Readings: Deuteronomy 18:15-20 1      Corinthians 7:32-35       Mark 1:21-28

A number of years ago I was walking through the campus at Harvard on my way to my car. The senior graduation was in progress on the lawn. The guest speaker was Alexander Solzhenitsyn. I caught bits and pieces of his address as I was walking. One statement he made was that “America had lost its courage.” A few weeks later I read the mixed reactions to his speech. Many people found them hard to accept; they took the position that since Solzhenitsyn was not native to America, he could not really know or understand the American version of democracy, and so what he said was not really applicable or true. The reaction of these people, then, was simply to dismiss what Solzhenitsyn was saying to them. Certainly they may have found his message threatening to them; they were perhaps frightened that if what he was saying was true, then their whole way of life and their values were in danger. Since this would be quite painful to accept they simply dismissed it by denying the authority of Solzhenitsyn to speak about those things.

The other reaction was quite different. These people seemed to understand what Solzhenitsyn was saying even though what he was saying was also quite difficult and threatening to them. Still they heard it in a different way. They were even grateful that at least someone came along who had the courage to say what, they felt, needed to be said and should have been said a long time ago. This latter group saw him as one speaking out of his own painful experience, and, therefore, “with great authority.”

Whether we agree with what the Russian author said or not, it illustrates the point of the Gospel of this Sunday’s Liturgy. Whenever someone speaks with new ideas or a new way of seeing things that is contrary to our way of seeing them, or that challenges our value system, it is natural to react to them with a certain degree of hostility. We often demand proof of them and wonder by what right they say these things.

This is the situation that we see in the Gospel. Christ has been invited, as was the custom, to teach in the synagogue. And, as we read in the Gospel, he spoke to them in a manner that was different from the one they were accustomed to hearing. He spoke “with authority,” that is to say, as one who knew what he was talking about. As proof of this, he then performed the miracle of exorcising the man of the unclean spirit. This direct proof of his authority was even more of a challenge to many of the religious leaders of his time, and it provoked in them an even greater resistance. They did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah, and the fact that he might possibly be the Messiah was upsetting and disturbing to them. It was a challenge to their value and even to their temporal position as leaders of the people.

It is normal for us, when we’ve heard someone present to us a new way of looking at things, to find it rather disturbing. We are then forced to re-evaluate our past way of doing things and consider the possibility of adopting new values. Because this can be disturbing, we first tend to block out or deny what the speaker is saying. Still we must try to understand him, as in fact, a great number of people did in the reading today.

They were open to Christ’s teaching and to the miracle that he worked; they recognized his authority. In this way their reaction was quite different from the people who were in the position of power as their religious leaders. They accepted his teaching and made it known throughout the whole countryside; “at once his fame spread everywhere throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.”

Their reaction might teach us also to listen to what others say to us, particularly those who speak from experience, even though we may not always like or even ultimately agree with what they say. We can never be in a position of possessing the whole truth. And each person can teach us something, if only we are open enough to try to understand them.

What efforts are you making to refine your skills of listening to patients, residents and fellow workers?

Rev. Joseph Manship
Pastoral Care

Jonah 3:15, 10      1 Corinthians 7:29-31       Mark 1:14-20

As we resume “Ordinary Time” in the church year calendar, we will hear passages from the Gospel of Mark this year (Cycle B.)  Mark’s Gospel is the shortest of the four gospels and he portrays Jesus as a very human man with strong emotions.  In fact, Mark’s Gospel does not contain any details about Jesus’ birth but instead introduces him as an adult after John the Baptist has been arrested.  Jesus announces “good news” from God and calls the first disciples and this is what we hear in this week’s Gospel passage.

Jesus calls four ordinary people (fishermen) to follow him.  He does not call the most powerful, most successful, most well-spoken people of his age; he calls simple, ordinary people who fished to make a living.  I remember learning to fish at camp one summer; I even received my own fishing pole for a birthday gift!  Fishing is not something that became deeply ingrained in my life (I didn’t like having to touch the worms) but fortunately Jesus isn’t only looking for fishermen to be his followers.

Whether a doctor, CNA, nurse, hospitality associate, billing specialist or volunteer, each of us is called to use the “talents and strengths and knowledge and passions that we have to make the contribution to God’s Kingdom that we alone can make.” (Dr. Jeff Stiggins, CT blog, 2009) It’s not about waiting until we are smarter, wealthier, more secure, or prettier.  Jesus invites us as we are and basically as followers, Stiggins writes, we are invited to do 3 things:

“Be who you are.”

“See what you have.”

“Do what matters.”

All in all, it’s a freeing message and it’s a good way to start a new year:  Be authentic to who we are.  Be grateful for the many, many blessings in our lives.  Take seriously our call to participate in healing ministry.

