Inspired by Scholastica

One would think that Jesus would chose a more educated, more religious group of men for his first followers. Most of the apostles were uneducated fishermen, one was a tax collector, two wanted high places, one was a thief. Not a band of likely holy men. Yet perhaps Jesus wanted to show that he could turn even the most ordinary men into saints. And he succeeded except for one. They rest died a martyrs' death in the end. But it took a while to achieve that kind of holiness. Peter would deny Jesus three times before he realized his terrible lack of fidelity and was able to seek forgiveness. James and John were proud men who wanted to be treated special, but they later realized this was not humble. Matthew was used to mixing with those who often cheated people when collecting taxes, but he changed his ways. The gospels givee us glimpses of their slow conversion. These experienced fishermen could not catch anything one night, yet dragged in a buldging net of fish when Jesus told them wh

I recently watched a video about Helen Reddy's climb to stardom called "I Am Woman." She had a hard time getting started, singing in nightclubs to small audiences. She was a single mother trying to balance child care with a career which didn't seem to be going anywhere. Then a man offered to be her manager and get her voice on recordings. They developed a relationship and Reddy achieved moderate success. But she wanted to write her own music and when she created "I Am Woman" her career really took off. Unfortunately, her manager wanted to take credit for her success and tried to put her down. Reddy was a strong believer in the equality of women and knew that she was equally responsible for her success. Without her voice, her partner was nothing. She taught her young daughter to be strong and confident. She told her that she could be anything she wanted to be. Most parents nowadays try to teach their daughters this same lesson. "Be all you can be."

IF ONLY I COULD FLY I’d soar up to the Matterhorn to pick velvety white edelweiss;   I’d visit Bolivian highlands where air is thin and shivery.   I’d cross the treacherous seas to drink Bordeaux and Chardonnay in charming cafes along the Rhone.   I’d sail through billowy clouds to feel the condensation fresh as dewdrops on a summer morn.   I’d swoop through hoards of seagulls hovering above the ocean waves.   I’d zoom outside the Milky Way to discover unknown galaxies beyond, maybe catch a shooting star or two.   If I could fly I’d carry moonbeams, aromas of gardenias and bluebells and lovely symphonies across the sky.  

I used to think forgiveness was easy. If someone called me a name, or hurt my feelings, or shamed me in some way, I could just avoid them and say I forgave them but really still resented them in my heart. That’s not the kind of forgiveness Jesus requires.   In the Our Father, Jesus says, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We ask God to forgive as we forgive,” and that means we have go through the hard work of real mercy and reconciliation. It might mean ironing out differences and coming to some form of acceptance. In the early church things did not always go smoothly. For example, Paul believed that non-Jews could become Christians without being circumcised. Peter disagreed. They argued over this for some time. But finally Peter was able to admit he was wrong and the church held together. So even though Peter had been appointed head of the church, he submitted to Paul, the former Jew who persecuted Christians. Scripture does not indicate that th

. When too many things start spiraling out of control around us, it's hard to know how to respond to so many crises. Foremost is everyone's mind right now is the coronavirus  lives around the world and will continue to wreak havoc until a safe vaccine is found. There's also the climate crisis which continues to melt ice in the polar regions causing the deaths of many species as well as changes in weather patterns responsible for hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, and forest fires. Then there's the political disaster whirling around us that is creating antagonism, disunity, and  terror.  Where do we find hope and peace in this chaotic atmosphere? We certainly can't close our eyes and wish it all to go away. Nor can we wait for other people to do something to solve the problems. Each one of us has to roll up our sleeves and become part of the solution.Whether it's volunteering at a food kitchens, making masks, teaching literacy, urging people to vote, reaching out t

 As we mourn the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, we also rejoice in her inspiring life. She overcame many obstacles to reach her final achievement as a Supreme Court judge. Nothing seemed to daunt her; she was brilliant, determined, and fearless. She is best known for her fight for gender equality.  When she married Marty Ginsburg she was still attending law school at Harvard, and soon was juggling studies with a child and a sick husband. She graduated at the top of her class, but when she applied for jobs at law firms in New York, they were not ready to hire a woman. So she began to teach law at Rutgers University School of Law and at Columbia Law School. She was also director of   the influential Wom en’s Rig hts Project of the American Civil Liberties Union during the 1970s.  President Jimmy Carter appointed her as a district judge and then President Bill Clinton  named her as a Supreme Court judge in 1993. Although shy and diminutive, she had a brilliant mind and impeccable credentia

It was just a little thing. Tiny vases of flowers on the  tables in our dining room. They brought smiles to our faces during the stress of this pandemic. The bright colored zinnias and daisies came from our garden and many of us can't go outside to see them due to the heat or disability.  A friend who goes out walking early in the morning picks a rose  to put on someone's desk. It's a nice surprise to begin the day. Another woman puts a joke on her door every day to tickle visitors. It doesn't have to be anything big. It's the thought that counts.  We might think, "I don't have time to do things like that. Those who really care make time. It's amazing the rewards it brings.  I'm blessed to belong to a community that cares. That old saying, "Little things mean a lot" is true. We might send a note to someone who is ill. It's a picker-upper when one is weak or in pain. Or we stop to talk to someone who seems lonely or depressed. It's

