Many years ago, there were three friends who wanted to devote themselves to the work of God.
The first devoted himself to the work of making peace among those who were in conflict, helping to reconcile the estranged and alienated.
The second opened a small house to care for the sick and dying.
The third went off to live a life of prayer in the desert. The first friend worked tirelessly to help warring factions settle their differences, but could not resolve them all. Tired and frustrated over the wars he could not prevent, he went to visit his friend who was caring for the sick, but found that he, too, was exhausted and discouraged in the holy work he had taken on. So the two friends decided to go spend time with their friend in the desert.
They told their friend the monk of their difficulties and frustrations and asked if he had dealt with the same discouragement. The monk was silent for a time; then he poured water into a bowl. “Look at the water,” he said. The water was turbulent and moving. A few minutes later he asked them to look at it again. The water had settled down – and they saw their own reflections in the still water as if they were looking in a mirror.
“In the constant motion of our own lives lived among others, we do not see our own journey very well; but if we embrace the tranquility found in the stillness of prayer, we begin to picture where we are and where we are going.”
Throughout his Gospel, Mark portrays Jesus as being uncomfortable with his growing renown as a miracle worker and healer. Despite the many demands made of him and his dedication to his work of preaching and healing, Jesus makes time to let the waters still, to retreat to a quiet place to let his own spirit settle, to find within himself God’s grace and blessing to continue his work. In our own over-scheduled, stress-filled lives, we can drown unless we let the waters still and stop to see ourselves clearly in those waters. To seek out a “desert” place of our own demands a special humility that recognizes God in our midst and understands that we are called to be the means of his compassion in our world wherever we find ourselves.
I pray with you today that we have the courage to let the waters of our lives go still!
Archive for the ‘5th Sunday’ Category
Still Waters 2-5-2012
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012Your Are The Light Of The World Deacon Patrick Conway 2-6-11
Sunday, February 6th, 2011A few times a year I like to play a game I call “Help the Preacher!” That’s where I email the 527 people in our parish database and ask them to share their stories of faith. You always give me such great stories!
In today’s Gospel Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world, so I asked you how you try to be light to others. I also asked you to tell me about some people who light up your life.
Here’s what you told me:
I try to start the day off by reading God’s Word. It really prepares me for my line of work. I deal with parents and mostly kids all day with my baseball lessons. I feel that God calls me to be a light of encouragement for every child I work with. Without preaching in the batting cage, I do my best to try to shine the light of Christ.
I find that a greeting card can bring light into life. Last Sunday when I went to visit the nursing home a woman told me it was her birthday. I sang “Happy Birthday” and it brought such a beautiful smile that I thought about her all week. When I was shopping I bought a “belated” card for this lady and dropped it off today. I was gifted back with another of her beautiful smiles.
I’ve always loved that quote from Saint Francis that goes something like this: ”Go out and spread the Good News. Use words if you have to.” Being a public school teacher, I can’t overtly proclaim Christ’s Word, but, through my actions, I can try to be as kind and patient as I can be. Of course, I sometimes “fumble”, but, as Father so eloquently demonstrated a couple of weeks ago, you just have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get back on the path (with the help of Christ’s message shining like a beacon to guide us.)
Here’s what you told me about how others light up your life:
I almost dismissed this email, but as I was trying to find my missing keys (again!) I realized that my husband is the light of my life. He’s the one who always finds my missing keys! It’s my husband who always puts our life into proper perspective. He walks with peace on his mind at all times. A few years ago, when I wasn’t feeling good physically, emotionally, or spiritually it was my husband (raised as a Protestant) who came home with a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He knew I had a devotion to Mary, and as we were trying to find a suitable place in our yard for the new statue he said to me, “You’ll be OK…..We’ll be OK…..” My husband’s light shines so bright in this world that you can’t miss that he is a happy soul.
There is a light shining in my world and he’s here at mass each Sunday. When my daughter needed help with her math studies, this gentleman offered to tutor her. They’ve been meeting once a week for several months. My daughter’s math grade has significantly improved, and so has her self-confidence. This man works with other children as well, donating even more of his time to those in need. He could be enjoying retirement life on the golf course or doing many other activities. Instead, he chooses to serve our children. He is truly a light shining among us.
Father Ron is so friendly and welcoming. His homilies are humorous, to the point, and just the right length – like a woman’s dress: long enough to cover the subject but short enough maintain interest!
