Communion

Flowers

Rooted in Love…

As the days passed by,
the flowers, still bright,
holding onto life,
begin to show the
length of days and nights,
separate, away
from the source of life.

Leaves dropping from stems,
petals shriveling,
on the outside first.
Time ticks, closing in.
Hold on as they may,
away from their roots,
they limp as they linger.

In the First Reading for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23), David and Abishai find themselves in a position of advantage, having the opportunity to kill Saul, who, along with his soldiers are in a deep sleep. However, despite Saul having grown distant from who he was at the beginning of his rule, and having become David’s enemy, David restrains himself and shows mercy. He says to Abishai, “Do not harm him, for who can lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed and remain innocent?” (v. 9).

Spend some time with the first reading and consider that as beings created in God’s image, in a sense, we are all anointed.

The response for the Psalm is, “The Lord is kind and merciful.” (Psalm 103:8). Reflect on the ways that the Lord has been kind and merciful to you. How does your experience inspire you in terms of the way you view situations and people? In what ways do you feel compelled to be kind and merciful to others? Are there areas where the Lord might want to work with you on expanding upon or reassessing this?

Turning to the Second Reading (1 Corinthians 15:45-49), St. Paul writes of Adam and Jesus, but he is also writing about the call to conversion and discipleship.

As was the earthly one, so also are the earthly,
and as is the heavenly one, so also are the heavenly.
Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one,
we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one. – verses 48-49

Envisioning your life as one line and the events/happenings during your life as another line on a continuum, think about the major events/happenings that have had a direct impact on you. What’s the difference between the times when you have maintained a sense of inner strength (or know-how) and peace, and the times you haven’t?

In the Gospel Reading (Luke 6:27-38), Jesus reminds us that Love is what sustains us. Not embracing cynicism, seeking or plotting revenge, settling or keeping scores. Rather, those are the things that tear us away from Love and the root of goodness and life—God.

How might you draw closer to Love in the challenges you face today? And how might the Lord desire to join you in an area of challenge?

The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in mercy. – Psalm 103:8

Heart with Love is patient, Love is Kind scripture verse.

On the Plain…

Blessed are we, created in the image of the Lord,
Who comes down from the mountain,
To stand with us on level ground.
Bestower of grace on all,
Willing spirits will receive Him.
Words of Wisdom and Hope He speaks,
Bringing Light and Life to the soul.

Care for the poor,
Feed the hungry,
Comfort those in need.
Way of ways, it is not easy.

Hold fast to only One—the Lord.
Falling not for hollow banter,
Careful of the ruse; it’s not True.
Look not to glorify others,
Rather, seek Wisdom from the Source.
Big and bold isn’t always best, and
Stay awake is what the Lord commanded.

Heart with Love is patient, Love is Kind scripture verse.
Flowers on the ground

By Faith…

So strong, so brave, so full of Life,
So strong, so brave, so full of Light.
Each day a treasure to behold,
Some sweet, and some that smart,
Some unlike any of the others.
So many days along the way,
Melting one into the other.
As you fell, we fell, always together,
Like flowers dropping off their stems,
Holding onto shape and color,
Faithful always, and to the end.
So strong, so brave, still so full of Life.
So strong, so brave, still so full of Light.

Flowers on the ground

For we walk by faith, not by sight. – 2 Corinthians 5:7

Fulfillment…

On the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ also known as Corpus Christi, the Collect (opening prayer) is: “O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament have left us a memorial of your Passion, grant us, we pray, so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we may always experience in ourselves the fruits of your redemption.”

Spend some time reflecting on this prayer and on the Sacrament of the Eucharist. What does it mean to you and how has it impacted you? Remember how you have experienced the fruits of the Lord’s redemption. What wonders has the Lord worked in your life? Take a few moments to express gratitude for these experiences and the awareness of them.

In the hymn One Bread, One Body, the lyrics direct us to mindfulness of our call, one and all, to unity as God’s people (the church):

One bread, one body, one Lord of all
One cup of blessing which we bless
And we, though many, throughout the Earth
We are one body in this one Lord – John Foley, SJ (excerpt from One Bread, One Body)

Recall a time(s) when you have experienced unity and the fruits of the Lord’s redemption with others? In what ways have you witnessed the hand of the Lord? Give thanks for these times of common ground and the remembrance of them.

What hopes and desires do you have at this moment for awareness and unity in your life? your community? your country? and the world? Share these with the Lord. Ask the Lord for the grace to further appreciate and be inspired by experiences of the outpouring of His love.

