Assisi: Delighting in God

It has been a month since my pilgrimage and retreat in Assisi came to a close. I continue to reflect on those days: the gifts which came with the time away, the insights that awakened me to goodness and the ponderings which continue to stir my heart.

As we see the bounty of the earth unfolding this summer time, as we take in grand views from summer car rides, as we gather with neighbours and friends and families may we be reminded of our God with us.

I offer to you this reflection which I wrote one morning looking over Assisi and the Rieti Valley. I tried to capture the closeness of our God in this simple moment. May it remind you of how close our God is to us, in both the grand and simplest of moments.

Bells chime their tune, 

the breeze gently swirls

the sun is rising, 

the day is beginning.

My heart declares: 

I delight in you, O God,

and God you delight in me.

You gaze at me.

I gaze at you.

Love beyond telling.

Love never fully captured.

Goodness and mercy shall follow me.

Goodness and mercy are your gifts.

My God and My All

I live and move and breath in You.

Birds sing their song, 

the breeze gently settles

the sun is setting, 

the day is ending.

My heart declares:

I delight in you, O God,

and God you delight in me.

Continued Summer Blessings.

What are your moments of delighting God

and God delighting in you?

Yearning: Assisi Pilgrimage

Pilgrimage – a journey, especially a long one, made to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion; a journey of spiritual significance.

This being the definition of pilgrimage does capture in words what the past month was for me and yet only scratches the surface of the gift of my pilgrimage to Assisi. The journey was indeed a long one and within the long journey there were even more journeys that were long to locations but also into the depths of my heart and with my companions. The journey by plane, by bus, by car, by foot always brought me into an encounter with God, others and parts of myself that were yearning and still continue to yearn.

A friend of mine asked: “If this pilgrimage was a chapter in a book, what would it be called?” I laughed and said, “it can’t just be a chapter, it is probably a whole book, regardless I would call it “Yearning” as that seems to best describe the journey.” “Yearning? But wasn’t the pilgrimage to quench this yearning?” he asked in return. “Yes,” I replied, “but it opened me up to desires and awareness that can only be described as yearning.” 

In the journey, in the sacred encounters, in the moments of prayer and seeking, the heart is opened even more and is exposed to grace, mercy, newness, hopes and even reality. This is why “Yearning” would be the title I give my pilgrimage experience. In all I encountered in the sacred, the ordinary, the funny, the mundane, the special, the personal and the shared my heart drew in the riches of these moments and expanded. The yearning is not about this pilgrimage not being fulfilling rather it is about what it did to me and my heart and now how I will live. 

Now, how will I live in the encounters with God, with others, with creation? 

Now, how will my vows be lived out in new ways 

- in greater truth; in realities made known; in deeper joy? 

Now, how will I walk with St. Francis and St. Clare 

– knowing I have touched the ground they touched; 

breathed the air they breathed; saw the valley they saw? 

Now, how will I be Brother? 

The answer for me comes in the yearning; this desire to keep my heart open, allow it grow and to continually beat in tune with Christ and allow grace to touch the journey - this pilgrimage of life - in new ways and sustaining ways.

My Assisi pilgrimage was life-giving, challenging, gift and beautiful. For these blessings and for the amazing brothers I journeyed with, the delicious food that sustained us, the holy places we encounter (even a gelato shop can be holy) and the opportunity to draw close to St. Francis and St. Clare I give thanks to God.

Brother Assisi

paths lead to you 

for so many of us  

who are brothers of Francis.

We have walked your streets

drank in your beauty

delighted in your goodness

discovered gifts and treasures.

We have pondered your peace

where Francis encountered Christ

where the gospel stirred new life

where fraternity grew stronger.

We have celebrated your connections

where Sister Clare joined fraternity

where the Brothers told the story

where places honor your legacy.

Brother Assisi

paths lead from you

leading us in new ways

as brothers to the world. 

