Reflection – Submitted by Roberta-HHC

A Searching Shepherd –

God made thorns, he told himself. Thorns are good. But they hurt. They scrape the skin to blood. God made thorns, but why? Oh why?

God made rain, but it doesn’t seem to like the desert. Rocks are hot, and the sand is burning. The sand is cracked from thirst. Now, where have the sheep got themselves to?

I am the shepherd of the sheep, says the Lord. I search. To search is who I am. I am the one who wanders, the great walking one, the one who sleeps in the cold and culls the burrs out of their wool. Yes, I know—they cannot be recommended for intelligence. This is a small brain we are talking about. But I am their shepherd.

They are the objects of my love.

I take them up in my arms, my tired arms, my bleeding arms. And they are more to me than rest and beauty and food and light—my own, my flock, my creation.

And I love them. I bring them into cool valleys where the trees drop fragrant shade, and the birds serenade them, and they can hear the streams falling quietly from the hills. Where they can drink. They shall eat and drink and never want. They shall romp in the green grass and race in the wildflowers.

My own flock, with deep brown eyes that speak to mine, and white wool that sparkles in the dusk.

I have made them and sought them and brought them home.

Sr. Miriam Pollard – Miriam Pollard, OCSO, is a Sister of Santa Rita Abbey in Sonoita, Arizona.

PEACE,

Roberta HHC

“Let everyone that comes be received as Christ.”

— The Rule of St. Benedict

THE CAVE OF THE HEART

In The Cave Of One’s Heart…
All is Understood – All is Embraced
All are One – All are Loved
All is Forgiven – Time is No More
There is only Peace
Rest for one’s Soul
In the Being of the All That Is

                                     (Theresa HHC) 
                                    
                                  

Chant – “Become All Flame”

Abba Lot went to see Abba Joseph and said to him, “Abba, as far as I can, I say my little office. I fast a little. I pray. I meditate. I live in peace and as far as I can. I purify my thoughts. What else can I do?”
Then the old man stood up, stretched his hands towards heaven, and his fingers became like ten lamps of fire, and he said to him,
“If you will, you can become all flame.”
–Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Sr. Benedicta Ward)

LYRICS

Lyrics:
If you will, if you will, if you will, if you will,
You can become all flame, become all flame, become all flame.
You can become all flame:
Become all flame.

“If the mind gets exhausted by praying with words, then pray without them. Words are only prayer’s expression and are always weaker in God’s eyes than prayer itself.”

St. Theophan the Recluse

Today’s Gospel – Gospel of John 2:13 – “The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!”

Why was Jesus so angry? I never really understood this passage about Jesus’ anger before. But today, something changed. What? Well, today, I meditated silently for 15mins. after hearing it read. And then, reading it for myself later on, I meditated again. The silence allowed it to speak to me or rather to penetrate my heart space and reveal itself to me. What was going on inside of Jesus and why was He so very angry?

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This is now the Second Sunday of Lent. However it has been undertaken this year, one thing we probably all have in common is our thoughts…Have I been keeping up with my prayers, my promises, my sacrifices for the Lord? Am I feeling guilty about not doing well enough? Bro. Mark knew well what Walking the Journey with Wisdom (Sophia), the God-given Spirit of Wisdom, involved. Much like his painting, his Music spoke from his heart.

Take a few moments and let your hearts be open to the Wisdom of your Own Journey and Listen to what the Spirit is saying to You…

Traveling with you,

+Theresa – HHC