Living now what is to come...

The second reading today caught my heart – my imagination. St. Paul is writing to the people of Corinth but his passion around the Second Coming feels very specific to our monastic life.

I tell you, brothers and sisters, the time is running out.
From now on, let those having wives act as not having them,
those weeping as not weeping,
those rejoicing as not rejoicing,
those buying as not owning,
those using the world as not using it fully.
For the world in its present form is passing away.

We who follow the Rule of Benedict do believe that the world is “passing away.” God’s reign, God’s kingdom is breaking through. Because we want to live ready for his coming, we don't take a marriage partner. We embrace celibate loving – love that is for all. Celibacy frees us to focus on the “bigger picture” of salvation and point to the love that is more than any human expression in time. Because we believe that Christ comes now - in each day, in each moment, in each breath – we practice eternal peace. We accept what is – the joy, the pain, the beauty, wonder and mystery of the human heart – and we trust that it all belongs in our personal or collective story. Because our real treasure is the love of Christ, we hold everything here in common. No thing must preoccupy us – tempt us from the singular joy of believing we are precious.

We love the world in all its fractured, terrible beauty but we recognize that it is not our true home. We have set our sights on Zion – the New Jerusalem – the beauty of God’s face. Until we get there, we keep on – together. We gather to pray, to eat, and to share the everyday sweetness of life lived in the Presence. We live aware of grace - how God’s love shapes us gently but firmly into something more wonderful than the sum of our parts. We live with urgency – Christ is here among us. We can let the world, as we have each known it, "pass away." No longer defined by what we did there, we delight in what we are becoming here – the Body of Christ. Hands, hearts, eyes of love for the world – we pray to be a sign that God is near, God cares, God comes and God is making all things new.

Blessing and love to you all...

- Sister Vicki

Your Kingdom coming...

There are moments here when the reign of God seems to burst in – shake us from the stupor of “to do” lists, worry and dis-ease and remind us that the Kingdom is, in fact, among us. Those moments are priceless. They make life really real – even for just a few moments. We had such an in-breaking here on Sunday afternoon when a gentle woman went from “stranger” to “sister”. I felt it. I saw it in the faces of my sisters gathered in our circle. I heard it in the joyful voices parting in harmony.

As I sat next to our newest member, I had the sense that this great step in her faith journey was allowing something to be perceived in ours – a taste of resurrection, a dawning of some new grace. Perhaps, as one sister said, days like this remind us all of why we came to the monastery and why we remain. I believe that to be true because days like this one confront us with the reality of God’s love for us. It’s literally right in our faces as we open the door to welcome the seeker into our midst. Maybe, it is this love – unending, enveloping and certain – that we feel when we gain a new sister. The risen Christ becomes especially tangible in the welcome of a novice - incarnate. In this presence there is deep is joy, lasting peace. This presence is the love that flows between us and among us – especially in the unbridled hope that wraps the gift of a new vocation. I felt it – felt something stirring in our hearts – what Benedict calls, “the inexpressible delight of love (RB Prologue, 49).” This is a taste of heaven here – our glimpse of what waits for us eternally - this same joy, this mysterious peace. Yes, the reign of God is begun among us. It is here – now – in the threshold places, in the beginning and end of things, in the love and the loss felt with equal measure. It is breaking through all that distracts us from loving or intends to be the true measure of our usefulness. Listen…learn…love. It is really that simple. Dear sister, child of God, welcome to your life with us in Christ.

[Read more about Sister Mary Frances at http://www.osbva.org/.]

Blessings and love to you all...

- Sister Vicki

Now, Lord...

Old Simeon made me laugh this morning. The Feast of the Holy Family tells the story of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. There, Simeon and Anna see what sages have long foretold – the Christ of God. It is a moment of recognition, joy and surrender. Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel. Maybe, it’s the translation [NABRE] but it sounds a bit bossy to me. Simeon reminds me of myself. “Now, Lord, I’m ready to ______blank______.” “Now, Lord, could you _____blank____?” What makes Simeon so lovable is his utter conviction that his life had a purpose. God gently revealed a truth to him – as only God can do. Simeon knew that he would see the messiah. So, when the moment came he believed his last breath would be imminent. The narrative never tells us if the faithful old man goes “in peace.” It’s not really important, is it? Simeon is so close to God that he knows salvation is coming. He knows it like I know my birthday or the color of my mother’s eyes. Simeon understands that this knowledge is not for him but for people of faith who have waited centuries for Love to come and visit us. Everything we know about God’s love is meant to be shared. And, like old Simeon, our lives have purpose in the coming of the kingdom. If salvation history could be views as a jig-saw puzzle, most of us would be blue sky or indiscriminate border pieces. Even if we are not the beautiful pieces that make up the tableau – the Mary or the Joseph – we have a role to play in the completion of God’s plan. Each Christian life fits in there somewhere. Each human being brought to the waters of baptism carries a message for the world – a message that only we can deliver in our choices, our loving, where we give our time and energy. Like Simeon we know that Christ is coming. At our last breath – when he comes for us – we will know Simeon’s deep joy.

