Reconcile, forgive, love

"But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment."

Matthew 5:22

 

This one is hard to read, isn't it?  We can't even be angry with each other? Seriously?  Later today, I will head out to the Hermitage for three days of solitude and silence.  It will be so easy for me to get along with others when I am totally alone with God!  I seem to get along best with others when there is no one in sight!  But, we are not meant to live totally alone.  God puts us here on this planet with each other for a reason and, I think, that reason is for us to share God's love.  We can relish being alone with God during our times of retreat and solitude, but the bottom line is that we re-fuel during those times and then head back into the crowd with others...to live and work and love.  We are put here to love God and others.  If we do get angry with each other, we need to reconcile and forgive and love again.  And, with that, I flee to the wilderness, dear Friends! "Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared for her by God..." (Revelation 12:6)  Blessings on your weekend!  Love, heidi

Shine, shine, shine!

"Just so, your light must shine before others..."

Matthew 5:16

Later this week, I am blessed to be going on retreat at Marymount Hermitage on the Idaho mesa.  I've looked forward to this since I went last summer and promised myself to go back.  It is such a fabulous time!  But, before I venture off to do that, I need to let my light shine a little--at an Independent Living seminar for seniors we've called "Spring into Summer."  It will be a busy couple of days with our clients and I'll need to remember this scripture--no lights under bushel baskets this week!  But then retreat! Silence and peace; rising with the sun, going to bed when it's dark and just enjoying Jesus all day.  I think I have the best of both opportunities this week!  Lord, please help us to let our lights shine before others!  We all have the chance, and the responsibility to shine Your light! And help us to know Your comfort and peace when our work is over.  Love, heidi

Blessed are the poor...

"Consider his words, 'Blessed are the poor.' Besides reminding us that the poor are blessed by a God who promises justice for the oppressed, Jesus is also turning our attention to the way the poor live in relationship with God."

Fr. James Martin, SJ, "Jesus: A Pilgrimage"

 

In his wonderful chapter on the Beatitudes, Fr. Martin shares his own experience of working with the poor to shed light on Jesus' teaching.  There are a few things Fr. Martin notices about the poor he encounters, both in inner city slums and in other countries.  First, the poor tend to be more reliant on God.  He calls it a "natural dependence" on God and with that, a gratitude for every little thing that goes their way.  They continually give thanks to God for even the smallest of blessings.  Their relationship to God is that of dependence and gratitude.  Also, Fr. Martin notices the generosity of the poor.  They share what they have with others and do not hoard the tiny bit they may have.  I remember Fr. Richard Rohr sharing this too.  The poor he worked with lavished him with the last chicken they had to eat.  So, when we read today's Gospel on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12), let's think about the poor that Jesus tells us are blessed.  It is their relationship with God--their dependence, gratitude and generosity, that Jesus admires.  Love, heidi