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The subject of personal boundaries is addressed in Chapter 8, but in a way that we do not often consider. Each of us has set, or at least tried to set, our personal limits for how we live our lives. But have we considered how we may infringe on the boundaries that others set for themselves? i can’t deny that I am the world’s worst, and have been guilty of interrupting another’s right to speak without trespass for most of my life. As the eldest of nine children, it was always the child who spoke first and loudest who usually ended up with the goods. However, in the last few years, I’ve begun to appreciate the quiet a little more than before, and only in recent months, have I truly realized the delight that comes from respecting another’s right to complete their sentence. So while I am finally coming to understand the value of another’s boundaries in conversation, I’m still a work in progress.
The authors point out how our personal boundaries govern how we “gift” ourselves to others in offering hospitality. For introverts, it can be a truly draining experience, particularly when you are dealing with large groups of people every day. For an extravert like myself, it just requires a little balance. I have learned enough about holding boundaries that I know when i need to stand down and regroup. I know that a quiet weekend at home makes it possible for me to give 120% of myself in a week filled with events, but it’s taken longer for me to know how to regroup afterwards. Constant reevaluation of those boundaries, and how we care for ourselves, is important to avoid the pitfalls of selfishness that can overtake us in being hospitable to others.
Blessings to you,
Nancy Biehler
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Living in a State of Gratitude
Though Chapter 6 moves us back to the awesome responsibility of listening in our relationships, it does also offer an important clarification of what intimacy in relationship is all about -- really hearing what the "other" in our life is saying, and deepening the level of relationship as a result of doing so. It broadens the whole scope of intimacy for those who have limited it to a physical connection.
Another important consideration in Chapter 7 focuses on the necessity of living in a state of gratitude, because accepting the bad with the good is also part of hospitality, leaving judgment behind, and being secure enough in ourselves to still be grateful in spite of the difficulties. I presume that most of us in morning prayer start the day off with a statement of our gratitude for life, thanking God for another blessed day and the opportunity to live in it. But I also believe that as the day wears down, we often lose sight of the way it started. How many have come home with the "I had a terrible day" syndrome, or needing a glass of wine or something stronger to smooth over the ruffled feathers of the day's encounters? We all know that experience! So to be able to start and finish the encounters in the same grateful state may be easier said than done.
I think back to the wonderful presentation at Between the Masses last Sunday, when Kristin Armstrong talked about living every day with pure intentionality. I've brought that subject up before in this blog. Kristin addressed it from the perspective of making a list every evening -- an Examination of Conscience, as a Magnificat reader referred to it -- evaluating all of the "important" steps taken in living an "intentional" day, being present to yourself, to your children, to your friends (and that doesn't mean meeting all of the "delivery" schedules!), and then making a list of how you hoped to live intentionally the next day.
This process would surely slow many of us down, perhaps even ground us better in how we live our lives. We're thinking of starting a group here at SJN to help us "train up" for such a practice. I, for one, may need to be the first one in line for that!!
Blessings to you this week,
Nancy
Another important consideration in Chapter 7 focuses on the necessity of living in a state of gratitude, because accepting the bad with the good is also part of hospitality, leaving judgment behind, and being secure enough in ourselves to still be grateful in spite of the difficulties. I presume that most of us in morning prayer start the day off with a statement of our gratitude for life, thanking God for another blessed day and the opportunity to live in it. But I also believe that as the day wears down, we often lose sight of the way it started. How many have come home with the "I had a terrible day" syndrome, or needing a glass of wine or something stronger to smooth over the ruffled feathers of the day's encounters? We all know that experience! So to be able to start and finish the encounters in the same grateful state may be easier said than done.
I think back to the wonderful presentation at Between the Masses last Sunday, when Kristin Armstrong talked about living every day with pure intentionality. I've brought that subject up before in this blog. Kristin addressed it from the perspective of making a list every evening -- an Examination of Conscience, as a Magnificat reader referred to it -- evaluating all of the "important" steps taken in living an "intentional" day, being present to yourself, to your children, to your friends (and that doesn't mean meeting all of the "delivery" schedules!), and then making a list of how you hoped to live intentionally the next day.
This process would surely slow many of us down, perhaps even ground us better in how we live our lives. We're thinking of starting a group here at SJN to help us "train up" for such a practice. I, for one, may need to be the first one in line for that!!
Blessings to you this week,
Nancy
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
God is Present in our Work
The earliest memories I have of my mother are those of how she loved to set the table with all the proper appointments -- matching placemats, crystal, plates and silverware. Every detail was attended to -- and the table was always set, even when there was no dinner planned. She would change out the glassware, or the tablecloth, or the placemats, to offer different dining presentations. She was always ready for the unexpected guest. It was a perfect model for me, and the life I would grow into here at St. John Neumann.
I've always been a "Martha" in Jesus' circle, ready to manage the cleanup, do the dishes. Particularly in my church work, it often means that I'm in the kitchen after every event. And for many years, it was carried out with such resentment, because after the more thrilling hours of planning and setup, and several fun hours of meeting and greeting, I felt like I was left in the kitchen "holding the bag." In reality, it was my ineptness at organizing volunteers to take care of the cleanup. I so clearly remember an occasion almost a decade ago, when I had been on my feet for 10 hours preparing for Our Lady of Guadalupe's celebration. We had successfully hosted and served a marvelous crowd of several hundred parishioners. By 10pm I was the only one left in the building, and I was on my knees trying to scrape the glitter glue off the floor where the craft activities had been carried out.
The authors address this issue in Chapter 5 and remind us that God is present in our work. "As we prepare a place for others, something happens inside of us: We are prepared also." In recent years, certainly with the help of more prayer and reflection, and the wisdom to hire a maid as backup in the kitchen, I've realized that it's kind of like being a monk in a monastery. Their work IS their prayer. And even though Jesus told Martha that there was nothing wrong with her sister Mary just sitting at His feet and listening to His words, He recognized the contribution of Martha as well. We all have our avenues of prayer, and once I understood that part of my prayer life was served out in the kitchen, the work became so much more joyful.
