Who do they say you are?

The Gospel of Luke
Chapter 9,18-24


Now it happened that as He was praying alone the disciples were with Him; and He asked them, "Who do the people say that I am?" And they answered, "John the Baptist; but others say Elijah; and others say, one of the old prophets has risen." And he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered, "The Christ of God." But He charged them and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, "The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
And He said to them all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for My sake, he will find it."


Ponderings:

• Does Jesus call Himself "The Son Man" to remind them of the promise God made to Adam to send a savior?
• When Jesus asks, "Who do you say that I am?" is He prompting them to consider who, once believing that Jesus is The Christ of God and follow...will make them....especially to the unbelieving world!

Jesus is the Christ of God and the Son of Man. As I prayerfully imagine myself in this scene I wonder if Jesus, Peter, and the others weren't praying together, for the first of many nights, in a garden. Could they be in the Garden of Gethsemane tonight?  It makes (beautiful) sense to me, that the first time Jesus prays with His Chosen Men as the revealed Christ could be in the very place that they would pray together for the last time as Jesus awaits His betrayal. Oh! And could this first confession of Peter; when he saw and proclaimed that Jesus will save and triumph, be in the same place that Adam confessed his fall and God saw Adam needed saving?


 It was from the soil of the Garden of Eden that God created His beloved man and breathed His life-giving love into His body. It makes sense to me that God would want to begin again where The Beginning began. Perhaps, Peter would boldly proclaim Jesus as The Christ in the same place Adam hid from God's beckoning.


Peter and the disciples know Jesus is the Christ of God and have been commanded not to share the divine knowledge they have been given. This revelation will change everything for Peter and the others. They have now entered into a new relationship with the Trinity.
I wonder if there wasn't a second, nonverbalized question asked by Jesus, "If You know and proclaim  that I am the Christ...who will people say YOU are?" I imagine Jesus gave them plenty of time to ponder the social consequences of being His friend and proclaiming that God the Father was ready to fulfill His ancient promise to those who would follow after Him.




To those who would answer the call the follow Him, he gave this prescription:


And He said to them all, "If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for My sake, he will find it."

Take This and Eat It

"Take and Eat; this is My Body", (Matthew 26:26)
"...whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." (John 6:51)

Genesis 3: 1 - 5 reads;

            Now the snake was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He asked the woman, "Did God really say, 'You shall not eat from any of the trees in the garden'?" The woman answered the snake; "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; it is only about the fruit of the tree there in the middle of the garden that God said, "You shall not eat it or even touch it, or else you will die.' But the snake said to the woman, "You certainly will not die! God knows well that when you eat of it you will be like the gods, who know good and evil." 

            11- 12 ".....(God asked Adam) Have you eaten from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat? The man replied, "The woman whom you put here with me -- she gave me the fruit from the tree, so I ate it"

I once noticed a parish priest, while praying the institution narrative (aka the "words of consecration"), in the Anamnesis (great prayer of remembrance) emphasize the THIS when speaking Jesus' instruction to,"Take this and eat it." This profound emphasis taught me that these words (and food they transubstantiate) of Truth and Life perpetually undo the lie that led Eve and Adam to death of body and soul.

Eve reasoned "that the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and the tree was desirable for gaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it." (Gen. 3:6). She did not believe trust that eating the forbidden fruit would kill her. She did not understand that her disobedience would darken her search for a way back to God, make her children heirs to confusion and bring death into the world.  

Do we believe with trust that the perpetual Holy Sacrifice and its fruit; the taken and consumed Eucharistic food; illuminates the Way, generates the Truth and brings the world back to Life?

Hide and Seek in the Garden (Re-post)

John 20: 14 - 16 .... she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew,^[a] “Rabbouni!” (which means Master). 


Above is the Biblical scene I meditate upon most while praying the first Glorious Mystery of the Rosary, The Resurrection. I favor this conversation between Mary Magdalene and our Risen Lord, because it illustrates how powerful the sound of one's name is when called by Jesus.

In the preceding verses we learn that M. Magdalene has already announced to Peter and John that the Body was missing. Not finding Jesus in the tomb, both Apostles return home to their hideouts. M. Magdalene, however, will not leave. She shall continue looking for Her Lord, seeking Him in the garden where she had left Him three days before.

