A reflection on the first Mass reading for April 25, 2008 (1Pt 5:5b-14), by Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB.
The first reading from St. Peter – this is from a man who’s getting ready to follow the one he denied fully and he’s giving advice from the heart, from his own life. He says, “I want to tell you what's the best.” “Beloved, clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but bestows favor on the humble.’ So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you." (1Pt 5:5b-7) He knew how to build character.
Then we go to St. Benedict, and after we have ascended all the steps of humility in Chapter 7, he says: “the monk will presently arrive at that love of God which, when perfect, casts out fear. In this love he shall begin to observe without any labor and as it were naturally, and by habit, all those precepts which previously he had observed not without fear... All this the Lord will by the Holy Spirit graciously manifest in his workman now cleansed of vices and sins.” (RB 7)
Humility does cleanse us. It does open our eyes to the pride in our own hearts and our souls. Let's look back at the twelfth degree of humility where it says: “that a monk not only in his heart but also in his outward appearance always show his humility to all who see him... Whether sitting, walking or standing, he should keep his head bent down and his gaze fixed on the ground.” (RB 7) Let me explain the reason why I believe the gaze is on the ground. Do you remember John Paul II, how he would stop sometimes and hold onto the cross? You would see him with his head down, his face towards the ground, his eyes piercing the heavens. The eyes of his heart would pierce the heavens. That is a gaze of which St. Benedict is speaking.
It is something we can all do – clothe yourselves with humility, keep your eyes on Him. The gaze within should make your heart totally alive.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
"Peace I Leave With You"
A reflection on the Gospel for April 22, 208 (Jn 14:27-31a) by Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB.
Every morning in the Benedictus we pray, “He will give light to those in darkness, those who dwell in the shadow of death, and guide us into the way of peace.” (Lk 1:79) The way of peace is something we learn, and we learn it over and over again-- what does it mean? I think as we get older it becomes more dear to us because we learn how we can be instigators of disturbance and how we can be persons of peace.
Misunderstandings are often the core of a lack of peace. That’s why it’s so important to have discernment--to be able to discern where the disturbance is coming from? Does the situation need to rile me up? If it riles me up, why am I riled up?” The key question: "WHY?"
So we have in the gospel, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give with you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” (Jn 14:27) How many people act in fear. Fear can cause us to act wrongly and make poor decisions. So when we’re making decisions based on fear, whatever that fear may be, we need to stand back and say “Why are we afraid?”
We have to know where our own weaknesses are and what can incite us to disturb the peace of others. Disturbance, distress gives occassion to the devil. The devil does not want peace in a house. I think in ordere to live with others is peace, there has to be a good balance of sensitivity towards one another. And this comes by knowing one another. By talking to people I understand much better where they’re coming from, I'm no longer bothered when they say certain things. But if we don’t know one another then we don’t have the opportunity to understand one another. It’s important to know one another – the fun side, the serious side. Everyone is so different. Something said to one person isn’t going to mean the same to another. Interpretation is incredibly important.
Every morning in the Benedictus we pray, “He will give light to those in darkness, those who dwell in the shadow of death, and guide us into the way of peace.” (Lk 1:79) The way of peace is something we learn, and we learn it over and over again-- what does it mean? I think as we get older it becomes more dear to us because we learn how we can be instigators of disturbance and how we can be persons of peace.
Misunderstandings are often the core of a lack of peace. That’s why it’s so important to have discernment--to be able to discern where the disturbance is coming from? Does the situation need to rile me up? If it riles me up, why am I riled up?” The key question: "WHY?"
So we have in the gospel, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give with you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” (Jn 14:27) How many people act in fear. Fear can cause us to act wrongly and make poor decisions. So when we’re making decisions based on fear, whatever that fear may be, we need to stand back and say “Why are we afraid?”
We have to know where our own weaknesses are and what can incite us to disturb the peace of others. Disturbance, distress gives occassion to the devil. The devil does not want peace in a house. I think in ordere to live with others is peace, there has to be a good balance of sensitivity towards one another. And this comes by knowing one another. By talking to people I understand much better where they’re coming from, I'm no longer bothered when they say certain things. But if we don’t know one another then we don’t have the opportunity to understand one another. It’s important to know one another – the fun side, the serious side. Everyone is so different. Something said to one person isn’t going to mean the same to another. Interpretation is incredibly important.
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