tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23706141230084049172024-03-16T11:52:23.237-07:00 Fresh Wind in Our Sails A Sister of Saint Joseph of Rochester BlogThe Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.comBlogger551125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-52552225755476817222024-03-14T12:42:00.000-07:002024-03-14T12:42:46.254-07:00Joseph, Our Faithful Companion<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWlEGv5FrvYVbrFInOwiPLRKDQVC3qAurNbhhekaWvf1obo2VJv7qnUtw_TcCeQIOiASiwOoi54VdoA05zNpxa4k2iyZfAZLhSUouZh5th3eQcjS9Ie45xP8o-8eqNGonGQnKdmJo9K3PCj53wdTIiiG4hrkqAK7FDnGn9gPfuytlY-xCFfFqU0409kc7/s730/Go%20to%20Joseph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="328" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUWlEGv5FrvYVbrFInOwiPLRKDQVC3qAurNbhhekaWvf1obo2VJv7qnUtw_TcCeQIOiASiwOoi54VdoA05zNpxa4k2iyZfAZLhSUouZh5th3eQcjS9Ie45xP8o-8eqNGonGQnKdmJo9K3PCj53wdTIiiG4hrkqAK7FDnGn9gPfuytlY-xCFfFqU0409kc7/w181-h402/Go%20to%20Joseph.jpg" width="181" /></a></div><br />Dear Friends, <p></p><p>Because Tuesday is the Feast of Saint Joseph, we pause in our Lenten thinking to praise God for the remarkable gift the Christian community has in Joseph. Pope Francis wrote a few years ago that “Each of us can discover in Joseph – the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence – an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble.” </p><p>We are, as a world, in times of trouble right now. War, famine, the flight from danger, rampaging illnesses and cruelty give evidence of this reality. The people who rescue, restore and redeem people from their miseries are ordinary people, like Joseph. Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in life and in salvation history. In today’s language, “hidden” often translates into “invisible.” How many people do we pass by each day whom we cannot describe in retrospect. We simply didn’t see them. They were invisible to us. Yet, like Joseph, they have lives which are meaningful. In celebrating them, we reach back to Joseph. Joseph’s story is embedded in the lives of all in our day who enfold Jesus in their embrace, whether they know they are doing so or not. Hidden Joseph, invisible Joseph with work-roughened hands. Our special Joseph. </p><p>As we live out this year, let’s all “Go to Joseph!” Let’s consciously include him in the company of all who walk with us. </p><p>The words that have come down to us from St. Patrick, whose feast we celebrate today, could have been the very words that Joseph prayed when he was in unexpected circumstances: </p><p>“I bind myself God’s power to guide me, God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to teach me, God’s eye to watch over me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to give me speech, God’s hand to guide me, God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to shelter me, God’s host to secure me…” </p><p>Mary and Jesus never doubted the reliability and love of Joseph. As members of the Body of Christ, we too have Joseph as our faithful companion. </p><p>~ Sister Joan Sobala</p>The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-65251899487774384522024-03-08T10:20:00.000-08:002024-03-08T10:20:08.279-08:00At a Distance...<p><span class="TextRun SCXW153344864 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 19.425px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: windowtext; font-family: Aptos, Aptos_EmbeddedFont, Aptos_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCYnbjYXsWVrToPqU1SIUFFCfm6AMgPoVfbofmdKorh9eehC-PWh_qqvJej6BA-Acf7dtQjT3qAJup7jHQ8LV7YTCR6adFcrA6rY-q-pqkJEg8A8VdUbwqMpAxo3w8gCYEe_u3z9MmiS4vsAQM1vpAHVR_Gkb3MHvChkR9LypxOZDlRUFd3tTsxzfnPDp/s1200/at%20a%20distance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="1200" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCYnbjYXsWVrToPqU1SIUFFCfm6AMgPoVfbofmdKorh9eehC-PWh_qqvJej6BA-Acf7dtQjT3qAJup7jHQ8LV7YTCR6adFcrA6rY-q-pqkJEg8A8VdUbwqMpAxo3w8gCYEe_u3z9MmiS4vsAQM1vpAHVR_Gkb3MHvChkR9LypxOZDlRUFd3tTsxzfnPDp/w462-h241/at%20a%20distance.jpg" width="462" /></a></div><br />Dear Friends, <br /><br />A number of times in the Gospel, the phrase “at a distance” is used to describe where people stood in relationship to Jesus during His public ministry - the Gerasene demonic who lived in the cave, for example, and the ten lepers who had illnesses which also created a social stigma for them. The people whom Jesus fed on the mount came from a great distance. Jesus saw the barren fig tree at a distance. The prodigal father stood on a hilltop each day and watched hopefully for his son to appear in the distance. <br /><br />But Jesus never chose to be distant from anyone who needed His love and mercy. <br /><br />After Jesus was led away from the Garden of Gethsemane by the soldiers and guards sent by the high priest, Peter followed “at a distance.” Three times Peter denied knowing Jesus, but Jesus was close enough to turn and look upon Peter with love, compassion and understanding. Jesus had a way of doing away with distances. <br /><br />Jesus was not distant from Peter who needed His love and mercy. <br /><br />Mark, Matthew and Luke describing the scene of the crucifixion, said that the women who had followed and supported Jesus stood off at a distance. (Mt. 27.55, Mk. 15.40, Lk. 23.49) Not crumpled. They stood in silent awe of the Holy One. <br /><br />John has a different take. He describes three women standing at the foot of the cross: Mary, Jesus’ mother, Mary of Cleophas, his mother’s sister and Mary Magdalen. Again standing. But not at a distance. At the foot of the cross. It would be hard to get any closer. <br /><br />None of the evangelists describe any of Jesus’ male disciples as being at the scene of the crucifixion. <br /><br />Passiontide is coming in two weeks. Where will you be? Where will I be? Will we be off at a distance, lacking any interest in coming closer? Will we stand apart because we don’t know that we can come any closer? Will we crumple? Or will we stand in awe at what God has done for us? <br /><br />On the cross, Jesus was not distant from anyone who needed His love and mercy? Remember Dismas, the good thief? He was closest of all. <br /><br />How will we turn toward Holy Week? From a distance or closer each day? Will we be at the Good Friday Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion? If we can’t, can we at least linger over the Passion narrative in the Gospel of John? <br /><br />~ Sister Joan Sobala <p></p>The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-51715768901765079722024-03-01T11:13:00.000-08:002024-03-01T11:13:16.786-08:00Cleansing of the Temple<p><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-US"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GB8gHJGSqUjbRVveE5xTY-CmylLkAA-5t2YYD0Bm9QsLCgJOTj6vZ26GSoV1S3t_2tFCHGHKiUk8FkJlwQSAKS-6fSmvuVVDpdqa9gO_WYvDm5BNTqLZ8xQSds3XNmR41TgUUWHt-dlyqMr4PnNcKo-eaLkVNwZ0NF9V9wMDzIq3EOdU0L8OHqO_LkjQ/s1962/cleansing%20the%20temple.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1962" data-original-width="1769" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GB8gHJGSqUjbRVveE5xTY-CmylLkAA-5t2YYD0Bm9QsLCgJOTj6vZ26GSoV1S3t_2tFCHGHKiUk8FkJlwQSAKS-6fSmvuVVDpdqa9gO_WYvDm5BNTqLZ8xQSds3XNmR41TgUUWHt-dlyqMr4PnNcKo-eaLkVNwZ0NF9V9wMDzIq3EOdU0L8OHqO_LkjQ/w317-h351/cleansing%20the%20temple.png" width="317" /></a></span></div><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" color="windowtext" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;" xml:lang="EN-US">Dear Friends,</span><span class="EOP SCXW15110754 BCX0" color="windowtext" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><p></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW15110754 BCX0" paraeid="{0d84bd8c-d39b-40c7-afae-dd3eeaacd9f1}{91}" paraid="1628097725" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">What are we to make of this scene in today’s Gospel? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">For the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Scribes</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and Pharisees present, it became </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">a cause for Jesus’ death.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW15110754 BCX0" paraeid="{0d84bd8c-d39b-40c7-afae-dd3eeaacd9f1}{101}" paraid="1907318468" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But what about us here today? Do we stand at a distance and view these happenings as if on a video? Or shall we walk with Jesus up the royal steps, across an open courtyard to stand next to Him at the entrance of the Court of Gentiles,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">i.e</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> as far as non-Jews can go. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW15110754 BCX0" paraeid="{0d84bd8c-d39b-40c7-afae-dd3eeaacd9f1}{107}" paraid="1489260911" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">At first glance, standing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> there beside Jesus, we might not be conscious of the inappropriateness of what we see and hear and smell. It looks li</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">k</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">e an ordinary marketplace to us.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW15110754 BCX0" paraeid="{0d84bd8c-d39b-40c7-afae-dd3eeaacd9f1}{117}" paraid="2084624297" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The Court of Gentiles is indeed a marketplace. Sheep and oxen are herded in so that the rich can buy them for sacrifice. There are also dove</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> av</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">i</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">l</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">able for the poor to purchase.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> all so convenient!</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW15110754 BCX0" paraeid="{0d84bd8c-d39b-40c7-afae-dd3eeaacd9f1}{137}" paraid="1758290152" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Haggling goes on. Deals are struck and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">the shady make out very well. Money changers hand over acceptable shekels in exchange for the hated Roman coins and money from foreign lands.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW15110754 BCX0" paraeid="{0d84bd8c-d39b-40c7-afae-dd3eeaacd9f1}{145}" paraid="779066718" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">The noise is constant and intense.</span><span class="EOP SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW15110754 BCX0" paraeid="{0d84bd8c-d39b-40c7-afae-dd3eeaacd9f1}{151}" paraid="1812116352" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Maybe our</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> reaction to what we experience standing next to Jesus is distasteful, but we shrug our shoulders. Let someone else deal with this mess. It has nothing to do with </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">me.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> We would pass it by, like litter on a highway.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW15110754 BCX0" paraeid="{0d84bd8c-d39b-40c7-afae-dd3eeaacd9f1}{157}" paraid="1512650790" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But w</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">hat we see spread out before us is part of the culture of the times. Goods are easily accessible, and God does not seem to be in the mix.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW15110754 BCX0" paraeid="{0d84bd8c-d39b-40c7-afae-dd3eeaacd9f1}{165}" paraid="1280725372" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Whatever has happened to the sense in the people that hear </span><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">G</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">od’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">presence is celebrated? Here, people come to recommit themselves to live by the Word of God</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> as is told in today’s first reading. It was as though people ceased to understand that what God wants is mercy, not sacrifice.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW15110754 BCX0" paraeid="{0d84bd8c-d39b-40c7-afae-dd3eeaacd9f1}{185}" paraid="149326772" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Maybe we</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> are not sure what to think as we stand there with Jesus, but He knows what to think and how to act.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Jesus moves through the courtyard with</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">al</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">l</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> the energy of a vigorous man in His prime, convinced of the rightness of wh</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">t </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">He</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> is doing. Frenzy is created among the bigger animals. Jesus releases the doves and topples tables, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">litter</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ing </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">valuable </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">coins </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">across </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">dirty </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">floor.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW15110754 BCX0" paraeid="{0d84bd8c-d39b-40c7-afae-dd3eeaacd9f1}{227}" paraid="487052366" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Jesus knows there will be consequences for His actions, but Jesus does not waver.</span><span class="EOP SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW15110754 BCX0" paraeid="{0d84bd8c-d39b-40c7-afae-dd3eeaacd9f1}{233}" paraid="2119222287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">He does not waver as our savior either. He invites us to cleanse the temple of our own lives as we move toward Holy Week and Easter</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">What and who have allowed into our temple </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">uni</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">n</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">vited </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">or </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">perhaps casually</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> invited into our temple </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">that distract us from deepening faith and compassion toward others?