January

“Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.”

 Happy New Year! As we enter this New Year 2021, the Church gifts us with the feast of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. This feast reminds me of the historical Mary who must have pondered all the events that had happened to her in the past year: the Angel Gabriel’s message, her “yes” to being a mother, her visit to her elderly cousin Elizabeth who was with child, how Joseph accepted her explanation about the presence of a child within her, how they had to travel to Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth, how simple shepherds recognized the presence of someone special in her child. Mary did not have knowledge of the future, but she did have deep faith that all would be well if she were faithful to God. She had to ponder what was happening to her just as we have to ponder what is happening in our lives.

This past year has been one in which so much has happened: the pandemic, the economic crisis, political and social unrest, just for starters. We have such a need to reflect on these events. What do they mean to us personally and as a people? Where is God in all that is happening? Pondering and reflecting on these events is not about regret or nostalgia, but about stepping back so we can go forward. As we enter this new year of 2021, let us be like Mary and reflect on all these things, recognizing God is in all things, joys and sorrows, health and sickness, successes, and mistakes. And may that reflection lead us to the deep faith in God that Mary had!

In Mercy,

Eileen P. Smith, RSM

With a winter sunset beckoning out my window, I see threads of gold and orange edges among the comforting hues of grays and purples.  However, the barren trees of winter do not appear bleak tome, for here in this very place, I enter upon my own emptiness being assured of Gods refilling.

I intertwine with God right here.  His sunrises and sunsets visualized within my own heart, mimicking my life’s varying seasons. Don’t we all strive to be reflections of him?

Leaving my cozy bedroom, I visit the Mercy Chapel.  Sitting upon the wooden benches, I immediately sense the welcoming support in Gods home.  I am in a rugged sanctuary of sorts as the intricate stonework within its walls seem to embrace me.  The room is peaceful and even the air feels light. The circular chapel window gently reveals the wilderness outside.  I ponder and wonder how many others have sat here bathing in the graces of this beautiful earthly space.

And then again, as many times before, I read the holy scripture etched in the protective tabernacle nearby.  It reads:    WE ARE SAVED BY HOPE  Romans 8:24. Its very meaning brings me home again to my space within and with God.  I feel his caressing heart and from every angle, he always embraces me in return.

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As I reread (with some revision!) the above piece which I wrote in February of this year, I am preparing a reflection for Epiphany. Seemingly strange at first, as currently Hope is hard to come by in these days of pandemic living.  Have not we all perfected and prepared our homes (and selves) with disinfectants as well as our holiday preparations?  Yet, have we lost our faith (and hope) in this disarray of life right now?  I think not, as many of us have turned deeply into our prayer lives, perhaps now more than ever before.

Todays’ Epiphany reading of Psalm 72 reminds us of Gods faithfulness and his glorious presence even in our current chaotic world.  The biblical words written so long ago, can truly embrace us in our need for both refuge and strength. Verse 17 of the Psalm reads, “His name shall endure forever:  His name shall continue as long as the sun. And men shall be blessed in Him: All nations shall call him bless.” Can we take pause and rest in these encouraging words as the very sustenance to help us carry on and support each other?  

In my interpretation, I visualize Gods honored trust in his name---that he will carry us all through these perilous times of confusion and uncertainty.  Have not these months of altered living immersed us further in our spiritually as well as strengthened our connectiveness to others?  Surely, within our witnessing and faith, many of us have gained this new awareness over the past years challenges.  A cliché of course, but aren’t there always silver linings and newly learned life skills during great times of suffering? Opportunities arise, if only we are still enough to listen and become attentive to them.  Perhaps, take some time to read Psalm 72 and dwell into its message of hope and faith.  As we come to realize, there is much strength in the mighty words of our daily scripture and biblical readings. 

I will close here sharing a few lines of a verse-like blessing written by John O ’Donohue --An Irish born poet, priest  and philosopher. May we harbor his written words together in our virtually shared hearts, as collectively we move forward into a new year of promise. It reads:

And when we come to search for God,

Let us first be robed in night,

Put on the mind of morning

To feel the rush of light

Spread slowly inside

The color and stillness of a found world

(To Bless The Space Between Us—by John O’ Donohue)

In Mercy and Blessings,

Sue Popek

No One Loves Winter

 No one loves winter –

I haven’t met a single person yet –

I say, no one loves winter,

            not even those winter poets

            who proclaim its glory,

No one, no one, I say, loves winter

            more than I.

And yet

Remember that year of the snow storms?

            You know, there were 17 of them –

            that was the year.

I finally said, “This year we’ve had enough snow.”

