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.

Being Fulfilled

Near the beginning of the gospel of Luke just as Jesus begins his ministry, Luke has Jesus in the temple in his hometown of Nazareth (Luke 4:14-21). Jesus is going to church on the Sabbath like a good Jewish boy (adult). It is here that he reads from the prophet Isaiah and really lays out his mission. He declares this as his purpose, uses it as his mission statement, says this is what I’m passionate about and how I will live.

He declared:

 ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’

(Isaiah 61.1-2)

Now that is quite that statement. That is a very clear way of expressing God’s love and mercy and God’s desire to dwell among us. Jesus would live this out with every ounce of his fiber and soul. He would give his all to make known good news; bring dignity to the poor; show forth God’s abundant freedom; unbind those chained down because of stigma, situation or oppression; he would share God’s loving touch through healings; those who had trapped themselves lies, sins or had allowed society to dismiss he would give them a fresh start and his whole life would usher in God’s favor of a lifetime that would see each year as a year of favor.

Too often we leave this mission statement – this life mission of Jesus with him  some 2000 years ago. However, Jesus continues to live out this mission statement still today and invites us his followers to make this our mission statement as well. I know each time I read this piece of scripture I feel pulled up next to Christ and renew my living as a follower. I am reminded to make known the truth in this rallying call; this way of life. The only reason why this can be is because I know how Jesus has infused my life because I trust that his Spirit is upon me; the way his Spirit is upon each of us.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me – guiding me in my ‘yes’ of daily living rooted in Christ; calling me to be a vessel – a container which allows his Spirit to live and move and be; opening me up to go deeper, to trust, to be renewed and strengthened so as to live out my baptismal promises.

Anointed me to bring good news to the poor – in my poverty, in my needs, in my total dependence on God I am cracked open to share how this Good News continually awakens me to freedom in Christ and the fullness of life. My poverty is not about lacking things, my poverty is about surrendering to God for God’s will to be done in my life so I can give my all.

Proclaim release to the captives – when pondering my life, I see how many times I have been held captive by false dreams, lies, worldly promises and empty desires. When I let these go, I am truly set free as I am not held captive by the creating of false expectations rather I released into God and the chains fall off.

Recovery of sight to the blind – blinded by the illusions and lures of the world has at times left me lost and spiraling downward instead of being wrapped up in light. It is in connecting with Christ on a daily basis that I see with new eyes. The scales fall from my eyes and I see truth, faith, hope and love. It is amazing how the words of another can break through the blindness we often live our lives by.

Let the oppressed go free – I have not known oppression like some of our brothers and sisters have around the world but I have worked myself into the oppression of my own harsh criticism and stripped myself (and sadly at times others) the true dignity which is mine and theirs. I am learning that it is only in surrendering to God that the burden of oppression can be lifted and the dance of freedom can begin.

Proclaim a year of the Lord’s favor – the gift of life. God delighting in creation, in the gifts of his children and the lifetime of being favored. Last year, this year, each year is a year of the Lord’s favor because our God dwells with us.

I am in awe once again as Jesus hands me the scroll and says to me, “read this… because you live in me and I in you… together we are fulfilling these truths.”

I read it… I let the words sink in a more… I squirm a bit when I see my short comings… yet I look up and look into the compassionate eyes of Christ and I am reassured… I know I can’t do this on my own, it depend upon you my brothers and sisters on the journey and I continue to surrender to God, walk in tune with Christ and invite the Holy Spirit to dwell in me.

How passionate are you about your life? Your living? Your being in Christ?

Can you identify where the Spirit has been and continues to be upon you?

Can you hear the good news in your life and realize where you share it your daily living?

Can you see where you have been released from your burdens and how you have brought Christ to those who are held captive?

Can you recall those moments when you have seen with fresh eyes and have encountered the eyes of Christ?

Can you rejoice in the freedom that comes in letting go into God and the freedom to surrender your all to God?

Can you proclaim this year, this week, this day as a year of favor because God delights over you and rejoices over you as a gift and as one of his children?

