Care For Our Common Home

In the garden

sisters like multi-colored butterflies

roam from row to row

good gardeners

weeding, snipping, harvesting

the fruits of the earth

         

In the bakery

artisans prepare mysterious yeast

knead the dough

keep silence at the rising

reverence the baking

glory in the aroma

rejoice in the breaking and eating

         

In the Oratory

one by one they

walk, limp, dance, trudge

into familiar places,

as faithful as the sun and moon

chant words of tenderness and heartbreak

old and new dreams

In the Chapel

sisters greet guests

men, women, children

young and old echo 152 years

of yearning for God in song and silence,

lay their prayers upon the altar,

leave with this message,

Be at peace!

         

Kathryn Casper, OSB

What Do You Dream?

Sometime ago, I had a dream in which I was one of a huge multitude of people.  All of us had just been in a serious accident . . .but the surprising thing was that no one was afraid; rather, we were all smiling, talking animatedly, and helping one another . . .whether cleaning another’s wounds, giving water or meds to another or walking together along a very long path.  No one seemed to need rest . . . but rather instinctively knew that, as we walked or limped, we were to leave no one behind!  Apparently , all of us knew where we were going, i.e., to our Father’s House where we would surely see friends, members of our families, even those who made us suffer while on earth . . . Then I awakened!

Upon thinking of my dream, I realized it was expressing, for me, some thoughts on planting, watering and harvesting (of all unusual themes!)  Quite literally, WE are the “crop”, the fruit of another’s labors in the family, the church, our society!  I thought of the JOY on the faces of all in my dream; no one was sad!  Were they so joyful because they were helping another?  Welcoming another on the road?  Allowing another to serve? Making sure no one would be left behind? Even more surprising to me was that everyone walked, fully confident that they were going HOME to the welcoming embrace of their Father and other family members.

I know that this dream expresses what I deeply desire—that we stand in awe of a God who depends upon us to bind up one another’s wounds or remind another of our undeserved privilege in being part of God’s family.  It also expresses some of what I feel led to do: be a bridge of understanding and forgiveness, especially among the marginalized members of our society! How many more years will be given me?  I don’t know.  My friend, Fr. Rick Thomas gives an answer: “God speaks through circumstances.  When God makes something possible, God wants you to do it; and when God makes it impossible, God wants you to quit.”

Have we reflected sufficiently on the circumstances of this day? What will I/you do so as to leave no one behind?  With the Psalmist we can be sure that “goodness and kindness will follow us all the days of our lives. . .”

 

Renee Domeier, O.S.B

Show Me Change

Relationships, experiences, and mirroring change you much more than ideas. You cannot really do something until you have seen someone else do it. You do not know what patience is until you have met one truly patient person. You do not know what love is until you have observed how a loving person loves. We hold great power for one another--for good and for ill.  (Richard Rohr, “Daily Meditation”, May 24, 2016).

 True elders and spiritual teachers mirror their values and wisdom.  On their life journey they have witnessed and experienced transformational values. Having invited incarnational relationships to transform their own hearts and visons, they become ready to articulate and mirror their journey-into-change to those around them. 

We are much like a coin with two sides.  On the one side of the coin, life experiences reveal to us the limitations of our own wisdom, power and tiny self.  And on the other side, prayer moves us into recognizing that there is nothing that can separate us from a God who will always love us unconditionally, no matter how we look from the outside, and will always blow on the embers of our gifts so that we can become a light to others.  Light begets light.  Becoming change begets change.


Sister Mary Rachel Kuebelbeck

Gift of Gifts

Together we moved to the small table, she picked up the little vessel of water and carefully let a few drops fall into the chalice and pitcher of wine. She looked at me and smiled. Putting down the water, she then picked up the plate of bread. I took this as my cue to pick up the chalice and pitcher of wine and follow her lead.

Her gentle manner in these movements caught me by surprise. Yet, not really, because she lives a gentle and prayerful life dedicated to her Benedictine commitment. What we were about to do, present the gifts to the priest at the altar, is an act of commitment to our faith. What is about to happen as the

priest prays over the bread and wine with the worshiping community gathered for Eucharist is the reason we are there. Side by side we walked up the steps to the altar. The priest received her gift of bread and then my gift of wine.

The smile I was witness to between her and the priest was priceless. I say this because her love of Jesus was evident. She knew that she was part of something greater than a simple exchange of bread on a plate. After the Eucharistic celebration, I expressed my thanks to her in helping me bring the gifts to the altar. Her response was what I should have been expecting, “Thank you for asking me.” I grew in greater appreciation of the importance in being the gift bearer at the Eucharist. Because she was so present to the ministry, I will be more present to the ministry next time I am invited to present the gifts of bread and wine. We celebrate the Eucharist daily at Saint Benedict’s Monastery and have the opportunity to serve one another in this way.

Lisa Rose, OSB

Sister Lisa Rose is Vocations Director at Saint Benedict's Monastery. If you would like more information about our Benedictine community, please contact her at lrose@csbsju.edu.