Never had I ever

            NEVER

            said that.

It was always, “I want just one more snowfall.”

--That was the year.

That was the year –

            You ever go to the Philadelphia Flower Show?

That was the year –

            And it hasn’t happened since –

My eyes were blasted with the colors!

I gasped, tears welled up so fast.

“Hope,” I said. “That’s what I didn’t realize

            I had been missing.”

And I love winter!

No one loves winter more than I. – Mary Jo Kearns, RSM 2/7/04

I came across this poem as I was considering what I might write about for our reflections. I wrote it the winter it snowed from October to March. I’m sure you get the idea I love snow! The kid in me excites at the first snowfall, and is so disappointed when promised snow and it rains! That’s why I was amazed at my reaction to the blaze of colors that greeted me at the entrance to the Philadelphia Flower Show that March. The emotion of hope sent tears to my eyes. I was so taken aback. I hadn’t realized how much my psyche longed for color after months of white – as beautiful as white is. That deep felt experience of hope is what I am feeling these days as well. After so many months of restrictions, of sadness, of losses, the promise of a brighter future is finally before us. What is giving you hope? How can you nurture that hope? 

In Mercy,

Mary Jo Kearns, RSM

As we enter this first week of 2021, a new year both invites and challenges us.

Reflecting on the opportunities and plans already set in place in my life, I am mindful of a quote from the book HINENI – In Imitation of Abraham by Alisa Kasmir.  “Martin Buber – {an Austrian Jewish and Israeli philosopher}, defines faith as trusting in something without being able to give sufficient reason for that trust – trusting in the mystery of what you do not know and probably never will. Such trust “cannot be possessed but brings us into the vulnerable border area of God and self”.” 

Hineni, “here I am”, means much more than just showing up. The term indicates readiness, alertness, attentiveness, receptivity, and responsiveness to instruction. The “Hineni” I am referencing here is only one of the many ways the author attempts to describe the faith of Abraham.

As I grow into this new era of my life – 80’+ years, the Hineni in my life becomes a reality of the space between knowing and not knowing. The question stirring in me as I enter this new year, is “Can I hold this vulnerability lightly enough to journey where God is leading me?”  I know from my journey thus far, that my faith of yesterday must die to be open to and accept the gift of pure faith that is being breathed into me. I pray for a faith that is not shaded by my own perceptions. Can I be truly open to God’s wonder filled, unknown mystery?  This is a question all seekers seem to ask whether consciously or subconsciously.

Contemplating this mystery is beautifully voiced in a song by John Denver titled “Wandering Soul”. His lyrics…. “The magic hour between the dark and the dawn” …. “In the space between the silence and the song” …. really resonate with me at this time.

I have lived and am living a life filled with adventure. In a sense, I am a wandering soul, always seeking. In this new year, I need to learn the attitude of silence. That place of quiet listening and trust. Each step is fragile and vulnerable. I ask myself; do I have the faith of Abraham?  How open am I to the Holy One who is total mystery? Will I see the invitations imbedded within the challenges before me? I hope and pray that I can say yes.

I leave you with that question for your own reflection – Will you see the invitations imbedded within the challenges before you? To go deeper into the unknown.

In Christ,

Ed Reitter

Each New Year’s Day, I ponder the day’s meaning not for the reason that one might be inclined to think. I celebrate the day of my own baptism – my baptismal certificate states the date clearly:  the 1^stof January, New Year’s Day.  Over the years I have come to savor this date and all it brings with it.  While it is indeed and will forever remain perhaps an ordinary January 1 to the observer, I must admit I treasure the fact that my parents held their newborn baby girl in their arms and gave her to the Christian Faith on the very day of a new year and on the Feast of Mary, Mother of God.  I feel bound to a legacy a hundred fold and what better way to start each and every year?

While today is neither one of those occasions, it is however recognized in our church calendar as the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the public announcement and recognition made by his Beloved Father in Heaven that Jesus is his son.  It seemed only natural to ponder my own parent's public announcement bathed in all that splendor.

Each and every day is a call to live into our baptismal promises, isn’t it?  Coming to know, love and understand all that means can almost be granted as, dare I say, one’s greatest accomplishment? There is to be no other.   While I do not wish to give a lesson on the rubrics and catechism of baptism, what I do wish for you dear beloved is to ponder in your heart that you too are a publicly anointed child of Our Beloved Father in Heaven as you come out of the water, hear him say…. He is “well pleased.”

In Mercy,

Joanne Carey

Create a World in Love

 Perhaps no song has encouraged me to love my neighbor, to love my fellow human beings, more than Amy Grant's "Helping Hand".

