Feast of Mary, the Holy Mother of God and New Year’s Day

January 1st, 2012

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Numbers 6:22-27         Galatians 4:4-7          Luke 2:16-21

All three of these readings have a message for us. The first one is a Hebrew Blessing from the Old Testament. It is my wish for each of us this New Year.

The Lord bless you and keep you!
The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!

In the reading from Galatians we hear that God sent the Spirit of the Son into our hearts, so that we can cry out to God: Abba, Father! Abba really means Daddy… Do we turn to God the way a child can turn to his/her Daddy knowing how beloved we are, how cherished we are by this Father-God? It’s worth pondering because we might realize just how constant God’s care, love and guidance are at all times, in good times and in hard times.

The Gospel reminds us of the part of the Christmas story where the shepherds, after hearing the angels sing and getting the message about the newborn Babe, come to the stable and find the baby in the manger. They kneel in amazement… The Scripture says that Mary kept all these things in her heart and pondered them. What an example to us of what it means to pray, to reflect and to savor the mysteries of God and the mysteries of life! Sometimes we rush through life and take no time at all to reflect and to ponder. We have here an invitation to do so, to live life mindfully, with attention and meaning…

Mary is a great woman because she believed, she trusted, she pondered and reflected. She is truly the Mother of Jesus and hence the Mother of God. We, however, certainly cannot be that. But we can try to imitate her faith, her trust and her ability to reflect and be mindful. We can do that here in our health care work and in our private lives. Our faith and trust will be sensed by our patients, residents, colleagues and loved ones whenever we are with them. We will be more positive and hopeful people. If we ponder and reflect and live with mindfulness, we may be less likely to make mistakes or say something rude or hurtful.

These attitudes could be great New Year’s resolutions… Something to ponder..?
Happy New Year…

Sr. Suzanne Beaudoin, SSCh
Director of Pastoral Care

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Christmas 2011 — The Nativity of the Lord

December 22nd, 2011

Sunday, December 25, 2011          

Isaiah 9:1-6     Titus 2:11-14      Luke 2:1-14 

Merry Christmas everybody! 

Today we celebrate the coming of God as a human being.  God became one of us in a planned, deliberate way.  God chose the time and place of His birth and identified with the poor and the “have-nots.”  As I was thinking about the first Christmas, it struck me that God also chose His mother.  It is said that at the time of her pregnancy Mary was young, an early- to mid-teenager.  God chose a teenager to be His mother!  God’s ways are surely not our own!  If I were to choose my mother, wouldn’t I choose a more mature woman who had experience with motherhood?  Do we think that God “took a chance on a teenager?”  When we think like that we short change teens.  In reality, as awkward as they can be, teenagers are basically very resilient, creative, and generous.  They are full of pep and energy and to them anything seems possible.  Like the old saying: “Everything is possible.  The impossible may take a little longer!”

In Mary’s first encounter with God’s messenger (angel), who announced to her that she would have a baby, she reacted like a typical teenager.  “How can this be since I have had no relations with my fiancé?”  The angel continued: “The Holy Spirit will overshadow you and you will conceive a son.”  After thinking about it Mary said: “Whatever!  Let it be done as you said!”  Think about it.  Only a teenager would be able to accept this “far out” scenario as possible.  The gospel writings go on to say that Mary “kept this in her heart.”  This is another teen trait.  Did you ever ask your teenager: “How was school today?”  And you received a one-word response: “Fine.”  Getting information from a teenager is like digging for gold. If you get any, it is always a small amount at a time.  For Mary, no matter what others may say about her, she has a great secret inside her and is secure in who she is.  Any new mother’s dream is that her baby will be special.  And Mary kept all this in her heart!

Then Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem to register for the Roman Census.  At the time of this trip, Mary was due.  Then came the moment of birthing.  There was no place at the inn.  Jesus was probably born in a cave where animals were kept.  Mary accepted help from local midwives and they used an animal feeding trough with fresh hay as a crib for the newborn.  (It’s easy to imagine that Mary would think that using a trough for a crib was a great idea.)  The baby is born healthy and the parents and the helpers are happy and all smiles.  Then a bunch of shepherds came in to see the newborn and to visit with the new parents.  Those shepherds must have felt really welcomed by Mary who was probably their age. The shepherds probably didn’t have gifts but they had smiles and energy.  And Mary must have just loved showing off her newborn baby boy!

