Friday, April 29, 2022
Thursday, April 14, 2022
"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
“Father,
forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
It is also the prayer on my lips as we enter this holiest of seasons,
the Sacred Triduum.
Our CDN community recently joined with other religious sisters, brothers and priests to pray together for the most recent homicide victims here in Chicago. We gathered on a windy cold Chicago morning, on the 2200 block of W. 72nd St. to mourn the loss of Nyziereya Moore, a beautiful 12 year old girl who was killed by gun violence as she rode down this city block in the car with her family, out to celebrate her 12th birthday.
Nyziereya
was one of the 31 names (and ages) that we reverently read aloud at the vigil,
pausing to remember each of them in prayer and honoring their life. The
homicide victims this past month ranged in age from 12 to 70 years old, each of
their lives cut short by senseless violence. “Father, forgive them for they
know not what they do!”
The Chicago Catholic Sisters come together every month, since 2018, to pray with those and for those affected by violence here in this city. The mission of the homicide prayer vigils are to pray for the victims, their families and friends as well as pray for the perpetrators and their families and friends. To ask God for a change of heart in all of us so that no more blood will be shed on our streets and to be a visible presence in confronting the issue of violence.
“Father, forgive them for they know
not what they do.”
In Luke’s story of the Passion, Jesus
is also quoted saying to the women of Jerusalem, “Daughters, Weep for yourselves and your
children.” During this Sacred Triduum, I weep in prayer to God for a change in
my own heart. Through my prayer, I want to be part of the metanoia that our
world needs, to help stop the senseless killing of our sisters and brothers. This change needs to begin with me and not by
me looking to others to legislate my change of heart. No one can change our
heart for us. We have to do that ourselves, with God’s grace of course. As
Jesus went to his death, he didn’t rail against those who were
responsible for putting him to death, he prayed for his persecutors and
executioners. And he continues to pray
for us. “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
This canonical year here at the CDN is focused on the importance
and the power of prayer. As well as the need to make time and space for prayer
in our lives, especially as religious sisters. I pray that I continue to grow in
my love of being a faithful woman of prayer. I want to model Jesus’ love of
prayer, especially in his/my most painful times. It is painful to think about
the many victims of violence around the world and how many people’s lives are
cut short each day by violence, including Jesus’ life. But Jesus reminds us in
his Passion that God’s love always wins in the end. And if God won’t give up on us, then I won’t either. During this
Sacred Triduum and beyond, let me continue to look for signs of hope in our
world and to be signs of hope for others in the world, especially through my life of
prayer. “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
So, how about you? How is Jesus
asking you to be a woman of pray this Triduum? Pray about it.
Blessings for a holy Triduum and a joy-filled
Easter!
Thursday, April 7, 2022
A glimpse of a reflection on the vow of poverty
Peacefully waiting for Sunrise at Lake Michigan
I recently heard a story of a wise teacher asking his students, “If you want to boil a pot of water and there is not enough wood, what would you do?” One answered, “I will go and look for more wood.” The other said, “I will cut the trees and make more wood.” Another said, “I will go to the market to buy more wood.” The teacher asked again, “What if none of those options are available?” There was a long silence pause because none of the students had the answer. The teacher finally said, “How about we pour some water out?”
Sometimes, I can see we make things more complicated and try so hard to keep everything on our plate, but the easiest solution is to let go. Many time, that is the best way. I especially experienced this when I traveled. It’s so much easier, and I was so much happier with a backpack when I didn’t have to carry heavy luggage.
In last Sunday's Gospel, John 8:1-11, Jesus also challenged the scribes and the Pharisees to let go of their judgment, criticism, knowledge, strictly following the rules, and pointing fingers at the woman caught in adultery. Jesus was able to open the eye of their hearts and he was able to convert the scribes and the Pharisees who were present. They were able to see deep down in their souls and were able to put down the stones and the burdens they carried. Hopefully, they were able to let go of their perfectionism, education, knowledge, and criticism and were able to accept the humility of being vulnerable and failing. They too depended on God’s mercy, compassion, and forgiveness for their imperfections, sins, and weaknesses.
