"TO SAVE WHAT WAS LOST"...A REFLECTION by FATHER BEDE JARRETT, O.P.

I am always amazed at God's timing and

 how He puts the answers to unasked questions into view.

Here is what was found (but not lost,) until the exact moment it was needed!

Another part of the picture presents itself for future teaching.

This following reflection seemed to speak to me of a great change that will come 

according to what the next Life Lesson may be.!

Fr. Jarrett(+ 1934) was a Dominican priest from England known

 for his preaching,lectures and his many books

 on theology and spirituality.

A REFLECTION:

TO SAVE WHAT WAS LOST

                 Father Bede Jarrett, O.P.

It is perfectly obvious that if I am so blessed by the gifts of the Spirit, that I find my reason, will, and emotions made increasedly perceptive of divine currents previously lost to me, I can hardly help acting in a new way.

I now discover the view about me, and, consequently, my manner of life must in some ways be different from before. 

The vision has come; it cannot simply open my eyes to new things in life without

thereby altering that very life itself. 

Not only shall I find that what seemed to me before to be evil now appears to me to be a blessing;

but on that very account, what before I tried to avoid, or, having got,tried to be rid of, I shall

now accept, perhaps even seek. Similarly, whereas then I was weak, now I am strong;

 and increase of strength means new activities,  new energy put into the old work and

 finding its way into works altogether new.

My emotions, finally, which imperiled and dominated my life, slip now into a subordinate position and, 

while thereby as actively employed as before, are held under discipline.

It is clear, therefore, that the gifts will not leave me where I was before,

but will influence my actions as well as alter my vision. I find, then,

 that these new habits will develop into new activities. But this means also that I have

 a new idea as to the means of achieving the full happiness of life. 

Once upon a time I thought happiness meant comfort; now I see that it means something quite different.

 My view of happiness has changed. I am therefore obliged to change also my idea 

as to the means and conditions whereby, and in which, happiness can be found.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES ! ! !

THE JOURNEY

Many years ago, never would I have imagined that I would be sitting at a computer...
or writing about the stretch of road that led me here.
The cover of  my little book, inspired and actually written and gifted
by God, in the Person of the Holy Spirit, is titled "The Journey".
This Gift given, was both poetic and prophetic.

In the midst of a very busy family life, after a time of listening prayer,
words began to flood through my mind without stopping...as if a dam had burst!
They were not my thoughts and came so fast that I thought,
" maybe I should write this down!"
As an unexpected  Summer rain shower in the late afternoon, they came. And so it was!
After a few years, there were pools of paper pieces collecting in various
 areas of the desk and sitting room.

My friend and helper, Ben Gordon, offered me many of his Saturdays engineering
page by page,  helping to create the book by his skills on the computer.
The written pages are only bits and pieces,rising from the deep recesses,
opening  them into the Light of day.
The real story began to emerge with the idea of putting these thoughts all together
as a legacy for my family.As it was taking form, it named as
the Woman At The Well.
 I had met Jesus years before, and seen Him active in the persons of an Al-Anon group.
Jesus then, became active and alive to me through the power of the Holy Spirit.



WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES
 
I am trying to live according to what the moment gives...
accepting the invitation that the moment offers...
trusting that Jesus will carry me wherever He decides.
That means, making very few plans in order to let the Spirit lead, and
trying to say "Yes" to each moment as it shows itself  and
staying open.
That's not an easy task for me, as I want to be in control
and make my own decisions.

So, I saw that Fr. Donato was giving us an opportunity for a retreat day on a Saturday.
A one day retreat to soak up all that was being offered, sounded perfect to me!
The presentations were so inviting...and I was so ready to learn from such
knowledgeable priests!
"Better enroll quickly, the space will fill up in no time!"...thought I!
 So I did!... and I looked forward to going on that day.

THEN....
my friend Anne called and INVITED me  to a gathering of
Women of Faith, spiritually guided by the Sisters of Saint Anne.
They were presenting "A walk with Mary" as a Saturday retreat!
Yes! That same Saturday as Fr's retreat day!

 "Well my resolve to, "live in the moment and go where I am invited"
hadn't lasted or taken root for very long, had it?"
Now I knew where
God was calling me!
An invitation,.. at the last moment,..   and not of my doing 
or my plan,...and 
I felt drawn to be there when it was offered to me!
I gave my "yes!"


THE MAGNIFICAT  TODAY

My soul glorifies the Lord !

My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour!

For God has blessed me lavishly and makes me ready to respond.

God shatters my little world and lets me be poor.

God takes from me all my plans and gives me more

than I can hope or ask.

God gives me opportunities;

the ability to become free;

to burst through my boundaries.

God gives me strength to be daring,

to build on God alone, for God

is the ever greater One in my life.

God has made known to me this: it is in my being servant that it becomes

possible for God's kingdom to break through here and now.

Translated from German by Olga Vamke, IBVM


YES!...BUT WHAT WAS HE CALLING ME TO...

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: what is GOD trying to announce to me, to you?

What Was GOD trying to ANNOUNCE to me?

NO WIND AT THE WINDOW

                       John Bell

No wind at the window, no knock at the door

No light from the lamp stand, no foot on the floor

No dream born of tiredness, no ghost raised by fear

Just an angel and a woman and a voice in her ear

Oh, Mary Oh, Mary don"t hide from my face

Be glad that you're favored and filled with God's grace

The time for redeeming the world has begun

And you are requested to mother God's son

The child must be born that the Kingdom might come

Salvation for many, destruction for some

Both end and beginning, both message and sign

Both victor and victim, both yours and divine

No payment was promised, no promises made

No wedding was dated, no blue print displayed

Yet Mary, consenting to what none could guess

Replied with conviction,"tell God I say yes."
__________________________________________________

What was being asked of me?
There was so much beauty in the words of the call...
so many thoughts and feelings surrounding them...
too much to understand ...
Then Sister said we could take a break! There was coffee and fruit and food
on the welcoming table...
but I was in need of "silence" and
listening into that silence
  for the still ,small Voice to make
sense and put the pieces of the
calling together.Within my spirit I heard the
invitation to "Go to the chapel"
YES! I was in the right place...
As I began to pray...
"O' my GOD, I am heartily sorry- for all my offenses,
thank You for Love and your Mercy-"

the Words were coming and heard... gently..
"All is well! And all is well and all will be well!"
"In all these things, get Understanding!"
"You are getting Understanding!"
Let ME love you!
Be still!-
Stop running-
There is nothing you need to do-or
can do!
Let Me Love you!"
______________
"Forget the others-
Just be loved-
absorb the love
don't push others away
let Me love you through them- their love for
 you comes through Me alone
or they, the other, would not
even approach you!
So be not afraid-
It is I,your Savior,
who has every moment
measured toward you!
Receive--Me
in that communion!"

______________________

"I leave this altar in peace
May I return in peace...
I leave an altar of suffering
for a journey of Transformation...
A stone remains;
in it's place
a heart of flesh and compassion
 moves onward"
                  Anonymous
_________________________________________


THE STORY IN LUKE'S GOSPEL

A message is given to the woman.
Something stirs deep within her being...a truth she has always known
but neither heard nor expressed...
Something happens which is utterly new but very familiar.
She comes to a place where she has always wanted to be.

What happens to this virgin of Nazareth in an announcement
     is not a singular event, a once-and-only.
It is an announcement for now and forever.
God is with us.
Women and men are called to"give birth,
called to be "Mothers of God"

                                           Meister   Eckhart