Bread from Heaven

" I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord, whoever eats of this bread will live forever." ~ John 6.51

The readings continue with the Gospel of John's teachings on the Eucharist. There is the promise that those who eat of this bread will have life forever. I have a deep love of the Eucharist. The opportunity to come to the table, surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses is awesome. We join with everyone, alive and gone, to participate in the saving grace of salvation. Elijah, in the first reading, is told to get up and eat and he does. He goes on the strength of that food for forty days and nights.

The Eucharist can sustain us beyond our wildest imaginings. Come to the banquet and eat!

Peace,

Suzanne

No Holding Back

“They can crush a few flowers, but they cannot hold back the springtime.” ~ Franciscan Sr. Pat Farrell, President of LCWR quoted this Chilean saying in her closing remarks at the annual meeting in response to the Vatican's scrutiny of American nuns.

What a brilliant quote! Farrell made a number of honest and inspiring comments in her closing speech. I was heartened by her gentleness and tenacity at the same time. Willing to listen, but not willing to be run over without being listened to was what struck me.

I am not sure where the Church is heading but I do know that nuns throughout our world are making a difference in the lives of many. The springtime will not be held back, not even with global warming and climate destruction. I picked up my two plants that someone else was caring for while I was on vacation. They are near death but I am hoping that they will not be crushed. I hold on to hope.

Peace,

Suzanne

Resting After a Vacation

“How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then rest afterwards.” — Spanish Proverb

I have slept in both mornings since returning home, getting a glorious eight-hour sleep. I seem to be so tired after vacationing. In fact, yesterday I even took an afternoon nap.

Today I have not done much in many ways. Yes, my to-do list has a few things checked off. I also had a major surprise. My credit card number was somehow hacked and so my bank called to ask if I had made a purchase in the wee hours of the morning from a company called Big Bad Toys or something like that. I actually giggled before saying no I had not. The woman at the other end also laughed when she heard my response. I am sure she was expecting a different reaction. It was the card I use for buying things online and I am hoping that everything is ok with my computer. What an inconvenience! I am glad that I have a card that I do not use to purchase things online so that I do not have to pay cash for all my purchases until the new card arrives.

I have about two weeks left of vacation before I head back to work. I want to rest some so that when I get back into the swing of routine I am not exhausted. I figure I have a book or two that I can read, friends to visit, cleaning to complete, and napping to catch up on. I love that I can do nothing and then rest afterwards. The doctor might have ordered that just for me.

Peace,

Suzanne

Home

"I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself." - Maya Angelou

I have been away from home for over three weeks now. I fly out later this evening after a day of sightseeing here in Toronto. As I reflect on my travels, I have to admire my flexibility and adaptability. It is not easy to sleep in someone else's bed, be in someone else's space, and maintain your balance.

What I have loved is seeing new things, engaging in fascinating conversations, trying new activities, and being with my friends's children. Somewhere in all that I have managed to stay true to myself and my needs.

Now I am off for my final adventures here in the big city!

Peace,

Suzanne

Transfigured

"'Rabbi, it is good for us to be here.'"- Peter in the Transfiguration story in the Gospel of Mark

Today is the Feast of the Transfiguration, one of my favorite feast days. Having had my eight-day silent retreat, I too have thought, "It is good for me to be here." I enjoyed my time with Jesus on the mountaintop, as painful as some of the realizations and insights were. I felt beloved. I felt stilled enough to receive the gifts given.

I have one more day of vacation away before I return home. I am off the mountaintop already but not yet back in routine. That won't happen for another couple of weeks yet. I want to put into practice all that I can from the lessons learned during my transfiguration. I hope that as today's First Reading says that I can be "attentive to this as a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in (my) heart."

Peace,

Suzanne

Filled!

"You shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God." ~ Exodus 16:12

We are a society in Canada and the USA that is never quite satisfied. Even in my last blog, I realized I was restless and ungrateful for the present moment. I am not unhappy but I am also not quite satisfied. I can only hope that in time, I can breathe in more of the present moment. During my 8-day retreat I was more at peace in this regard.

The children of Israel complain as they wander in the wilderness in today's readings. We are afraid often to reach out into the unknown because even when we are unhappy with what we have it is safer than what might come our way. Our inability to trust is one of our weakest and most detrimental qualities as humans. God gives. God gives abundantly. In fact, God gives us more than we can ask or even imagine. God gives in ways that we cannot dream of asking. God gives with a backhoe when we hold out our teaspoon. We are created anew if we think only of asking. In the Second Reading, we see that we can clothe ourselves differently in a new wardrobe, according to the likeness of God, dressed in righteousness and holiness.

In the Gospel of John today, we learn that there is a bread that is from heaven for which we should constantly crave. Today the priest said in his homily that he longed for the day when he no longer needed the sacraments because he would be standing in front of the Bread of Life. I have such a love of the sacraments that I had never considered this before. Shivers went up my spine as he said it. One day, I will be in front of my Beloved and all I thought I ever needed or wanted will be moot. I will finally have enough!!

Peace,

Suzanne

Seeking and Finding

"Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have been away for three weeks now. I am ready to come home. It is not that I am not having fun where I am, because I am. I have been doing all sorts of interesting and meaningful activities. I have borne the fruits of an 8-day silent retreat. I have spent time with good friends, discussing a myriad of fascinating topics. I have enjoyed learning how to geo-cache and finding the hidden treasure as in the photo above. Yesterday, we celebrated my friend's youngest son's birthday party with a safari theme. I spent the morning, chatting with her neighbours who are avid photographers. I learned several new techniques that I can now put to use immediately.

I think what I am ready for now is some silence again to sort through what I gleaned on my retreat. I need a long walk on the beach to integrate what I discovered into an action plan. Once I plot that course, I will need the courage to stay true to what my inner compass reveals. I think a number of decisions that need to be made are clearer to me and I need to just be still again in order to make them and then gather the resolve to keep them. My life has grown somewhat unmanageable and I have drifted from my centre. My task will be to identify what the next year will bring to me and for me and not to let others distract me from where my calling lies. I can be swayed by critics who want me to do something good. Choosing between two goods is always my trouble as a former spiritual director once pointed out to me.

I hope to find the treasure of the inner work this summer, cling to it, and smile. What has been the gift you have received this summer?

Peace,

Suzanne