Leap Year Challenge is More Love

On Valentine’s Day I received a card from some whom I love and respect very much. In the card there was a reflection which stated, “One could/should have every day of the year full of Love. In 2020 we get one extra day. As people of God, we should rejoice and be glad. We are all challenged to every day life. To be there for others who struggle – in joy or sorrow. God loves us unconditionally; God accepts us and tries each day to mould us into the commandants of love. It’s not easy, but love everyone, each day and everything around us.”

This reflection has been flowing through my thoughts over the last week. It has haunted me when I have not loved well the others in my life, my brothers with whom I live or even myself. It has encouraged me to reflect on my actions and words and thoughts; how is love penetrating my everyday? It has caused me to pause and remember that in all the busy, all the doing, all the demands and tasks that God’s love is present and this love is be my pattern of living.

We read in the first letter of John: “Perfect love casts out fear” and In the Islam tradition a quote by Fazil reads “Love is the hidden way into the sanctuary of God.” It is tough to admit that much of our fear has to do with love. We fear we are not loved enough, that no one can love us, that we are not worthy of love by another, a community or God. It is foolishness really and still we let it be what guides us. Perfect love we will never know until we are embraced in heaven, but our actions each day make known a taste of this perfect love. The way we “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5.38-48) is the hidden way. The sanctuary of God resides in each one of us. We are vessels of love, called to perfect that love more each day. We are vessels of love, aware that others are hurting and so are we but that does not mean that love is not present. We are vessels of love; with each breath we breathe in God and breath out fear, for our God is love present always.

God’s acceptance is unconditional because we are made in the image and likeness of love. How amazing is that? Being moulded and shaped into the commandment of love is to love our neighbours and love God. May we imprint into our hearts, our living, our breathing that we are holy, for God is holy (Leviticus 19.1-2). This is the truth of love, that holiness is woven into all we are: today – good or bad, in this Leap Year with a bonus day and always whether the sun shines or not.

Here we are one week away from that extra day in 2020.

What are you going to do about it?

Here we are days way from Lent – “The Season of Love”.

How are you going to add more love to the world 

with an extra day to do it?

How are you going to rejoice and be glad 

that God’s love is everlasting?

Maybe Leap Year can remind us that we experience ‘bonus’ days of love all the time, not just on February 29 and not just when all is perfect or right or good. As another valentine reminded me, “My heart is bigger than my hat!” Does that not give a fun and beautiful increasing image of the God of love? I think so and I rejoice and am glad because of it!

Blessings on the week ahead!

Happy Leap Year!

Let love be our way, our truth, our life – for it is our very breath.

The Gift of Retreat

As I sit down to write some reflections for this week there is a group of teenagers outside my door playing cards waiting for their retreat to begin. I am taken back to my teen years and the gift of a weekend retreat which awakened me to the bigger community, the Body of Christ in so many new ways and that my own faith was deepening. Over the course of that weekend I met people my age; that like me, were asking the same questions about their faith, that were seeking to know the love of God and were trying to fit into a bigger picture. That weekend introduced me to the power of community prayer, to the quiet of personal prayer, to a new joy in the community of believers and the gift of being who I am as others expressed the gift of who they are. It had a great impact on me and opened me up to what would become my future ministry as a Youth Minister and Pastoral Assistant. Now as I reflect back on that retreat so many years ago it seems in part that it was igniting in me a flame which today is a fire aglow as I minister as part of a Retreat Team; living at a Retreat Centre.

As the volume swells and then dissipates in the hallway it seems to reflect my pattern of life. Ministering as part of a Retreat Team means that there are times when demands are high: meetings for planning, presentations being crafted, talks presented, interaction with retreatants and helping with tasks to keep us functioning are the buzz that fills the day. At other times it is the moments of prayer, the time to read, the gift of the Eucharist or a long walk which clears the buzz, calms my pace and awakens me to the still small voice which called me to this way of life.

I’m often asked: “What does a day look like for you as a Franciscan Brother?”

