Carla Mae's Blog

We are in the full glow of Easter as this month begins. What has been occupying my mind are the words of John Chrysostom: “He is no longer now where he was; now he is where we are.” This may explain the words of scripture about how Jesus revealed himself. Now you see him, now you don’t. There is the supper table, then the seashore with breakfast cooking. There is the journey to Emmaus. There are the sudden appearances when they are all gathered together. Are we missing something here? I don’t think so. Jesus seems to be getting them used to a new way he will be around. No longer the old historical way, but wherever they are. Then this is where we need to expect to find him today too: glimpses; appearances in the darkness of our faith especially when we are with one another. Our Ministry Assessment this year spotlights our Mission/Charism and Focus Statements. Both call for a kind of presence ; in other words, how we appear. So we might ask ourselves, “What kind of pr...

What a strange statement. The cross is humilitation and torture, victimization and execution, violence and dehumanization…everything I want to avoid. Glory?   I don’t know about you, but at first glance I find this a hard saying. Maybe that’s my problem. It’s a first glance. Maybe I haven’t looked long enough. Maybe I just don’t see . These first weeks after Easter are all about appearances. They are gathered, and suddenly he is there. Then he is gone. They are walking, and he joins them. They are fishing and suddenly he is there cooking breakfast. The Church will give us readings from the Acts of the Apostles, showing us what the early Church is doing. Maybe this is what John Chrysostom meant when he said, “He is no longer where he was; now he is where we are.” They had to get used to this new kind of “presence,” and so do we. It demands a leap of faith, and a trust the Eucharist reaffirms over and over. “I am risen and still with you.” Faith is a dark light…and no, I ...

As this reflection reaches us we are moving steadily toward the wonder of Holy Week, and what God has done… We’ve been alerted as to the temptations we will face; we’ve been to the mountaintop and heard “Look to me and be radiant…”; then we were shown that we should be like fruitful trees; and finally in March we were shown the heart of “the Plan”: reconciliation. God and me. God and us. Our presence is to be one of bringing things together. We are to be reconcilers. The third chapter of Francis’ letter on holiness shows us what this looks like – or maybe smells like. Beatitude living can be described as the “odor of sanctity,” an image that has always delighted me. Some people just smell good. There is that faint odor of flowers or cleanliness about them. It’s a physical thing. But those who emit beatitude living truly emit a certain spiritual energy that is wonderful. They project a positive energy, an attitude of gratitude and joy. They might be blind or mute or in a wh...

Th ere is a Plan . Yes, most of the time things look pretty haphazard, but really, there is a Plan. It becomes quite clear if we see the Sunday readings connected with each other week to week. Let’s take a look. We began the first Sunday of Lent by being confronted with the temptations that are sure to be part of our lives. Then we were taken to the mountaintop and shown a Jesus that dazzled us. The message? “Look to me and be radiant…” On the third Sunday we were told we need to be like fruitful trees, drawing up the love-sap that allows us to offer something delicious to our neighbors. Then with the fourth Sunday we are shown the bottom line: we are to be reconcilers. We need to be ready to show the greatest fruitfulness of all: forgiveness. Yup...it looks like a plan alright. April dawns, and with Lent’s fifth Sunday we are given an explosive message to keep on track: “…neither do I condemn you.” Sometimes when the going gets tough and we’ve not really kept to our Lente...