M. Magdalene is distraught with the idea that someone could have carried Jesus' Body away and nothing will break her grief-filled preoccupation with finding her beloved Jesus. Jesus, Himself, compassionately approaches M. Magdalene and inquires why she is crying and for whom she is looking. Empathy & consolation is not what she seeks and therefore does not rest in her search to listen.

Though M. Magdalene addresses Jesus, she does not see Him for who He is...The Resurrection! She speaks with Jesus, yet does not hear His Voice. Once His humanity veiled His divinity from so many strangers. Now, His glory veils His humanity even from the closest of friends.
"Mary." 
Jesus names His creation! Suddenly, in that instant His creation knows Him! Only now, by the familiar call of her name is  Mary aware of Jesus. When Jesus pronounces, "Mary", the Word communicates the fullness of their relationship.  He is recognized and they are reunited! Only Jesus: Her Lord, could speak her name in a divine tone.....the sweet sound of God calling to attention and in His direction one of His own.

Jesus doesn't want to offer comfort, aid, and charity to His Mary Magdalene. His intention is to reveal Himself to one who seeks Him. Beginning here, here in a garden....in a garden, just where Adam played the first game of hide and seek with God...Jesus begins the " finding game" ANEW!


More on Adam, The New Gardener and the Garden of Eden another time........:)

John 15: 7 Abide in Me, and I in You.

Sacred Heart of Jesus
This is the picture that hung in my grandparents home, my parents and now mine. It was brought from Poland by my great-grandmother Margaret Pollick.

In prayer before the commencement of the Sunday Holy Sacrifice, through prayerful imagination I placed myself within the shelter of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the same moment, in the blink of God's eye, Jesus and I sat together in one heart. Awed, I realized we were not resting in His heart, but mine.  By stepping into the abode of Jesus' love, He entered my heart. And there was only room for two in the heart of this child. Servant and Master filled it completely.
I was reminded of that yesterday afternoon, my attention was pulled to the sky where I noticed the a cloud formation of a big heart and within it was a smaller heart. The small represented my broken, flawed, human heart longing to love with abandonment and beyound myself.
By seeking the divine protection of holy Trust in Jesus' teaching providence, I discover  my heart is found both hidden and revealed.
With an unspoken prayer to love generously all the souls surrounding me; my meditation drew a picture of the sword piecing His heart through into my own. By abiding in Him, both our  hearts are emptied down and out to the low world; a world hoping to be refreshed by Love. 

See my illustration below. (I doubt I'll ever be this childlike again. I am publishing with out second thoughts for the 1st time.)

Be content with your vocation and the details within. God needs you to be you!!!

"What was the first rule of our dear Savior's life? You know it was to do His Father's will. Well, then, the first end I propose in our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly to do it in the manner He wills; and thirdly, to do it because it is His will. I know what is His will by those who direct me; whatever they bid me do, if it is ever so small in itself, is the will of God for me. Then, do it in the manner He wills it." - Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

Our family resumed studies yesterday on the Feast of Elizabeth Ann Seton. She is the patron of Catholic Education which begins and ends in the home...Ecclesia Domestica! I am always grateful that this beautiful disciple of Christ has a feast day just after our Christmas break. She is a great reminder of the importance of the smallest duty required by my vocation. Her zeal feeds my own and helps motivates me to begin again the work of God through my everyday living.

Mother Seton, who served God first as a wife gifted with children and then, after becoming a widow, began her vocation as a consecrated religious. Her life as a religious would included the founding of the first Catholic Schools in America. Her example encourages me to preserver in my own vocation to provide my children with a Catholic (and classical) home-education.   Learn more about St. Elizabeth Ann Seton here:http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2016-01-04#sthash.knnl695H.dpuf

Today my youngest son began learning Sarah Orne Jewett's poem "Discontent".  This poem is the inspiration for the title of my blog. Happy blooming!

Discontent

Down in a field, one day in June,
The flowers all bloomed together,
Save one who tried to hide herself,
And drooped, that pleasant weather.

A robin who had flown too high
And felt a little lazy
Was resting near this buttercup
Who wished she were a daisy.

The daisies grow so trig and tall,-
She always had a passion
For wearing frills around her neck
In just the daisies' fashion.

