us
we must let the peace of Christ penetrate our pain.

Come Holy Spirit
come and dwell in us,
come with your peace.

Come Holy Spirit
open our broken hearts,
open our boarded shut hearts,
open our stony hearts
to your peace.

Come Holy Spirit
squeeze into our pains,
nudge us into your reality,
speak to us clearly
with your peace.

Come Holy Spirit
we long for you,
we desire you,
encourage us to hear:
 “Peace be with you”
and so enter into
the peace who is Christ –
who is alive and moving
sending us forth and living in us.
Yes in us!

How does knowing we already have this gift make us feel?
Can we live with this truth? Can we live in peace?
I for one hope so.



Come Holy Spirit!





Sunday, 13 May 2018

Proclaim Good News


“The Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message…” – Mark 16.15-20
Proclaiming the good news is the work of all Christians and a guiding principle that also shapes our Franciscan charism. Because all of us are baptized into the love of the Trinity we are called to share this love which is good news. We are to be heralds of hope, mercy and faith, agents of love, joy and justice. It is one thing to speak the good news but the proclamation also means living it, embodying it and making the good news a way of life. 
As Christians it is in the way we move from the Eucharistic table to the rest of our week. It is in how we announce the gospel, go in peace and glorify the Lord. It can’t just be with an “Amen” or “I believe…” or a “Lord have mercy” it has to be in how we live these words and in the actions of our lives. The gospel of Mark reminds us that the Lord worked with the disciples and as his followers he works with us too. As we hear and embody the good news we must also let it be the way we live. What do our actions say about Christ? What does the way I help a neighbour, focus on other, extended a welcoming hand and so on say about the way we live as Christians? Will they (the world) know we are Christians by our love (hope, joy, faith, mercy…) or will they only know it when they read our obituary?
As Franciscans the above mentioned challenges apply to us as well. Just because we put on a habit and take vows does not mean that we instantly have the good news imparted in us and live it out well. It takes time and effort. Our vows do orientate us to the good news. Our vow of poverty requires a deep trust in God that looks beyond this world, our vow of celibacy requires a living for others that is selfless and rooted in the love of Christ, our vow of obedience requires an openness and desire to work with others in preaching and living the good news. Our Franciscan way of “living the gospel” is one of simplicity but demands that we be attentive to the words of scripture and live them in our every day. It demands that in our fraternal living we are attentive to our brothers. It demands that our way of life be lived for all people and that we support those who are struggling to live the gospel or encounter it. It demands we be in solidarity with those working for justice and peace walking with them and taking up the work with them. It demands us to be life-giving.

In the conversion of St. Francis he heard Jesus speak to him saying, “Go rebuild my church.” St. Francis began by literally repairing churches and then shifted into living and preaching the good news in ways that eventually formed the Franciscan Order. I believe this a needed reminder for us, not that we need to begin new religious orders but rather how do we as Christians and also as the Franciscans review our gospel living? What are we doing already or what simple tasks can we do (or do better) that will bring the good news to life (will rebuild the church)? We have been empowered and Christ is working with us to preach and live the good news. I have myself pondering this for a while now and this passage from the gospel of Mark has been good pause for reflection. In the days ahead and with the empowerment that spirit of Pentecost calls us to may we be strengthen to share the good news; which like blood is in us to give! 


Sunday, 6 May 2018

Loved - Chosen



Loved
Chosen
Bear much fruit.

Loved
Chosen
Share in this love.

Loved
Chosen
Be joyful in living.

Loved
Chosen
Generosity and sacrifice.

Loved
Chosen
Deep and abiding friendship.

Loved
Chosen
Hear your name called.

Loved
Chosen
Abundance of goodness.

Loved
Chosen
Confidently ask.

Loved
Chosen
Belonging to God.



John 15.9-17