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Dominican Preaching through Word and Image
God’s Glory is above all the Earth
In today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps. 57) we read,
I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O LORD,
I will chant your praise among the nations.
For your mercy towers to the heavens,
and your faithfulness to the skies.
Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
above all the earth be your glory!
A glorious sky at Redwoods Monastery in Whitethorn, CA
God Desires Complete Joy for Us
Thursday’s Gospel reading is from John 15:9-11.
Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
“I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.”
Last week I spoke about discernment for life decisions in all of the junior religion classes at Justin-Siena High School in Napa. I found the students to be receptive, engaged, and welcoming. It is always a pleasure to visit that school.
Among the things I share with the students is that we need to follow our passions when choosing our life’s path. What is it that gives us joy? If we choose that which gives us joy, we will find ourselves in the heart of God. And I use this very passage, “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.” I also always quote from Psalm 37, “Delight yourself in the Lord your God, and God will give you the desires of your heart.”
Our deepest desires, those that result in our joy being made complete, are God given. The challenge . . . the journey of our lives . . . is discovering or uncovering just what those deep desires are.
It’s never too early or too late to embark on that journey. And it’s a journey on which the One who desires our deepest joy walks with us.
We Have Family in Iraq
As I read Wednesday’s Gospel reading (John 15:1-8), I remembered taking a picture of grapes in the convent garden of Iraqi Dominican Sisters in Pisa, Italy. The sisters there were taking safe refuge. Some of our U.S. Dominican congregations have also received young Dominican sisters from Iraq so that they could safely study in this country before returning to Iraq to do ministry.
These sisters truly are bearing fruit courageously, and have learned how to rely resting in Christ and on the blessings of the larger Dominican family. In return, they have blessed us, even those of us who have not been privileged to share their lives. I am reminded that, through through these sisters, I have family in Iraq. I am reminded that, through the ministry of Dominicans anywhere in the world, our ministry is extended . . . and that I am there too.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
God’s Creation Gives God Thanks
From today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps. 145), we read:
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your reign
and speak of your might.
While these flowers in San Rafael may be delicate, still they speak of God’ glory and might. And they teach us just how to lift our heads and say, “Thank You!”
Leaving . . . for Now
I suppose there is something else to think about besides the newest additions to the community of the San Rafael Dominicans. So, you see, they are leaving for a while.
But I’ll bet they’ll be back!
Twins
It’s only fair, since you’ve seen one of the twins, that you see both of them.
Only Child
Yes. It’s the fawns that continue to be the object of my affection. We are besotted with them here.
Our campus is a Wildlife Habitat, as can be seen in this picture. And we are vigilant now that there are babies, because sometimes neighbors bring their dogs, in spite of our signs. And sometimes they are even off leash, though one of the sisters was quite happy to report that she saw a dog with a mother doe in hot pursuit.
As I walked across the campus a few minutes ago, I saw a jackrabbit, but I find they are much too quick to be caught on camera. Ah well, the deer are so much fun to watch, especially from the kitchen window when preparing dinner.
The Babies (Fawns) are Out and About
Well, I may have been missing lately, but others have been busy. And our new fawns are growing and wandering about . . . with mother, of course. We have counted three, two of which are “twins”. This is one of the twins. We run to the windows whenever they are spotted . . . and fawns usually are.
Baby Alert!!
Care for Creation – Something All Christians Can Believe In
Because I was out of town, I got a little behind on postings, and even missed Earth Day. So, since we should be concerned about the earth and all who live there more than one day a year, there will be several postings in regards to Care of the Earth.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the United Methodist Church (UMC) marked Earth Day 2012 with the release a joint statement on the Eucharist and the environment. The statement, Heaven and Earth are Full of Your Glory, affirms that both Methodists and Catholics believe their celebration of the Eucharist helps them to see God’s glory in all of creation and therefore leads to greater care for the environment.
*More information on Cool Globes can be found at this website.
Another Reason to Hope
Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by the sorrow, pain, and violence in our world. Still the Resurrection teaches us to hope. No matter how hopeless a situation or a person’s behavior may appear, there is always a reason to hope. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi:
Many an individual has turned from the mean, personal, acquisitive point of view to one that sees society as a whole and works for its benefit. If there has been such a change in one person, there can be the same change in many.
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