Each of the 3 readings for mass this Sunday speak about living with integrity, from the inside out, our relationship with God underpinning all our actions. Each of the readings reminds us that a faith professed but not put into action is empty and lifeless.
In the passage from Deuteronomy, Moses urges his listeners to take God’s words into their hearts and souls. Taking them into their heads and being able to recite them is not enough. They are to be heard and lived. I could not help but think that when we memorize a passage, we say we ‘know it by heart’. If we pause to really consider those words, we find a challenge to listen at the deepest level, to allow the words to penetrate and permeate our entire being. Isn’t that what Benedict tells us when he begins the Rule with the admonition ‘listen with the ear of your heart?” (Pro.1)
Matthew, who portrays Jesus as the new Moses, focuses his gospel on what it means to live in the Kingdom of God, a Kingdom in which all are welcomed, which allows goodness and good works to radiate God’s glory.
The passage for this Sunday is the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount. Beginning with the beatitudes, Jesus has shared with his listeners the attitudes and behaviors of Beatitude living, of Kingdom dwelling. His words have been challenging, His expectations high. Jesus’ parting words to the crowd remind them that only those who do the will of God will enter the Kingdom. The root word of the ancient term for will actually means ‘delight’. Kingdom followers are called to do what delights God. Are we doing what is right? Restoring right relationships? Acting in our world so that God can once again look upon His people and say “it is VERY good”? Benedict cautions us that ‘the love of God must come before all else.’ (4:21) If we are truly putting the love of God first, and acting from that love, we are doing God’s will.
Jesus cautions us to make our houses on rock rather than sand, to be sure that we have a strong foundation, that we are building our lives upon God, the ground of our being. He does not say that those with strong foundations will be spared from the wind and storms. Jesus points out that those whose lives are built on God will be able to withstand the tempests of life as they lean on God, the rock of their salvation. The wise person builds on rock. The word wise comes from an ancient word that means ‘to adopt a purpose, feel concern, and live in harmony’. The wise person is she who, building on a strong faith, is open to embrace all of God’s people, to reach out to the broken Body of Christ and bring about healing and harmony. The wise person is she who is able to rely on God, even in the midst of suffering, trial and temptation.
When I first read this gospel, I marveled at how it reflected each of our monastic vows:
Obedience: listening to and acting upon the Word
Fidelity: nurturing the relationship we have with God so that our foundation stays a strong, sturdy rock
on which to build our lives; being open to the conversion that this relationship demands
Stability: standing upon the Rock of our salvation, which is God: Father, Son and Spirit
Perhaps the greatest call and challenge in the Gospel today is the call to continued conversion. True conversion means that our actions, thoughts and feelings are firmly and clearly formed by God’s Word, that we allow the God who choose us to form us and change us day by day.
Today, and throughout the coming week, let us examine ourselves and the house we have each built. If the foundation is strong, but the structure a bit shaky, let us be brave enough, attentive enough to do whatever remodeling is necessary to ensure that our house can, in fact, withstand life’s many storms.
“Clothed then with faith and the performance of good works, let us set out on this way, with the Gospel for our guide, that we may deserve to see the One who has called us to the Kingdom.” (Pro. 21)
Saturday, May 31, 2008
A Commentary for the 9th Sunday of Ordinary Time by Sr. Susan Marie Lindstrom, OSB
Friday, May 30, 2008
A fishing we will go...
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Sr. Maureen Therese Cooney's Vocation Story
I come from a family that has had religious vocations every other generation. As kids my cousins would kid my family that we needed to produce the vocations since we had nuns and priests on both sides of our family tree. Of course my brothers and sisters would protest that it didn’t have to be us. In the end it was my family that produced the vocations – my brother is a Benedictine priest at St. Meinrad and then there is me – a Sister of St. Benedict of Beech Grove, IN.
So did it all start with that kidding from cousins – who knows. What I do know is that as a student in grade two at our local Catholic School, we all wanted to be nuns. As I grew older there were some things I knew I wanted to do with my life – one was to be a teacher. So I focused my sights on becoming a teacher and just let the idea of become a Sister sit on the back burner.
In college I focused on my studies to become a teacher and was active at the local Newman Center on campus. I enjoyed being involved with the local parish community and found many who felt that they had some type of calling. It helped to be able to discuss that idea with a group of my peers.
