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Christmas 2009

      

A Tender Moment

 

Christmas! Can anyone really explain what it means to celebrate Christmas? We are told by those who meditate often on life in general, that the great experiences of life fall mostly on those who are prepared to receive them. This means, of course, that it is always possible to miss the star that may be rising right above us, and meant for us.

Karl Rahner, S.J., picks up this theme when writing to a friend of his.* In the letter, he invites his friend to have the courage to be alone. He goes on to say that, in such a setting, one may experience what it means to have a Christmas heart, a gentle, courageous and affectionate heart. It is this kind of heart that one longs to present to those we love. Like Rahner’s friend, we are to wait and listen in quiet, and allow God to speak to us. In such an atmosphere, it could happen that we will experience the nearness of God and the light of Christmas.

***

Although we, ourselves, come with the attitude of gift-bearing, we know that we also come with burdens. We have worries, anxieties, health issues, money and family issues, and troubled relationships, to mention only a few. In the face of this, St. John of the Cross, in his Romance #9, speaks of a different approach, that of gift-exchange. As St. John prays before the Christ Child, he senses that someone is crying. In St. John’s presence, God is taking on the tears of the world and giving in their place an indescribable peace. In addition, the world’s tears become jewels. God, shedding tears because we are hurting: What an awesome Christmas gift! What a tender and breathtaking moment!

*Karl Rahner, Everyday Faith (Herder and Herder, New York, 1968) p.23.

excerpts from Journey and the Joy Winter 2008

Sister Mary Jo Loebig, O.C.D

 

Christmas 2009

 God With Us

It seems that with Christmas there is a pronounced emphasis on the coming of God, with the accent on the word “coming”.  We do know, however, that with the first Christmas God entered into our history and into our lives. This has made all the difference in the world.  Little by little, with the help of the Spirit, and the celebration of each Christmas, we have come to know what this coming is all about. New insights and experiences come to us, and bring about a transformation of the heart.  This is such a moving event, that we need to take on Christmas little by little.  God wants our heart, and wants to be with us.

In John 14: 23, it is written that God will come to us and make a home with us.  Every day, as we come home from the busyness of the day, we might want to reflect on what it means, interiorly, to “come home”. Although God has been with us throughout the day, it would appear that God at home is with us in a different way.

It goes without saying that, in coming home after a long arduous day, we certainly need the unction and comfort of God. Possibly in this atmosphere, we will be able to come home to our true self, and find that self in the tender embrace of God.

Sister Mary Jo Loebig, O.C.D

Fall 2009

 God-given promptings

The Way Chooses Us

 

It seems that one of the most difficult things in life is to pray and live from where we actually are, and not from some place where we should be or where we would like to be.  Related to this, it has been a long-standing custom for those entering Carmel to choose not only a new name, but also a title that represents their unique approach to life and to God. 

 

Today, if we were to give St. Therese a title, we probably would say that she should be known as “Therese of the Little Way”, since this is indeed what she gave the world.  Dag Hammarskjold wrote that we do not choose our Way.  The Way chooses us.  This means that, on our own, we do not decide what our Way will be.  Frequently, though, in our everyday events we do experience God’s intended way for us.  It has been said that how we spend one day of our lives is how we spend our lives.

 

One may ask how a person comes to know his or her own particular Way, and how a person stays in contact with their Way.  It would appear that there are questions we can ask ourselves.  What attracts us?  What gives us peace?  What seems easy and natural, and appears to fit us? What in us is recognized by others?  It is not for us to choose our Way but to find it and to allow the Way to come to us.

 

As I was reflecting on the above, I was given an unidentified email.  The selection was a dialogue between a sincere woman and her Lord. The woman asked the Lord who the Lord was.  She was given an answer. However, that was not enough. With tears in her eyes, the woman looked toward heaven and said, “But Lord, who am I?”  The Lord tenderly wiped away the tears in her eyes and whispered: “You are mine.”