The details matter in welcoming the stranger, even when it takes time to clean up afterwards.
Blessings to you for the week,
Nancy Biehler
I've always been a "Martha" in Jesus' circle, ready to manage the cleanup, do the dishes. Particularly in my church work, it often means that I'm in the kitchen after every event. And for many years, it was carried out with such resentment, because after the more thrilling hours of planning and setup, and several fun hours of meeting and greeting, I felt like I was left in the kitchen "holding the bag." In reality, it was my ineptness at organizing volunteers to take care of the cleanup. I so clearly remember an occasion almost a decade ago, when I had been on my feet for 10 hours preparing for Our Lady of Guadalupe's celebration. We had successfully hosted and served a marvelous crowd of several hundred parishioners. By 10pm I was the only one left in the building, and I was on my knees trying to scrape the glitter glue off the floor where the craft activities had been carried out.
The authors address this issue in Chapter 5 and remind us that God is present in our work. "As we prepare a place for others, something happens inside of us: We are prepared also." In recent years, certainly with the help of more prayer and reflection, and the wisdom to hire a maid as backup in the kitchen, I've realized that it's kind of like being a monk in a monastery. Their work IS their prayer. And even though Jesus told Martha that there was nothing wrong with her sister Mary just sitting at His feet and listening to His words, He recognized the contribution of Martha as well. We all have our avenues of prayer, and once I understood that part of my prayer life was served out in the kitchen, the work became so much more joyful.
The details matter in welcoming the stranger, even when it takes time to clean up afterwards.
Blessings to you for the week,
Nancy Biehler
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
#SJNRadical - Be Radical, Be Welcoming!
Please use the Twitter hashtag, #SJNRadical, for the One-Book-One-Parish read, "Radical Hospitality." Be radical, be welcoming!
What About Your Life is Stretching You?
How we hate to move out of our comfort zones! But, how we hate to be considered "predictable" either! I have to say that it is almost hurtful to have to admit to living a "narrow life," enjoying the company of folks I "get along with," who tend to support issues the way I do. Some of them have greater convictions than I, but we still think alike. There's an important reflection point you are asked to address -- "what about your life is stretching [you]"?
I remember a former Pastor at SJN, Msgr.Jordan, who truly knew how to be open in a way that was absent of judgment. On one occasion, after a funeral held at SJN for an individual who was part of the homeless community, we welcomed an interesting collection of mourners to the reception following the service, and Fr. Jordan wound up face to face with Leslie, Austin's famous cross-dresser, who arrived wearing a nun's headdress and a thong. I believe he tried to shock Fr. Jordan when he asked him about whether he was acceptable in the eyes of the church, and the Pastor merely smiled and said that God welcomed everyone to the table. How does one avoid the temptation to be suspicious of "that" visitor?
In Chapter 4, the authors make a curious comment that solitude is important because it "opens us up" to be in relationship with others. It is true that many of us have almost lost touch with what it's like to live in the quiet -- too many ringing cell phones, radios that are never turned off, television noises in the background, even the sound of traffic outside. Sometimes, we don't even realize how badly we need time to be quiet. As a single person, I've created some space for silence in my own home each morning in prayer, but once a year I head to the valley for the supreme quiet offered at Lebh Shomea, a Silent House of Prayer operated by the Oblates in the middle of South Texas ranch country. I've learned through that experience, that the quiet truly does restore us for living in community. I think I could really live in that kind of silence for much longer than the week I spend each year, but that would almost be an escape from my own destiny on the planet. I'm just thankful for the restoration that comes to me while I am there.
Food for thought, enjoy the read,
Nancy Biehler
I remember a former Pastor at SJN, Msgr.Jordan, who truly knew how to be open in a way that was absent of judgment. On one occasion, after a funeral held at SJN for an individual who was part of the homeless community, we welcomed an interesting collection of mourners to the reception following the service, and Fr. Jordan wound up face to face with Leslie, Austin's famous cross-dresser, who arrived wearing a nun's headdress and a thong. I believe he tried to shock Fr. Jordan when he asked him about whether he was acceptable in the eyes of the church, and the Pastor merely smiled and said that God welcomed everyone to the table. How does one avoid the temptation to be suspicious of "that" visitor?
In Chapter 4, the authors make a curious comment that solitude is important because it "opens us up" to be in relationship with others. It is true that many of us have almost lost touch with what it's like to live in the quiet -- too many ringing cell phones, radios that are never turned off, television noises in the background, even the sound of traffic outside. Sometimes, we don't even realize how badly we need time to be quiet. As a single person, I've created some space for silence in my own home each morning in prayer, but once a year I head to the valley for the supreme quiet offered at Lebh Shomea, a Silent House of Prayer operated by the Oblates in the middle of South Texas ranch country. I've learned through that experience, that the quiet truly does restore us for living in community. I think I could really live in that kind of silence for much longer than the week I spend each year, but that would almost be an escape from my own destiny on the planet. I'm just thankful for the restoration that comes to me while I am there.
Food for thought, enjoy the read,
Nancy Biehler
Monday, October 11, 2010
Hospitality as a Spiritual Practice
It's interesting to look at hospitality as a "spiritual practice" because we don't always think of our personal conversations with Christ as related. In fact, we all want to have a relationship with Him, and to do that, He teaches us that when we welcome the "least" among us, we welcome Him. But it can be awkward and uncomfortable for us to venture into the unknown in greeting the stranger. We don't know what will happen in their response. Benedictine rule shows us how important it is for us to be open to those moments of real growth.
It's a very powerful comment the authors make, when they point out that we "become less by what we omit doing." How often have any of us, in our daily routines, failed to extend a helping hand, or aid a stranger, because we see no need to get involved, or do something that might delay our time table for the day? And besides, no one is actually getting hurt by it. How could we even know, if we pass them by?
My Pastor pointed out an excellent practice that some folks take on, and that is to refer to people by name whenever possible, at the grocery store (they have a name plate on their uniform!); in a restaurant, when the waiters usually introduce themselves to you; over the telephone, when you've been holding for a service assistant, and they also introduce themselves at the beginning of the conversation. So often, in our frustration over delays, we even fail to be civil to those individuals. How much extra time out of our lives would it take for that? I'd like to think that those might actually be moments of grace that we pass up.
