Monthly Archives: July 2023

The Gift of God’s Love

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On the morning of my 51st birthday last week, I awoke with a lovely ear worm – “I love you Lord, for you have delivered me.” These are the opening words of Psalm 116 (I Love You Lord) by Mission House. I had discovered a new acoustic version of the song the night before, and to my joy and delight it was still in my heart and head when I awoke that day filled with gratitude for the gift of life and God’s love.

Daily life, with its periodic ups and downs, stumbles and misteps, chaos and noise sometimes makes it harder for me to remember the awesome mystery that God loves me and you and everyone else no matter what. I find it helpful from time to time to take some time away to spot the unmistakable gift of God’s love in nature.

Just the week before I’d gone on an afternoon walk in a local park in Bayonne, New Jersey where I observed two turtles out for a swim on a very hot day. For my birthday present I gifted myself with some quiet time with God in Maryland, in St. Mary’s City and on the Eastern Shore. On my walks and meanderings a cardinal allowed me to take its portrait, some trees gave me shade, and a great blue heron stood still in witness of the wonder of it all. If you don’t believe me, you can watch the video prayer I made set to the beautiful song by Jess Ray and Taylor Leonhardt of Mission House, in which all these friends make a guest appearance.

I love You, Lord
For You have delivered me
I love You, Lord
For You have delivered
My soul from death
My feet from stumbling
I will walk in the land of the living
My soul from death
My feet from stumbling
I will walk in the land of the living

I will bless You, Lord for You heard my cry
I reached out my hand and You saved my life
I will bless You, Lord for You heard my plea
And the God of Heaven turned His ear to me

I will bless You, Lord for unending love
For Your grace and mercy raining down from above
And I will bless You, Lord to the very end
I will call on You as long as I may live

Amen

The concern of I AM

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In today’s reading from the Book of Exodus (3: 13-20) God is revealed to Moses as I AM. Years ago my spiritual director helped me to appreciate this in a particular way. God does not reveal God’s self as I was or I will be but rather I AM. Here and now in this present moment. In every present moment.

This morning as I prayed with this passage, my attention was caught by what Moses is told to tell the people.

“Go and assemble the elders of Israel, and tell them: The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has appeared to me and said: I am concerned about you and about the way you are being treated in Egypt; so I have decided to lead you up out of the misery of Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.”

God is concerned about us, in our present, always. We are God’s concern.

Sit with that a minute.

As I sat with that realization this morning I was reminded of a video prayer I made a few years ago while on retreat, set to I Am by singer songwriter Jill Phillips.

I am constant, I am near
I am peace that shatters all your secret fears
I am holy, I am wise
I’m the only one who knows your hearts desires
Your hearts desires

Amen.

What would it be like if we knew this truth in the depths of our hearts … and acted accordingly? Sharing the concern of the Great I AM for ourselves, each other, and our wounded world?

Groping our way forward

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Today is the Feast day of St. Kateri Tekakwitha. In today’s Blessed Among Us feature in Give Us This Day, Robert Ellsberg writes:

St. Kateri was born in 1656 near present-day Auriesville, New York. Her mother, a captured Algonquin, was a Christian, while her father, a Mohawk chief, viewed the new religion with deep suspicion. Both parents died from smallpox when Kateri was four. Her own scarred face showed the marks of the disease, which also darkened her vision, causing her to stumble in the light. As a result her people called her Tekakwitha—“the one who walks groping her way.” When a Jesuit missionary arrived in her village in 1674 she requested baptism. She was given the name Kateri—a Mohawk version of Katherine.

Don’t we all stumble at times and grope our way forward? I know I do. Kateri Tekakwitha may be just the companion we need for these complex days of chaos and uncertainty. Just because we stumble in the light does not mean the light is not there. And even if we must at times grope our way, we can walk the way of peace, love, justice, and integrity in gratitude and hope.

Painting by Nancy Marek (mareksaints.com)
Statue of Kateri Tekakwitha in Collegeville, MN

I love these two images of Kateri Tekakwitha. The first, a painting by Nancy Marek, is new to me. The second is a photo I took of a statue on the path near a lake in Collegeville a few years ago. Knowing what I now know about her name and her challenge making her way in the light I love these images even more.

Do you see her posture? Sitting in one, standing in the other, looking ahead in both in faith, wonder, and awe, she is surrounded by the goodness of God’s creation. So too are we, even if we don’t always see it.

Pray for us St. Kateri Tekakwitha. Help us to face forward in hope, love, and trust even if we stumble or grope to find our way. Journey with us as we nevertheless walk together in faith. Inspire us to look for goodness and wonder. Be with us on the journey.

On the Value of Work and Leisure

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When I was a novice, we attended classes with those in formation with other religious congregations. One day, we were sharing the words of our different Constitutions on the vows. That is when I discovered that what has become one of my favorite passages in our CSJP Constitutions is rather unique. Not only does it talk about the value of leisure, it is part of our vow of poverty section!

In solidarity with our sisters and brothers

we engage in human labor

as a means of service and sustenance.

We recognize the value of leisure

as contributing to restoration and wholeness.

In these ways we come to share

in the creative power of God.

(Constitution 54)

Work is good and important and part of the way we participate in the creative power of God. But so too is leisure. We are called to be whole persons, and this requires making time and space for rest, relaxation and renewal.

I am so blessed to be a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace for many reasons, including this commitment to holding each other accountable to this balance.

Starting today I am stepping away from my day to day ministry life for a mix of some restorative work and leisure. Over the next ten days or so, I will be visiting with friends and family. I will also be joining two sister writer friends for a writing retreat. Did I mention how blessed I am that my community supports me in making time and space for this in my busy life?

How are you making space for restoration, wholeness, and the creative power of God in your life these summer months?