Unconditional love

God’s love for us is unconditional. It does not depend on anything we do, make, achieve, achieve. All of these things happen because they are gifts of God’s love for us. But they are temporary. They can change, evolve, weaken, dissolve or even disappear over the course of our lives. Nonetheless, God’s love for us is unchangeable. No matter what changes take place in our lives, God is still there loving us with an love that is greater than anything we can fathom. We cannot wrap our minds around the height, breadth, length or size of God’s love.

And as long as we keep this reality of God’s love before us, especially in prayer, we can also rest in a happiness which does not depend on the circumstances of our lives. Often people who live in the most dire of circumstances have a gentleness and peace about them which it unattainable for those who are obsessed with climbing the ladder of success. “What happens,” it has been asked, “when you find out that the ladder you were climbing was up against the wrong wall?”

Many parents love unconditionally, but it is also true that many parents are not able to do so, and love conditionally. What happens in such a situation is that a child learns right from the beginning that it is necessary to earn love by conforming to another’s set of requirements and standards, and this misunderstanding exerts its power over one’s life in every aspect of life. This is something that has to be healed in so many these days.

Just remember that God’s love does not have to be earned. It is there. It is available to us at all times, even when we fail bitterly, even when we are lost in sin, even when we have made a total mess of our lives. It is precisely in this that God proves his love for us: that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8)

In your prayer, rest in that love. When things go wrong, rest in that love. When you fail, rest in that love. When calamity befalls you, rest in that love. And look around you for signs of that love. There are so many. This morning I spent some time admiring a birch tree which stands tall in our cloister garden. It spoke to me of God’s love for me, God who placed that tree in my world so that I could admire it.

Look for God’s love that already exists in your life.

God bless you.

the secret to serenity

Another quote from the booklet Reflecting on the Serenity Prayer by Philip St. Romaine:

“We can lose serenity . . . by neglecting to nurture our faith. During such times, we are thrown back upon our own resources. Anxious preoccupation returns along with the willful desire to manipulate the world and other people to conform to our own deluded model of happiness.”

We live in a perpetual tug-of-war between the states of serenity or spiritual happiness on one hand and the anxiety and preoccupation that exists when we think we are the authors of our own happiness.

Someone might object: “I have created a life of happiness for myself,” but how long will it last? And what small thing or big thing might occur to change the circumstances that such worldly happiness depends on?

Examine your own life and see whether or not these observations are true. How often have you perhaps created your own happiness only to see it dissolve or be wiped away suddenly and unexpectedly? Does your happiness depend on freedom from care or anxiety? Does it depend on a certain relationship, or measure of success? I particularly like St.Romaine’s mention of the willful desire to manipulate the world and other people. How has that project gone for you? Is it working?

Of course not. And if you are able to understand this right now, then you are already someone who has had the experience of existential serenity, or even have it regularly and consistently.

“My shepherd will supply my need,” the old hymn goes. God is providing you with everything you truly need, not necessarily with anything you think you want. And what it takes to “switch modes” between worldly and spiritual serenity is simply the thought that you are a child of a benevolent God who is working out your greatest needs through the circumstances of your life. (And, of course, when the going gets rough, we sometimes think He is doing so in spite of the circumstances of our lives.)

In the Gospel for today’s Mass (Thursday of 11^th week in Ordinary Time), Jesus reminds us that ”your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:8) And we must never forget that a great deal of time, we often don’t know what we truly need since we cannot see the bigger picture or trace the trajectory of our lives.

Never forget what St. Paul promises: All things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

I was inspired this morning by reading a bit of the biography of a little-known saint, a 13^th century mystic: “In the last eleven years of her life she became completely blind, an affliction she accepted as an occasion for greater detachment from the visible world. When she felt herself close to death she received a vision of the Lord, advising her to praise God for the graces she had received, to pray for the conversion of sinners, and to rely on God alone.” (emphasis mine).  (.This was found in Give Us this Day, June edition, p. 166.)

God bless you

Peace in times of trial and turmoil

Continued notes and reflections from the booklet Reflecting on the Serenity Prayer by Philip St. Romaine.

“Spiritual peace . . . is not the absence of problems.”

The worldly peace we are so conditioned to cling to quickly disappears when problems arise on the surface and we begin to think, “I’ll be at peace as soon as this particular problem is settled.” It is short-lived and can quickly be taken away from us by persons, circumstances and inner moods and dispositions. We seek peace where there is no lasting peace.

