November 2009

 WORDS FROM ST. JULIE: 

We would always like some assurance that our undertakings are according to God’s views.  Let us turn to him in beginning our actions, then try as far as we can to preserve his holy presence, and abandon everything else to his providence.  – Amiens, November 28, 1795

WHERE ARE WE ON THE JOURNEY? 

What would a painting be without each of the individual colors that make up the whole?  So too, each individual is created by God with unique gifts and talents that enrich the Christian Community:  the Body of Christ.  As we journey through the end of this liturgical year and into Advent, the readings for November offer us an opportunity to look at our uniqueness and to experience God’s love for us in that uniqueness.  We’re called to marinate in that love, and risk responding to God’s great gift of love by ourselves loving God and neighbor. 

Take time to reflect on the following:

November 1, 2009 All Saints (Rv 7:2-4, 9-14; Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6; 1 Jn 3:1-3; and Mt 5:1-12a)

November 8, 2009 Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (1 Kgs 17:10-16; Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10;  Heb 9:24-28; and Mk 12:38-44 or 12:41-44)

November 15, 2009 Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Dn 12:1-3; Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11; Heb 10:11-14, 18; and Mk 13:24-32) 

November 22, 2009 The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King (Dn 7:13-14; Ps 93:1, 1-2, 5; Rv 1:5-8; and  Jn 18:33b-37)

November 29, 2009 The First Sunday of Advent (Jer 33:14-16; Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14; 1 Thes 3:12-4:2; and Lk 21:25-28, 34-36)

WHERE AM I ON THE JOURNEY? 

Read the passages again.  In prayer, reflect on the following questions:

1.  I pray 1 Jn 3:1-3, reflecting the love of a parent for a child, the love of God for me.   How do I experience myself as a beloved child of God?  I talk to God about what surfaces in my heart.

2.  I reflect on Mt 5:1-12a, being attentive to the words/phrases that touch my heart.  I ask the Holy Spirit to guide my reflection and help me hear God’s Word for me in this passage.  I give thanks to God.

3.  I take time to pray 1 Kgs 17:10-16, imagining myself as the widow.  How do I experience Elijah’s’ words?  How do I respond?  How does that conversation unfold?  I talk to God about what happens in my prayers and thank God for the insights I receive.  

4.  I reflect on Mk 12:38-44 .  How do I, like the Scribes, project a “good” persona for people admire?  How do I, like the widow, authentically give of myself? 

5.  I go back to Mk 12:38-44 again, letting Jesus speak directly to me.  What do I say in reply?  I ask the Holy Spirit to guide the conversation and my reflection afterwards. 

6.  I read 1 Kgs 17:10-16 and Mk 13:24-32 together, letting the Holy Spirit lift up the phrases I need to hear.  What do I hear?  I pray in thanksgiving for God’s grace and presence with me.

7.  I reflect on Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11, being attentive to the words/phrases that touch my heart.  I ask the Holy Spirit to guide my reflection and help me hear God’s Word for me in this psalm

8.  I reflect on Mk 13:24-32.  What do I hear God saying to me through this passage?

9.  I pray Rv 1:5-8.  How do I experience myself as part of “a nation of priests in the service” of God?  How do I experience God as my Alpha and Omega, as my beginning and end?

10.  I take time to pray Jn 18:33b-37.  How do I experience these words?  What does “truth” mean to me?  How am I “committed to the truth?”  I ask God for the grace to hear what I need to hear through this passage.  

11.  I go back to Jer 33:14-16.  How do these words speak to my heart?

12.  I pray Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14 once by reading it slowly.  I pray it a second time, being attentive to the words and phrases God lifts up.  I talk to God about them.

13.  I spend time with 1 Thes 3:12-4:2, changing the pronouns Chapter 3 to make it my prayer, and letting the verses in chapter 4 be Paul’s prayer for me. What do I notice?  For what do I desire to pray?

14.  I read Lk 21:25-28, 34-36 again, reflecting on all the negative and frightening events going on in the world.  I ask God to show me how God is trying to come into our reality now: bringing light to the darkness.  I ask the grace to see God’s continual arrival in all the moments of my life.

 A PRAYER FOR THE JOURNEY

O my God, I love you above all things with my whole heart and soul because you are all good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you. I forgive all who have injured me. Please give me the grace to ask pardon of all whom I have injured.  Amen.

October 2009

Words from St. Julie: 

Who knows the time when God will act, my dear friend?  That is why we must not become tired of waiting for the most favorable time; the good God himself has waited for us so long.  Oh, how good he is!  — Amiens, October 21, 1795

 

Where are we on the Journey? 

October brings us readings that can provide a window for us to reflect on the mission we’ve received through baptism:  the mission to be a priestly people (people of prayer), a prophetic people (speaking God’s Word through our actions as well as with our speech), and a serving people (leading the way to God through the service we give to one another and the world).  When was the last time you had the opportunity to focus on the mission that belongs to all of us as the Body of Christ, the Church?  Let yourself spend time with the readings from this month, and let that time find you simply gazing through the window of opportunity the readings present:

October 4, 2009  Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 11, 2009 Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 18, 2009 Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 25, 2009 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

Where am I on the Journey?

