St Joseph Abbey

“Martha, Martha. You are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary.  Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken from her.” – Jesus in Luke 10:41 

“Come now, you poor creature, turn your back on your busyness for a little while.  For a few moments leave the tumult of your thoughts; throw off the burden of your cares and put aside your wearisome occupations.” – St. Anselem in Proslogion 

This is just what I’ve done.  I’ve turned my back on my busyness and all the striving to please others, please myself, please God.  I’ve come away to St. Joseph Abbey in Covington LA for a 48 hour  personal retreat with my monk brothers.  I sit now in my stone cell cloistered from the distractions of the world meditating on the Lord’s words to Martha.   Words spoken so long ago but so relevant to our present day, so relevant to our mad, rushing lives and so relevant to my present life.   

Although the 4 hour drive has successful gotten me away from the busyness of my routine the thing I can’t escape, without Your help, is my worries, my anxious thoughts, the tumult of my runaway mind.  I pray Your Spirit, the melodic chant of my monk brothers and these silent stone walls will quiet my thoughts.

Introverted Jesus Followers?

Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’ body.  John 19:38 

As I was reading this Easter story today, Holy Saturday, it struck me that Joseph and Nicodemas were, in fact, faithful Jesus followers but just not gregarious like Peter or outspoken as Paul would soon be.  Although Joseph and Nicodemas are both often criticized for being “secret” disciples they apparently were they only ones around during Jesus’ darkest hour.

Where is Peter, James, or even John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, when someone was needed to take Jesus’ body down from the cross?  Where are any of his disciples or the thousands he healed, feed, loved?  None where there to minister to our Lord except his secret disciples.

Are we paying too much attention to the vocal, outspoken, media-savvy church leaders of today?  Perhaps we should instead be searching for the quiet, behind the scenes, Christ-following, servant introverts as an example.

What do you think?

I do not know the man

This Holy Week as I’ve been meditating on the passion of Christ the Spirit has brought me back time after time to Peter’s denial of Christ.  More specifically to my denial of Christ.  How many times have I, like Peter, said, “I do not know the man”?  How many times have I by my inaction said, “I do not know what you are talking about”? 

Although I am saddened by my repeated denial of Christ I am at the same time rejoicing in Christ’s forgiveness.  On this Good Friday I voice a Celtic prayer of confession pinned by David Adam; 

For the dullness of our vision

Father forgive.

For the weakness of our faith,

Jesus forgive.

For the joylessness of our living,

Spirit forgive.

Holy Three have mercy upon us,

Forgive our sins,

Help us to seek,

Help us to see,

Help us to serve you.