Come, Holy Spirit

The gospel readings for a few days now are about Jesus' announcement that he is going and that he will send the Spirit to be with his followers. I have never been so struck before with how wonderful this promise is. While Jesus' physical presence would be wonderful, the Spirit actually becomes the source of our life. We are moved by this Spirit, breath the breathe of this Spirit, are motivated by this Spirit, are led by this Spirit. I am praying for an abundant outpouring of this Spirit so that I will truly live the life of Christ. I am praying for you too. How would you like this Spirit to lead you? What it is you ask this Pentecost as you await being filled with the Spirit?

Anything You Ask

"If you ask anything in my name, I will do it." I am always excited by this statement of Jesus and I invariably begin to ask. I do not always get what I have asked in the form that I expect it. Then I wonder if I have not asked properly, if I do not recognize the answer, or if the promise is not true.


Today I read a reflection on the passage which pointed out that the Greek text has "you" in the plural. It is what we ask as a community of believers that will be granted. Which brings me to the topic of discernment. Often when I ask for clarity about my call, I do it in my own private and personal prayer. Sometimes I even get into a vicious circle in my mind and in my prayer--going round and round and making no progress on the path of my discernment. Perhaps, what is needed at such moments is community prayer. Praying together with others and sharing faith with them is an essential part of discernment. In speaking my questions, I may hear something new that I did not recognize when I was praying alone. In listening to others praying and sharing, I may hear God speak a new word to me. I may, as the disciples asked earlier of Jesus "see the Father."


A discernment suggestion--join a group to pray and share faith together. Then listen.

Receiving the One Sent

"Whoever receives the one I sent receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me" (John 13:20). These words from today's gospel remind us to be aware of all those who enter our life today. They are sent. How will I receive those sent to me today? To receive them is to receive Christ and the Father. There are many options. Love, openness, hospitality are called for.

Shepherds

John's gospel has a couple stories about shepherds. One is about a good shepherd who goes (recklessly) in search of lost sheep and the other is about how intimately the shepherd knows his sheep and how trusting the sheep are of his love and care.

The shepherd knows each of his sheep by name. That is such a moving thought. God knows me by name, Jesus knows me by name--knows me intimately and still loves and cares for me. When I imagine the shepherd calling a sheep by its name and see the sheep responding, I long for the same kind of a trusting relationhship with God. I imagine the sound of the voice that loves me unconditionally and I long to recognize that voice calling me each moment of my day.

Discernment entails hearing and trusting. It involves knowing how I am loved so that I can respond without fear. Prayer helps me grow in trust and awareness.

Bread from Heaven

Moses asked God to feed the grumbling, hungry people and God provided manna in the desert which fed the people. Jesus promises us that he will provide bread that will not only feed us but that will end all our hunger. This is the bread I long for--the one that will end my incessant longings for so many things.

There is a passage in John Shea's book "Starlight" about Adam and Eve and how they woke up to their humanness when they realized that each time they ate they would be satisified only temporarily and that after several hours they would be hungry again. It was an endless cycle that bound them and they desired not to be in this endless cycle--they desired to be something other than human. But when they found themselves at the manger on Christmas morning, they touched the child and were fed from his eyes and his heart. Then they said that they chose to be bound to this manger (this feeding place) forever.

Is this what we are called to by Jesus when he says that he is the sign, he is the bread? Are we being asked today to accept our humanness and to find it fulfilled in Jesus. Can I accept Jesus' presence in my life today and cease to hunger for anything but his nearness?

Signs

I ask for signs from God when I am about to make a decision. So I am intrigued by Jesus' words in today's gospel. He says to the people who look for him and find him after he multiplied the loaves and fed them, "You do not seek me because you have seen the sign but because you have eaten your fill of the bread." What sign did they miss? What sign am I missing when I look for signs to confirm that God loves me or that I am on the right path?



What does it mean that we need only faith in Jesus? If I had faith would I cease to be asking for signs? I think the signs I ask for are more like the things the people did see--gifts from God that satisfy some temporary needs I have. Today I want to recognize the sign of God's presence and power in my life and world without the manifestations that are satisfying to my temporary needs.

What is your experience of seeking signs? Does the gospel for day raise any questions for you?

Burning Hearts

The phrase in today's gospel that always grabs me is, "Were not their hearts buring within them as he spoke to them on the way?" I try to get in touch with scripture passages that have been very significant to me over the years, ones which evoked a passionate response. Sometimes part of discernment is being aware of what moves us, especially things from scripture of particular actions or atttitudes of Jesus.