I just read a story about an Indian widow with two children who was homeless. She wanted to open a bank account, but she was illiterate and had only 13 cents, so the bank refused. So the woman began learning to read and write and do basic arithmetic at a local after school program run by sisters. After two years she went back to the bank and they let her open an account. After several more years she had the money to build a tiny house for her family. This widow certainly had courage and perseverance. She refused to take no for an answer.  All women need this kind of determination. If at first you are told no, do what you need to do, until you get a yes. This may be a loan for a house, a job that requires an education, or a law suit ruling that is unjust. Too many times we just give up after the first rejection. You have to do your homework and find out what you need to do in order to reach your goal.  You may may need a little help. Sisters working in the widow's village in India a

           “ Above all, trust in the slow work of God. ” Teilhard de Chardin When I was a novice, I thought that by the time I was 60 or so, I would be pretty close to holiness. I would have developed a deep prayer life, and have overcome most of my defects. But look at me! I’m past 80, still sloughing along, sinful and lazy, distracted and complaining, far from the person I want to be. I often ask God to give me humility, give me courage, give me patience, give me a generous heart. Yet, my progress is so slow, almost infinitesimal. How long, O Lord? I cry out with the prophets of old. I reflect on Chardin’s advice. “Above all, trust in the slow work of God.” Since God has no sense of time, past, present, and future are all one to him. We have to believe that God knows what he is doing, or he wouldn’t be God. So slow is good, as God is good. Even when I do not realize it, God is slowly drawing out the good in me. Most of us are so impatient to reach the goal. We are reluctant to

  Many people think that long prayers, preferably on one's knees, are more efficacious than short prayers. Or prayers said aloud are more likely to be heard than silent prayer. So we pray rosaries or attach a string of prayers together.  Yet saints and theologians tell us God hears us no matter how we pray. St. Benedict says that prayer should be short (Chap. 20:4,5 of St. Benedict's Rule)  Father John Dunne, 20th century theologian and author, agrees. He even composed a song about short prayer:            Short prayer Penetrates heaven, Like Help!    Like Thanks! Like Yes! May I know me! May I know thee! Everything Is in your hands! Guard me And guide me! Your will is our peace.  Just a verse of a psalm can be an effective prayer, such as: "O God, come to my assistance." A prayer in our own words is perhaps better than a prayer from a book.  Prayer should rise from the depths of our heart. If we feel like we are at the end of our rope, we might just pray, "Lord,

 Michael Casey, an Australian Benedictine monk, wrote a book about monastic life called "An Unexciting Life." He wrote about the prayer, work, and lifestyle of monks, which is pretty mundane and ordinary. They go  about their daily routine with a good deal of  time spent praying the psalms, working in the monastery, and doing Lectio Divina or spiritual reading.   The Rule of Benedict contains 72 chapters devoted to ways to achieve peace and order, such as the Twelve Steps of Humility, the Tools of Good Works, Good Zeal, and the Order of the Psalms. The early monks prayed seven times a day but in modern times some monasteries have amended it to three or four times a day. It is a simple rule for a simple life. That seems fitting for monks but why would it attract other people? Somehow lay women and men have found sustenance in the Rule of Benedict, associating themselves with monasteries by becoming "oblates." These people make an "oblation," a commitment t

In the gospel last Sunday, Jesus has just instructed a huge crowd and they are hungry. The apostles want to send them away to eat, but Jesus tells the apostles to feed the multitude themselves. Now there were 5,000 men, not counting women or children, and they had only one loaf of bread and two fish. Yet when they fed all the people, there were 12 basketfuls left over. In breaking open the Word, one priest told his listeners to imagine that when the young boy brought his loaf of bread and fish to the apostles, other people who had brought a little food began sharing theirs until all were satisfied. It's still an amazing story. It's still a miracle. It exemplifies that Jesus can inspire people to give of themselves for others. (I'm still a little disturbed about the "not counting women and children," but that was another culture, another time.)  It made me think of how we can nourish one another today. We can offer a smile each time we meet another person. We can s

Two women who edify me with their goodness are right in my community. No, they don't pray on their knees all night or walk on needles all day. Rather, they give of themselves over and over again. During this pandemic they offered to cut hair for the 36 residents in our care center. Many of these women are very fragile and sickly; these two sisters give them loving attention as well as the hair cut. They feel privileged to do it. This is just one of their other ministries. Sister Micaela  works in our retreat center, takes piano lessons, and gives spiritual direction. Sister Loretta works in the garden, bakes bread, makes pickles, and supervises volunteers (not during the pandemic). Recently, an employee needed help baking bread and Sister Loretta was quick to respond to her need, even though she could have used some time to rest. They are the first to offer to do extra duties like shucking corn, taking sisters to appointments, and cleaning up after special dinners. When the

