August 26, 2008

Stay Connected!!

I am still having computer glitches, so I have another laptop with me in Dubuque, Iowa for a meeting. I have had trouble staying connected, however, and being unconnected is not a pretty “site”! It is essential to stay connected – yes, via the web, but more important, by any means.

Discernment is about recognizing connections and maintaining relationships to discover more about your hopes and dreams.  You must stay connected to God through prayer, of course, but it’s also important to stay connected with a particular community, vocation director or community member.  Nancy makes that point quite well in her reply a couple of days ago.

Nancy had connected with several communities and that made the difference in her discernment.  She and I kept up conversation, sharing and arranging visits – all helpful in her discernment.  While God leads us in the right direction, we need to take hold of the opportunity God lays before us. Nancy is just one example of connectedness as a vital and essential tool in discernment.

Staying connected with women who are in discernment is vital to me.  I hope I can be a conduit for God’s presence in your discernment.

Today – reflect on your connectedness. How is it with God these days?  What is God saying through your connection? How is it with your discernment and  who might you need to connect with? Go for it … and stay connected!!

August 23, 2008

Prayerful Rest of "Computer Minds"

This week was most frustrating with my laptop.  Basically, the hard drive is full and can’t handle any more information.  When that happens it leads to a very lethargic computer that doesn’t process many commands, including Save, Print, etc.  In the midst of my very busy week it  was not helpful!

This week I received an email from a woman who has been on our inquirer list for over a year.  She receives our monthly STEPS email.  After our August email she decided it was time to contact me.  She has been thinking about religious life and was full of information and decided it was time to take a further step.

Isn’t it true that we can only retain so much information before our minds begin to get unfocused, overwhelmed and maybe even shut down?  When that happens to me it means I must sit down and compile all my information into a to do list or make notes.  Okay, it often results in a long nap too! I simply have to organize the information to make it manageable and address the essentials.  Take a deep breath and reassure myself I can only do so much in a day.

The point being we get to a place where we are over-saturated and need to clear out some files, pursue some ‘to do’ item or rest and let God bring to the foreground what our next step is.

Discernment is no different.  An important aspect is to gather information and experiences about the choices you are considering.  There is a point when we get enough, though; something we just seem to know at the time.  Then it is time to let God work in us through prayer and attention to God.  There is a time to organize our information, narrow some choices and maybe write a ‘pro and con’ list.  Often, a decision to explore a particular community surfaces.

Basically, we all have computer minds.  Even the smartest laptop needs to rest and reset. Let prayerful rest guide our decisions, and let God filter through our experiences.  Let’s Save, Delete, and Print under God’s guidance.

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August 22, 2008

God's Promise

Thursday’s Scripture at Eucharist comes straight from the Prophet Ezechiel. It was my favorite passage from him.

Ezechiel writes about new life using the image of dead bones rising with new flesh, new energy and new purpose. He is speaking to the Israelites who have been beaten down into Exile. Ezechiel speaks for the Lord and proclaims a new life is coming to God’s People.

It is all about God’s Promise as proclaimed through Ezechiel: “I will give you a new heart, a new spirit.”

Isn’t it a great Promise to us? God brings new life, new skin on old bones, new energy and a new Spirit. It takes looking with eyes of faith to see the positive in life and the upside of the challenges life brings. That is the crux of faith – to believe in a new Spirit and a new Life – even when the challenges may be overwhelming.

Discernment is about seeing with God how your life is unfolding. When reflecting, praying and pondering on a new energy – like joining a religious community – The Promise is with you.

Discernment is about believing in The Promise clearly presented by Ezechiel. Following God’s Path will “grant you a new spirit, a new life.” The Promise comes around repeatedly in life when we are centered on God and on following God’s lead.

Talk about energy – the Olympics are incredible in energy. What we can do with our bodies, with discipline, with such an intense focus on a goal – that is a sample of God’s creative power exploding.

How focused are you on The Promise?

August 20, 2008

Prayer of Saints Benedict and Scholastica

We also pray the following prayer of Saints Benedict and Scholastica at Vespers:

Raise up, O Lord, in your church, the Spirit which prompted our holy founders, Benedict and Scholastica; that we, being filled with the same Holy Spirit, may strive to love what they loved and to practice what they taught. Grant us, we beseech you, O Lord, perseverance in obeying your will so that, in our days, the faithful dedicated to your service may increase both in holiness and in number. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

To all the readers of this blog: Please let me know if you have any suggestions for other prayers here. As for our daily Psalms, you can find a chart for every day of the week on our webside and pray them with us!

August 18, 2008

Benedictus

We pray the Benedictus – the song of Zacharias at the birth of John the Baptist – every evening, at Vespers:

Blest are you, the God of Israel, you have come to your people and set them free. You have raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of your servant David.

Through your holy prophets, you promised of old to save us from the hands of all who hate us, to show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember your holy covenant.

This was the oath you swore to Abraham and Sarah: to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship you without fear, holy and righteous before you, all the days of our life.

And you child shall be called the prophet of the most high, for you will go befoe the Lord to prepare the way, to give God’s people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

August 16, 2008

Magnificat

We pray the Magnificat every morning at Lauds:

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior.

For you have looked with favor on your lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blest: you the Almighty have done great things for me and holy is your name.

You have mercy on those who fear you, from generation to generation. You have shown strength with your arm and scattered the proud in their schemes,


Casting down the mighty from their thrones and lifing up the lowly. You have filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.

You have come to the aid of your servant Israel, to remember the promise of mercy, the promise made to our ancestors, to Abraham, Sarah and their children forever.

August 16, 2008

A Discerning Woman

Yesterday was the Feast of the Assumption and a great day to celebrate Mary.  Today, as a Saturday at St. Mary’s, we are honoring Mary.  It struck me throughout Eucharist and in evening prayer that Mary is the model for discernment.

Mary is the most prayerful person I can imagine.  The Bible verse where “she pondered these things in her heart” could be a motto for discernment.  Isn’t that what it is all about? We must hold close our experiences in prayer, and ponder them in our hearts.  This is how we will know the message in the experience.

Mary has long been an example of obedience to God’s Will.  From the moment she discovered she was to carry the Son of God, Jesus, she opened her whole life to doing whatever was needed.  Her beautiful Magnifcat (which we use daily in our common prayer) is, as far as I am concerned, the most beautiful of all prayers.  It is simply a woman giving herself over to God and praising God.

In discernment we must listen, ponder our experiences, pray, praise God and then, in the heart, we will know God’s will.  It is a challenge to open our heart in this way – for the ultimate message is unknown.

Whether we are seeking answers about our life direction, or finding strength to meet life’s challenges – a discerning heart is essential.  A pondering heart is essential.  A prayerful heart is essential. Finally, a trusting heart is essential.  Mary teaches the way to discern and know God in our life choices.

Those of you on this journey of discerning where God is leading you to live, take heart in Mary’s Way.  Perhaps it would be valuable to pray with the Magnificat or with Mary in one of the Gospels.  I find it very helpful to sit with Mary in my prayer and let her presence fill me. Let her be your powerful model in your discernment.