"Your kingdom come..."

"Again JESUS said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?

It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened."

In today’s gospel passage, the Lord gives us a unique metaphor. The Kingdom of God is like “yeast.” Yeast! I have a fear of yeast – seriously. It’s alive. You can’t just dump it into the flour and expect it to work. You must be mindful of the temperature of the water and the time needed for the yeast to awaken. You can’t work the dough too hard or to little. If you manage to do all this right, then you still have to let it nap for a while before it goes into the oven. Yeast is complicated stuff. It makes me a nervous wreck.

Why, then, am I fixated on it this morning? I can’t stop thinking about the last verse: “until the whole batch was leavened.” There’s something wonderful here that I just can’t get my head around. My heart, though, feels the truth in this metaphor. GOD will never give up on us. The Kingdom will come in its fullness only when the leaven of peace, justice and compassion have permeated the world.

Have you ever felt the Kingdom coming? I have. I have felt the Kingdom coming when a young woman with Downs Syndrome proclaimed the Word at the Sunday Eucharist. I have felt it coming in a moment of true forgiveness…true reconciliation with my sister. I have felt it coming in the gift of hope when faced with a fearful, impossible reality. I think we get glimpses of the Kingdom so that we can continue kneading the dough, working the yeast of Christ’s love into the whole world.

Blessings and love to you all…
- Sister Vicki

When our "girls" come home...

Last night we had joy of welcoming our SGHS alumnae for “Vino on the Veranda.” This event enables our graduates of many generations to reconnect with one another and with their school community. GOD gave us a spectacular evening – warm and clear. Our new “veranda” now leads to a carefully planned garden paved with stone. For the first time our alumnae enjoyed its beauty. Many hunted the patio for stones of remembrance purchased to support our landscaping project and engraved with the names of friends and loved ones. Many toured the school and were thrilled with the third addition blessed in 2005 – gym, library, media center, work out room, and science labs. The newly renovated Chapel brought back happy memories to those who remembered the beautiful wood floor recently rediscovered and brought back to its original luster. I ran a Power Point depicting the school’s history and many of the Benedictine sisters who served here over the past 87 years. Many memories were shared around my laptop. I heard stories I’ve never heard before! It was a lovely evening… Every year I meet new friends and wonder at the faith and character of our “Gertie Girls” - gracious women who continue to bring honor to our beloved Saint Gertrude. Can’t wait for next year!

Blessings and love to you all...

- Sister Vicki

"Abbey Nights..."

Brother Nolte makes an awesome bonfire!

The Abbey has five stunning portraits based on the Shroud of Turin.

The band members prayed with the crowd before the concert began.

Let the prophet speak...

It was my honor to introduce Sister Joan Chittister, OSB, to the participants at the National Benedictine Vocation Directors Conference. Not exactly a person who needs one - DUH! But, a few gracious words were required so I listened to my prioress who advised me to "keep it short."

Her topic, "Monasticism as Radical Christianity," was the brain child of the planning team. What Joan did with that topic, though, was completely her own. I know I took notes but it wasn't a lecture in the traditional sense. It was an experience.

There are some among us who are instruments of the Spirit - faithful people who welcome the Word in their very being. We called them "prophets" in the Scriptures. They are among us still, I think, because GOD never gives up on us - never fails to be faithful Love. Prophets are human - frail, fallible and sometimes frightened - but they say "yes" to their part in the building of the kingdom. Often, it gets them into trouble. [Remember Jonah? Daniel? Ezekiel?] Yet, they seem compelled to speak the Word they have heard in the stillness of prayer. This alone is reason enough to listen. The truth is often hard to hear, though. When a voice calls us to authenticity in the Gospel life, to integrity in the pursuit of justice, to mercy instead of righteous anger, we would rather cover our ears and sing a happy tune. But this is precisely why we need them.

Joan said many profound things that morning. She spoke to the particular challenges of our ministry and the way in which Benedictine spirituality feeds the deepest longings of our post-modern world. Here are just a few of the sentences that touched me deeply:

On work: "The work we do is not as important as why we do it."

On stewardship: "How can we no build green"

On community:

"We exist to be miracle workers for one another."