Sister Mary Jo Loebig, O.C.D

 

 

 

Summer 2009

God-given promptings

The Hidden God

     Most of us have heard the story of the man who got caught in his house during a terrible flood.  When the water was up to his door step, a boat bearing kind neighbors came to rescue him. He declined the offer saying, “No thank you. God will rescue me.”  The next day, the water reached the upstairs balcony.  Another boat came his way with the same offer.  Again, he refused the proposal explaining that God would indeed rescue him. Late the following day, while sitting on the chimney, he saw a helicopter hovering over him.  Again, he was not interested in taking advantage of such an offer, and made it clear that God would rescue him.

     Finally, the man died and went to heaven.  He was not happy, of course, and found himself complaining to St. Peter, saying: “I expected you to come and rescue me.  Where were you?”  St. Peter explained that God had sent two boats and one helicopter to rescue him. He had turned them down.   At least now he was experiencing an early heaven, if nothing else.

     Reading this made-up story prompted me to reflect on how often, in a hidden way, God is with us during the day, even in ways that do not seem to be in our favor. This includes the involvement with other people. Without our being aware of it, God often works for our good through others and through different circumstances.  Often, the ways of God are not only unique but hidden. Each night, as darkness sets in to soothe our tired bodies and spirits, it behooves us, if only for a short time, to reflect on what may have been the gift of God that day.

     It follows that if God works in my life this way, then the same is true of other people. This means that, at times, we ourselves may be used as an instrument of God from which another person will benefit.  We may be asked to listen, to comfort, to understand, to say the encouraging word and to walk the extra mile.  In addition, there will be times when we do not know that God is using us.  Upon recall, we may not even remember what we said that was strengthening, or what may have been inspiring for the other person.  It behooves us then, to stay in touch with our inner voice and the movements of our hearts, both of which deeply desire to open a way for God who so wants to be with us.

Sister Mary Jo Loebig, O.C.D

Prayer  to  Our Lady  of  Mt.  Carmel

    

O Holy Woman of God, Splendor and Beauty in our everyday world, we come to you as needy people.  Enliven and strengthen our efforts to follow the leadings of the Spirit.  Indeed, you are the Sunlight of our Summer.

O Quiet Companion along the way, help us believe that God is with us every single moment.  Tell us again  and again that there is Someone who deeply desires our happiness and works everyday to help bring this about. Be the yearning we carry within.   

                   

 O you, who are a Gentle Guide in our lives, we know that there are many ways to God and that these ways will appear when we are ready. 

Read to us, then, the writing on our hearts and help us be ready when that moment comes.

With utmost confidence, we place this cause in your hands.

                                                                                                              

                                                         (3 Hail Marys.  Our Lady of Mt. Carmel , pray for us.)

Sister Mary Jo Loebig, O.C.D

Summer 2009

God-given promptings

 

     We Belong to You

 

     In our liturgies here at the Monastery, we have our own share of favorite hymns.  One of the choice selections is entitled “We Belong to You” *.   It is addressed to God, the Lord of our longing.  The lyrics go on to say that we belong to the Lord in our daily living, dying and rising.  No matter where we are, or what we are doing, we belong to God.

     Indeed, there is something very soothing and strengthening when we think of ourselves as belonging to God, especially in times of loss, disappointment and personal suffering.  How deeply we long for that assurance.  How much we need it!  This means that when our days are turbulent and the road is bumpy, and situations are counter to what we would like, we are encouraged to remind ourselves that God is close to us. We are embraced.  We need only trust.

     If we are quiet within, we may even hear the soft voice of the Lord saying: “Can a mother forget her baby, or be without tenderness for the child of her womb?  Even if she should forget, I will never abandon you.” (Isaiah 49:15)  The Spirit of God, who so wants to find a home in our hearts, comes anew this day of Pentecost telling us that we belong entirely to God and that the seal of this promise will never be taken from us.

