Being Transformed Daily

The Feast of the Transfiguration is celebrated in the peak of summer, every year on August 6. I think it is timely as many people are in summer mode – taking in creation. Through hikes, mountain visits, sitting by a lake, spending time in the garden, enjoying fresh fruits and vegetables and beautiful flowers or traveling for special events we are invited to behold the glory of God; like on Mount Tabor. In this Jubilee Year of Hope, this feast of the Transfiguration invites us to consider pilgrimage and how it transforms us. We need not go far and yet can be transformed. A walk spent with an intention becomes a pilgrimage. But do we take note? Are we aware of the simple moments of invitation and transformation in our daily living?

Each day offers us an invitation to transformation and awareness of God’s glory. By being intentional in our outlook, we become like the disciples on Mount Tabor filled with awe and delight. Eager to want to spend time secured in the holiness of the moment but also facing the reality we are called forth into the pilgrimage of life. We are called to live out what it means to be a chosen and beloved child of God.

We all have moments of transfiguration. This past weekend my nephew married his beautiful bride. Those of us who attended this wedding were invited into moments of transformation and glory. From the beauty of creation inviting us into a splendid day, to deeply touching vows exchanged through teary eyes, to stories and laughter shared, and people traveling from near and far to be present we were transformed because of their love for each other, our love for them and the love of God so very present.

The belovedness of the couple was apparent. It was in the simple moments not the extraordinary ones which reminded us of the closeness of God. Like the disciples on Mount Tabor, we desired to stay in the gift of a wedding day, but the reality is we need to carry the joy, the beauty, the glory and our transformed hearts into our daily living. One author reminds us, “from Mount Tabor’s splendor, the Savior tells us: “Become what you behold.”” The question is then what do we behold? Nothing other than God present to us. 

This peak summertime feast with its invitation to pilgrimage through the Mount Tabour experience invites us to pay attention to God’s glory revealed in creation, in relationships, in wedding moments, in ordinary Wednesday mornings and in pilgrimage. It calls us to embody our Savior and be transformed by him, to be filled with awe and to carry it forward.

The Eucharist is this very invitation to become what we behold. We behold Christ present before our very eyes. We receive him who transforms us by his very body and blood. We then in turn are invited to be a witness of his glory in our lives and in all creation around us. The pilgrimage of hope during the rest of this summer is an invitation to pay attention, to be filled with awe, and as St. Peter says in his second letter to be “as a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” Yes, it is good for us to be here and in turn it is good for us to return to our lives transformed by the simple gift of bread broken and shared with us. Let us be attentive for God’s glory is everywhere and right here.

Grandparents: Covenant of Blessing – World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

The Feast of St. Anne and St. Joachim (celebrated on July 26), the Grandparents of Jesus, always makes me think of the obvious: my Grandparents. However, this year the feast also has me thinking of my own parents. They are Grandparents to twelve. Maybe I’m seeing and hearing them differently this year because the oldest granddaughter recently married and oldest grandson will be married soon. Maybe it has to do with how I’m seeing them age, or maybe it is noticing how I see my own Grandparents reflected in the ways my mom and dad have grandparented for the past 23 years. Whatever it is, I know it indeed comes with blessings. The blessings Jesus speaks of in the gospel of Matthew 13.16-17 is calling us to note what holds our attention. Are we caught up in our own little world or do we make space for the other? Do we notice our blessings? Do we see the Risen Christ in the world around us? 

“Blessed are your eyes and your ears” was not just a feel-good moment for the disciples so they could boast about seeing and knowing Jesus. No, this blessing is for all of us who live on this side of Resurrection. Our longings and yearnings are met in the Eucharist, in the community of believers gathered, in our personal encounters with Jesus in our prayer time. We meet Jesus, we see him, we hear him, we hold him, we allow him to speak to our restless hearts.

