Lenten Joy?

A Willingness to Be Transformed

As we prepare to enter into this, the holiest of weeks, our hearts are full of all that has happened since we began this Lenten journey.  The commentary in a past Lenten missalette says: “Let us enter this week with hearts willing to be transformed again by a paschal love that has the power to lift us from the grave of sin and into the light and life that come only from God.”                     

“…hearts willing to be transformed again…”  Transformation is hard work.  All our prayers, fasting and almsgiving these past weeks have been to help open us up to our need and the world’s need for this paschal love.  We know it is God who first loved us, who calls us to open our hearts to that love and to let it transform us and others. How difficult it is to understand and believe in such a love! And yet, this week we celebrate the fact that God sent the Son to identify with each of us in an unbelievable act of love.           

Where I once celebrated weekday Eucharist, a blind man was also often present.  At communion time he needed someone’s assistance to come forward.  As I witnessed this and reflected upon it, I realized that this is what we are each called to do daily.  Our words and actions lead others closer to the love God offers and we also rely on others to reflect the love of God they hold, back to us, for us.                  

As we enter into this Holy Week and the graced time of General Chapter that will soon follow, let us rejoice in the love of our God and of those whom we call our sisters and brothers.

Blessings this Holy Week!

Growing Awareness as Holy Week Begins

I have been trying to be more aware of all that happens around me and within me. Both are challenging. I have been living a lot in the future. To live today, knowing it has value for what it holds and not just for what I can accomplish for tomorrow, is my growing awareness. It is today that I must enjoy the ride. If I do not radiate hope today, there will be none for tomorrow. If there is no incarnating or deepening or living with passion today, there will be none tomorrow. Being aware, aware, aware is the only guarantee of recognizing God’s dream today or tomorrow.

Awareness within is even more challenging as life swirls around me. If I look deep within, can I see hope in my own heart? Is there a great love for my calling or treasured relationships? Do I see myself as one that I encounter with passion each day? How real is the self-respect? Being aware, aware, aware is the only guarantee of recognizing a growing reflection of a loving God within my very self.

Please continue to journey with me as we walk toward Calvary knowing that there is an empty tomb just over the horizon.

Sr. Joyce Shanabarger

The Call to Conversion

During Lent we hear what I consider to be the top three gospel stories that focus on conversion. The stories are the woman at the well, the curing of the blind man and the raising of Lazarus. All three speak of the power of Jesus to heal spirit and body. The questions that are asked and the responses Jesus gives cause us to pause and ponder. The woman says she is seeking water, and Jesus declares, “I am the living water.” The man desires to see, and Jesus gives sight as He declares, “I am the light of the world”. Martha complains that her brother has died, and Jesus says that he is only asleep and declares that He is the Life. Our Franciscan way is a way of continual conversion. These three stories help us to continually ask the questions:

• For what do I thirst? 
• What are my blind spots; what do I need to see? 
• What is dead in me that needs to awaken to the call of Christ? 

If you thirst, Jesus has living water to quench your thirst and set you free. If you are blind, Jesu has light so that you may see clearly. If your spirit is dead, Jesus is the resurrection and the life and thus the source of hope. These three questions can aid us as we prepare to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation this Lenten season. These three responses from Jesus are gifts beyond measure for a healthy, spiritual life. 

Drink of His living water and remember your own baptism. Open your eyes and rejoice in the light. Come out of the tomb, be untied from whatever binds you and live your life to the fullest. The Scriptures are rich in truth, in comfort and in challenge. Dwell with them as a way to live our Franciscan value of conversion and experience the peace that awaits you.