 

*Text 2006, Victoria Thomson, Music 2006, Trevor Thomson,

  Published by spiritandsong.com, a division of OCP, Portland OR.

Sister Mary Jo Loebig, O.C.D

Prev

          Consider the Lilies of the Field

 Easter 2009

 

    These are the days that call for radical trust and dependence on the God who brought us into this world.  Gospel writer, St. Luke, encourages us to think about the birds of the air and the lilies of the field.  The birds neither sow nor reap or gather into barns, and the lilies are arrayed more beautifully than Solomon. (Lk 12:2-34 ),   Indeed, they know how not to worry.

     Often, we have heard that we should not put off until tomorrow what we can do, today.  We could ask why we need to do everything, today, when we have a tomorrow? Is it possible that, sometimes, putting off until tomorrow may be a good thing?  Charles Peguy has a unique way of viewing this. In his meditative poem, Hoping and Sleeping, Peguy tells us what to do when we have tears in our eyes.  We are to put off those tears until tomorrow.  This is because between now and tomorrow, God may have passed our way.

     So, in this case, we will, indeed, be blessed if we put off until tomorrow.  We will also be blessed whenever we hope and trust, and go to sleep peacefully in the arms of God.

Sister Mary Jo Loebig, O.C.D

Lent 2009

Walking With God

          Although no one has given a name to this, there seems to be a certain movement in the human heart that wants to “give up something” for the season of Lent.  For some reason, doing this seems to draw us closer to God and to our true selves, at least for forty days, or for the amount of time we may be faithful to our resolution.  As I ponder this aspect of our common humanity, I’m wondering what it would be like to give up our worries and anxieties for that amount of time.

     Elizabeth Johnson, in her book, Quest for the Living God, has a probing discussion on the pathos of God.  She points out that ours is a God who is deeply involved in the pain of the world, and a God of deep compassion.  It is this Presence that engenders hope and creativity in the midst of darkness that, at times, seems to have no solution.

     Lent also asks us to do something concrete. Formerly, there was a common practice among Sisterhoods, and in some places, it still is a practice.  Twice a day, at noon and in the evening, the Sister would pause and ask herself: “In what way, has God come to me this day?”    In our busy world, maybe we could pause at least five or ten minutes, once a day, possibly in the evening, and ask ourselves that question: “In what way has God come to me this day?”

     The beautiful aspect of this arrangement is the fact that our God never gives up being a God of pathos and a God who continues to walk by our side, even when we are not aware of it, or have not asked for the favor. 

Sister Mary Jo Loebig, O.C.D

February 2009

God-given promptings

One Day It Happened

    

Recently, I came across a saint I had never heard of before. When praying the Liturgy of the Hours in the Breviary, I discovered St. Sophronius.  I found that this “not so well known” Saint helps a person make that one last effort in saying good-bye to Christmas. 

     Sophronius talks about the feast of the lighted candles carried in procession on the occasion of the Presentation of the Lord, February 2, the feast of meeting God face to face.  He points out that we carry these candles in procession, hoping to dispel any darkness or sadness that may be upon us. As we go to meet God, the lighted candles also release light within us, a light that is meant to encourage others in moments of darkness.

     We know that Simeon and Anna waited a long time for this moment. Then, one day, it happened.  Mary and Joseph brought the longed-for Child to the temple. Mary carried the Child in her arms.  What a moment!  Seeing him was the crown of their lives. Now, they were ready for anything, even leaving this world.  Simeon took the Child in his arms, and Anna came forth and prophesied.  We can only surmise that Anna also held the child.

     It is no secret.  We never stop longing to be embraced by God.  But, what would it feel like if the reverse were true, if like Simeon, we held God in our arms?  We can only imagine what it would be like. Interiorly, maybe it can still happen.

     This is the feast for celebrating the light within us, a light we may not have known was a part of us.  It is a day we never want to forget – the day someone held God in his or her arms.


Sister Mary Jo Loebig, O.C.D

 
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