I consider again my parents as their Grandparenting shifts from helping to care for little ones, to enjoying visits with adult grandchildren and hearing the antics of pre-teen and teenage grandchildren. The blessings my parents have experienced because of these twelve grandchildren fills volumes in their hearts. The blessings remind them of the bigger picture of generation after generation, of “descendants standing by the covenants and their offspring continuing forever” (Sirach 44) As much as I would like to declare this all happens perfectly, it does not. It comes with heartache, with side steps, with seeing again with new eyes and hearing with new ears. Blessed encounters of the depths of love. Because the depth of love always calls us into relationship, into covenant. Our God is the God of covenantal relationships. 

Saint Anne and St. Joachim lived in the covenant of their marriage, they also lived in the covenant of being parents – raising Mary (she didn’t raise herself) and in being grandparents – fostering the legacy of love in Jesus.  This covenant reminds me of my Grandparents. The witness of faith they were for me, the dedication to each other, their commitment to family and community and their joy for life even in the struggles speaks of covenantal relationship. 

I am always grateful I knew and had a relationship with all four of my Grandparents. Although we do not know if Jesus knew his Grandparents, I would like to think he did. I imagine them supporting his development. Saint Joachim teaching him skills along side St. Joseph as well as teaching him the way of their ancestors. St. Anne along with Mary fostering his faith and compassion anchoring him in the covenant to which shaped him and his life. It really does take a village to raise a child. I believe this feast gives witness to this truth for in God we are held by the love covenant of blessing, honour, legacy and attentiveness. This is the covenant of blessed eyes and blessed ears to see and hear love.

To bless someone is to call forth the dignity of their birthright as a child of God. It speaks to their goodness, their sense of belonging and worth. To bless someone is take note of God at work in their life. My Grandparents blessed me over and over again sometimes in prayers, at other times in conversations, sometimes with small gifts and still at other times just being present. I see this echoed now in the life of my parents as they bless their grandchildren. Their grandchildren know they have an open door, a warm welcome, a safe place and invitation to receive the blessing of a Grandparent’s love. In the gospel Jesus tells his disciples they are blessed because they have seen him. When others “see” us do they see Christ? Do they know they are a blessing?

May we be strengthened so we may be attentive to the blessing of others and live well in covenant with each other. May we honour the value and legacy of relationships today, tomorrow and for generation after generation.

God bless all grandparents and elders. Thank you for your witness of hope.

St. Joachim and St. Anne pray for us.

Photo Credit: Joshua Hoehne 

Pentecost: A Prayer To Begin Again

Pentecost is a time of new beginning. The Holy Spirit is wild and full of life leading us new ways and guiding our steps unto new paths. Each day is an invitation to begin again and to be a vessel of the Holy Spirit.

In early May I had the opportunity to be in Assisi. I sat in prayer gazing upon the church Francis rebuilt and listened to the Holy Spirit. This is the simple prayer which arose in me.

Begin

Begin again

Your invitation, O Holy Spirit

to be rooted in life in Christ.

Begin 

Begin again

My daily invitation

as one rooted in Christ.

Begin

Begin again

Our communal invitation

as a universal family.

Begin

Begin again

An invitation

to be a disciple

to be brave and to trust

to be one who lives the gospel

Begin

Begin again

An invitation

to take a step

trusting you O Holy Spirit are leading.

Amen.

May the gift of the Holy Spirit which is a gift for each of us inspire and encourage us to begin again today and in each day of this summer.

Photo Credit: Jon Tyson

A Prayer for Dwelling in God

 

Jesus said, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them….the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” – John 14.23-27

 

Dwell in me, O God.

Settle in me, O Holy Spirit.

Live in me, O Jesus.

 

Teach me your way.

Guide me into life.

Show me the depth of love.

 

Your peace is a gift.

Your peace is vision.

Your peace is blessing.

 

I need not fear

for you are here,

for you are peace,

for you dwell in me.

 

Amen.

 

 

 

Photo Credit: Andrew Moca

A Prayer for Easter

Risen Lord

You are life,

You are new life,

You are fullness of life. 

Risen Lord

You are hope,

You are renewing hope,

You are our journey of hope.