As college wound down, I focused on finding a job and getting started in teaching.
I didn’t really begin to think of a vocation to the religious life until my third year of teaching while I was at a little Catholic school just outside of East St. Louis. During that summer, I found a job at the local Catholic summer camp. I had plenty of time to ponder my life and the direction it was taking during the 8 hour nature hike every Monday. I started to really listen to God and what I was being called to. In nature and with the help of one of the other counselors-a Dominican from Springfield - I began to discern my calling.
Sr. Margaret Therese invited me to visit during the school year and to make a visit to their mother house in Springfield. Well, word got out that I was looking around and one of the Sisters I worked with while in Indianapolis sent me a note inviting me to Beech Grove for a visit.
When I arrived in Beech Grove and walked into the front lobby, I felt I had found my place. I felt that I had just arrived home. After that it was just a matter of letting things fall into place.
In July of 1987 I entered Our Lady of Grace Monastery. I remember one phone call early that fall from my Dad. He told me that he was glad I was at the monastery because he could tell that it was the place for me. He told me that I sounded so happy and relaxed and he was happy for me. That was all I needed to hear – I had found my home.
These past 21 years have been years of growth – years I wouldn’t trade for anything.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Sr. Mildred Wannemuehler's Vocation Story
At the autumn of my life, having lived 61 years in the monastic community, I gladly share my story. In the third year of my retirement from a full-time parish ministry, I have had time to reflect, remember and rejoice over the past.
Born the third child to German parents in Evansville, Indiana, I had the example of hard-working parents and siblings that eventually totalled five. My oldest sister, Dolores, at the age of five died from the aftermath of measles. I was one and also had the measles but in changing doctors my life was spared. This is a question I’ve often asked, “Why did God take Dolores and not me?” As I look back, I know God had a plan then already. This decision was strengthened 40 years later when my Dad, in his last weeks on this earth, told me that as a young father he prayed that one of his children would give his/her life to God. In sharing that I realized that my vocation was partly due to my father’s prayers.
I attended St. Boniface School in Evansville taught by the Ursuline Sisters from Louisville. They were excellent educators and already in the lower grades I was sure I wanted to be a teacher…and most likely become an Ursuline Sister. However, after the eigthth grade I wanted to join the Ursuline Aspirancy but my mother said I was too young. However, she did consent to my going to the Academy at Ferdinand which was a boarding high school with several of my classmates. Besides getting a good education, by my junior year I felt I had a monastic vocation. I was so inspired by the prayer life and the community emphasis. So with several other classmates I entered the Novitiate in 1947, finishing my senior year in the convent.
In September of 1950 I was assigned to teach 51 seventh graders at Christ the King in Evansville. Thus began 27 years in the classroom. Ten of those years were in Evansville, including four years in Mater Dei High School.
During these years I was also working on a Master’s Degree at Notre Dame University, in Math and Education. In the summer of my Graduation in 1960 God sent another surprise! I was asked to be transferred to the new foundation at Beech Grove, Indiana. So instead of returning to Ferdinand, my vow of stability was transferred to Our Lady of Grace at Beech Grove, Indiana. Thus another new chapter of my religious vocation began.
My assignment was to teach Math in the girls’ Academy --- which I did along with World History, Religion and English for 13 years. In 1964 the Juniorate was opened at the monastery and I was asked to do that along with the teaching. My prioress also asked me to begin a Master’s in Theology at Collegeville, which I began in 1961 and finished in 1966. Life changed again in 1967 when I was asked to go start a new school in Florissant, Missouri. I was there two years and again returned to the monastery and Academy in 1969. At this time I was made Formation Directress for six years.
In St. Benedict’s Rule we are often reminded that obedience is our way to God. My life is a perfect example. In 1975 I again went on mission to teach at Clarksville, Indiana. After less than two years I was elected prioress and came home to lead the community from 1977-1985. Being superior for 100 Sisters would be another whole chapter of my life. In summary, I could say that “God and I worked together very closely.”
Eight years later I asked for a sabbatical and went to Holy Name College in Oakland, California where I earned a Masters in Creation Spirituality. Where was my monastic vocation taking me next? I responded to an advertisement for a Pastoral Associate in a rural, tourist area in Nashville, Indiana. It ws a parish that had a priest only on the weekends. For 12 years I was a Pastoral Associate and then was asked to be a Parish Life Coordinator for 7 more years. When my age reached 75 I decided it was time to retire. So in June, 2005 I came back to the monastery and am enjoying the fullness of our Benedictine life.