Then the Gospel narratives tell us that the young family had to get out of the country because they were in danger.  So they fled to Egypt to be safe, as long as her baby was thriving and safe.  Mary took all this in stride.  Joseph must have appreciated the fact that his young wife was able to adapt to a new country, making new friends out of strangers and showing off her baby as mothers do.

I love working with teenagers, probably because part of me never grew up and probably because I’m prejudiced in their favor.  I believe in their overall strength and sense of adventure.  I believe in their basic goodwill.  And when I get to peek under their surface defenses, I usually find goodness and honesty … for sure, a not very experienced goodness, but goodness in the “raw” so to speak.  And that is very exciting.  It allows me to see “previews of coming attractions.”

In our hospital, a set of chimes rings over the intercom system whenever a baby is born.  The chimes ring year round.  Every new life is acknowledged and celebrated and eagerly received.  We do our best to recognize new life around us.  It serves to remind us of the life inside us that we already have and that probably needs to be “renewed.”

When we think about the “teenage phase” of life, we should think that it is a great way to prepare for adult life.  It should not surprise us.  God planned it this way.

Kenn Rancourt
Chaplain  

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Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 16th, 2011

Sunday, December 18, 2011

In the Gospel reading for this fourth Sunday of Advent Luke offers us a beautiful image of the angel appearing to Mary to announce that she has “found favor with God” and that she is going to bear a son that she will name Jesus.  It is an amazing encounter that changes human history and we proclaim it as the good news of the Annunciation.  Initially it wasn’t very good news for this young Jewish girl-being pregnant at this point in her life most likely would have meant the loss of her fiancé, the loss of her reputation and the loss of her future security.  Yet as Richard Rohr notes, Mary is a woman of extraordinary faith. Even though she does not fully understand what God is asking of her, she does not try to get out of it and protest that she is not worthy; she believes with all her heart that it can and will be done, and she acts accordingly.

What does she do? She does what most of us do when we receive earth-shattering news: seek support from our community, from someone who understands.  In this case Mary seeks out Elizabeth, a woman who is also pregnant through miraculous circumstances.  It is there with her kinswoman that the news that troubles Mary can become good news.  (I love this perspective from Benedictine sister Joan Chittister: “Here, two women look to one another for comfort and confirmation.  They don’t go to the synagogue to try to persuade the priests of the legitimacy of their call.  They don’t go to the government for protection.  They do not go even to the men to whom they are personally espoused to explain or cajole or plead.  They simply do what they must do together and leave it to the rest of us to make our own decision, just as they did.” Mary, Wellspring of Peace: A Contemporary Novena.)

In community Mary finds strength to proclaim her amazing prayer, the Magnificat.

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.
My spirit rejoices in God my Savior
For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.”

In community we can find strength to wait out difficult circumstances, realize hopes and even embrace apparent paradoxes.  Somehow we have turned faith into having an answer for everything.  Mary does not have answers-she “held all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:19, 51) until meaning was revealed.  This is good news for us and for our patients, residents and families who are looking for answers, sometimes in desperation.  As health care professionals committed to healing, we won’t always have all the answers but we are called to wait (to be present to them in their suffering) and to offer comfort so that love can be made visible and hope can be made genuine.

Elizabeth Keene
Mission Integration

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Sunday, December 11, 2011

December 9th, 2011

Isaiah 61:1-2A, 10-11      St. Paul to the Thessalonians 5:16-24      Luke 1: 39-47

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, Rejoice.  Indeed the Lord is near! 

Yes, the Lord is near!  According to our measure of time, just two weeks away.  In fourteen short days we will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ the son of God, who took human form (Yeshua ben Yoseph ) and dwelt with Mary and Joseph, at first in a stable meant for animals, then in a tiny town where he grew in wisdom and grace. So like us in so many ways.