Risen Lord

You are here,

You are here among us, 

You are here raising us up.

Risen Lord 

On this pilgrimage of life,

we rejoice in your resurrection 

for it reminds us hope is always here 

because you dwell among us.

May we be witnesses 

of your resurrection in all we do,

in the ways we build community,

in how we gather at table

and recognize you in the breaking of the bread.

May we journey with hope,

May we raise our voices with hope,

May we allow our hearts to be transformed 

by the hope which is your new life in us.

Amen. Alleluia! 

Photo Credits: Heino Eisner

Kelly Sikkema

A Prayer for Holy Week

 “When the hour came…then the criminal said, “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”    - Luke 22.14-23.56

Lord Jesus,

As we enter this sacred week with you

Remember us.

As we pay attention to your words

Remember us.

As we take note of your actions

Remember us. 

As we journey on the way

Remember us.

As we wave palms in praise

Remember us.

As we gather at table with you 

Remember us.

As we pray with you in the garden

Remember us. 

As we stand before the cross

Remember us.

As we see the stone across the tomb

Remember us. 

As we come with our fears

Remember us. 

As we sit in uncertainty 

Remember us.

As we rejoice in your resurrection 

Remember us 

as you come into your kingdom. 

Amen.

Photo Credit: Cristiano de Assunção

Lent: A Hope Marker Along the Highway

For my entire life I have traveled up and down Highway 48 East of Regina. It is a simple highway to drive; nothing complicated. There are a few curves, lots of straight-a-ways, the occasional dip, usually not too many potholes and plenty of beautiful farmland to see. This highway is part of my holy ground as it always leads me home. In leading me home it also has markers along the way which anchor and remind me hope lives here.

Like the burning bush Moses encountered which caused him to remove the sandals from his feet (Exodus 3.1-8), I too have had encounters of the living God along this highway. Whether it has been visiting with my Goddaughters and their families, or enjoying a visit to the family homesteads or connecting with family, I have removed my shoes many a time encountering God the great I AM. I have prayed in nearly every Catholic church on this highway, wept at funerals, rejoiced at weddings and delighted in baptisms. I have made pilgrimages to the Calvary Memorial Shrine Site at Candiac, to the cemeteries along this highway, and I have stood before many a nativity scene in front of churches and homes. These holy ground moments remind me God, the great I AM, is with us in all the moments of life. I have been guided home by streetlights, farm lights, the Candiac cross lights and the front lights of my parent’s home. Each time I make this pilgrimage of hope I am reminded God, the great I Am is gracious and abounding in steadfast love (Psalm 103).

No matter which season I am traveling Highway 48 there is always one marker I look for on the journey. It’s not a burning bush per se but always captures my attention. It’s not a fig tree needing tending too, but it has been left alone for one year more and this always makes me glad. When driving East on the 48 just past Kendal on a little bluff stands a lone tree. It stretches its branches to the west in an uneven manner. It’s not a very big tree but remains sturdy. Sometimes cattle are grazing around it, other times it seems to shudder in the cold Saskatchewan wind, but still it remains. I have the buds in spring and have seen years of full green leaves. It stands out against the harvest sky and is majestic when adorned by frost; it really is a tree for all seasons.

As a child when we were traveling West on the highway this tree was the beacon of hope indicating we would soon be at our Grandparents. When traveling East it was the reminder I was coming from the holy ground of time spent with one set of Grandparents and would soon be embraced by my other Grandparents.

I’ve been thinking about this lone prairie tree as we enter this Third Week of Lent. Both the burning bush encounter of Moses and the fig tree of the vineyard in the parable of Jesus (Luke 13.1-9) we hear this Lenten Sunday called it to mind. This tree has been a sign of hope for me my whole life and I bet it has for countless others who have passed by it; for my mom tells me it has been there for her whole life. I’m so grateful it has been left “alone for one more year” by the farmers of the field in which it stands. This tree speaks to me the message of hope which is the undertone of the parable shared by Jesus.

