Time To Retreat

As I write this I am getting ready to go on my annual retreat. Often when we think of that word it may conjure up an image of going backward or moving away from something in a stance of defeat but that is not the case. My reflection today brought me to see this word through my experience of teaching little ones phonics for many years (perhaps more than I'd like to own up to!). Each year we would get to the topic of prefixes such as un-, pro- and re- to name a few. Adding these little sounds to the beginnings of words impacted their meaning in some way. In the case of re- it usually meant (we all know that our language has many exceptions to the rule!) to do again. It was pretty easy to explain that rewrite meant to write over again, or how remake was to make again and my second graders could always come up with examples of their own. But today, as I am thinking about my upcoming retreat, I am thinking that it is truly a gift to be able to re-treat myself each year by spending this special time with God. Throughout the year I may treat myself to an ice cream or a movie but those things as scripture tells us are passing. To treat myself, to be in the presence of God in this special way, to let go, if only for a week, of the many things that often distract me from God's presence in my life is a blessing that takes root within and remains to be drawn upon throughout the year. So I am off to RE-Treat myself to a wonderful week. A week of quiet reflection and conversation with my God. A week to rest, renew and refresh body, mind and spirit. What about you? Can you take some "Mary Time" out of your "Martha World"? It is hard sometimes to let go and let God, but go ahead treat yourself and perhaps you'll be re-treating for years to come.

Woman of the Gospel

Today is the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus' faithful disciples. It was she who stayed at the cross when others ran and who was the first to run after seeing the Risen Jesus proclaiming the Good News....the Gospel message....the foundation of our faith......He is Risen! It is no wonder that this wonderful disciple was chosen to be the patron of the Dominican Order, the Order of Preachers. Each July when this feast comes around, I ponder how blessed I am as a Dominican sister to be connected to Mary Magdalene-the first preacher of the Good News. She proclaimed this Good News to those who were quick to question not ready perhaps to accept it - especially from this source. Yet, she was the instrument God chose to bring the message of our salvation to the world. Her feast reminds us that as Dominicans we are all called-men and women alike-to proclaim the Gospel with our words and especially with our lives. St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us!

Miracles-They Do Exist!

With all that's going on in the world today, I often hear folks say: "Aren't there any miracles in the world any more because we could surely use one!" It's easy to feel this way. If we think about all that's going on - oil spills, earthquakes, wars, tornadoes, institutions that we once trusted and believed in under a cloud of uncertainty, people starving while one athlete or rock star's salary could feed a nation, why wouldn't we question the presence of miracles in our time. Yet, just yesterday, I held a miracle within my arms. Her name is Jasmine Veronica and she was just 4 days old. As I looked down on this miracle of life, it occurred to me that each of us was once that small, unassuming miracle in someone's arms. Yes, each of us is God's miracle sent into this world to bring a unique picture of God's love to humanity. So while it is true that when I look around and see all the things that are plaguing our sisters, brothers and all of God's creation it is easy to say:" aren't there any miracles any more?" but I need not look any further than within myself, to my neighbor or the rising of the sun, to realize that miracles abound each day in many unannounced ways. They come without trumpets blaring or lightening from the sky but in the endless ways that we bring the face of God to each other. Thank you, Jasmine Veronica, for being God's gentle reminder that there are still miracles today!

In My Life.........

A high school friend of mine recently turned 60 (yes 60!) and I traveled out to Brooklyn to share this momentous event with her and several of her friends. I don't get to see Terry too often what with her living in PA and me in NY but over the years we have always managed to stay in touch. It was a lovely spring evening, and when I arrived I realized that I did not know most of the folks who were there, reminding me that over the years our divergent paths have led us to many other relationships beyond those early high school days. It did not take long though to become very comfortable in this group for I discovered that two things connected everyone who was there....our love for Terry and of the Beatles! Yes the Fab Four were certainly high on our experience charts. Terry (always the creative one) gave a presentation that night reflecting on her life's journey to this point and at the end of each phase related it to a Beatles classic which we sang with much enthusiasm! As the evening wore on it became evident that no one left a stranger to another for we shared a special bond through the stories and music that so shaped our lives. Recently, I was speaking to a group of junior girls at a high school and one remarked that she LOVED the Beatles. I was surprised that she even knew about them but then found out about"Guitar Hero". When I told her that I had been at their Shea Stadium concerts in the 60's she looked at me wide eyed. I wondered if she was impressed that I saw them or that I was that old, but regardless it left some impression on her and the group!

Since my experience at Terry's party, I have reflected on what other events, people which have touched my life and has transcended other generations. There are many to be mentioned for sure but I think the bottom line for most of us has to be our belief in loving and caring God. As much as I can find fond memories and comfort at times in hearing a Beatles song, there is nothing that compares to the realization of how God has touched and shaped my life. The Beatles told us that "All You Need Is Love" but over the years as my relationship with God has unfolded, I've discovered that I don't need love because I have LOVE within me always - the LOVE that is God - the Love that is constant - the LOVE that never ends - the LOVE that transcends all others. I have been blessed to experience this LOVE in my life and share it with others along the way. Through their music, the Beatles taught me much about life and perhaps they put it best when they sang: "to lead a better life, I need my love to be near" because I've discovered when God is near to me I can just "Let It Be"!