Fast Facts:
Pilgrimage and Retreat: 25 days

Number of Friars on Pilgrimage: 13
from India, Australia, Mexico, United States, Canada
4 OFM Friars, 2 OFM Conventual and 7 OFM Capuchins 
(amazing group of brothers – I’m still in awe that this was our group)

Number of Friars as Guides: 4
Days spent in Rome and area: 4
Days spent in Greccio and area: 3
Days spent in Assisi and area: 10
Days spent in Rivo Torto: 8

In upcoming blogs, I will share further reflections, prayers and more photos of the pilgrimage.

I humbly ask for your continued prayers for the Friars of this pilgrimage, as many of us are preparing to celebrate our Solemn Vows (beginning next weekend for 3) and then moving into new ministries.

Continued blessings on your summer journey.

St. Francis and St. Clare pray for us.

Saturated with the Holy Spirit

I recently heard a Friar use the phrase “saturated with the Holy Spirit.” 
Is that not a beautiful image and thought? 
To be completely consumed and filled by the Holy Spirit; 
wrapped up in the Trinitarian Love of our God. 

To be saturated with the Holy Spirit means we must be vessels open to the will of God and seeking the freedom of being God’s children (Romans 8.15-16). To be saturated with the Holy Spirit awakens us to God at work in our lives and the lives of those around us. To be saturated with the Holy Spirit means that we are open to new works, new beginnings and being made into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5.17). To be saturated with the Holy Spirit means we seek ways of peace, healing and hope to shape our lives. To be saturated with the Holy Spirit means we utilize the gifts of wisdom, understanding, right judgement, knowledge, reverence, courage and wonder and awe. To be saturated with the Holy Spirit means we live out our baptismal call of being priest, prophet and king; building the kingdom here and now for we are “led by the Spirit” as “children of God” (Romans 8.14).

As Pentecost draws near, I believe for a few reasons, I have been letting this saturation idea sit within and around me. The first reason is that Pentecost awakens us to the gift of the Spirit at work in each one of us – yes, each one of us – not just a select few. The idea of us embracing this saturation leads me to hopefulness for it means we are in tune with the love of our God and the reality it calls us to, not the false reality our world tries to have us claim. When we allow this saturation to happen, we dream new dreams and truly embrace who we are: the beloved of God. May we be open to being saturated with the Holy Spirit. (I believe it may be a simple start to pray: Come Holy Spirit and fill my life.)

The second reason is that Pentecost is the Feast Day for the Province of Franciscan Friars I belong to. In fact, this Pentecost is our first in celebrating it as our Feast Day; being the newly founded Holy Spirit Province as of this past October. It is a time for us to celebrate the union of the two Canadian Franciscan Provinces into one. It is time for us to be renewed in our ministry, our spiritual life and our presence in Canada. It is a time for us to embrace the challenge of being Friars who live the way of Gospel going where the Holy Spirit is calling us and leading us. It is a time for us to listen to how the Holy Spirit is awakening us to new ways. This is the work of being saturated with the Holy Spirit.

The third reason is that this Pentecost I will be on pilgrimage and retreat for my Solemn Vows. I will be with 11 other Friars from North America and our guides for three and half weeks on pilgrimage in Italy. Walking where St. Francis walk, seeing where the Franciscan Order came to birth, encountering holy sites which shaped St. Francis and his brothers, encountering the sacred peace of Assisi and the bond which St. Francis had with St. Clare and the many who profess to follow Gospel living will fill our days. This pilgrimage is indeed the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and like St. Francis would say, who is our true guide (minister). This Pentecost we will indeed be saturated with the Holy Spirit.

The fourth reason is that Pentecost is about birth and new beginnings and that is truly where I am at. One part of my journey is coming to a close as new paths are made known as my Solemn Vows are drawing near. The day that profess these vows I am professing to live my life within the Franciscan order and will indeed be a day of birth and new beginnings. It will also mark the beginning of being missioned to Retreat Ministry. I will be ministering with my brothers and our retreat team to share the good news of the Gospel for all who seek a place of peace, prayer, healing and an encounter with God. It is time for packing up and beginning again; it is a time for new horizons and encounters; it is indeed a time of being saturated with the Holy Spirit so I may continue to be a living and holy icon and tabernacle for Christ walking with St. Francis.

