Ascension 2013

He ascended to His Father in heaven.

 The union between the created flesh made man in Jesus and the Father brings forth the out pouring of love between them the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus had to bring the created in to the Trinity, for our salvation. The only way was by offering himself on the cross, rising and then ascending.

But the love that the Father and the Son have between them when He ascended was so powerful that the Holy Spirit came down to fill our hearts with the love that the Father and the Son share. 

Rule of St. Benedict Prologue 1-3

St. Benedict statue in Mother Mary Anne's office

Hearken continually within thine heart, O son, giving attentive ear to the precepts of thy master. Understand with willing mind and effectually fulfill thy holy father’s admonition; that thou mayest return, by the labour of obedience, to Him from Whom, by the idleness of disobedience, thou hadst withdrawn. To this end I now address a word of exhortation to thee, whosoever thou art, who, renouncing thine own will and taking up the bright and all-conquering weapons of obedience, dost enter upon the service of thy true king, Christ the Lord.



Reflection:
Hearken continually within thine heart, ( Listen carefully)  giving attentive ear to the precepts of thy master.
The master, is one who has truly lived the monastic life (or what ever vocational you are called to) and can by instruction and example, form the hearts of the new comers.
We all need to be constantly forming our hearts into Christ's heart.
We need time to stop and reflect on how God is instructing us in the vocation that we are called to fulfill.



The Rule of St. Benedict, translated into English. A Pax Book, preface by W.K. Lowther Clarke (London: S.P.C.K., 1931).

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What are our chains?

I was reflecting on today's reading that thought came to me. What are the chains that hold us down and what kind of earthquake needs to take place to set us free.

These questions can be applied to multiple situations in our lives. 

Vocational:  

What are the chains that prevent us from looking deeper into our heart to see if God is calling me to a deeper relationship as a vowed religious. 

What is holding me back from pursuing the inner longing in my heart?

Spiritual:

What are the chains that are holding us back from bringing our faith in to the world. How would you like God to help with the fears. 

What is holding us back from encouraging family members, friends, co-workers, etc...to seek out how God is working in their lives?

Thoughts and questions to ponder.

Find Solitude

There is no blessing I would withhold from them that walk in obedience to Me-- who follow when I call, and who respond when I speak unto them. They are near to my heart and precious in my sight who have eyes to discern My purpose and ears that listen to My direction.
Be not intent upon great accomplishments. By what standards do ye judge the importance of a matter? It was a relatively small thing that Hannah prayed for a son, but what great things I accomplished through Samuel! It may have seemed incidental that Simeon and Anna perceived the Christchild and prophesied over  Him; but it was to Me a word worthy to be recorded in Holy Scripture and preserved forever.
Nay, ye cannot ascertain the ways of God amidst the pathways of men. Ye may feel the wind as I pass, and yet see only the swirling dust. The earthy beclouds the heavenly. The voices of men drown the voice of God. Only in much solitude can ye begin to sift away the chaff and come at last to the golden grains of truth.
The World will confuse thee. Silence will speak more to thee in a day than the world of voices can teach thee in a lifetime. Find it. Find solitude -- and having discovered her riches, bind her to thy heart.

Roberts, Frances J. Come Away My Beloved  pg.135

"the thrust of a vocation."

In creating us, God implants with in the depths of our person hood the thrust of a vocation. From inception, we begin becoming who the Lord calls us to be. From the womb already, we start inching toward how God wills us to become our true selves. From the outset too, we commence groping toward what the Lord destines us to do. Throughout life's journey our self-identity, lifestyle and mission develop and interact along the lines of the Lords's calling. 

Called by God, pg 115  Frances Kelly Nemeck adn Marie Theresa Coombs 

Alleluia

Today's second reading for vigils caught my attention. I have read this passage every year and I was surprised in that I have read this passage many time and today it was like I had never seen it before.

This is why lectio is very important in our lives, you never know how God is going to speak to you today.

From a discourse on the psalms by Saint Augustine, bishop

The Easter Alleluia

"Now therefore, brethren, we urge you to praise God. That is what we are all telling each other when we say Alleluia. You say to your neighbor, “Praise the Lord!” and he says the same to you. We are all urging one another to praise the Lord, and all thereby doing what each of us urges the other to do. But see that your praise comes from your whole being; in other words, see that you praise God not with your lips and voices alone, but with your minds, your lives and all your actions."

From the Liturgy of the Hours 2nd vol pg 865

It makes me stop and think about how my actions are praising God.  Is my life an Alleluia life?

Beauty of light and shadows

Beauty of light and shadows!

Cor Jesu Chapel 

The Lord is having fun with the light and shadows, 

and we enjoy every minute of it.