At-one Me With Your Love

When the hope that comes from our Easter faith is authentic it has to influence how we see our lives, including, indeed especially, our struggles and perplexities.

God is at work in us and in our world. The Resurrection of Christ is the absolute confirmation that what the goodness and grace of God has begun will be brought to completion. And what God seeks is nothing less than the transformation of creation.

But it will all be according to God's timing and wisdom - not mine!

My task is to so yield myself to the action of the Spirit of the Lord that I remain one with God's love and purposes.

I don't need to know how God is going to make it all come out all right in the end. It is God, not us creatures, who will see to the coming of the Kingdom. 

This prayer breathes that Christian confidence.

  God be in my thoughts, and in my heart. 

  In my left hand and in my right hand. 

  Atone me. 

  At-one me with you and your love. 

  Help me to pray for those I fear as well as those I love,

  knowing that you can take my most ungracious prayers 

  and give them grace.

                                                   Madeleine L'Engle

Pause as Autumn Begins

The schools have reopened, full work schedules have begun, and the leaves are displaying their glory before sinking to earth.

St Francis constantly said: "Let us begin again!"

The beginning of Autumn can be a moment to pause, review our lives with a gentle gaze and recognise what choices, what possibilities lie before us. 

Sarah Ban Breathnach writes in Simple Abundance:

 "It seems to me that January resolutions are about will; September resolutions are about authentic wants.... The beauty of autumnal resolutions is that no one else knows we're making them. Autumnal resolutions don't require singing, confetti and champagne. September resolutions ask only that we open to positive change."

As the year moves on, the days slip by, what positive change can I make?

Standing Steady

Any human being who is alert is conscious of the tension, the conflict that goes on between light and darkness around them and within their own hearts. St Francis de Sales said the border line between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light passes through every human heart.

For members of the Catholic community in Ireland and in many other places in the world these are very difficult days when the awareness of that struggle is hard and painful. The church is being purified and that work has to go deep. We are called to live out our Christian commitment in a time of darkness and uncertainty.

The struggle is real but so is the strength and courage that comes from the good Christ at this time.

As Christians we are not meant to downplay the reality of this struggle with darkness within our church and in our very hearts. We experience it; we see the consequences of it all around us. But if we are not meant to deny the darkness nor are we meant to be overwhelmed by it.

The Lord  knows what he is doing. I do not need to know how his grace is working as he purifies and brings healing. He alone can bring light from darkness, grace from sin and sorrow and shame, good from mess and failure.

Only his light can drive out darkness. And that is what he is doing now.

So now is the time for us to stand steady in that light.

Now more than ever we are called to hold firm, take heart and open ourselves as a faith community to receive from the Risen Christ the compassion that heals and frees us from the past, the trust that gives us courage in the present, and the wisdom and integrity that will enlighten our future path.

Goodness and Greatness

Continuing my ponderings on the vast mystery of God as Trinity.... This prayer, composed by the American friar, Richard Rohr, speaks to my heart.

God for us, we call You Father

God alongside us, we call You Jesus,

God within us, we call You Holy Spirit.

You are the Eternal Mystery

That enables, enfolds, and enlivens all things,

even us,

and even me.

Every name falls short of your

Goodness and Greatness

We can only see who You are in what is.

We ask for such perfect seeing.

As it was in the beginning, is now,

and ever shall be.

Amen

Trinity Sunday

The spirituality of  St Francis is deeply Trinitarian. His writings reveal a profound awareness of even now being immersed, sharing in the Communion that is God.

The grace of his baptism had come alive in Francis in his experience.  The same awakening of the gift  is offered to each of us.

So tomorrow's feast of the Holy Trinity is not meant as a theology lesson. It stirs up in us not only a spirit of awe and adoration before the Most High, but also confidence, assurance and joy in the God who has lifted us up into his own intimate fellowship.

The Spirit of God penetrates our most intimate personal depths. From there we can cry out in love and trust: 'Abba, dear Father.'  The Spirit places us within the very rhythm of the divine life, allowing us participate personally in the love that exist between the Father and the Son.