The gardener begging for one more year to tend the tree is the reminder of how God gives us time to grow, for conversion of heart, to mend relationships and to bear fruit. As we step further into Lent let us be attentive to the tending we need to do in our lives and in our relationships. You never know when a burning bush may appear. As we continue in this Jubilee Year let us be attentive to the beacons of hope along the highway of life. Let us be attentive to the holy ground on which we tread. Let us be brave enough to say again, “Here I am” as we pilgrimage onward.

 

A Prayer for Lent

 

If today you hear the voice of God,

harden not your hearts. – Psalm 95.8

 

 

Christ my Saviour,

In this season of Lent

guide my steps

from their destructive patterns

I masquerade as good,

from the words spoken

I masquerade as truth,

from the judgemental thoughts

I masquerade as protection,

from the little lies

I masquerade as healthy,

from the false images

I masquerade as who I am.

 

Guide my heart

and restore it.

Guide my living

and transform it.

Guide my all

and renew it,

so, when Easter dawns

I may be a new creation

filled with new life.

Amen.

 

 

Photo Credit: Lucas van Oort

A Prayer for Ephphatha – To Be Opened

Jesus said…

 

“Ephphatha, Be opened.”

 

Mark 7.31-37

 

Be opened my heart

to love like Jesus.

Be opened my eyes 

to see like Jesus. 

Be opened my ears 

to hear like Jesus. 

Be opened my mouth 

to speak like Jesus.

Be opened my hands

to serve like Jesus.

Be opened my life

to know Jesus is at work in me.

Be opened my life 

to trust Jesus is my all.

Be opened my life 

to be guided by faith hope and love. 

Be opened. Ephphatha.

My daily prayer.

Be opened.

Amen.

Photo Credit: Cyrus Gomez

A Prayer for Ordinary Time

God of the Journey,

You are with us in the rhythms of our days:

dishes to wash, beds to make, emails to send,

meals to cook, games to play, people to visit,

snow to shovel, deliveries to make, prayers to pray.

Draw our hearts to be attentive 

to where you are in these regular rhythms.

God of the Journey,

You are with us in the standout moments of our days:

baptisms, weddings, funerals, 

birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, 

engagements, promotions, retirements.

Draw our hearts to be attentive 

to where you are in these extraordinary rhythms.

God of the Journey,

You are with us in the journey all the days of our life

on a weekday, weekend, high day or a low day 

for you are our hope.

We are pilgrims with our compass set to you

draw our hearts to be attentive 

to where you are in this Ordinary Time.

Amen.

Photo Credit: Alexei Scutari

A Prayer for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Jesus,

Your baptism is always an invitation for us.

An invitation to see you in the every day of our living.

An invitation to profess you with our living.

An invitation to claim the dignity 

of being a beloved one of God in our living.

An invitation to the awareness of the presence of 

Your Father and your Spirit at work in our living.

An invitation to live out our baptismal call 

to be messengers of hope in our living.

An invitation to thankfulness and praise for you 

who are our way, our truth and our life.

May we be courageous enough to live from our belovedness.

Amen.

Photo Credit: Alex Shute

A Prayer for Epiphany

 

“We have seen his star in the East 

and have come with gifts to adore the Lord.” 

– Matthew 2.2

God of all Nations,

your Son born for us all, 

was adored by Magi from distant lands.

Like the Magi we come before the crib 

with our gifts and our lives.

May the gifts of our talents and treasures 

be for the good of all and the glory of your name 

as this new year unfolds. 

May the gift of our life 

be a witness of generosity and kindness

for all are our sisters and brothers.

May the gifts we received and gave this Christmas 

be a reminder to share with those in need 

in all the seasons of this year. 

As we adore the Child in the Manger 

we give ourselves and our lives, 

we surrender them to you, 

the Great Gift-Giver.

As we present our gifts

we humbly ask you to 

gift and bless us with 

hope, peace, 

joy, and love 

today and always. 

Amen

    Happy New Year - 2025 Jubilee!

Thank you for continuing to read my posts.

    Photo Credit: Marcel Eberle