Saint Ambrose (d. 397); Thursday of the First Week of Advent

Anniversary of the Bombing of Pearl Harbor (1941)

Readings of the day: RB 55:1-14

Mass: Isaiah 26:1-6; Resp. Psalm 118; Matthew 7:21, 24-27

Trust in the Lord forever!

For the Lord is an eternal Rock.

At table, we are reading J. Pérennès’s, A Life Poured Out, a biography of Pierre-Lucien Claverie, OP (1938-1996, Bishop of Oran, Algeria). There, Claverie, although speaking about the gift of growing up in a family of trust and love, provides fitting commentary on the words of the Prophet Isaiah, as well as today’s Gospel: ‘Trust is exercised and reinforced amid everyday trials. The act of faith or trust is precisely that: an act…One “extends trust” more than one “has trust.” It is therefore in concrete actions that we embody our intention to extend trust. And thus it is that trust is strengthened’ (p. 213).

With Claverie’s words in mind, we hear Jesus say: ‘Not everyone will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.’ Our Lord continues: ‘Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.” May we, then, have courage to listen to the Word and act in trust amid our everyday trials, struggles, disappointments, and contradictions. 

Living and true God, the eternal ROCK,

strengthen our faith and trust in you that we may act in accordance with your will.

MARANATHA.

Saint Nicholas (4th century), Wednesday of the First Week of Advent

 Readings of the day: RB 54

Mass: Isaiah 25:6-10a; Resp. Psalm 23; Matthew 15:29-37

Russian Icon of St Nicholas

THEY GLORIFIED THE GOD OF ISRAEL.

In today’s Gospel we hear of the great crowds that came to Jesus. Many with visible afflictions were brought to Him: the mute, deformed, lame, and blind. They were cured. What about those with afflictions that are not so visible: addictions, emotional traumas, mental illness, depression. I think of those people, along with myself, who also need healing. Let us go together to sit at the Lord’s feet and pray for one another—for those known to us and those unknown to us who want to be cured. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from our faces.

BEHOLD, THE LORD COMES TO SAVE HIS PEOPLE;

BLESSED ARE THOSE PREPARED TO MEET HIM.

MARANATHA.

Tuesday of the First Week of Advent

Readings of the day: RB 53:16-24

Mass: Isaiah 11:1-10; Resp. Psalm 72; Luke 10:21-24

JUSTICE SHALL FLOURISH IN HIS TIME,

AND FULLNESS OF PEACE FOREVER.

(Resp. Psalm 72)

The beauty of the imagery presented to us through the Prophet Isaiah. I thought to consider today’s reading in two contexts: first, what would the scene described by Isaiah look like in regard to my attitude towards and daily interactions with others at home, work, in community, while shopping, studying, or going about my daily activities; second, read in conjunction with St Benedict’s chapter 53, ‘The Reception of Guests’, how might Isaiah’s words affect how I encounter a stranger.

Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;

The calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them.

The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together with their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra’s den, and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair. There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord, as water covers the sea.

MARANATHA.

Saint John Damascene (c.657-749)

Monday of the First Week of Advent

Readings of the day: RB 54:1-15

Mass: Isaiah 2:1-5; Resp. Psalm 122; Matthew 8:5-11

St John Damascene, Defender of Holy Icons

LORD, I AM NOT WORTHY.

                                

One of the gems I have learned about seeking God in a monastery is the sooner one learns she is not worthy, the better. The road will be narrow at the outset. Still, the sooner one recognizes she is plodding along like the rest of humanity, the sooner the road will begin to widen. Such comfort in knowing I am not worthy—Jesus loves those who are not worthy—the sick, broken, wounded, bumblers and stumblers, and even those who think they are worthy! Please say the word, dear Jesus, and I will be healed.

MARANATHA.

First Sunday of Advent 2017

Readings of the day: RB 52

Mass: Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7; Resp. Psalm 80; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Welcome to the new liturgical year 2017/2018.

May God be praised!