Elizabeth Keene
Mission Integration

1Samuel 3: 3b-10, 19; Psalm 40 :2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10; 1Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20; John 1: 35-42

Ordinary time, and yet an extraordinary event – in the seventh century B.C. . We hear about the inbreaking of God in the life of a child in his sleep. Samuel looks to the ordinary, the expected, and thinking that it is Eli who calls him, he rushes to Eli, God’s anointed one; four times he responds ”Here I am”, because as yet, he was “ not familiar with the ways of God” . Nevertheless he is open, willing. Eli gently mentors him , redirects his attention and instructs him to say: “Speak Lord, your servant is listening”. Samuel grows up, follows the Lord, and the Lord is with him, “not permitting any word of his to be without effect”. Samuel is attuned, deeply listens and indeed does learn the ways of the Lord, such that the law of “the Lord is written in his heart” and the Lord puts a new song into his mouth.

In a parallel way an extraordinary event happens several centuries later. John points out this unusual person of Jesus to his followers and calls him the “Lamb of God”. The disciples are puzzled, curious, such that Jesus asks them: “What are you looking for?” They are nonplussed and not too clear on what they are seeking, so ask a question in return: “where are you staying?’ Jesus invites them to “come and see”, but it is more than a place, the “come and see’ leads them on a journey. Their lives will never be the same, they are forever changed. This Jesus is the pied piper of people’s hearts and so the ever widening circle of the community of disciples grows.

So, what are the parallels in our lives! The response of Samuel is generous: “Here I am Lord”, not knowing where that open-ended response is going to take him. When you think of the times that you have responded to a call and said “yes” where has it taken you? You have said “Here I am” to a parent, a sibling, a spouse, a child, a colleague, your supervisor, a patient, to the challenging events and people of life. The “Here I am” in your life may have called you down paths you might not have voluntarily chosen, and yet your responses have stretched and shaped you into the person you are today. The “Here I am” calls us down a “labyrinth of ways” we may not have desired or even thought possible.

To be attuned to the heart of God as Samuel was also calls us to be attuned to our own heart. Samuel became a very wise man. Psalm 40 reminds us that the wise ways of the Lord call us to do the works of Justice and love one another. As we listen to our own heart which echoes the heart song of God, it is a sobering and awesome thought that others may look to us for wisdom and insight and that our “words have effect” in the lives and hearts of others who have been and are our companions on the journey. God has entrusted us to do God’s work.

Jesus is also asking that same question of us: “What are you looking for?” How do we answer that? Perhaps our response is different at different stage of our lives. To find our answer we again have to listen deeply to our own heart, because to do “God’s will is our delight, and it is written within our hearts” (Psalm 40). This is the time of year when we take stock and make New Year resolutions. Like the disciples, we want to see where Jesus lives in our time, in the midst of the “ordinary” of life and we yearn for meaning and purpose. Let us echo the words of Samuel: “Speak Lord, your servant is listening”. The Lord will indeed put a “new song” in our hearts for 2012.

Sr. Cathy O’Connor, CSB
Covenant Health Systems

Epiphany: manifestation~ realization~ appearance

Readings: Isaiah 60: 1-6     St. Paul to the Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6          Gospel Matthew: 2:1-12

We have all experienced “epiphanies” in our personal lives. Sometimes they are small manifestations regarding something we need to change in our lives, take on or pay attention to. Today’s beautiful feast calls us to the joyful realization that God is there for us all; that God’s Son Jesus was sent not only to the Jewish nation, as is declared by the prophet Isaiah:  “Rise up in Splendor, Jerusalem…” Rather, he was sent to us all regardless of race or creed. Paul writes for our uplifting: “God’s secret plan as I have briefly described it was revealed to me, unknown to men in former ages but now revealed by the Spirit to the holy apostles and prophets. It is no less than this: in Christ Jesus the Gentiles are now co-heirs with the Jews, members of the same body and sharers of the promise…”

What an Epiphany! What a realization! It creates the kind of joy within that the mystic, Dame Julian of Norwich surely felt when one day in meditation she heard the voice of God give this assurance:  “ See, I am God. See, I am in all things. See, I do all things.  See, I never remove my hands from my works, nor ever shall, without end.”  Julian of Norwich

There is a realization/epiphany we should perhaps remind ourselves of when life is difficult and we are tempted to give up and find ourselves questioning where God even is in all the turmoil. We need to remind ourselves as well that the people in our care often feel as lost and alone. It often happens that as we boost the morale of others with our care, prayer, companionship; whatever form it may take we find our own spirits lifted. I once had a good mentor say to me, “Remember, you do not bring God to anyone. You go into the room of a patient and find God.”

Is that what occurred that first Epiphany in Jerusalem? Matthew shares, Astrologers from the east arrived one day in Jerusalem inquiring.  “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We observed his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage.” So, we read in different texts that they knelt, bowed, offered gifts. Perhaps they stayed awhile to share food and conversation. The text then relates, “they went home a different way.” Many take that to mean they tried to avoid an encounter with Herod. I believe it is more true to “Epiphany” to believe they went home with the full realization of who Jesus was. They brought their gifts, but they found God.

Was there a manifestation for the child Jesus as well? Why not? We don’t know for certain how old Jesus was when the Magi visited. Very young children can realize, surmise. God has foreigners, pagans come as the first to recognize and give Jesus the proper respect as King of the Jews. Why then would God not allow Jesus to discern that he was here on this earth for them as well? Epiphany!

Rest easy; we’re in good hands! A blessed New Year to all.

Elizabeth Lowe
Chaplain

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

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  

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

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.

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

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