Month: May 2019

Do Not Be Afraid

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Courage, Discipleship, Eastertide, Faith, Gospel, Jesus, spirituality2 Comments

Saturday of the Second Week of Easter 

May 4, 2019

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Jn6-20 It is I

Today, in Mercy, our Gospel recounts a scary episode for the disciples. Just as in most scary stories, “It was a dark and rainy night”. Worse yet, these guys were out in the middle of a turbulent sea!

Been there? Maybe not in actual nautical terms, but we’ve all had our storms. Right?

The miracle in our Gospel story is that Jesus comes to the disciples out of the midst of the storm. And he will do the same thing for us, if faith can clear our eyes to see him.

In a spiritual direction relationship, where we share our soul’s journey with a guiding companion, that mentor will often ask the question:

Where is God in this situation?

It is the perfect question to ask ourselves in both our small and mighty storms. In all that happens within and around us, God abides – perhaps in the center calling us to new depths; perhaps at the edges calling us away from darkness.

Where is God today for you, dear friends?

Music: Sometimes He Calms the Storm – Scott Krippayne

(You might want just to linger over the words of this beautiful song, so I have printed them below.)

All who sail the sea of faith
Find out before too long
How quickly blue skies can grow dark
And gentle winds grow strong

Suddenly fear is like white water
Pounding on the soul
Still we sail on knowing
That our Lord is in control

Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace,  “Be still.”
He can settle any sea
But it doesn’t mean He will

Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child

He has a reason for each trial
That we pass through in life
And though we’re shaken
We cannot be pulled apart from Christ

No matter how the driving rain beats down
On those who hold to faith
A heart of trust will always
Be a quiet peaceful place

Songwriters: Benton Kevin Stokes / Tony W. Wood
Sometimes He Calms the Storm lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol Christian Music Group

Via, Veritas et Vida

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Discipleship, Eastertide, Faith, Jesus, spirituality, TruthLeave a comment

Friday of the Second Week of Easter
May 3, 2019

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Jn14_6 way truthToday, in Mercy, Jesus clearly tells us who he is for us:

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Jesus is the one, immovable Light in any darkness or confusion that engulfs us. How comforting and centering that thought – if only we can remember it!

Each of us, no doubt, has lost and found our way hundreds of times in our lives.

We have all been tossed back and forth on the half-truths, white lies, and deceptive silences of ourselves and others.

We have walked a razor line along the cliffs of death either of our beloveds or in our own spirits.

If we came through those times, it was because God found us, opened our hearts to the truth, breathed a Divine Recovery into our souls.

We are so often like Philip whose feast with James we celebrate today. Philip lived in the abundance of Christ’s presence. He listened every day to His blessed Word. Yet, after years of being with Jesus, Philip says

“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”

Jesus sounds a little surprised. He responds to Philip:

“Have I been with you for so long a time
and you still do not know me, Philip?
Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.
How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?”

God has been with us too from the moment Divine Life was breathed into us. We can completely trust that Presence, that Way, that Truth, that Life.

Such trust can transform our lives!

Music: O Via, Vita, Veritas – (perhaps outdated in tone, but lovely in melody and sentiment ) by Blessed Giacomo Alberione

O VIA, VITA, VERITAS!

O Via, Vita, Veritas, o Jesu!
Lucens per omnes semitas, o Jesu!
Te sequemur, trahe nos / Credulos ac servulos.
Te collaudamus / In Te speramus / Amamus Te / Dulcissime, o Jesu!

In verbo tuo stabimus, o Jesu!
Crucis pugnam pugnabimus, o Jesu!
Dediti Ecclesiæ / Veritatis regiæ.
Te collaudamus / In Te speramus / Amamus Te / Dulcissime, o Jesu!

Our Way, our Truth, our Life divine – O Jesus, our Lord!
On ev’ry path as Light you shine – O Master adored!
Lead us so we shall fulfill,
Through our faith and works, your will.
We praise and bless you, / Our hope confess you!
In love we sing, / Eternal King, / O Master adored! 

Your word we’ll keep with all our might – O Jesus, our Lord!
The battle of the cross we’ll fight – O master adored!
Docile to your Church we’ll be,
By your truths led joyously.
We praise and bless you, / Our hope confess you!
In love we sing, / Eternal King, O Master adored!

Infinite Grace

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Courage, Discipleship, Eastertide, Faith, spirituality2 Comments

Thursday of the Second Week of Easter
May 2, 2019

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Today, in Mercy,  in our reading from Acts, the disciples continue to show immense courage in preaching the Word.  They are bursting with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, soon to be confirmed in them on Pentecost.

Jn3_34

We, too, have these gifts confirmed in us, not only when we receive the sacrament of Confirmation, but each time we open our hearts without reserve to the Holy Spirit and her ensuing abundance:

Wisdom
Understanding
Counsel, or Right Judgment
Fortitude, or Courage
Knowledge
Piety, or Reverence
Fear of the Lord, or Awesome Wonder

Sometimes, we unfortunately forget to call on these infinite gifts as we navigate life’s challenges. It is a blessing to remember that we are not doing this thing called “Life” alone, just as the early disciples were charged by the power of God.

Our Gospel confirms the availability of God’s unbounded Grace to all who believe:

For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God.
He does not ration his gift of the Spirit.
The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.

Let’s consciously claim that unrationed grace today! Oh, what a difference it might make in our lives!

Music: Mozart: Veni Sancte Spiritus (Latin and English Lyrics below)

Veni sancte Spiritus:
Reple tuorum corda fidelium:
et tui amoris in eis ignem accende.
qui per diversitatem linguarum cunctarum
gentes in unitate fidei congregasti.
Alleluia.

Come Holy Spirit:
fill the hearts of your faithful,
and kindle your love in them.
You have gathered the nations
together in the unity of faith.
Alleluia.