When we hear those infamous words “the call,” those of my generation think about it as something restricted to saints or vocations for the religious life. We view the words as something sacred, yet something unattainable for us mere mortals. It is left to those special ones chosen by Christ to do the “important” work here on earth.
We could not be more mistaken. God has chosen each one of us, and our unique contribution to do his work. In the Confirmation program at Saint Eulalia’s much of the program is based around the word “chosen.” Each of us is made in His image. The image of God. With that as a starting point, it could not be any other way.

“I have chosen you to be with me.”. “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.” (paraphrase of John 15:16 and Mark 3:13)

So when we hear “the call” we, first of all, have to break this down to a more practical level. We don’t get just one call in our lives. There may be calls that are louder than others, which seem impossible to refuse (like my move to California recently for example), but there are many more calls which are reminders of how God wants us to live out our lives.

Perhaps I can reflect on the calls which have been vital in my life. The ones which really changed everything?

If there are many calls, then perhaps the most critical point is for me to listen more attentively so I might hear them. So instead of waiting for a lightning strike that is going to knock me to the ground to get our attention, I should instead be listening for small, still voice in the heart where God is with me all the time.
St. John Paul II always talked of small steps, of micro-conversions during each day, each one moving us in an almost indiscernible way to be closer to God. Each one of these steps moves us closer to God, as we help our neighbor, resolve an ancient dispute or love the unloved.

So the call may not be massive life event (although sometimes it can be) but can be smaller calls during each day. And the call to Holiness is a silent but continuous call which is as present as the air we breathe. Let me look for the small calls, God’s voicemails if you like, to see where I am being called today.
 

 
THE CALL
 
All calls are not equal.
The fire alarm invites us all to leave the building,
Calling us to safety and anxiety.
While the call for supper invites us to share,
With loved ones in spiritual and bodily nourishment.
Of all calls, the ones imbibed with love should never be screened out.
 
Because the source validates the message.
And should be acted upon. 
 
 
Copyright 2019 Reflection, Poem and Photograph by Michael J. Cunningham OFS

 
You may re-use this material and republish with permission unless used for commercial purposes. If you are using the materials for commercial purposes, please contact us.
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When we hear those infamous words “the call,” those of my generation think about it as something restricted to saints or vocations for the religious life. We view the words as something sacred, yet something unattainable for us mere mortals. It is left to those special ones chosen by Christ to do the “important” work here on earth.
We could not be more mistaken. God has chosen each one of us, and our unique contribution to do his work. In the Confirmation program at Saint Eulalia’s much of the program is based around the word “chosen.” Each of us is made in His image. The image of God. With that as a starting point, it could not be any other way.

“I have chosen you to be with me.”. “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.” (paraphrase of John 15:16 and Mark 3:13)

So when we hear “the call” we, first of all, have to break this down to a more practical level. We don’t get just one call in our lives. There may be calls that are louder than others, which seem impossible to refuse (like my move to California recently for example), but there are many more calls which are reminders of how God wants us to live out our lives.

Perhaps I can reflect on the calls which have been vital in my life. The ones which really changed everything?

If there are many calls, then perhaps the most critical point is for me to listen more attentively so I might hear them. So instead of waiting for a lightning strike that is going to knock me to the ground to get our attention, I should instead be listening for small, still voice in the heart where God is with me all the time.
St. John Paul II always talked of small steps, of micro-conversions during each day, each one moving us in an almost indiscernible way to be closer to God. Each one of these steps moves us closer to God, as we help our neighbor, resolve an ancient dispute or love the unloved.

So the call may not be massive life event (although sometimes it can be) but can be smaller calls during each day. And the call to Holiness is a silent but continuous call which is as present as the air we breathe. Let me look for the small calls, God’s voicemails if you like, to see where I am being called today.
 

 
THE CALL
 
All calls are not equal.
The fire alarm invites us all to leave the building,
Calling us to safety and anxiety.
While the call for supper invites us to share,
With loved ones in spiritual and bodily nourishment.
Of all calls, the ones imbibed with love should never be screened out.
 
