Transformed by Transfiguration

In the Gospel of Luke, today, Jesus takes Peter, John and James up a mountain to pray. In that experience, Jesus is transfigured before their eyes and Peter, John and James are transformed as a result of their encounter with Jesus Transfigured. We hear evidence of that in the 2nd reading, 2 Peter 1:16-19: “For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory, ‘This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
When I reflect on this, I think about and pray with a vision to see the ways and the manner in which I have been transformed by Jesus. What I learned through that reflection is that in coming to be in relationship with Jesus in realizing Jesus’ love for me, I am encouraged; I am inspired to see and be grateful for the gifts God has blessed me with. And, in and through my relationship with Jesus, my expression of love for Jesus is having the courage to use my gifts in the service and ministry for my family, friends, neighbors, co-workers—everyone and everything in my community. Everyone. What I mean by that is that I am called to serve and minister not just folks who love, support and encourage me. I am called to serve and minister with those who do not love me, who do not support or encourage me. I am called to be there for them, too. I am called to be “a lamp shining in a dark place.” Today’s Scripture affirms that but also, our Catholic Church teaches us that we receive the Light of Christ in Baptism. We are to go and shine that Light of Christ to the world.
Deeper reflection on today’s Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord brings to mind some wisdom from Drew Brees’ book, Coming Back Stronger. Brees shares about trusting God that “God can use anything for good” Whatever happens to you; whatever the adversity in your life, God can use that to do good. We have to trust God, and we have to choose to be open to God to see and be aware of the good we can do as a result of the adversity in our life. He also shares that we can choose to be positive.
Lastly, we should be aware of those folks who God puts in our lives when we are in the midst of adversity. Those people who can deliver God’s message of hope, encouragement and inspiration when we need it the most in those times of despair. Drew Brees also comments on this, too. How his friend, Lorenzo Neal told him something he really needed to hear at a low moment in his life. What I get from that is that we need to be aware and trusting of God’s message being spoken by those who really care about us. Because they can see the big picture when our adversity has blinded us or given us tunnel vision not allowing us to see the big picture.
Be in touch with the transforming power of Jesus’ love. Be aware of those who speak God’s message of encouragement. When we are transformed by God’s love, we become a transformer for others. The whole community benefits from the sharing of our God-given gifts. Let the Light of Christ shine in us and through us.

Praying with Lightning

A dark flashing northeastern sky warned me there were thunderstorms ready to greet me as I made my way to work this morning. So, I settled into the cockpit of my Ford Escape and tuned my radio to KLOVE, the Christian music station. As I turned onto I-55 north, the darkness in the northeast was interrupted more and more frequently with bursts of light. Trying to find the consolation of the impending rain, I smiled to myself as I thought how God was going to wash the bugs off of my windshield and gift me with a free car wash. I was about to realize and be gifted with yet more insight from our loving God.
As I found myself making the right turn to head east toward Covington, there was still no rain yet in front of me the light strobes had been replaced with crooked vertical lines of lightning. Lightning fascinates me. There is so much energy in such skinny lines, and this energy is focused to singular points on the ground yet if these bolts of energy strike in strategic places, there can be a cascade effect of electrical outage or even ignite fires.
As I prayed with the lightning that God gifted me with this morning and as I applied it to my life circumstances and current local and global events, I was given my lesson for today.
Positive and negative charges within mixing air of a thunderstorm cause lightning. It is amazing to think that when two huge differences clashing together-- the resulting energy of that clash is lightning. And the resulting heat from lightning causes explosions of thunder.
The amazing revelation in all of that this morning was in order for that to happen, there has to be a relationship. There has to be a mixing of the hot and cold air masses. There has to be a coming together of the positive and negative charges in order for the amazing lightning to be born announced by the labor wails of thunder. Lightning cannot happen if both components are not present and reacting with each other. They have to be present and interacting.
If our relationships are to be healthy enough to create lightning, then there must me a mutuality of giving and receiving….there must be a mutuality of sharing…..there must be a mutuality of care. And out of all of that mutuality is born a love so great that it speaks thunder into our community and world.
And most importantly, where there is this mutuality of relationship, God is present strengthening, supporting and loving all of us.
Ya’ll have a good day. Create lightning. Do stuff to develop and strengthen your relationships with family, friends, co-workers and neighbors. Let the thunder roll.