These are the questions I ask myself and hope sets in for, yes, the Lord’s words are indeed spirit and life (Psalm 19).  May they penetrate this day and each of the days ahead.

Can you also read the scroll with me?

The Wedding Feast of Cana

Family and friends gathered around

The newly weds now as one bound.

Rejoicing, celebrating no need to be down

Looking back, looking ahead with love found.

Enjoying the music, the laughter, the feast

Delicious goods for there was enough yeast

Toasts are made as glass fill did increase

Now it seems the wine has become the least.

Mother Mary does not want to see shame

She knows the sting of fingers pointing in blame

She knows her son’s call and why he came

Beginning here, ensuring this wedding is not lame.

“Son, they need you, please give them a hand!”

“Not now, not here, this is not what is planned!”

“Do what he tells you!” she says with gentle demand.

He says “Fill these here vessels made from the land.”

The jugs were filled to very tip top

Being sure not to waste one water drop.

“Give taste to the one in charge, so there is no stop!”

Oh, the steward’s eyes they did indeed pop.

This wine beyond taste, the very best

More was served to every guest

The bride and groom relieved and blessed

Not even this could God’s generosity test.

I wonder if we can with new eyes see

The message here for you and for me?

Jesus came to show God’s mercy degree

To live as servant, to let God’s love be.

A miracle, yes, it’s true they saw,

A fulfilling of Christ’s heavenly call

A reminder our wintery hearts must thaw

Love is for each, for one and for all.

God’s love is generous and always flowing

Good wine is one way of this we are knowing.

Are we generous with how our love is showing?

We must be as we share in the kingdom growing!

Based on John 2.1-12

Beloved = Us

A voice came from heaven,

“You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

All three of the synoptic gospels speak of the baptism of Jesus, and all three of them have the above noted line in some form. The word beloved has never been my favorite word. I think mostly that comes from it being over used in funeral cards and at funerals, so each time I hear the word beloved I think of an obituary and those nice little cards we are handed when we attend a funeral. However, this week the word beloved stood out for me as I read and contemplated the baptism of Jesus. 

(Luke 3.15-16, 21-22)

Beloved 

– dearly loved, dearest, precious, adored, much loved, cherished

The definition of beloved indeed means it is an excellent choice of word when we our honouring a deceased loved one. However, it is also an excellent choice of word for each us to live with in our everyday. For just as in the baptism of Jesus God declares, “He is my beloved” so God does in our baptism. We are God’s beloved children - beloved daughters and sons - members of the God’s great and diverse family.

I am now learning to move beyond the looking back perspective of beloved (funeral) and learning to embrace it in my everyday. Not just when we reflect back on the life lived is the word beloved necessary, it is necessary today. In a world were human value and dignity does not seem to be valued claiming our belovedness only opens our hearts more and more to God’s pure delight over us.

Just as at the baptism of Jesus the voice from heaven says to him “with you I am well pleased,” so it is true for each of us. No matter who we are, where we have been, how good or bad, how rich or poor, how broken or put together we are God is well pleased with us. With you, with me, with our neighbours, with all of creation because God is love (1 John 4). God knows the depths of love within God’s self and within each of us. God knows our yearnings and desires for love; this is what means to be God’s beloved. God is well pleased because God has created us out of an overflowing, life-giving, endless, deep-goodness love. The love between God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit is so rich it overflows into us and all creation; it creates, re-creates, sustains and claims us again and again as PLEASING, as GOOD, as WORTHY and as BELOVED. This may be hard to see in our world today as it feels like it is just one sad story after another, or one agony more or one form of destruction greater, but no matter how bleak it may seem or look or how much we who are created out of love fail to share that love, God DOES NOT. God’s love is endless, forever, with us now, raising us up, and delights in the beauty that defines us at our core… God’s beloved.