Because the source validates the message.
And should be acted upon. 
 
 
Copyright 2019 Reflection, Poem and Photograph by Michael J. Cunningham OFS

 
You may re-use this material and republish with permission unless used for commercial purposes. If you are using the materials for commercial purposes, please contact us.
Please feel free to forward this email to a friend to sign up for the program at www.spiritualbreak.com or at https://materdolorosa.org/spiritualbreak/
 
 
 

Recently, while attending my own weekend retreat with my parish, I found Dr. Michael Cunningham’s conference on “God in the Everyday” inspired me to go back and read one of my journal entries while on the Camino de Santiago de Campostella in Spain. It certainly was easy to find God in those every days…

I wrote:
Day Four and I find myself wishing to remember the sounds of the Camino. The clicking of the Pilgrim’s shells we were all given when we started out at Saria. We attach them to our backpacks, and they clink as we walk. The crunch of feet on the ground and the gentle greetings exchanged as we pass by each other, “Ola, Buen Camino”, everyone knows this simple blessing.

The gentle breeze through the trees as we walk along, the sound of the birds. Sometimes there is running water. The sights are equally beautiful and noteworthy. Flowers like roses and hydrangeas—larger than I’ve ever seen. The geraniums growing in pots on the quaint buildings along the way. Many ruins as well, where nature is reclaiming the land.

The ancient Celtic village pre-Roman times circa 400 B.C.E. Each tells of stories and echoes from the past. The blackberries growing along the sides of the roads. The steady stride of Pilgrims. The quiet conversations at cafes along the way, other groups calling out greetings to us. For days we’ve been crossing paths with a family from South Africa. They happily call out to us, “America” with large smiles on their faces as we take our rest. My husband waves right back with a “Hi, South Africa”.
In these gifted moments of encounter, I am filled with the sense of joy reaching down to my soul to realize our oneness. Everything belongs—everyone belongs, just below the surface and it is discovered along the Camino.
How we get disconnected when we all go home to our own place. Our “corner of the ring.” Yet, here it is most definitely “Peace on Earth” at least after day four and I’ve yet to be convinced otherwise.
Lord, I feel your presence on this journey.  You are here. You are in the sun shining through the trees, along the paths, in the Pilgrims, large and small, open and closed. Touch us all with your love! Prepare the soil of our hearts to receive you in whatever way you choose to gift us—even in the blackberries.

Thank you for the gift of the quiet moments and the loud moments—you are there!

The Camino stretches out before us like a river moving us closer to you with every step. I praise you, Lord God, for your presence and your love.

And so, I invite you to ponder:
What are the sounds and sights in your day which remind you of God’s presence?
How have you encountered God in those you’ve met today?

Before we began walking each day, my husband and I used this prayer. Now, we continue to say it every day as we move along the Camino of life.

Prayer:
Guardian of my soul,
guide me on my way today.
Keep me safe from harm.
Deepen my relationship with you,
your earth and all your family.
Strengthen your love within me that I may be a presence of your peace
in our world. Amen

Joyce Rupp; Life Lessons from the Camino.

From the Camino, image by Jean Bowler

Copyright 2019 Reflection by Jean Bowler
Copyright 2019 Photography Copyright by Jean Bowler

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What are you thinking about the Church these days???
The other day I was reading Scripture as I try to do everyday.  The Book of Scripture I was reading was the First Book of Maccabees.  I realize that this particular Book in Scripture isn’t one of the most familiar Books of the Old Testament but I was surprised at how the story of the Maccabee family brought me to think about something much more current.

