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If you are like me I am sure you spend a lot of your time each week preparing…preparing meals…preparing for visitors…preparing for school or work…preparing for a journey…

Our Gospel today is all about preparing…preparing for Passover which will become Eucharist.  If we look closely at the text presented by Mark of this moment of preparation, we will notice there are two important signs offered to help the disciples prepare.  The first is the unnamed man with the pitcher of water whom they will meet…this is a reminder of their thirst for God…water quenches thirst. We all walk through life thirsting for love…for happiness…for joy…for belonging. This man takes the disciples to the place where they will prepare.  He leads them to the house…the house where they are welcome…hospitality is offered to them, again by an unnamed man who shows them to the Dining Room. It is a large room where a small piece of bread will be taken, blessed, broken and shared for all.

As we reflect on these two signs of preparation it says to us, we too must prepare well to come together to celebrate Eucharist…we must acknowledge our thirst for Jesus in the Eucharist… and make of hearts a large space – a dining room to welcome Jesus as we receive him in Eucharist.  As you prepare notice the signposts along the way…the unnamed people and those you know well who point you towards Eucharist, who enable you to prepare well to receive the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ.

Karen OSU

When I was reflecting on the Gospel for today, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, the word that stood out for me was “therefore” – it spoke to me of there being a consequence to all that had already been said in the Gospel text and in the readings beforehand.  It gives an instruction, a call to action.

As Scott Hahn the writer says: ‘if you read the word therefore you have to ask what’s it there for!’

So today as we read these words: “Go, therefore, make disciples” we have to take on the action asked of us. To move beyond our familiar, comfortable spaces to go to the peripheries to seek out people and share with them the Gospel message entrusted to us by Christ.  And know that filled with the Holy Spirit we have been gifted with the knowledge, the courage and the wisdom we need for the task at hand. Most importantly we do not go out alone, we go out in the company of God who is with us always, not just today or tomorrow but to the end of time.

And the next time you read the word ‘therefore’ pause and ask yourself “What’s it there for?”

Karen OSU

Isn’t it true that we tend to equate intelligence solely with brain-power, as a gate-way to achieving the highest grades and qualifications, leading to the best jobs and ultimate success – a very cerebral approach indeed and missing an essential component of intelligence – emotional intelligence.

What is emotional intelligence? Well, I believe it is the ability to manage our own emotions and to understand the emotions of the people around us. If that is so, its key elements are self-awareness, self-regulation and social skills.

Let us look at self-awareness: If I am self-aware, I learn to see everything and everyone in a deeply respectful light and relate accordingly. This relating gives me access to hearts and as a result I can listen deeply and empathise. Loving words and acts of kindness flow and as a result, I am deeply happy. That is the kind of relating Jesus puts before us in The Beatitudes.

These times, as I continue to challenge myself to deepen this kind of intelligence, I stop trying to control life, let go of criticism, gossip, judging and making assumptions.  This brings great freedom and growth and an appreciation and gratitude for God’s countless blessings.

So, in The Beatitudes, Jesus gives us the key to emotional intelligence.

Why not join me in reflecting on the Eight Ideals Jesus puts before us in Matthew: 5:1-12?

Head and Heart

“Head said: “I contain the law,”

Heart said: “I am full of feeling.”

Head said: “I am logic. I am structure.

I am the stake which supports the young plant.”

Heart said: “I am love. I am mystery.

I am the creative force of life.”

Head and heart grew anxious.

“But we are so different.

How can we find peace?”

God said: “draw close and become lovers.

Respect each other. Nurture each other.

Help each other to become equal.

You will come together as one

and when you are one,

a truly amazing thing will happen.”

Head and heart sat up at that.

“What kind of thing?” they asked.

But God only smiled

and said: “Wait and see”.”

                                  Joy Cowley

                                            B. O‘S

Have you ever said goodbye to a colleague or a friend who is moving to a new job or new house that will see them leave your close-knit circle?  How did you feel?  Were you joyful or sad at their departure?  One would imagine that unless we did not get along with a colleague we would not be joyful at their leaving!  Yet in today’s Gospel that is what we see happening – Jesus leaves his disciples and they are joyful!

We might ask ourselves today “why are the disciples not sad at Jesus leaving them?” The answer is because today, Ascension Day, completes Jesus’ mission among us.  It is not an abandonment of the disciples or of us because he remains forever with us.  And there is a second reason to be joyful today, because today he promised to send the Holy Spirit upon us to guide us and to gift with us with all that we need to become witnesses to the Gospel here on earth. So today let us rejoice that Jesus is returning to his Father to make way for us to become what he has taught us to be – his disciples here in our time and place.

Karen OSU

Life gifts each one of us with a plethora of rich opportunities and experiences. Yet, we all know that there are times when we find ourselves broken and fatigued, with no energy to move beyond the dullness of the daily routine – an exit from this situation is like a distant dream….

We may well be aware of the causes of this ennui. However, the challenge is to wait patiently for a glimmer of light to reappear and for renewed verve and vitality to gift us again.

A poem I came across recently by Nikita Gill spoke to my heart:

The Ocean in You

Every time you think you are broken, know this:

No one can break an ocean. All you are doing is breaking through

the glass that is holding you imprisoned,

diving deeper into your own depths,

discovering yourself in the pockets of the most sombre waves,

rebuilding your heart with coral, with seaweed, with moon-coloured sand.

So stop trying to hold yourself back

inside the glass; it was never meant to hold you.

Instead, break it, shatter it into a thousand pieces,

and become who you are meant to be,

an ocean proud and whole.

As I reflected, I heard a gentle whisper of the music of life again……..transient though it was………Then, I heard a person of soul speak to me from a compassionate heart……….what a blessing!

Then, came the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28 – 30

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give  you rest…….. for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I know that healing and peace will be restored ……sometime……

Jesus is not immediately at our beck and call. I know He addresses all our concerns in His own time, not necessarily in the time we want. But I also know that He never dismisses outrightly those who reach out to Him.  However, He expects us to take action too! Meanwhile, the waiting goes on for healing and peace to be restored………

For When They Cannot Love You for Who You Are (Nikita Gill)

Be careful of the people who demand

you must stop burning brightly for them to stay.

They can only love you,

once the flames have become embers.

That your wildfire ambition is too much of a burden.

Remember that the ashes make your bones fertile

for what you want to grow.

You are not the problem here.

Fire is still glorious, orange flames dancing.

When I was a child, I was drawn  to the burning of all things.

Like a moth, I was drawn to endings more than beginnings.

It took someone loving the flames in me to understand

that even hardened and ash, I  am still worthy of love.

You too are still worthy.  Especially while you burn like a comet through the sky.

B. O ‘S