Only one word resonates in my heart, “GRATITUDE”. I thank God for my monastic vocation, which can be ANYWHERE doing ANYTHING as long as we first SEEK GOD.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
A Commentary on the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ by Sr. Kathleen Yeadon, OSB
Gospel of John 6:51-58 Feast of Corpus Christi
At each Eucharist, Jesus invites us to eternal life. In the remembering of Jesus’ final meal with the twelve,
God receives us, heals us and sends us out to be bread for the world. It is a great mystery of our faith--how the breaking of a loaf can unite and heal each person who comes to the table.
Our yearning to live; Our desire for communion; Our longing for purpose -- meet in God’s incredible gift of divine love---poured out.
The incredible gift of the Eucharist is that God invites us to the life of the Trinity. We are given life so that others will receive life. God wants us to share in the divine life of welcoming, healing, and of feeding others.
Precious body, precious blood.
Here in bread and wine:
Here the Lord prepares the feast divine.
Bread of love is broken now. Cup of life is poured. Come share the super of the Lord.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Sr. Susan Marie Lindstrom's Vocation Story
My journey to the monastery began in a Catholic home with a mom, dad, and 4 siblings. From the age of six, I wanted to be a sister. Actually, I wanted to teach and I thought that nun and teacher were synonymous. There was no sense of call, as I can now articulate it. There was no sense that such a lifestyle choice was not the norm. There wasn’t even much sense of God in the picture, except that I knew the nuns carried rosaries and prayed a lot. Still, I guess God has to start somewhere!
I atten
ded a Franciscan College on a scholarship and was soon going to morning and evening prayer with the college community. A friendship with two Sisters in my class led to my spending many evenings at their home… so many, in fact, that I had a bedroom, a household task, and a night to lead prayer! I began to meet weekly with their vocation director. Two years after graduation, I asked to begin entrance procedures, but was told that I did not have a Franciscan vocation. I now know that to be true, but at the time I was devastated and confused.My family had relocated to Texas while I was in college, so I headed south and found employment at a school and parish run by the Marianist brothers and priests. I soon discovered that there were Marianist sisters, too, and I quickly became involved in many of their ministries. I was attracted to their charism, but hesitant to risk being hurt again. Fortunately, God was anything but hesitant and just two short years later, I entered the postulancy.
My Marianist journey actually led me to Beech Grove. I attended a creation spirituality retreat in the summer of 1989, in preparation for first vows. I remember Sr. Mildred talking about the “via negativa” and Sr. Juliann leading us in an art meditation. The next summer I returned for a private retreat, which Sr. Juliann directed.
My Marianist journey ended in 1994, as it was discerned that I was not called to the apostolic life. I was ready to write God off, convinced like Jeremiah, that God had “duped me”. Jesse and John, two of the Marianist men with whom I had shared the journey through initial formation, encouraged (coerced?) me to look for a different community. Just to stop their nagging, I wrote to the only place that I had ever really felt at home… Beech Grove
By June I was on a vocation retreat and by July I was ready to sign up. Actually, I was petrified to try religious life again, but felt almost powerless to do otherwise. I lived in Baltimore at the time, so visiting took a lot of effort. I returned as often as possible, and even had my parents spend the Triduum with the community just before I entered. They were “sold” on the community when they watched one of our older sisters escorted to venerate the cross by a barely younger sister on Good Friday.
September of 2000 I moved into Our Lady of Grace and it has become more and more home for me as I become more and more at home with myself.
Everything I imagined religious life to be is here… with a few more kinks and challenges than I had anticipated, but also with an abundance of blessings. What attracted me here, what keeps me here, is our rhythm of prayer and the value we place on seeking God TOGETHER. I treasure making this journey with my sisters, especially as I continue to glean the wisdom of the elders in this community. I may be 50 years old, but I am yet a youngster in this monastic life and it’s a joy to “sit at the feet” of those whose knowledge comes from experience. God has formed within me a monastic heart and entrusted me to guard it carefully. I look forward to days and months and years of journeying as a Benedictine Sister!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
St. Bernardine of Siena
"Whenever 
the divine favor chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfill the task at hand."