And buttercups must always be
The same old tiresome color-
While daisies dress in gold and white,
Although their gold is duller.

'Dear robin,' said this sad young flower,
'Perhaps you'd not mind trying
To find a nice white frill for me
Some day when you are flying.'

'You silly thing!' the robin said,
'I think you must be crazy.
I'd rather be my honest self
Than any made-up daisy.

'You're nicer in your own bright gown,-
The little children love you.
Be the best buttercup you can,
And think no flower above you.

'Though swallows leave me out of sight,
We'd better keep our places;
Perhaps the world would all go wrong
With one too many daisies.

'Look bravely up into the sky
And be content with knowing
That God wished for a buttercup
Just here, where you are growing.'

Sarah Orne Jewett

Make Haste to Find Community!

The Holy Gospel According to Saint Luke (1, 35-45)

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to the city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! and why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the voice of  your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.

Reflection: We learn from the second Joyful Mystery the importance of having a Catholic Community. Mary was most faithful and trusting, accompanied by angels, filled with the Holy Spirit and Full of Grace...and yet, God knew She needed the support of a loving and believing friend.

Mary was sent to Her cousin Elizabeth, but their bond would be much more than familial. Elizabeth's own baby was, too, miraculously conceived and also pre-announced by the Angel Gabriel. Their experiences were so similar and their missions were so closely related that all Mary had to do was say, "Hello," and Elizabeth instantly knew and understood why Mary was there. No explanations needed.

Prayer: Mother Mary,  be a friend to me and make haste to help me in the daily duties of my vocation. I ask for all the graces needed to magnify the eternal goodness of the Lord with my life. Please ask God to bless me with true and holy friendships that will strengthen my discipleship and add zeal to my mission to please God.

Suggestion for meditation: Imagine overhearing Elizabeth and Mary pondering what the future holds for their boys. In your heart, join in the conversation and share with St. Elizabeth and our Blessed Mother a fear or hope you have for your own future or that of someone you love.

My soul magnifies the Lord

And my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;

because He has regarded the lowliness

of His handmaid;

for behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;

because He who is mighty had done

great things for me,

and holy is His name;

And His mercy is from generation to generation

on those who fear Him.

He has shown might with His arm,

He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He had put down the mighty from their thrones,

and has exalted the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich He has sent away empty.

He has given help to Israel, his servant,

mindful of His mercy

Even as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham

and to His posterity forever.

Be Not Afraid to choose Obedience!

During the Liturgical season of Advent, the Catholic faithful are encouraged to meditate on the Joyful Mysteries during their daily Rosary. This week I would like to offer my audience a personal reflection, prayer and a suggestion for meditation on the Gospel scene of Luke 1: 26 -37: "The Annunciation". This is the first Joyful Mystery.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a Virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the House of David; and the Virgin's name was Mary. And he came to Her and said, Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with you. But She was greatly troubled at this saying and considered in Her mind what kind of greeting this might be. And the angle said to Her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God and behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His Name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of his father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom there will be no end." And Mary said to the angel, "How can this be since I have no husband?" And the angel said to Her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and overshadow you; therefor the child to be born will be called holy." And behold your kinswoman Elizabeth is her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible."

Reflection: The first Joyful Mystery teaches us to imitate Mary in prompt obedience to the plan of God. Tradition tells us that when the Angel Gabriel appeared, Mary was praying with Scriptures for the Messiah to come. Gabriel must been magnificent in both stature and persona! Was it his grandeur that startled Her? OR....was She shaken because She never, ever expected God to use Her to answer this prayer of Her people? We read that Mary was greatly troubled at first and had some (maybe a lot), of questions. Yet, with a firm belief that all things are possible with God, obedience was given immediately. Mary did not hesitate to say, "Yes!".
Prayer: Mother Mary, as we pray this decade, please ask God to fill us with His Grace, to be generous with His gift of courage so that we may be obedient to His Voice. May we always  answer whole-heartily, "Yes!" to whatever God is calling us to do.
Suggestion for meditation:  Place yourself in the Bible scene as an eye witness to "The Annunciation". When, in your imagination, you witness Mary say, "Be it done to me according to your word," ask the Angel Gabriel to give our Heavenly Father your permission to be used as He wills.