April 11, 2011 Monday

MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2011

April 11, 2011 Monday

Only one more week of Lent left before Holy Week. Thanking God for this time set apart for quiet and paying attention. Where is my heart? Where is my mind? Friday and Saturday of this week we spent a lot of time in a gymnasium down in Santa Clara. We watched a lot of really good volleyball. At one point, though, I noticed hanging on the wall, high up on the gym's wall hung a crucifix. A little anachronistic in that room full of people and flying volleyballs, sweat and game play calling. It looked like Jesus was there up high doing his thing.. dying.. while we all carried on with this pursuit. I think Jesus wore a blue loin cloth. So he stood out a little more than the usual all flesh and earth tones. There he was quietly dying high up on the gym wall. But what he was doing? was pouring out God's love on all of us. as we watched and played volleyball on a blustery Saturday afternoon at Bellarmine High School in San Jose, California. One of John's friends said,"Hey, what's that?" referring to the crucifix. It worked!

springtime in the desert

Lent has begun. Finally. After a free for all think nothing about it do whatever I want stretch, it is time to get back to basics. I'm gonna try to love God with my whole heart, my whole mind and my whole self. Try. Simplify life.. ferret out those things that don't really sustain life, my life, the life of the Spirit, the life of the people I meet and those I live with. Like too much food, alcohol, overindulgence of any kind... and distractions that are clearly distractions, like too much silly television or silly conversation about stuff that doesn't matter.. or worse, talk about gossipy stuff. Prayer, almsgiving and fasting. One thing that helps me is to think of Jesus in the desert for 40 days.. For some reason, this year I'm able to tap into a desire to be with him. I can imagine sitting with him, walking around with him as He struggles with demons.. the same ones we do. It makes me sad to think of him there in the desert all alone and so I'll try to be there too. I know I'll fail, but this time around I really want to try. I'll get lazy, distracted, selfish, scared, hungry... but right now, anyway, I'm eager to go there with him. and meet the one he called Daddy who desires my company too. I'm so glad that there are others traveling with me as I try to be in the desert. Thank you, fellow pilgrims! I sense your solidarity and it is so fortifying.

March 1, St. David's Day acc. to Welsh Amy

one of the many ways you know you are middle aged is that you notice and appreciate the fact that the days are getting longer. The earth is warming up with minutes more sunshine each day and the green life of the bulbs are sprouting and the Buckeye tree has leaves on it. Danny the Dog and I walked the trail today and soaked up the blue sky and white whisps of cloud and the birds and voles popping their heads up too through the ground into the air.

feb. 22, 2011 St. Peter's Chair

Today the Church celebrates the Chair of St. Peter... and the gospel presents Peter in a shining moment when he acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah. Who do you say that I am? asks Jesus. Peter replies-not Elijah, or John the Baptist, but the Christ. What a moment. It seems a lot of the time the disciples kind of blow it. They misunderstand what Jesus is trying to do and even try to sabotage him sometimes. Remember when Jesus says to Peter, "Get behind me Satan"? But today we're invited to celebrate Peter's recognition of who Jesus really is. I remember when I was about 22 or 23 and for some reason, perhaps at the behest of a teacher, I read the entire gospel of Mark in one sitting. I lived in an apartment on Ascot Drive in Moraga with my pal, Terri. I was home alone and was lying on the living room floor. I remember reading it and having an encounter with this person Jesus as I read through Mark's brief (only 16 chapters) telling of the gospel. Had I not been lying down, I like Paul, would've fallen down. If Jesus were to have asked me then, Who do you say that I am?, I too would've said, GOD. Now, like Peter, I don't often understand God's ways, but I've taken to reading the gospel of Mark again to try to remind myself again: just who do I say that Jesus is? because I can't often remember. and I want to.

february 15, 2011 feast of St. Cornelius I think

today, my small faithsharing group met and we're still listening to Fr. Michael Crosby, O.F.M. talk about the Beatitudes. He talked about "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Acc. to Fr. Michael the work "meek" means "nonviolent" after he explained the Greek word from which the translations came.. it is not to be understand as "whimp" or "pushover". I saw a scene on the television news the other night. Across the GGBridge walked a group from Pink Code, which I believe is a peace group. They were carrying signs that said "Yeah, Egypt!"and other positive, celebratory messages.. it was a very moving scene as the camera focused in on the individuals and their signs. They, of course, looked happy.. for a change. Their campaign had a success story to celebrate. Millions of Egyptians peacefully stood against oppression and their voices were heard. So many many lives scarred by the dictatorship of Mubarek. But, in this scene, there were individuals here in San Francisco, able to celebrate a cause for which they work. I was so happy for them. and so touched by their caring about this issue of nonviolence and of peacemaking. I am inspired to seek a nonviolent path in my own life.. in my speech, and in my thoughts and .. the work of which will require awareness and effort and decision. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Amen.

february 9, 2011

I didn't read the readings today. I leapt into action to prepare for our cleaning ladies. Today is a quiet day.. my sweet cleaning ladies are from Mexico. One had a baby Christmas day and the other is expecting her third baby in six mos. We talked about how to best clean our shower and our bathtub. I had a cleaning product that was fantastic! She was amazed! It's amazing how happy a clean shower can make one. Somehow I'm reminded of a brand new baby... so pure! and how awe-some is that purity. A baby glows through and through. My shower now glows superficially. I'm so happy! a fresh start~ it seems to say. bright and shiny and ready to serve you dear bather. Clean, bright, new, fresh, inviting beginnings.. like a blank sheet of paper coupled with a perfect pen. Yesterday, we received John's high school graduation announcements. He will graduate in four months and then in seven months he will leave for college. New beginnings for him!! and for us. Because he is our last, these new beginnings have a different color. What color, Katie? I feel like maybe they are the color of water...

tuesday, january 25, 2011

The memorial of St. Paul's conversion. Wow! Didn't know we had a day for that. but cool! Got knocked off the horse and had the original "Come to Jesus" meeting. Then, he made an about face and he couldn't be shut up! I love Paul!!! He's probably one of those guys you'd meet and think.. take a chill pill man! but look what he did! He wrote so many letters that make up more than half of the New Testament. Anyway, I'm not sure this is his day.. now that I think about it. but it was recently. Today I heard from three different young women talking about their experiences as young Catholic women... and their work to live out the faith as they know it. I was so proud of them! Articulate, passionate, living in that space that holds on to the faith but doubts and questions and challenges the institution. What they shared among other things: that young Catholics don't consider attending mass the hallmark of their faith. For most, they seek a connection between the faith and their lives. For most, service, community, social justice are the key elements of their faith lives. One 20 Something exhorted our assembly to be hospitable and to welcome and to be curious about others journeys. Music to my ears!!! Yes, catholic means universal.. and Catholic doesn't mean check your brain at the door (as my ex Jesuit professor once said) but means a whole lot more.. and there are many questions that need asking and pondering and answers to articulate oh so carefully. It is too precious to be misunderstood. Thank you to our guest speakers Jen, Helena and Katie.. and their book From the Pews in the Back.