Sunday reflection

Today I went to a small church that is a sister Church of a conglomerate parish in South Scranton, my new home.  The pastor is someone I have known for years and I am grateful to be in his parish home! 
I am still reflecting on his homily and what a profound gift he gave with his words about the gospel today.  I didn't know anything about Caesarea Philippi where Jesus took his disciples after experiencing so many things that Jesus' ministry was about.  I came to learn that it had been a very lush place and the home of King Philip who followed one of the Caesars...hence the name!  Where Jesus brought the 12 was a hillside that had niches in them where people had placed idols of their various gods.  Jesus stands before the disciples, his back to the hillside, and asks, as they look at the various gods, "Who do people say that I am?" and then, more personally, "Who do YOU say that I am?" 

I sit at my window of my new room and see the mountains surrounding Scranton.  If is lush and green....no niches but -- what niches have I carved out for other gods?  ego? self-image?  material goods, obsessive looking at e-mails, texts, facebook?  engaged in a world of media and consumerism?  is it that have fed the god of importance, entitlement, greed?  What room do I have for my ONE GOD? 
I heard one man exclaim after the homily a comment about the time.....
can we not spend one hour or more a week for God?  what about one hour or more a day?  Go outside and sit in the air and sunshine!  Enjoy the rain that waters our earth!  Love the people with whom you are and listen to them whole-heartedly, with love!  Be of service to someone in need!  This is the God I know....Who is Jesus?  Who do I say that you are?
You are spending quality time with You, with myself, with others. You are love. You are friendship and family union. You are all I breathe in.  You, Jesus are the Son of the LIVING God (Fr. Mike said that today, too) ....LIVING God....not dead gods that bring us destruction and lies.  OUR LIVING, LOVING GOD.....

Take time today to give up any gods you've been worshiping.... worship the one God with smiles, warmth, hugs, a phone call, bake or create a meal, sing, dance, be Jesus for someone today!  Show that you know the LIVING God.

Who do you say I AM?  Tell Jesus what you think and feel and know.......
Have a good Sunday! 

A new time

It's hard to believe that change is good -- when you are going through it, sometimes, it is very, very difficult.  Many of us in religious life and academic life go through changes in August.....a new ministry, a new community, a new year for classes, student groups, a new residence hall or roommate, new teachers, new places, new faces.  Sometimes we are called to go far from where we have been....to travel to a different city, country, home, school.....job, etc., etc., etc.

I am going through this right now after eight years of ministry at Chestnut HIll College and twelve years of living, mostly by myself, to a new ministry, a new home, new sisters to live with and a new learning curve.  I've not gone through this stage for a long time and in the past, I was not always unhappy to leave where I was.  I am happy to say that I've cried buckets leaving my support system, my friends, my sisters, my home, my cat, the familiar, the students at CHC!  And even in the tears, I know the change is good....it has potential, it is a wonderful place to be with my sisters of IHM and being a Vocation Director.

I just moved into my new home, a new room, a new office......

What are the lessons?
Many.
1.  Gratitude -- for all that has been and all that is gift and what has been shared and gained in the years I have had happiness in CHC - in friendships - in student life - in ministry - in opportunities - in spiritual growth and learning - in wisdom, grace and age
2.  Gentility -  to be gentle with myself during these transition days and not go full force into unpacking, getting into lots of activity and stuff...... being quiet, taking time to nap, reflect, be with the memories and the real-ness of what has happened.
3.  Acknowledge feelings - the tears, the sadness, the grief of leaving a place of love and comfort.  It's good....it feels yucky but it's so good.  It's a real death and dying...it's real bereaving the losses of things, people, knowable, tangible places, etc.
4.  Allow for gladness - I am happy to be here, called by my own Congregation to do this ministry of vocation work with women who are interested in knowing what religiuos life is about and maybe discerning a lifetime with us as a vowed religious woman or maybe volunteer with us or become associated with us or.....who knows where God is calling......just to be with men and women who are serious about a spiritual life, living the Gospel or learning about prayer or faith or whatever......I am so glad!  I am glad for the opportunity to once more be close in physical distance to our "mother house"......to new friends, to old friends.  For new opportunities and experiences
5.  Prayer, always prayer - to notice, to allow God in, to be present to self, and to be aware of all that God created and is in the world for others are hurting, are in need, are in danger......and if my life is changing what are others going through in change?  God has brought me here.  God is with me always.  God's closeness will always be the glue that holds me to what
I left, what I will keep, what I will discard and what newness I will open my life toward.

Here's to new life, new change........here's to tears and joys.....
May we all be blessed and graced these days ahead!

GRATEFUL: A Love Song to the World