</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW15110754 BCX0" paraeid="{0d84bd8c-d39b-40c7-afae-dd3eeaacd9f1}{249}" paraid="2047901782" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Have we reduced worship to a set of externals without engaging our minds and hearts?</span><span class="EOP SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW15110754 BCX0" paraeid="{0d84bd8c-d39b-40c7-afae-dd3eeaacd9f1}{255}" paraid="626573594" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">In our own temple, can we shut off the outside noise of our culture and be quiet before God? Can we find peace in the embrace of God?</span><span class="EOP SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW15110754 BCX0" paraeid="{f2f70d82-d540-4df3-8e7b-095b1da77c32}{6}" paraid="1282127875" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Can we?</span><span class="EOP SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW15110754 BCX0" paraeid="{f2f70d82-d540-4df3-8e7b-095b1da77c32}{12}" paraid="512658204" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Do we want to?</span><span class="EOP SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW15110754 BCX0" paraeid="{f2f70d82-d540-4df3-8e7b-095b1da77c32}{18}" paraid="2146204986" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">What does Jesus see and do as He </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">stands</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> at the entrance of our personal temples?</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW15110754 BCX0" paraeid="{f2f70d82-d540-4df3-8e7b-095b1da77c32}{24}" paraid="489645568" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">~ Sister Joan </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW15110754 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Sobala</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW15110754 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":259}" face="Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div>The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-8174198161338148572024-02-23T09:41:00.000-08:002024-02-23T09:41:39.762-08:00The Bends of Life<p><span class="TextRun SCXW239735782 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 23.7417px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BNcdUZJqc0v3DoHPYIH4W9dl_9WpKLXE1r4ncRPRIbFKgYTK2_GsiNDzTnE1AAz6R7d75IARsbI_OjrC15rmWX8YkJrWbKk4OOCIY3uxt461hqLuzbtC8tuPRrplpHQOMuZmXsmQuAr7bRheaQOlK5lE4_9mNjdNvmQZVDqJRLjfCOsRduP1OyEYrYhd/s3197/img030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3197" data-original-width="2400" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BNcdUZJqc0v3DoHPYIH4W9dl_9WpKLXE1r4ncRPRIbFKgYTK2_GsiNDzTnE1AAz6R7d75IARsbI_OjrC15rmWX8YkJrWbKk4OOCIY3uxt461hqLuzbtC8tuPRrplpHQOMuZmXsmQuAr7bRheaQOlK5lE4_9mNjdNvmQZVDqJRLjfCOsRduP1OyEYrYhd/w314-h418/img030.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><p></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{ed022bff-72e1-41de-8ccc-6baa99f3ffab}{211}" paraid="1325492746" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US">Dear Friends, </span><span class="EOP SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{ed022bff-72e1-41de-8ccc-6baa99f3ffab}{211}" paraid="1325492746" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="EOP SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{ed022bff-72e1-41de-8ccc-6baa99f3ffab}{221}" paraid="1952094794" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Take a long look at the images above. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">In every case, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">someone or something ben</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ds</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. How about us</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">?</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">W</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ou</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ld we fit into th</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">e</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> page of images? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Are we</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> rigid or flexible?</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Do we bend when we need to</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> learn more, become more, love more? Or have we </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">come to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">accept that there is only one way</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> to be and that is with strict adherence to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> set of rules</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> which we internalized at some point</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> in our lives</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">?</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Ea</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">c</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">h of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">us can point to certain</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> rigidities.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> What have you learned f</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">r</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">om </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">your</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Have you chosen to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">retain</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> them or </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">release </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">them?</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{17d2b7e1-13e2-4edd-bba4-c5893016e398}{48}" paraid="1821058008" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{17d2b7e1-13e2-4edd-bba4-c5893016e398}{48}" paraid="1821058008" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">When given a choice, do we bend or not?</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Standing erect me</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">n</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ally, physically, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">emotionally,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> and spiritually</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> is in many ways a good thing. (Luke 21.28</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">)</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">But s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">tanding erect could be a place from which to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">observe</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> but not interact. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">To</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> interact, we must bend/flex.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> A</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> person who is self-centered </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">has </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">a hard time</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> being flexible.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{17d2b7e1-13e2-4edd-bba4-c5893016e398}{88}" paraid="1217583942" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{17d2b7e1-13e2-4edd-bba4-c5893016e398}{88}" paraid="1217583942" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">It takes a certain courage to bend tow</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">a</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">rd God</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> in our midst</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. God is seldom “up there.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">” </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">God is more often in the world around us</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{17d2b7e1-13e2-4edd-bba4-c5893016e398}{110}" paraid="344984534" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{17d2b7e1-13e2-4edd-bba4-c5893016e398}{110}" paraid="344984534" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Some of the people Jesus encounters in the Gospel </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">we</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">re </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">bent</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> over, not by their own choice. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">The woman with the hemorrhage</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, the bent over </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">woman, cripples</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, the emotionally drained</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{17d2b7e1-13e2-4edd-bba4-c5893016e398}{132}" paraid="1925783213" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{17d2b7e1-13e2-4edd-bba4-c5893016e398}{132}" paraid="1925783213" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Not all bending is toward God or toward</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">life.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> The phrase “bent cop” denotes a police officer who has succumbed to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">b</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ri</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">b</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ery</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, greed, other vices. Bent can refer to </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">misshapen and therefore useless, too. We know the phrase, “I get bent out of shape whe</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">n</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">….”</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{17d2b7e1-13e2-4edd-bba4-c5893016e398}{160}" paraid="410217430" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{17d2b7e1-13e2-4edd-bba4-c5893016e398}{160}" paraid="410217430" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Bending and brokenness are not </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">commensurate</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. We fear being broken. Bending does not necessarily</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> lead to </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iNXB4IiBoZWlnaHQ9IjNweCIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDUgMyIgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4xIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHhtbG5zOnhsaW5rPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8xOTk5L3hsaW5rIj4KICAgIDwhLS0gR2VuZXJhdG9yOiBTa2V0Y2ggNTUuMiAoNzgxODEpIC0gaHR0cHM6Ly9za2V0Y2hhcHAuY29tIC0tPgogICAgPHRpdGxlPmdyYW1tYXJfZG91YmxlX2xpbmU8L3RpdGxlPgogICAgPGRlc2M+Q3JlYXRlZCB3aXRoIFNrZXRjaC48L2Rlc2M+CiAgICA8ZyBpZD0iZ3JhbW1hcl9kb3VibGVfbGluZSIgc3Ryb2tlPSJub25lIiBzdHJva2Utd2lkdGg9IjEiIGZpbGw9Im5vbmUiIGZpbGwtcnVsZT0iZXZlbm9kZCIgc3Ryb2tlLWxpbmVjYXA9InJvdW5kIj4KICAgICAgICA8ZyBpZD0iR3JhbW1hci1UaWxlLUNvcHkiIHN0cm9rZT0iIzMzNTVGRiI+CiAgICAgICAgICAgIDxwYXRoIGQ9Ik0wLDAuNSBMNSwwLjUiIGlkPSJMaW5lLTItQ29weS0xMCI+PC9wYXRoPgogICAgICAgICAgICA8cGF0aCBkPSJNMCwyLjUgTDUsMi41IiBpZD0iTGluZS0yLUNvcHktMTEiPjwvcGF0aD4KICAgICAgICA8L2c+CiAgICA8L2c+Cjwvc3ZnPg==')); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">brokenness</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, but it may </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">–</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">or a branch may break off. Trees need to be pruned. So do we.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{17d2b7e1-13e2-4edd-bba4-c5893016e398}{160}" paraid="410217430" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{17d2b7e1-13e2-4edd-bba4-c5893016e398}{160}" paraid="410217430" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">In this sho</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">r</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">t blog, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">let’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> consider only one more thought. This Lenten time </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">can be seen as a road with a series of bends</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">What are ou</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">r</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> tools </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">for the road </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">to Easter?</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{17d2b7e1-13e2-4edd-bba4-c5893016e398}{200}" paraid="1736295698" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{17d2b7e1-13e2-4edd-bba4-c5893016e398}{200}" paraid="1736295698" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">For one thing, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">d</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">on’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> just watch your feet.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> I</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">f we watch our feet only</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, we risk </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">miss</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">ing what is around us. Cross</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">-</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">country skiers are taught </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">to look ahead, read the signs </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">of the </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">terrain</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">and adjust their stride accordingly. The bent over woman </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">couldn’t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> see Jesus</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">’ face. All she saw was her feet and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">maybe His</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. But remember that </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">J</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">esus had a thing for feet.