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
In
the Acts of the Apostles, we have grieved with the Apostles over Jesus’ death.
His Resurrection three days later was a wonder and fulfillment of his promise. The
Apostles’ work of establishing the early Church continued Jesus’ work. Much new
life came with conversions and disappointments as well as deaths.
In the Gospels of the
Easter season, Jesus walked with the Apostles. He even prepared and ate breakfast
with them. His words reassured them that He would not leave them alone. PEACE
was the greeting he gave them in many of his appearances. “PEACE the world
cannot give.” I go so that the Paraclete, whom I will send, will come [upon you]." Jesus’s
words were not only for the Apostles. They are for all of us. We are ‘the others’
Jesus must go to.
