You are Not

The Great Attraction

 This is the great attraction today:

to reach the highest contemplation
while sharing in the life of every person,
being one among many.

I would say more:
to merge oneself with the crowd
so as to allow the divine
to penetrate it,
like wine
penetrates a piece of bread.

I would even say more:
as sharers in God’s plans for humanity,
to place points of light within the crowd,
sharing shame, hunger, troubles,
and brief joys with our neighbour.

The attraction today,
as in all times,
is Jesus and Mary.

The highest conceivable expression
of the human and the divine.
The Word of God, a carpenter’s son;
the Seat of Wisdom, a mother at home.​

Chiara Lubich, Meditations, New City, London, 2005, p. 14-15

Give Me a Few Friends

Dear Lord,

Give me a few friends
who will love me for what I am,
and keep ever burning
before my vagrant steps
the kindly light of hope.

And though I come not within sight
of the castle of my dreams,
teach me to be thankful for life,
and for time's olden memories
that are good and sweet.
And may the evening's twilight
find me gentle still.

Another Beatitude

Blessed are they who understand.

My faltering step and shaking hand,

Blessed, who know my ears today
Must strain to catch the things they say,

Blessed are they who seem to know
My eyes are dim and my mind is slow,

Blessed are they who looked away,
I spilled my tea on the cloth that day!

Blessed are they who, with cheery smile,
Stopped to chat for a little while,

Blessed are they who know the way
To bring back memories of yesterday,

Blessed are they who never say,
"You've told that story twice today!"

Blessed are they who make it known
That I'm loved, respected and not alone,

And blessed are they who will ease the days
Of my journey home, in loving ways.


By Elizabeth Clark

12 Steps to Self Care

 

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The first chapter of Mark’s gospel is packed with action. Mark opens his gospel with the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. In this one chapter he covers the ministry of John the Baptist, the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, the temptation of Jesus in the dessert, John’s arrest, Jesus calling his first disciples, Jesus announcing his mission and Jesus launching his mission. This Sunday and for the next two Sundays the gospel covers the first full day of Jesus in active ministry, Mark 1:21-45.

Given Jesus’ mission to bring “the good news” to people (Mark 1:1); it makes sense that he begins his work on the Sabbath in a synagogue, the primary place where local people gathered for community prayer and to hear and study scripture. And on the first day of his ministry, the first thing Jesus does is teach. He does not teach like the scribes who were experts on Mosaic Law found in the Torah. Jesus teaches with personal authority, authority given to him by God. Mark does not tell us exactly what Jesus taught in that synagogue in Capernaum. However, he does tell us that the impact of Jesus’ teaching was profound. Jesus, like Moses in the first reading from Deuteronomy 18:15-20, spoke the words God “put into his mouth.” These words were so powerful that the people around him were compelled to listen. Even an “unclean spirit” recognized the power and authority of his message. Then Jesus exorcised the unclean spirit.

This is the pattern we see over and over again in Jesus’ ministry. He preaches, he confronts evil and he heals people. He also takes time out to revive himself through prayer. Jesus taught the people of his day and he teaches us by his words, actions and example, guiding us all to the Kingdom his Father has prepared for us. It is our responsibility to listen, open our hearts, believe and acknowledge “our God, whose people we are, God's well-tended flock” (Psalm 95:7).

Father in heaven,

From the days of Abraham and Moses

Until this gathering of your Church in prayer,

You have formed a people in the image of your Son.

Bless this people with the gift of your kingdom.

May we serve you with our every desire

And show love for one another

Even as you have loved us.

Grant this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Three Trees

There were three young trees growing together in the forest, each one healthy and ambitious. As they compared their dreams, one wanted to be built into a castle or a palace, and so play a part in the lives of the high and mighty of society. The second wanted to become the mast in one of the tall ships, sailing around the world with a great sense of adventure. The third hoped to end up as part of some public monument, where the public would stop, admire, and take photographs.

Years passed by, and all three were cut down. The first was chopped up, and parts of it were put together to form a manger for a stable in Bethlehem. The second was cut down, and the trunk was scooped out to form a boat, which was launched on the Sea of Galilee. The third was cut into sections, two of them nailed together to form a cross on Calvary. Each had a unique and special part to play in the one great story of redemption.