As you may recall, the Book of Maccabees tells the story of the rebellion of the Jewish people against the Seleucid Empire in the second century before the birth of Christ.  The Seleucids, a Hellenistic dynasty, inherited their Empire from the conquests of Alexander the Great.  By 167 B.C. they had not just oppressed the people of Israel but finally outlawed all Jewish religious practice.  That final act of oppression led to the rebellion led by the Maccabee family.  Judah Maccabee was the leader of the revolt which began as a guerilla war against the much stronger Seleucid occupying army.  After a series of guerilla actions that took place over a seven year period, the Seleucids had to withdraw and turn the government of Judea over to the Maccabees.  The Seleucids weren’t able to withstand the Maccabean attacks because they were also being challenged by the Romans in other parts of their Empire.

But what struck me about this story of this time in the history of Israel was how the Maccabeans went about restoring the practice of the faith of Israel.  We are told that as soon as their rebellion against the Seleucid empire was successful, the Maccabees restored the Temple and traditional worship, built a new altar and made their burnt offerings and sacrifices of praise.  For the Maccabees the Temple was the place where God dwelt and deserved reverence.  The restored Temple gave the whole nation its center of identity.  Restoring the Temple filled them with joy and gladness so much so that they celebrated the restoration every year after that.

In the time of Jesus it seems that the reverence and place of honor that the Maccabeans gave to the Temple had already eroded to a much more mundane and utilitarian attitude.  We hear stories in the Gospels about the way the chief priests, scribes and leaders of the people looked upon the Temple.  They seemed more concerned about using the Temple as a place of commerce and even used the people’s worship to buy and sell “offerings.”  The sense of the sacred is so obviously absent that Jesus becomes angry and drives the merchants and money-changers from the Temple courtyard.  Their response to Jesus’ outrage wasn’t shame, but rather self-righteousness and a desire to destroy Jesus.

The contrast between these two attitudes toward the Temple got me thinking about my own attitudes toward the Church.  For us the Church is the place where God dwells.  Of course, the Church is more than a building or even a set of buildings.  It is the body of Christ.  And, we all are constituent parts of it.  So, together with Christ we are the place where God dwells.  We are sacred.  We are the place where men and women meet God.  Restoring the Temple brought joy and gladness to the Maccabees.
Does being the place where God dwells fill me with joy and gladness?

Especially now as the Church is so often being attacked by so many.  Do I still look to the Church to find God?

Or, do I sometimes look away or feel ashamed?

O God, please give me eyes to see you in our midst!

Copyright 2019 Reflection Michael Higgins C.P.
Copyright 2019 Artwork Michael J. Cunningham O.F.S.

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Time to Say Something, Do Something

Much has been said for many years since the death of Martin Luther King. Some individuals are called to do great things in their lives. I recall the timing of his death as memorable, as I did when Jack Kennedy was killed. This might not be surprising for you all as American citizens, but bear in mind I was in growing up in England when this happened.
The same spark he lit in people for justice and love with fairness resonated with me my teen years. Someone standing up for what is right and willing to be disobedient to ensure everyone understood he would not stand for it.

Who does this remind you of in scripture?

Yes, Jesus Christ was a rebel in his own time. He would not stand for the double standards of the Pharisees; the moneychangers in the Temple and those willing to stone the adulteress. He stood up for the downtrodden, but also put down those stood in judgment of others without compassion, understanding, love and justice.

We always have the opportunity to reflect on how difficult it is to actually operate as a Christian in our divided world. The sacrifice of Dr. King illustrates how far some are willing to go to ensure the voice of equality is not just heard, but exercised.
It makes me consider if I am really sticking up for the disenfranchised and others who need help? Am I doing enough to make a Christian voice heard in a wilderness of divisiveness which envelopes much of the conversation today?
Dr. King reminds us all of the greatest love of all. The willingness to lay down your life for a friend. (John 15:13) In Dr. King’s case, he also did it for many who perhaps were not his friend at the time.

Martin Luther King … A reminder of Hope

The face is now silent,
Yet calls us to break from the stone,
To speak and act for justice and love.

Copyright 2019 Reflection, Poem and Photography Michael J. Cunningham O.F.S.

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