Where's God

Have you ever entertained yourself with a Where’s Waldo book? Once your eyes trained your mind on the image of Waldo, you could scan pages and pages of cartoon graphic noise, zeroing-in on the image of the smiling Waldo cleverly hidden on the page.
I’d like to invite you to try something. In the comings and goings and busyness of your day, try to find God in the people, places and in your day’s experiences. Ask God to help you to do this.
God is always with us. God is present in God’s creation of people and nature…..God’s everywhere. And, when you find God, when you become aware of God’s loving presence rejoice and be thankful. Love God back for being there for you and blessing you with your loved ones and all you have in your life.
In this way, you will build your relationship with our good and gracious God. Your faith will grow and the next thing you know, you’ll be an instrument for God’s love and a living example of Christ.
So try it. Where’s God for you today?

I'm baackkkkkk......

After much prayer and discernment, I am out of hiatus and back posting here at my blog space.

I'd like to take the opportunity to acknowledge and thank all of you who have given me feedback about my writing. And, I 'd like to thank you for your encouragement about my writing because in and through your kindness you have nurtured my dream and for that I am most grateful.
And so it is with a grateful and changed heart, that I share with you my spiritual e-musings once again.

Sr GeoThea writes again.

First week of Advent

Here we are in the first week of Advent. Advent is a season of hopeful preparation and anticipation of the light of Christ entrance into our lives. And so, during the purple of Advent, we prepare for the coming of Christ. We watch. We wait.

In today’s readings Isaiah muses how life will be when the Messiah comes into the world. Wolf and lamb will peacefully abide together as well as leopard and the kid and calf and lion. And, “a little child to guide them” (11:6).

In Luke’s gospel, we hear Jesus tell the disciples how fortunate they are. “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it” (Lk 10 :23b-24).

Today’s readings are all about signs --from the peaceful animal behavior described in Isaiah to Jesus’ revelation to the disciples that He is the long awaited Sign from God.

Do we see the signs of God’s presence in our lives? Can we be a sign of God’s presence to others who are in need or suffering?

Let us prayerfully ask for courage and strength as we prepare ourselves in this purple Advent. Let us reconcile our sinful ways that is the darkness of our lives. Let us love and serve God and each other.

of shooting stars and the glory of the Lord

In today’s scriptures (Ez 1:2-5, 24-28c), the prophet Ezekiel shares with us a vision he experienced of the glory of the Lord. I saw a glimpse of the glory of the Lord as I drove into work. As I was driving north on LA641, right in front of me, over head, a “shooting star” streaked down. It was an amazing and awesome surprise. The streak of light trailing the meteoroid was so long that it gave the impression it was going to hit the road. I slowed my Escape as if to miss it. It never reached the ground and burned up in the atmosphere.

I thought to myself how wonderful witnessing that was. We are just now finishing up our annual experience of the Perseids meteor shower. I was reminded of that as many meteorologists included information about the meteor shower in their weather forecasts. I hoped to spend some time this weekend looking for “shooting stars” but was unable to do that. I thanked God for putting the “shooting star” right in front of me this morning.

Cosmic phenomena fascinates me especially stars. For me, stars are one of God’s most awesome creations. Stars help to remind me of the sacredness of God’s creation. Their beacons in the night sky have facilitated my prayer on many occasions. Those points of light in the sky guided the way of many on Earth.

Do you see glimpses of the Lord’s glory? Where?

Signs

When you see a stop sign, what do you do? When you see the green light of a traffic light turn on, what do you do? When you see a speed limit sign, what do you do? When you hear and see a child crying, what do you do? When you see the billowing clouds in a dark sky, what do you do? How about strange weather occurring throughout our planet, what do you do? When you see people in trouble, what do you do?

All of these are signs. Some are more apparent than others. When you notice the signs, what do you do? Do you act on what the signs are calling you to do? Or, do you ignore the signs? Or, do you not even notice the signs?

