MADE THE SERVANTS OF ALL
Two young jesuits are being ordained priests today at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in downtown Toronto. A third will be ordained deacon. With this ordination in mind, here are a few wise words by Barbara Brown Taylor for your prayerful reflection:
“Ordination, like baptism, is the celebration of a demotion. Unlike sorority initiations or Eagle Scout ceremonies, it is a rite in which we step down, not up. It is a ritual in which we are made the servants of all, and it seems… that there is a rich irony in our lining up to do this kind of work. Would any of us answer a classified ad that said, ‘Menial labor, long hours, high expectations, low pay?’ And yet, here we are…”
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PROOF OF LOVE
One can win in a variety of ways but the grace we ask for today is to win with and through love. This is not easy. When we have enemies that make us suffer: it is not easy to win through love! In such moments we often want to seek revenge … Love: that meekness that Jesus taught us, that is the victory! The apostle John says in the first letter: “This is the victory that conquers the world, our faith”. Our faith is, believing in jesus who taught us love, to love everyone. And the proof that we are in love is when we pray for our enemies.
Quotation | Pope Francis, daily homily, 24th May 2013
Word art | Philip Chircop
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EMPTY WHEN FULL
This sounds like a piece of Zen wisdom. In fact it is more about daily wisdom and common sense …
- What is it that needs to go that you may be spacious and empty enough to receive?
Photo | Philip Chircop. This is a photo of a big garbage bin in Savannah Georgia.
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DON’T PHONE AND DRIVE.
This is a delightful photo which I hope will bring s smile to your face. I also hope it will serve as a gentle reminder to do one thing at a time, fully present to the task at hand: when on the phone, be fully engaged in the conversation … when driving, be fully attentive to your driving and the road!
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ON LOVE AND RESISTANCE
Note about the photo | The perfect heart-shape slice of tomato, in a small plate catching the reflection of the window in the room. This was part of my simple, delicious breakfasts during my few days of retreat with the sisters of Mother Teresa in Beppu, Japan. The sisters’ attention to detail, their simplicity, their smile and their presence confirm what Matt Zotti said: Love is everywhere, it has no distance. All you have to do is stop the resistance.
Name the resistances that are blocking you from loving or receiving love.
Photo | Philip Chircop
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TEASING THE LAW
Charming photo from the book Maddie on Things, a lovely book about the dog Maddie by photographer Theron Humphrey.
Now I’m really curious … is he really breaking the law or teasing the law?
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MADDENING LOVE?
When love is not madness, it is not love. | Pedro Calderón de la Barca
What do you make of this quotation? Does it make you think? Does it disturb you? If yes, why? Does it challenge you to redefine your meaning of love?
We do talk about being madly in love with someone or something, after all!
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THE ARTWORKS OF NATURE!
An incredible display of mother natures beauty! A cloud of dust over the ocean! Looks and feels like celestial fireworks.
My initial comment on this photo stated that the picture shows a cloud of dust over the sea in Lampedusa, Italy. I got the info from Meteo Real Time! This information was incorrect!
According to Perth Weather Live this is in fact a photo shot in Onslow in the Pilbara, Western Australia by photographer Izaac Kniep, in January 2013.
Source | perthweatherlive.com
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THE NAMELESS HOMELESS
Everyone has something in common with us: they are made in the image of God! They are children of God!. Being open to an encounter with everyone, without negotiating the faith we belong to. And this is important: especially with the poor. If we step outside ourselves, we find poverty. Today, and it breaks my heart to say it, finding a homeless person who has died of cold, is not news. Today, the news is scandals, that is news, but the many children who don’t have food - that’s not news. This is grave. We can’t rest easy while things are this way!
… We cannot become starched Christians, too polite, who speak of theology calmly over tea. We have to become courageous Christians and seek out those who are the flesh of Christ.”
Pope Francis during the Pentecost Vigil held in St Peter’s Square on Saturday 18th May, 2013
To read more about what transpired throughout the evening you can go to the Vatican Radio news page.
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DAMAGED BY AN ACCIDENT
“The Church must go out from herself. Where? Towards the existential outskirts, even if that means risking accidents along the way … I prefer a thousand times a Church damaged by an accident, than a sick Church closed in on itself”.
Pope Francis during the Pentecost Vigil held in St Peter’s Square on Saturday 18th May, 2013
To read more about what transpired throughout the evening you can go to the Vatican Radio news page.
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JESUS
“I will say three words only. First: Jesus. What is the most important thing? Jesus. If we push ahead with planning and organization, beautiful things indeed, but without Jesus, then we are on the wrong road. Jesus is the most important thing. I would like to take the opportunity now to make a small, but fraternal, reproach, among ourselves, alright? All of you in the square shouted out: “Francis, Francis, Pope Francis ” … But, where was Jesus? I want to hear you shout out. “Jesus, Jesus is Lord, and He is in our midst.” From now on , no more “Francis”, only “Jesus”. Alright?
Pope Francis during the Pentecost Vigil held in St Peter’s Square on Saturday 18th May, 2013
To read more about what transpired throughout the evening you can go to the Vatican Radio news page.
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DIVISION or THE VISION?
While browsing the net for a project I am presently working on, I came across the above photo shot in the Province of Quebec by Luis E. Gurrieri. Included as a commentary on the photo was this intriguing quotation:
“Two bald guys fighting for a comb.” | Jorge Luis Borges
What sense, if any, do you make of this visual and quotation combo?
Is it about “Division” or perhaps about “The Vision” of a possible future of living together as one?
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