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{17d2b7e1-13e2-4edd-bba4-c5893016e398}{200}" paraid="1736295698" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{17d2b7e1-13e2-4edd-bba4-c5893016e398}{200}" paraid="1736295698" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">On the road, we have decision</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> to make. Do we follow the road that others have laid out</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> or do we b</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">l</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">aze our own trail? Our Lenten challenge is to decide when to follow and when to set our</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">own direction.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">At some point, d</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">o we need a guide</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">? Do we</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">even </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">allow</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">anyone to guide us?</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Do</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">we perceive God-with</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">-</span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); 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background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> or do we feel alone on the road?</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{444a5aef-6b84-4a2a-8a4c-079b7bce4a4a}{27}" paraid="1315265054" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{444a5aef-6b84-4a2a-8a4c-079b7bce4a4a}{27}" paraid="1315265054" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Finally, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">at times we</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> walk with others around the bend in the road, sometimes by their choice, sometimes ours, sometimes happenstance</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Any of these moments call for respect for each other’s course as well as our own.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></span><span class="EOP SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; 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-webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); 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-webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">However</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> we approac</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">h the </span><span class="NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Lenten road</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> that leads beyond the bend, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">let’s</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> not predetermine the ou</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">t</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">come</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> for ourselves</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">. Easter is</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">after all</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">, the</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> Great Feast of Surprises.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div><p><span class="TextRun SCXW239735782 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 23.7417px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span></p><div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web", Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative; user-select: text;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW51874922 BCX0" paraeid="{444a5aef-6b84-4a2a-8a4c-079b7bce4a4a}{63}" paraid="1811822224" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-kerning: none; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; user-select: text; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span class="TextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">~ Sister Joan </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW51874922 BCX0" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-image: var(--urlSpellingErrorV2, url('data:image/svg+xml;base64,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')); background-position: left bottom; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom: 1px solid transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;">Sobala</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW51874922 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559731":0,"335559739":0,"335559740":240}" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;"> </span></p></div>The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-28742847747098614312024-02-16T08:23:00.000-08:002024-02-16T08:23:14.650-08:00The Significance of God's Rainbow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RFx0T3AmGTUFGTmD3W5YJPaftf6PkoCjN_Ho25av8ZBBo7itYH_B53Wb2q8B34AkEl84FUma1VdH84D60-wftCL63SX2R8xad8-QNErAucOEP-aDFK-IIKQ4_R0a3zEtJfl62NHDZ9Pirnn7jnaTXPSXQ70rT8shLCtnqhRCzLdgrE72VPPKO9n6GIP7/s800/rainbow%202.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RFx0T3AmGTUFGTmD3W5YJPaftf6PkoCjN_Ho25av8ZBBo7itYH_B53Wb2q8B34AkEl84FUma1VdH84D60-wftCL63SX2R8xad8-QNErAucOEP-aDFK-IIKQ4_R0a3zEtJfl62NHDZ9Pirnn7jnaTXPSXQ70rT8shLCtnqhRCzLdgrE72VPPKO9n6GIP7/w533-h300/rainbow%202.png" width="533" /></a></div><br />Dear Friends, <br /><br />On national news shows this winter, we have seen footage about rampaging storms and devastating floods. Noah and his family knew the uncontrollable power of such floods as we hear in today’s first reading from Genesis. <br /><br />When calm returned to the scene of the biblical flood, God said to a weary Noah and his family: “I will make a covenant with you. Never again will all bodily creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood. This is the sign that I am giving, for all ages to come, of the covenant between me and you and every living creature I will set a rainbow in the clouds. When you see the rainbow in the sky, recall the covenant I made with you and all creation.” <br /><br />Here on the first Sunday of Lent, the rainbow is given to us as a reminder, a rich symbol of God’s faithfulness, God’s promise, God’s covenant with us. <br /><br />If we have been to Hawaii or Ireland or the Finger Lakes, we have probably seen rainbows, whole or in part after a summer storm. Sometimes even double rainbows. <br /><br />Rainbows are a gift from God for us today, even as they were in Genesis: <br /><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div>Rainbows can’t be predicted, even by our best meteorologists. </div><div>The potential for a rainbow is always present, but certain conditions activate it. </div><div>Rainbows appear where they will. I’ve seen one from an airplane flying at 36,000 feet. </div><div>A rainbow extends its reach over the earth, even as God’s embrace is universal. </div></blockquote><div><br />Perhaps these are reasons why groups that want to be inclusive choose the rainbow as their symbol – Jesse Jackson and the Rainbow Coalition and Gay Pride, to mention a few. If only we would put aside our smallness and hostilities! <br /><br />Today’s Gospel proclaims the Kingdom of God has come. It’s time to change our attitudes, our very lives – to think and act out of a rainbow spirit and frame of mind. Let no one walk alone. We move together into the future God calls us to embrace. <br /><br />The story is told that the first settlers coming to Boston wanted to build a city on a hill, in the way the Scriptures imagined such a city – a place for all people, a city where the Kingdom of God would reign. <br /><br />Before they landed, John Winthrop, first Governor of the colony, charged them in these words to work for their ideals:</div><div><br /><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">“For this end, we must be knit together as one. We must entertain each other in brotherly affection. We must be willing to abridge ourselves of our superfluities for the supply of others’ necessities. We must delight in each other; make others’ conditions our own; rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together, as members of the same body. So shall we keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” </div></blockquote><div><br />Boston has not quite reached that ideal yet. Neither have we, nor does our world even reflect the kingdom of God and its values. <br /><br />But we are on our way. <br /><br />Under the arc of the rainbow. <br /><br />This is what Lent can mean for us. God has made a covenant with us. It is embodied in the Body of Christ moving as one toward the completion of the reign of God. Let us act as though we believe it. <br /><br />~ Sister Joan Sobala </div></div>The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-37759049693249054652024-02-09T12:24:00.000-08:002024-02-09T12:24:22.493-08:00Deepening Our Faith Whole-Heartedly<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKi5E_DaCAuqFnT_3l2xAxfUdy84BAvm1BIEX7h81Wexw29fz5rvTOZI1szdNo9UuTDvr1v5NPVMtlnwtZGK2TkBhkHJ7GRTR7RhfJzOGrOY-NMakU2z4T2odGl344vK-Cdq_kRlELxoU9MOuM_X-0eq_JaFUhKplL4cY_-EId36Ki1f0rzBwkGXL2WHy/s800/AshWednesdayValentines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKi5E_DaCAuqFnT_3l2xAxfUdy84BAvm1BIEX7h81Wexw29fz5rvTOZI1szdNo9UuTDvr1v5NPVMtlnwtZGK2TkBhkHJ7GRTR7RhfJzOGrOY-NMakU2z4T2odGl344vK-Cdq_kRlELxoU9MOuM_X-0eq_JaFUhKplL4cY_-EId36Ki1f0rzBwkGXL2WHy/w434-h289/AshWednesdayValentines.jpg" width="434" /></a></div><br />Dear Friends, </div><div><br /></div><div>This year, our liturgical calendar and our event calendar blend to offer us a unique opportunity to observe Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day together. </div><div><br /></div><div>God is in the ashes. No question about that. Is God in our hearts as well? Receiving ashes on our foreheads is another way of saying to God, “Yes. I will follow you with my feet, my hands, my mind and my heart, with everything I am and have.” </div><div><br /></div><div>Will you say that? Will I say that? </div><div><br /></div><div>The imposition of ashes on our foreheads means nothing unless that action touches our hearts and lasts. </div><div><br /></div><div>Great spiritual practices have been given to us. We can relish them and amplify them during Lent through core practices which are thousands of years old: </div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>prayer that opens our hearts to God’s grace, </div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>fasting that makes us understand the hungers that really matter and </div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>giving alms from what we need and not just from our overage. </div><div><br /></div><div>Let’s be imaginative about what these practices mean. One Latin American Bishop, recognizing that in his poor country most people had little to eat, told them to find new ways to fast in their words and their actions. If you know how to read, he told them, take time to teach someone else to read. </div><div><br /></div><div>On this Valentine/Ash Wednesday, let us be brave-hearted and heart-whole as we deepen our faith. In these times when the practice of faith seems too unimportant to many people or at least not obvious, let the faith that is in us shine before others, so that they may be warmed and blessed by it. </div><div><br /></div><div>God’s deepest desire for us is that we have a wide embrace, enveloping God, the stranger, the family member and friend and the world in which we live. That can only happen when we love the Lord with our whole heart (Matthew 22.37), when we pray with a steadfast heart (Psalm 57.8). </div><div><br /></div><div>This Lent, will we count ourselves among the believers in the early Church who were of one mind and one heart (Acts 4.32) and be gentle and humble of heart as Jesus was (Matthew 11.29)? </div><div><br /></div><div>With you, I pray that this will be so. May what we have heard from the beginning remain in our hearts (John2.24). </div><div><br /></div><div>~ Sister Joan Sobala </div>The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-41062739131120769482024-02-02T10:29:00.000-08:002024-02-02T10:29:19.165-08:00Finding New Learnings About Faith<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcBqf7iD78xRNHR_eJxV69JoX7fDctIKlYIlZwGULEPl6mMKeUD2jboM26funzoCbx53cK5XJnA87ihSKQfnSmoROTxSrWuKFwQsxUcnQVAoLql7oucPwaCNBE2E45cmCg_QuYWS-UZu8LkSNJ2uPLcXEj29Oo5Lp2MIqXjpRRkjTrQgChpa_ik5-8WAH/s800/learning%20in%20faith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcBqf7iD78xRNHR_eJxV69JoX7fDctIKlYIlZwGULEPl6mMKeUD2jboM26funzoCbx53cK5XJnA87ihSKQfnSmoROTxSrWuKFwQsxUcnQVAoLql7oucPwaCNBE2E45cmCg_QuYWS-UZu8LkSNJ2uPLcXEj29Oo5Lp2MIqXjpRRkjTrQgChpa_ik5-8WAH/w481-h320/learning%20in%20faith.jpg" width="481" /></a></div><br />Dear Friends, <br /><br />Among the time-honored phrases which are part of the English language is “the practice of…”<div><br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>The practice of medicine <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>The practice of surgery <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>The practice of law. <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>The practice of faith. <br /><br />All of these are different from other activities which nonetheless require practice. We practice our musical instrument, driving before we get our license, athletic moves to achieve skill and master to our own satisfaction. <br /><br />We don’t say “the practice of eating or sleeping,” although we might need to change our habits to sleep better or eat better. The old saying “Practice makes perfect” in most of life’s activities could be more properly rendered “Perfect practice makes almost perfect.” <br /><br />But what makes medicine, surgery, law, and faith unique in life is that we are never finished learning about them, refining them in our minds and in daily life. We are always learning something we didn’t know, something new. <br /><br />Refresher courses and updates are required to continue professional practices. We