In today’s gospel (Mt 12:38:42), the scribes and Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign. “Teacher we wish to see a sign from you.” Jesus was right there in front of them and they did not recognize God’s Divine Sign.

Will you notice the signs that you encounter today? …The signs of the Body of Christ living and suffering in your midst. How will you interpret those signs? Will you heed them? Will you ignore them?

Let us pray for the strength and courage to respond to the signs of the Body of Christ present to us today.

sticks and stones.........

Sticks and stones
May break my bones,.
But names will never
Hurt me.

NOT!

Growing up, I was on the receiving end of much name calling. I have to say that YES, the names did hurt. You don’t have to take my word for it. Just look at the Columbine incident and various other incidents in schools across America. The hurt of name calling was manifested by more hurt of school violence by those who were on the receiving end of those hurtful names. So much hate. So much hurt. Why?

Have you noticed how you felt when someone praised your work? How did you feel when they complemented you? Words and actions are powerful. They have the ability to tear down someone or build them up.

What would Jesus do? Let’s take a look.

Matthew 7:15-23
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?'
Then I will declare to them solemnly, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.'

The next time that you open your mouth with a critical word, pause to reflect on how you deliver it. Constructive criticism is good. Be sure it constructive and not destructive. And, remember positive words build up. Just please be sure they are genuine and spoken from your heart and not empty flattery. The person on the receiving end will be able to discern.

Sometimes, our emotions get the most of us and before we know it the harsh words and statements are flying out of our mouths. What do we do? We don’t mean to hurt members of our family and our friends.

My reflective answer to that is, “It’s forgiveness time.” Time to apologize and ask for forgiveness. If we are on the receiving end, then we must forgive. You know the magic number, seventy-times seven. Peter queried Jesus over two thousand years ago. “Lord, how many times must we forgive? Three times? Then, Jesus hit him with the higher number answer. Seventy-times seven.

Forgiveness. Now that can bring about major change and conversion. But that’s a reflection for another day.

Bear good fruit and build the Kingdom of God.

Of splinters and wooden beams

Today’s gospel reading from Matthew (7: 1-5) reminds us to “stop judging.” Jesus reminds us to remove the wooden beam from our eyes before we attempt to remove the splinter from our neighbor’s eye.

Let’s reflect on this a little. In order to remove something from our eye, we must look into a mirror. With the help of the reflection from the mirror, we are able to locate the foreign object and remove it from our eye.

Mirrors are unforgiving objects. Their reflection is always honest. As a result we see ourselves without the benefit of self improvement like make-up, hair-do, or a neat close shaved face.

I invite you to look into the mirror and look really close. Look into your eyes where you find the opening to the inside of yourself. Use the mirror to see that part of you. Notice what you find. Notice how you feel. Get to know the person in the mirror. Does the person in the mirror have a good relationship with God? Does the person in the mirror have a good relationship with self? With others?

Allow your mirror vision to examine your relationships? How are they? Need a little improvement? Is there something you can do for someone? Is there something you can do for God?

Maybe we need to do that more often---that is look into the mirror. If we looked into the mirror, and saw ourselves perhaps we would not judge others harshly. The quickness to judge others would be hastened by the person in the mirror.

Go ahead. Take a look.

Diversity

Through him
With him
And in him
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
All glory and honor is yours
Almighty Father
Forever and ever. Amen.
(doxology after the Eucharistic prayer)

In John 17, Jesus prays for his disciples, and he prays for us. He prayed, “so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us.” Continuing he prayed, “I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.”

Jesus’ prayer is filled
with the hope of the unity
of all of us
of all the world.
Despite our differences
and in spite of our differences
that we may come together
in unity to live
as a community
of believers
who care for and love each other.

We have different gifts, different likes, different opinions, different religions, different cultures, different biologies. God made us a diverse world. If we can use our differences and come together to take care of each other, we would realize Christ’s hope, his dream. Jesus’ prayer would become reality, and we would all live in the Kingdom of God.

What does that "coming together as one" look like? Well, it begins with tolerance and understanding then grows into acceptance and love of others who are different than you. Can you embrace diversity?

That is what Christ prayed for and hoped for. That we would all be one. Can you do your part to make the Kingdom of God a reality?

