Family

On this Family Day Long-Weekend I am reminded of the words of Saint Francis of Assisi. “They will be called children of the heavenly Father, Whose works they do. And they are spouses, brothers, sisters and mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are spouses when the faithful soul is united by the Holy Spirit to our Lord Jesus Christ. We are brothers and sisters, moreover, when we do the will of his Father Who is in heaven; mothers when we carry Him in our heart and body through love and a pure and sincere conscience; and give Him birth through a holy activity, which must shine before others by example.” – Later Admonition and Exhortation to the Brothers and Sisters of Penance 

This is one of my most favorite quotes from Francis. It challenges me to look at my life and to examine how I am sibling, mother and spouse with the Triune God. It challenges me to consider universal fraternity – where everyone and everything is my sibling. This challenge is not always easy to ponder and consider. It challenges me as consider the words of Christ, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? Who ever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12.48-50) I’m sure this is from where St. Francis was driving the above mentioned reflections on relationships. Familial relationships call us to be life-giving, to be present, and then to engage and share the God-given gifts that our ours to develop and grow in so that our light may shine.

Over the past few weeks I have been challenged on how I am brother. Am present to others? Am I supporting others to share their gifts and abilities? Am I doing my will or the will of my Father in heaven? Living a fraternal life has its ups and downs, its for better and for worse, its joys and sorrows. It is considering my role as a Franciscan Brother, as a sibling, a son, an uncle and a friend that awakened me to God’s goodness and I strive to God’s goodness in all I encounter for we are all family.

I recently heard a discussion about two people seeking out different families over this Family Day Long Weekend. People who become family for each other, people who create family where they are and in the communities in which they live. I was again reminded of St. Francis and how he would be pleased to hear of the school staff who support each other, the small community that comes together over lasagna and skating lessons, the veteran who supports his fellow veterans, the cultural groups that welcome friends and neighbours into their community centers to celebrate our commonality, the community who sends notes of love to victims of racism, the fraternity of religious who open their doors to the family of street, the charities who open their doors to give a room for those who walk the cold winter hallways seeking shelter and family, the family who delivers meals on wheels and becomes family to shut-ins and the elderly. It is here in these situations that I truly see discipleship and come to understand the gift of family – of being spouse, sibling and mother of Christ. It is in considering these scenarios and many others that I have to ask myself “how I am family where I am and for others?”

As we consider our families over this weekend; whether good or painful memories emerge, may we remember that we are called to the bigger family where we are all united as siblings. No matter who we are, the color of our skin, the work we do, the pain we carry, where we are from or whom we love we are family – we are the body of Christ. When we finally see the gift of being the body of Christ we come together so our individual lights may shine and together we become one brilliant light – with us as sibling and Christ too!

God of Life,

We give you thanks for the gift of family

whomever that maybe for us.

We strive to ignite our light which we hold within

so that we may be the best spouses, siblings and parents

that we were designed to be.

Fill us with your grace and mercy so that we may truly shine

and bring light to the darkness of our world.

We pray for those who do not know family or struggle to be family.

Be present in those homes and communities

easing pain, healing hurts, building bridges of hope

and showing us the way to create family there.

You our God, our Divine Parent,

we desire your love each day

and freely you share it

May our hearts and eyes be open

to where and in whom we encounter this gift

today, tomorrow and always,

for we know that always is how you are with us

because of Jesus our Lord through the gift of Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Not Afraid of Something New

“Do not be afraid” 

They left everything and followed Jesus. 

- Luke 5.1-11

As a ‘young’ religious in Canada the phrase “do not be afraid” comes with it challenges, however it is always laced with hope. There are at times as a religious, I must be honest, that as we look to future we can be caught up in fear and forget the reassuring words of Jesus ‘Do not be afraid.” We ponder: Who will make up the church? Where will the church be in 5 or 10 years? Will the church face her demons and learn from her sins? How will the church and religious define themselves in this every changing world? What path will we trod as our religious communities diminish? These questions trap us and we can build upon fear instead of upon hope. We must not dwell here, we must face these questions with honesty, with conviction and with hope for this is our “duty” as religious and it is also the invitation we offer to all disciples of Christ.

The challenge of “do not be afraid” is trust. Trusting that God is at work in my life and the life of my religious community, all religious communities and the church. Trusting that like St. Peter I too can “put out into the deep” with all that I am. Trusting that by putting out into the deep I will cast my nets into new waters and be amazed by the catch. Trusting that the word of God is speaking to me, helping me to purify my intentions and confidently leaving everything to follow Jesus.