can skip adult faith formation if we wish, but at what cost? <br /><br />Faith is a gift freely given at Baptism. We have it and maybe we have thought that this is enough. “Everything I Need I learned in Kindergarten,” as the book by that title says. Or maybe as children, we watched how adults practiced faith. <br /><br />One day, we grew up and the practice of faith was up to us. It’s easy to be contented with what we knew of God, Jesus, faith, mercy as children. But just as adults do not wear the same clothes they wore as children, adults cannot become more deeply God-centered without putting off the spiritual garments of children. <br /><br />In the season of Lent, which is to dawn on us on Valentine’s Day, let’s open our heart, our mind, our eyes and ears to new learnings about faith. Deep learnings, not just thoughts that skim the surface of faith. Faith is a journey into parts unknown. It requires a certain daring on our part. It requires space and time in our day, our week, and companions (fellow-learners) along the way. <br /><br />What shall we do this Lent to move more wholeheartedly into faith? <br /><br />Here are a few suggestions: <br /><br />Learn who God is. God is loving, tender, gentle. That may not be the way we were taught to think of God. Turn to God this way. Turn to people this way as we learn more convincingly that this is who God is. <br /><br />Make your way weekly to the community’s weekend Eucharist. Listen, watch, drink in the meaning of Christ with us as food and drink for the journey. <br /><br />Find and join a local study group that opens the Scriptures or some aspect of faith. <br /><br />Go to a Lenten series in your parish or a neighboring parish. Hear something new from the speaker. Listen to how people question. <br /><br />Try a book like <i>Sacred Fire</i> by Ron Rohlheiser or Timothy Radcliff’s <i>Why Go To Church</i>? Or find one of their talks on YouTube. <br /><br />Ask a friend or colleague what (s)he has done to grow in faith. <br /><br />Try something. At first, you may want to say: I don’t know where to begin! But try something. One step could well lead you to another. <br /><br />All of this has to do with acquiring a mature taste for God and the things of God. <br /><br />~ Sister Joan Sobala </div>The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-7536030227123722052024-01-26T10:36:00.000-08:002024-01-26T10:36:46.339-08:00Casting Out the Demons in Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH44dHPLSro7tWsjaajK1DKFsb7EQAI-eKcluw-CLgEokBPcnovPA6RHEhZhSzASBzt-SEEVcgXHQUeCHcayZ45zM5JSaE8Co5GzJjbp0Xo6kVOuoWattXUR8E4Kcudez2Zmubc1wg3yd9Zf5clhml5XtM9uqiLZREuVhppUa0NY6TvS4F3iG6ht9Z0VdT/s300/demons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="300" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH44dHPLSro7tWsjaajK1DKFsb7EQAI-eKcluw-CLgEokBPcnovPA6RHEhZhSzASBzt-SEEVcgXHQUeCHcayZ45zM5JSaE8Co5GzJjbp0Xo6kVOuoWattXUR8E4Kcudez2Zmubc1wg3yd9Zf5clhml5XtM9uqiLZREuVhppUa0NY6TvS4F3iG6ht9Z0VdT/w367-h327/demons.jpg" width="367" /></a></div><br />Dear Friends, <br /><br />In the readings of the previous two Sundays, we heard stories of God calling people to follow, to listen, to act in certain ways. <br /><br />Samuel brought his innocence to God. “Speak, Lord, for your servant listens.” John the Baptist pointed out Jesus to his young disciples and then watched them follow this new master. Jonah resisted serving God, but God was persistent. Jesus called <i>Peter and Andrew, James, and John</i>. Together, they came. <br /><br />Wonderful stories of call in which we can find our own stories – the ways God calls us to be disciples! <br /><br />This week, no more stories of call. This week we find the challenge that comes to everyone who is called. The name of that challenge is the demon. <br /><br />The historian, Adolf Harnack, once noted that, at the time of Jesus, the whole world was thought to be filled with demons. “Every phase and form of life was ruled by these evil spirits.” Archeological evidence supports the strength of this belief. <br /><br />Our own society is divided about demons. On the one hand, the popularity of authors like Stephen King, and films about the occult underscore our culture’s curious fascination with the demonic. On the other hand, many in our society dismiss demons as the stuff of fantasy. <br /><br />But really, you and I experience the demonic in life. Anything that brings non-natural harm to ourselves or others, anything that seeks to destroy or obsess us, to overwhelm our peace of mind, our families, our relationships – these are manifestations of the demonic. The forces that possess groups of people, incapacitate their working for the good of all, distort their humanity are demonic. <br /><br />The Synoptic Gospels tell of Jesus tempted by Satan before he began his public ministry. Satan did not prevail. But early in his public ministry, according to Mark, Jesus came face-to-face not with a man seeking answers to life’s thorny questions, but a man possessed by a demon, taken captive by a force outside of human control. <br /><br />Jesus recognized the demon for what he was. He already had the experience of Satan. This demon was clever as Satan had been. The demon made the man cry out “Jesus, You are the Holy One of God.” (Mark 1.24) But the Teacher would not accept this proclamation, this recognition from the demon. Apparent words of faith are not enough. Beyond the words, the demon was bent on destruction – the destruction of the man who hosted him and the destruction of Jesus. <br /><br />“Be quiet!” Jesus commanded. “Come out of the man.” (Mark 1.25) <br /><br />The demon convulsed the man violently before leaving, but more importantly, the demon departed. <br /><br />Jesus restored the demon-held man to sanity and true humanity. <br /><br />The demon had come face-to-face with the unique authority of Jesus. Jesus had no political, legal, vested power. He didn’t even have designated religious authority. The Scribes and the Pharisees had a corner on that. The only authority Jesus had came from His loving heart and welcoming ways, His oneness with His Father. People who accepted His authority did so because He treated them with honor and humility. <br /><br />The authority of Jesus offered people alternatives to their lives, evoking a new consciousness in them. He helped them see that demons could be successfully challenged, that dominant oppressive cultures could be supplanted. Life could be different. <br /><br />The man in today’s Gospel account, and others like him, who came to Jesus, their demons found themselves freed – and given new life. <br /><br />I believe that the demonic today is as clever as ever, but not as easily identifiable as some preachers and media would have us believe. Rather, demons are in our world in the disordered appetites of addiction, avarice, and lust which masquerades as love. There is the demonic push for power that has little regard for human beings, the readiness to use physical, verbal, attitudinal violence toward one another, the need to possess more and more of the world’s goods. <br /><br />Our world is less free of demons than we would like to think. <br /><br />But while we may not realize it or allude to it, we have share in the authority of Christ, given to us in Baptism. With the power of that authority, it’s up to us to confront the demons of our age and to help release the people who suffer from the ravages of demonic power. <br /><br />Our reading from Genesis reminds us that, surely in life, good will be in conflict with evil. <br /><br />But even more surely, God is with us in our struggle. <br /><br />Demons have never overcome our God.<br /><br />~ Sister Joan Sobala The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-70669959294527143682024-01-19T13:48:00.000-08:002024-01-19T13:48:49.969-08:00The Presence of God in Our Ordinary Lives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1rtfVdKDvHY-7ZyS-gEz-dEjpA-ygzJVz0NoQTrdKfgVLFkqASbfkRCgZY8LN6d9yIYKQCsYWePr4IcyPqhtVRSFbXP_On44wPnRP0CgxHW9vHGkAQLcrp50elCZAV8jNj_qTlAA9SUHKG8izglhnnS5g8G3BROG2hxoHiw3FM5Q0jdugD1jSuaf7F8q/s1024/presence%20of%20god.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1rtfVdKDvHY-7ZyS-gEz-dEjpA-ygzJVz0NoQTrdKfgVLFkqASbfkRCgZY8LN6d9yIYKQCsYWePr4IcyPqhtVRSFbXP_On44wPnRP0CgxHW9vHGkAQLcrp50elCZAV8jNj_qTlAA9SUHKG8izglhnnS5g8G3BROG2hxoHiw3FM5Q0jdugD1jSuaf7F8q/w399-h266/presence%20of%20god.jpg" width="399" /></a></div><br />Dear Friends, <br /><br />Already the Christmas trees are long gone, the manger figures, Christmas decorations and albums are stored for another year. Lent looms on the horizon, coinciding this year with Valentine’s Day – a combination to touch our hearts, for sure. But here’s the very important realization that could escape us if we let it. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Incarnation of the Word, the Son of God, continues to be with us </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>today and everyday throughout the year, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>throughout our lives, in our homes and in our world, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>without exception. </i></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Jesus is one of us.</i></div><br />Sit with that thought as often as you can. Realize what it means for our daily living. We can easily miss the immensity of this act of God, because we are inclined to equate the Incarnation with Jesus, whose new-born life we celebrate at Christmas as a past event. We think of His presence as a thirty-three year experiment – a one shot incursion of God into human history. After His ascension, Jesus “retires” – is gone from this life.</div><div><br />The truth is that God continues to come today. We can be unaware of God’s incarnation today or we can nourish this truth. We nourish it as we pay attention, watch, listen, absorb, catch the God-presence in our ordinary lives, our homes and workplaces, our places of recreation as well as worship, in the places of our chance encounters that stir something good and holy in us. <br /><br />This sort of living and thinking is not automatic. It comes only with work and practice. But the good news is that the impetus for such God – awareness is already ours – a gift of our Baptism, embedded in our beings when we became one with Christ in the Body of Christ. We were immersed in water, anointed and given the Light of Christ to launch us on our journey of faith. Our parents, godparents and older adults had to see us through, until we could be aware enough of God-with-us, and then the work was ours to carry on.</div><div><br />To add another depth of realization, the Dominican Herbert McCabe tells us that “God loves us personally. It is not some vague, warm feeling for the whole human race. God loves us personally and intimately, more personally and intimately than we can love ourselves. God is more personally concerned for my good and for my happiness right now than I can be for myself.” <br /><br />As the year unfolds, let the love of God for you unfold. Let it find you growing and becoming all you can be. <br /><br />It is an incarnational journey we are on. <br /><br />~ Sister Joan Sobala </div>The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-3448551535220261602024-01-12T06:16:00.000-08:002024-01-12T06:16:25.673-08:00The Flight into Egypt<p><span class="TextRun SCXW246783159 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pWOHAxy9ZqRHsHeSN_N2OSHdxXi3PdXKbxHvmvWD2WMtaFOdTmgKaUhfo_jVVnwZN_DnAC7qR7y2maMk3n_xnSM4-hyyRZhBWKVpfVxk5QKbUZ8GSp3QKL0MvTJy79J3KqESRty_-PaQComq930BNAb1aBrid8tHvO2Qsz3bUtqVgv-gWzRXal46CJ_y/s750/flight%20into%20egypt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="750" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7pWOHAxy9ZqRHsHeSN_N2OSHdxXi3PdXKbxHvmvWD2WMtaFOdTmgKaUhfo_jVVnwZN_DnAC7qR7y2maMk3n_xnSM4-hyyRZhBWKVpfVxk5QKbUZ8GSp3QKL0MvTJy79J3KqESRty_-PaQComq930BNAb1aBrid8tHvO2Qsz3bUtqVgv-gWzRXal46CJ_y/w449-h301/flight%20into%20egypt.jpg" width="449" /></a></div><br />Dear Friends, <br /><br />Last weekend, our Church celebrated the feast of the Epiphany, and this week, we already find the adult Jesus gathering His first disciples, who came to Him through the generosity of John the Baptist. <br /><br />But the whole community, gathered for Eucharist on weekends, is not given a chance to concentrate on the Holy Family, refugees from the violence of Herod as it is told in Matthew 2.13-18. The Gospel for the Feast of Holy Innocents, December 28, does tell us of the flight into Egypt, but most of us are not at Mass that day to hear it and to reflect on its meaning for us today. <br /><br />The flight into Egypt is a way of realizing that God accompanies us in our darkest moments, when we leave all things behind except what we can carry. <br /><br />Some Scripture scholars trace the route of travel of the Holy Family from Bethlehem to Ascalon in Gaza, then through Rafah and the coast road down to Egypt. Sound familiar? Today, Palestinians are trapped in Gaza and can’t pass through the Rafah Border Crossing into Egypt without proper documentation. The plight of the refugees continues. <br /><br />Left behind as the Holy Family flees are the families with children two years old and under, to be subjected to the cruelty of Herod. Elizabeth, Zachary, and little John lived in the targeted area. Don’t you wonder how they escaped? <br /><br />But back to the Holy Family. There are many stories told in the Coptic Orthodox Church about the movements of the family as they sought safety. The tourism branch of the Egyptian Government today has recently created the Holy Family Trail, leading pilgrims and tourists to various sites that, in the Coptic tradition, are stopping off points for the Holy Family as they made their way. <br /><br />One of those sites has a true historical accuracy -- the Church of Saint Sergius (Abu Serga) in Cairo. Contained within the massive church is the Cave of Refuge, where Jesus, Mary and Joseph were sheltered. (Still another cave in the story of Jesus! Go back to my Christmas Eve blog for others.) <br /><br />You and I are not the only ones who see this story come alive in another day. Others have meditated on its reappearance over the centuries. In the early 1940s, Thomas Merton wrote a poem about the flight into Egypt in his time. <br /><br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Through every precinct of the wintry city <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Squadroned iron resounds upon the streets; <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Herod’s police <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Shudder the dark steps of the tenements <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>At the business about to be done. <br /><br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Neither look back upon thy stary country. <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Nor hear what rumors crowd across the dark <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Where blood runs down those holy walls <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Nor from a childish blessing with Thy hand <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Toward that fiery spiral of exulting souls! <br /><br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Go, Child of God, upon the singing desert <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Where with eyes of flame, <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>The roaring lion keeps Thy road from harm. <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>(Thomas Merton, 30 Poems, 1944) <br /><br />In our time, or any time of war and destruction, we are never finished experiencing the flight into Egypt. <br /><br />~ Sister Joan Sobala <p></p>The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-43866564869816438772024-01-06T15:33:00.000-08:002024-01-06T15:33:06.853-08:00The Story of the Magi<p><span class="TextRun SCXW117470653 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEteHPR5Nb0Wn_IVj8I8pQ5Uw_yPgJ4DWhVh1ZmxaRBCeVeLLhqePyL_GcrxEOMGTZUtzGjBwpEoX5lwjqct6rFQ1AGqFaOunmyDAE5CbfvORXsCGdQgBxTNCpDZAQmn9cIRQ-4C_KrWhFK95YS_Zgvtd4q7_KmuQyidZAhuerZg0ZIyL-Vy8pnCsgR43Z/s612/epiphany.