Breath and Heartbeat of God!

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Faith, Love, Mercy, Uncategorized3 Comments

Saturday, April 14, 2018: Today, in Mercy, Jesus walks across the stormy water to meet his frightened disciples. They are afraid of the wind, the night and the wonder of Jesus. As human beings, we harbor many fears even if we pretend to be very brave. We may be afraid of failure, loneliness, responsibility, insignificance, aging, dying or a thousand other things. Essentially, what we most fear is that we might be unloved or unlovable. Jesus comes to us through the night of any fear to prove that we are irrevocably loved. Even in darkness, we are the precious breath and heartbeat of God!

“Who would I be, and what power would be expressed in my life,
if I were not dominated by fear.” ~Paula D’Arcy~

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Be Bread!

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Eternal Life, Faith, justice3 Comments

Friday, April 13, 2018: Today, in Mercy, Jesus multiplies the loaves and fishes. This is the only miracle, other than the Resurrection, that is recorded in all four Gospels.

Jesus teaches us, in the story of the loaves and fishes, that the ordinary bread of our lives is the stuff of miracles. What makes the difference between Stroehmann’s and the Supernatural is FAITH! When we really believe we are marked for eternal life, our whole perspective changes. It takes courage to believe, but if we can, multitudes will be nourished by our faith! You know what I’m saying. Hasn’t the faith of your ancestors nourished you and all the generations in between? Hasn’t the witness of the saints, both canonized and known only to us, anchored our souls through many a storm? Be holy bread for your world, dear friends! ( Lovely song from Joe Wise for your prayer.)

Is My Faith Strong Enough?

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Eternal Life, Faith5 Comments

Thursday, April 12, 2016: Today, in Mercy, we hear an amazing promise in John’s Gospel. We who believe have already been given the gift of eternal life.

At the same time, the words are scary. Is my faith strong enough? What about when I doubt or question God? Faith is not about surety. It is about the choice to trust and live in a way that gives witness to that trust. Do not fear your doubts and questions. God is big enough for all of them. Give them to God and as the poet Rilke says:

“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue.”

From Darkness to Light – Always

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Uncategorized4 Comments

Wednesday, April 11, 2016: Today, in Mercy, we listen to John’s astonishment that people choose darkness over Light. And yet, we see it all the time, don’t we? Even, unfortunately, in ourselves at times? Let’s pray today for the strength to always choose God’s stunning, yet soothing, Light. Let’s pray that for our terribly shadowed world.  Some extra thoughts at the end of this post.  thank you to all who joined me today. Please spread the word to your friends.

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A poem from Mary Oliver today to help us consider the possibility that an undiscovered Light might be hidden in every darkness:

The Uses of Sorrow | Mary Oliver

(In my sleep I dreamed this poem)

Someone I loved once gave me
 a box full of darkness.

It took me years to understand
 that this, too, was a gift.

A beautiful melody from James Last to listen to as we think about the amazing Presence of God’s Light in our hearts:

One Heart and Mind

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Charity, Faith4 Comments

Tuesday, April 10, 2018: Today, in Mercy, our readings visit some of the earliest Christians: Nicodemus, Matthias and Barnabas. Each one is engaging his own call to this new, post-Resurrection community. Act 1:1 describes the deep love and fervor of this group who held all in common and loved one another. We live in many communities: family, faith, friends, neighborhood, school, work, country, world, Creation. What is my level of commitment to love, justice and Mercy among those with whom I share life?

( I am trying to post each reflection on the evening before, so that it can be used to prepare tomorrow’s morning prayer, if desired.)

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Divine Lightning

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Uncategorized1 Comment

Monday, April 9, 2018: Today, in Mercy, we celebrate the feast of the Annunciation and Incarnation (because Palm Sunday fell on the normal date 3/25.) At the angel’s Word, Mary opened her being fully to the transforming power of God. Within her “Yes”, divinity and humanity became one. In each generation, God’s transformation of Creation continues in us. A holy “yes”, given to God’s revolutionary invitation, still has the power of Divine Lightning! Nothing is wilder than grace! Nothing more free than God’s imagination for us!

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Faithful Thomas

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Second Sunday of Easter, April 8, 2018: Today, in Mercy, we read the story of Thomas who, despite a brilliant missionary life for Jesus, never shakes the sobriquet, “Doubting”. Are we all like Thomas, at least sometimes? Don’t we all really wonder sometimes if Jesus, if God, is for real? Doubt is simply the flip side of faith. Like faith, it is a place where we do not know for sure. But faith is that choice to believe in, and act from, Christ’s promise of that surety. May we, like Thomas, reclaim the fullness of our faith by the heart-felt prayer, “My Lord and my God!”

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The Final Command

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Easter Saturday, April 7, 2018: Today, in Mercy, our Gospel summarizes the post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus to his disciples. With the final one, Jesus seems to say that their faith has been sufficiently assured; it is time for them to spread that faith to the whole world – to every creature! We are given the same command. Does our life proclaim our faith? Does it embrace all Creation in its loving service?

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The Holy Name

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

4_6_18Easter Friday, April 6, 2018: Today, in Mercy, we see the post-Resurrection disciples exercising power in the name of Jesus. The crowds are stunned at their preaching and their miracles. That same power is offered to us in our Baptism. When we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, we see all life as a miracle. We “preach” by our love, service, honesty, kindness, justice and mercy that we have been redeemed in that Holy Name.

 

This is the Day

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Easter Thursday, April 5, 2018: Today, in Mercy, we rejoice with the psalmist in the gift of another day. What a blessing it is to be alive! This psalm could serve as a perfect morning and/or evening prayer. What are the first and last words that cross my heart each day? Thank you, God, for my life. May I live it to your glory.

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