Choose life

Behold I set before you the blessing and the curse...  Deuteronomy  11:26

Choose life!  What does that mean for one who desires to spend this season of Lent aspiring to wholeness and holiness.   Perhaps some time of prayer and silence can lead us to a deeper appreciation and determination to remove from our live, our hearts, our schedules, our list of things to do... to embrace only those things that will give us  life.   I am going to make this choice... when asked to do something, I will choose to pause, ask for time to pray about it, and embrace only those things where I will experiencelife, not death---feelings of have to, guilt, responsbility I will discard.  Now I know some things that we think are death turn out to be very lifegiving. Anywhat, I choose life!

What about you?  Is there something in your life that you need to do to choose life?  Lent is not something we do for ourselves alone, was the message of my Ash Wednesday homily.   Let's do it together--- choose life! 

How to remain faithful

The journey of Lent 2012 begins today with Ash Wednesday.  Much to ponder about how to get to Easter fully resurrected with Christ.  The Paschal Mystery is necessary.  I invite you to reflect with me on this holy season of Lent by praying with this poem by Lynn Ungar.

What will you give up for the season

to help life along

in its curious reversals?

As if we had a choice.
As if the world constantly shedding us
like the feathers off a duck's back--
the ground is always littered with our longings.

You can't help but wonder
about all the heroes, the lives sacrified
in the compulsion toward the good.

All those who dropped themselves

upon the earth's hard surface--

Weren't they caught in pure astonishment

in the breath before they shattered?

Forget sacrifice.
Nothing is tied so firmly that the wind

won't tear it from us at last.

The question is how to remain faithful
to all the impossible,

necessary resurrections.

-Lynn Ungar

Astonishment better than information

"Overexplanation separates us from astonishment."  - Eugene Ionesco

Have you ever had the experience of being asked a question and found yourself expounding and suddenly realize that the answer is really discover in the person's own inner experience?   I think we need less people with answers and more people with the skill of leading others to transformation and astonishment!  You know many words are just that-- intellectual words or coziness.  D. H. Lawrence, a British-American author, once said that "the world fears a new experience more than anything because a new expeience displaces so many old experiences."  Ideas are not a problem, they are easily discounted and dodged. But a true inner experience is something else.  It changes us and far be it from me to delight or welcome change!  Astonishment is an invitatin to see with new eyes.  May I suggest that you use less words today and be open to moments of astonishment! 

Make a good choice today!

Being chosen by God seems attractive, but God’s choice is less entitlement to special favors and more being selected for a commission—given a job to do. God does not usually choose as we might. We find God picking, for example, David, the runt of the litter; Mary, an unknown girl from Nazareth;  you and me, stubbling weak sinners.. This day try to be aware of how you make choices: how you will treat a troublesome co-worker or that driver who is tailgating or how gentle, helpful, hurtful or honest you will be. Like God, who chose you to be one in Christ, make decisions based on what is inside the other—and who dwells within you. Choose Christ and be get free!  May you have a blessed day and be a blessing for another!

In gratitude for SISTERS and BROTHERS

WORLD DAY FOR CONSECRATED LIFE
The Church established a special day to recognize the gift of consecrated life to our world. We pray for and give thanks to the men and women who publicly profess to live the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Monks, hermits, contemplatives, and religious priests, sisters, and brothers represent the diversity of consecrated life recognized by the church. Those who choose this life are committed to imitating Christ, engaging in his ministries of spreading the Good News, and showing that “the world can be transfigured with the spirit of the beatitudes” (Catechism 932). Their witness reminds all of us that our lives have purpose and meaning beyond this age, their lives also draw attention to how we live our present days wisely.

Take the time to recall a person who witnessed consecrated life in your journey of faith and drop them a written note of gratitude for their witness! 




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Remain in harmony, united together....

Yesterday, forty-seven Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph gathered at the Immaculate Parish in Owensboro to pray with the faith community for vocations to consecrated life.  The prayer of adoration from noon to five in the evening was a welcome space in my heart to savor time before the Blessed Sacrament.    The time concluded with beautiful, sacred vespers with the faith community of the Immaculate Parish. We, the Ursuline Sisters were asked to lead part of the vesper prayer with the singing  of the Magnificat. 

Following the prayer time, the parish had prepared a delicious feast with a menu that would make you salivate, a delightful and scrumptious feast!  A wonderful part of the evening was being appreciated as expressed so sincerely by one of the parishioners who served us.  She said, "Sister Lois Lindle was my first grade teacher and I adored her!  I truly adored her!"  We love and adore you too Lois!  

As we concluded we parted pausing to recall the words of our founder, Saint Angela Merici. "Remain in harmony, united together, all of one heart and one will...See, then, how important is this union and concord; so, long or it, pursue it, embrace it, hold on to it with all your might..." 

Make time for wonder

“Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; give us an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; give us an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God, understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
― Thomas Aquinas

Today in the church we honor the patron of schools, colleges, and students. I have always been inspired and fascinated by Aquinas. Following his example I recognize that it is so important to read,  pray, study and learn and never give in to the fear of asking questions.

Still another favorite quote for me from Aquinas, " Wonder is the desire of knowledge."  Feed your wonder today and everyday!