One of my younger sisters lives by that tenet. She calls it living intentionally, so that there are no passive actions, but conscious moments that we do not lose in the flurry of our lives. For those of us who are always in a hurry, we really do need to practice it, because it doesn't come naturally any more. Some of us have long since forgotten that we, too, were once among the nameless faces greeting strangers for a living.
That kind of due diligence will require more prayer, I think, and a steady focus on that intention several times a day. Dare we try? We could all use the extra grace.
Blessings to all of you,
Nancy Biehler
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Listening - The Foundation of the Rule
I very much appreciated the reference in the Introduction, that Benedict's rule was based on the accumulation of "uncomplicated wisdom" that created a framework for how to live a good life. The foundation for learning the rule is, quite simply, listening. But for those of us who are leaders and talkers, listening is sometimes a hard skill to come by. I have worked on it for years, and have only recently begun to show signs of improvement. What I have noticed is that the more one is able to listen, the more one is able to be peaceful. It is a refreshing alternative to my former path.
There is also a comment that hospitality has a "moral dimension to it," because it speaks to our own prejudgements about people. How do we overcome our fear of the stranger? It breaches a comfort zone that we can learn to broaden, if we are willing. For me it may be easier than most, because I am an extrovert, but I often catch myself holding back, because I hesitate to get drawn into the stories that go beyond the greeting. Clearly, I have much to learn about true hospitality.
God bless you,
Nancy Biehler
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Nancy's Suggestions for Organizing your Book Read
Our "parish read" this fall, Radical Hospitality, offers a delightful, and somewhat probing discussion of all the ways we can be welcoming to the stranger. We're planning almost seven weeks to read this 270-page book (counting the intro), and I would recommend that you consider organizing your reading as follows:
WEEK 1 -- Introduction and Chapter 1: Right out of the box, Fr. Daniel explains that "a rule is nothing more than a set of ideas to help [each of us] determine the kind of person [we] want to be." Wow! I'll never get exasperated with rules again! He uses poignant stories and anecdotes to bring you into his Benedictine space and make it yours as well. Read the Introduction to the book; then refer to the Companion Guide and reflect on the questions. A journal is provided for your notes. Then read Chapter 1 and follow suite.
WEEK 2 -- Chapter 2: "Hospitality Begins Inside" gets right to the point of who we think we are to those around us -- a "spiritual practice" is not quite what I considered. Take your time in reading this chapter, and thoughtfully reflecting on the questions in the Companion Guide.
WEEK 3 -- Chapters 3 & 4: The authors bridge the aspects of privacy and community and demonstrate how they work together. How can we open ourselves beyond the "predictable life"? The questions in the Companion Guide force you to face your own prejudgments.
WEEK 4 -- Chapter 5: My personal favorite, because as church, we center many of our events around serving food and sitting at table! It is in the tiniest details of that food service that we welcome others, and open ourselves "to the mess of things." I do like order!!
WEEK 5 -- Chapters 6 & 7: How do we show our love for others by the way we offer hospitality to them? There are many layers to how we serve others. When you reach the deepest level of love, you have reached the heart of hospitality.
WEEK 6 -- Chapter 8: It becomes a balancing act to save room for yourself in the midst of being hospitable. As a person who has a hard time holding boundaries, it is important to remember that if we hold a line for ourselves, it will help us to be even more forthcoming in greeting the stranger.
WEEK 7 -- Chapter 9 & 10: At the most difficult level of hospitality, we turn the direction completely over to the stranger. We have to absorb the saddest, most uncomfortable aspects of welcoming. As I have worked on my "listening" skills, the better I get at it, I realize that amidst the anguish, you'll also hear the joy.
NOVEMBER 19, 7:00pm -- see you at the Potluck Discussion/Dinner !
Don't forget, you can order your materials online. And, don't miss the kick-off talk this Sunday, October 3, with Fr. Paul Kasun, OSB, at Between the Masses at 10:15am in the St. Timothy Rm.
God bless you,
Nancy Biehler
WEEK 1 -- Introduction and Chapter 1: Right out of the box, Fr. Daniel explains that "a rule is nothing more than a set of ideas to help [each of us] determine the kind of person [we] want to be." Wow! I'll never get exasperated with rules again! He uses poignant stories and anecdotes to bring you into his Benedictine space and make it yours as well. Read the Introduction to the book; then refer to the Companion Guide and reflect on the questions. A journal is provided for your notes. Then read Chapter 1 and follow suite.
WEEK 2 -- Chapter 2: "Hospitality Begins Inside" gets right to the point of who we think we are to those around us -- a "spiritual practice" is not quite what I considered. Take your time in reading this chapter, and thoughtfully reflecting on the questions in the Companion Guide.
WEEK 3 -- Chapters 3 & 4: The authors bridge the aspects of privacy and community and demonstrate how they work together. How can we open ourselves beyond the "predictable life"? The questions in the Companion Guide force you to face your own prejudgments.
WEEK 4 -- Chapter 5: My personal favorite, because as church, we center many of our events around serving food and sitting at table! It is in the tiniest details of that food service that we welcome others, and open ourselves "to the mess of things." I do like order!!
WEEK 5 -- Chapters 6 & 7: How do we show our love for others by the way we offer hospitality to them? There are many layers to how we serve others. When you reach the deepest level of love, you have reached the heart of hospitality.
WEEK 6 -- Chapter 8: It becomes a balancing act to save room for yourself in the midst of being hospitable. As a person who has a hard time holding boundaries, it is important to remember that if we hold a line for ourselves, it will help us to be even more forthcoming in greeting the stranger.
WEEK 7 -- Chapter 9 & 10: At the most difficult level of hospitality, we turn the direction completely over to the stranger. We have to absorb the saddest, most uncomfortable aspects of welcoming. As I have worked on my "listening" skills, the better I get at it, I realize that amidst the anguish, you'll also hear the joy.