That is why love and prayer are going on in us, at the deepest level where our spirit has been touched and enlivened by the Holy Spirit. Our prayer can seem to us such a poor thing,  so distracted, so ‘unsuccessful’. But we do not see the reality. Our prayer is one with the communion of love between Jesus and the Father, this communion which is the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit becomes the soul of our soul, the most secret part of our being, from which rises unceasingly to God a movement of prayer.

I can see why Francis and the other saints keep reminding us: be careful that your understanding of the gift is not too small, your vision too limited, your hope too paltry.

The deepest things we need are not elsewhere. We  are in God; we live in God; we journey to God in God.

 

A Continual Pentecost

 

At the heart of the Rule and Life Franciscan friars profess is the statement by St Francis: “Let them desire above all else to have the Spirit of the Lord and His holy activity within them.” Francis goes to the very heart of the Gospel for if we do not understand the role of the Holy Spirit we just do not understand the Christian life.

Jesus did not come simply to teach us a new way of living. He came to give us new life by the gift of  indwelling Spirit. The outpouring of the Spirit is the summit of Christ’s mission, the greatest fruit of his Cross and the source of our transformation. By the gift of the Spirit the healing mercy and liberating power of Jesus Crucified and Risen are made present, real and available to us. The Holy Spirit carries us into the very heart of God.

Pope Paul VI once asked the question: “What is the greatest need of the Church?” And he answered: “The Church first and greatest need is to live Pentecost. The Spirit is the Church’s mystery and life. It is he who animates and sanctifies the Church. The Spirit is her divine breath, the wind in her sails,  the inner font of her light and strength. The Holy Spirit is her source of charism and song, her peace and joy. The Church needs her perennial Pentecost. She needs fire in her heart, words on her lips, and prophecy in her outlook. If we really love the Church the main thing we must do is to foster in her a new outpouring of the Divine Spirit.”

Our greatest need as a Christian people, especially in this time of purification, is a continual Pentecost,  an interior Pentecost. We need to live Pentecost.

The Fire still falls.

The Breath of God is still given.

The Living Water is still poured out.

Come Fire of God.

Come Breath of God. 

Come Spirit of God.

Living Water

“If you but knew the gift that God is offering you,”  Jesus said to the woman at the well.

To us he can say: “If you but knew the gift that God has already given you.” Through faith and Baptism that gift of living water, the gift of the Holy Spirit has already been given to us lavishly.

All Christ has done  - he has done for us

All  Christ has gained – he shares with us.

All Christ’s Spirit - he has poured out on us.

Thomas Merton wrote:  “We already have everything. Everything has already been given to us in Christ. But we don’t realise it, we don’t experience it.”

It is so important to grasp this truth if we are to get to the heart of our faith. Our on-going life of faith, prayer and service in the Christian community, our on-going relationship with the Lord is

-   less about multiplying religious practices - more about accessing the divine gift already given,

-   less about struggling to achieve some spiritual benefit - more about receiving ever more deeply what is already ours,

-   less about needing to do great things for God – more about abiding in his presence so that our lives are fragrant with his goodness and bear the fruit of love.

During these last weeks of Eastertide, as we prepare to celebrate the great feast of Pentecost, the Christian people seek renewal in the Spirit. We pray once again: "Come, Holy Spirit"

But is not really about receiving more of anything. Rather it is being made more open to experience and live from the Gift already within.

Touching our own Wounds!

I last reflected on how, like Thomas, we too can touch the wounds of Jesus when we reach out to the suffering Body of Christ today.

But what of touching the wounds of Jesus in our own lives?

Sometimes it is easier to show compassion to others than to ourselves. Many people can be harsh in their own self-judgement, their hearts tainted with bitter self-condemnation. For whatever reason, they have little or no gentleness with themselves.

But to have mercy on our own weaknesses,

to look with tender awareness as we struggle with heavy burdens,

to touch our own woundedness with understanding love

- this too is touching the wounds of Christ.

We are asked to mediate the Lord's overwhelming goodness to ourselves as well as to others. 

Touching the wounds of Jesus, in the lives of those who suffer and in our own lives – making contact with these wounds - still brings blessings.

