JOY

While I was working in Youth Ministry I came across an activity called JOY. It was a reflective activity calling us to prayer. Each letter calling us to focus on the priority of relationships and the prayers that arise. J = Jesus, O = Others, Y = You (self). I was reminded of this activity over this past weekend as great joy filled my last few days all because of relationship with Jesus and others in my life.

I was blessed to travel this weekend and attend the Permanent Diaconate Ordination of 9 men for the Archdiocese of Regina. It was a historical event for the diocese and one of great joy drawing together people from all corners of the diocese. I was overwhelmed by the simple fact that because of a relationship with Jesus these nine men have been ordained. Because of a relationship with Jesus the diocese was present to support and encourage them. Because of a relationship with Jesus each of us were challenged to look at our vocation and how we live it out. Because of a relationship with Jesus I was reminded again that when we anchor ourselves in Him then our relationships our nurtured and we serve others so to build the kingdom. 

With Jesus as our prime source and strength we step forward called into relationship with others, called to build the kingdom. This was brought to my attention in witnessing the interaction of people at the ordination, attending Mass at the parish where I used to ministry, spending time with children, family and friends and hearing two of the newly ordain preach. The relationships we enter into shape us, they call us beyond ourselves, they make us ask “what am I doing with my life?” and “how am I building the kingdom?”  As I listened to these two newly ordained deacons passionately preach, sharing their from personal stories of life changing moments in their own lives to the challenge to be community, to seeing where Christ is present in our every day, to embracing the gift of baptism they reminded us that relationship is key. It awakened in me a very grateful heart for the many good people in my life and how from both small to great, from lifetime to momentary, relationships call us beyond ourselves and deeper into the heart of Jesus.

When our lives our rooted in Jesus, when we value the relationships that are our lives and work at them, as we give from the gift of ourselves and not make ourselves the center of the universe then and only then are our priorities in the right order and we are filled with JOY radiating it into our world.

Jesus you are life and goodness richly blessing us with the gift of

Others who journey with us and call forth our gifts so that the

You that is me will not eclipse the You that is true Joy. Amen.

 

In the Ordinary...

Ordinary Time in the church year simply means regular or routine. No major feast days upon feasts days, no specific season to work within or keep our focus moving towards a celebration. As we settle into Ordinary Time more summer is upon us and routines begin to loosen a bit (for a lot of us) and our regular routines of life look a little different. Although vacations, different schedules and travel may be part of our summer time the gift of Ordinary Time keeps us grounded. It draws us back to our Source and provides for the routine we need to keep our faith life nourished and nurtured. I’ve been thinking about Ordinary Time over the past few days as I was simply more aware of ordinary things (and because of a list a wise woman recorded and shared with me). It got me thinking about those ordinary things in our lives and made me ask do we appreciate them?

Ordinary things like:

Music, a walk, a cup of tea, ice cream, our senses, a meal shared, gratitude expressed, flowers budding, a rain fall, a warm sweater, the phone, a listening ear, sleep, a glass of water, a chat with a neighbour or friend, the BBQ, a calendar, sunshine, a lamp, shoes and so on…

As we journey into summer time and as the church year continues in this Ordinary Time can we be more aware of these ordinary things? Can we add a prayer of gratitude for them in our day? Think about it, Jesus used ordinary bread and wine and transformed them into the great gift of himself. What a gift it is and oh how we benefit from this gift! May this inspire us to be aware of the ordinary in our lives. What are we called to transform in this season of Ordinary Time?

Fr. James M. Fitzpatrick, O.M.I. reminds us of the gift of the ordinary with this prayer:

Whenever I’m touched by the sun’s warm ray,

Whenever I wake to another day,

Whenever I feel the cool breeze blow,

Whenever I marvel at stars aglow,

Whenever I smell the rain soaked earth,

Whenever I see a child at birth,

Whenever I stand with my heart upraised –

May you, my God, be always praised. Amen.

 
Ordinary things in our ordinary days.

What ordinary things do you appreciate?

Blessings on your week.

 

 

Hunger

I hunger for you Bread of Life

for I know you are strength

and I know you are nourishment.

 

I hunger for you Cup of Salvation

for I know you are sustenance

and I know you are courage.

 

I hunger for you Body of Christ

for I know you are life

and I know you are the way and the truth.

 

I hunger for you Holy Communion

for I know you are my daily bread

and I know you fill me with thanksgiving.

 

I crave for you Lord Jesus.

I thirst for you Lord Jesus. 

I hunger for you Lord Jesus.

Lord Jesus,

for the gift of your body and blood

you freely gave as a lasting memorial,

as an encounter of you,

and the gift of your Risen Life,

I say thank you.

I look forward to meeting you in the Eucharist

again and again.

Amen.

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.

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!

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! 

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