Pray for one and all to have an open heart and mind to the well-being of all creation, and above all, to draw closer to God so as to embody (to speak and act in accord with) God’s desires as expressed through the example of Jesus.

Rhododendron Flowers

How shall I make a return to the Lord
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the Lord. – Psalm 116:12-13

Heart shape made out of a pearl necklace

Marjorie’s Pearls…

A long time ago, in a place that’s near, but that seems so far away, an experience that left a lasting impression occurred. I was preparing to leave for college orientation and one of my aunts was at my family’s home visiting. She came into mine and my sister’s room as I was packing some clothes and we had a conversation. I don’t recall how long it lasted or even what we were talking about, but I do recall how it felt to have here there. She was so caring and genuinely interested in being present to me in those moments. I often think of that day with fondness and remember feeling so loved by her, both then, and every time it’s come to mind since then. There were pearls of wisdom, simply in her presence.

I’m not sure that I ever told her how much that time together meant to me, but I will always remember it, along with her hugs, as if embracing one with all her heart and soul—the very definition of Love.

In the second reading for the 7th Sunday of Easter (1 John 4:11-16), it is written:

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.”

Consider taking some time to reflect on the verses above and how they come into play in daily life including interactions with those who are known by you and those who are yet to be known by you (strangers). In what ways might you better cooperate with God in working to bring love to perfection in you as well as through you?

Heart shape made out of a pearl necklace

Social Security…

Listen to the flowers
As they huddle together.
From one petal to another,
Be attentive they say,
Perhaps in various states of array,
All rising from one stem, but in their own way.
Looking around, what do they see?
What’s happening?
What’s that, you say?
Cacophony must not dissuade.
Take heart and persevere,
Regardless of whatever, either, or any way.
From one petal to another,
Life goes on, and Eternity prevails
In taking great care
And consideration of each other.
Listen to the flowers,
From one petal to another,
They are one, though many,
As they “humble” together.

“Your neighbor is your other self dwelling behind a wall. In understanding, all walls shall fall down. Who knows but that your neighbor is your better self wearing another body? See that you love him as you would yourself. He too is a manifestation of the Most High, whom you do not know.” – Kahlil Gibran

On Earth…

This week, during a rainy, windy evening, suddenly there was a loud and thunderous noise. Jumping up to look out the window, the street and lantern lights made visible a blur of branches and leaves on a large oak tree as it made its way down to the ground. Thankfully, despite the cars traveling in both directions on the road, at the time, no one was hurt. Traffic ended up being re-routed and within hours the Department of Public Works pushed all the debris off the road so that cars could once again travel freely up and down the street.

Now, this tree had a very large limb dry up during months of drought in the area and in the weeks prior to this one, it had partially fallen away from the trunk. From the street, one could see it was resting on the ground while still hanging on, as if by a thread. However, it wasn’t until the remainder of the tree fell to the ground, that one could see the dried-out limb not only hanging on still, but also looking like a giant pair of legs, perhaps trying to run by or break free from the rest of the tree.

Today, taking in the sight that lies beyond construction barrels put into place to forewarn or keep back passers-by, but seeming more like a beacon calling forth, it’s interesting how these legs and their trunk appear so much bigger than they seemed when the tree was standing tall. It seems there’s so much more to discover about them now that they are down to earth, unmasked in a sense. Their depth, their breadth, their character, shine brighter than before… legs posing as if in an athletic move of some kind or another. Are they coming? Are they going? Maybe they’re doing both. Or, perhaps, it’s a maneuver, careful to resist trampling the branches and leaves all around them.

Shifting focus, fallen branches spread about, pointing in many ways; some with shriveled, brown leaves holding on, and then others with green or yellow leaves, holding on as well. Common ground on the ground, connected at the core, together. Next, a splintered trunk displaying hearty, woody layers that, though broken, still look fresh and full of life.

Imagine now, all these things once hidden, or less likely to be noticed, now laying on or partly resting on the floor, as if drawing closer to one another, to reveal an image not of heaven, but of faith on earth.

My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. – Psalm 121:2

Unto the Ages…

Some days the clouds rise upward, an example of striving and reaching higher, as if believing in the best, for the best. Knowing better, doing better. On others though, they seem to drift across the sky, as if allowing themselves to be carried along in a somewhat orderly, but carefree kind of way. Maybe that’s good too.