On Vocation Ministry:

"Numbers were not Benedict's criteria for success."

"Build a future worthy of our past."

I am still so amazed that Joan said "yes" to our invitation - busy as she is in the global conversation about GOD. May this same GOD bless and protect Sister Joan...and all the prophets to come.

Blessings and love to you all...

- Sister Vicki

New Wine...

Though I have been back in the Commonwealth since Tuesday night, the events of the last two weeks are still hovering in my head. When we experience something new it can seem like a dream – seem better than we’d hoped for. My weary body knows the work was real, but my soul is still doing lectio on the blessings of those days.

The time spent with the new vocation directors – seven Benedictines who are just beginning the ministry – was precious, indeed. I volunteered to work with the new directors because I wanted to share my own joys in the ministry – my confidence that GOD does, in fact, build the house (Psalm 127:1). It can seem an overwhelming job at times. There is certainly fear and trepidation at the beginning of any new work. But, it is easy for vocation directors to take too much on their shoulders – the burden of their community’s future. That future is up to GOD. We, who minister to those seeking, are charged with listening, affirming, guiding, testing the spirits…and helping candidates get where GOD wants them to be. Seen in this light vocation work is truly ministry.

When my workshop was over, I reminded these good monastics that they will do the job their way - not as it has been done in the past. They are "new wine" in "new skins" and in time we will taste the sweetness of their efforts. I will keep these seven in prayer this year…and trust that they will receive the grace required to “listen…with the ear of [their] hearts [RB Prol. 1].”

Next blog: Sister Joan Chittester, OSB, keynote speaker...

Blessings and love to you all...

- Sister Vicki

Too busy to blog...

I am sitting in the airport waiting for a flight that will bring me from MN to VA. I am beyond tired, but happy as I think on the events of the past week. Nearly 40 Benedictine vocation directors met at St. John's Abbey. I arrived early and remained a day late as I am part of the planning committee - the "worker bees" who coordinate the event over a two-year period. This was my first time helping with such a big project. In the company of my friends, Brother Paul-Vincent and Sister Mary Catherine, I learned the ropes fast! We three worked non-stop in between sessions and behind the scenes. I have much to tell you all about these days, but it will take a few blogs, I think. For now, some of the beauty...

Blessings and love to you all...

- Sister Vicki

No peace for some...

I’m on the second plane of the day en route from JFK to Minneapolis-St. Paul. The last flight was booked to overflowing. The airline rep. offered a $300 ticket to anyone willing to be “bumped”. I didn’t offer to stay as I am making a connection in MN. So, as we finally boarded there was an air of frustration – too many people, not enough seats. This grown-up version of “musical chairs,” does not bring out the best in people.

Once on board and seated, I witnessed a scene between two passengers. The woman was REALLY angry because her husband’s seat assignment was changed and the woman planning to sit in his seat was getting her wrath. The poor, unsuspecting passenger was, unfortunately, an employee of the airline. That was the “last straw.” It got worse before it got better. Her husband made his way forward and joined the fray. The airline employee was calm and respectful throughout. She immediately offered to change seats and, while that was what they wanted, they continued to spew and fester. It was an embarrassing scene for the young man seated with the irate couple – a son? I felt sorry for all of them – really, truly sorry.

How is it that we become so hard? So selfish and myopic? What is it about our culture that promotes “taking care of #1” regardless of others’ needs? Why is it that when we pay for something, we thing we are entitled to belittle and berate anyone associated with our disappointments?

Maybe, it has to do with poor self-esteem. When we know who we are before GOD – precious, unique and loved – we can see others in that same light. When we are unsure of our worth or gauge it by all the wrong measuring sticks, we interpret every frustration as a personal attack. I prayed for that angry couple as we took off. On the outside they would seem to “have it all” when, in fact, they are unaware of their poverty. If losing a seat can cause such distress, what will such persons do when real suffering enters their lives? How blessed we are that GOD never gives up on any one of us. The opportunities to grow in wisdom and compassion never end. Nothing is impossible for GOD – if we are willing to accept the gift of grace.

Blessings and love to you,
- Sister Vicki