THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. This always falls on the Fourth Week of Easter. In today's gospel reading Jesus tells us how the Shepherd calls each of his sheep by name. The sheep know his voice and they follow. The sheep also know that the Shepherd will lead them to pasture. How do we hear the Jesus, the Good Shepherd, call each of us by name?

I know for myself that being faithful to taking some quiet time to be still and listen is important. Leaving room in my heart for the Shepherd and not crowding it with other things that would not allow space for Him to enter is crucial to my spiritual well-being. It is through the image of the Good Shepherd in the book, "Hinds Feet in High Places," by Hannah Hurnard that I came to know many years ago that I could have a relationship with Christ. Ever since, when I need to rekindle that relationship, I go back to the image of the Good Shepherd. He truly laid down his life for me.

Jesus also said in the gospel today that he came that we may have life abundantly. In following Christ I can be aware each evening as I pray my Examen of the blessings of each day. Then, at the end of each week when I list the graces I have been given, I realize how blessed I truly am and how abundant are the graces.

Today also marks the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Pray that more young men and women will hear the voice of the Shepherd and will come and follow.

CHRIST IS PRESENT

I enjoy looking at the daily readings after Easter. Between Easter and Pentecost the readings are all from the New Testament. My favorites are Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb and the disciples on the way to Emmaus. I like to imagine the joy they felt when they recognized the risen Christ. There are times in my own prayer when I recognize Christ's presence, not only with me, but also in what I learn or discover about Christ or myself. My relationship with Him may deepen, or I may understand a situation more fully.

In other readings during this time we listen to how St. Peter or St. Paul proclaim Christ's presence to the people in the cities and towns to which they traveled. Where and to whom do I/you proclaim Christ's presence? How do we do this in our communities, with our families, and those to whom we minister and with whom we minister? A few years ago a retreat director told me to invite Christ each and every day to wherever I go to increase my awareness of Him being with me. It also reminds me of whom I am in the presence of when I see the faces of all the "dear neighbors" that I meet each day.
Another theme in these post-Easter readings is the new community of the followers of Jesus. The readings describe how they share all things in common, looking out for widows and orphans, and participated in the breaking of the bread. It seems as though there was no looking out for number one going on in these communities! So, as you continue to listen and read these New Testament passages, be aware of how Christ is present to you and how you bring His presence to others.

TRIDUUM

Triduum means "Three Days." These days that begin today with Holy Thursday are the pinnacle of the church year. About 20+ years ago I had the privilege to teach the catechumens at my home parish about the liturgies of the Triduum. I remember telling them to use all their senses. These days are filled with wonderful rituals to observe and in which to take part. They are filled with the smell of incense. The readings remind us of how we were saved by God through God's Son, Jesus Christ. We hear about the covenant God made with the Israelites and their journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom. We listen to St. Paul tell us about the dying and rising to new life with Jesus and that death has no more power over Him nor over us. Then we are sprinkled with the waters of Baptism and renew our baptismal promises.
For me these days draw me to reflect on the passion and death of Jesus. The Ignation way of praying by using my imagination and placing myself at the different scenes of Christ's passion and death are most helpful to me. Read a passage from scripture. Then sit quietly with it and place yourself in the passage. You can be one of the people from that passage or be yourself. Be part what is going on. Pay attention to what Jesus may be saying to you personally. Also be aware of how you respond and behave in this scene. Pay attention to what you are feeling. After the time of reflection, I always find it helpful to journal about the experience.

Many blessings to all of you this Easter.

SURRENDER

This morning I read the four gospel accounts of Jesus' passion and death. The theme of surrender came through to me.

First, during the last supper, Judas surrendered to the evil and fear within himself to betray Jesus. He was afraid of the religious and Roman authorities. Judas thought that Jesus' way of doing things and his preaching would cause more trouble for Jesus, the disciples, and the people. He was partly correct. The religious leaders did not approve of Jesus and as we all know plotted to get rid of him. Surrendering to fear, Judas made a deal to turn Jesus over to them. When have you surrendered to fear rather than do good?

Secondly, after the Last Supper, Jesus and his disciples went to the Mount of Olives. He asked Peter, James and John to go a little further with him. At prayer Jesus prayed to his Heavenly Father to please somehow not let the events that were about to happen take place. Jesus then went over to Peter, James, and John and found them asleep. One gospel said that they surrendered to their grief, so they slept. This must have been a very sad moment for Jesus to see that he could not count on them to be strong. He returned to prayer and again asked God to take away the cup he was about to drink. However, this time Jesus surrendered to his Father's will. This is what he was called to do. Have you ever surrendered to grief that you slept to avoid it? Was there ever a time when you found it difficult to surrender to God's will in your life? How did you surrender to God's will? What happened after you did so? What happened or would have happened if you did not surrender to the will of God?