So as Pentecost draws near, and final items are placed in my backpacks I pray:

Come Holy Spirit,

Come and dwell within me,

Open me up to the depth of your love,

Saturate me with all that you are

For you my God are my all

And in you I live and move and have my being.

This will be my last post until well into summer time. I am taking the pilgrimage time for prayer, encounter and rest. Thank you for journeying with me through this blog. I humbly ask your prayers for the Franciscans in Canada and for the 12 of us and our guides who are on pilgrimage and for those who are preparing to make Solemn Vows. 

Peace and all Good.

Blessings for a Holy Spirit saturated summer!

May God bless and keep you.

Peace of Christ

The last few weeks have been very full and full of much goodness. Within this fullness there has been demands, pressures and my own expectations not to mention the responsibilities and gift of fraternity. In all of this fullness I have been pondering the unfolding journey and I have been reminded about the gift of peace our Risen Lord offers. The following two prayers come from reflecting on the gift of this peace. May we remember that it always offered to us.

Peace:

always from You

sitting with You

penetrating my core.

Peace:

a gift for me

an awareness of Your spirit

strengthening me.

Peace:

released into freedom

greater than this world

aligning my living in You.

“Peace I leave you. My peace I give you.” (John 14.23-29)

Christ Jesus,

You know I have days of

chaos, uncertainty and frustrations

and you are in these moments with me.

The gift of your peace is wrapped up in your love

poured forth from your heart into my own heart.

Your peace is what produces joy

and walks hand in hand with hope which leads me to life.

For the gift of your peace I give you praise.

Amen.

Lord you call me to be a

vessel of life

vessel of joy

vessel of peace.

You are my strength and my all.

Lord you call me to be a

path to life

path to justice

path to fraternity.

You are my strength and my all.

Lord you call me to

open my heart

open my hands

open my soul.

You are my strength and my all.

Lord you call me

to be one with you

to trust in your way

to let your light penetrate my all.

You are my strength and my all.

To Live in Love

The gospel for this Sunday is Jesus giving us the greatest of commandments: “Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples.” (John 13.34-35) As a Friar about to make his Solemn Vows this speaks to the life I am vowing to live. When St. Francis left his previous life and began his new life of penance it was because he desired to be drawn into Christ. Being drawn into Christ means one must live the gospel and to do this one must love. This is where I am at as I ponder what has been and what is to be.

I have always been in awe of how St. Francis gave up everything and trusted that God was at work in him. His love for the gospel and how it called him to live is the challenge that I (and all Friars and really all Christians) must embrace today. To give up everything and live the gospel means that one is truly living this commandment which Christ gave during that Last Supper. To love another takes a deep trust in God, for we must see that God is present in the other and all of creation. We must let go of our judgments and expectations and simply see them. This is what was awakened in St. Francis and stirred him not to hold on to this life but rather to be consumed with the life of love which is the life of God. As I look ahead and finalize details about vows, pilgrimage, packing and moving I am called back to the commandment of Christ and the witness of St. Francis which calls me to glorify God with my life. Love as challenging as it is, must be present in the simplest of actions as well as the grandest. Love one another so that everyone will know that we are his disciples means I must be aware of my living, my letting go and the way I love.

Over the last ten days I have seen the gift and power of this commandment. I have been part of a Christian-Muslim dialogue, I have led retreats for about one thousand children and have been involved in planning for the year ahead. In all of this there has been this undercurrent which is love. I could not have entered into the Christian-Muslim dialogue if I did not have love. I could not have preached about God’s love to the children if the gospel of love had not touched my heart and found a home there. I could not look ahead to new opportunities and new ministry if I was not being a disciple. I am in awe of God’s love at work always and I am grateful that the commandment of Christ is a daily reminder that my actions and words are to be that of love. I think this is what St. Francis did for he knew the freedom in this and was able to give his all. As a Franciscan I am called to this freedom as I strive to be a brother to all living a universal fraternity, I can only do this if I follow the commandment to love. How about you? How are you called to live the commandment to love?