Blessings and love to you all…
- Sister Vicki

A poem...

Christmas
It’s a season not a day.

From the first star
to Jordan’s bank
a message:

Peace.
Justice.
Love.

Be at peace…
because God so loved the world.

Do justice…
because all flesh is holy.

Love…
because nothing else matters.

T-minus 8 hours!

We celebrate Midnight Mass - at midnight. Fewer and fewer parishes do. I love it. I love the absolute darkness, the stars shining bright and the beautiful candles that line the driveway! We are nearly ready. We've been decorating, cleaning and polishing for three days. If it weren't for some very good friends, we'd be lost. The scrambling is all part of the excitement that's building in our house. The change from purple and pink to greens, red ribbons and a host of angels takes energy and imagination. Praise God, we've got a lot of both! At 5:00 PM we will pray EPI of the Nativity, then bless our tree and exchange gifts. [Each sister has one present under the tree!] Then, as darkness falls, we prepare our hearts for the midnight liturgy. Know that all of our friends, oblates and benefactors will be remembered this night and throughout the Christmas season.

Blessings and love to you all...

- Sister Vicki

Believe...

I love the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. I saw it this past November in its entirety for the first time in over 10 years. [I am usually in the monastery kitchen assisting with the meal preparations.] I was struck by several things: ten years in a monastery changes one’s ability to identify cartoon floats; the performers still lip-sync but better than they used to; the appearance of Santa at the end of the parade still signals the beginning of wish lists, letters to the North Pole and VERY good behavior! Yet, as all the color and sound took center stage on 33rd Street, my eyes were drawn to a single word ablaze on Mr. Macy’s building: believe. A little research soon yielded a deeper story. Macy’s “Believe” Campaign raises funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation – the non-profit that makes dreams come true for seriously ill children. How beautiful! While "corporate America" is under fire for selfishness and greed, it is a sign of a hope that does not disappoint. Truly, to whom much has been given, much will be expected. When companies use their resources to lighten the burden of suffering in our world, they must be praised.

Today is December 22nd. The "O Antiphons" - the liturgical countdown from the 17th to the Eve - are nearly finished. We are just three days from the Feast of the Nativity. It is a feast of faith that the promise fulfilled two thousand years ago in Bethlehem, is a sign of hope yet unfulfilled. Christ is coming. He is coming back for all of us and he will take us into the heart of God. As we wrap pretty packages and feel our hearts expand through these holy days, may we all believe.

Believe...
…that something new will be born in us this Christmas
…that even death cannot take spouses, friends, dear children from our hearts
…that this feast is a promise of a greater gift – a moment beyond understanding, but accessible now in faith

Believe...
…that the Word still becomes flesh in us
...that the love we feel at Christmas is but a fraction of the love that awaits us

Blessings and love to you and a Merry Christmas!
- Sister Vicki

Incredible but true...

In today’s gospel the followers of Jesus are witness to a cure. A paralytic is brought before him on a mat. The obvious faith of those involved moves Jesus. He forgives the man’s sins by his word which scandalizes the rabbinic authorities. His response is an outright miracle. "I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home." Those who witness this mysterious healing are stunned by what they have beheld. “We have seen incredible things this day."

I did a dumb thing yesterday afternoon. [Trust me, this will connect.] I took a cell phone picture while I was driving. The sunset over the city of Richmond was so beautiful, I wanted to capture it. It was a winter/Advent sunset – bright pink, dusty blue and purple. It was truly incredible. I was, in my own defense, off the Interstate and on a quiet back road not far from our convent - still, not something I want to make a habit of doing. I’m certain incredible sunsets happen all the time and I just miss them. Or I see them, without really seeing. When my heart is attuned to beauty I know it is God’s Word – a whisper of Presence and faithful love. The funny thing is that I don’t know how to get a photo from the phone to the computer. But, I can send a picture to a friend. Sometimes it’s a photo of Lily – one of our monastery dogs. She just delights me to no end! Once, I sent a picture of a car we were considering to the prioress so she could say “yes” or “no”. Yesterday’s urge was the very human desire to share something beautiful with another human being. When we are moved by something, we want to give it away. So, last evening, I sent a little text message to a friend before I went to sleep – with the picture. Of course, I am not equating a sunset with a miraculous healing. I am suggesting that God is always the source of wonders – large and small – in our lives. God heals us with beauty, comforts us with the rhythmic changing of the season and loves us through our friends, families and, in some lives, a monastic community. We have seen incredible things – individually and communally – and it is our baptismal responsibility to share the Good News in whatever form it comes to us. Like those first disciples we must tell the story of God’s love for the world – a Love that became flesh for our blessing. Yes, it is incredible - incredible but true. It is our faith.

Blessings and love to you all…
- Sister Vicki