Isaiah 61: 1-2A,10-11~ is a beautiful reminder of Calling.  The calling of Jesus by Go, to the ministry of healing; especially those marginalized children of God.  It is a reminder of our own calling to minister, each in our own way, to the sick of body, mind and heart.  Therefore, we can gratefully say with Jesus:  

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me;  God has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken hearted and …release to the prisoners …and a day of vindication by our God….        

1Thessalonians 5: 16-24:  In the second reading; St. Paul writes to the Thessalonians, an early group of followers of the teachings of Christ made up of Ethnic Jews and pagans.  They suffered much persecution and Paul gave them support.   Paul reminds them:  “Rejoice! Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks.  Do not quench the Spirit.  (Neither in yourself nor in another.)  Do not despise prophetic utterances. ( Prophecy is a gift from the Spirit). Rather, test everything; retain what is good.  Refrain from every kind of evil…. The one who calls you is faithful and will accomplish your desire.”

Speaking of Prophets, the Gospel reading will introduce you John the Baptist, a cousin of Jesus who was called by God to be the preparer or the “lamplighter” lighting the way for Christ’s coming.  John was a man for all seasons and times.  He would have fit very nicely into the hippie culture of the 60’s.  Today he might be in downtown Lewiston among the homeless.  God plays no favorites. Each one of us is called to God’s purpose.  Each one of us is called to be a voice crying out in the desert “Make straight the way of the Lord!” 

Wishing you a dream to bless, a star to guide, and peace and harmony inside!

Elizabeth Lowe
Chaplain.

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Second Sunday of Advent

December 3rd, 2011

Sunday, December 3, 2011

Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11      2Peter 3:8-14       Mark 1:1-8

We are into the second week of Advent and in this week’s Scripture we meet two Advent people and we hear about several advent themes: the Prophet Isaiah from the Old Testament with his message of hope and John the Baptist in the New Testament with the message of repentance. In the second reading Peter’s theme is readiness.

How does all this pertain to real life, to us who work in healthcare, to us who are preparing to celebrate Christmas? Because we work in healthcare we see much suffering and anxiety. Because we have private lives as well, we know about difficulties in families, in relationships, in making ends meet financially and otherwise. We all need Isaiah’s message of hope, reminding us of God’s words of comfort to God’s people and of his words “Fear not.” Hope is in our heart as we await the fulfillment of all God’s promises of mercy, justice, peace and his constant presence with each one of us. It is a message to be shared with our patients, our co-workers and our families. Our hope is in our Savior, Jesus Christ, who has come and given us Good News and whose birth we will soon commemorate.

John the Baptist may seem a bit weird to us, living in the desert, dressed in camel hair, eating locust and wild honey. His call from God, however, was genuine. It was to prepare the way for the Messiah, to invite people to conversion, to a change of heart, so they would be ready to hear the words of Jesus. His was a Baptism of Penance, while the Christian Baptism would be a Baptism of the Spirit. Soon it will be Christmas. Even if some people are not regular churchgoers, they may go to church with their families at Christmas. It is an occasion for conversion, for turning away from sin, from apathy, from selfishness, from resentment and grudges, in order to celebrate Christmas with a peaceful and happy heart. So John’s call to conversion and to a change of heart is quite relevant at this time of year for every one of us.

The topic of readiness in Peter’s reading is meant to be ready especially for God’s calling us to himself at the moment of our death. Will we be ready to meet God face to face? It could also have to do with being internally ready to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas, the birthday of the Savior, and not the commercial aspects of decorating, gift giving and partying. To be ready in that internal way would take some silence and some reflection. As to being ready for the decorating and gift-giving side of Christmas, the key word might be simplicity. “Little can be more” if it is beautiful and/or meaningful. In décor, beauty is in elegance and simplicity. In gift giving, hand made items, the gift of one’s own time or carefully selected items make for meaningful gifts, not their monetary cost. So the question is how are we preparing for this Christmas? Will we be ready internally and externally?