Experience

When we are given a taste of something like
Sickness, suffering or death of a loved one,
We learn how to give compassion.
When we experience prejudice,
We learn the importance of diversity,
And respect for the various gifts of others.
When we experience rejection and exclusion,
We learn to accept and love others
For whom they are and where they are.
When we experience betrayal by a friend,
We learn the importance of trust.
When we experience apathetic complacency,
We learn the importance of being engaged--
Physical, emotional, and spiritual support of others.
When we live what we learn from these experiences,
We live in right-relationship with God and others.

His Holes make us whole

the holes in His hands and feet
help to make the holes
in our lives bearable.
God's love that allowed Jesus' holes
makes us whole.

Holy Thursday

A full, yellow moon low on the horizon greeted me this morning. As I drove out of Gramercy to work, it came to rest right over my left shoulder. I felt drawn to prayer on this Holy Thursday, the beginning of the Christian High Holy Days of the Triduum.

I listened to music from Jesus Christ Superstar. I heard the new covenant initiation of the Lord’s Supper.

The yellow full moon was just about to disappear below the horizon when I switched my music to Godspell and listened to….
Where are you going? Where are going?
Can you take me with you? For my hand is cold and needs warmth.
Where are you going?

Just as the guitar strummed the next part of the song, I witnessed the sun peeping over the eastern horizon.
Far beyond, where the horizon lies, and the land sinks into mellow blueness,
Oh please, take me with you.
There on the I-10 driving into New Orleans, I knew the Spirit was with me and facilitating my prayer. As the sun chased the moon and the rhythms of the day turned into morning, I felt God.
Let me skip the road with you.
I can dare myself. I can dare myself.
I’ll put a pebble in my shoe.
And, watch me walk. I can walk. I can walk.

I agreed to walk and journey with Jesus through His Last Supper, Good Friday Sacrifice and on to His Resurrection. Won’t you journey, too? Together, we can make this prayer pilgrimage with Jesus.

Tonight, we will hear the gospel message of the Lord’s Supper. At our Holy Thursday liturgy, we will witness feet washing. If your feet do not have the opportunity to be washed by your priest, imagine Jesus washing your feet. Realize the responsibility and lesson Jesus teaches in the action of feet washing. Say “yes” to service to and for others. Say “yes” to being last so that others may be first. If you are already in ministry, recommit yourself to your ministry mission. If you are not yet in ministry, consider the call that your washed feet introduces to you; volunteer for some ministry in your parish.
And, at the end of the Holy Thursday liturgy, spend some time in silent prayer and reflection with Jesus. Watch and pray.

Forgiveness-a poem

We all know
What a hurting heart
Feels like.
Anger sometimes
Visits a hurting heart.
Caution.
Use care
And be aware.
Anger is a heart-eater.
Forgiveness is
the magic medicine
That soothes
A hurting heart.
Forgiveness chases away
The anger, too.
Give Jesus
Your hurts
And, you will see
Anger leave, too.
Then, God’s love
Will come to live
Inside your heart.

late Ash Wednesday

Grainy black smooshed
Shaped into a cross
On my forehead
Palms sacrificed
To mark
Signs of repentance.

Finding God in all things

Have you ever tried the Jesuit prayer practice, The Examen? St. Ignatius Loyola came up with the Examen. He encouraged the members of his order, the Jesuits to pray it every day.
In case you are wondering how to pray the Examen, there are 5 Steps. First, recall that you are in the presence of God.
Second, look at the day with gratitude. As you reflect, give thanks to God for the gifts God has blessed you with.
Next, ask the Spirit for help in your reflection. Ask the Spirit to help you to clearly look at your respone to God's blessings in your life.
Fourth, review your day. Peer into your inner self and see what you have done and how you have behaved. Did you respond to God's grace with an open willing heart? Did you help your neighbor? Reflect and ask yourself self examining questions.
Take the answers to your reflective questions to the next step of the examen. Imagine Jesus with you either right beside you or face to face in eye-contact loving gaze. Ask for forgiveness for the times you neglected God's grace. Rejoice with joy for the times you accepted God's grace and plan for your life. Do all of this in heart conversation with Jesus.
Soak in Jesus' forgiveness of your transgressions. See the joy Jesus experiences in the good things you have done.
Once you have spoken to Jesus about all that is in your heart and on your mind, end with an Our Father.