My answer is: Living at Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre means that no two days are the same. The only consistent parts are gathering at the table of prayer and Eucharist and gathering at the meal table. Which means that “breaking bread” is central to who I am as a Friar. Breaking open scripture and prayer and gathering at the table of Eucharist with my brothers is the foundation of keeping us focused on living the gospel here at The Mount. Breaking bread together at our meal table; whether it is the group of eight of us Friars or our staff has joined us, allows us to break open the stories of our lives, our concerns, the concerns of the world, the ministry of retreats and those we have encountered. This leads us back to the table of prayer.

Each day is different and that is a gift. Each day calls me to be present and attentive. Each day asks, “Where is Christ in this day?” and “How have you helped to build the kingdom?” These questions stir and swirl in me. Some days the answer is quick and ready, other days I need to sit with them. Not because Christ has not been present rather that it has caused the need to pause longer, to reflect on my own living out of my vows and to see how I am called to live the gospel here and now. It amazes me, each and every day I am amazed.

In a world that is busy and demanding, in a world which tries to rob us of time to be quiet and encounter the depths of who we are, and even in a schedule which can be demanding for me as a Friar the gift of retreat still speaks to me. I am awakened to the beating of my heart and how God beats in this heart of mine. I am awakened to how Christ does walk with me stride by stride. I am awakened to the breath of the Holy Spirit breathing in me and whispering truth to me. The gift of retreat for me all those years ago and still today are God reminding me: I am with you; I am in relationship with you - no matter what. For that I am thankful for each and every day.

How is your heart?

What is stirring in you?

Do you need a retreat?

Can you take time? A retreat in your day? in your week? away from it all?

We have been given an extra day this year... what's stopping you?

Come and be filled… God’s blessing abound!

http://www.mountstfrancis.ca/

Light Rises in the Darkness

The word light is once again a central image in the readings this weekend. Is it not a great gift and wisdom of the church to offer us this image emerging in Advent, bursting forth at Christmas and then lingering throughout these winter weeks?

As our Northern hemisphere slowly begins to see more light at dawn and dusk we can appreciate the power of light. “Your light shall break forth like the dawn” we here from the prophet Isaiah (58.6-10). This reading awakens us to how the light beckons us to healing and the assurance that God is present when we call for Isaiah continues, “Your healing shall spring up quickly… you shall cry for help, and the Lord will say, here I am.”

These are words of balm for me in these winter days. As a steady pace of ministry and projects take shape it these words that give me assurance that I am not alone and that light – true light is always cast upon my path. As Psalm 112 declares, “light rises in the darkness” and this is the reminder I need. As I work on projects and plans, I can sometimes be overwhelmed by the task at hand. Sometimes it can feel daunting or even like I’m the only one out here. I find it funny how quickly I (and I’m assuming many of us) forget that the Light of Christ is ever present with us.  That in the tasks great and small, in the burdens light and heavy, in the paths trod lightly and those where we drag ourselves along, that the Light of Christ is always here. “Here I am,” Christ says and light once again fills our way.

I often go for a walk a night. As I leave the lights of our entrance way it takes a while for my eyes to adjust not to the darkness but rather to the shades of light which are present in the darkness. Last weekend as I left our entrance and the light faded, my eyes were adjusting and I could sense there was something up ahead on the road. As my eyes adjusted to the light I came upon a mother and her daughters gazing up at the night sky – taking in the stars. As they were enjoying the many speckles of light filling the night sky they were filled with joy and contentment. As I think back to that moment now, I hear in my heart the whisper, “light rises in the darkness, here I am.” Yes, God always finds a way to remind us that God’s love is present and that light is one of the strongest images that God utilizes to remind us of this ever-existing gift. How great is that? I know for myself it is the reminder which I need.

A reminder which has been made known to me over the past 2 months in the physical reality of light. Advent candles glowing, Christmas tree lights twinkling, stars adorning the night sky, the moon at it’s fullest, a candle lit in the chapel, the lamp at the bottom of the stairs, the light left on for a late night return, the dawning of each day and the sun reflecting on the majestic mountains give concrete witness to God’s promise of light. Then today as I glanced through the news, I see that this weekend is the annual Lantern Festival concluding Chinese New Year celebrations. The images of these lanterns rising up is a powerful one which speaks to, “no one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket” (Matthew 5); it speaks to the truth and power of the light which the Body of Christ carries and holds and is called to let shine. Then as I continued to work on this reflection one of best friends calls to tell me he was thinking about me and offered a prayer for me as he walked this morning in the dawning light. This reminded me (on a day I needed reminding) that life is bigger than the reality of my day and how amazing our God is in showing us the power of the promise of light: “Here I am, am I with you.”

