Posts from the ‘Discipleship’ Category
What Is Our Task in the World?
Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach.
– Clarissa Pinkola Estes
What part of the world is within your reach?
Weekly Photo Challenge – Change
How will we allow ourselves to be changed . . . for the common good . . . or simply, for good?
As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world — that is the myth of the “atomic age” — as in being able to remake ourselves.
– Mahatma Gandhi
Will our technology save us?
Photo Challenge: Unique
Today’s reading from the Letter to the Hebrews is very stirring and encourages us to persevere.
Brothers and sisters: Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him Jesus endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood. Hebrews 12:1-4
One can’t help but think of our own Sister Marion Irvine, a very unique and outstanding woman, when thinking of the perseverance of a marathoner running her race.
Sister Marion on the cover of Runner Magazine
Sister Marion Irvine, O.P., the “Flying Nun,” an accomplished runner , has been an inspirational alumna and supporter of Dominican University. In 1983 she qualified for the 1983 U.S. Olympic Trials in the marathon. In her career as a runner, she shattered all major running records in the 50–54, 55–59, and 60–64 age groups, and earned five gold medals at the World Veteran Games in Eugene, Oregon.
Sister Marion when she was a school principal
After forty-seven years of service in schools, Sister Marion came home to San Rafael and served as the promoter of social justice for the congregation until about four years ago. Of course she still stays active in social justice ministry, working with agencies in Marin County and organizing the sisters’ jail ministry.
She continues to find this work challenging, exciting and rewarding. Whether the issue is abolishing the death penalty, creating compassionate immigration reform, or supporting peace and justice, Sister Marion demonstrates the same focus, discipline and energy she did in running . . . and really just about anything she does.
May we be blessed with this same perseverance and dedication in all the way we serve God and God’s people.
Sister Marion and other sisters at the annual anti-nuclear demonstration on Good Friday at Livermore Labs
Sister Marion’s commitment to the cause of peace allows her to be arrested at the Livermore Labs demonstration
Weekly Photo Challenge – Resolved
At this time of making resolutions for the new year, let us remember that every effort counts.
People say, “What is the sense of our small effort?” They cannot see that we must lay one brick at a time, take one step at a time.
– Dorothy Day
It’s Not About Where You’re From
We put a lot of importance in ethereal things like status and material things like money. But it’s not about what we have or where we’re from. It’s how we live our lives. In Saturday’s Gospel reading from the 11th chapter of Luke, we read:
While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”
How shall we then live?
Sculpture found at the UN Building in New York
A Prayer for Guidance
Tuesday’s Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 119 – a Prayer for Guidance.
Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.
Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.
Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
The way of truth I have chosen;
I have set your ordinances before me.
Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
Give me discernment, that I may observe your law
and keep it with all my heart.
Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
Lead me in the path of your commands,
for in it I delight.
Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
And I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever.
Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.
What Are You Planting?
Dead saguaro in Saguaro National Park, Tucson
Every
uncompassionate
action is like
planting
a dead tree.
-Shantideva
