CirclingTthoughts from Lectio and Spiritual Reading

                 As I “move on in years” I find it more and more difficult to give recognition to the source of my thoughts—hopefully it s God! Each Lent/Easter season our faithful librarian places in convenient spots books, pamphlets, short articles to sign out or read in place. Unable to give particulars, the following are some rambling and unconnected thoughts which came to me from these materials and a few others during the Holy season leading to Pentecost and Trinity Sunday.

                With Bible readings in my daily lectio, particularly the Old Testament, I was very conscious of the One God as seen by the Jewish people and the prophets—the One God with the pervading promise of a Messiah, not clearly the Son. The birth of Jesus, son of Mary through the Holy Spirit, was the beginning of the concept of Trinity—mystery as it is—shown throughout the New Testament in the words and acts of Jesus from birth to death, resurrection and ascension and in the letters of the Apostles.

                Then after the crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus we know that his body remained in the grave for three days. What was going on in those three days? I thought much about this after reading somewhere that Jesus doesn’t return to life but breaks through to a life nobody ever lived before, so different that it’s hard to describe or imaged. What happened in those three days? Jesus went to wherever those prophets, Jewish people, believers had gone awaiting salvation He opened the gates of heaven to these and to all of us who would follow hi. When I die, will all this become clear and open, all that happened before?

                I read that St. Faustina, a Polish saint, was favored by God with visions. In one she was told to have a picture of Jesus painted with the words, “Jesus, I trust in You.” After reading that, I then understood a picture I look at each morning. It is a picture of the wounded, glorified Jesus, bright rays flowing from the heart and the words “Jesus, I trust in you.”

                At our learning session about Islam I heard that Islamic history begins is Ishmael, the son of Hagar, the “sent away” wife of Abraham, marking the relationship between Muslims, Christians, and Jews. Much food for thought in this relationship.

                God has created me for some special service. This I know that John Henry Newman said. It’s my mission—stick to it whatever and I will please God. Dismiss all anxiety from your mind. In prayer and thanksgiving present your petitions to God who will never forsake you.

               Circling thoughts cling to me from the blessed days of this past liturgical season. I appreciate Robert Wicks, Nathan Mitchell, J. H. Newman, Pope Francis, Michael Casey and the reflections in Word Among Us. Each day’s readings from these writers have helped me and many others in their journey of faith.

                                                Sr. Andrea Collopy, OSB