NOVEMBER 19, 7:00pm -- see you at the Potluck Discussion/Dinner !
Don't forget, you can order your materials online. And, don't miss the kick-off talk this Sunday, October 3, with Fr. Paul Kasun, OSB, at Between the Masses at 10:15am in the St. Timothy Rm.
God bless you,
Nancy Biehler
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Fall Book Study kicks-off on Sunday, October 3rd with Fr. Paul Kasun, OSB
St. John Neumann's Parish-Wide Reading Program announces our 2010-2011 fall parish book: Radical Hospitality: Benedict's Way Of Love by Daniel Homan, OSB and Lonni Collins Pratt. Order your materials online or in the parish office for our very popular parish community-wide book read: One-Book-One-Parish. Program kicks-off on October 3rd and materials will be at the Between the Masses talk waiting for those who have pre-ordered. Cost of materials: $25.
Sunday, October 3, 2010, 10:15-11:15am, St. Timothy Rm
One-Book-One-Parish fall book kick-off with Fr. Paul Kasun, OSB, at Between the Masses on Benedictine Hospitality
Friday, November 19, 2010, 6:30-9:00pm, St. Timothy Rm
One-Book-One-Parish book discussion and potluck dinner
Participate in the book study by subscribing to this blog, hosted by Nancy Biehler, Director of Adult Faith Formation at St. John Neumann Catholic Church.
A complilation of other books we have studied as part of the program.
Sunday, October 3, 2010, 10:15-11:15am, St. Timothy Rm
One-Book-One-Parish fall book kick-off with Fr. Paul Kasun, OSB, at Between the Masses on Benedictine Hospitality
Friday, November 19, 2010, 6:30-9:00pm, St. Timothy Rm
One-Book-One-Parish book discussion and potluck dinner
Participate in the book study by subscribing to this blog, hosted by Nancy Biehler, Director of Adult Faith Formation at St. John Neumann Catholic Church.
A complilation of other books we have studied as part of the program.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Book Discussion Potluck Dinner - March 27th
Thanks to all the parishioners who turned out for our book discussion potluck dinner tonight! We had a great time with fellowship, food and faith-filled discussion about "Left to Tell" and its powerful messages. If you would like to read some of the discussion questions, we have two sources for you:
(1) Questions with related scripture verses (prepared by Kristin Zika) and
(2) Questions discussed at the dinner (from Heavenwards Book Club)
Monday, March 15, 2010
Why Should We Fear What Can Set Us Free?
Last week, a lovely, thoughtful and sincere young woman asked me, "why are people so reluctant to go to confession?" I think it's because we really don't know what is happening when we walk into the confessional.
Father Henri Nouwen, in his beautiful book, Life of the Beloved, told us that the original Hebrew meaning of the word “to sin”, is “to forget”. When I read that, I was so moved. That is so deeply true. I think the reason so many people have so much trouble going to confession is that they have “forgotten”. They have forgotten how much Christ loves us. They are ashamed, and they are afraid that He will turn His eyes away from them in “disappointment” over their sin. But it is not so.
Christ tells us in Matthew’s Gospel (citing the beautiful 53rd chapter of Isaiah), “He took our sicknesses, and carried our diseases for us”. When He healed the leper, He did not simply wave His divine hand...He reached out and touched a man who probably hadn’t been touched in years. What must His loving touch have meant to the poor, disfigured man! Then, Jesus took the man’s leprosy into Himself. That is what Love does. Love does not stand away from us, but touches us, and takes our weakness, our sin, our wounds into Himself. Jesus became a leper, and He became “blind”, and “deaf”. “He who knew no sin, became sin that we might become the goodness of God” (2 Cor. 5:20) As He hung upon the Cross, He whispered our name to Himself. Across time, He saw our face, and bearing our wounds in Himself, He died, that we might live. Our “leprosy” died with Him, as did our blindness, our deafness, our addictions, our selfishness, our loneliness...all “passed away” so that we might rise with Him to new life.
Maybe, people wouldn’t be afraid to step into the confessional if they knew that it was not a tomb. It was not a place of shame, or of regret...but a place of liberation. It is the bridal chamber. We come with our sins, and our wounds, and He reaches out, and touching us, He takes them. He helps us to “remember” His love. United with Him, we are set free. He calls us to new life in Him. He “rolls away the stone” which has kept us entombed in the smallness of our dark, and grievous wounds.
In the confessional, the “bridal chamber”, He waits for us. He longs to take our wounds into Himself. He helps us not “to forget” His love. Why should we fear what can set us free?
-Sally Robb
Father Henri Nouwen, in his beautiful book, Life of the Beloved, told us that the original Hebrew meaning of the word “to sin”, is “to forget”. When I read that, I was so moved. That is so deeply true. I think the reason so many people have so much trouble going to confession is that they have “forgotten”. They have forgotten how much Christ loves us. They are ashamed, and they are afraid that He will turn His eyes away from them in “disappointment” over their sin. But it is not so.
Christ tells us in Matthew’s Gospel (citing the beautiful 53rd chapter of Isaiah), “He took our sicknesses, and carried our diseases for us”. When He healed the leper, He did not simply wave His divine hand...He reached out and touched a man who probably hadn’t been touched in years. What must His loving touch have meant to the poor, disfigured man! Then, Jesus took the man’s leprosy into Himself. That is what Love does. Love does not stand away from us, but touches us, and takes our weakness, our sin, our wounds into Himself. Jesus became a leper, and He became “blind”, and “deaf”. “He who knew no sin, became sin that we might become the goodness of God” (2 Cor. 5:20) As He hung upon the Cross, He whispered our name to Himself. Across time, He saw our face, and bearing our wounds in Himself, He died, that we might live. Our “leprosy” died with Him, as did our blindness, our deafness, our addictions, our selfishness, our loneliness...all “passed away” so that we might rise with Him to new life.