Hear & Know

This Sunday many people will celebrate their mom and the gift of motherhood. Mother’s Day is a beautiful reminder of goodness, holiness, compassion and life. Mother’s Day calls us to look at the intimacy of love and being known and seen in love. 

This Sunday (4^th Sunday of Easter) is also known as Good Shepherd Sunday. In the gospel from John (10.27-30) we hear Jesus say, “My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life.” For Jesus to declare this he had to know love, both that of God and of his mother Mary. Remember at his baptism God declared, “This is my Son, the beloved” and often in his life time he must have heard his name said in love by his mother. Jesus knew what it was like to be known and valued for who he was. It is in the power of relationship that he was able to embrace his life-giving journey and then offer his all for us to receive the maternal gift of God’s embrace known as eternal life.

In pondering the above statement of Jesus I thought, “is this not a most wonderful affirmation from him?” For it is the gift of how intimately close he is to us (like mother holds a child in her womb) always. It is the gift of hearing our name announced and being called love. It is the gift of embracing the resurrection and the life it calls us to. It is the gift of life here and now and also life in the eternal kingdom. Jesus our brother and savior calls us into the kingdom of God and gives us a place of dignity – each one of us.

We are called.

We are chosen.

We are seen.

We are known.

We have a way.

We have life.

We have freedom.

We have paradise.

We know love.

We know the Son.

We know hope.

We know burdens undone.

We are God’s children.

We are held in care.

We are given new life.

We are love to bear.

To all the mothers of the world who call our names in love, show us our dignity and remind us that we are God’s beloved – we say thank you, we love you and ask God to bless you today and always.

Litany of a Resurrection Breakfast Encounter - John 21.1-19

The resurrection occurrences in John’s Gospel are so rich. The scenes in John 21.1-19 are an example of this richness.  Here, Peter and the disciples return to fishing – something familiar, always serves as a reminder that Christ comes to us in the ordinary and familiar of our routines to make us new. The invitation of Jesus to “Come and have breakfast” simply is a delight (it is for me). This invitation by our Savior to dine with him on this side of the cross is the gift of his lasting promise and memorial. The Eucharist is the steady invitation to join him again and again and be nourished for the new paths and new realities. Then the thrice questioned Peter about his love awakens us the depth of how intimate Jesus desires to be in our lives. He does not see us by our weakness and sinfulness rather he sees us created in love with the capacity to love and make known his love as we feed his sheep. Peter and disciple’s story intersects with my story; with yours, as our reality is transformed, our invitation to dine with the Bread of Life is real and our call to love is about life here and now not just on a beach by the Sea of Tiberias.

When gathered with those we know and love

When we need our safe familiar ways

When nothing seems to happen

Risen Lord you are our all.

When questions challenge us

When old ways lead to awareness

When nothingness leads to plenty

Risen Lord you are our all.

When we recognize You in what was

When we come before You again

When the fire in our hearts are fanned

Risen Lord you are our all.

When the “catch” is abundant

When our strength is infused within us

When we accept Your invite to “come and eat”

Risen Lord you are our all.

When we recognize You in bread broken

When Your resurrection awakens our reality

When You stir the depths of our hearts

Risen Lord you are our all.

When Your love penetrates our lives

When You call us to more

When reconciliation heals our blindness

Risen Lord you are our all.

When we realize how intimately You know us

When You call us to our true selves

When You entrust us with Your love

Risen Lord you are our all.

When You lead us to the future

When we realize Your strength in us

When You again say “Follow me”

Risen Lord you are our all.

Risen Lord

The gift of Your resurrection

is the abundance of our lives.

Thank You for being present

and for constantly calling us to more

because You love us more than we realize.

Risen Lord you are our all.

Amen.