Category: Eternal Life

Sow for a Loving Harvest

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Eternal Life, Faith, repentance, spirituality8 Comments

July 27, 2018

Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072718.cfm

Today, in Mercy, we begin about a two-week cycle of readings from Jeremiah and Matthew. Hand-in-hand, these call us to repentance, then show us the way to holiness.

Today, we think about Matthew. These readings are parts of the Third Discourse of his Gospel. It is sometimes referred to as the Discourse of Secrets because in it, Jesus teaches in riddles or parables.

Lk8_15 generous heart

Today’s parable is a familiar one – the sower and the seed. The image would have resonated easily with Jesus’s agrarian audience – and the green-thumbed among us! “Sow your seed on good soil or it will bear no harvest.”

Good soil doesn’t just happen. It takes work and vigilance to prepare a garden patch. This is the core of Jesus’ message – this is the secret of heaven:

  • Clear the rocks 
  • Loosen clumped resistances
  • Feed and nurture 
  • Check constantly for invasive weeds

So today, let’s:

  • Check our hearts for anything that blocks our openness to the Spirit
  • Examine any crippling prejudices we might be holding on to
  • Be sure we are feeding our souls with good spiritual reading and quiet reflection
  • Be aware of anything that pulls us away from kindness, truth, and love

Music: Planting Seeds : A Song of Life by Empty Hands Music

Can You Drink the Cup?

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Conversion, Courage, Discipleship, Eternal Life, Faith, Gospel, Jesus, Uncategorized4 Comments

July 25, 2018 – Feast of St. James, Apostle

Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072518.cfm

Today, in Mercy, we learn a lesson in humble leadership, thanks to “Mrs. Zebedee”. Our Gospel recounts the story of the mother of James and John interceding for her sons with Jesus. Like many overprotective mothers, she intervenes in their adult lives. She wants to make sure they get the best deal for their investment with Jesus.

Mt20_22 cup

Unfortunately, “Mrs. Zebedee” has missed the whole point of Christian discipleship. Her boys have decided to follow a man who says things like this:

  • The last shall be first and the first, last.
  • Unless you lay down your life, you cannot follow me.
  • Whoever takes the lowly position of a child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

The seats at Christ’s right and left, which she requests for her sons, will bring them only the rewards of humility and sacrificial service.

Jesus is gentle with “Mrs. Zebedee”. He understands how hard it is for any of us to comprehend the hidden glory of a deeply Christian life. We are surrounded by a world that screams the opposite to us:

  • Me first!
  • Stand your ground!
  • Good guys finish last!

So Jesus turns to James and John. One can imagine the bemused look on his face. He knows the hearts of these two men. He knows they have already given themselves to him. So he asks them for a confession of faith, “Can you drink the cup that I will drink?”

Their humble, faith-filled answer no doubt stuns their mother. She is left in wonder at the holy men her fishermen sons have become. Perhaps it is the beginning of her own deep conversion to Christ.

As we pray with this passage on the feast of St. James the Apostle, where do find ourselves in this scene? How immediate, sincere, and complete is our response to Jesus’ question: “Can you drink the cup….?”

Music: Can You Drink the Cup? ( Be patient. The song has a slightly delayed start😀)

Can You Drink The Cup?

Lyrics by Pamela Martin, Music by Craig Courtney
Copyright 2001, Beckenhorst Press, Inc.

Can you dring the cup,
embrace it in your hands?
Can you look inside
and face what it demands?

In the wine you see
reflections of your soul.
No one else can drink
this cup that you must hold.

Can you drink the cup?
Then you must lift it high
though this cup of joy
holds pain and sacrifice.

When you lift your cup,
raise it unafraid.
Lift it up, this cup
of life, and celebrate.

Can you drink the cup
until there is no more?
When the wine is gone,
Christ Himself will pour.

Though you drink it all
the cup is never dry,
God keeps filling it
with everlasting life.

The Soul-Whisperer

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Eternal Life, Faith, Jesus, spirituality2 Comments

Sunday, July 22, 2018

Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072218.cfm

Today, in Mercy, our readings gather us into the arms of the Good Shepherd.