Before being spiritually enlightened, a man thinks he may attain peace through his own efforts: peace when he is successful, peace when he attains a certain stature in the eyes of others, peace through power and security. But we only have to take a look at the world around us to see that none of these things lead a man to peace. Spiritual peace is another thing altogether. It is a gift from the Lord, and is not something that we can logically explain or analyze. “Peace I give you, my peace I leave with you.” says the Lord. “Not as the world gives peace do I give it.” (John 14:27)  The Letter to the Philippians speaks of the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding (4:7) James doesn’t explicitly speak of peace, but he does speak of difficulties and calamities and trials that occur in live and tells us to suffer them with joy: My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)

What James has to say gives us at least a bit of understanding of what spiritual peace is. I would put it this way: “Yes, I am suffering through this particular trial, but God’s peace is with me and is not disturbed, because in His wisdom I know that good will come about as a result of what is happening right now in my life. In this predicament I am being watched after, and will get through it, and will benefit from it in a way which I can’t possibly understand right now.” That would be a statement of a person who is in touch with spiritual peace, and I can tell you it is true because I can attest to its truth by telling you that it has occurred in my own experience, and more than once.

If you would like to grasp more of this type of peace, I recommend that you read Transitions: making sense of life’s changes; strategies for coping with the difficult, painful and confusing times in your life by William Bridges. Bridges is in touch with the type of peace we’re discussing here.

How do we gain this type of peace? Through being completely open to God’s action in our lives, by nurturing a faith which is undergirded with a trust that God is, at all times, working things out for our good. All shall be well was the message that Julian of Norwich received in a vision, and that phrase is a gift to us to be used especially during those times when all does not seem to be well. Never forget that there is a different dimension of reality that operates beyond the day-to-day struggles of life. Therein you can find your peace.

God bless you!

Spiritual Serenity

Coming back to the monastery after time away is like slipping into a pair of comfortable shoes. The rhythm of the life, which connects us to a regular prayer regimen, helps us to “switch modes” gently but quickly, and settle into the life anew with renewed vigor.

I find it difficult—no, impossible, to maintain my connection with God when I’m away for a length of time. There are so many distractions in the “outside world,” and I generally fall prey to them. I came away from vacation with a new respect for you who are working at your spiritual growth and well-being in a world filled with “stuff,” all stuff that makes it so easy to lose your connection with God, even for a time. I pray that you have established some sort of anchor to hold your day together, and to give you the peace which you long for—not the peace of the world, but rather the peace of the spirit.

As I return from vacation I decided I would like to do some simple reading, and I have settled on a little booklet called Reflecting on the Serenity Prayer by Philip St. Romain (Ligouri Press) for my lectio for now. The book is simple, but also profound, and I found something right in the beginning chapter to share with you about spiritual peace.

Spiritual peace is the experiential realization that, amidst the pain and brokenness of our lives, all is well. Our lives are unfolding as they should if we are seeking to walk in union with God. Spiritual peace is the experience of our connection with God whose reign already exists in heaven, even though it has not yet been fully established on earth. Serenity is a taste of heaven on earth: through it, we experience the Spirit of God dwelling in our hearts, giving us the energy to stand on our own two feet and break free from the need to succeed, to impress, to gain power, or to have security.

Such peace is the foundation of true love and joy, enabling us to give of ourselves with no thought other than the joy of seeing another grow.  (p. 4)

The next few reflections will be based on this quotation (God willing).

God bless you!

"Love to the loveless shown"

Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

June 3, 2016

Note: I will be on vacation starting this weekend. The next daily reflection will be posted on Monday, June 13.

This is a feast of great depth. There are several things to contemplate:

·         The depth of Jesus’ love, which is far wider and deeper than any of us can imagine. “  “Your love, Lord, reaches to heaven, your truth to the skies.” Psalm 36:5, which we just considered yesterday. Can you imagine a love which reaches that far? His love goes even farther than that. And, of course, He demonstrated that love through His Passion and Cross.

·         The depth of Jesus’ mercy, which again goes deeper than we can imagine, and reaches out to the greatest sinners of all time. If it didn’t, well then, we could put a limit on the depth of Jesus’ mercy. Consider your own situation: can you realize in the depth of your heart, that Jesus’ extends his mercy to you in every aspect and facet of your life, and will continue to do so throughout your life?

·         The depth of Jesus’ pain. Pain not only of body, but also of heart since He experienced His friends betraying Him, abandoning Him, hiding from Him, misunderstanding Him, hearing even those He had healed crying out with the crowd, “Crucify Him!” His pain is so great that we can reach to Him in any pain we have ever suffered or ever will suffer, and we will find in Him a companion in suffering, and in some way that is practically impossible to understand, His pain transforms our pain and gives it meaning.

·         Finally, the depth of the wounds in Jesus’ heart. Unite your woundedness to His; perhaps He will heal you, and even if He doesn’t heal your wounds, as Fr. Anselm Gruen has written, He will transform your woundedness into a gift which you will be able to bestow on others.

Sometime this past year, I wrote a reflection on the hymn verse, “love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be.” Consider that over these days. Pray that you, too, may have an occasion to show that love to another, and in Christ, you will become a force for transformation in a world which needs it so badly.

God bless you!

Your choice: ignorance or understanding?