For me this story is always moving as well as the one about the woman at the well and the one about Jesus being the vine and our being the branches. I can also remember a time when Jesus' cure of the blind man moved me deeply.



I look for patterns. It seems to be that I am moved by stories in which people begin to see what was hidden from them before and also the sense of the life-giving connection that we have with Jesus. It appears then not only that it is important to me to see and understand and to feel a close presence of Jesus, but that I am called to bring those elements into the lives of others. There are clues to our call in the patterns of our responses.



Today the disciples are so wrapped up in their disappointment and sorrow that they do not see. They do not recognize Jesus even when he is walking with them. Two things open their eyes. One is being called back to the scripture and the other is breaking bread. If we are in a process of discernment about our life choices, we do well to spend time daily with scripture, look for patterns in our life of what moves us and participate in the Eucharist whenever we can.

Loaves and fishes

In today's gospel a young boy provides only five barley loaves and two dried fish. Yet what an abundance. Carrying through on yesterday's reflection I am reminded of how God can provide from what appears to be very little. It is the two dried fish that strikes me as important today. They would be probably be low on my preference list from a menu and yet look at what they hold when placed in the hands of Jesus.

Sometimes before discerning to follow a call, I count up my assets and find myself lacking in what I think it takes. Sometines we think that it is all up to us and that we have to be able to accomplish something great on our own. There comes a moment in discernment when we need to take the focus off our ourselves and our abilities and rest in God's love and power. We hold back when we feel inadequate. But who is adequate? Only God can supply what is needed for announcing the gospel and bringing the healing of God into lives and the world.

It can be noted that the boy seems to disappear from the story after he offers his gifts. He does not bemoan the meagerness of what he has to offer. He does not remain the center of his own attention. All eyes are on Jesus. All we really need to do is offer and follow through on our offer of self.

Trusting God and not continuing to focus on our own littleness or unworthiness as a hindrance to following our call is a big part of discernment.

Abundant Gifts

"God does not ration the Spirit." Today is a day to recognize God's generosity with us and to be grateful. It is a day to know that God does not have a stingy attitude but loves without measure. It is also a day to be more godlike--giving without counting the cost or expecting a reward. It takes courage to recognize our own stingy attitudes and try to move beyond them.

This recognition of God's generous gifts is important to discernment. Knowing our own gifts and knowing that they are received from God is at the beginning of discernment. Gratitude is essential as well. And finally trusting that God will continue to be generous leads us to trust that we can risk following our call. God provides abundantly.

Light

This morning's gospel spoke of Christ as light. Images of light come to mind--candles, fireworks--all images that bring clarity and warmth. I was thinking of the past couple weeks of rainy, gloomy weather and remembering how may times I said to someone that I just need some sunshine.

In terms of discernment, light is an important element. We all want clarity before we come to decisions. I read a relection this morning from "the little white book" which talked about allowing Christ to bring light into our own darkness, our own hearts where there are areas of darkness.

What would keep us from allowing Christ into our darkness? Fear. Sometimes we are even afraid to look honestly into our own hearts because we fear what kind of darkness we will find. This is an important first step in discernment--seeing ourselves honestly and accepting the movements of our own hearts. If we want to look into our hearts we can put away fear because, Christ will be with us, loving us no matter what we find and giving us courage to allow Christ to be our light.

Fools

Don't be fooled today. Following God's call may seem like a foolish choice, but it is the height of wisdom. Think about it. Don't be a fool. Listen to God's call which may lead others to think you foolish.

Mary and Discernment

The feast of the annunciation is an important one for discerners. Mary said "Yes" to God's call. Sometimes when I reflect on the story I am just grateful for her "yes" which was the entrance of God into the flesh of humanity. But then I think about all her "yes" entailed, so much that she had no idea would come about as a result of it--both the wonder of God made man and the pain of a life that witnessed what she witnessed.

It challenges me to accept uncertainty rather than knowing everything that will result from my choices. I find myself wanting to know what a "yes" will mean from now to eternity. A "yes" to the will of God is a "yes" to mystery. All of us who enter into any discernment need to trust that God will provide for us throughout our life. We do not need to know all the things that will follow our "yes."

Divine Mercy

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. I am thinking of the mercy that Jesus showed to Thomas. When I read the gospel I had a sense that Jesus had really finished his visits but that his concern for Thomas who was pained that he had missed the visit. Thomas was unable to take the word of the others, but something in me felt he was also hurt that Jesus had come when he was absent. But the merciful Jesus would not let Thomas remain in his pain. He came just for Thomas.

