“Remain in Me”

By Sr. Mary Valerie Schneider | May 26, 2022 |

During this late Easter Season we hear in the readings “Remain in Me.”  The Risen Lord has appeared several times. Word is out that Jesus is truly alive. The time is ripe to tell the whole world. Mission trips have begun. “Let’s go!” So boats set sail, converts are brought to Christ in distant cities, concerns in the early Church are being solved. And in the midst of such fruitful activity, the disciples hear “Remain in Me.”

How did the disciples remain in Christ? Perhaps they set aside certain times to pray as Jesus had taught when he went aside to pray. Events necessitated prior prayer such as calling forth Mathias to take the place of Judas Iscariot. Prayers to the Holy Spirit directed the Council of Jerusalem. Was there anything else to let the disciples remain in Christ? Yes, Christ Himself. Their Friend and Master Jesus was always there—whether they were petitioning Him, converting Gentiles, eating, sleeping. That’s the same for us. We always “remain in Him.” No matter how aware or how distracted. We live in the blessed assurance that as children in the Womb of God we are cared for and loved unconditionally.

Will They Know We Are Christians by Our Love?

By Sr. Mary Valerie Schneider | May 16, 2022 |

John’s Gospel states: “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” A disciple is one who learns from his master, who imitates the master, and measures progress in the comparison. Others will know we are Christians by seeing in us the characteristics of Jesus Christ. The adjectives describing God, Who is Love, form the descriptive words for the disciple. When others see us, do they see compassion, forgiveness, healing, faithfulness, mercy, hope?  Can others come to us for counsel and wisdom? Do we radiate joy and peace? Are we generous in acts of mercy? How much effort do we put into promoting justice and care for the environment? Will others see the face of Christ in our face? This will depend upon how much we have learned from the Master.

When I Put My Socks On

By Sr. Mary Valerie Schneider | May 14, 2022 |

When I look at my feet, I think of my dad. He had long, thin toes. Mine are the same. You know the rhyme: “I’m a poet, and you should know it. My toes show it. They’re Longfellows.” My dad died nearly 20 years ago on May 14, an easy date to remember because it’s the feast of St. Mathias, Mathias being his middle name. It surprises me how many times I think of Dad—almost always at very mundane times like putting on my socks. Another mundane occasion involves putting on my necklace with the Notre Dame crucifix. Why? Because my first memory of Dad is the time he put a necklace on me before my picture was taken. Such little things connect Dad and me, but these incidents remind me of the connection I have with all who have gone before me, as well as everyone living now. The unity of the People of God united in God’s love astounds me. How blessed this reminder when I put my socks on!

To Remember What It’s Like

By Sr. Mary Valerie Schneider | May 12, 2022 |

Our hearts are disturbed by all the displaced persons in our world—those who have fled Ukraine, persons crossing rivers and seas to reach a shore in hope of freedom and safety, people in our town whose homes have burned. We are empathetic, yet many of us cannot remember what it’s like, for we have never experienced these things. Pope Francis has given us the phase “globalization of indifference,” a malady that so easily can characterize ourselves. We don’t want to be indifferent, but the experience of destitution or endangered lives is beyond our comprehension. How can we whose lives are so dissimilar remember what it’s like for such suffering people? We can’t, except for comparisons that pale when compared. We have all perhaps experienced feeling alone, that no one cares, that help will not be coming, that life is unfair. By reflecting upon our own needs at those times, we may be able to become more empathetic and compassionate. And in the process, we may be more open to contributing our service and aid. We may become more aware of the need for prayer and become the person the Gospel calls us to be. We become more open to the Holy Spirit, who is the Memory of the Church. With God we remember.

“Familing”

By Sr. Mary Valerie Schneider | May 9, 2022 |

Yes, my spell check is working. This is a made-up word, obviously based on the word “family.” The suffix -ing shows action, effort, intent, planning. “Familing” is keeping one’s parents and siblings and in-laws connected. Sometimes it means getting everyone in the same place. Or maybe it’s a text or phone call to individual members. Prayer is a greater connector, as we pray for the health and well-being of our loved ones. Our hearts and minds keep our loved ones emotionally close, and our unity in God keeps us spiritually close.

May is usually a month of many opportunities to bring family together with weddings, First Communions, reunions, graduations. Attend each with intent and effort; that is, plan to make conversation meaningful, be attentive to anyone on the periphery, and make “We’ll see you soon” a real promise.