Yes, God’s light is ever present in the simplest and also in the most amazing ways. It is calling me to be aware that I am a bearer of this light. It is not something only for the few, it is indeed a gift for each of us. It is something we each carry. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden… let your light shine… give glory to God” (Matthew 5.13-16). The Light of Christ is indeed present in our every day and woven into my; into our DNA. Again, I ask do we believe this?

As this new week begins, I know that I need to continue to be aware of how the gift of light penetrates my days and nights. I need to sit with the gift of healing that is needed in my life for this light truly does call me to wholeness and fullness. I need to let the words whispered by God’s love fill me with the truth which is: “Here I am.” I need to let that feeling of dawn; of light rising in the darkness stir me to being okay to accept that I am a light in the world, called to shine, do good works and give glory to God. Knowing I can do this only because the Light is with, in and for me. What more could I want?

The poet James Russell Lowell once wrote: 

“Light is the symbol of truth.” 

Yes, it is indeed a powerful gift, symbol and truth. 

May light and truth guide our steps this week.

Light Bearers

February 2 is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. 

The Liturgy begins with this line:

“Forty days have passed since we celebrated 

the joyful feast of the Nativity of the Lord.” 

Forty days ago, many of us were gathered at table with family and friends, raising a toast, enjoying delicious treats, tearing into gifts, singing carols and enjoying twinkling lights… all because of the Child born, who has come to “meet his believing people” (Blessing of Candles Prayer) 

How have the past 40 days been for you and yours? How have the days unfolded? Has the light of Christmas continued to penetrate your days and living? Has the Christ Child awakened you to new truths, new roads to walk and new hopes? Have you taken the time to hold the Christ Child and give praise to God?

These are the questions which I am sitting with at this Feast. The past 40 days have been full of rich blessings and yet a longing. The days have unfolded with moments which have caused great pondering and other moments which have lifted up my heart in praise. 

I have considered the signs that God is at work in my journey and they are closely linked to the light penetrating my days. The light of Christmas has indeed penetrated my days for I believe the light of Christ always has a way of entering into our daily living. It is simple moments in life where I most see the light: a quote from a saint, a note from my mother, a hug from an Aunt or 2 or 3, a message from a friend, a niece sharing a story, a nephew beating to his own little drum, gathered at table with dear friends, a Brother who always stays calm, an insight gained through listening to my Grandparents, the joy of a wedding, the listening in heartache, the longings which surface in prayer. 

The light of Christmas born into my heart continues to penetrate my living and I am working at being aware of it and how amazing it is. So yes, the Christ Child has awakened me to new truths and roads and hopes. He always seems to do this, and he always will – it is the gift of his Spirit dwelling within us; the promise of God entering into our muck and mess, our delights and dancing. 

These truths, roads and hopes which I hold in my heart are calling me to be aware and to make decisions for life, so that at end of my days with Simeon, I too may declare: “My eyes have seen your salvation, a light for revelation… now… dismiss your servant in peace” (Luke 2. 29-32). With the Prophet Anna I too am filled with praise for God, for I know God fulfills my longings in ways I will never understand and that God entrusts me to hold his Son. It does not stop with holding the Child, for Christ the fulfillment of love walks with me in this journey and ensures that his Spirit breaths in and through me each day. My eyes are opened, my heart is ready, my soul thirsts and is filled up.

I share with you my own encounter with these questions not as a “let’s see how a Friar thinks moment” but rather to invite you to spend time with them yourself. I find that this Feast is a bit of turning point, we walk forth from the crib and the joy of the Incarnation now into the growing in strength, wisdom and favor of God as the faith journey of 2020 continues. 

This feast reminds us that we are bearers of light 

and that we carry the Light within us. 

Why does that amaze us so much? 

Why does it amaze us that the One who is Love 

would entrust us to be bearers of Light? 

Let us be amazed and let us carry this light with the dignity and designation which is ours. May the Light of the World continue to brighten our paths and give sight to our longings. May praise be ever on our lips in all the moments of the journey.