Mt6_34 shepherd

This beautiful image, which is beloved to us even in our highly urbanized society, certainly held even greater meaning to the early Christians. They understood, from experience, the utter self-donation of a shepherd to his flock. The shepherd needed his sheep in order to live, just as they needed him. Their lives were critically interdependent.

In a sense, the shepherd became one with the sheep. From sunrise to sunset, and even through the night, he led them to food, water, and rest. He protected them as they slept, by laying his own body across the sheep gate.

In our own time, a more familiar image might be that of a horse-whisperer, someone who through natural sensitivity and studious training, is able to understand and communicate with animals. Rather than “breaking” a horse, as seen in old westerns, the horse-whisper leads them to trust by listening and responding to them through body-language.

As we pray with the image of the Good Shepherd today, we might imagine Jesus as our “Soul-Whisperer”. Jesus stands beside us in the vast, open loneliness of life, which sometimes tries to “break” us. But we are never alone. He is listening. As he opens our life before us, let us trust and follow him. He has made our welfare his own by becoming one of us.

Music: The Lonely Shepherd
( Tap the center of the picture below to hear the song.)

God’s Gentleness

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Eternal Life, Faith, Gospel, Jesus, Prayer, spirituality4 Comments

Saturday, July 21, 2018

Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072118.cfm

Today, in Mercy, Matthew describes Jesus as He begins to experience a mortal resistance to his message. Jesus slowly realizes that some listening to him are full of hate, fear, and deception. His response reflects the counsel he himself offered earlier in his ministry: offer the evil one no resistance.

Is42_3 and Mt Reed

Jesus does not respond to evil or sin. He confronts it. He stands firm against it. But Jesus does not stoop to argument, violence, or any other form of engagement which would legitimize evil. He will not step into the trap evil always sets for its prey. When we fight evil with evil’s own weapons, we have already lost.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus simply walks away. We can feel his sadness. His offer of eternal love and grace has fallen on recalcitrant hearts. He sees that these hearts are lost to God.

Instead, Jesus gathers around him the humble and wounded, the ones whose hearts have been softened by suffering and shadows. He gently comforts them, heals them, and leads them to a new Light. They are the bruised reeds which he does not break. They are like smoldering wicks which he tenderly rekindles with his Word.

Let us place our own bruises and flickering lights in his presence today. Let us gather the world’s hurts and darknesses in our prayer. We give ourselves to the gentle love of Jesus.

I remember this morning a beloved prayer of my youth. Some of you may remember too: The Prayer before the Crucifix 

Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus,
While before Thy face I humbly kneel
And with burning soul, pray and beseech Thee,
To fix deep in my heart,
Lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity,
True contrition for my sins
And a firm purpose of amendment.
While I contemplate with great love and tender pity,
Thy five most precious wounds,
Pondering over them within me,
And calling to mind the words that David,
Thy prophet, said of Thee , my Jesus,
“They have pierced My hands and feet,
They have numbered all my bones.”

Music: My Heart Longs for a Touch
(To hear music, tap the center of the picture below.)

Blessed Be God

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Eternal Life, Faith, Prayer, Thanksgiving1 Comment

Sunday, July 15, 2018

Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/071518.cfm

Today, in Mercy, our readings are filled with God’s glory and blessings. The magnificent passage from Ephesians is considered an example of the great Pauline Hymns. These are places in Paul’s writing where he breaks into lyrical songs of praise and thanksgiving, so overwhelmed is he by the goodness of God.

Eph1_17 hymn

Have you ever felt like that – just so grateful to God for the blessings of your life? So blessed to wake up in the morning, with the capacity to believe, to hope, and to love!

A practice I learned many years ago has helped me focus on this kind of prayerful gratitude. As soon as I realize I am awake in the morning (and sometimes that takes a while😀), I say this simple prayer:

Thank you, God, for my life.

On a special morning, I might pause and expand that prayer quite a bit. But every day, I start with at least that brief phrase.