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="612" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEteHPR5Nb0Wn_IVj8I8pQ5Uw_yPgJ4DWhVh1ZmxaRBCeVeLLhqePyL_GcrxEOMGTZUtzGjBwpEoX5lwjqct6rFQ1AGqFaOunmyDAE5CbfvORXsCGdQgBxTNCpDZAQmn9cIRQ-4C_KrWhFK95YS_Zgvtd4q7_KmuQyidZAhuerZg0ZIyL-Vy8pnCsgR43Z/w408-h287/epiphany.jpg" width="408" /></a></div><br />Dear Friends, <br /><br />Happy Epiphany or Little Christmas, whatever you call it, but do celebrate the Feast of the Three Magi. <br /><br />These three learned Masters of Studying the Stars had found a remarkably brilliant star. It’s likely other astronomers and astrologers saw it too, but only these three – for whatever holy or gainful reason – were willing to set aside everything in their daily lives to invest precious time, energy, and resources to follow it. The star gave them their bearings. <br /><br />Maybe they did not know each other at the outset of their trip. Maybe they only met along the way before seeing Herod, and only knew of their common quest by talking with one another. Only in talking with our fellow travelers that we find a common quest. If that quest leads us to God, all the better. <br /><br />The story of the Magi appeals to us for that very reason, because like them, we are constantly in search of our bearings. We try to discern a meaningful direction in life amid chaos, war, and absurdity. <br /><br />Perhaps the Magi were single minded in their search. Perhaps they had to change their way of thinking as they travelled and unraveled next steps. They certainly had to rethink that after they consulted Herod and his advisors. Herod feared the loss of power in the face of this new-born king. Herod did what any ruthless king would do. He set out on a path of destruction that would cause families to wail because their children were lost. But the life-giving power of God would be greater than the destructive power of Herod. <br /><br />The star’s faithful presence and the angels warning to go home by another route appeal to us too. Everyone of us is a fellow traveler with the wise men… in search of God, occasionally at a loss, surprised in the end by what we see. <br /><br />When the Magi came to the house where the child was, Matthew says they fell on their knees and worshipped Him. They believed that this child held the key to the meaning of life. They left gifts that drew attention to His authority, divinity, and humanity. In leaving these gifts, the Magi accepted that God was not what they expected. <br /><br />The worship of the Magi and our own worship at Eucharist and at other times is not just a fitting conclusion to our journey. It is the only meaningful response to the unexpected god whom we recognize. We are today’s Magi, and the gifts we leave are the precious hopes and experiences of our own lives. <br /><br />From a human viewpoint, Epiphany celebrates the human search for God. From God’s viewpoint, Epiphany celebrates that God can be found. <br /><br />These three things, then: the search for meaning, the struggle of conflicting powers and the need for believers to worship together – these are the indispensable ingredients of this feast. Though the feast ends, the journey continues for each of us, alone and together. We will reach the fullness of our dreams. We will get there. I know we will…get there. <br /><br />~ Sister Joan Sobala<p></p>The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-11011931434264999782023-12-28T08:39:00.000-08:002023-12-28T08:39:58.875-08:00A New Year of Unity and Grace<p><span class="TextRun SCXW200655252 BCX0" data-contrast="auto" lang="EN-US" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; line-height: 20.5042px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-US"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: windowtext; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwsGLFbmfUnckOsrTPLv7zySw9CGABuEm_r0kWaF6ubtX-QiK9wCw7IRNr5za03W0X78DJl9UfoY0h_wGE0EXU4hxrMsMXcHiNqN_vybtgNqYXdRzygvfSMNR_lNg8XNZ414H1uKu0JkVndJjLfBGQhXbcpAaSBxeeAB_NxAYt-FVFfIBwrAfdmQPkNUQ/s744/christians,%20jews,%20muslims.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="744" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwsGLFbmfUnckOsrTPLv7zySw9CGABuEm_r0kWaF6ubtX-QiK9wCw7IRNr5za03W0X78DJl9UfoY0h_wGE0EXU4hxrMsMXcHiNqN_vybtgNqYXdRzygvfSMNR_lNg8XNZ414H1uKu0JkVndJjLfBGQhXbcpAaSBxeeAB_NxAYt-FVFfIBwrAfdmQPkNUQ/s320/christians,%20jews,%20muslims.png" width="320" /></a></div>Dear and Honored Friends, <br /><br />Happy New Year’s Day tomorrow! May 2024 be sacred to you, rich in friendships with God and one another. <br /><br />May we bypass the potential for disaster and embrace the possible and life-giving. <br /><br />May the Holy thrive in us. <br /><br />The first day of the new year, in the Catholic liturgical calendar, is the feast of the Solemnity of Mary – Mary, who is the Mother of God and our Mother as well. Mary knows the mind of God. She knows how immense, singular and undying God’s love is for each of us and all people. <br /><br />Once, at Tepeyac, near Mexico City, Mary – who after that became known as Our Lady of Guadalupe –appeared to Juan Diego. She asked him, “Why are you afraid? Am I not here who am your Mother?” <br /><br />In his homily on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, December 12, 2015, Pope Francis prayed for all of us who walk the earth; “May we convert” he prayed, “and become a merciful people, and may all Christian communities be oases and sources of mercy, witnesses to a charity that does not permit exclusion.” <br /><br />A charity that does not permit exclusion. That’s a reach worth making. <br /><br />In theory, the People of the Book – Christians, Jews, and Muslims – honor each other’s faith as we care for one another and our common home, the earth. In practice, violence, hatred, and distrust lace our attitudes toward one another. We are anything but gracious to each other. <br /><br />We accept animosity as a way of life. <br /><br />What if, in this new year, we really did commit ourselves to all-inclusive charity? What if we welcomed to the table of our heart Muslims, Jews, and Christians without exception? <br /><br />What follows is a prayer to keep, use and share. Promoted by Pax Christi USA/ Fellowship of Reconciliation, it offers us a fresh way to begin this new year as a time of unity and grace. <br /><br /> <i> </i><i>O God, you are the source <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>of life and peace. <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Praised be your name forever. <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>We know it is you who turn <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>our minds to thoughts of peace <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Hear our prayer in this time of war. <br /><br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Your power changes hearts. <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Muslims, Christians, and Jews remember, <br /><span> </span><span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span>and profoundly affirm, <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>that they are followers of the one God, <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>children of Abraham, brothers and sisters; <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>enemies who begin to speak to one another; <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>those who were estranged <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>join hands in friendship; <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>nations seek the way of peace together. <br /><br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Strengthen our resolve to give witness <br /><span> </span><span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span>to these truths by which we live. <br /><br /></i><div><i><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Give to us: <br /><span> </span><span> <span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span></span>Understanding that puts an end to strife; <br /><span> </span><span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span>Mercy that quenches hatred, and <br /><span> </span><span> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span>Forgiveness that overcomes vengeance. <br /><br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Empower all people to live in your law of love. <br /><br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Amen. </i><br /><br />Blessed and ever-fresh New Year! <br /><br />~ Sister Joan Sobala <p></p></div>The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-24249421913250840352023-12-21T06:53:00.000-08:002023-12-21T06:53:24.276-08:00The Caves of Christ<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgqtOPBZS6JrCI2HNOiID7MBDT1tXvo6ZUdLSetVjaWzpWQwAZy0eYcdz7Qj92SeaJfx9FKWxuAG2YT6BDKPihVWUEEs_mk9ol9-pQib0eS1bjc1vDaxkxZVbfNdwIuhr_SCW9I_JBHMAy6O3RYSwIam9Tc_wtC8Lu5WsXuljm7_Daj99CAiZ2VuVi38h/s675/baby%20jesus.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="675" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgqtOPBZS6JrCI2HNOiID7MBDT1tXvo6ZUdLSetVjaWzpWQwAZy0eYcdz7Qj92SeaJfx9FKWxuAG2YT6BDKPihVWUEEs_mk9ol9-pQib0eS1bjc1vDaxkxZVbfNdwIuhr_SCW9I_JBHMAy6O3RYSwIam9Tc_wtC8Lu5WsXuljm7_Daj99CAiZ2VuVi38h/w462-h355/baby%20jesus.png" width="462" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Today you will know that the Lord will come,</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>and in the morning you will see glory.</b></span></div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Entrance Antiphon Christmas Vigil Mass <br /><br />Dear Friends,<br /><div><br /></div><div>The cave was shaped by the elements <br />over any number of centuries, <br />by whirling water <br />and stones rubbing against one another <br />by temperature change and <br />by hand-scrapings and footsteps of every size and shape. <br /><br />Even before the Innkeeper claimed the cave <br />to shelter his domestic animals, <br />others had probably sought shelter there from storms <br />or just because night was quickly falling <br />and it was dangerous to sleep outdoors. <br /><br />Caves were treasures in the wilderness. <br /><br />A grown man could stand erect in this cave. <br />And the way it opened to the outdoors seemed <br />to impede cold air from rushing in <br />to dissipate the warmth of the cave. <br /><br />A good place to shelter for people and beasts alike. <br /><br />This well used cave, <br />hollowed out of the earth <br />became a hallowed place <br />late one evening <br />when a man and his very pregnant wife <br />were turned away from the inn. <br />“No room,” <br />the Innkeeper repeated several times <br />to the travelers at the door. <br />“No room. No room. No room.” <br /><br />But the weariness on her face <br />and the desperation in his eyes <br />caused the innkeeper <br />to think again. <br /><br />The stable. It would have to do. <br />Carved out of the earth, it was warm and dry and snug. <br /><br />The cave waited breathlessly. <br />Would they want it to be <br />the first House of God this night? <br /><br />Within the heart of the earth, <br />surrounded by creatures large and small, <br />the Holy One was born. <br />Joseph and all the animals there <br />knew about birthing. <br /><br />Mary brought forth Jesus. <br /><br />He cried out. <br />Was it “Hello? I am here.” <br /><br />Many years he would cry out again. <br />“It is finished.” <br />And then he would be laid in a cave again – <br />a borrowed tomb. <br /><br />And then there would be more, <br />believable to all who opened themselves <br />to that more. <br /><br />In the arc of His life, <br />when He was helpless <br />to do for Himself, <br />Jesus was cared for. <br /><br />To find Him, <br />we need to go to the cave, <br />and then, <br />there will be more. <div><br /></div><div>~Sister Joan Sobala</div></div>The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-13320605435924920042023-12-15T07:34:00.000-08:002023-12-15T07:34:38.479-08:00Experiencing Joy Amidst Difficult Times<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VZSheoBfHLqNm_RGGet0T1bNihGMiAlMpfAK9Qoqopk2KLlrtClPbpNn-Qewl_oSAhuBQgG9xIgWsQATtcOXhW35kAh5j-N-zFCM6Zb_U193aXWWSVyeHXaWpVmn5ZjM-MaEYeYniXKrUPrOWXf0GY5M5XfBVJX25O9eLIu7NwFTBBU-djJyyIWlDSRa/s1000/true%20joy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VZSheoBfHLqNm_RGGet0T1bNihGMiAlMpfAK9Qoqopk2KLlrtClPbpNn-Qewl_oSAhuBQgG9xIgWsQATtcOXhW35kAh5j-N-zFCM6Zb_U193aXWWSVyeHXaWpVmn5ZjM-MaEYeYniXKrUPrOWXf0GY5M5XfBVJX25O9eLIu7NwFTBBU-djJyyIWlDSRa/w392-h392/true%20joy.png" width="392" /></a></div><br />Dear Friends, <br /><br />On this Third Sunday of Advent, even though our world seems violently out of control, believers are called to joy because our God continues to come to us. We are invited to stir up the embers of joy in us – joy that recognizes and celebrates God everywhere and in everything. <br /><br />Among the realities we hold close today are two babies born in the Holy Land about 2000 years ago. Both survived the rigors of being born, John, son of Elizabeth and Zachariah, and Jesus, son