Sunday, April 18, 2010

How Do I Love Thee?

I have been reflecting on the Gospel from John 21 in today's liturgy since my prayer group met last Tuesday evening. It is about Jesus asking Peter three times, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" I wonder how Peter felt during this questioning. Surely, it must have been difficult for him to face Jesus. Jesus already knew that Peter truly did love him. I think perhaps he wanted Peter to realize or know it more deeply. Peter denied Jesus, however, he could still love him and serve him.
We, too, need to remember how merciful God is. As human beings we sin, we do stupid things, and we are sorry for failing in our love for God and others. It does not mean we love God less. It does mean that we need to learn from our mistakes and failings and turn to God for help, not turn away from God. We can search through prayer, reflection, and meditation to find that place in ourselves where we know how much we love Christ. It is in us!
Nine years ago, before I made my profession of vows, I made a 30-day Ignation Retreat based on the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius. It is a wonderful process of praying and reflecting on the Pascal Mystery and much more.
It had some difficult moments when I was faced with my own sinfulness and that of the world. Later in the retreat when I was given this passage from John 21, my reflection led me to watch as Jesus talked to each disciple before coming to me and asking, "Linda, do you love me?" I would have to go back to my journal from that year to recall my response, however, what I do remember is that because of my openness to all that God was desiring to give me that by the end of the retreat I was proclaiming from Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet, "I love thee to the breadth and depth and height my soul can reach when feeling out of sight."
It would be wonderful if you and I, and married couples could always feel this kind of love for Christ or a spouse. Human as we are, we know we can't always walk on Cloud Nine. Maybe, if we take the time, we can find that place in each of us where we know that love once again. Ignatius called it heartfelt knowledge of Christ's presence and love, and I like to add that it is heartfelt knowledge of our love for Christ.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

FASTING TO FEASTING

As I read the readings of the resurrection appearances this past week, I felt full of joy and resurrection within my own being. I was thinking how wonderful this is after weeks of fasting during Lent. There is so much to feast on.

First of all I am aware of how we can feast on God's love. We have just celebrated that God gave us Christ, his only Son so that we can be saved. We can feast that God is merciful, forgiving, and kind. Feast on all the good things that God has given you, such as, family, friends, community, life, love.

We have had some beautiful weather during these past two weeks. We have been feasting on the blue skies and sunshine, green grass, trees budding. The yellow forsythia is always a favorite of mine. I have been feasting on the sight of the different finches at my bird feeders. The geese are honking, the turkeys are gobbling, and the squirrels are playing. Spring is here!

Feast on who you are, on all that God has called you to be. God has given you so much to feast on. Everyday you can find a feast! Just open your eyes and your hearts.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

RESURRECTION

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. I was listening to many things during the Tridduum to plan what to post. The idea actually came to me this morning. At each liturgy, we proclaim a Memorial Acclamation. The one that seems to be used most frequently is, "Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again." Here is my reflection about this.
"Christ has died." We have just experienced the passion and death of Jesus on Good Friday. We have heard this many times. Jesus was put to death by crucifixion by the Jewish and Roman leaders of his time. For those of us who believe in Jesus as the Son of God, we also believe that death is not final. As St. Paul says in the Epistle read at the Easter Vigil, Christ's death was death to sin once and for all and that His life is life for God. In your life, how do you put consider yourselves dead to sin and alive for God in Christ Jesus?
"Christ is risen." Alleluia! I love when we get to sing it after so many weeks of Lent. Once again we heard the Easter story and we will continue to hear other accounts from the scriptures of Jesus' appearances during these next few days. Jesus has risen from the dead and, as St. Paul tells us, He will never die again. Death has no more power over him! Have there been times in your own life, when you have experienced resurrection and felt alive again? Perhaps you have experienced resurrection after a physical or mental illness, or have overcome some other difficulty in your life. Reflect on it. Recall the resurrection moment and give praise and thanks to God.
"Christ will come again." We believe that Christ will come again at the end of the world. He promised his disciples that he will be with us always. We wait in joyful hope. We do not have to wait until the end of the world. Christ comes to us everyday. He is present with us through his word in scripture. Christ comes into our hearts each day when we receive Holy Communion. He is present in each person we meet. I am aware of Christ's presence during times of reflection, or sometimes in a song. What are ways that Christ comes to you?
Be open to Christ's presence in your life. Look for signs of resurrection all around you. Blessings to all of you during this Easter season.