Savor St. Paul’s eloquence in his hymn of praise today. Let your heart recognize God’s goodness and sing even a silent, personal Thank You.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.
Ephesians 1:3

Music: Ephesians Hymn ~ Suzanne Toolan, RSM, who is Sister of Mercy at Mercy Center in Burlingame, CA. She has mentored many people in centering prayer in retreats and in prisons. She is prolific composer of liturgical music, including the iconic hymn, “I Am the Bread of Life”. Suzanne recently celebrated her 90th birthday.

Heaven on Earth

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Eternal Life, Faith, Gospel3 Comments

Thursday, July 12, 2018

Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/071218.cfm

Today, in Mercy, we read about Jesus’ first mission to the Twelve. 

In the first six chapters of Matthew’s Gospel, these disciples have witnessed and entrusted their faith in the divinity of Christ. They have been transformed by what they have received. Jesus tells them now to go give that amazing insight to others through their faith and witness.

In this passage, for the first and only time, Matthew calls these disciples “Apostles”, a word which means “sent forth”. They are commissioned now to “go out” and to “preach”.

Mt10_8 generosity

This is to be their preaching: “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” In other words, we are not simply preparing for some celestial afterlife. God is with us NOW, and NOW is the time to open ourselves to the fullness of God’s life. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we already are living heaven on earth.

We believers are given the same commission. If we have been given the immeasurable gift of faith, we must live a life that witnesses and shares this gift. Jesus tells us to do this filled with confidence and hope, and above all with the same generosity God has shown us.

Will we stand on soapboxes blasting the Gospel through bullhorns? Hopefully not! This apostolic witness is not about what we say or shout. It is about how we live – in honesty, peace, inclusivity, forgiveness, kindness, mercy – in all the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. 

A life like this “goes out” beyond its comfortable boundaries to embrace those Jesus has named as first in the Kingdom: the poor, wounded, humble and marginalized. A life like this draws people to God, and shows us all what heaven on earth looks like.

It looks like a kitchen table where friends share a cup of coffee and talk gratefully about the blessings of their lives. It looks like their emerging idea to volunteer at a homeless shelter or a hospital. It looks like their decision to invite a new neighbor for lunch or to visit an elderly one. It looks like the encouragement one gives the other to navigate a sorrow, or to make a hard, life-salvaging decision. It looks like selfless love in everyday clothes.

Something today will call forth the witness of our faith. The practice of “heaven on earth” is waiting for every one of us. Let’s go out and give it as generously as we have received it.

Music: I Will Stand As A Witness of Christ

God’s Passionate Love

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Eternal Life, Faith, Love, Mercy, spirituality2 Comments

Monday, July 9, 2018

Readings: Click here for readings

Today, in Mercy, our readings bring us Hosea, the poet-prophet who lived eight centuries before Jesus.  Although his warnings to Israel are stern, Hosea was, at heart, a lover – just as he imagined God to be.

Hosea tells us his personal story of marrying an adulterous wife, forgiving her, and welcoming her back to his love. He uses his own experience to challenge Israel, the “adulterous”, idolatrous beloved of God.

Hosea’s passionate poetry gives us the language and imagery of intense intimacy with God, a God who “allures”, “espouses”, and calls himself “husband”. It is the language of an unbreakable devotion and covenant.

Hosea2_19

This imagery can enrich our prayer and help us to deepen our realization of how much God loves us. God loves us as a parent would, as a friend would, as a lover would, as a spouse would. Still, God loves us beyond all these, beyond our human comprehension.

Any human love will always remain between two distinct beings. But Divine Love created us and lives within us. We are the very Breath of God Who, in loving us, loves the Divine Self into being.

In our prayer today, what a joy to surrender ourselves to this Amazing Love!

Wine, Anyone?

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Conversion, Eternal Life, Faith, holiness, repentance, spirituality2 Comments

Saturday, July 7, 2018

Click here for Readings

Today, in Mercy, in our Gospel passage, some of the Baptist’s disciples come to question Jesus. They are confused that they have been encouraged to fast and repent while Jesus’ disciples are feasting and rejoicing. They put the question to Jesus very directly.

But, typical of Jesus, He doesn’t answer directly. He answers with metaphors. He could simply have said, “They don’t fast because I’m God, and they feel fulfilled in my presence.” But that kind of direct answer is a conversation-ender.