Maybe, people wouldn’t be afraid to step into the confessional if they knew that it was not a tomb. It was not a place of shame, or of regret...but a place of liberation. It is the bridal chamber. We come with our sins, and our wounds, and He reaches out, and touching us, He takes them. He helps us to “remember” His love. United with Him, we are set free. He calls us to new life in Him. He “rolls away the stone” which has kept us entombed in the smallness of our dark, and grievous wounds.
In the confessional, the “bridal chamber”, He waits for us. He longs to take our wounds into Himself. He helps us not “to forget” His love. Why should we fear what can set us free?
-Sally Robb
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Life is an Adventure in Forgiveness
Someone once said, “Life is an adventure in forgiveness”. In fact, forgiveness is the center of our relationship with Christ. It is for forgiveness’ sake that He entered the world. His greatest work of creation, was not the grandeur of cosmic spectacle, or the incomprehensible order of molecular physics. For these, God had only to make something out of nothing, which for Him, was simply to think of it, and it was. No, His greatest work was that of salvation. He came as a human being to redeem us. He did not simply wave His omnipotent hand, and wipe away our sin. He became one of us...to share our life, our loneliness, our suffering, our weeping in the night. He came to show us how much He loves us. When He was still “just God” and He told us that He loved us, how could we understand what that meant? So He came. He lived with us, and then He died for us. In His infinity as God there is no end. But in His humanity, His flesh was scourged, His head pierced, His hands and feet run through with nails….with His last breaths, He begged forgiveness for us. He loved us to the end. Before He came, there was no “end” to Him. But death entered Life Himself, so that we could know what it meant to be loved “to the end”.
Left to Tell is a story of forgiveness. It is a story of hope. It is a story of one woman’s union with Christ on the Cross...but she was pressed together with 7 other women in a tiny bathroom. Immaculee let Christ “love her to the end”...with Him, and in Him, she forgave the unforgivable. Whether we realize it or not, that is the call for each of us...to press ourselves to His Heart, and forgive. May we enter deeply this Lent, into this understanding...what we need to forgive, and how we, with Christ, may accomplish the unimaginable... forgiving the unforgiveable.
-Sally Robb
Left to Tell is a story of forgiveness. It is a story of hope. It is a story of one woman’s union with Christ on the Cross...but she was pressed together with 7 other women in a tiny bathroom. Immaculee let Christ “love her to the end”...with Him, and in Him, she forgave the unforgivable. Whether we realize it or not, that is the call for each of us...to press ourselves to His Heart, and forgive. May we enter deeply this Lent, into this understanding...what we need to forgive, and how we, with Christ, may accomplish the unimaginable... forgiving the unforgiveable.
-Sally Robb
Spring One Book One Parish Book Read Begins at SJN
This spring, we are reading Left to Tell by Immaculée Ilibagiza. A Roman Catholic and Tutsi, Immaculée was born in Rwanda and studied electronic and mechanical engineering at the National University. She lost most of her family during the 1994 genocide. Four years later, she emigrated to the United States and began working at the United Nations in New York City. She is now a full-time public speaker and writer. In 2007 she established the Left to Tell Charitable Fund, which helps support Rwandan orphans. Immaculée holds honorary doctoral degrees from The University of Notre Dame and Saint John’s University, and was awarded The Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Reconciliation and Peace 2007. She is the author, with Steve Erwin, of LEFT TO TELL: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust.
You will be able to hear Immaculée Ilibagiza speak at The Paramount Theatre on the evening of Saturday, May 1. Ticket information at www.immaculeeinaustin.org or www.austintheatre.org. For more information and opportunities to be involved in Immaculée’s visit to Austin, please contact Sally Robb at 512-964-6067.
Important Dates:
February 20/21 (Sat/Sun)
Book Study begins
March 27 (Sat)
Parish-wide discussion gathering, Morris Hall, 6:30-9:00pm. Bring a dish to share and bring your book (with all those great yellow highlighter marks). We will share a meal, hear a short presentation on the work and then discuss the book.
May 1 and 2 (Sat/Sun)
Immaculée Ilibagiza speak at The Paramount Theatre on the evening of Saturday, May 1 (see above).
You will be able to hear Immaculée Ilibagiza speak at The Paramount Theatre on the evening of Saturday, May 1. Ticket information at www.immaculeeinaustin.org or www.austintheatre.org. For more information and opportunities to be involved in Immaculée’s visit to Austin, please contact Sally Robb at 512-964-6067.
Important Dates:
February 20/21 (Sat/Sun)
Book Study begins
March 27 (Sat)
Parish-wide discussion gathering, Morris Hall, 6:30-9:00pm. Bring a dish to share and bring your book (with all those great yellow highlighter marks). We will share a meal, hear a short presentation on the work and then discuss the book.
May 1 and 2 (Sat/Sun)
Immaculée Ilibagiza speak at The Paramount Theatre on the evening of Saturday, May 1 (see above).
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Ron Rolheiser on The Eucharist: God's Embrace
You may be interested in this mini-workshop by Ron Rolheiser on The Eucharist. Below is a clip from the two-hour presentation available at www.videoswithvalues.org. The DVD features Fr. Ron Rolheiser explaining that we are a Eucharist people, a Eucharistic church, a community formed and nurtured by the Eucharist. How does the Eucharist work? What are its various meanings?
Saturday, October 31, 2009
An Affective Sense of God in Our Lives
The talk on Thursday night and the retreat on Friday with Fr. Ronald Rolheiser were really a wonderful renewal for several of us on staff, as well as numerous parishioners. I wish all the parish could have experienced this gift. There were so many different points brought up during the retreat; I'm just going to post on one or so at a time. Today, I'd like to post about some comments Fr. Rolheiser made on faith.
Fr. Rolheiser brought up that we are often anxious, often dealing with the 'insubstantiality of me.' This anxiety is actually the opposite of faith and it positions itself easily to separate us from our call to be in relationship with God. Our internal voice questions us: "Who am I to be chosen by God, to think I am worthy of being loved by God?"