During this second week of Advent, may we prepare our hearts with hope and with conversion to be better human beings with our patients, residents, colleagues and families. My wish for each of us is also constant readiness to meet our God, internal readiness to celebrate the “reason for the season” and readiness for the external celebration by aiming for simplicity and beauty.

Sr. Suzanne Beaudoin, SSCh
Director of Pastoral Care

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Feast of Christ the King

November 16th, 2011

Sunday, Novmber 20, 2011

Ezekiel 34: 11-12, 15-17     1 Corinthians 15: 20-26, 28     Matthew 25: 31-46

Everyone who is a follower of Jesus Christ has his or her own image of who He is for them. For myself, I see Jesus as someone who walked in our humanity and showed us how to live the Christian life. He walked in our shoes for 33 years. He grew up poor; his race was hated; he worked alongside his father, Joseph, as a carpenter. He sometimes caused his parents to be anxious. He associated with the poorest of the poor in every aspect. He lived in very difficult times and circumstances. He was a very real person with real feelings. He loved, mourned, rejoiced, laughed, and even got angry. As He died on a cross with the criminals, he expressed the feeling of abandonment. Yet in the end, he trusted God the Father.

The other image of Jesus is one of an exalted king, one who rose from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father. In the gospel for this week, we are given a view of Christ as King. “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him.” While this image of Jesus may provide meaning for some, I see his kingship like no other. In God’s kingdom, real power is about letting go and real kingship is about serving others. Jesus has always led by example. He never asks more of us than he would ask from himself. As a king, he served humbly. For me, one of the best images of Jesus providing that example was at the Last Supper when he got down on his knees and washed the feet of his apostles. We must not forget his supreme sacrifice for us. He laid down his life for us, his friends. A royal sacrifice.

As a follower of Jesus, I not only embrace his humanity, but I also embrace his kingship. As his follower, am I prepared to go the distance? Am I ready to stand up for what I believe? Am I ready to serve others not for my own glory but for the glory of God? How do we follow in the footsteps of Jesus, at D’Youville or St. Mary’s? How do we welcome the stranger in our midst? Feed the hungry? How do we live out our mission? If we live simply, humbly, courageously, we will not only come to know the humanity of Jesus, but also his royal priesthood.

Dan Doyon
Pastoral Care

 

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Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 10th, 2011

Sunday, November 13, 2011 

Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31        I Thessalonians 5:1-6        Matthew 25:14-30

When we hear the word “talent,” we most often think of it in terms of intellectual, artistic, or athletic ability. We speak of a “talented person” as being quite gifted, with many creative skills and a high “I.Q.” Talent searches are conducted to find just such capable people. It may be somewhat surprising, therefore, to realize that a “talent” in its original use, was a Roman coin.

Our present meaning of the word is then an analogy, drawn from Christ’s illustration in today’s Gospel Reading. So, we have generally understood this story in terms of a person’s intelligence, special aptitudes, and other personality factors. In this view, the interpretation we give the “Parable of the Talents,” is that the more gifted we are, the more we must achieve with these gifts whenever we hear this familiar story.

In sports we know how self-defeating it can be for a team or any individual player, to be too anxious about losing. In a similar way, as a result of industrial and highway studies, the term “accident proneness” was devised. It characterizes the person who, too worried about being involved in accidents, tends to have them. Similarly, athletes who are too cautious often lose in the last minutes, when with a little courage and daring, they might have won.

It is this self-defeating element of anxiety that Christ is also emphasizing today. Notice how the man with one talent projects his fear and anxiety—making the one in charge seem to him to be a tyrant. Setting such conditions up in his mind, then, in a way that the others did not, he scares himself into playing it “completely safe.” His distorted version of the situation was that he would please the master most, and do his best job, by taking no chances. As we know, this is the exact opposite of what the project was about.

