◊ Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, pray for us
When I was a teenager, I remember asking my dad if he made New Year resolutions. He replied, “Nah, I’m perfect enough as is.”
I don’t make New Year resolutions because I’m never in sync with the calendar. I make January 7th resolutions.
My Brother Joseph reflections are now located at All is Gift.
Last year, with permission from my principal, I started writing weekly (or biweekly) short email reflections for my co-ministers at the Catholic high school where I teach. I assumed anonymity in the nom de plume of Brother Joseph because it was not about me receiving credit or gratitude or anything else. It was about others, and if these reflections could help point them to a deeper relationship with God, then the glory goes with God.
The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)
O Lord Jesus,
Your words to your Father
were born out of your silence.Lead me into this silence,
so that my words may be spoken in your name
and thus be fruitful.It is so hard to be silent,
silent with my mouth,
but even more,
silent with my heart.
There is so much talking going on within me.If I were simply to rest at your feet
and realize that I belong to you
and you alone,
I would easily stop arguing
with all the real and
imaginary people around me.I know that in the silence of my heart
you will speak to me
and show me your love.Give me, O Lord, that silence.
Let me be patient
and grow slowly into this silence
in which I can be with you.
Amen.— Henri Nouwen, Spiritual Direction
The taut wire hums before it breaks,
like the city in the morning
or late, when the lights go out.
And the chain on the bridge gate—
before it snaps, one link turns over
slowly, and creaks.I watch an oak whose top
has forgotten the ground under the leaves.
At the final swing of the axe
the high branches glisten,
whisper, then lean
with surging recognition
to an old friend.I turn to you
and listen.— William Stafford
It doesn’t interest me if there is one God
or many gods.
I want to know
if you belong or feel
abandoned.
If you know despair or can see it in others.
I want to know
if you are prepared to live in the world
with its harsh need
to change you.
If you can look back
with firm eyes
saying this is where I stand.
I want to know
if you know
how to melt into that fierce heat of living
falling toward
the center of your longing.
I want to know
if you are willing
to live, day by day,
with the consequence of love
and the bitter
unwanted passion of your sure defeat.I have heard, in that fierce embrace, even
the gods speak of God.— David Whyte, poem called “Self Portrait”, 1992