Many years ago I decided to end my abusive marriage. I knew it was for the best, but I was filled with guilt and dread over how this would affect our children. When I told my son’s teacher about it, she opened her arms wide and gave me a warm, long hug while saying “I am so proud of you.” She told me that she knew what a good mother I was. She said I was such a wonderful example to the children of how to take care of myself and them, and how to face the hard things of life with love and intelligence. She was a light to me. She didn’t say “God.” She didn’t preach. She just believed in the goodness in me. I not only felt understood and supported, but she also gave me a model of how to “be” during and after my divorce. Her kind words comforted me and gave me strength to seek the light of God in others.
I immediately think of the Lucas family: Joe, Sylvia and Michael. They certainly show many of us how to learn to cope with adversity with great faith, patience, and love. Lights shining in our midst.
Over the past few months I have spent many hours outside the Aptos Safeway collecting receipts to raise money for my children’s school. It has been my great honor to watch Robert at work. In the fall, even on the days in scorching heat when he would work hours on end gathering heavy carts, he always did it with a smile on his face. This past Monday he was cleaning cash registers with a cloth. But he was not just rushing through it to get the job done, he was actually “in the moment” very present with his task and doing it so lovingly with all of his heart and being. Several times Robert stopped to talk to me to make sure I had eaten and that I was doing okay. And every time with the brightest smile. Robert is truly living in The NOW and his light shines so radiantly and beautifully. It was honestly my greatest blessing to observe him; it made my whole day and I was completely uplifted.
And what is this light that shines so brightly at times within us and around us? It is Christ himself, the light of the world, shining through us and showing the people around us the way to hope, faith and love.
I’ll close with this beautiful poem by Beatrice Clelland. It’s called “Portrait of a Christian.”
Not only in the words you say,
Not only in your deeds confessed.
But in the most unconscious way
Is Christ expressed.
Is it a beatific smile?
A holy light upon your brow?
Oh no, I saw His presence when
You laughed just now.
To me ‘twas not the truth you taught,
To you so clear, to me so dim.
But when you came to me
You brought a sense of Him.
And from your eyes He beckons me,
And from your lips His love is shed.
‘Til I lose sight of you
And see the Christ instead.
The Raising of Lazarus 3-21-2010
Sunday, March 21st, 2010From Give Me Jesus, p. 57, by David Haas. Copyright 2009, GIA Publications, Inc.
This song comes from the amazing story of the raising of Lazarus. Prior to the hopeful words, “I am the resurrection, I am the life; all who believe in me shall live,” we see a Jesus who weeps over the loss of his friend. True resurrection is preceded by sadness and death, even for Jesus.
While not a literal translation, the name Lazarus has been paraphrased to mean “God to the rescue!” Resurrection is far more than a bodily resuscitation. Resurrection is rescue from the many deaths that occur in our lives and all that would take us hostage. To embrace Jesus and his resurrection is to embrace hope. To embrace Jesus and his resurrection is to say loudly and clearly to the forces of sin and hate, “You will not prevail!”
The Lord’s voice had to be loud and piercing in order for Lazarus to hear it through the rock and many bandages as well as through the stench of death. The voice of Jesus promising resurrection is always trying to break through our own many barriers and tombs. At times, this voice is yelling “Come out!” to all of us bound by the bandages that have been imposed upon us, sometimes by our very selves.
Why is this refrain sung over and over again, almost relentlessly? Because we usually do not hear it or get it at first; sometimes we need to be hit over the head, so to speak. We need to keep telling ourselves over and over again, however unbelievable, that this Jesus is our resurrection from every kind of death that surrounds us. Let’s keep the song going in our heads and hearts, and hopefully, like Lazarus, we will be rescued and emerge rejoicing from our tombs.
On this Fifth Sunday of Lent, we join with our RCIA candidates and elect in taking a closer look at ourselves. Let us pray silently for a moment, that all of us will be given a sense of sin, a spirit of repentance, and true freedom as children of God.
Let us all ask ourselves:
• What are the things that keep us entombed?
• How can we remove our many bandages and step into the light of day?
• What is Jesus trying to say to us as we move from bondage to
resurrection?
Let us pray:
Christ Jesus,
there are so many things
that break us down,
where hope seems lost,
and survival seems
at its end.
Come now,
and rise in us today.
Come now,
and help us to be a part
of your resurrection song.
Come now,
and rescue us
once and for all
Amen.