The German word, “eng,” meaning narrow, catches the first sound of the “anxiety.” It suggests, therefore, that when we are trapped by an anxious state, we are, by our narrowed view, in danger of putting ourselves into a self-defeating system. This anxiety seems to be in all of us at a very deep level. It can even affect the attitude of a whole nation. This is why President Franklin Roosevelt will never be forgotten for his challenging words, during the dark days of the depression, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”

This is then, one of the additional points in “The Parable of the Talents.” Faith is a leap, in the analogy of a trapeze act, and not clinging safely to the bar. Christ assures us here, that one of the major purposes of our lives is to invest in ourselves, and in others. We can be confident in what we are, and be certain of God’s strength and support in the midst of the risks we must take. “Do not be afraid,” was one of Jesus’ most common greeting. Loving us as he does, he greets us, too, with the same consoling reassurance.

Reflection Questions:

What talents has God entrusted to me?

My daily living and working is concerned about increasing these talents whenever I_____________ _______________________________________.

As I consider my God-given talents and my responsibilities to God and others, what causes me to live sometimes in “fear” or to be lazy?

What kind of God entrusts “his servants” with the kind of wealth depicted in the Gospel?

Fr. Joseph Manship 

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32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

November 4th, 2011

Sunday, November 6, 2011

A Call to Consciousness

The readings for this coming Sunday’s Sabbath Day speak clearly to us of a caring God who through God’s messengers, Paul, Matthew and Jesus, caution us all to pay attention; to be conscious.  The Psalmist in song 63: 2-8, calls to God in our name: “Let my prayer come before you, Lord; listen and answer me.” {Be conscious of me.} What a gift! We can speak up to God as we would a parent or friend.

We move in our reflection to the first reading, a passage from the Book of Wisdom 6: 12-16. “…and whoever for her sake, {Wisdom’s} keeps vigil, shall quickly be free from care.” Approaching the next reading, we meet Paul, a dedicated and conscious follower for Jesus, writing a letter to a group of Christians and assuring them. I take leave to paraphrase this passage in order to emphasize the concern and consciousness these followers had learned from Jesus, the greatest Teacher of all. “We do not want you to be unaware brothers and sisters about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. If we believe that Jesus died and rose, then God will through Jesus bring home all who have fallen asleep.” While pondering this reminder from Paul, we might ask, “Who is this We?” My belief is that the “We” consists of the community of inclusive believers who want all to know Christ and the call to eternal life that he came here to share. God the father is part of the “We”. God created us, we are God’s children and God wants us all home. Jesus is the “We” who was born, lived, taught, ministered and died to make us conscious of the path home.

We follow along this path in our reflection to the Gospel of Matthew 25: 1-13. This story is another call to consciousness. It tells of ten bridesmaids who are asked to await the arrival of the groom. However, it is late and they are tired. It is also the age before the invention of flashlights. It was necessary to keep oil rags wrapped around torches. Five of these women were conscious of that and five were not. As evening darkened, the five who did not prepare were heard to ask of those who did for assistance. The five who had oil refused to help. According to the story, those five were allowed into the feast {heaven}, the others were shut out. This is harsh. According to scholars of the New Testament, this is not a typical Jesus approach. Jesus is not divisive. Are we not accustomed to Jesus admonishing those who will not share? However, we know from real life experience that there are certain things one cannot obtain at the last minute.

In our ministries here at St. Mary’s/d’Youville Pavilion, we are not averse to sharing. It has never been my experience to be refused help or to be shut out for being less prepared. The times I have been “unconscious” have been blessed learning opportunities.

“Each person has influence on the people they contact. We can reach other people who are still in fear and anger, distraction and addiction; we can reach those people through a contagion. Consciousness is Contagious! Catch It!

Blessings to You,

Elizabeth Lowe
Chaplain

 

 

 

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31st Sunday of Ordinary Time

October 27th, 2011

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Malachi 1:14-2;2, 8-10       1 Thes. 2:7-9, 13       Matt. 23:1-12

The reading from the Prophet Malachi was certainly chosen to go along with the Gospel reading today. It is not very inspiring but it is a clear message to the religious leaders of the time. They had been remiss in their duties as religious leaders and they had violated the Covenant with God and with the people. The Prophet calls them “contemptible and base.” No mincing of words here!

