Sisters of the Presentation of Mary

So far, this winter has been a real winter
in my opinion: crisp cold and lots of snow! There is something so attractive
about this winter wonderland; it is mysteriously inviting, and yet when we
cross its threshold we receive a rude welcome that, if not anticipated, might
make us turn back into the warmth and comfort of our home. Yet, if we dare to
tolerate temporary discomfort, we are enlivened by breathing this pure clod air
that renders us alert and attentive to the beauty that surrounds us in the
diamond covered landscape.

I
have been learning, this novitiate year, that silence and solitude have similar
characteristics. Entering into the mysterious land of silence and solitude is
not initially the most comfortable transition. The seeming emptiness heightens
my awareness of deep longings which at times can be painful, and I frequently
face the temptations of returning to the comfort of secure relationships and
absorbing work. Yet, if I dare to linger in this silent abode, I am
increasingly attentive to the presence of the Silent One dwelling in my
solitude.  As I breathe in this
invigorating Spirit which surrounds me, the eyes of my heart are opened to see
the Eternal Light reflecting on the diamond covered landscape of my life.

So
next time Jack Frost is nipping at your nose, I encourage you to accept the
invitation to enter the winter wonderland of silence and solitude and be
transformed by the life-giving Presence that dwells within you.

Have
a Blessed Christmas and a New Year filled with the Joy of His Presence

One major sign of Spring for me has always the blooming of the Bleeding Heart plant. We had at least two in our front yard flower bed, and I always found them beautiful.

This year, I watched as Sr. Thérèse removed the winter debris from around the plant in our yard. The result was a few brown sticks about six inches high, barely visible above the lawn. Then, suddenly, there were short green shoots promising more to come. I watched, amazed, as day to day the plant doubled in size becoming ever more leafed, and in no time, it was full of the pink and white flowers so familiar to me. It wasn't very tall and I thought that this year maybe it was already at its height for the summer. But no, in the days since, the plant has expanded upward and outward with more and more blooms! It is reaching full maturity, and is a center of beauty in our garden.

This plant speaks to me beyond words about life. After winter's repose, it was ready to burst forth once more into the sunshine and find nourishment in the warming soil. In the winters of my life, I gain strength without knowing how for fruitfulness and generativity as God gives me the sunshine of his love and the nourishment of the sacraments of the Church. Thus, the beauty of God can radiate into my environment, wherever that may be...

I love this time of the year! Early Spring! Dying Winter! It is such a time of hope and "youngness". In reality, it is not a very pretty time ... dead trees, dead grass, bare trees, black leaves on the muddy lawns, black snow piles in the shopping mall parking lots ... we can't deny them, and yet, what do we really see? I can't speak for you, but I can tell you that I see the pussy willows by the running swollen streams; I see the tulips pushing up tender green shoots and crocuses peeping their lovely fuzzy mauve faces through the snow banks by the railroad tracks; I see tiny patches of green on the lawns; I see the robins hopping on the grass on the lookout for a juicy worm ... I see so much hope and so much life all around me. I cannot help but think that, at Easter Christ resurrects in the whole cosmos and brings to it all the guarantee of new life. So with the lambs, and the baby rabbits, and the butterflies, and all the symbols used to illustrate and express this explosion of life, what can we do but hope and rejoice: Christ has conquered over death, there is life in all things that often seem dead to us ... Christ is Life! Alleluia!

On March 20 was the Spring Equinox and we did a celebration which included the blessing of seeds and planting them. As I was holding a tomato seed in my hand I became more fully aware of the potential in that little seed. I could see last year's tomato plants in the garden laden with red tomatoes. All this was in this little seed that I held in my hand! What a marvel!

I am listening!

It reminded me also of when my dad would test the grain seeds from the granaries to see which ones he would use for seeding that year. He would take so many seeds, spread them out in a box and keep it moist and in a warm place. After a week, he would count the ones that germinated. That was his way of determining which batch of seeds he was going to use.

I am listening!

During the celebration we planted some tomato 6 tomato seeds and 4 zucchini seeds in pellets. My mom always planted her tomatoes on March 19th, the feast day of St. Joseph! A week later, 1 zucchini plant is growing and 3 tomato plants. The joy of seeing these fragile plants is a meditation in itself.

I am listening!

How are we celebrating Spring?

How quietly the earth breathes forth new life

How eagerly the sun bleeds forth the spring,

I am listening.

I am listening to seeds breaking open,

To roots growing strong beneath the ground,

To green shoots rising up from winter wombs.

I am listening.

(taken from The Circle of Life by Joyce Rupp and Macrina Wiederkehr p. 90)

Come! Come into the fallow ground of our being

Allure us from doing into non-doing.

Reveal to us the hidden wisdom in our souls.

Restore what is out of balance in our lives.

O Come!

Taken from THE CIRCLE OF LIFE by Joyce Rupp and Macrina Wiederkehr.

What are some of the "non-doings" in your winter days? Do you have those memories of childhood where you just slowed down during the winter months and just sat to talk and enjoy each other's company?