Fr. Rolheiser cited an excellent example of our deep desire for relationship with God from the Gospel of John. He noted that the first words spoken by Jesus in John's Gospel are "What are you looking for?" (John 1:38; spoken to Andrew and John, son of Zebedee). Father then mentioned the need we all have for an affective sense of God in our lives, one where we relate to God on an emotional and intimate level. This relationship, in fact, is the what we are looking for. At the end of John's Gospel (John 20:11-16), when Jesus appears to Mary but she thinks him to be the gardener, He asks her the same question: "Whom/What are you looking for?" After she expresses her anxiety about the missing body of her Lord, Jesus calls her by name, "Mary!" At this point, Mary recognizes Him and calls Him 'Rabbouni.' Fr. Rolheiser pointed out that this story reflects well our need for intimacy with God, our quest to hear God pronounce our individual name in love, with tenderness and concern.
But how do we achieve an affective sense of God in our lives, one where we hear God intimately call us by name? - through prayer. Fr. Rolheiser gave a beautiful example of a man visiting his elderly mother every day, for 45 minutes, for an entire year in a nursing home. Most days, the conversation may be very ordinary. In fact, out of a year of visiting every day for 45 minutes, there may be only a handful of extraordinary conversations. But, you can be sure that this man's relationship with his mother is different because of those 12 months of visits; something unspoken has happened during those visits.
Fr. Rolheiser made an analogy of this story with our prayer life, saying that sometimes we just have to show up and spend time with God. We should not let anxiety take over and worry about surficial things, but rather try to be present and to know, to have hope, that deep things will happen. And just like the man with his mother, showing up and being open will lead to an 'infused contemplation' where we have a divinely given and loving awareness of the presence of God.
I know that sometimes I attend Mass or another Liturgy with an optimistic head, but a perhaps distracted heart. Or, I sit still in prayer, only to have my mind wander to my 'to do' list or question 'who am I' to think that I am even worthy enough to have a relationship with God. At these times I need to be hopeful that our Lord will be looking for me, waiting for me, woeing me, and that if I can continue to show up, even when I am distracted, deep things will happen below the surface...and that, like Mary, at the least expected moment during the day I will hear Him call me by name - "Hilary!"
Fr. Rolheiser brought up that we are often anxious, often dealing with the 'insubstantiality of me.' This anxiety is actually the opposite of faith and it positions itself easily to separate us from our call to be in relationship with God. Our internal voice questions us: "Who am I to be chosen by God, to think I am worthy of being loved by God?"
Fr. Rolheiser cited an excellent example of our deep desire for relationship with God from the Gospel of John. He noted that the first words spoken by Jesus in John's Gospel are "What are you looking for?" (John 1:38; spoken to Andrew and John, son of Zebedee). Father then mentioned the need we all have for an affective sense of God in our lives, one where we relate to God on an emotional and intimate level. This relationship, in fact, is the what we are looking for. At the end of John's Gospel (John 20:11-16), when Jesus appears to Mary but she thinks him to be the gardener, He asks her the same question: "Whom/What are you looking for?" After she expresses her anxiety about the missing body of her Lord, Jesus calls her by name, "Mary!" At this point, Mary recognizes Him and calls Him 'Rabbouni.' Fr. Rolheiser pointed out that this story reflects well our need for intimacy with God, our quest to hear God pronounce our individual name in love, with tenderness and concern.
But how do we achieve an affective sense of God in our lives, one where we hear God intimately call us by name? - through prayer. Fr. Rolheiser gave a beautiful example of a man visiting his elderly mother every day, for 45 minutes, for an entire year in a nursing home. Most days, the conversation may be very ordinary. In fact, out of a year of visiting every day for 45 minutes, there may be only a handful of extraordinary conversations. But, you can be sure that this man's relationship with his mother is different because of those 12 months of visits; something unspoken has happened during those visits.
Fr. Rolheiser made an analogy of this story with our prayer life, saying that sometimes we just have to show up and spend time with God. We should not let anxiety take over and worry about surficial things, but rather try to be present and to know, to have hope, that deep things will happen. And just like the man with his mother, showing up and being open will lead to an 'infused contemplation' where we have a divinely given and loving awareness of the presence of God.
I know that sometimes I attend Mass or another Liturgy with an optimistic head, but a perhaps distracted heart. Or, I sit still in prayer, only to have my mind wander to my 'to do' list or question 'who am I' to think that I am even worthy enough to have a relationship with God. At these times I need to be hopeful that our Lord will be looking for me, waiting for me, woeing me, and that if I can continue to show up, even when I am distracted, deep things will happen below the surface...and that, like Mary, at the least expected moment during the day I will hear Him call me by name - "Hilary!"
Fr. Rolheiser's Retreat at St. Ed's
Yesterday, I spent a wonderful day with some dear friends...Hilary, Nancy, Jo, and Elinor at Father Rolheiser's workshop on leadership at St. Edward's. He was addressing some important questions.
"How do we lead when we ourselves are burdened and tired? How do we lead others and not be unduly influenced by our own egos, wounds, ideologies, tiredness, and temperaments? How do we tap into a sincerity inside us, an authenticity, that is beyond all these other influences? And how do we sustain ourselves in leadership in a way that radiates light and hope to others without giving into anger, bitterness, factionalism, and practical despair?"
Fr. Rolheiser talked about the problems we face, and presented some guidelines for sustaining ourselves for the "long haul".
It was a wonderful, and thought-provoking day....filled with authentic openness, and genuine wisdom.....punctuated by funny stories, and lively conversation. What can be better than hearing a wise man, a priest in our exquisite Church, open his mind, his heart, and his wisdom....lovingly, and thoughfully making bridges over to those who don't stand where we do, as Catholics? How grateful I was to listen to him welcome these ones who are so sincere to a new way to see....one that may bring a desire to enter more deeply into the Truth he was illuminating. Truth that is authentic, and welcoming is always deeply "attractive". Maybe they'll even begin to think "Where can I find more of this Truth?" We'll be happy to have them visit us at SJN!
Then, as the piece de la resistance, we were able to let what we had heard take root and have life....five enthusiastic, spry women discussing deep things over a somewhat dry turkey sandwich, and feeble looking apple. What a gift!