Read the passages again.  In prayer, reflect on the following questions:

• 1.  I reflect on MK 10:2-16.  How do I try to use God’s “law” to put people in categories, to support feelings of being better than others and to judge others?  I ask God to show me how the “law” can be a source of unity and a protection of the gift of diversity.  I ask God for the grace of child-like simplicity as I look for God’s presence in those around me.
• 2. I pray WS 7:7-11 reflecting on my understanding of “wisdom”:  how do I define it?  Where do I find it?  How does the image or wisdom presented in the reading match the image given by the culture I live in?  I talk to God about it and give thanks to God for the insights received.
• 3.  I pray PS 90:12-17, letting the phrase “fill me with your love, O Lord, and I will sing for joy” repeat over and over in my heart.  I take time to reflect on the prayer experience.  I give thanks for the gift of God’s love.
• 4.  I ask the Holy Spirit to guide my imagination as I pray MK 10:17-30, letting myself become part of the story.  What is that experience like for me?  I talk to God about it.
•  5.  I ask the Holy Spirit to guide my imagination as I pray MK 10:35-45, letting myself become part of the story.  What is that experience like for me?  I talk to God about it.
• 6.  I read MK 10:35-45.  How do I experience servant-leadership?  How do I use my gifts to serve others?  I ask God for the grace to hear what I need to hear through this passage.
• 7.  I pray PS 126, being attentive to the words/phrases that touch my heart.  I ask the Holy Spirit to guide my reflection and help me hear God’s Word for me in this psalm.
• 8.  I take time to pray MK 10:46-52, imagining myself as one of the characters in the story.  How do I experience Jesus’ words?  I imagine going off alone with Jesus to talk about what has just happened.  How does that conversation unfold?  I thank God for the insights I receive.   

A Prayer for the Journey

Blessed are you, O God!  You continue to call me by name.  In baptism I entered deeply into your friendship, you who are the wisdom of the cosmos, giving freedom and new life, help me to grow in the gift of friendship you offer.  May your Holy Spirit move me to manifest Christ’s love for all people.  I ask this in your name.  Amen.  (Based on the Rite of Baptismal Affirmation)

September 2009

Words from St. Julie: 

My dear good daughter, do not be frightened at the difficulties the good God allows us to encounter. You know now that our holy Institute is still in the beginning of its work. It requires very courageous souls for the labor the good God has deigned to confide to us. But it is most important that we should not be fainthearted: we can do all things in him who strengthens us. Namur, September 30, 1815

 

Where are we on the Journey? 

The readings for the Sunday Liturgies of September offer us an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between our faith/beliefs and our actions. Each Sunday we hear parts of the Letter of James reminding us that all good things come from God, of God’s love for the poor, that disputes need to be dealt with, that living faith is more than just words. Take time with the readings of the month and allow them to be a magnifying glass to help you examine how your faith moves you to Christ-like action.

September 6, 2009 Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time IS 35:4-7a; PS 146: 7, 8-9, 9-10; Jas 2:1-5; MK 7:31-37.

September 13, 2009 Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time IS 50:4c-9a; PS 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9; Jas 2:14-18; MK 8:27-35.

September 20, 2009 Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Wisdom 2:12, 17-20; PS 54: 3-4, 5, 6, and 8; Jas 3:16-4:3; MK 9:30-37.

September 27, 2009 Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Nm 11:25-29; PS 19:8,10,12-13, 14; Jas 5:1-6; MK 9:38-43, 45, 47-48.

 

Where am I on the Journey?

Read the passages again. In prayer, reflect on the following questions:

1. I take time to pray IS 35:4-7a letting the Holy Spirit lift up the phrases I need to hear. What do I hear? I pray in thanksgiving for God’s grace and presence with me.
2.  I reflect on Jas 2:1-5. How do I judge people according to their appearance? I step back and compare the attitudes of my culture with the attitudes of James. How does my faith call me to be counter-cultural in my own attitudes and actions?
3. I ask the Holy Spirit to guide my imagination as I pray MK 7:31-37, letting myself become part of the story. What is that experience like for me?  I talk to God about it.
4. I pray MK 7:31-37 again. How do my ears (physical and spiritual) need to “be opened” so I can better hear God in my life?
5. I reflect on PS 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9, being attentive to the words/phrases that touch my heart.  I ask the Holy Spirit to guide my reflection and help me hear God’s Word for me in this psalm.
6. I let James speak directly to me as I read Jas 2:14-18. What do I want to say in reply? I ask the Holy Spirit to guide the conversation and my reflection afterwards.
7. I reflect on MK 8:27-35.. How would I respond to Jesus’ question? What is the “cross” I take up to follow Jesus?
8. I read again Jas 3:16-4:3. How do I experience these words? What rings true for me? Where am I challenged? Where do I resist? I ask God for the grace to hear what I need to hear through this passage.
9. I take time to pray MK 9:30-37, imagining myself as one of the disciples.  How do I experience Jesus’ words?  I imagine going off alone with Jesus to talk about what has just happened.  How does that conversation unfold?  I thank God for the insights I receive.
10. I re-read Nm 11:25-29 reflecting on the tension between who people think should be acting as prophets and who God chooses to be prophets. How do I close myself off to those God tries to use to speak in my life? How do I resist being God’s Word to others through my actions, attitudes, or actual words
11. I pray PS 19:8,10,12-13, 14, being attentive to the words/phrases that touch my heart. I ask the Holy Spirit to guide my reflection and help me hear God’s Word for me in this psalm that, rooted in prayer, I may be God’s Word to those around me.
12. I read Jas 5:1-6. How do I find myself reacting to these words? How am I one of the “rich” referred to by James? How do I work for justice in little ways, and ways not so little?
13. I take time to pray MK 9:38-43, 45, 47-48. letting the Holy Spirit lift up the phrases I need to hear.  What do I hear?  I ask God for the grace to see the parts of my life that keep me from God.  I pray in thanksgiving for God’s grace and presence with me.

 

A Prayer for the Season

Jesus, your words at the Last Supper, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” (JN 14:27), are words you speak to me now. Help me to accept this gift of true peace you are offering me each moment. Give me the grace to make this gift visible in my life that I may become a true instrument of your peace to those around me and to a world so in need of peace. I ask this in your name. Amen.