Holy Saturday & Patient Trust

This morning I began my Holy Saturday by reading the below reflection from Fr. James Martin, SJ., posted on his Facebook page. I thought it was timely and appropriate for my year of Patient Trust. A reminder that patient trust is also active waiting in hope!

Most of our lives are spent in Holy Saturday. In other words, most of our days are not filled with the unbearable pain of a Good Friday. Nor are they suffused with the unbelievable joy of an Easter. Some days are indeed times of great pain and some are of great joy, but most are…in between. Most are, in fact, times of waiting, much as the disciples waited during Holy Saturday. We’re waiting. Waiting to get into a good school. Waiting to meet the right person. Waiting to get pregnant. Waiting to get a job. Waiting for things at work to improve. Waiting for diagnosis from the doctor. Waiting for life just to get better. 

But there are different kinds of waiting. There is the wait of despair. Here we know--at least we think we know--that things could never get better, that God could never do anything with our situations. This may be the kind of waiting that forced the fearful disciples to hide behind closed doors on Holy Saturday, cowering in terror. Of course they could be forgiven; after Jesus was executed they were in danger of being rounded up and executed by the Roman authorities. (Something tells me, though, that the women disciples, who overall proved themselves better friends than the men during the Passion, were more hopeful.) Then there is the wait of passivity, as if everything were up to “fate.” In this waiting there is no despair, but not much anticipation of anything good either. 

Finally, there is wait of the Christian, which is called hope. It is an active waiting; it knows that, even in the worst of situations, even in the darkest times, God is at work. Even if we can’t see it clearly right now. The disciples’ fear was understandable, but we, who know how the story turned out, who know that Jesus will rise from the dead, who know that God is with us, who know that nothing will be impossible for God, are called to wait in faithful hope. And to look carefully for signs of the new life that are always right around the corner--just like they were on Holy Saturday.
~ From Fr. James Martin, SJ

Passion Week Hymn ~ In Love for Me

In Love for Me

This is my body, broken for you,
bringing you wholeness, making you free.
Take it and eat it, and when you do,
Do it in love for me.

This is my blood poured out for you,
bringing forgiveness, making you free.
Take it and drink it, and when you do,
do it in love for me.

Back to my Father soon I will go.
Do not forget me; then you will see
I am still with you, and you will know
you’re very close to me.

Filled with my Spirit, how you will grow!
You are my branches; I am the tree.
If you are faithful, others will know
you are alive in me.

Love one another – I have loved you,
and I have shown you how to be free;
serve one another, and when you do,
do it in love for me.

Vv. 1-2 Jimmy Owens
Vv. 3-5 Damian Lundy, based on John 14-16

Taken from: In Celebration of Love - The Washing of the Feet (The Art and Inspiration of Sieger Koder), Pauline Books &  Media, 1997.

Naming My Year…

Almost three months into 2012 and I have finally determined my name for the year…“Patient Trust.” 

Back in December I shared about 2011 being my year of stability and my desire to name my 2012…HERE.  All this was inspired by my friend Daphne’s blog post, “Choosing to Name Your Year.” 

Well, better late than never, I guess?!

A couple weeks ago I stumbled upon these words of reflection and encouragement on “Patient Trust”…HERE. These words have stuck with me ever since. In my posture of seeking and attentiveness to God at work in my life, I tend to be pretty impatient with myself. At times, I have a hard time with unanswered questions and formation in process in my life. I’d much rather skip the waiting and just cut to the chase.

I’m not sure where these current stirrings of my heart, mind and soul will lead. I am uncertain how these stirrings will deepen my formation and vocation this 2012. But, I desire to seek and wait in a posture of “Patient Trust.” I also hope to live this posture of patient trust in my relationships and accompaniment with others this coming year.

This is my hope and prayer for 2012!

Traditional Irish Blessing

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! I stumbled upon this Celtic Blessing this morning (Thanks Jamie & Missional blog!). Good words of blessing and prayer for one another!

 

Traditional Irish Blessing
I wish you not a path devoid of clouds,
nor a life on a bed of roses,
not that you might never need regret,
nor that you shall never feel pain.
No, that is not my wish for you.
My wish for you is that you might be brave in times of trial
when others lay crosses upon your shoulders.
When mountains must be climbed
and chasms are to be crossed;
when hope scarce can shine through.
That every gift God gave you might grow along with you.
And let you give the gift of joy to all who care for you.
That you may always have a friend who is worth that name.
Who you can trust, and who helps you in times of sadness.
Who will defy the storms of daily life at your side.
One more wish I have for you:
That in every hour of joy and pain you may feel God close to you.
This is my wish for you and for all who care for you.
This is my hope for you, now and forever.

Patient Trust

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything
     to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something
     unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress
     that it is made by passing through
     some stages of instability—
     and that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you;
     your ideas mature gradually—let them grow,
     let them shape themselves, without undue haste.
Don’t try to force them on,
     as though you could be today what time
     (that is to say, grace and circumstances
     acting on your own good will)
     will make of you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit
     gradually forming within you will be.
Give Our Lord the benefit of believing
     that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
     in suspense and incomplete.
~ Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ

Taken from: dotMagis: the blog of Ignatian Spirituality.com
http://ignatianspirituality.com/8078/prayer-of-theilhard-de-chardin/

Raw Material for Discernment

 I continue to go through the Ignatian Lenten Retreat that I shared about in my previous post below. If nothing else, you might like to check out Week Two of the retreat that serves as an excellent foundation for the Examen. Here is the link: Week Two.

My retreat reflection this morning included this quote, which was a good reminder for me today.