of Mary, son of God, beloved by His foster father Joseph. Two babies were born in the Holy Land about 2000 years ago. Both survived. <br /><br />Recently, with an unholy war raging, 31 babies were born prematurely in Gaza, on the sea edge of the Holy Land. Not all survived. Those that have and will grow to adulthood will be told how it was that they survived and others did not. They will be told the story of their beginnings, and they will wonder at what God has called them to. They will know the joy of God, even as they know human sorrow. <br /><br />Our biblical ancestors – these wondrous babies, John and Jesus, their parents and families lived in times like ours – hard times in which to live out right relationships, support families and communities and be faithful to the Lord. Even in hard times, they experienced a joy that no one could take from them. Each in his own way, was united with God. From them we learn the joy that recognizes God everywhere and in everything. <br /><br />Joy grows in us over a lifetime. The person who has learned joy gazes at and walks in the world and sees God’s imprint everywhere. <br /><br />True joy is not giddy or silly or trite. It is a strong luminous thread of connectedness that runs through our life, uniting us with God. We don’t think our way into joy. And let’s not make it a project or think we can pre-program it. Don’t be afraid of joy in these difficult times, as though being joyful is not appropriate right now. <br /><br />Be still. Take an inward glance. The experience of joy is within us, waiting to be recognized. Look around. See it blossom and give thanks. Rejoice with the Palestinian babies that survived their premature birth not long ago. Let glimmers of God’s own mercy and human compassion touch them and their homeland. Rejoice as our own lives unfold. <br /><br />~ Sister Joan Sobala The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-88027874830605728832023-12-08T13:22:00.000-08:002023-12-08T13:22:23.768-08:00Carrying the Light<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6kK1VHWK59xxU_6eJFMuFNeqOfThCzvdY9pmPMaC35C52xszfJW3pXkSYDB8BW3wNGOpFVeviyRdxMoiPLKIhdJp6WKl1wx6Zdnwc2sP2jTAHg7Hz6UWJDU1RojN4I5YtV1VID63PIpc14CHIuttZ2AIGLUewKczi5-uRupMDnWcXs_Imo5Q6D57DRQf/s1540/prayer%20and%20candlelight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="1540" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6kK1VHWK59xxU_6eJFMuFNeqOfThCzvdY9pmPMaC35C52xszfJW3pXkSYDB8BW3wNGOpFVeviyRdxMoiPLKIhdJp6WKl1wx6Zdnwc2sP2jTAHg7Hz6UWJDU1RojN4I5YtV1VID63PIpc14CHIuttZ2AIGLUewKczi5-uRupMDnWcXs_Imo5Q6D57DRQf/w418-h235/prayer%20and%20candlelight.jpg" width="418" /></a></div><br />Dear Friends, <br /><br />In the early morning when I pray, I like to have a candle lit. Its dancing light is a sign to me of God who dances with joy because of us. <br /><br />Here in the north, Advent begins in a month of deep darkness. Only at the very end of Advent, does the daylight begin to increase in tiny fragments. It behooves us to light our candles during Advent, for our personal morning or evening prayer, especially with the unspeakable destructiveness of war and animosity raging in our world. <br /><br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Blessed are you <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Who bear the light <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>In unbearable times, <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Who testify <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>To its endurance <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Amid the unendurable, <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Who bear witness <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>To its persistence <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>When everything seems <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>In shadow <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>And grief. (Jan Richardson) <br /><br />John the Baptist, whose vitality we experience in today’s Gospel, was one who carried the light into the wilderness in unbearable times, when people did not know what to make of their lives. They did not recognize God’s presence within them and around them. But John brought them the light that moved them to see, to welcome God. <br /><br />As his story evolves in the Gospel, John also suffered the ravages of an interior wilderness, but he was faithful to God and to his cousin, Jesus the Word Made Flesh. He died because he would not back away from what he knew to be true. <br /><br /><div>When we find family life stretched almost beyond recognition, when the integrity of our soul is tried by experiencing or witnessing tragedy, the voice of the Lord speaks to us and through us to others. <br /><br />Light the candle. See God dancing with joy because of you. Be the light others can see by and be moved. <br /><br />~Sister Joan Sobala </div>The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-72462380837835727422023-11-30T11:35:00.000-08:002023-11-30T11:35:18.585-08:00The Potential of Advent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdvPEB6s5wzqxNUxPgb7PeAPej-ndxSrDTXucdVOMCI_DJcPvMWLQKfFfpoQDTC62IhMPh_X8a_bBS6VA74v973OC5ScTs7AeqaRAeW0dixKNPfT8tG3qyhtpjpGCzJuqguS-ChfF8fzjtVPKPaj5fdXWzk7q8diV7avUjRoyoGUjavP8SI0CQ9X1fCRQ/s296/advent%20stay%20awake.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="296" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdvPEB6s5wzqxNUxPgb7PeAPej-ndxSrDTXucdVOMCI_DJcPvMWLQKfFfpoQDTC62IhMPh_X8a_bBS6VA74v973OC5ScTs7AeqaRAeW0dixKNPfT8tG3qyhtpjpGCzJuqguS-ChfF8fzjtVPKPaj5fdXWzk7q8diV7avUjRoyoGUjavP8SI0CQ9X1fCRQ/w530-h265/advent%20stay%20awake.png" width="530" /></a></div><br />Dear Friends, <br /><br />Our eyes continue to be fixed on the Holy Land. Dire times with war and suffering are seemingly inescapable. So far, we have not heard of devastation in Bethlehem, Nazareth, or Ain Karem (home of Elizabeth, Zachary and John the Baptist.) <br /><br />The patriarchs of the Christian Churches centered in Jerusalem have asked their people to keep Advent and Christmas in spiritual ways only. Set aside the bright lights and festive air. Stay alert to the coming of God around them and in them. <br /><br />In the Holy Land, where God came once in human history, the Divine leapt into our world, uniting with us so completely, that history itself was transformed. Some groups of people haven’t gotten the message yet or block their ears to it or are asleep. They raise their drawbridges against truth, grace, compassion and peace. We see the same violence in Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen -- other so called hot spots. The lion and the lamb have not reconciled in our times. <br /><br />But Jesus says to us today, on this first Sunday of Advent, “Stay Awake!” We cannot be in Gaza or Ukraine. But we can be alert to, committed to healing, or at least not adding to the misery in the world. The servants in today’s Gospel were told to be about their work, to watch until the master came. The same message stirs in us. But what should we watch for? <br /><br />Watch for opportunities to make our part of the world better. <br />Watch for temptation and put it in its place. <br />Watch for meaningful outcomes even when tragedy befalls. <br />Watch for truth as it unfolds and emerges in life. <br />Watch for ways and places to sprinkle love until it is absorbed into each person’s life. <br /><br />“Lord, make us turn to You; Let us see Your face and we shall be saved,” we pray in today’s psalm. <br /><br />Watchfulness is not easy, however fine our intentions. We miss seeing opportunity, temptation and truth for what they are, by our boredom, our limited horizons, our waning motivation and perceptions. We are sometimes so anxious that we cannot be our best selves. <br /><br />If we recognize this time and place for what it is calling us to, we are in a place of rich spiritual growth. The important step is not to draw back from the potential of Advent even though the next steps are unclear. <br /><br />As Advent begins today, let’s remember one thing -- God is faithful to us. God is awake to the joy and suffering in the world. God is alert to us. Should we be anything less?<div><br />~Sister Joan Sobala </div>The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-77882496264373925072023-11-25T13:21:00.000-08:002023-11-25T13:21:32.999-08:00Celebrating Christ as King and Lord<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbQbxBMXh-WxNhy7qWJmIXc1oOYBksiXoTt1SC-spBi3QbX1bSoMZz_E1IhbTc86vRqfBHk3FJ0XEDk-WZBBNHtqGpX1OvB41cLZ-lBN5HW1rRohwCgSHHsQbdTdGwZHyOh87iIj_4Ag28rp1QxD1WAtQwJ-6l_Tl59jjzZ84T91XtmqYXXq1fmfCu8LR/s1200/king%20and%20lord.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="1200" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbQbxBMXh-WxNhy7qWJmIXc1oOYBksiXoTt1SC-spBi3QbX1bSoMZz_E1IhbTc86vRqfBHk3FJ0XEDk-WZBBNHtqGpX1OvB41cLZ-lBN5HW1rRohwCgSHHsQbdTdGwZHyOh87iIj_4Ag28rp1QxD1WAtQwJ-6l_Tl59jjzZ84T91XtmqYXXq1fmfCu8LR/w500-h261/king%20and%20lord.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />Dear Friends, <p></p><p>On this last Sunday of a waning Church year, we celebrate Christ as King and Lord. This feast compels us to look for God who comes to us in unexpected ways. God in Jesus bids us to be ready for anything and to look for God among the least, the broken, bruised and burned. </p><p>What Jesus asks of us is remarkably simple: to pay attention to our neighbor. Lazarus or the man born blind. The dead daughter of the synagogue official. We are to let the woman with the seemingly endless hemorrhage touch us. We are to dine with the outcasts of the world. Oh, and watch out for the barren fig tree in our neighbor’s yard! </p><p>One neighbor. More will find us if they know we are sincere. A stranger, perhaps, or a friend or family member – someone who asks something costly of us. </p><p>Across the way, Palestinians and Jews, Ukrainians and those who live in the terrorized parts of Africa ask us for what is costly to us. We’d rather not. We are quick to give away our castoffs, our extra money or the non-perishable food in our cupboards that is near its expiration date. But what we need – can we give that away? </p><p>Today’s Gospel is not so much judgment of those who refuse, who fail to give of what they really need, but a ratification – a confirmation of the depths of people’s actions. What we do matters. The very acts we may have forgotten, the seemingly inconsequential deeds, make us stand out in the world of "much-wants-more." We work out our destiny by accompanying others through their pain. </p><p>Whenever we give up our rights, our time, even our lives, using ourselves up for others, we enter the company of fools whose leader remains hidden and embedded among the unimportant ones of the world. Who is that leader? </p><p>Jesus – the king of fools – the one who was laughed at by the bystanders even as He was clothed by the soldiers in scarlet and had a crown of thorns pressed on His head. He could have avoided the whole thing if He had not been himself. But He had to be faithful to who He was. It is He we celebrate today. Not one on a lofty throne, but a God who became so human that we would hardly recognize Him in His surprising ordinariness. </p><p>Jesus, Servant king of fools at the bottom of the debris from buildings that have been bombed in Ukraine and Gaza. Jesus, Humble king of fools who shares His crust of stale bread and watered wine with the famished. Jesus, Just king of fools who will escort His beloved poor and suffering to life everlasting. </p><p>If we are not these very ones, by virtue or circumstance, we are their companions. </p><p>~ Sister Joan Sobala </p>The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-28495246454976041342023-11-17T05:46:00.000-08:002023-11-17T05:46:13.413-08:00Opening Our Hearts and Minds this Thanksgiving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnH9HsVgq2D7QfB9xRXVBWcWnDoI2FJsUXQ5b4LbLolgBbI1mbX8gbz-Cdph9iKGhbf6BEVZom-7jBYXkBlqDu5f_NB2-hgQWju5iul-DmeGAbUMkYHuKQoEBUkl7a9sXBRbiH_oj9T9yDCAn5l2hIowJN7Ml1chlKGXf-1MWR8101V1gwxRuAdHSekIX/s275/thanksgiving%20table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnH9HsVgq2D7QfB9xRXVBWcWnDoI2FJsUXQ5b4LbLolgBbI1mbX8gbz-Cdph9iKGhbf6BEVZom-7jBYXkBlqDu5f_NB2-hgQWju5iul-DmeGAbUMkYHuKQoEBUkl7a9sXBRbiH_oj9T9yDCAn5l2hIowJN7Ml1chlKGXf-1MWR8101V1gwxRuAdHSekIX/w428-h285/thanksgiving%20table.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />Dear Friends, <br /><br /><div>This Thursday, our nation celebrates Thanksgiving. <br /><br />That day, prior to the main meal, talk with your family, and agree if possible to acknowledge as you gather, that the land which we call home has a rich history of belonging to others long before us: The Navajo, Wampanaug, Houma and Chinook, the Lakota Sioux and the Cherokee, who walked a trail of tears from Georgia to Oklahoma because they were unwanted in the east. <br /><br />Remember the Ute and Pueblo, the Shinnecock of Long Island and the Seneca Nation of Canandaigua NY, the Keepers of the Western Door. All indigenous nations. <br /><br />As the Hopi told us: <br /><span> </span><span> </span></div><div><span> </span><span> </span>“Gather yourselves. <br /><span> </span><span> </span>Banish the word struggle from your attitude and vocabulary. <br /><span> </span><span> </span>All that we now do must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. <br /><span> </span><span> </span>For we are the ones we have been waiting for.” <br /><br />Rejecting the animosity in our world, let us instead embrace all in our world and pray this Thanksgiving prayer composed by the First Nation of Canada, the Mi ‘Kmaq: <br /><br /><span> </span><span> </span>“Creator, open our hearts to peace and healing among all people. <br /><span> </span><span> </span>Creator, open our hearts to provide for and protect all children of the earth.</div><div><span> </span><span> </span>Creator, open our hearts to respect the earth and all the gifts of the earth. <br /><span> </span><span> </span>Creator, open our hearts to end exclusion, violence, and fear among all. <br /><span> </span><span> </span>Thank you for this day and every day.” <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">May Thanksgiving refresh your mind, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">heart and all your relationships.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">May Our Lord open our eyes</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">so that we may carry forward the works that enliven and give hope.