Reflection on Luke 11:1-13

The disciples witnessed Jesus' many pauses for prayer, intimate dialogue with his heavenly Father.   They must have found his return from these times so attractive that they, too, wanted a similar experience.   They asked that he teach them to pray.  We have accounts of the Lord's Prayer in the Gospels and Christians have used this as a model of prayer for two millenia.  

Still there are people who see prayer as a recital of someone else's words, or as an urgent petition.  Prayer is really a conversation--a two-way conversation with the One who loves us in a very personal way.  Two things are very important to remember as we enter the adventure of prayer.  God is not a vending machine where we enter a certain amount of coins or words and receive a predictable product.  Also, it takes time to learn God's language.   We would not expect to go to China, for example, and immediately be able to speak and understand.  The "textbook" for God's language is the Bible.   Those who read the Sacred Scriptures every day, for however a short time, slowly begin to "hear" and understand God's part of the conversation.  He comes as a gentle breeze and night as a dramatic light and sound show.   It takes practice and a dedication of some time of quiet and solitude... again it might be only a few moments in a busy life but it must be regular and a part of a total life of love and service according to our state of life.   True prayer is so simple that it is often overlooked, but God loves us.  Jesus wants to be with us, so every small effort of our own will be richly rewarded.  The most tangible fruit of the Holy Spirit is joy which comes like a dawn and then a lovely summer day and remains with us even while difficulties and sufferings assail us.   Theologians may have far more precise insights into prayer gathered from great saints over the centuries, but many simple people know the wonderful experience of prayer.  They would all tell us that it is well worth the effort.

Reflections on Luke 10:38-42

There are many homilies on the story of Martha and Mary that define them as the worker and the pray-er.   That is an oversimplification.  In the episode recounted today in Bethany it is Martha preparing the meal and Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus.  I imagine that it is Mary who first heard Jesus somewhere in a crowd, telling her brother, Lazarus and sister, Martha about him.   It is Martha who invites him on this occasion.  Martha knows how to feed a guest and make him or her feel at home, but if we read the Gospel of John, Chapter 11 we see that she is also quite a theologian, echoing very closely the words of Peter on the plane of Ceasaria-Philipi.  

Another aspect of the story of the sisters of Bethany should encourage the many lay people who yearn to grow closer to Christ, but feel their daily duties prevent this and that they must leave holiness to those with a religious vocation.   We need to show them that their mundane tasks, done in love for family or neighbor are holy and bringing them closer to God each day.   That they may be aware of this does not require a great deal of time.   A simple dedication of their work to Christ... a moment's thought and breath... is sufficient.  If they spend every day ten minutes reading Sacred Scripture... especially the New Testament....  they are learning the language of the God who is present there in the word, and will begin to hear his voice in their daily life.   How about keeping a small New Testament in the glove compartment...  ?   There is much time spent waiting in a car.   There are also excellent scriptures in mp3 format or on CDs which can be played while driving.   A good investment is in one of the small magazines that present a reflection on the readings of the day.   As a Saint said hundreds of years ago in response to the question, "How can I become a Saint?"  "Will it!"

Reflection on Luke 10:25-37

The story of the "Good Samaritan" is so well-known that it has become an expression in our common and even legal language.  Here also we have an ancient narration that some will say does not fit our modern Western lifestyle.  We have all heard stories of people going to aid an accident or crime victim and causing more harm from not knowing the best way to handle injury.   Fortunately, there are still people who rush to help, and save lives.   In many cases it may be better to call the familiar 911 and let professionals help the victim.

The danger, however, is in a MENTALITY of letting others handle the situation.  We may lose the very human instinct of compassion.  There are many wounded and suffering people and we meet them every day.  We must keep our hearts attuned to the needs of these people.  When I hear of terrorism victims in a far country, do I take a moment to suffer for and with them, perhaps say a prayer even though I cannot do anything for them in a visible way?  There used to be a custom of praying for a patient riding in an ambulance as we move over in response to the siren, and of praying for the deceased in the hearse at a passing funeral procession.  This "exercises" our heart of compassion.   Then there are the people we encounter.  There is sometimes a chance to say a tactful, "You seem tired."  Which invites someone to share a burden of pain with us.  So much of spirituality consists in an attitude of love for our neighbor far and near.   Our society is becoming more crude and insensitive.  We can bring the love of Christ and change this society, giving joy and hope.

A Beautiful Person Goes to the Lord

Anna Levay was born into the large family of Rosalie Broun and Joseph Levay, with love among the parents and many children. This happy home life came to an end when her mother died after a short illness and five year old Anna was sent to her Aunt Julia, who raised her with her own children in Detroit, Michigan. She was there also a cheerful child whoA adopted a little chicken, nursing its broken leg. Her early religious life was divided between Sunday Mass in the Catholic Church and in afternoon services in the protestant church of Aunt Julia.



In elementary school she attended HolyCross School in Detroit and then to St. Joseph Hill Academy on Staten Island, New York. She attended College and studied early childhood education at Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey.



Sister Sebastian taught in schools in Staten Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey and in California. This writer remembers her best there when the parish built a kindergarten in the convent to accommodate her class in St. Therese School in San Diego. She was always calm and achieved discipline by the slightest change in her look and tone of voice. The children loved the teacher who was not much taller than they and often, behind her back they would jump up and take comparison measurements. She was able to accompany the songs of the children with her own talent on the piano and voice and gestures that brought the songs to life. At one point in her life she had two parkeets and made sure that she played radio music for them too. She was conscious of spreading happiness in many ways.



During her golden jubilee year she had a chance to go to Rome and here, God granted her some wishes in an almost miraculous way. Upon arrival, she announced that it was her dearest wish to see Sister Leonore Mohl whom she remembered from her early formation. It was explained that Vienna was much too far away from Rome. We took the visitors to a pilgrims’ Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and going out by a side door we literally “bumped into” Sister Leonore who had also attended that Mass. The other wish was to make an urgent request of the Holy Father. Again, we explained that the most she could hope from an audience was to see a white dot at the front of thousands of people. She was disappointed but God had another surprise in store for his faithful handmaid. Some days later there was a smaller celebration at which she could get close enough to whisper into his ear. Let us leave the content of that whisper to the angels, but someone must be treasuring a wonderful photograph.



In the last months of her life it was difficult for Sister to respond and to eat. Many took the effort to coax a weak smile and to have her drink some nourishment. It was decided that she would be placed for rehabilitation so that her muscles would remain functional. In the afternoon, the sisters who visited her at Carmel Richmond Nursing Home remarked about her alertness and the sister who gave her a rosary said she wound it around her hand with a smile. She nodded in the affirmative when asked if she wanted to meet Jesus. In the evening we received a call that she was taken to the hospital because of seizures. When the sisters arrived at the hospital the doctor was waiting for permission to stop all extraordinary means to revive her, saying she would never recover consciousness in any case. His beloved little sister had already slipped peacefully into the arms of Jesus.



May she rest in peace and pray for us.