Touching Christ's Wounds

What an extraordinary scene! Thomas reaches out tentatively, fearfully and touches the Lord’s wounds – the wounds of his love for us that the Risen Jesus will bear forever. 

And touching the Lord’s wounds heals Thomas’ own wounds of doubt and unbelief.  He is enabled to say:  “My Lord and my God” – that is the strongest act of faith in who Jesus is found anywhere in the entire Scriptures.

But this dynamic – touching the Lord’s wounds so our wounds are healed – that is a reality that still abides. For us also touching the Lord’s wounds opens us to deeper faith and love.

But how do we reach out and make contact with His wounds?

We touch the wounds of Jesus when we touch the brokenness of his suffering Body. We are all the Body of Christ, united with him, sharing in the one Holy Spirit. You remember what Jesus said, speaking of those who need our love: “You did it to me.” And on the road to Damascus the Risen Lord asked Paul, who was persecuting Christians: “Why are you persecuting me?”  In this profound mystery of our unity,  in our oneness with the Risen Lord our wounds are the wounds of the Body of Christ.

When we touch with love and compassion the suffering members of Christ’s Body, we are touching the Lord’s wounds now. And when we open our hearts to give in loving compassion, in whatever way, we also are opening ourselves to receive – to receive from the Lord grace and light.

I have seen it happen so often – people who are seeking a deeper relationship with Christ are brought to stronger faith and intimacy with the Lord when they take their eyes off themselves and show love to their wounded brothers and sisters.

We can touch his wounds today, and that gesture of faith and love still brings healing and blessings.

Our Empty Graves

I once got a card at Easter that wished that there would be "many empty graves" in my life.  Not the usual greeting! But it carries a deep truth.

 As I reflected I realised that again and again throughout my life the Lord's saving love has lifted me out of the graves of sin and shame, of failure and disappointment, the graves of pain and hurt, of loss and bereavement.  I have constantly found renewed hope and courage in the Risen Christ.

With the Lord there is always the possibilities of fresh starts in our lives.

With Christ every moment can be a new beginning.

This is what it means to say that he is our resurrection and our life.

The resurrection is not simply a past event in the life of Jesus. Nor is it simply a future event we look forward to in faith. Here and now, indwelt by the Spirit of the Risen Lord, the resurrection is meant to be a living power, a divine energy, in our lives.

What grave are you in now? What darkness entraps you? The darkness of fear or regret, of sin or bitterness, of  loss or of shattered relationships.

To believe in the resurrection in our lives means our hearts and spirits can now experience what our bodies will one day undergo.

May the Easter life flowing from the Lord pierce our darkness,  touch our weakness, and revive our deadness. Yes, indeed, may there be many empty graves in our lives.

Easter Light

We participate in his light and life.

We are busy here getting ready for the Easter Vigil tonight. One thing is clear - Easter is not simply a happy ending to the story of Jesus. If the resurrection was just that we would not be celebrating it with such joy. 

The wonderful truth is that all that Christ has done - he has done for us.  All that he has gained - he imparts to us. The Victorious Lord shares his victory with us, as  a free gift.

At the beginning of our celebration tonight the Easter Candle, a symbol of the Risen Jesus, will be carried into the darkened chapel. But we will not just look passively at that single flame. No, we will light our candles from the one candle, the light will be shared and spread out until the whole church is bathe in light.

So it is by participation we share in the new life of the Risen Lord. In Baptism we, as it were, lit the flame our souls from his one splendid flame. It is the whole flame we receive. In our oneness with the Lord we are gifted with his fullness - grace upon grace.

That is why Baptism is at the very heart of Easter. For it is through faith and baptism we enter into this new reality. Throughout the world tens of thousands of people will be baptised during the Vigil tonight. Some years ago, in our few Franciscan missions and parishes in Zimbabwe alone, some 700 adults were baptised during the celebrations of the Easter Vigil.

For us already baptised, tonight sprinkled with the sacred water, we choose again to live from Christ's Resurrection life. May his light so permeate our souls that we exult anew in Jesus as the sure hope for our world and the sure joy of our hearts.

Have a blessed Easter.