CLOSER TO HONDURAS
This past Monday I found a buyer for my house, through a local realtor. I am glad that I will not have to worry more about this, but it is bittersweet. The house has been a blessing for me - a place to call home, a place that sheltered my dying father for a year, a place to welcome friends and students, a place to pray.
But a new place, a new home awaits me. And I have found some great friends here to support me and to help.
It will be hard to leave - and I am beginning to feel the pain of leaving, of separation. Some of it is a letting go of control, as I leave behind my ministries. But it is also a leaving behind of friendships, accomplishments, memories.
But I feel confident that this is where God is calling me. The signs are so clear. And though it will be hard, this is where my heart is calling me.
In my talks at our Antioch retreat I often quote Frederick Buechner: "The place God calls you is the place where your deepest gladness and the world’s greatest hunger meet."
There is great need in Honduras and I feel great joy at the prospect of serving.
May God help me be faithful in this new mission.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
HANDicapped
A week ago in New Orleans working with a group from St. Thomas with Catholic Charities' partner, Rebuilding Together, I fell and broke the metacarpal bone connected with the ring finger of my right hand. I will be in a 'cast' for four weeks.
This will be a test of my ability to undergo adversity. I'm not doing very well,since I find myself frustrated at how long it takes to do things and how difficult some daily routines are.
Lord, give me patience.
A week ago in New Orleans working with a group from St. Thomas with Catholic Charities' partner, Rebuilding Together, I fell and broke the metacarpal bone connected with the ring finger of my right hand. I will be in a 'cast' for four weeks.
This will be a test of my ability to undergo adversity. I'm not doing very well,since I find myself frustrated at how long it takes to do things and how difficult some daily routines are.
Lord, give me patience.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
THE RICH MAN and LAZARUS
Tonight's Gospel is Luke 16: 19-31, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. As I prepared for a reflection at Thursday Night Liturgy these texts came to me:
“When you give something to the poor, you are not giving him what is yours, but are just giving back to him what is his, since the goods of this earth belong to all, not just to the rich.”
“O man, if you do not have a coin, give a poor man your hand, because he shows greater mercy who by his own hand leads a poor man who is weak to his table. He gives his very self to the poor man who devotes himself to his service, makes himself the poor man’s servant.”
“The abyss was one a gate that could be opened easily, but with recurring choices to ignore the need of others the gate separates us and becomes inaccessible.”
“Today we are reminded to look to the gates in our lives and see who waits for us, for it is God who sits begging for us to notice.”
“The church is asking you to be attentive to the weak and the vulnerable, those in whom Jesus Christ rejoices because they see what has been hidden [from] the clever and the capable (cf. Matthew 11:25). Never forget this criteria: it is the most precious, the most certain, the most concrete criteria which will help you to recognize what Christ expects from you… The direction is clear: live poorly as Christ did, live with the poor in order to live with Christ. The renewal of the church always comes as we dare to live a covenant with the poor.”
Tonight's Gospel is Luke 16: 19-31, the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. As I prepared for a reflection at Thursday Night Liturgy these texts came to me:
“When you give something to the poor, you are not giving him what is yours, but are just giving back to him what is his, since the goods of this earth belong to all, not just to the rich.”
St. Ambrose
“O man, if you do not have a coin, give a poor man your hand, because he shows greater mercy who by his own hand leads a poor man who is weak to his table. He gives his very self to the poor man who devotes himself to his service, makes himself the poor man’s servant.”
St. Peter Chrysologus
“The abyss was one a gate that could be opened easily, but with recurring choices to ignore the need of others the gate separates us and becomes inaccessible.”
“Today we are reminded to look to the gates in our lives and see who waits for us, for it is God who sits begging for us to notice.”
Megan McKenna
“The church is asking you to be attentive to the weak and the vulnerable, those in whom Jesus Christ rejoices because they see what has been hidden [from] the clever and the capable (cf. Matthew 11:25). Never forget this criteria: it is the most precious, the most certain, the most concrete criteria which will help you to recognize what Christ expects from you… The direction is clear: live poorly as Christ did, live with the poor in order to live with Christ. The renewal of the church always comes as we dare to live a covenant with the poor.”
Cardinal Roger Etchegary
a talk to young people in Rome for the new millenium
Sunday, February 25, 2007
FREEZING RAIN and SNOW
It has been raining or snowing since late Friday. The trees were covered with ice and then snow and so many tree limbs have broken. My telephone line is broken due to fallen limbs and the electric line is on the ground under the limbs. I pray the electricity doesn't go off.
Two of the large bushes on the west of the house are leaning over - pressed almost to the ground - under the weight of the ice and snow. They provided some shade in the summer; I wonder if they will recover.
I have gone out twice and shoveled the sidewalk and part of my driveway but I expect to do that at least once more.
About eight to twelve inches of snow have already fallen. It is beautiful - but also a bit dangerous. Falling limbs and downed power lines are just indications of the difficulties that many may be experiencing - without lights or heat.
This is probably my last experience of a major winter storm for a while. But the people of Honduras experience drought and hurricanes and other natural disasters as well as the human disasters of hunger and injustice.
Today is a reminder of the precariousness of our existence. We are not in control. We need God's help and the solidarity of other human beings.
So today as I thank God for the beauty of creation, I also pray for those who suffer. And I recommit myself to the service of the poor.
It has been raining or snowing since late Friday. The trees were covered with ice and then snow and so many tree limbs have broken. My telephone line is broken due to fallen limbs and the electric line is on the ground under the limbs. I pray the electricity doesn't go off.
Two of the large bushes on the west of the house are leaning over - pressed almost to the ground - under the weight of the ice and snow. They provided some shade in the summer; I wonder if they will recover.
I have gone out twice and shoveled the sidewalk and part of my driveway but I expect to do that at least once more.
About eight to twelve inches of snow have already fallen. It is beautiful - but also a bit dangerous. Falling limbs and downed power lines are just indications of the difficulties that many may be experiencing - without lights or heat.
This is probably my last experience of a major winter storm for a while. But the people of Honduras experience drought and hurricanes and other natural disasters as well as the human disasters of hunger and injustice.
Today is a reminder of the precariousness of our existence. We are not in control. We need God's help and the solidarity of other human beings.
So today as I thank God for the beauty of creation, I also pray for those who suffer. And I recommit myself to the service of the poor.
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