Jesus, like most great teachers, enjoyed metaphors. They’re conversation starters. They open up a whole world of consideration far beyond the initial question.

Mt9_17 wineskin

So Jesus, perhaps fingering the tattered sleeve of someone’s tunic, suggests to  these questioners,  – You know, your faith is like an old piece of cloth. It resists new possibilities. Then, maybe pouring them a cup of wine, He indicates that they need to stretch and freshen their ideas about God. “Old wine skins can’t hold new wine.”

Most people resist the stretching that life brings us. Most times, we prefer things the way they are. We’d rather be comfortable, fasting with a well-defined god than to be stretched and re-woven by the spiritual opportunities of our lives.

But God is always making new wine, always offering a challenging, deeper invitation to holiness. These invitations come in many forms:

  • to shift our inner focus point from self to others
  • to open our minds and hearts to people who differ from us 
  • to change the way we interact with the earth’s resources
  • to deepen our political consciousness with moral understanding
  • to confront toxic habits and policies in ourselves and others
  • to endure difficulty, loss and pain with an Easter confidence

Living with that kind of holy openness to God makes our life a feast, not a fast. What invitation is pouring out of your life today?

Music: New Wine – Hillsong Worship

Tenderhearted Mercy

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Conversion, Eternal Life, Mercy, repentance2 Comments

Friday, July 6, 2018

Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/070618.cfm

mercy quilt

Today, in Mercy, our Gospel reading introduces Matthew, a Jewish tax collector. The setting is a dusty Galilean square, crowds bustling by after midday marketing. These are Matthew’s neighbors, and he knows them by name. He calls any tax delinquent passer-by to his customs post, bent on collecting the levies due to the Roman occupiers.

Matthew is not a popular guy. He may have gotten his government job through the influence of his father Alpheus, a man a little better off than his acquaintances. His fellow Jews may have resented Matthew’s education, economic status, and certainly his apparent complicity with a tyrannical government.

Matthew was probably treated like Sarah Huckabee Sanders at the Red Hen Restaurant.  Maybe that’s why Jesus noticed him that day.

But buried deep in Matthew was an unlit wick of messianic hope that only Jesus could discern. With the small spark of two words, “Follow me”, Jesus lit that hidden wick. And all the ensuing ages have been blessed by Matthew’s telling of the divine story!

When Jesus dined with Matthew’s other tax collector friends, the “righteous” Pharisees, entwined in their own sinful complicities, criticized Jesus for his choice of friends. Jesus makes his position clear: I did not come to call the righteous but sinners. His words imply that “the righteous” are irredeemable.

Jesus reminds us that God desires Mercy not sacrifice. Our holy words, laws, and rituals are empty if our actions impede God’s merciful love for all Creation.

We might want to sit at Matthew’s table ourselves today, and ask him to teach us more about that tender-hearted, transformative Mercy.

Music: Tender Hearted – Jeanne Cotter

Known By God?

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Eternal Life, Faith, Prayer3 Comments

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/062818.cfm

Mt 7_23

 

Today, in Mercy, our Gospel reading leaves us with a question: are God and I really friends? Are we more than vague acquaintances who might pass by each other on a Sunday morning, maybe even wave from a distance?

 

Jesus talks about such people in today’s Gospel. They used God’s name a lot. They claimed that God supported their words and actions. But their actions were rooted in themselves not in the Word. Their faith was a pretense to justify their own agendas.

We human beings are very clever. We can take a scripture snippet and twist and turn it to our own designs. We can bastardize the Word of God to make it vindicate our prejudices. But Jesus says that if we do this, we will hear these dreaded words when we meet Him in eternity:

I never knew you.

How terrible that would be! Let the thought of it inspire us to open our hearts and souls to the deep truth of the Gospel. May that truth convert any selfishness and sinfulness in us into mercy and justice. May it turn our gaze from ourselves toward God and God’s dear Creation.

It is a continual transformation, but God is waiting, lovingly, to lead us.

Music: Lord, You have Searched Me and Known Me ~ Bernadette Farrell