Luke 2. 22-40

Designated as Holy

we the people of God

for the Holy Spirit rests on us.

Guided by the Spirit

our eyes have seen salvation

light has been revealed for all.

Amazed with truths

our inner thoughts are revealed 

piercing our darkness and living.

We praise God

worshiping and praying

growing in strength and wisdom.

The favour of God 

upon Christ then and now

is upon each of us. 

Let us go forth

the holy ones of the Lord

guided by the Spirit.

Son of God

The gospel for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time this year ends with the testimony from John the Baptist, “This is the Son of God” (John 1.29-34).

The Son of God is a high title for Jesus and has much theological history to it. It has roots in the Old Testament and it is connected to the baptism of Jesus. The voice from heaven declaring, “this is my Son, the Beloved” (Matthew 3.17) gives roots to this title for Jesus. Son of God is not just a theological point in the life of Jesus, it is way for us to see in him our journey and desires to be children of God.

This week as I read and reflected on the gospel those three words just stood out for me. Son of God. They echoed in my ears and have been reflection in my eyes. The Son of God – Jesus – where do I hear his voice, where do I see him in my daily living, who is he to me and for me?

Son of God – 
our brother, our savior, our way
present in our living, in our prayers, in our hearts
gift given, freedom, depth of relationship.

Son of God,
you are always so near to me,
you are here with me,
you are one of us,
drawing all people and creation 
into the love which you know and offer,
you are a reflection of God;
making God known to me and all people.

Son of God,
you knowing my journey
seeing my ups and downs
and being present in them.

You are gift,
you are life,
you with us…
thank you raises up in each breath.

I desire to dwell in you and with you.
I desire to know you more 
and to celebrate you 
and your love present.

I desire that my life 
be a reflection of all you are:
Beloved,
Son of God,
you here with me.

Living as Beloved

Living as Beloved. Ultimately is this not what as Christians are striving for, to live as the beloved? “Here is my son, the beloved” which was testified by God at the baptism of Jesus is said of each of us at our baptism as well.

As I ponder that, I must ask myself if it is only at my baptism that I claim my belovedness and live as a beloved Child of God? Should it not be each day of my life? In my daily living and being, my life is ultimately a reflection of how I embrace being beloved. It causes me pause as I reflect on my ways, words, thoughts and deeds. Am I reflecting Christ? Am I carrying the gift of him born; the gift of Christmas with me into every day living? Am I fulfilling my baptismal promises of priest, prophet and king?

These questions awaken me to what living as beloved is all about. Living as beloved is about transformation. Opening myself up to the life of Christ and surrendering my all into Him who entered this world and lived in it. Transformation can feel scary, it can seem unattainable and even abstract. Yet realistically transformation begins with our first breaths and in baptism and continues through each stage of life. Transformation leads us closer to Christ, deeper into God’s love and free to surrender into the Holy Spirit’s life-giving breath.

Why do we fear transformation so much? I think it is because we build upon scary, unattainable and abstract instead of the hope, realistic and concrete gift that transformation is for the journey. We build on the scary part when we allow our fears, judgments and others perspectives to taint our being beloved. Transformation can feel unattainable when we leave it simply as broken resolutions, empty promises and fledgling vows. Transformation is only abstract when we create illusions of who we are as beloved instead of leaning into the gift and discovering the graces which come with it.

Christmas is the reminder of how our lives were transformed by and in love. God came among us and decided to stay among us. Christmas is at the root of our being beloved. It is God affirming how much God loves the world and us and how we are called to life in this love. Now as the Christmas Season fades away and the mid-point of month one of 2020 draws near this transforming love must once again settle into our bones and lives. Not just in nice words, quick hopes and fancy wishes, but in how we embrace the gift of being beloved, how we help others encounter this gift and how we allow the Beloved One to dwell in our hearts.

I know that for myself embracing the transforming gift of being God’s child is only possible by consciously choosing to see it each day. I can easily get caught up in the: “Me, I’m not beloved” cycle of self loathing, empty promises and failed attempts. When I do this, I am allowing fear to take hold, not God’s heart. Transformation; embracing being beloved is a daily choice and daily gift. I am rediscovering this as I have been settling into new ministry and surroundings over the past few months. I so often want it to be instant and lasting forever. Transformation doesn’t work this way, it is ongoing, it is piece by piece, it is allowing being beloved to penetrate not only my head and ideas but more so my hear, my actions and every cell of my body.