Scattered

Haven't been here for a while. Guess you could say I've been a bit "scattered". Interestingly enough, in today's Gospel that exactly what Jesus tells his followers that's what is going to happen to them in the days to come. Yes, scattered due to fear of Jesus' arrest and ultimate crucifixion and yet in Acts today we also hear of some scattered disciples. Paul and company scattered about not out of fear but to boldly proclaim the Good News of Jesus death and resurrection. Now let's remember hindsight is 20/20 and the disciples are now filled with the Holy Spirit impelling them to preach Jesus the Risen Savior. As I read this though I thought...what about us? Or perhaps more rightly so, what about me? I certainly believe in the Gospel message and have received the Holy Spirit in Baptism and Confirmation, should I not be impelled to preach the Gospel either in word or action as boldly as the early disciples? What holds me back? Is it that I am scattered about too many things and not focused on the call to discipleship that I have been blessed to receive? As I begin this new week of ministry, I pray I can hold these thoughts before me and not let myself get scattered among the distractions that turn my focus away from the work God calls me to do.

A Tale of Two Cities

Last weekend my ministry called me to two events both focused on vocations. The first was in Newark, NJ where evening Mass was celebrated by Bishop Myer at the Cathedral followed by a reception. The following morning I was going in another direction (to my home diocese-Brooklyn) to Our Lady of Hope in Middle Village, NY for another beautiful Mass celebrated by Bishop DiMarzio followed by a reception. Both events were lovely. Present at each reception were representatives from various religious orders and diocesan priests and people of all ages and cultures came to look at the displays and partake in refreshments. It was wonderful to talk to the older people who told stories about priests, sisters and/or brothers and the positive influence they had on their lives. For the younger folks, it was a chance to ask questions, find out what sisters, brothers, priests and deacons really do and where they serve. Some were straight forward, others a bit shy but in each (whether in Newark or Middle Village) had one thing in common - they were looking for a deeper understanding of this vocational choice.
As the weekend drew to an all too quick conclusion, I began to reflect on those who attended and I thought of the approaches they took to gathering their info. I guess you could call them the "seekers" and the "sneakers"! Each had a yearning to discover God's plan for their lives. The seekers were more direct and straightforward in their approach. The "sneakers" seemed to tiptoe around the subject a bit more not wanting to reveal their hand so to speak either to the representatives or God and should someone broach the subject to them were ready to move away from the table politely but quickly!
I reflected upon my own journey at that age and thought I was definitely a "sneaker". Oh yes, I felt God's call, God's nudge so to speak but I did not want to be so direct as to ask a sister or priest what I should do.....I would go through those "nun" catalogs with my girlfriend Jackie and we'd make comments about the funny veils or dress that sisters wore but it took a long time for me to reveal that I might like to be one of them! I told God that He was barking up the wrong tree and there were plenty of other girls who'd love to answer the call. I had my "sneakers" on and both physically and spiritually was ready to run in the other direction!
But.....God had other plans and would not give up on me! Eventually, the nudges became stronger and I yearned to deepen that relationship God had been nurturing so lovingly. Yes, it was time to take off the sneakers and begin to walk the journey unshod for I knew I was now walking on holy ground.

Believing and Be-living

On a beautiful sunny Saturday morning, I recently attended a high school youth conference at which the keynote speaker asked a simple question: "Who do you believe in?". With great enthusiasm the group responded: "Jesus!" He continued to ask the question over and over directing it to one side of the auditorium or the other and each time the response got louder and even more enthusiastic than my elder ears could imagine possible as each side of the aisle tried to outdo the other. Then, after the last exchange he challenged them with this simple phrase: "Well, if you say you believin' - you better be-living!". Silence pervaded as the depth of the statement sank in among the youth and adults alike. How easy it is to say I believe and how difficult at time to truly be-living what Jesus calls us to in life. As I looked around at the over 300 teens who had made the journey from all over the NY area to be here early on this Saturday morning-I thought of myself at that age and wondered if I would have been there. I also thought of myself and how I grumped around the kitchen earlier that morning, trying to get a sufficient infusion of caffeine, and thinking: " Why am I doing this so early on a Saturday? I'd love to go back to bed!" Then I looked around again at those youthful faces filled with enthusiam and love for Jesus and I knew why I was there - to see a future for our Church and society - a future filled with hope. As they day went on small and large group presentations continued and the energy level never diminished. As we concluded with Eucharist we sang "We Are The Body of Christ" and the voices of women, men, young, old, black, white, rich, poor , religious and laity were truly a physical expression of our mystical union in Christ. Heading back home I could not help but pray, Lord help my beleiving and may all my be-living be done in You! Amen!