Ignatius’s Great Discovery
The point has often been made that the Christian Gospel is a story of strength and triumph arising from weakness and defeat. The Savior is a poor man in a provincial, backwater land. Salvation comes about through suffering and death. In the words of Mary’s Magnificat prayer: “He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.”

We’re afflicted with divided hearts that cause us to be burdened by angst, uncertainty, and fear when making important decisions. But this very confusion of thoughts and feelings is the place where we find God’s footprints. It’s the raw material for discernment.

This was Ignatius’s great discovery.

— J. Michael Sparough, SJ; Jim Manney; Tim Hipskind, SJ,
What’s Your Decision?

Examination of Conscience – A Prayer Practice for Lent

This Lent I am going through an adapted version of the Spiritual Exercises, called “An Ignatian Prayer Adventure.” I just completed Week One and I recommend this eight-week retreat for prayer and reflection. It also serves as an excellent introduction to Ignatian spirituality. You can check it out by clicking: HERE.

Alongside this retreat, I am using a prayer book I recently purchased, Hearts on Fire: Praying with the Jesuits. I am discovering lots of new prayers and practices that compliment and speak into my formation at this time. The book includes a prayer practice appropriate for Lent called, “Examination of Conscience” based on the examen that Ignatius included in the Spiritual Exercises and urged his friends to do daily. I plan to utilize this practice during Lent and I thought I would pass it on for those who want to check it out. I have posted it on my other blog, “Quotations & Stuff.”

You can find it by clicking here:
Examination of Conscience

Lent 2012

If you haven't noticed, I have been a bit MIA on my blog recently. I'll be back soon! I have not posted my annual Lent resources and reflections. I hope to share some fresh Lent posts soon, but, in the meantime, you can check out my previous posts on Lent from years past by clicking....HERE.

Many of the links and resources remain the same.

Until soon!!

2011 Reads & Looking Ahead to 2012

Thanks to Goodreads for helping me easily compile my list of books read in 2011! All good books that uniquely spoke into my year and further shaped my formation.

- Gracias! A Latin American Journal, Henri Nouwen
- Praying our Goodbyes, Joyce Rupp
- Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes, William Bridges
- The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective, Richard Rohr
- The Road To Assisi: The Essential Biography Of St. Francis, Paul Sabatier (Editor, Jon Sweeny)
- Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo Freire
- Living Mission: The Voices and Vision of New Friars, Scott Bessenecker
- An Ignatian Spirituality Reader, George W. Traub
- The Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett
- Waiting for the Light: An Advent Devotional, Christine Sine
- Monastery Journey to Christmas, Brother Victor-Antoine D’Avila-Latourrette

Next up in 2012…
This week I started compiling my reading list for 2012. I’m hoping to work in more fiction and autobiographies this year! Here’s my wish list for reads, so far…

- The Sacrament of the Present Moment, Jean-Pierre de Caussade
- Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter (Orbis Books)
- The Long Loneliness: Autobiography of Legendary Catholic Activist, Dorothy Day
- The Seven Storey Mountain: An Autobiography of Faith, Thomas Merton
- Life of Pi, Yann Martel
- Hearts On Fire: Praying with Jesuits, Edited by Michael Harter, SJ
- The Scandal of Service: Jesus Washes Our Feet, Jean Vanier
- From Brokenness to Community, Jean Vanier
- Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission, David J Bosch

Yesterday I came across the below quote on “spiritual reading” from Jean-Pierre de Caussade in Richard Foster’s introduction to the book, The Sacrament of the Present Moment. I appreciate this reminder for a few of the books I plan to read this year.

“Read quietly, slowly, word for word to enter into the subject more with the heart than the mind…From time to time make short pauses to allow these truths time to flow through the recesses of the soul and to give occasion for the operation of the Holy Spirit who, during these peaceful pauses and times of silent attention, engraves and imprints these heavenly truths in the heart…Should this peace and rest last for a longer time it will be all the better. When you find that your mind wanders resume your reading and continue thus, frequently, renewing these same pause.” 

Prayers for 2012

As I begin 2012 there are a few prayers and quotes of inspiration that I plan to keep close at hand these first weeks of the new year. Thanks to my friends in my blogosphere who have shared them.

Help Me to Believe in Beginnings...HERE
Posted on Prayers & Creeds. Shared by my friend Ben.

Prayer for 2012...HERE
Shared by Christine Sine on Godspace.

Orthodox Morning Prayer from the Elders of Optino...HERE
Posted on Prayers & Creeds. Shared by my friend Adam.

And...for my Spanish speaking friends, this quote from Eduardo Galeano. Shared by my friend Carolina.

Ojalá seamos dignos de la desesperada esperanza. 

Ojalá podamos tener el coraje de estar solos y la valentía de arriesgarnos a estar juntos, porque de nada sirve un diente fuera de la boca, ni un dedo fuera de la mano. 

Ojalá podamos ser desobedientes, cada vez que recibimos órdenes que humillan nuestra conciencia o violan nuestro sentido común. 

Ojalá podamos ser tan porfiados para seguir creyendo, contra toda evidencia, que la condición humana vale la pena, porque hemos sido mal hechos, pero no estamos terminados.

Ojalá podamos ser capaces de seguir caminando los caminos del viento, a pesar de las caídas y las traiciones y las derrotas, porque la historia continúa, más allá de nosotros, y cuando ella dice adiós, está diciendo: hasta luego.

Ojalá podamos mantener viva la certeza de que es posible ser compatriota y contemporáneo de todo aquel que viva animado por la voluntad de justicia y la voluntad de belleza, nazca donde nazca y viva cuando viva, porque no tienen fronteras los mapas del alma ni del tiempo.