I wish you all could have been there! But we will have a fantastic dinner together in November....only, I promise it will be better than dry turkey and feeble apples!
Blessings to you all!
warmly,
sally
"How do we lead when we ourselves are burdened and tired? How do we lead others and not be unduly influenced by our own egos, wounds, ideologies, tiredness, and temperaments? How do we tap into a sincerity inside us, an authenticity, that is beyond all these other influences? And how do we sustain ourselves in leadership in a way that radiates light and hope to others without giving into anger, bitterness, factionalism, and practical despair?"
Fr. Rolheiser talked about the problems we face, and presented some guidelines for sustaining ourselves for the "long haul".
It was a wonderful, and thought-provoking day....filled with authentic openness, and genuine wisdom.....punctuated by funny stories, and lively conversation. What can be better than hearing a wise man, a priest in our exquisite Church, open his mind, his heart, and his wisdom....lovingly, and thoughfully making bridges over to those who don't stand where we do, as Catholics? How grateful I was to listen to him welcome these ones who are so sincere to a new way to see....one that may bring a desire to enter more deeply into the Truth he was illuminating. Truth that is authentic, and welcoming is always deeply "attractive". Maybe they'll even begin to think "Where can I find more of this Truth?" We'll be happy to have them visit us at SJN!
Then, as the piece de la resistance, we were able to let what we had heard take root and have life....five enthusiastic, spry women discussing deep things over a somewhat dry turkey sandwich, and feeble looking apple. What a gift!
I wish you all could have been there! But we will have a fantastic dinner together in November....only, I promise it will be better than dry turkey and feeble apples!
Blessings to you all!
warmly,
sally
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Narcissism, Pragmatism, Unbridled Restlessness and the Non-Contemplative Personality
In this chapter, Father Rolheiser discusses the factors that mitigate against contemplation in our culture; narcissism, pragmatism, and unbridled restlessness. I found it very interesting to read this chapter in light of what the Church teaches about the temporal consequences of sin. Now, we all know that "sin" is a much maligned concept these days. But a different perspective on sin might be helpful. As Catholics, we start from the premise that God is love.....that it is His essence, His being. It was out of this love that He created us. We then, are made by Love, and because He gave us the exquisite gift of His "image and likeness", we are made FOR LOVE. We cannot be complete without it....without Him.
For the sake of love, He stands before us always, offering Himself to us....asking us to choose for love....choose for Him....choose our own good, our own true self, which is embedded in the 'image and likeness' which is planted in our deepest selves. In fact, we cannot be ourselves without giving life to our essential being, which is our fundamental call to holiness. It is in holiness that we are united with Him, and find our fulfillment, our true happiness, our peace and joy.But because one of the most essential parts of our "likeness" to God is our freedom, this fulfillment of our purpose requires our cooperation. He offers us Himself and His love as a gift, and never imposes Himself on us. One of my professors in graduate school, Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio, described this rather bluntly, though certainly memorably, "God is a lover, not a rapist". That kind of statement tends to stay with you! Sin is essentially turning away from Love as He stands there offering Himself to us. In that sense, we are also turning away from "ourselves", from who we were made to be, images of His love. So, infidelity to God, is infidelity to ourselves.
Ultimately, the consequence of sin is death.....eternally rejecting Love, and losing ourselves. But there are temporal consequences, as well. These are the consequences we experience in our daily lives. The Church teaches that when we sin, we experience the "darkening of the intellect, the confusion of the emotions, and the weakening of the will". Effectively, that means that we can no longer "see" the truth. Our understanding is clouded....St. Paul says,"we see in a glass darkly" (1 Cor. 13) We confuse our feelings with reality....calling "lust", for instance, "love". And finally, even if we have a moment of conscience, and know what we SHOULD do, we have no will to accomplish it. St Paul in the 7th chapter of Romans, says, "Those things I wish to do, I cannot do Those things I do not wish to do, I do". These are the very human consequences we live when we turn away from the Truth, and accept illusory truths offered to us by our narcissistic, ailing culture.
When I read this chapter in the light of the Church's teaching on sin, I see how tremendous the battle is for our souls. We must be prepared with the understanding borne of a deeper knowledge of our faith, the clarity and courage that comes from prayer, and the strength of will that is generated in the faithful and sincere reception of the sacraments, especially Reconciliation and the Eucharist.
St. Paul makes us the the gift of a beautiful and 'perfect' prayer for this battle in his letter to Ephesians:
This, then, is what I pray kneeling, before the Father, from whom every family, whether spiritual or natural takes its name.
Out of His infinite glory, may He give you the power through His Spirit for your hidden self to grow strong, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then planted in love, and built on love, you will with all the saints have strength to grasp the breadth, and the length, the height, and the depth: until, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond all knowledge, you are filled with the utter fullness of God.
Glory be to Him whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory be to Him from generation to generation in the Church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever. Amen
With our brother, St. Paul, I pray this for us all! Many blessings and much grace to you all!
Warmly,
Sally
For the sake of love, He stands before us always, offering Himself to us....asking us to choose for love....choose for Him....choose our own good, our own true self, which is embedded in the 'image and likeness' which is planted in our deepest selves. In fact, we cannot be ourselves without giving life to our essential being, which is our fundamental call to holiness. It is in holiness that we are united with Him, and find our fulfillment, our true happiness, our peace and joy.But because one of the most essential parts of our "likeness" to God is our freedom, this fulfillment of our purpose requires our cooperation. He offers us Himself and His love as a gift, and never imposes Himself on us. One of my professors in graduate school, Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio, described this rather bluntly, though certainly memorably, "God is a lover, not a rapist". That kind of statement tends to stay with you! Sin is essentially turning away from Love as He stands there offering Himself to us. In that sense, we are also turning away from "ourselves", from who we were made to be, images of His love. So, infidelity to God, is infidelity to ourselves.