Claiming this belovedness is realizing what St. Irenaeus of Lyon said: “Jesus became what we are that he might make us what he is.” And what Jesus is, is the Beloved One. Which means, yes, we are too! We are divinized (made beloved/holy) and become like God because God first loved us is another way of saying it. This calls us to transforming love, which the letter of John reminds us, “we love because he first loved us” (1 John 4.19)

 Love is in our very DNA.

Love is transformational,

Love is the gift of baptism and each breath we take

because it awakens us to the truth:

“Here is my child, you are my beloved.”

How can we deny ourselves this gift?

I know it doesn’t make sense to do so, rather I am striving to embrace it more each day.

“By the power of your birth (and baptism), 

make us new persons, O Lord.”

- Morning Prayer Friday after Epiphany

Epiphany: New Year and New Roads

The gospel for Epiphany (Matthew 2.1-12) ends with, 
“They (Wise Men) left for their own country by another road.” 

This line has echoed in my thoughts as 2020 begins. A new year has dawned and for many of us what was yesterday is the same today and will be the same tomorrow. However, if we take our cues from the wise men then we know that even in our “own country” or homeland we must take another road. Taking another road need not be major changes to life. I suggest it is simply the invitation to review where we have come from and what we must do in the journey ahead. Many of us will not go to a different a country or even face significant changes in this new year, but how will let the light shine which has been entrusted to us? How will we will live in the light that dawned in our lives? What little paths must we take in this year?

I have always been fascinated by the Wise Men and their trust in following a star. Trusting that they would be guided through valleys low and mountains high to their destination. Their destination being the Light of the World – God-Hero; Wonderful Counselor; the Prince of Peace. This small child who would illumine their lives and cause them to present their humble gifts but also awaken them to trust the message of their dream to return home by another road. This small child who they would only encounter as a helpless infant in a manger bed clearly awakened them to more.

As I gaze up at the vast night sky and as I am reassured by the twinkling of Christmas lights on the winter horizon, I have to ask myself:

How do I trust that the Light of the World is illumining my paths in this new year?
How do I present my gifts? 
        Do I present them or do I hoard them?
How do I listen to the dreams God presents to me? 
       Are they hints and visions for renewed living in my “own country”? 
       Are they “another road” for the journey of 2020?

These are the questions which are swirling around and through me as 2020 begins. I am happy to have faithful companions like the Wise Men to remind me of the journey. With insights from their journey I too, in each month of this journey we call 2020, will present my gifts to the Christ Child and pay him homage with my life. With insights from the journey which has been my own, with the hopes and dreams which I carry and with promises of a new year unfolding, I too will arise and shine for my light has come (Isaiah 60.1) and give praise to God for what has been and what will be.

God of wonders - 
God of new beginnings - 
God of the stars and the sun,

As this new year unfolds
awaken me to new paths
to walk in the familiar grounds
of “my own country”.

As the Wise Men of old
followed a star
with trust and focus
and fell down in 
wonder and awe before
your son – the Christ Child
may I too trust in your ways,
and be filled with wonder and awe
in all that will unfold in the year ahead.

God of vision –
God of newness – 
God of life,

2020 vision is about clarity and sharpness
may I seek the clarity which you give,
may I strive for the sharpness of sight
which reveals you in my everyday living
in each moment of this year.

As the Wise Men of old
presented their gifts to Your Son,
I too desire to do the same
with my gifts and abilities
as I encounter you in
my brothers and sisters
and all of creation.

God of light – 
God of love – 
God of all,

Your love is the light for my path,
your love is the light which illumines my darkness,
drawing me closer to you and 
guiding me in ways which are everlasting.

As the Wise Men of old
were overwhelmed with joy
may I too be aware of the joys in life
as I lift up my eyes to see your glory
and give praise for the birth of your Son
in my life each day.

Amen.

Happy Epiphany!

“Go before us with heavenly light, 

O Lord, always and everywhere.” 

- Epiphany Prayer After Communion

Happy New Year! 

Let us walk in the light in 2020 

and bring light to others all the days of 2020!