THE UNBROKEN WORD

I have just returned from a trip to Pittsburg, PA prior to the July 4^th celebration. The visit was to a Monastery there, which marked the foundation of the Passionist order in the United States, over 150 years ago. Celebrating Mass with the Passionist priests and community there, I saw a church which was built before the Civil War, has a relic of the real Cross and the remnants of what was once a large, joyous and vibrant community.

The community, albeit smaller, is still joyous, although like much of our clergy is considerably older and mourning better days for vocations. Amidst the retreat I was attending the Provincial Superior of the Passionists revisited the reasons the order was formed in the first place. His comments profoundly resonated with me.

As a young priest he found the message of the founder (St. Paul of the Cross) difficult to comprehend and engage at first. By digging deeper into the writings of St. Paul of the Cross, he discovered the reason the order was created. St. Paul could not find a message (from other spiritual sources, such as the Benedictines, Dominicans or even Franciscans) which matched the love he had for Jesus the Christ. Eventually, it dawned on him the love which Jesus had for us, particularly as expressed in the Passion of Christ was the message to communicate. He wanted to get “himself” out of the way and let Christ do the work. We often say the catchphrase, “Let Go and Let God,” but do we really mean it? Do we understand it?

Often when we spread the Word of God, we operate as a mirror. Someone in front of us sees our reflection, not the real Word of God, but what we want to project. In the presentation at the retreat, the image of being a transparent window to allow God to do the work through us came directly to mind. One where I “get out of the way” and let whatever God wants to have happen be between this person and their relationship with God.

At times when we celebrate our history, such as Independence Day, we can be pleased we live in a country which treasures many of the gifts God has given us; particularly the gifts of the Holy Spirit. However, to turn these gifts into fruits requires us, our ministry and vocation in the world, and a willingness to “Let God” shine through. This weekend, I am going to try and remember this message for the whole year. And recall anything I do should be in God, and not about me and my ego.

Left Alone

Going deep.

I recently had the opportunity to visit the Antelope Valley near Lancaster, CA. This time of year, springtime is so beautiful in California it is hard to describe. After a warm winter with much rain, the hills are literally alive with color. The time of renewal which was celebrated by the Celts and others around the world is very obvious to us all.

Few can describe this better than John O’Donohue in his bestselling book Anam Cara

“One of the beautiful transitions in nature is the transition from winter to springtime. An old Zen mystic said that when one flower blooms it is spring everywhere. When the first innocent, infantlike flower appears on the earth, one senses nature stirring beneath the frozen surface. There is a lovely phrase in Gaelic, ag borradh, that means there is a quivering life about to break forth. The wonderful colors and the new life the earth receives make spring a time of great exuberance and hope. In a certain sense, spring is the youngest season. Winter is the oldest season. Winter was there from the very beginning. It reigned amidst the silence and bleakness of nature for hundreds of millions of years before vegetation. Spring is a youthful season; it comes forth in a rush of life and promise, hope and possibility. At the heart of the spring, there is a great inner longing. It is the time when desire and memory stir toward each other. Consequently, springtime in your soul is a wonderful time to undertake some new adventure, some new project, or to make some important changes in your life.” O’Donohue, John. Anam Cara (pp. 165-166). HarperCollins

We have just encountered the spiritual renewal which comes to us from the Eastertime period. Here, God, through the sacrifice and gift of His beloved son, invites us to enter into our own springtime. Our renewal of spirit, returning the gift given to us by loving God even more.

Perhaps this springtime we can think about ourselves “going deep” in our relationship with Christ. How can we be more grateful, more gracious, more forgiving, more loving, more understanding … you get the idea. More.

By looking and loving all the renewal around us, it becomes almost impossible not to be more grateful for all we have, and all we have been given. So let us celebrate spring along with the flowers, the butterflies and the awakening nature which surrounds our lives; in a delight of our body and soul.

Poppyfields, CA