Carla Mae's Blog

We are about midway through lent. Before the month is over this March of 2016, we will celebrate the Resurrection. We will breathe a sigh of relief, and think, “Thank goodness that is over now for another year!” But don’t be so sure. The Passion begins with the Infant Christ. The first step down is the Word confining itself to the virgin’s womb…the size of a man’s fist. The Word incarnate thinks it’s just fine to slowly be clothed in humanness for the usual nine months. Infinity confined to a small space. We celebrate this wonder in the Advent and Christmas season. But there is another step down. There is the day-to-day frustration with companions who just don’t get it. They need to be shown that leadership means washing feet, that we all are called to become a new kind of family where no one is excluded, and that the poor are the primary members of this new “kin-dom.” Then another step down into the chaos of agony, sin, and death. Doesn’t this Holy One realize he does...

The 800 th Anniversary is on! Celebrations abound, bringing back memories of what has been, and challenging us to dream a future for the Dominican Order of our own times. Dominic had to contend with a heresy, a twisting of truth to suit its own purpose. That purpose was to make sure we believe the lie that only “spiritual” realities matter. The physical, the material, are to be despised. It was a purist dualism, and looked so deceitfully holy. But Genesis and the Incarnation beg to differ. The universe is strewn with matter still evolving, and nothing beats a physical hug when your heart is breaking and you are crying your eyes out. The Christ could not be more explicit when he says, “This is my body.” But this is 2016, and I suggest we have the direct opposite heresy to contend with today. We don’t despise matter. We worship it. Materialism and consumerism rule, and if we listen to the media, nothing, not even God, should question my overcrowded closet or my bulging bank accou...

“I have a plan for you…”   You never quit do you.   First you step down ever so gently into a virgin’s womb to be fitted into new clothes. “Human Made” says the label.   Then another step down – into the chaos of betrayal, beating, ridicule, and execution.   Don’t you realize this is no place for you?   But no – one more step – down. Bread? Come now. Something that is locked in a box waiting to be eaten?   What must you be thinking?   Life? Mine? Ongoing and forever?   You have a one-track mind and you never quit – do you. Even when we are too busy to notice.   Thank you….thank you.     “I have lost nothing   that you have given me.” John 17:12                                ...

A few thoughts from the powerful readings for today... Theme: We are reminded that "One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God." Our fasting reminds us that we have "another mouth to feed," that of the longing of our heart for a renewed relationship with the God of the universe, who is bigger than anything that scares us. Psalm and Middle Reading: "Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble!" We all know this space well. We're backed up into a corner, and see no way out. But we're told the God will never leave us...so when we feel most alone, most attacked, we need to "hang on" to our faith in "every word that comes from the mouth of God." First Reading: The Jews remember that they've been through some very tough times...and God has pulled them through. Gospel: The better word for temptation is test.  We take a test to reveal what we know...Jesus is being asked ...

Real-Presence   It hung there the old coat day after day in the front closet along with the faint scent of Mennen’s After-Shave.     We kept telling her to give it to Goodwill. “In due time…” she would say. She said it reminded her of him and their 60 years together.     And then one day there was no answer when we made our check-in phone call.     We hurried over and got in through the garage our secret agreed-upon passageway.     She did not answer when we called “Mom?” When we opened the bedroom door there she was curled up on her bed gone home to God wrapped in that old coat.   -          Carla Mae Streeter, OP, 2015