Often I am like Thomas. I want evidence--concrete and empirical that God loves me. I am always challenging God to "show me." Jesus' love for Thomas was so overwhelming. I wonder if his asking Thomas to explore his wounds was to be sure that Thomas was aware of his love or if he wanted to Thomas to recognize his own tendency to doubt unless he had even tactile evidence. I want to think that it was Jesus' mercy that desired Thomas' touch and closeness.

Then there are the locked doors that resemble our locked hearts and locked vision. Locks are important when we are afraid. Today, I want to ask Jesus to invade my fearful locked heart and allow me to feel his immense love for me. I want to receive the spirit breathed on me freeing me from all my fears.

Acts of the Apostles

The readings from Acts of the Apostles are wonderful. I am always elated to hear of the power and the healing miracles of the disciples who experienced the Risen Christ present with them. Sometime I ask why we do not still see such wonders, why my faith does not bring the same kind of results. But then the gospel readings have been about the disciples who seem to be looking for Jesus in the wrong places--among the dead, in empty tombs. Maybe I am looking for the signs of Christ, risen and present in the wrond places. Today I will try to alert to the wonders of grace in the people and situations I meet.

Fishing

This morning's gospel found Peter returned to fishing. Was this a desparate act? He had left all to follow Jesus--his nets, his father. Now it had all come to an abrupt end. Did taking up the nets remind him of what was lost? In some ways I could identify with Peter when he was not longer aware of the presence of Jesus. Most of us live in a place where the felt sense of Jesus' presence is fleeting.

Then two he labored all night and caught nothing. Again, I heard a message addressed to me. How I long to see the fruits of my labor. Working without seeing results always leaves me disappointed. But at the suggestion of Jesus, Peter and the others have an abundantly fruitful experience. Some say that the people of the time thought that 153 species of fish represented all of the kinds there were in the Sea of Galilee. So the catch implied that it was the whole fish world that was hauled in.

Did Peter remember at that moment that Jesus had told him he would be a fisher of men? Did he know that he was called not to be a messenger for the whole world?

What stays with me from the story is the image of the net, filled to bursting, being dragged onto the shore. What joy! What abundance! What does it say for me today? Maybe it says that obedience of Jesus is all that is necessary and whether I see results in my ministry or not I can rest in the abundance of God's love which provides.

Fishers

In this morning's gospel Peter went back to fishing. Maybe disappointment that his time as a follower of Jesus had come to an abrupt end. He had left all--even his nets and his father--to follow. But now he is back at the fishing job. Taking up his nets again.

I refelcted on what he was able to do on his own and what he could do when merely obeying the suggestion of Jesus. The image that stays with me is that net--full to the breaking point. What an abundance. And Jesus--they had not recognized him in the shore. Somewhere I heard that the people of the time believed there were only 153 kinds of fish in the Sea of Galilee so this catch of 153 represented the whole world of fish.

Earlier in his ministry Jesus had told Peter that he would be fishing for people. Now this large catch of every kind of fish. Did Peter remember that he will be fishing for people?

My reflection for my own life, was around the frustration I feel when I do not see the results of my labor and the call to merely obey and to be aware that the stranger on the shore is Jesus.

Easter Week

I have been reflecting of the readings from Acts of the Apostles and feeling great joy in the power which the apostles have as they continue to experienc Christ present with them. I long to see the wonders that faith produces. Today I want to rest in the presence of the Risen Christ without looking for the wonders.

Falling Leaves

The leaves have not turned to autumn colors this year--at least not yet. Many trees have died because of the dry weather we have had. It is still very hot and I long for the cool breezes, the soft autumn smell, the fall rains and the wonderful colors. It is a time for learning to thank God for what is and appreciate the blessings of the day.

It is difficult to discern God's call when I am not able to bask in what is because I have figured out what should be and then demand it. God answers my prayers in mysterious ways. Look for God's call in what is not what is expected.

Preaching about God

Today is the feast of St. Dominic whose heart was so full of God's word that he could not keep it in. He preached. I think of how we might preach even if we are shy or not prone to stand on street corners or in pulpits announcing God's presence. We are all called to preach with our lives. I think in our world, there is a strong message in our living together in community. We are such an individualistic society. Living together in harmony with people we have not specifically chosen is very rewarding, if not always easy. It does preach something our world needs to hear.

My Deepest Joy

Fredrick Buechner says that vocation is the "place where my deep joy meets the world great need." The world's needs are many and great. I am aware of them. But what of my deep joy? Can I name it? And how is it related to any or all of the world's needs. What sounded simple at first leads me to a great exploration. What do you think about this quote and where are you in the pursuit?