I highly recommend this practice of praying the Examen. I hope you enjoy it and are fulfilled in this practice in the same manner I have experienced it.

the church

When you go looking for God, where do you search? Do you look for God in church?

This little church stands off of a busy highway. As I walked the 30 feet or so from my truck, I walked into a quiet stillness. In this stillness, the sound of the wind was broken only by the sound of birds singing.

I made my way to the front door. When I approached, I felt the presence of the Spirit of a community of faith. ...The community who built this church and worshipped within these walls. The walls of the church gave up the songs of worship they had absorbed in years past. I heard Alleluias and Amen! Then, as my heart listened, I heard a soft chorus of Amazing Grace. How sweet was that sound!

I wished that I could have met some of the folks who worshipped in this place. How I longed to sing with them a few verses of Amazing Grace. They must have had some powerful prayer in this place. This holy and sacred space away from the hustle and bustle of life.

Something beckoned me to the back of the property, the area just beyond the neatly cut grass. There in the thicket of ferns and palmettoes was a little cemetary. I felt that these resting souls had heard my prayer. They heard my admiring feelings about their little church and their profound faith.

I gazed at the grave markers reading each name. As I read the names, I lifted prayers on their behalf. And, I lifted thought and heart conversation to the folks resting there among the ferns. Before leaving, I asked them to pray for our world and to pray for me.

A star

A star
Broke the darkness
One night
Over 2000 years ago.
The light
Ushered in the arrival
Of God’s Son,
God’s love
For everyone.
He came
Despite the darkness
Of our sin.
He came
To set us free
And show us
How to live.
He came,
And we
Are forever changed.

Have a blessed Christmas!

Tribute to Heroes

Folks along the River Road are working hard building this year's bonfires. There is a truck and a tugboat. A few miles up river from those, there is a blackhawk helicopter. I don't know the reason why this bonfire was built in the shape of a blackhawk helicopter. But, I believe it was built as a fitting tribute to our military men and women. ...For our military men and women serving in the Middle East. ....And for the heroes and heroines of Hurricane Katrina. These are the men and women of the Coast Guard and National Guard. They rescued so many people in the aftermath of the hurricane. So many from New Orleans and St. Bernard parishes are alive today because of their heroic rescues. Hovering helicopters overhead must have been a wondrous sight for those who were stranded on rooftops.

Thinking back to the days right after the storm, there were so many helicopters flying overhead. We almost became accustomed to their presence. We eventually could identify the type of helicopter by their distinctive sound.

I pray for those heroes and those heroines who rescued so many. The people whom they rescued will live another day and live to celebrate another Christmas with their families. And, I pray for the men and women who are fighting in a war on foreign soil. I pray that they will come home soon to be welcomed by the loving embrace of family and friends.

That time of year

Silhouetted hawks stand sentinel gazing at sugar cane fields below. Sugarcane trucks go whizzing up and down the River Road. Night begins earlier with sunlight dwindling around 4:30 pm. Cold fronts bring frost blankets that settle on rooftops and lawns. It is late fall in my part of the world, St James Parish in southeast Louisiana. Winter is just a few weeks away. Christmas is almost here, too.

A part of Christmas for folks in my area is a ritual that has been around for decades. The ritual and family tradition of building bonfires on the levee along the River Road brings young and old together. Weaved into each bonfire structure are sacred family stories of shared time working together. The task of sawing, chopping, hauling and building is a labor of love for family and friends. This custom is culminated on Christmas Eve when all bonfires are lit at 7PM. The levee is outlined by fires equally spaced for several miles. The same family and friends who worked so hard constructing the bonfires gather around the fires, share gumbo and welcome visiting relatives and friends.

Reflecting on this custom, I see God in the middle of all of these gatherings. I see God strengthening relationships when family and friends gather to work and to celebrate this Christmas bonfire tradition.

May God and God’s son, Jesus be at the center of your Christmas gathering.
Merry Christmas!