Memories…
Praised be Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament!
This month of August has been a very significant month in my life.
To begin with, I was born in this month. Then I entered the convent at the age of 16, almost 17, on August 1st.
I emitted my first vows on August 15, and my perpetual vows on August 16.
To make this month more significant, my mom’s birthday is on August 4 and one of my niece’s birthday is on August 9.
In other words, it is a month full of celebrations! …and full of the fondest memories -even though some of these memories are bittersweet, like the day I entered the convent. In my heart I knew I was following the voice of the greatest of all Lovers who had called me by name and was requiring of me to trust Him, to love Him in return, to dare to take the risk to surrender myself to Him who would satisfy the deepest desires and dreams of my young heart.
On the other hand, the pain to leave my family, the unbearable sadness at knowing that it was my decision that was causing so much suffering to them, especially to my mom…
About two weeks ago, on August 15th, four more girls have decided to follow that same sweet voice that called by name years ago. Like many of us, they have dared to take the same risk and have joined our community. Each one of them, as they were told the day of the entrance ceremony into postulancy, has just begun to walk the path to their nuptials with Christ! They have started their journey hand in hand with Jesus; a beautiful but challenging journey that will require of them may acts of faith, hope and love. The psalmist says they will be taken through “green pastures where He will make them lie down; they will be lead to still waters and fresh waters to restore their souls” (Ps 23:2). More importantly, Jesus will feed them with the “finest Wheat” (Ps 147:14).
But this dear Jesus, to whom the Song of Songs refers to as the “most handsome of all men” (Songs 1:16) is also the Lamb of God, the Lamb that was slain; and since the bride should “follow the Lamb wherever He goes” (Rev. 14:4), inevitably these young women will have to lay down their lives for their friends, as Jesus did.
Please, pray for them, and pray for all religious that we keep always alive the “first love” (Rev. 2:4). And pray to the Master of the harvest to send more laborers to the field because “the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few” (Lk 10:2).
In the Eucharistic heart of Jesus, your sister
Jeanette Marie, HMSS
Evangelize with Mary in the Light of the Eucharist.
Guest Blogger Post by Brian Suntken
V.J.E
Without parables he did not speak to them,
but to his own disciples he explained everything in private. (Mark 4:34)
Every Saturday evening, we do Lectio Divina in community. It’s amazing how different interpretations can come from the reading of the same passage. It truly enriches everyone because what I might not have thought about, another person shares. The entire experience results in the Word of God being made more fully appreciated, and observed in all its inexhaustible facets and angles.
Scripture, especially parables, are truly fascinating. They reveal so much while at the same time concealing so much. For this Sunday’s Gospel passage, of the parable of the mustard seed, we spoke of how God in His Wisdom shields us from our own growth in virtue so that pride does seep in and mess up the process. We go along each day, praying, begging for holiness, feeling like the worst of sinners, while others look at us and see growth and maturity in our spiritual lives. We tied all the readings together and found the link between the body and the mustard plant as a home to be transplanted to a new and heavenly home.
Today, I came across a blog which offers yet again another interpretation to the parable of the mustard seed. He speaks of the literal characteristics of the mustard seed and how this imagery parallels with the Kingdom of God.
For the entire blog post click on the link below:
http://john13verse34.blogspot.com/2012/03/lent-2-thursday-mustard-seed.html
Life is such a beautiful adventure, with much to learn and much to discover. Let us continue to ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in His ways. Amen
Happy Sunday
Mary: The model of contemplation
The month of May is dedicated to Mary. In my community, we pray the rosary together and during this special month, as we contemplate the life of Jesus through the eyes of Mary, we offer Mary flowers, candles, incense, and perfume (a Mexican tradition). However, we should be inviting Mary into our lives throughout the year! She is our Mother, and like any mother, she has a lot to teach us.
Mary is the model of contemplation. The object of this contemplation is God. But what exactly is contemplation? The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines contemplation as,
… the simple expression of the mystery of prayer. It is a gaze of faith fixed on Jesus, an attentiveness to the Word of God, a silent love. It achieves real union with the prayer of Christ to the extent that it makes us share in his mystery (2724).
Let us turn to a well known passage from the Gospel according to St. Luke and see how Mary gives us the example of contemplation (some sections are bolded for emphasis) :
“In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,* and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”*And the angel said to her in reply, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived* a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:26-38
Hans Urs von Balthasar uses this passage to point out 3 stages of Mary’s contemplation that we can all imitate:
- Mary’s initial reaction of alarm as she wonders what sort of greeting this might be
- She asks what practical steps she must take to render the obedience expected of her
- In response to the revelation of the Spirit who will overshadow her, she consents to God’s perfect Word which is to take effect in her
When we are in a disposition of receptivity, God can ask some pretty big things of us. These “big things” can give us initial reactions of fear, apprehension, alarm, etc. much like Mary’s initial reaction to Gabriel’s greeting. This is normal and it is good advice to discern where this is coming from (see 1 John 4:1-6). If we are certain that God is behind this dialogue, then we should also take Mary’s lead in asking how to accomplish whatever mission God has entrusted to us! After asking, remember to take time to listen and to continue to be receptive. This is often very difficult for us to do.
I have worked with many students who more or less think of God as a magical vending machine in the sky where if they insert “prayers,” they should receive what they asked for instantly! Imagine what the world would be like if we got everything we wanted on a whim. God is generous and He will give us what we need. Remember that God is the object of contemplation, which is an expression of love. This love is a relationship between you and God. There is not much of a relationship if we are just constantly demanding things from God and treating Him like a magical vending machine!
Each of us has a specific calling, or vocation, to fulfill. Mary’s vocation was to become the Mother of God! God did not demand this from her. He asked her through one of his messengers. After she discerned this call and asked “how this can be,” she consented to God’s will. Mary’s “yes” to God allowed God to become Incarnate! This 3rd step, responding/consenting to God’s will, is also difficult for us…..but never impossible!
I encourage you to incorporate contemplative prayer into your life and ask Mary to help you to fulfill the special mission God has for you. She understands completely.