Corpus Christi Sunday

Day of Grace

Ordinations. New graduates, weddings and newly weds. June is a month during which the Church experiences a tremendous outpouring of grace and new vitality – how appropriate that we celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost during this time! Although (unlike in the movie The Sound of Music) we do not have weddings in our monastery chapel, or see men ordained to the priesthood from the Mass choir, the joy of this ‘new creation’ extends to all members of Christ’s Body who pray for the building up of the Church! Without a doubt, although the evidence that God’s grace is needed in every part of the world, a glance at our own hearts can suffice to produce a sincere invocation – Come Holy Spirit!!! Just briefly considering the situation of the first disciples prior to the descent of the Spirit, one can easily identify with their need for the coming of the Advocate. As in yesterday’s Gospel where Peter is asked by Jesus: ‘Do you love me?’, what could one answer, sitting there by the sea, seeing Him with His forever-wounded hands, with one’s utter failure fresh in mind? Peter’s sincere answer is beautiful beyond doubt. His response coupled with his own recognition of personal weakness suffices to reassure us two millennia later that nothing is beyond God’s grace. God accepts us where we are and by the Holy Spirit, transforms this clay into temples of His grace – His very life!

Of Storms and Such

Living in a community whose members come from all over the map, provides an opportunity in times like these when tornados & disasters hit so many places to starkly experience St. Paul’s words: “When one member of the body suffers, all the members suffer with it.” While we were spared the more tragic devastation left by the tornadoes that recently tore through nearby Cullman, the effects of these events were experienced far outside the destruction zones. While our daily lot following April 27th consisted of finding inventive ways to carry out various tasks without electricity, many of our neighbors were doing without so much more, and grieving much loss. Waiting through each funnel sighting in the crypt chapel in silent prayer with families who were wondering if they would have a home to return to was a sobering reality. During the critical storm hours and ever since, we have benefited from the compassion – the ‘suffering-with’ of our family and friends who offered up prayers & wrote or called in concern. Even more recently, as Sisters with families in the red zones of the Midwest storms prayed for their safety, all shared the burden of their apprehension and intercession. This is one of the beauties of our life as Christians! When the deeper questions of life surface, especially in such drastic circumstances as various areas in our country have seen, one must look deeper. Here, in the greater picture of life and in very real situations, one can find oneself as it were in the parable of the Good Samaritan, the illustration of the house built on rock, or the agony in the Garden – watching with Christ and the suffering members of His Body. When we respond to these opportunities to bring help, to provide support and offer prayers for our brothers and sisters, the reward offered to us surpasses what we can give – that is - hearing the words of Jesus spoken in the Gospel… “you did it to me.”