Wherever You Go

“Rabbis say that one reason that Ruth is revered is that she teaches us that God will stick with us.” ~ Sr. Bernadette at tonight’s Lenten Mission

The last night of the mission was based on the famous and beautiful reading from the Book of Ruth. Ruth will go wherever her mother-in-law will go. She cannot be alone. She must be in community. She has become interdependent. The theme of the mission has moved from independence to dependence to interdependence. Community life requires interdependence.

When we commit ourselves to community, we experience Mystery. We must learn to trust each other and the God who calls us into community. We stick together, like Ruth does with Naomi. The choice of this reading was beautiful on International Women’s Day. The presenters could have chosen a number of Scripture passages to comment on being faithful to God in community, of being woven together in relationship, but they chose one of two women on this day.

Fr. Larry suggested that that there were three ways to relate to God: pleasing, appeasing and squeezing. He gave the example of Peter not wanting to have his feet washed: were his feet too dirty or not dirty enough? What pulled him out of his comfort zone? Christ will ask much of you and He will wash your feet, your hands, your memories and anything else that is required in order for you to become the hands, feet, body, smile and gestures of Christ. We depend on God to give us gifts and God depends equally upon us to use them.

He suggested that we put our gifts together: family, friends, Church…find your gifts and don’t put your gifts on a shelf, he joked, as that would be “shelfish.” What I have been given is not just for me.

The reflection questions had to do with remembering experiences of God sticking to us. I have lots of those. In Ignatian terms these are moments of graced history. I look back over my life and see that God has been present and gracious. I am grateful for this mission. I came as a thirsty person in the desert and left happy to have gulped at the spring of water.

Peace,

Suzanne