A reflection on the Gospel reading for Saturday, October 23, 2010 (Luke 13:1-9) by Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB.
In the Gospel today it says, “For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none, so cut it down, why should it exhaust the soil?” Jesus is saying, “Why should it deplete what others need to grow?” How do we not deplete things? St. Benedict has the answer is Chapter 72 of his rule which focuses on how to build each other up: “Let the monks practice this zeal with the most ardent love, namely that in honor they forerun one another. Let them bear their infirmities whether of body or mind with the utmost patience. Let them vie with one another in obedience. Let no one follow what he thinks useful to himself, but rather to another. Let them practice fraternal charity with a chaste heart. Let them fear God and love their abbot with a sincere and humble affection. Let them prefer nothing whatever to Christ and may He lead us all together to life everlasting.” It’s good to read this chapter over and over again, especially where it says, “Let them bear their infirmities.” We’re all weak. We all bear infirmities of one another; and we all need a good word here and there. That is why St. Benedict, in his rule, says to the cellarer that the best gift is a good word, for a good word will feed your heart.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Thirsting for God's Will
A reflection on the first Mass reading for October 14, 2010 (Ephesians 1:1-10) by Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB.
In this morning’s first reading we heard: “Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God to the holy ones who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus.” When I heard this I thought so much of the will of God. The passage continues: “He has made known to us the mystery of His will in accord with His favor that He set forth in Him as a plan for the fullness of times to sum up all things in Christ in Heaven and on earth.” It’s that will of God, that mystery, that struck me. In our lives there comes a point when we so long to know God’s will-- when it’s so deep in us that all we care is to do His will and we actually thirst for it. Your soul really thirsts, it’s so tangible. It’s a holy place to be because you want to let go of all things to know Him and His will and the power of His love. Nothing else matters.
When we do that, there’s a real fire, a real fountain of God within us. It’s not that He always reveals what is His will but He assures us to trust. That’s the power-- trust. Trust Him. He loves us. He desires only our good. I don’t think we can give greater glory to God than to put our hands in His and say, “I trust you.”
In this morning’s first reading we heard: “Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God to the holy ones who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus.” When I heard this I thought so much of the will of God. The passage continues: “He has made known to us the mystery of His will in accord with His favor that He set forth in Him as a plan for the fullness of times to sum up all things in Christ in Heaven and on earth.” It’s that will of God, that mystery, that struck me. In our lives there comes a point when we so long to know God’s will-- when it’s so deep in us that all we care is to do His will and we actually thirst for it. Your soul really thirsts, it’s so tangible. It’s a holy place to be because you want to let go of all things to know Him and His will and the power of His love. Nothing else matters.
When we do that, there’s a real fire, a real fountain of God within us. It’s not that He always reveals what is His will but He assures us to trust. That’s the power-- trust. Trust Him. He loves us. He desires only our good. I don’t think we can give greater glory to God than to put our hands in His and say, “I trust you.”
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