Jesus taught people back then and now teaches us to choose life that gives us peace, joy, and frees us. Our part is to do our best to constantly make choices and to let go of the heavy burdens which we carry with us on our journey. Learning from Jesus, the vow of poverty teaches me to let go of things that I carry which can sometimes weigh me down or can damage my relationship with God and my brothers/sisters.
In our daily life, if each of us can stop for a few seconds or slow down to hear Jesus' voice, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light," Mt 11: 28-30 we will be less worried and travel lighter with greater peace, joy, and freedom.
Signs of new life and hope around me
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Friday, March 25, 2022
Self-less Service
At the CDN, we are
being formed to embody the charism of preaching. We have had preaching practicums,
where we learn about the “dos and don’ts” of proclaiming and preaching the
word. There have been many opportunities
to preach with our lives. We have also been invited to proclaim and preach the
word of God from the strategically placed ambo in our chapel. This is intended
to help us to further grow in the art of preaching and to build our confidence.
In this blog, I will
share my preaching for Monday, March 21st 2022 of the third week of Lent.
It is a short reflection on 2 Kings vv. 1-15 and is entitled “self-less service”.
Self-less service
It is challenging at
times to forgive those who have hurt us. It is often more challenging to seek
their best interests. The little Israelite girl was torn away from all that she
knew and cherished. Her faith in God and God’s ability to work miracles were
not diminished by her unfortunate life circumstances. She was able to look
outside of herself in the midst of her own trials and see another. This little
girl was able to empathize with her capturer. She recognized that he too was enslaved.
He was enslaved by leprosy. The little girl willingly disclosed the key to his
freedom, to those who kept her physically captive. She was spiritually free although
she was bound in service to Naaman’s wife. This little girl demonstrated great
faith and love. One can infer that she forgave her capturer because unforgiveness
imprisons and restrains us from lovingly and generously serving others,
especially those who have harmed us. This little one is a model of faith, hope
and love. In the midst of her circumstances, she chose to serve in ways that
glorified God.
Elisha also chose to
serve in ways that glorified God. He could have refused to intervene when he
heard that the King of Israel was distressed at receiving the king of Aram’s
letter. Elisha could have refused to help those who had caused so much pain to
his people. He could have judged them as being unworthy to receive God’s gift
of healing. Since it was well known that only God could heal leprosy, Elisha seized
the opportunity to evangelize: to lead the enemies of his people to the living God.
Elisha allowed himself to be God’s instrument of healing and grace to Naaman.
Elisha and the little Israelite remind us that God’s love and mercy is for all of creation. I am often challenged to respond in love when others hurt or reject me. It is a humbling process, where I present my pain, fear and anger to God and ask God to help me to forgive so that I can love and serve in ways that glorify God. God gives us the graces that we need to remain faithful to God and God’s work of love even in the midst of our trials. We are also invited to demonstrate our faith in the living God by seeking the best interests of all whom God places upon our minds and hearts.
Please know that I am not suggesting that anyone should accept abuse. If you or anyone you know is in an abusive situation, honour your dignity and life by seeking help from safe individuals or institutions, which protect vulnerable persons. Abuse is wrong and is not to be condoned under any circumstances. We are all made in God's image and likeness and God's desires that each of us is treated with love and respect.
It is through our life experiences that we encounter
God who desires to deliver us from all that imprisons us. It is through our
daily routines that we not only encounter God but find opportunities to indiscriminately
and joyfully lead others to God. Daily, we are invited to be present to the God
of every moment and to be instruments of God’s healing and grace. Let us seize
the opportunity today to joyfully serve God by selflessly serving all others.
The little Israelite girl: a model of selfless and joyful service to God through others
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