Now that we are in the midst of Advent [began with First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) last night and ends before First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) of Christmas], let us remind ourselves of what our Church teaches us about this holy season.  In the Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year, 39, we learn of the ‘twofold character’ of the season. Advent ‘is a time of preparation for the Solemnities of Christmas, in which the First Coming of the Son of God to humanity is remembered’. In the same way, Advent is ‘a time when, by remembrance of this, minds and hearts are led to look forward to Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time. For these two reasons, Advent is a period of devout and expectant delight.’

Looking to this teaching and today’s readings, I reflect on how I will open my mind and heart to make Advent a period of devout and expectant delight.

I have asked myself a few questions that helped me list three practical and specific ways I will enlarge my mind and heart during this season. Others may them find helpful for personal, communal, and/or family discussion: how have my senses become dulled so that I don’t notice the ever-present Christ in the beauty and wonder of those with whom I live or work? How have I wandered from your ways, O Lord, and hardened my heart with anger, jealousy, or resentment? How can I better witness to the joy and delight of God’s love and mercy that envelop me? Do I stop to see and hear the glory of creation, the work of God’s hands? Indeed, ‘no ear has ever heard, no eye ever seen, any God but you doing such deeds for those who wait for him’!

Almighty God,

help us to be watchful and alert for your presence now,

and look forward with delight to when You come again.

‘WHAT I SAY TO, I SAY TO ALL: “WATCH!”’

Lord, make us turn to you;

let us see your face and we shall be saved.

(Resp. Psalm 80)

Saturday of the Thirty-Fourth, or Last, Week in Ordinary Time; Blessed Virgin Mary

Readings of the day: RB 51

Mass: Daniel 7:15-27; Resp. Psalm (Dn 3); Luke 21:34-36

Be vigilant at all times and pray

that you may have the strength to stand before the Son of Man.

(Gospel Acclamation, Mass)

As we prepare to enter the season of Advent, it is time to remind ourselves to pray without ceasing. If you don’t think you know how to pray, remember, the Spirit will come to your aid; for we do not know how to pray as we ought (Romans 8:26). The important thing is to keep praying. Words from St Thérèse of Lisieux may help: “For me prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.”

All loving God,

grant us the gift of prayer

that we may grow in our personal relationship with you.

MARY, SINGULAR VESSEL OF DEVOTION,

PRAY FOR US.

First Friday of the Month

Readings of the day: RB 50

Mass: Daniel 7:2-14; Resp. Psalm (Dn 3); Luke 21:29-33

MY WORDS WILL NOT PASS AWAY.

 

Sr Ann Marie at Lectio Divina

Not long ago I had an excellent, semester long course on lectio divina. It was taught by an Irish diocesan priest; a caring man, a Scripture scholar. He warned us of what he called the Prodigal Son syndrome, that is, we hear or read a familiar biblical passage and immediately tune out—we already know what the story is all about. Doing so, we miss out on what the Word is saying to us on that day, at that moment, in whatever space we find ourselves. The words of our Lord do not pass away—they are the sure foundation. That said, it is we who pass from one mood to another, from one place to another, to one stage of the spiritual journey to another. The WORD will always have a different message depending on how open we are to receiving it. In my experience, when I read a familiar passage, one which I have already heard 1,000 times, I hear or read a word or phrase that I have never heard before! The WORD is speaking to me in a particular way at that moment, and will in another tomorrow. This is the beauty of the discipline of lectio divina—how our lives can be transformed by the WORD speaking to each one of us individually, calling us to a more intimate relationship with the WORD made FLESH who dwells among us. Put another way, we fall deeper and deeper in love with the living and true God, LOVE poured into our hearts. Why not spend some time with the parable of the Prodigal Son, or any other parable—you really might not know what the story is all about.

THUS SAY THE LORD:

LET WHOEVER IS THIRSTY COME TO ME AND DRINK.

STREAMS OF LIVING WATER WILL FLOW

FROM WITHIN THE ONE WHO BELIEVES IN ME.

(Communion Antiphon, Mass)