" Speak words of hope. Be human in this most inhuman of ages ." Thomas Merton Merton probably wrote those words in the 1950's. They are even more urgent today in our divided country, in the midst of a pandemic, and where violence is everywhere. When I hear the news  of the virus spiking in our country, the rise in crime and murder in many cities, and the racism rampant in so many places, it is hard to have hope. Where can we find hope? For me, each new morning is a sign of hope, a time to welcome another day of life, a time to start over, a time to be thankful. Hope is planting seeds of goodness and peace in soil that is scrabbly and rocky, and being willing to wait for them to sprout and grow in surprising new ways. Scripture and Jesus' words comfort me when I feel desperate or fearful. "Do not be afraid. I will be with you." (Mt.17:6-7) "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you."(Ps. 55:22). When the apostles faced a terrible

Prophets are seldom recognized in their own time. Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekial, Micah, all the Old Testament prophets failed to be accepted by their communities. They often suffered abuse and rejection by their own people. It was no different for Jesus who was persecuted and endured an excruciating death from his own people whose leaders betrayed him.  In more recent times it is no surprise that Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton met opposition during their lifetimes.They spoke against injustices and advocated a change in the way others were treated. Mahatma Ghandi led his people to break the chains of English control of India through non-violent action. King is considered a hero by all Americans, but especially Black Americans for his cry for justice. Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. who spoke out for women's rights, especially the right to vote, overcame much prejudice. After their deaths they were honored a

During my retreat several weeks ago, one session was on the eight Beatitudes.   Although I have heard this Gospel   often, I had not taken time to really meditate on its implications. So in this time of silence and isolation, I prayed   about our blessedness. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven .   We are blessed when we have tried to place ourselves among the poor, to reach out to them in their need, to be a voice for those who have no voice. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.   We are blessed when we grieve with those who mourn, especially those who have not been able to be with loved ones who died of COVID 19; who grieve not only death, but those who suffer from injustices, like racism and poverty and the devastation of the earth. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.   We are blessed when we humbly acknowledge our rightful place on the earth,and our interconnectedness with all creation. Blessed are th

I would hate to be a pastor during these days of COVID 19. They face the clamor of those who want the churches to offer Masses again and those who think it is still unsafe. Bishops also need to balance reasonable religious policies with their own state's legislation. There is no previous map to follow, so it is better to heed the direction of doctors and scientists who have the most expertise about the danger of spreading the virus. Many Catholics are attending Masses streamed in from various churches via computers or IPads or TV. Some feel more comfortable not having to dress up and sit in uncomfortable pews so they like staying at home. Some miss receiving Communion. Others miss connecting with their friends and neighbors at their parish church. Some parishes are reinstituting Masses but allowing only a small percentage of attendants to keep six feet distancing. Smaller parishes have less of a problem than large city ones. It doesn't look like we'll be returning

I can’t scream, I’m cryin’,  I’m gaspin’, my heart is thumpin’ like it’s on its last beat. Get your ugly d---- shoe off my neck I can’t breathe. I’m gonna’  die! I keep seeing that video of the policeman stepping on George Floyd’s neck, I  gasp at the inhumanity of such an action, as if he were snuffing out a cigarette, or squashing a bug, showing disgust and hatred and even pleasure to be able to crush a black  human being. God breathed into each of us the breath of life that enables us to move, to laugh, to enjoy the beauty of this earth, to be part of a family, to have a home. What right does anyone have to take away that breath, that precious gift of life,  No! no!  No matter what he did h e deserves to b reathe just like you and me .

We have heard a lot about white privilege lately, and hopefully people are beginning to examine their consciences about their complicity in the treatment of  people of color.. Many whites have taken for granted their ability to obtain good jobs, be treated with respect, walk and drive safely anywhere they want to go. If whites even notice that they are treated differently, they just accept it as normal. And sadly, some policemen who are supposed to uphold the law with equal justice toward all, are treating blacks shamefully. The death of George Floyd at the hands of police has triggered protests around the country and  hopefully something will change. Many blacks and whites are coming together to demand  that white policemen be convicted for cruel and unjust treatment of people of color. Thankfully mini-cameras are capturing the police actions and can be used as evidence. It is not just one instance. It happens over and over agaiin, recently to a black man in Tacoma, Washingon,

I correspond with a man serving a life term in a Chino,   California prison.   He abetted a murder when   he was a teenager. He seems to have found Jesus   behind bars   and has become a   Christian.   He has lost any residue of violence left from his youth. An inmate   for at least 40 years, he says he has used up all his requests for a retrial. A friend asked me to write to him since he has no family or anyone who cares about  him. I suppose some would call me a bleeding heart, but when   I try to walk in his shoes for a while, I feel   like writing a letter once in a while is the least I can do. I also send him jokes and crossword puzzles   which he enjoys. Jim (not his real name) shares a cell with another “cellie” who is often angry or even violent,  without any recourse for a change. He falls into the category of reformed prisoner, who has served his time and is no longer a threat to society. Instead of being released, he is exposed   to the  coronavirus   in an overcrow