</span></div><br />~ Sister Joan Sobala </div>The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-30806938213422817702023-11-10T11:00:00.000-08:002023-11-10T11:00:17.240-08:00Experiencing the November Forest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhw1E2YUEuKNEIPn2TW925pB4CpElSnP0nE2oabP1aGBhgrvwisfwSJas7d6ggLrOFTVWToyzSpXsYN1BOZl0QGY_n0yQAwSBLJthEp0S3VRdK5QzD3s2Tu1ui5Ffa-SOkxLYD7xlAYzObnZWw4zbSHW24QmUg0g2iALU1wCH8R2dXvC_S2B_1cTNOaeb/s1280/trees%20(Mary%20Lou%20W).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhw1E2YUEuKNEIPn2TW925pB4CpElSnP0nE2oabP1aGBhgrvwisfwSJas7d6ggLrOFTVWToyzSpXsYN1BOZl0QGY_n0yQAwSBLJthEp0S3VRdK5QzD3s2Tu1ui5Ffa-SOkxLYD7xlAYzObnZWw4zbSHW24QmUg0g2iALU1wCH8R2dXvC_S2B_1cTNOaeb/w414-h311/trees%20(Mary%20Lou%20W).jpg" width="414" /></a></div><br />Dear Friends,<br /> <span> </span><span> </span>Take three strides <br /><span> </span><span> i</span>nto the November forest. <br /><span> </span><span> </span>Then take three more. <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Stand still. <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Listen. Look around.<br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>The wind tumbles the wet leaves <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> a</span>cross the rutted, stone-strewn floor of the woods. <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Water-soaked, they settle into valleys <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> a</span>nd pile into fox holes and rabbit holes, gopher holes and the like, <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> t</span>o protect the life sheltered within. <br /><span> </span><span> </span>Through the winter, the leaves will blanket and nourish the land, <br /><span> </span><span> h</span>old close the roots and self-giving plants <br /><span> </span><span> t</span>aking their refuge, <br /><span> </span><span> w</span>orn out from producing whatever <br /><span> </span><span> t</span>hey had been called to by our Creator God. <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Spring will find them <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> r</span>einvigorated or <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> d</span>ead, replaced by a new batch of holy growth. <br /><span> </span><span> </span>But till then, <br /><span> </span><span> i</span>n our wondrous north, <br /><span> </span><span> t</span>he snow will help – <br /><span> </span><span> w</span>arming when possible –<br /><span> </span><span> f</span>reezing when necessary – <br /><span> </span><span> h</span>allowing all the land holds dear. <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Beyond the November forest <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> s</span>tretch yards and gardens, <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> c</span>revices in the stone hedges, <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> l</span>iving out the same cycle of rest and revitalization. <br /><span> </span><span> </span>Don’t we do that?<br /> <span> </span><span> </span>Don’t we have times of high energy and output,<br /> <span> </span><span> t</span>hen little or none. <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>We are a November people, although not sure we relish this time <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> w</span>hen we are like trees without leaves or camped out in forest stillness. <br /><span> </span><span> </span>Today,<br /><span> </span><span> p</span>ause to experience November. <br /><br /> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Trust our Ecologist God <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> w</span>ho valued all growing things <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> l</span>ong before we knew how. <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span></span>Step off the path <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> i</span>nto the welcoming woods.<br /><br />~ Sister Joan Sobala<div><br /></div><div><i>(Photo Courtesy of Mary Lou Wenthe)</i></div>The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-49839744544584562712023-11-03T12:37:00.000-07:002023-11-03T12:37:32.742-07:00Gathering at the Table<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDM5Z8BGW4R0jmEUOsIaas4925K11FfYjrIaouIrtYFo10n5FwpGM7oTeCLbsFGsYJcrQP1FF9k0012cuzxViHKmV9CZH5bkJV9iKz8DW_OKkXIyuOhTBnGcbXOL8ZjvbcN-YCoTTIGLFF11EDGN0jALZN_0eqXzrXkLRJiQj0sipTeNqf-x1V109Ow-NJ/s720/bread%20and%20cup%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDM5Z8BGW4R0jmEUOsIaas4925K11FfYjrIaouIrtYFo10n5FwpGM7oTeCLbsFGsYJcrQP1FF9k0012cuzxViHKmV9CZH5bkJV9iKz8DW_OKkXIyuOhTBnGcbXOL8ZjvbcN-YCoTTIGLFF11EDGN0jALZN_0eqXzrXkLRJiQj0sipTeNqf-x1V109Ow-NJ/w415-h311/bread%20and%20cup%202.jpg" width="415" /></a></div>Dear Friends, <br /><br />Two ways of developing the vision and practice of faith among Catholic Christians have been occurring simultaneously this year: the Universal Church’s Synod on Synodality, the first session of which just concluded in Rome last week; and the National Eucharistic Revival, the middle year of a three-year process launched in 2022 by the American Bishops. <br /><br />I talked about the Synod in my September 17th blog. Today I offer a few thoughts about the Eucharist and why the American Bishops feel such a revival is valuable. In some parts of the country, not as many people celebrate Eucharist weekly as used to. One factor that influenced this new time is, of course, COVID-19. For the better part of two years, Masses were cancelled as part of the way to contain COVID. People got out of the habit of weekly worship. But in fact, the pews had already begun to empty before then. Other activities began to take precedence in people’s lives. The valuing of Eucharist diminished, maybe not in theory but certainly in practice. <br /><br />It’s an important thing to help believers return to the weekly celebration of Eucharist, as the source and summit of our lives, so here are some thoughts to consider as you and I hopefully resume coming to the Table, because “You, Lord, are the center of our lives.” <br /><br />These thoughts about Eucharist come not from today’s bishops, but from a letter to the Diocese that Bishop Matthew Clark wrote in 1996. He reminded us that “The Sunday celebration of the Eucharist is crucial to our understanding of our Christian identity…God’s people gather to hear the Word, to offer themselves with the gifts of bread and wine, to remember the mighty acts of God in Jesus Christ and in so doing, to join themselves to Jesus Christ, the perfect offering. We gather at table and then go forth to live what has been said and done.” <br /><br />Moreover, Bishop Clark said, <i>“We are called to be alive to the reality that we are not just individuals standing before God, but rather a community of people brought together as the Body of Christ.” </i><br /><br />Somehow, this eludes us and it will take work to draw us together again to savor and to treasure our common Table and recognize our need to be there. <br /><br />We begin with ourselves. Are we there weekly or not? If we meditate on these thoughts from Bishop Clark and resolve to come and see, we might recall what a gift it is to be there – to be a home with other believers who are struggling with life’s complex issue even as we are. <br /><br />Then we invite someone else to come. An invitation might be rejected, but try again or with someone else. Afterwards, together, name the blessings of the moment. (This is not the time to critique the homily, although you might want to do that at another time.) This is the time to taste, savor. Did you watch other people at prayer? Did the fragrance of candles, flowers and incense touch something in you? Did the power of the Holy Spirit stir something in you? <br /><br />Come again to the Table for as Bishop Clark reminded us: “Sunday Eucharist is the core of our life. Nothing can equal it.” <br /><br />~ Sister Joan Sobala The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-5846099106125330762023-10-27T09:34:00.001-07:002023-10-27T09:34:59.892-07:00Celebrating the Feast of All Saints<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2eL7sgglBH-BOpfu1QnrAoawJ0LrjkCQXO8zI4HizqA8PHf7UHhTSnKZZp_bEnTCFfLxrS1fDBBQcxl_4oSAbKCIkRvFSgWAa1p65OtTSGNnRVjxegNTvRAceOWCfh8p8FD1MnBhics96SmdxzSecFTyAmWy_ONc9OCSBfcDjqGuezuA3GSOVLbxYUR0/s800/all%20saints%20day%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="800" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2eL7sgglBH-BOpfu1QnrAoawJ0LrjkCQXO8zI4HizqA8PHf7UHhTSnKZZp_bEnTCFfLxrS1fDBBQcxl_4oSAbKCIkRvFSgWAa1p65OtTSGNnRVjxegNTvRAceOWCfh8p8FD1MnBhics96SmdxzSecFTyAmWy_ONc9OCSBfcDjqGuezuA3GSOVLbxYUR0/w423-h284/all%20saints%20day%202.jpg" width="423" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Dear Friends, <br /><br />On Wednesday of this week, the Church celebrates the Feast of all Saints – men and women, girls and boys who have taken God’s love to heart and have lived out its vast possibilities. <br /><br />These people in every way are like us and maybe a little bit more. They have this outstanding quality: they have responded to the awakening of God. They saw God alive, alert, beckoning them. They saw people in need, and they took an important step. They became responsible for what they saw. That is the essence of holiness. <br /><br />Saints come in all sorts of packages: <br /><br />Stephen Biko was a South African Freedom Fighter who died in prison after a severe beating (1977). <br /><br />Lioba was the cousin of Boniface. They lived in the 8th century. Eventually, she travelled from England to live and catechize in Germany, even after Boniface died. <br /><br />Stanislaus Kostka was a boy when the walked from Poland to Rome to seek admission to the Jesuits (16th Century). He died shortly after he began his studies. <br /><br />Sergius was Russian Orthodox (14th Century). It is said of him that “his transparent holiness illuminates an entire age.” (Blessed Among Us) <br /><br />Elizabeth Fry was a Quaker reformer (19th Century). The mother of eleven, she went to visit Newgate prison one day. What she saw prompted her into prison reform. <br /><br />Saints are not necessarily Roman Catholic. They are believers in God who have sipped from the cup that Jesus held to His lips on the cross, and they became His uniquely. They thirsted for God and God quenched their thirst. <br /><br />I count my grandfather, Casimer, among the saints. As a young Polish conscript, he deserted from the Russian army, fled across the Atlantic and found himself a boarder in my grandmother Tillie’s rooming house in Lackawanna, NY. She was by that time a widow with a small son. Casimer and Tillie married and moved out to a farm in Eden, NY where my mother was born. Grandpa Casimer lived until I was a novice. He died on our Congregational founding day, October 15. St. Casimer has watched over me all these years. <br /><br />How about you? Who are the saints of your family, your neighborhood? Who lived /lives with eyes open to the needs of the people? <br /><br />Are you a saint in process? Don’t hesitate to want to be one. Some new yearning for God may already be in you. <br /><br />Enjoy this holy day as you explore it in new ways. <br /><br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Know that the God who calls you <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Will stir up courage within you, <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Will accompany you in your waking, <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Will sustain you in your seeing. (Jan Richardson) <br /><br />~ Sister Joan SobalaThe Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-62232653121868404452023-10-20T08:06:00.000-07:002023-10-20T08:06:15.576-07:00Seeking Clarity of God’s Vision and Direction<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmbJgTBZeciZn2ekMdorf68TwOO65YmEqrzlls3Nky78UvZ4EDv2HPoodItsnxgibn29yPRDhUILWaWf2bF55kVcboYhm8RWs9Ny78yKFGlHX61-x8YdrdP-Esjeum6vjhHzbFot0Hh9xSNMERYi845lVGGG8bhweJkWExfcaHK4sNvaJSGL1JoI27D2n/s1280/questions%20and%20answers.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmbJgTBZeciZn2ekMdorf68TwOO65YmEqrzlls3Nky78UvZ4EDv2HPoodItsnxgibn29yPRDhUILWaWf2bF55kVcboYhm8RWs9Ny78yKFGlHX61-x8YdrdP-Esjeum6vjhHzbFot0Hh9xSNMERYi845lVGGG8bhweJkWExfcaHK4sNvaJSGL1JoI27D2n/w464-h261/questions%20and%20answers.jpeg" width="464" /></a></div><br />Dear Friends, <p></p><p>From time immemorial, people have asked questions for clarity, insight, understanding. Others have asked questions to entrap and destroy their target. </p><p>Here’s the emperor’s coin, Jesus. Are you pro-God or pro-Caesar? </p><p>Here’s a woman caught in idolatry, Jesus. Do you support the law or do you favor leniency for criminals? </p><p>Here’s a man who is unclean, Jesus. Do you uphold what the law says about the unclean or not? </p><p>The questions the Pharisees posed were traps to discredit Jesus to his hearers.” The Pharisees plotted how they might trap him…and Jesus knew the malice in their hearts.” </p><p>If we could quiz Jesus in the here and now about the issues of our day, our own questions would also be endless. </p><p>Jesus, are you pro-choice or pro-life? </p><p>Liberal or conservative? </p><p>Which is more important: jobs or the environment? </p><p>Jesus, tell us where you stand on gun control, nuclear weapons, AI, capital punishment, LGBTQ, banned books in schools. </p><p>What helpful questions can we ask about the way forward between Hamas and the Israeli? Is mutual brutality, violence that is over the top, the only solution? </p><p>As believers, we don’t seek to trap or embarrass Jesus. We seek clarity, light, a better understanding of God’s vision and direction for our world. But as believers, we need to work through these questions in a God-context, using the Gospel vision to illuminate our way as we try to make sense of thorny issues. </p><p>Society is quite eager to provide answers to our questions: supermarket tabloids, talk show hosts, co-workers, influencers in every field imaginable, kids in school bathrooms, warmongers. </p><p>A framework for approaching our contemporary questions can help us in our questioning, no matter our age or place in life: </p><p>First of all, as we discern how to think, what to decide to do or not do, we need to be confident that God is with us, in us, surrounds us. We are a people who are graced by God’s presence and love. In the first reading from Isaiah today, God says to us: “It is I who arm you, though you know me not.” The grace of God is present to us in each situation of our life, not as an imposition, a demand, but a tender companionship that shows us the way. God is for everyone holding life together in Gaza. </p><p>Secondly, Jesus never sends His followers out alone. Attempting to deal with today’s complex issues by ourselves makes no more sense than trying to be our own physician. It is in the believing community that we can seek wisdom and talk to others in Gospel terms. In community, we can, with more confidence, discover how to approach our questions with Christ’s vision and not just our own. The nourishment we receive at the Eucharistic table, in the Eucharistic community, enlightens not just our minds, but our hearts, our whole being. </p><p>Finally, let’s be alert for the concrete situations in which the Gospel takes flesh in people and see how they approach or resolve the pressing issues of our day. See how the Gospel vision takes the form of food for the hungry or bricks and concrete or lessons in hope, compassion and mercy. </p><p>This is how Jesus might respond to the questions we might pose today: </p><p>“I can’t prepare you for every choice you’ll need to make or every situation you will encounter, but my grace will be with you. Others who are likewise graced will help you to understand more clearly. Don’t be afraid to learn from one another. Seek life and you will find it. Ask questions and be ready for new and revealing responses.” </p><p>~ Sister Joan Sobala</p>The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-86442049934573537262023-10-13T11:47:00.001-07:002023-10-13T11:47:26.747-07:00Doing Something Life-Giving for the Community<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHUYGBEA7K-A1I7vk1YhyphenhyphenJzhsBBNL-hhM6Z5ZK1vRiIU8_KrH1Llh-exeS6OB_W-8RcgE4rQ0Wne3Pi5omiVJoi2jKrN6OQOMZIsNSSCCGRpmPAfJBoOuDcbhyphenhyphenqV2ebmsrgFu06ZPdPQ9AZDe3dM5pI7leybCYIXowqnmcztBg7zwsBXCvwoX3bfAdeO1/s964/harris%20and%20wims.