Ultimately, the consequence of sin is death.....eternally rejecting Love, and losing ourselves. But there are temporal consequences, as well. These are the consequences we experience in our daily lives. The Church teaches that when we sin, we experience the "darkening of the intellect, the confusion of the emotions, and the weakening of the will". Effectively, that means that we can no longer "see" the truth. Our understanding is clouded....St. Paul says,"we see in a glass darkly" (1 Cor. 13) We confuse our feelings with reality....calling "lust", for instance, "love". And finally, even if we have a moment of conscience, and know what we SHOULD do, we have no will to accomplish it. St Paul in the 7th chapter of Romans, says, "Those things I wish to do, I cannot do Those things I do not wish to do, I do". These are the very human consequences we live when we turn away from the Truth, and accept illusory truths offered to us by our narcissistic, ailing culture.
When I read this chapter in the light of the Church's teaching on sin, I see how tremendous the battle is for our souls. We must be prepared with the understanding borne of a deeper knowledge of our faith, the clarity and courage that comes from prayer, and the strength of will that is generated in the faithful and sincere reception of the sacraments, especially Reconciliation and the Eucharist.
St. Paul makes us the the gift of a beautiful and 'perfect' prayer for this battle in his letter to Ephesians:
This, then, is what I pray kneeling, before the Father, from whom every family, whether spiritual or natural takes its name.
Out of His infinite glory, may He give you the power through His Spirit for your hidden self to grow strong, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then planted in love, and built on love, you will with all the saints have strength to grasp the breadth, and the length, the height, and the depth: until, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond all knowledge, you are filled with the utter fullness of God.
Glory be to Him whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory be to Him from generation to generation in the Church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever. Amen
With our brother, St. Paul, I pray this for us all! Many blessings and much grace to you all!
Warmly,
Sally
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Fr. Rolheiser's Talk on Thursday Night
Fr. Bud Roland, Sally Robb, Hilary Olson and Nancy Biehler will be attending Fr. Rolheiser's talk on Thursday night at St. Edward's University.
If you are planning to attend, please let us know as we are hoping to sit together as parishioners.
Please note that the room assignment at St. Ed's has been modified. Information below:
The 8th Annual Sr. Mary Rose McPhee Lecture with Ronald Rolheiser
Thursday evening, October 29 at 7:00 p.m.
St. Edward's University
www.setoncove.net
Due to a flood in Jones Auditorium, the venue for the lecture will be the Mabee Ballroom rather than Jones Auditorium. Mabee Ballroom is in the same building (Ragsdale Center) as Jones Auditorium. Mabee Ballroom is on the third floor.
If you are planning to attend, please let us know as we are hoping to sit together as parishioners.
Please note that the room assignment at St. Ed's has been modified. Information below:
The 8th Annual Sr. Mary Rose McPhee Lecture with Ronald Rolheiser
Thursday evening, October 29 at 7:00 p.m.
St. Edward's University
www.setoncove.net
Due to a flood in Jones Auditorium, the venue for the lecture will be the Mabee Ballroom rather than Jones Auditorium. Mabee Ballroom is in the same building (Ragsdale Center) as Jones Auditorium. Mabee Ballroom is on the third floor.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The Problem of Unbelief Among Believers
Dear Fellow Readers,
There are many different ways to generate a more thoughtful and informed faith. Certainly, one of them is to read insightful and challenging books that lead us to examine our faith in a deeper way. When we genuinely seek the Truth….He will find us! For Christ is “the Way, the Truth and the Life”.
Father Rolheiser, in his book The Shattered Lantern: Rediscovering a Felt Presence of God, addresses the larger issues of our “godless” culture. What does it mean to live in a culture that no longer has a sense of God, where there is no longer a common assumption of His watchfulness, and His love? What we have all experienced, I’m sure, is that it is very difficult to enter into an authentic dialogue with our friends and family when we don’t understand their embedded assumptions derived from the pervasive notion that we are “independent”, with no attachment to a God who loves us. Father Rolheiser helps us to become more conscious of these cultural assumptions, and then presents some “antidotes” to confront them in ourselves, and in our relationships.
Like any book, there may be ideas that we find difficult. That is OK! In fact, it is a good and healthy thing! When we are presented with an idea that we don’t agree with, we often find that our own faith becomes more conscious, more deliberate, and more well-defined. My prayer is that we may enter together in this dialogue of faith….meeting these ideas as Catholics, and trying together to find a voice to speak the Truth (He Who is the Truth) more deliberately, and lovingly to the “world” around us.
I look forward to going on this adventure with you! May the Beloved breathe the grace of His understanding, wisdom and love into you as we begin together this journey of seeking Him….with One Book, in One Parish.
-Sally Robb
(Pastoral Associate for Family Faith Formation)
There are many different ways to generate a more thoughtful and informed faith. Certainly, one of them is to read insightful and challenging books that lead us to examine our faith in a deeper way. When we genuinely seek the Truth….He will find us! For Christ is “the Way, the Truth and the Life”.
Father Rolheiser, in his book The Shattered Lantern: Rediscovering a Felt Presence of God, addresses the larger issues of our “godless” culture. What does it mean to live in a culture that no longer has a sense of God, where there is no longer a common assumption of His watchfulness, and His love? What we have all experienced, I’m sure, is that it is very difficult to enter into an authentic dialogue with our friends and family when we don’t understand their embedded assumptions derived from the pervasive notion that we are “independent”, with no attachment to a God who loves us. Father Rolheiser helps us to become more conscious of these cultural assumptions, and then presents some “antidotes” to confront them in ourselves, and in our relationships.
Like any book, there may be ideas that we find difficult. That is OK! In fact, it is a good and healthy thing! When we are presented with an idea that we don’t agree with, we often find that our own faith becomes more conscious, more deliberate, and more well-defined. My prayer is that we may enter together in this dialogue of faith….meeting these ideas as Catholics, and trying together to find a voice to speak the Truth (He Who is the Truth) more deliberately, and lovingly to the “world” around us.
I look forward to going on this adventure with you! May the Beloved breathe the grace of His understanding, wisdom and love into you as we begin together this journey of seeking Him….with One Book, in One Parish.
-Sally Robb
(Pastoral Associate for Family Faith Formation)
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