The most compelling thing about “Do not be afraid” is that it calls me beyond myself. It calls me to not get caught up in my worries, my fears, my shortcomings or the struggles we face as religious. Instead it calls me to look to Jesus and to look to the gifts of my brothers, others religious, the church and all the people of God. “Do not be afraid” awakens in me a confidence that looks the fears and questions of despair in the eyes and says again and again, “put out into the deep,” (Luke 5. 4) “proclaim the good news,” (1 Corinthians 15.1) remember that “the Lord will fulfill his purpose for me (us)” (Psalm 138) and that “your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever” (Psalm 138).

Yes, the Lord’s steadfast love endures forever and it is because of this love that I continue to live out my vows, continue to leave everything to follow Jesus and I can say “Here am I; send me!” (Isaiah 3.8)

Lord Jesus,

Several years ago, I prayed

“do something new in me”

I didn’t know what that would mean.

I’m not sure if I understand it any more today

but I continue to pray “do something new in me.”

This small prayer is not a plea, it is not a begging,

it is my way of saying, “Here am I; send me.”

I’m not sure what that will mean or where I will go.

I do know that it means you will 

equip me and ready me to “put out into the deep.”

It means that my fears need not rise 

for you will be there with me

to help me with the catch 

and the work that is to be done.

It means that despite my sinfulness that I am still a vessel

and you work in me and strengthen me to be your messenger.

In each day by trying to give my all and empty myself I can

leave everything, offer everything and entrust everything to you.

You calm my fears, you deepen my trust, you are my may,

You are my everything. Your grace, mercy and love are enough for me,

so once again I pray, “do something new in me.”

Amen.

An Examination of Living and Loving

“That source of love we call God is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ, the word of love among us, and in the Holy Spirit, God as love enacted within us and among us. The only antidote to the brokenness of the word is to surrender to love, to let that love act in us and through us, even when we know it may ultimately lead to heartbreak.”

– Heidi Russell (professor at Loyola University Chicago)

I’ve been thinking a lot about love over the past few days. Maybe because it’s the word I’ve chosen to focus on for the year, maybe because it is February and Valentine’s Day is drawing near and being overly advertised or maybe it is because the famous reading about love – 1 Corinthians 12.31-13.13 was proclaimed this weekend at Mass. No matter the reason it is good to ponder love. I’ve been trying to see love deeper than the kind words or nice sentiments. I have been trying to reflect on it as my way of life. Where is love in my life? Where do I make known love? How do I know love? How do I love? What is love when I feel alone or broken? These are the questions that make me ponder the depth of love. When I read the above quote by Heidi Russell my ponderings on love seemed a bit more synced. God “within us and among us” is the only way love can make sense. It is the only way love makes sense to me as I discover its depth more and more. No matter our journey, no matter how abused or broken human love is; no matter how challenging we find it to love our neighbours because we struggle to love ourselves; no matter how shallow love may seem as we use it to describe everything from committed relationships to hockey teams from TV shows to food to our families, love is among us. Love is among us because God does not abandon us. God cannot abandon us for God is love and God created us in love. Even when our image of God may be broken, or distorted or non-existent God’s love is still “within us and among us.” 

It is in surrendering to love, the love that is God, the love that is lasting that we can walk in love no matter what. I was reminded of that again this past week as I was leading a retreat and shared a story about my niece Cailey. 

When Cailey was about 5 or 6 I returned home to my parent’s home after being away she came bounding down the hallway and leapt into my arms in a big hug. When I say leaped, I mean like half way down the hallway she was in the air already and her arms and legs were ready to completely embrace me. It was from that moment on that I told her she gives the best hugs – because she does – but also because her hug reminded me about God’s deep love for me (for us). It also speaks to me now about my own surrendering into God’s love. Am I willing to leap? Am I willing to trust that God will catch me and embrace my all? How is this in tune with my daily desire to be a vessel for God? Am I open enough to know that even in heartbreak that God’s love is within and among me?

1 Corinthians 12.31- 13.13 is for us an examination of living and loving. 
Do we strive for greater gifts?
How do we speak of others? Ourselves? Do we do so with love?
Do we gather up knowledge and wealth and relationships for our selfish pleasure?
How do we love? How do we make love known?

In this letter to the Corinthians the famous passage reads: “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or rude… it is not irritable or resentful… it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” This is the power of love and more than one commentator, mystic and author has suggested that we should substitute our name in place of the word love. Now that is a true examination of living and loving.
How am I love? 
Am I patient? Am I kind?
Am I hopeful?

How do we reflect love? How do reflect Christ?
How do we open ourselves up to God’s true love?

What does faith look like in my life?
What does hope look like?
How does love live within me and among me?
Do I trust in love even in the heartaches?
Can I allow God’s love into my brokenness?
Can I surrender my all to love?

Where and what is love in my life? What and who do I love?

With this examination of living and loving to ponder, I leave you with another thought from Heidi Russell, “we take the risk again and again to love other human beings, despite their tendency to disappoint and to die, and to love God who has enabled us to love by first loving us.”

God of Love, enable us to love, we pray. Amen.