Monday, March 8, 2010
Today was a Day of Recollection for our local SCJ priests and brothers.
To help us enter into this season of Lent more deeply, we invited Fr. John, one of our confreres from Milwaukee, to give us a series of reflections.
He chose the beatitudes as found in Matthew’s gospel to remind us how we’re supposed to model our lives.
In the places he’s lived and worked, Fr. John showed a poverty of spirit by taking time with people who were poor and overlooked. We lived and worked together in Eagle Butte on the Cheyenne River Reservation.
When hungry people came to the door asking for a sandwich, he fed them, but also gave them some quality time and tried to get to know them as people. He’s still very fondly remembered there and in the other places he’s been.
I can get busy with many activities and accomplish many things. But, it’s still so important not to lose sight of the people whose path crosses mine.
Those I meet might be struggling, mourning, sick or afraid. I won’t know that unless I’m willing to give them my time, and listen and get to know who they really are.
Having a day to pray, and leave work behind, is always a blessing, but often a mixed blessing. I say that because sometimes keeping busy helps me to forget about the cancer, and I don’t want to be thinking about it constantly.
The times of quiet prayer increased my awareness of the fear and anxiety that is still within me. But prayer is also a place to find strength and trust and the invitation by God to turn it all over.
… prayer is also a place to find strength and trust
and the invitation by God to turn it all over.
That’s an ongoing process I keep working at.