On the other hand, in the second reading, Paul says how he has treated the people with gentleness and affection, sharing himself and the Gospel of Jesus with them. He has worked hard and not been a burden to them. He thanks God for their receiving the Word of God with such great faith. This passage reminds me that loving and gentle ways most often produce kindness and goodness and a return of love from others. “What goes around comes around” in positive ways as well as it does when negativity is sown.

This passage from Matthew’s Gospel can be a difficult one so I did a bit of research in William Barclay’s commentary. Jesus is not commending the Scribes and Pharisees for all their rules and regulations that burden the people. He is saying that in so far as they are teaching the great principles of the Law that came to us through Moses, they must be obeyed. The Ten Commandments are about reverence for God and respect for our others, their life, possessions, and good name. But as far as the hundreds and thousands of other miniscule rules and regulations imposed by the religious leaders of Israel, these are an intolerable burden for the people. The commentator says that “whenever religion becomes a depressing affair of burdens and prohibitions, it ceases to be true religion.” Interesting statement…

The second part of this reading has to do with being ostentatious, being “show offs.” Jesus says the Scribes and Pharisees are doing that by the way they dress, their taking the best seats and places, and demanding titles. Let this be a reminder to us. Let us do the right and the good because it is the right and the good, not to be seen, not to be appreciated or commended. Let us take the last places and be humble and more concerned with others than with ourselves.

Let us remember that Jesus is our teacher and a reflection of our heavenly Father who loves us tenderly. In our work, service, and healing ministry here in St. Mary’s Health System, we are invited to do the best we can, to give distinguished service for the good and well being of the people we serve. Let us do so in the name of Jesus who is the divine Healer and in whose steps we follow, just as St. Marguerite d’Youville did in her day.

Sr. Suzanne Beaudoin, SSCh
Director of Pastoral Care

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Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 24th, 2011

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Matthew 23:34-40

In order to understand today’s Gospel reading, we need to say a few words about the social culture of Jesus’ time.

- A widow was a childless woman whose husband had died. She was reduced to begging.

- An orphan was a child who had no male guardian.

- Aliens were strangers who lived among people who were not relatives.

These were the “at risk” people in those times. Since they were most vulnerable and without personal or societal power, God’s love was clearly focused in their direction. God has always been attentive to the needy, defenseless, and oppressed. In fact, that’s how Israel got to “know” God – while they were aliens and strangers in Egypt. With this in mind, let’s now hear the Gospel for today.

Jesus lived a public life. People took notice of Him because he had complete internal freedom. He was a teacher and He taught what He had learned from His Abba. Jesus said what He wanted, when He wanted, with a self-assurance that “riled up” the graduates from Rabbinic Schools.

One day, a lawyer, who knew the laws and commandments in detail, confronted Jesus. (There were, at that time, 633 commandments to obey: 365, one for every day of the year; and 268, one for each bone in the human body.) The lawyer, knowing that Jesus did not attend “law school,” asked this question. “Which is the greatest commandment in the law?” With His usual aplomb, Jesus replied: “Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” And before the lawyer could react, Jesus quickly added: “And the second commandment is like the first: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ The whole law of Moses depends on these two commandments.”

In Hebrew, the word for “love” is the word RAHAM, which is derived from the word RAHAMIN, which means the “womb where children are made.” So God’s love is the intimate love a mother has for her children. This describes God’s attachment to His people. The term was very bold and personal, but its meaning somehow got lost in the overwhelming numbers of commandments. Jesus cut through those numbers and reduced them to two easy to remember commandments. In Jesus’ mind and 5 through His words, Jesus simplified life for anyone listening.

We show we love God not so much by observing the numerous commandments, but by loving what God loves. And God favors the widow, the helpless, the oppressed, the powerless, the suffering, etc.

It sounds a lot like Health Care, doesn’t it, where we care for the sick, the feeble, the elderly, the suffering, the helpless, the depressed and the dying? That’s why working in Health Care is more than just a job. It’s a response to a calling. It’s loving and caring for the people God loves the most. It’s like being the hands of God’s love. That is one of the reasons I don’t retire. As long as I can serve the patients, I plan to keep doing it. It assures me that when I die, I’ll die alive!!!

Kenn Rancourt

Chaplain

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