Our Psalm study today brings us to Psalm 36, a psalm of contrast.

The first part of the psalm speaks about the godless, or one who has known God but then has chosen to turn his back on Him.

“Sin speaks to the sinner in the depths of his heart. There is no fear of God before his eyes . . .  To such a one, says the psalmist, all wisdom is gone. (1,4)

There is one line in this part of the psalm that we do well to pay attention to: He so flatters himself in his mind that he knows not his guilt. (v 3). I single out this verse because it speaks of something I know I have done in the past, and perhaps you as well. As we grow closer to God, our consciences become more refined and we begin to assess things more carefully before acting or thinking a certain way. At the same time, as our consciences grow stronger, we sometimes can look aghast at things we have said, thought or done in the past: this should move us quickly to the Jesus Prayer (Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner), and let we become despondent on our guilt, we need remember the verse from psalm 103:12 (As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our sins) and also perhaps pray from Psalm 25: Do not remember the sins of my youth; in your love, remember me.)

The second part of the psalm is mainly a psalm of praise, exalting the Lord for His wonderful care. All of this is something which is unknown to the one who chose to tread the path of evil and sin.

Your love, Lord, reaches to heaven; your truth to the skies. (v6)  This love is unfathomable. Allow your thinking to blast far beyond any boundaries you may have set when thinking of God’s love. A bit father on, the psalmist exclaims, O Lord, how precious is your love! (v. 7d). (The Hebrew word for “precious” is the same word used to describe stones, jewels and gems.)

In this precious loving God we can take refuge: My God, the sons of men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. (Other translations use the word shelter.)

This God provides us with rich food and delightful drink (a type of the Eucharist?). God is the source of life (v. 10a), and it is in your light we see light. (v. 10b). Note here how the sinner in the beginning of the psalm is living in an ever-growing darkness, not light.

God is also a God of justice, and that justice is an aspect of His love: Keep on loving those who know you, doing justice for upright hearts. (v. 11)

The psalm concludes with a plea to be protected from the wicked, and also predicts their downfall: Flung down, they shall never arise. (v. 13)  This verse is especially helpful when we find ourselves the victim of some form of evil weighing in on us in our present situation.

I would sum up the contrast in this psalm in these ways:

                abandonment | protection

                darkness | light

                evil | justice

                ignorance | understanding.

Perhaps you can up with some contrasts of your own.

God bless you!

Plea for help in a crisis

Today we return to our study of the Psalms, seeking out the ways they express how God cares for us. Today we look at Psalm 35, which is mainly a Psalm of Lamentation.

Most of this psalm expresses the frustration and fear of a man who is being pursued by foes. Foes in battle, perhaps, and the battlefield may be a court-room or the court of public opinion. His foes accuse him, seek his life, plot evil against him, dig a pit for him to fall into, set a net to capture him, falsely accuse him, gather and mock him in his distress, tear him to pieces, act like raging beasts or even lions, and make deceitful plots against him.

Whom does all this cause you to think about? Yourself in difficult straights, perhaps? How about Jesus Christ, whose own suffering and death are expressed in these troubled verses.

The psalmist seeks vengeance and victory, and wants to see his foes crushed, scattered and vanquished. Do we sometimes seek the same thing? Here is one way the psalmist doesn’t speak the words of Jesus Christ, because rather than condemning His enemies, Jesus prays for them---and that is what He tells us to do as well! Nonetheless, can it perhaps be true that we ourselves have experienced an inner craving for vengeance and retribution against those who hurt us?

All of this is natural and very human, and when I pray this psalm I pray particularly for those who are living the same horror depicted in this psalm, that they may know the saving hope of the Lord.

And the Lord does come to save, and comes to set things right. And so, embedded in this psalm are cries to the Lord which express hope in him. My whole being will say: ‘Lord, who is like you who rescue the weak from the strong and the poor from the oppressor?’ (v. 10)

Even in the midst of his unfortunate circumstances, the psalmist occasionally takes a break from lamentation and reflects on what God has done for him in the past and what he hopes God will continue to do in these unfortunate circumstances. But my soul shall be joyful in the Lord and rejoice in his salvation. (v. 9)

At times it seems to him that God is standing afar off (v.22) and wishes that God would act sooner than He plans to do (do we ever feel that way?). How long will you look on? (v.17) This cry of “how long” is found in a number of psalms of lamentation. We want to cry out: “Come, Lord, fix this! Come quickly! Don’t delay!” And yet, for His own unfathomable reasons, He holds back until the time is right in his eyes.

The Psalm concludes with one last request which is expressed almost as a bribe. (Yes, the psalmist isn’t beneath bribing God---and again, we have to consider whether or not we do the same!)

Let there be joy for those who love my cause.

Let them say without end:

‘Great is the Lord who delights

in the peace of his servant.”

Then my tongue shall speak of your justice,

all day long of your praise.  (v. 27-28)

God bless you!