The Future is Open

Today I am filled with hope as I spotted the first robin of the spring time. Spring was my grandmother’s favorite season. I can still hear her voice as she delightfully announced the sighting of her first robin. This has been a relatively easy winter in western New York. Still it is always a delight to welcome the robins home.

I was reading Steve Bogners’ blog, Catholicism, Holiness and Spirituality, this morning and came across a post for LaserMonks. A pastor friend of mine first recommended them to me several years ago. They have a great line of inks and toner and stand behind what they sell. Like other monastic communities their proceeds go to support their community. Buying from them can be an act of holiness.

Man does not live by bread alone, but if you’d like a loaf of heavenly bread I recommend that you get it from Abbey of the Genesee. This community of Trappist Monks has been making and selling bread since I was a little boy. They have a great product and you can order a box of six loaves of their bread from their online store if you don’t live in western New York or northwestern Pennsylvania where you can buy it in the grocery store.
This morning I had a bowl of granola that I purchased at Mt. Saviour Monastery in Pine City, New York on my recent visit there. The monks of Mt. Saviour offer a variety of products. They raise sheep which they shear and turn into lovely comforters, quilts and the like. They also have an apiary with some great honey for sale and they make their own beeswax candles. I recommend you visit the monastery and browse the bookstore, but if you can’t travel there by car, plane, train or bus I recommend a visit to Mount Saviour Monastery Online Store. Peace.

When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall, always.-Mahatma Gandhi

Gospel living can seem quaint, idealistic and naive. This is one of my favorite quotes by the Mahatma because it speaks truth and when I despair at times that all is spinning out of control I try to remember this sage advice. My mother used to tell me, “kill them with kindness.” She was right. I hope she reads this blog someday. What seems like the way of weakness is paradoxically the way of strength. In St. Matthew’s Gospel there is a quote I was thinking on yesterday, “resist not evil.” That’s a radical idea. You won’t hear that kind of thinking in any pop culture or popular wisdom. I’ll write more later. Peace.

Most High, glorious God, enlighten the shadows of my heart, and grant unto me right faith, certain hope and perfect charity, sense and understanding, Lord, so that I may accomplish Thy holy and true mandate.

This is one of my favorite Franciscan prayers. Enlighten the shadows of my heart and grant me a faith, hope and perfect charity to accomplish your holy and true command. How is my heart enlightened? Do I spend my day or even parts of my day in prayer. What do I read? What do I think about? There are lots of distractions. Blogs and even bloggers can be distracting, so too can television, email, and the hectic pace of communication. Where can I draw the line? How much time is necessary to listen to the still small voice that enlightens the darkness of my heart?

I decided this Lent not to give up anything per se, but to add more quiet time. I’m committing myself to at least ten minutes of centering prayer a day. “Be still and know that I am God”-Psalm 46:10.

Peace.

Today as I left work and was walking across the parking lot to my car I heard the sweet sound of Canada geese. My eyes misted up a bit and I gave thanks for hearing the sound of fellow aviators winging their way north. I looked to see if I could spot a flock and there about fifty feet above the tree tops was a flight of fifty or more geese. I love the sound of their voices as they wing their way north from their winter home in the Chesapeake Bay and make their way towards Quebec and their mating grounds.

Most High, all-powerful good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory and the honor, and all blessing
To You alone, Most High, do they belong
And no human is worthy to mention Your name.

Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures…including the Canadian Geese who are returning home and reminding us of the beauty of your creation.

Peace and all Good.

I came across this poem saved in a file on my computer. It was good then and now.

Away from the glow of city lights
on a cloudless, moonless, night
have you ever looked up at the shining stars
and seen the space between?
Have you ever seen the space between the stars?
the dark from which they all emerged
to which they will all return,
The vast dark space that holds them in relationship,
as tiny points of moving light.
Have you ever seen the space between the stars?
Have you ever heard the space between the words?
the silence from which they all emerged,
to which they will all return.
The silent space that holds them in relationship,
as tiny specks of frozen thought,
Have you ever heard the space between the words?
Have you ever felt the space between us all?
The void from which we all emerged,
to which we will all return.
The love filled space that holds us in relationship,
as tiny specks of human life.
Have you ever felt the space between us all?
Have you ever sensed the space within yourself?
The emptiness from which you emerged,
to which you will return.
The still deep space that holds you in relationship,
a tiny part of all that is.
Have you ever sensed the space within yourself?
Have you ever seen the space between the stars?
– Philip Sheppard

I came across a great blog in my surfing today and I’ve added it to my links. It’s called SisterBloggers. I’ve really enjoyed reading the posts. Lots of great insights from some very holy ladies. The sisters describe themselves, “Catholic Sisters, Episcopal Sisters, women in formation, those discerning a religious vocation and others who want to join the conversation. We are women. Hear us blog.” Go for it!

There was a book sitting on the counter today at the Mountain. It’s a collection of the writings of Eric Doyle, OFM. I never heard of Eric until today, but he was described as a modern Duns Scotus. I’ve read a little bit of his work today and I found it very stimulating and insightful. If you’re a Catholic or Christian woman you might find Fr. Doyle’s writing insightful, hopeful and challenging.

Pax vobiscum.

Pray-as-you-go, is daily prayer for your MP3 player. It’s beautiful. It’s from Jesuit Media Initiatives in Britain. Peace.

There was a richness in the readings at Mass today that I find difficult not to comment on. From the first reading, Genesis 9:8-15. God says to Noah that never again shall he destroy the earth with a flood. His covenant is with Noah and his descendants. That’s us. We’re all descended from Noah it would seem if you’re a person of the book. In the second reading taken from St. Peter 3:18-22, “Christ suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God.” Today’s Gospel taken from St. Mark,1:12-15″ “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

The Gospel is about the Incarnation, the word made flesh who came and dwelt among us. In fact Christ is still dwelling among us. Lent is a time of renewal, a time of redemptive renewal. Lent is a time to get rid of our selfish ideas and renew our covenant relationship with God and with our brothers and sisters. Lent is about living the truth of the Gospel. When I got the ashes on my head Wednesday morning the priest said, “turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.” As a Franciscan the Gospel is about living in covenant relationship with all creation.

Peace.

Yesterday I attended Mass. The first reading was from Isaiah. I love Isaiah. The reading was from Isaiah 58:1-9. It really resonated with me and that reading is one of my favorites in the entire Bible. It really hits the nail on the head with regard to fasting. It’s Lent and many people are giving up food or something they enjoy. What is the point in all this? There is often a disconnect or at least there was for me over the fasting. A number of years ago I was involved with a young man who really took fasting seriously. This guy actually did a juice fast of over forty days. He was a spiritual seeker. He was really looking for God’s will. For me fasting is about getting closer to God’s will. A friend of mine says that he is giving up “bunjee jumping” for Lent. I love his wit and it resonates because so often there is a disconnect between fasting and what results.

The part of Isaiah that really grabs me is, “This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:
releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; Your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.”

In the Secular Franciscan Rule, we are asked to “seek to encounter the living and active person of Christ in their brothers and sisters, in Sacred Scripture, in the Church, and in liturgical activity”. Following Isaiah is an encounter with the active person of Christ in Sacred Scripture. What drives me as Franciscan is attempting to follow this Christ that I encounter in Sacred Scripture. Peace.