Sisters of the Presentation of Mary

The first reading on Monday of Holy Week has been popping up in my reflection and prayer these past weeks. The "title" for Isaiah 42:1-7 in NRSV reads, "The Servant, a Light to the Nations".

"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations". These words are usually applied to Jesus as Savior. However, it occurred to me that I am that servant. I have been chosen by the Lord; he has put his spirit on me and shown me that I am a delight for him. And, through me, justice will be brought to the nations, that is, to the people whom I meet and have met throughout my life.

The following verses especially struck me: "He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice." These words brought to my mind the little ones, the broken ones, the hurting ones whom I encountered in my life, especially while I was parish secretary at Guadalupe Aboriginal Parish. These wounded ones exist also in our families, in our communities, and reveal to us who Jesus really is. These little ones also are that servant, who have no voice, no power, and yet are visible in the street, in our encounters with one another. Their wick may be burning dimly, yet their spirit is not fully quenched, and needs but a compassionate soul to revive that spirit. Jesus in me, and Jesus in them, allows for the flame to burn more strongly, to work toward justice in our world.

Yes, the God who created the heavens and "spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it" --this God has taken us by the hand and kept us; given us a covenant to the people, a light to the nations...

This may be an odd reflection in this Easter season, season of resurrection and new life and hope, but I find appropriate that this text keeps coming to mind as I live my daily routine. It reminds me that the Resurrected Jesus is especially present in each of us who are weak, hurting, and that even so, we become a Light, reflect the Light of Christ around us.

As Catholics, we often hear that "God is within us," or that we are members of the Body of Christ. But did you know we could say "the universe is within us"?

In her book Radical Amazement, Judy Cannato reminds us of this reality. In the beginning, with the "Big Bang," there was the miracle of the fiery birth of the world, and our birth as well. We can say it was our birth because "all matter was formed in that initial bursting forth...[and so] we must each be formed out of the primordial dust that became the stars." (Cannato, 43)

Incredible, isn't it? Realizing we come from stardust gives a whole new meaning to the passage from Jeremiah: "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you..." or St. Paul speaking to the Corinthians: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?"

So, according the theology of the cosmos, "we are all one (with the universe), connected and contained in a Holy Mystery." (Cannato, 44) You and I are connected to all that has been, is now and is to come. We do not belong to ourselves. We belong to God, to the universe!

The more we become aware of the miracle and wonder of creation, and how we are connected to and one with all, the more we will be concerned with the salvation of all creation. We respond with reverence and compassion to the universe who has given us life.

The heavens are telling the glory of God

And all creation is shouting for joy

Come dance in the forest, come play in the fields

And sing, sing to the glory of the Lord.

"See what love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are...Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is..." (1 Jn. 3: 1-3)