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="626" data-original-width="964" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHUYGBEA7K-A1I7vk1YhyphenhyphenJzhsBBNL-hhM6Z5ZK1vRiIU8_KrH1Llh-exeS6OB_W-8RcgE4rQ0Wne3Pi5omiVJoi2jKrN6OQOMZIsNSSCCGRpmPAfJBoOuDcbhyphenhyphenqV2ebmsrgFu06ZPdPQ9AZDe3dM5pI7leybCYIXowqnmcztBg7zwsBXCvwoX3bfAdeO1/w407-h265/harris%20and%20wims.png" width="407" /></a></div><br />Dear Friends,<p></p><p>Let’s begin today by remembering two generous, energetic, insightful women who died 25 years apart in Rochester, NY. </p><p>Hattie Harris, “the mayor of Strathallan Place,” has been honored for her tireless efforts to improve life for all. Michael Wenzel, writing in her obituary, told how “she influenced elections, legislation, and community projects. She also worked hard for those who were not politically well connected.” Hattie Harris once remarked: “Be ashamed to die until you have done something life-giving for the community.” Hattie died in 1998 at the age of 101. </p><p>The remarkable Rosa Wims died just last month, in September 2023. After 28 years as a licensed practical nurse, Rosa began a new phase of her life. She started the Faith Community Wellness Center on Genessee Street, but hers became a name well-known in the larger for her pre-Thanksgiving dinners for the needy. More and more people came to eat, and more and more people came to help. Eventually, she passed off the organization of this feast to Foodlink, while she became the honorary host. Rosa was 100 years old when she died. Much loved and respected by the community. </p><p>A Jewish woman and a Black woman – both continued their service to the community long after they could well have retired and taken their leisure. They are models for us today. They are our Sisters. </p><p>I could find no insight into their motivations – religious or not, but if you and I are believers in the Risen Christ, then we look to Him to create in us the capacity to heal, to touch in love, to welcome the outcast, to render justice and mercy. We might not do the same things as Hattie Harris and Rosa Wims, but as we live on through the years we have been given, let’s develop in ourselves a willingness, an openness to serve deep into our so-called golden years.</p><p>We bring Christ’s values to meeting the contemporary questions and needs of our time. Each age of Christianity has had to do that. Our ancestors in faith and we depend on the Holy Spirit working with us to interpret the signs of the times, to live faithfully through times that would draw us down into despair or mean-spiritedness.</p><p>In our efforts to know and express in our day the best that Jesus has to offer, we tend to bump into each other in creative or disruptive ways. But we go on, finding resources and companions to do what is needed, using Christ’s very self as the measure of what we strive to become, overcome, improve and create a community of people who love one another. </p><p>~ Sister Joan Sobala</p><p>*Pictures courtesy of the <i>Democrat and Chronicle</i></p>The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-12935579619681603252023-10-06T06:11:00.000-07:002023-10-06T06:11:34.206-07:00Are Our Vineyards Fruitful?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBRwe6PsUBxxaGhNzB0NugItd25rzuf2_e92YwFfnb_N20erdZJ3c_I3htUcVVgad1TbevxCRcv3KQwW5kTDnSc9CPhNNXA3MLDQbHNkIlURv3k0P8tp2AxaEHJGY9anA_7iW99IlHWnKjWBTbg8ySq_fuaqTUfLksB4Ne3icdfTVkL7nPB5KJPtyOuDx/s625/vineyard.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="343" data-original-width="625" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBRwe6PsUBxxaGhNzB0NugItd25rzuf2_e92YwFfnb_N20erdZJ3c_I3htUcVVgad1TbevxCRcv3KQwW5kTDnSc9CPhNNXA3MLDQbHNkIlURv3k0P8tp2AxaEHJGY9anA_7iW99IlHWnKjWBTbg8ySq_fuaqTUfLksB4Ne3icdfTVkL7nPB5KJPtyOuDx/w449-h247/vineyard.png" width="449" /></a></div><br />Dear Friends, <br /><br />One straightforward way of reading today’s Gospel is as an indictment of the chief priests and scribes of Jesus’ time. We can identify them with the tenant farmers who rejected the messengers and killed the king’s son. <br /><br />The story is a variation on an equally depressing passage in Isaiah, where God’s careful preparation of the vineyard comes to naught. <br /><br />If we read these passages concentrating exclusively on the outcome, we would only experience failure. Dreams shattered, great loves destroyed, inedible wild grapes with long runners that wrap around every living thing they touch and choke the life out of the plants where they cling. <br /><br />Reading the texts this way gives us nothing helpful to turn over in our minds and weave into our life patterns this week. Let’s concentrate instead on the vineyard owner. In both passages, the vineyard owner did his very best, gave fully to produce the best possible vineyard. <br /><br />In Isaiah, the vineyard owner used the finest materials to build up his vineyard, but it did not yield good fruit. In Jesus’ parable, the vineyard produced a true and abundant harvest, which only brought out the greed in the tenants. With a call for justice and an end to hostility, the owner sent increasingly important messengers to talk with the tenants and finally, the most important, His own son. <br /><br />You and I can remember when we have given something the full measure of our devotion and it failed. We can point to failed relationships, the song that ended without applause, our work rejected, our adult children devoid of the values we treasure. When our best efforts fail, we are sorely tempted to stop sending messengers and never the one closest to us. <br /><br />And yet, we are most like God when we do just that - give our best over and over again. <br /><br />During times when failure threatens to crush us, we would do well to remember Paul’s words in today’s second reading: “Let God’s own peace through Christ His Son stand guard over our hearts and minds.” <br /><br />Let me tell you one woman’s story as a profound witness to today’s lessons. I’ll call this woman Nora. Nora had been a member of my Congregation. We lived together for seven companionable years before she left the Congregation. Shortly afterwards, Nora married. Within a year, two tragedies struck. Her beloved older brother committed suicide and she was found to have uterine cancer. Fortunately, surgery removed the cancer completely. Then, one day, Nora’s husband came home and told her that he didn’t love her anymore. Could she be gone by Friday? Next, her father died. Not long after that, I got a phone call from Nora, whom I hadn’t seen since she left our community. She was at Strong Hospital. “I want you to come over and help me die.” <br /><br />Nora had acute leukemia. <br /><br />I would sometimes come into her hospital room and find the efforts at living left her too weak to talk. At other times she would be teaching a group of interns and seasoned doctors about what happens in the human heart, mind and body as illness ravages it. <br /><br />Over these last months, Nora worked through a lot. One day, shortly before she died, Nora told me she had come to feel better about herself than she had at any time in her life. She planned her funeral liturgy to reflect all she had come to understand about herself before God. Nora died at 42. <br /><br />Was hers a wasted life? A failed life? Was her vineyard fruitful or was it choked by invasive vines? Had she heeded the messengers God sent or not? <br /><br />At the end of her funeral, a cantor sang a song from “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” which ends with this verse: <br /><br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>In the evening of my life, I shall look to the sunset, <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>At a moment in my life when the night is due. <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>And the questions I shall ask only you can answer. <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Was I brave and strong and true? <br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Did I fill the world with love my whole life through? <br /><br />Like Nora, we cannot lose hope in the face of suffering, or when our vineyard is attacked. Through the darkest of times, personally or in world crises, we can confidently pray today’s Psalm: <br /><br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Lord of Hosts, take care of your vine! <br /><span> <span> </span><span> </span></span>Protect what your right hand has planted!<br /><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Let your face shine on us and we shall be safe! <br /><br />~ Sister Joan SobalaThe Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2370614123008404917.post-21978750016677061962023-09-29T07:17:00.000-07:002023-09-29T07:17:39.721-07:00Celebrating the Mother of God<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpbHt09IjjT72teE9Zv77mtixTurrUUMHTY5u5m26gQYx6GznQdfu6rn8ovkoGYDwG7LmmFqciY17SNuClfWUjhsvXYSX3ZAsRT3EaGeZEbKTUg4WeX0HqZ139K1Xg8O84Y6NPrw_H5FU_OLU66vTJXTIJr2QbpTXYbK4keLUo-b1KazCCzhbPFRIT-se/s2749/ambrose%20statue.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2749" data-original-width="1744" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDpbHt09IjjT72teE9Zv77mtixTurrUUMHTY5u5m26gQYx6GznQdfu6rn8ovkoGYDwG7LmmFqciY17SNuClfWUjhsvXYSX3ZAsRT3EaGeZEbKTUg4WeX0HqZ139K1Xg8O84Y6NPrw_H5FU_OLU66vTJXTIJr2QbpTXYbK4keLUo-b1KazCCzhbPFRIT-se/w240-h378/ambrose%20statue.png" width="240" /></a></div><br />Dear Friends, <br /><br />Each year in October, our Church celebrates Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother. <br /><br />Since earliest Christian times, it has been the little people who have honored, loved and depended on the support of Mary. That makes sense. Little people, that is the poor, the ordinary, those who have no decision-making power or authority, depend on their mothers for sustenance, safety, learning, the daily needs of life. Mothers have been known to surround their children in a mantle of security. They are often the one who lead their children to God. <br /><br />Mary has been claimed as mother by people worldwide over the centuries. She is a model of trust, courage, patience, risk. Widowed mothers and unwed mothers have turned to her. So have the oppressed, the marginalized, the afflicted. The veneration of Mary has been a mainstay, an inspiration across the globe. <br /><br />During the Council of Ephesus, in 431, the bishops gathered to consider whether Mary was to be more appropriately called <i>Christotokos</i> (Christ-Bearer) or <i>Theotokos</i> (God-Brearer). They were leaning toward Christotokos. Meanwhile, on the streets of Ephesus, when the people heard this, they roared out <i>“No! Theotokos!”</i> The people had spoken. Thus, it has been for all these centuries. Mary is acknowledged by believers as the Mother of God. <br /><br />In distant and obscure parts of the world, sites of strong Marian devotion have developed. Sometimes, these were sites of apparitions, where typically, Mary appeared to the little people. We certainly know of Guadalupe (1531), Lourdes (1858) and Fatima (1917). Among the less well-known sites of Marian devotion are Montserrat, Spain (880), Walsingham, England (1061), Bistrica, Croatia (1545), LaVang, Vietnam (1778), Akita, Japan (1973) and Kibeho, Rwanda (1980). Pope Francis recently went to visit the tiny Catholic population of Mongolia, which dates back to 1992. Venerated there, in the Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul in Ulaambaator, is a statue of Our Lady of Heaven, found in a dump not many years ago. Little people, not the wealthy or powerful, go to search for life-giving things in dumps. Mary is with her Son’s People in Mongolia. <br /><br />This month, include reverence for Mary in your daily prayer. Say a Rosary. To find a list of all mysteries of the Rosary, go to <a href="https://www.marquette.edu/faith/prayers-mysteries.php">https://www.marquette.edu/faith/prayers-mysteries.php</a>. Or say one decade. If neither of those work on any given day, say a Hail Mary. <br /><br />The Hail Mary was not composed all at once. It came together over many centuries. It was the work of the little people. Beginning with the greeting to Mary from the archangel Gabriel, the prayer goes on to include Elizabeth’s words to Mary. The faithful of the medieval period added bits and pieces until the Council of Trent, in the 16th century, accepted the prayer as we know it. <br /><br />Hail Mary. Holy Mother of God. A surprise to her parents. A surprise to Joseph. Her remembered words are few but she points to us to Jesus as she pointed the wine stewards at the Marriage Feast in Cana to Him. “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2) The stewards knew what to do. So do we, if only we are willing. The wine our lives will produce will be abundant and exceptionally fine, if we do what He tells us. Little people know how to make good wine. <br /><br />~ Sister Joan Sobala<p></p>The Sisters of Saint Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06768621080723549417noreply@blogger.com0