Winter, a time of longer nights and shorter days can call us to spend more time in quiet. When I was young, at home, we took time to visit especially between Christmas and New Year's. My brothers were living on their own farms: some were married and others were not. Every night we would go to one place for supper and card playing till 3 a.m. sometimes! It lasted for a week and we were tired but it has stayed as a beautiful memory for me. We also did some skating on the ponds and would meet friends there. Now, I like to slow down during winter following the rhythm of nature. I really believe in that 'hidden wisdom in our souls'.

And as Macrina writes:"Embrace the season of winter with hope. It is a good teacher. It will lead you to your inmost depths where God is contemplating you.'

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

For some reason or other, I always find that Christmas Eve is more "Christmas" than Christmas day itself! Usually, by December 24th, the 'big' preparations for the feast are done... the house is decorated, the meal is planned and ready to pop in the oven, the presents are all placed under the tree, the cards have been sent, the guests invited and coming ... there is that wonderful feeling of waiting for something great! And that is as it should be. The 'something' is really a SOMEONE we are all yearning to welcome... the "reason for the Season" as the saying goes. Do you feel that way? Do you really yearn for the coming of Christ in the your heart, in your life, in the world?

May Christ be present in your heart; may He be the PRESENT we most desire; may He be for everyone the PRINCE OF PEACE! Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

The”Huron Carol” is known to us by the more familiar words: “Twas in the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled…”  These are two English translations of the “Huron Carol” written in the Huron/Wendat language by St. Jean de Brébeuf.

This carol is one of the first that comes to my mind when I think of Christmas.  My first introduction to it occurred when I was thirteen and my aunt asked me to copy the music for her choir; I was proud to do it, and it took me a week! It had to be perfect!  I have always loved the tune and the words.

I recently discovered the above literal translation by John Steckley/Teondecheron on the internet.  Further on in this literal translation:  “Marie, she has just given birth. Rejoice! Jesus, he is born.”  The three elders having arrived and seen Jesus, “They praised (made a name) many times, saying ‘Hurray, he is good in nature.  They greeted him with reverence (greased his scalp many times), saying ‘Hurray’ Jesus, he is born”.

This translation, and another quite similar, are also beautiful and true to First Nations culture as I understand it.  And they are beautiful and inspiring to me…

If you Google “The Huron Carol”, you will find many further sites, among others one of Bruce Cockburn, which I found quite enlightening.

This is the title of a booklet published by: Canadian Catholic School Trustees' Association through the work of Tom Owens and Fr. Erik Riechers, SAC. Their philosophy of life has had me thinking for many years. Another author that challenges me is Diarmid O'Murchu. Lately I have been reading his latest book: Christianity's Dangerous Memory and the two are saying the same thing to me: Build Bethlehem Everywhere. And what does that mean for us? I get my clue from the crib scene. In a stable, all of creation is welcome: it is wide open! No locks, no reservations needed as in a hotel... Mary, Joseph and Jesus are there....the animals are there.... the shepherds are there with some of their flock, the wise men come bearing gifts from their culture, and who knows who else was there! There must have been some birds! All are welcome!

It reminds me of a cripple lady in The Pas, MB who lived on the street. She often visited with us and ate with us. One day, she was visiting a Sister at her office. The priest came to tell her that she had to leave. You see, she did take things from the Church! Later on, she came to visit us and drew a picture of Jesus with his arms wide open and she put as title: ALL ARE WELCOME. She was an artist and it was her way of expressing herself. Maybe, she had understood the meaning of the crib!

So, Build Bethlehem Everywhere is a reminder to me to live openness and caring for everyone including all of creation. The other day I was teaching guitar to children at the school and there were maple bugs. The children wanted to 'squish them' as they said. So, we talked further about respect for life and that they were our friends. So, we let them live. Later on during the lesson, one little guy looked again at the bugs and said: 'They are our friends, right!' to which I replied: 'They sure are!'. So, let's Build Bethlehem Everywhere!

Merry Christmas!

Yes! It's upon us! The Christmas "stuff" is out everywhere. Why, it has even snowed, to make it more "here and now". Somehow, it makes me a little perplexed to see all this. The problem is that I can't help but get excited with the lovely decorations, the lights, the candles, the carols, the gifts, the 'goodies' ... so much so that by the time Advent comes, the true waiting period, I'm already blasé about all this hoopla, and I am tempted to be overwhelmed by all that is left to do before Christmas day.

Yet, Advent is such a special time! It's a yearning time, a preparation time, a time when we can truly experience the precious gift of HOPE. What we hope for has already come, but is always coming more profoundly. It is a time of expectancy ... like a woman expecting a child ... the baby is there, alive in her, but not yet fully revealed. That is what Advent is like; just as the people of Israel yearned and waited for the Messiah, just as Mary waited for the birth of her child, so we also wait for Someone who has already been revealed, who is already living among us, but wishes to be revealed more fully yet. So Advent is a time in which we strive to become more open to receive Him and more perceptive to recognize Him. Advent is a time when we contemplate Mary and share her hope and her faith. It is a joyous time, a youthful time!

So, the decorations, the lights, the candles, the carols, the gifts, the 'goodies' are all part of that joyous time, but only a part, not the "full deal". I think it's a way to express our hope, our joy and our excitement. It's true that Christmas, for most of us, would not be Christmas without a tree, and lights, and presents under the tree; but would Christmas be Christmas without the ever renewed birth of Emmanuel – "God with us"?