This week as I have been pondering the gift of being beloved, I have been working at my desk and as I look up a photo has caught my eye several times. I have now entitled this photo “Beloved” for it was looking at this photo that the word beloved came alive for me and I saw God in pure delight, rejoicing over each one of us and celebrating the depth of love that is pleasing and good. I hope that you too can see God and yourself in the photo. Regardless of who is in this photo it speaks to me about God’s tenderness, closeness and how we are God’s beloved cradled in love and hope. We are indeed pleasing and a delight for God and God desires nothing more than for us to be held close to God’s heart.

As this week unfolds may reminders of how each one of us are beloved penetrate our days, our prayers and our relationships. I leave you with a thought I shared this past week with a classmate of mine who was having a tough week. These words poured out of me as a prayer for her and they seemed to come from the heart of God not only for my classmate but also for me and for everyone.

You are created good.

You are worthy.

You have amazing gifts.

You are loved.

You are God’s Beloved.

Light to fill you and burst through your beautiful cracks.

Peace to be at your core.

God’s love whispered in your quiet prayer and daily living.

Amen.

This is Epiphany

It is a star and a jealous ruler we have to consider (maybe even thank) for the gift of the Christ Child being manifested for all nations, peoples and creation.

First a brief word on our kin – the shepherds. The lowly shepherds did their part and listened to the message of the angel. They went and saw with great delight the Child in the manger and responded to this message of Good News for the despised, the lowly, the poor, and for themselves. Their message was cause for pondering and holding in their hearts and also in the heart of Mary. Their response to the message may even feel familial one that we too can share and respond to with joy, prayer and praise. Christ the Lord is born for us. The shepherds indeed did their part and help us to find our way to the crib of Christ joyfully and in awe so we can continue to bear witness to the Good News.

Now we turn to the star (Matthew 2.1-12). It is the star – one of the jewels of creation – that danced in delight at the Birth of Christ. The star had a message too – shining its light upon the Light of the World. In a sense bowing down before and reflecting the One present at creation; delighting in the goodness of God that can never be contained. 

The star went ahead of the magi serving as a reminder that God is always present where we are at and where we will be. The star is a sign of God’s guiding ways. When darkness seems to be all around still there is always a glimmer of light that dances and rejoices for it knows that no darkness can consume the Light of lights. Even when sorrow consumes our days or trials and trails seem too great ahead of us there is a light that reminds us God is with us – “I am here until the end of the ages.”

Then there is dear poor Herod; not necessarily one of the good guys. As a jealous ruler he focused on his greed, his wants and was full of selfishness yet he pointed to Christ without knowing it. Do we owe him just a hint of gratitude? acknowledgement? kindness? For his invite to the magi, “Go and search diligently for the Child,” although not sincere was further encouragement for the magi to seek for truth, beauty and God’s goodness (which they knew they were not encountering in Herod). It was this invite to “go and search” which now prompted the magi to the manger and prompts us as well to join the magi in going and searching for the Babe in the manger; the One who has come to us so we may come to God. 

We go and search and we are in awe when we discover God among us in the cattle sheds, stables, barns, and caves of our everyday lives. We are in awe that Christ dwells there and comes to us – gently and simply. We are stopped in our tracks, sometimes in amazement and at other times in need of healing and forgiveness. We come before the Prince of Peace, Mighty God, Wonderful Counselor, our Emmanuel, the Christ Child and we offer him our gifts – who we are, what we do, where we go, our skills, talents and abilities. We bring the gift of who we are to One who is pure gift and gifts us with love, peace, hope and joy. We offer all we can, all we hope to be and do and then with light in our eyes, good news in our hearts and willingness in our steps we return to life in a different way; transformed and renewed. We now go ahead filled with light and astounded by God’s love as we offer our gifts to the world in which we live. 

We must indeed arise and shine for our light has come. (Isaiah 60.1)

Ahead of me,

you are already there O God.

In my going and searching,

you travel with me O God.

When overwhelmed both in grief and joy,

you are ever present O God.

As I offer my gifts both great and small,

you accept and transform them O God.

This is Epiphany.

Many Blessings of peace and all good for 2019.