First I'll share Amy Grant's lyrics.  Then, I'll share the thought process the song has helped bring about in my life.

The lyrics:
chorus: "Everybody needs a helping hand, take a look at your fellow man, and tell me, 'What can I do today?'. Everybody needs a helping out, if that's not what it's all about, tell me, 'What can I do?, What can I do today?'"
verse 1: "We've all seen trouble, from time to time, and there is a mountain ahead, I've got no strength to climb, yeah.  If you're feeling that you're strong, reach out to me.  I hope this journey won't take long, but won't you please, have mercy?"
verse 2: "I'm talking about the soul all alone, needing the daily bread, some place to lay his head, yeah.  And I'm talking about the neighbor on your street. Won't you look him in the eye?, take time to speak, that's mercy, yeah"
"Love one another, sister and brother, love is the only way".

The second half of verse 2 is the most powerful for me.  Indeed how far we can see, when we look into each other's eyes.  We look across the whole earth, as we create that bridge, when we look in. Yes, spirit to spirit, is indeed mercy!   I am reminded of Tammy Simister Robinson, who sings, "When spirit speaks to spirit, the message is etched in the soul".

Indeed, we feel God in these interactions!  We bring one another closer to God.  I believe every loving interaction sprinkles more peace from God upon us.  When we truly know a human heart, we can't help but find God.

We might be a little shy at first, in letting our spirit speak to the spirits of others.  However, this is how we grow!  Getting to know one another is a process filled with little mercies.  I believe, we are created to love every person we cross paths with.

While we live in challenging times, I do observe that our hearts are becoming warmer.  Do you sense this too?

If this is the case, maybe we are meant to use this love to help us through these times and these problems.  Love, God's love, is our tool to cure, and to soothe.  We repair the world with love.  Perhaps this is our calling, to reach across, across all the former boundaries, to form these healing, affirming bonds.  We do this with the blessings left upon us.  In love, we certainly know God and wonder, even if we do not know all the answers.

More and more of us are entirely living "in love".  Humanity's future, if we are so determined, is an entire world living in love.

You can listen to Amy's Grant's album version of "Helping Hand" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-BfUav5Tbs
and watch and listen to her sing a slightly different acoustic version, ending with "They'll know we are Christians by our love" at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml3QuU16hV0

If you have thoughts, I'd love to hear from you.  Please email me at michaelswritingNJ@aol.com

In brother and sister hood, and mercy,
 
Michael Loberfeld

“SOME PEOPLE COME INTO OUR LIVES AND QUICKLY GO.

   SOME PEOPLE STAY FOR AWHILE, AND MOVE OUR SOULS TO

   DANCE. THEY AWAKEN US TO A NEW UNDERSTANDING WITH

   THE PASSING WHISPER OF THEIR WISDOM.  SOME PEOPLE MAKE

   THE SKY MORE BEAUTIFUL TO GAZE UPON.  THEY STAY IN OUR

    LIVES FOR AWHILE, LEAVE FOOTPRINTS ON OUR HEARTS, AND 

    WE ARE NEVER, EVER THE SAME.”    (Flavia Weedn) 

Since my twenties, I’ve been aware that who I am becoming evolves largely due to people who step onto my path long enough to encourage my growth in a particular way.  In the past, some have been relatives.  Others were strangers.  Some visitors have names I no longer remember.  And then there are people who come easily to mind.  What have they imprinted on my heart?  Here are a few of the many gifts that provide purpose and direction for my life:  generosity with time and presence, the activation of compassion, trust in my writing ability, access to inner resilience during difficult situations, relishing nature as a place to meet the Holy, and choosing to live more contemplatively.

What about you?  For whom do you give thanks?  Whose footprints have influenced your path of life?  How have they done so?  Whether young or old, if you allow yourself some quiet time to reflect on what inspires you to grow and share your best, I am confident you will recover memories of persons whose presence assisted your personal transformation.

Prayer…

Beloved Presence on my path of life,

Thank you for the footprints left on my heart:

The soft and gentle ones that brought comfort,

The deep and lasting ones of enduring friendship, 

The lightly passing ones conveying kindness,

The heavy ones causing necessary change,

And the impressionable footprints swept away by time.

Even though lost, forgotten, or not recognized,

These visitors have led me to live more fully

The innate goodness residing dep within me.

How grateful I am.

Abundant peace,

Joyce Rupp

Used with permission of the author, Joyce Rupp. www.joycerupp.com

This was submitted to us by Paulette Cicero