Then Jesus was brought before Pilate. After much questioning Pilate could not find any reason to keep Jesus. The religious leaders were adamant about putting Jesus to death. They incited the crowds who kept yelling, "Crucify Him." No matter what Pilate said or did, the crowds would not be satisfied until they got their way. Fearing a riot or dissension with the higher authorities, and fear for his own position, Pilate surrendered to the crowds. He washed his hands and gave Jesus over to be crucified. When have you surrendered to doing what you know is not the right thing to do? When have you not stood for the innocent?

In the end, hanging on the cross, Jesus surrendered his spirit into his Father's hands.

AWAKEN AND COME OUT

Spring is a time of new life. Birds migrate back to the north. In fact, you can once again hear the bird chirping early in the morning. The sun rises earlier. The skyline on a clear morning as I drive to school is beautiful to behold. We have a few warm days to give us a glimpse of summer. The snow has finally melted and green grass is visible. Soon the trees will begin to have buds on them. The crocuses have already popped out of the ground. Everything that has been asleep all winter will now awaken and come out.

How fitting that we celebrate the resurrection of Christ in Spring. As Jesus called Lazarus in today's gospel to "come out" I too am looking forward to coming out. I have been reflecting on what needs to be awakened in me. Perhaps these thoughts will help you also in your reflection.

How is Christ calling you to "come out"?

Does your relationship with God need to be awakened?

Does your self-confidence need to come out?

Do you need to awaken in yourself to be more hospitable, more kind, more generous?

Does a positive attitude, service toward others, or forgiveness need to come out?

Does your passion for life need to be awakened?

My sense of awakening and coming out is stirring now that it is spring. My whole being seems to come alive as the weather gets warmer. My mood is elevated and I have a hopefulness of new life and energy. We have ten more days in Lent. We may still experience the passion and death with Jesus during Holy Week. However, we can look forward to the promise of resurrection in the here and now as well as at the end of time.

BRADFORD

As part of our 150th Anniversary Celebration this year, many of us went to Bradford, PA to celebrate with the people there. Many of our sisters are natives of Bradford, Lewis Run, and the surrounding areas. We began with liturgy at Saint Bernard's. Then everyone went across the street to a hall where there was a lovely reception.

Our sisters served in the schools in that area for many years. Although I have never ministered in Bradford, it was wonderful to hear the memories shared and the comments about how the sisters reached out to people. There was a wall filled with cards congratulating us and thanking us for our years of service that were made by children who probably were born long after the sisters were gone from the area. The old school is torn down now and a Tops supermarket is in its place. As one woman said, "Little do people know they are shopping on hallowed ground."

I am happy that I went to this celebration as it has helped me know a little more of our history in Bradford and the people whose lives were touched by our sisters.

THE WOMAN AT THE WELL

Water is an essential part of our lives. Think about all the ways in which we use water: for drinking; cooking; washing; bathing; and swimming. Water brings life to plants. Then there are those places without water: the desert-dry and arid; countries where water is such a precious commodity that they must walk miles to get clean water. Things wither and die without water. And of course we know the destruction water can cause by flooding and the recent tsunami in Japan.

In the first reading today the Israelites were physically thirsty and they grumbled against God and Moses, who provided water for them to drink. In the Gospel the Samaritan Woman was spiritually thirsty. Her thirst is quenched when she meets a stranger by the well. This unnamed woman has looked for love and acceptance by drawing from wells that failed to satisfy. She longs for relationship with others and with God.

Are we not like the Samaritan Woman? We long to be in relationship with others. Our souls thirst for God. We seek truth about ourselves as well as the truth about our relationship with God. We draw water from countless wells: wells of success; wells of importance; wells of praise; wells of pleasure; and wells of pride. You can probably name some of your own wells.

Jesus, in his asking for a drink, was offering the grace of living water. The Samaritan Woman was resistant. She wanted to go about her own work and not be bothered by this Jewish man. Think about those times when you may have resisted grace. You may have been too busy, not open to change, did not want to go out of your way, and so on. As Jesus said, "...if you only knew who it is that is speaking to you."

The Samaritan woman, perhaps out of curiosity, continues to speak to and challenge the stranger. However as their conversation continues, she begins to listen and challenges less. She begins to let her guard down seeing that this man is someone who listens to her and is accepting of who she is. Slowly the grace of living water begins to seep into her thirsty soul. Then when Jesus reveals to her, "I am he who is speaking to you," the grace begins to flow and her soul is open to receive fully the grace of the life giving waters that Jesus is offering.

Do you remember a time during prayer or retreat when, after some reflection and resistance to grace, your heart and soul surrendered and opened to receive the grace that God was offering to you? Remember how it filled you with whatever emotion you might have experienced? Remember how is quenched your thirsty soul?

Little did the Samaritan Woman know that her ordinary task that day of drawing water would turn her world around and transform her. From thirsting and longing, she was given new hope and new life.

Jesus is the only well who quenches our thirsty soul and gives us new life. As Lent continues, let us draw closer to Jesus, our life giving water.