There are also days when the clouds seem to sit in place, still as can be. Then there are ones where they seem to vanish entirely, leaving only a shade of blue or gray behind. Although perhaps tempting to toss these kinds of days, where the clouds seem less than what they can be, aside, they also hold a message or way of being that can be very much in need.

At the end of a week that saw the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, who signified an age and a large part of the history around the world, on the same day as the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and that leads into the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks and tragic events, impacting so many around the world, the readings for the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Ex 32:7-11, 13-14; Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19; 1 Tm 1:12-17; and Lk 15:1-32), remind us about the truth of how relevant and valued we are to God and each other.

With a heart and mind drawn to history, let’s focus on the first reading and the passage in the Book of Exodus in which Moses implores God to refrain from taking wrath against the Israelites who are falling away and have been worshipping false idols. We can see that Moses intercedes on their behalf by speaking the truth of their shared history with God and calling for that to take precedence. This is something he keeps returning to and keeps trying to remind others about, along the journey. Moses remembers aloud God’s promise of life—a long line of descendants—and a place to live—land as a perpetual heritage—to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel. This is not to say that the people who have gone astray can or should do whatever they want, but rather to highlight the importance and necessity of commitment to each other and God as well as for faithfulness to include interceding on behalf of others for what is truly good and just. It’s a real sense of “you are our God… we are your people… together, we belong to you and each other.”

God listens to Moses, considers what he has to say, and turns away from the wrath he had intended to do. Through it all, the key is that Moses holds onto the truth, we are all relevant and valued—and refuses to be separated from the Israelites or from God. It’s all about the attitude toward relationship and unity. A great example of how One can make a difference.

So, the question that repeats itself throughout the ages, regardless of what’s happening in the clouds or the landscape all around me is… Is my desire to be united with God and others greater than my desire for the things that ultimately serve mostly or only me? And, in what ways do I believe in and commit to the best, for the best?

The Lord said to Moses,
“Go down at once to your people,
whom you brought out of the land of Egypt,
for they have become depraved.
They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them,
making for themselves a molten calf and worshiping it,
sacrificing to it and crying out,
‘This is your God, O Israel,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt!’
“I see how stiff-necked this people is, ” continued the Lord to Moses.
Let me alone, then,
that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them.
Then I will make of you a great nation.”

But Moses implored the Lord, his God, saying,
“Why, O Lord, should your wrath blaze up against your own people,
whom you brought out of the land of Egypt
with such great power and with so strong a hand?
Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
and how you swore to them by your own self, saying,
‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky;
and all this land that I promised,
I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.'”
So the Lord relented in the punishment
he had threatened to inflict on his people. – Ex 32:7-11, 13-14

To Build or Coming Together…

Walking along the pace is brisk in some places
and much slower and methodical at others.
The path so concrete,
laid out as clear as day,
but then seemingly disappearing,
leaving those travelling it to take stock…
to figure the way forward that safely,
or maybe wisely, fits them best.
Yet, sometimes the “where I am” and “where I want to be”
do not meet, or maybe just not yet.

A process that makes time, and the taking of it,
not only a good thing,
but also a necessary thing.
Overall, a journey building upon itself
before coming to the end of the trek,
or this one, on this plane, at least,
and landing on stable ground,
or rather learning to be steady
on whatever the ground may be.

While some building may call for a single column
as if marking the way,
some calls are for branching out,
and lending support.
Still rising, tall and strong,
a new look on a familiar way,
always moving, continuing the journey,
sometimes quick, slower at others,
maybe even coming to a pause,
but ultimately, always moving toward,
if not with, greater depth.

Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed. – Heb 12:13

When in Rome…

Recently, I took a trip to roam. Yet, I found myself surrounded by lots of moving pieces and it was hard not to get caught up in the pace around me. In a crowded space, quick not being quick enough, too many I’s to dot, too many T’s to cross, and seemingly no time or place for pause. But then, oftentimes there isn’t, until the room for it is made.

“The inspiration you seek is already within you. Be silent and listen.” – Rumi

How tempting it can be sometimes to fall into place and do as others do, or conversely, step out of line and walk away. However, what often gets lost is the balance that allows for the ground that is known as middle. It is the place where things are less extreme, grips and grasps are loosened, and real freedom is experienced. Not beholden to what is less than, the middle is the place that gives permission for mind and heart to meet, and for the soul to connect. And only then, in action there is peace.  

“…it is something very near to you, already in your mouths and in your hearts; you have only to carry it out.” – Dt 30:14