Celebrate!

Hello everyone. I'm Back! Sorry I have not posted for a while, but sometimes life just happens.

I am so happy to be a Sister of Saint Joseph. Yesterday we celebrated 150 years in the Diocese of Erie. We marked the occasion, with our associates, with a beautiful liturgy at St. Peter's Cathedral. Our bishop, Donald Trautman, talked about the group of apostles in the upper room at Pentecost and the little group of sisters who first came to the diocese. The procession, the liturgical dancers, the choir and music was more than we could have asked for. Many friends and relatives filled the Cathedral to celebrate with us. Then, we all went to the Bayfront Convention Center for a reception. I fell asleep last night recalling all that went on during the celebration. There was so much joy!

Four sisters came from St. Louis to Corsica, PA to open a school for girls called St. Anne's Academy. Mother Agnes Spencer, a woman of spirit, courage, and vision led the little group. Today, and throughout the last 150 years, the Sisters of Saint Joseph continue to serve the "dear neighbor without distinction" with spirit, courage, and vision.

If you have been thinking about a vocation to religious life, contact me at s.lfusco@ssjerie.org. I will be glad to talk with you. God's generosity will not be outdone.

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.

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.

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.

Lost and Found

There is so much material to reflect on in the parable of the Prodigal Son from yesterday's gospel. It is one of my favorite readings during Lent. The younger son was lost when he received his share of his father's inheritance and spent all of it on women, gambling, drinking. Eventually, he ran out of money, worked feeding pigs, and was hungry. You know the rest of the story of how he was welcomed back and forgiven by his father and not welcomed by his older brother.

We too can get lost in the same ways as this young man did. However, there are other ways of getting lost. These are just some brief thoughts I had.

We can get lost in our emotions. Depression causes us to turn inward and shut others out. We are lost to those who love us and care about us. We can lose ourselves by not remembering or caring who we are and the wonderful gifts we possess. Sometimes we may choose to not help ourselves by not seeking help. Yet we can be found! It might mean talking to a therapist and allowing ourselves to accept love from family and friends.

We can be lost spiritually. Many time when things don't go our way, prayers are not answered quickly enough, death of a loved one, or some other tragedy, we blame God. When this happens we might stop praying or attending the sacraments. We might lose faith in God. Yet we can be found! It can be as simple as uttering, "God help me for I cannot help myself". I believe that the moment we do turn to God in our need, God takes over. Slowly the Spirit works in us to lead us back to life, love, and relationship with God. Talking to a priest or spiritual director can guide us in prayer and reflection to encourage and deepen our desire to be whole and holy once again.

In other ways, we can be lost in our stubbornness, meanness, selfishness, lack of respect for others, or like the older brother in the parable, refusing to forgive someone. Our egos can block our paths. These characteristics can keep us bound and unfree. They do not allow us to be open to others ideas or needs. They do not allow us to be in right relationship with God and others. Yet we can be found! By recognizing these things in us, we can change if we want to. We can pray for the graces to help us become and practice kindness, patience, sharing, respectful, merciful.

"Be still and know that I am God". Lent is a great time for reconciliation. Take advantage of the many opportunities during this season to attend the Sacrament. Take some quiet time this week to imagine yourself walking straight into the loving arms of God. Let God hold you close to his heart. Allow yourself to be forgiven and changed where you need it.

TWO THOUGHTS

My first is that yesterday our congregation listened to a speaker on the vow of Celibacy. Much of it was about being relational. As I continue to reflect on what I heard, not only are we as women religious called to relatedness, but so are those who are married or single, young or old. Our speaker reminded us that no one can live in isolation.

My second thought is about the parable of the fig tree in the Gospel today. Like the gardener who wanted to give the fig tree another year to try to bear fruit, so I think God is like that with us. God continues over and over again to give us another chance to be who God knows we are capable of being. God gifts us over and over again with all that we need to do what God calls us to do. God forgives us over and over again to get our act together and return to God's loving embrace. If God nurtures us so carefully and gently, shouldn't we do the same for each other? Isn't it all about being relational?

LISTENING

Today's Gospel tells about the Transfiguration of Jesus while he was on the mountain with three of his disciples. While Jesus was conversing with Moses and Elijah, the disciples heard a voice from heaven saying, "This is my chosen Son, listen to him".

Here we are beginning the second week of Lent. How are you doing with the ways in which you planned to observe Lent this year? Listening better in prayer is one thing I am trying to do this year. First of all it takes quiet and time. The quiet is easy. For me it is making the time that is a little more difficult. However, I'm working on it. Listening takes patience, faith, and an open heart. Sometimes, God doesn't speak as quickly I would like. I know the importance of waiting and staying focused in prayer. My spiritual director has said that whenever I am ready to give up, give a little more time and see what happens. Sometimes it is in those last few minutes, that I hear what I have been waiting for. I shared with my prayer group that a couple of years ago when I was on retreat, I was telling the director all the things I prayed and said to God. She asked me what his response was. I said I did not listen. I spent the whole retreat sitting still and listening.

Henry Nouwen says that when we are anxious, tense, or worried our anxiety does not allow us any space to listen. We cannot receive the voice of God. We need to create the space to listen so that we can hear the voice of God call us, "beloved". I hope you can make the time to sit still during this Lenten season to listen. I will continue to work at making time. Let us keep each other in prayer.

Oh, by the way, March 1st is my eighteenth anniversary in community. I am excited by that. Please pray a prayer of gratitude to God for calling me to this vocation. Thanks.