Sons and Daughters of Encouragement

By Sr. Mary Valerie Schneider | May 7, 2022 |

In the ancient Church among the earliest community of Christians there was a man named Joseph, also named by the Apostles, Barnabas meaning “son of encouragement.” The reason for the change in name is not given, but I wonder whether Barnabas’ willingness to sell a “piece of property” and put the money “at the feet of the apostles” encouraged other believers to do the same. The word “encouragement” implies giving others courage, which may be necessary when parting with finances—or parting with other things like our time, our desires, our convenience.

Look for opportunities to be a son or daughter of encouragement. Take courage yourself to give up something important to you. Encourage others to step out in social action. Help with fund-raisers. Say an encouraging word to those who need a little push. With such deeds we become not only sons and daughters of encouragement but also fathers and mothers who pass on an inheritance of encouragement.

Jesus’ One Ideal

By Sr. Mary Valerie Schneider | May 4, 2022 |

According to Chiara Lubich, Jesus had one ideal: “May they all be one.” This was God’s ideal at creation. This was the purpose of the Incarnation. This was the message of Jesus’ life, his last words at the Last Supper. As followers of Jesus, this must be our one and only ideal: unity. How will I increase unity in my family and workplace? When I watch the news, will I recognize the spiritual features of Christ in everyone regardless of race or beliefs and be able to call them brother and sister? When I walk outdoors, will I feel my oneness with all created things? Our world is so divided. Every tiny act of unity (thought, prayer, deed) is badly needed.

Risen Lord, your resurrected life is the power giving unity to everything. Give us the will to solidify the God-given bonds among all people and created things.

Where Will You Be?

By Sr. Mary Valerie Schneider | April 14, 2022 |

The Sacred Triduum is the most sacred time of the year. We do much more than remember past events: Last Supper, crucifixion, resurrection. We celebrate the Paschal Mystery. Jesus Christ died and rose, and so do we. We remember the past events so that we can better be the Christ today. We receive the Eucharist and become what we eat.

When a close friend or relative invites you to a meal, will you attend?  Where else would you be? If your close friend or relative celebrates a victory, would you celebrate with them? Where else would you want to be? If your closest friend or relative is dying, would you be with them? Our God invites us to the Sacred Triduum. Where else would you be?

See It, Taste It, Smell It, Feel It, Hear It

By Sr. Mary Valerie Schneider | April 13, 2022 |

More than at any other time of the year, the liturgies of the Sacred Triduum stimulate our senses with the potential for fully engaging us. On Holy Thursday our eyes and noses are attuned to the glistening oils carried in procession, our ears hear the ring of bells at the Glory to God, we hear the splash of water during the Washing of Feet, and incense and candles invite us to the Altar of Repose. In contrast are the darkness and emptiness of Good Friday. Even more intense darkness begins the Easter Vigil until the Easter fire is lit. Thrill to the leaping flame. Enjoy the veritable feast for the senses! The lights are bright, the smell of lilies overpowering, the music boisterous, the excitement contagious. Watching the reactions of the newly baptized, we imagine the feel of water dripping into our own eyes. Come to the feast!  Don’t miss it!

Down is Up

By Sr. Mary Valerie Schneider | April 11, 2022 |

Do you ever find yourself remembering, humming, or singing a refrain non-stop? The past few days I keep hearing “He has covered himself in glory.” It’s from Exodus 15, the responsorial psalm after the required Exodus reading from the Easter Vigil. Referring to the Israelites’ triumph over the Egyptians who drowned in the Red Sea, it seems an incongruous phrase in the midst of Holy Week. Yet Holy Week is a mix of glory and shame, life and death, victory and defeat. Rituals and readings take us up and down, down and up.

Down, down, down. That is the direction of Jesus Christ. It becomes the direction of his followers, too. The Second Person of the Trinity gave up all recognition to his divinity to become incarnate—a mere human. And all through his life, his direction was down. Born in a stable, living as a carpenter, suffering all manner of mental and physical abuse, equated with Satan, sweating blood in agony, betrayed, killed as a criminal. “Because of this, God greatly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name which is above every name.” The Letter to the Philippians states that “every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” For over thirty years Jesus covered up his glory. In his resurrection, the down became up. In his resurrection “He has covered himself in glory.”

Followers, be courageous in the multiple downward moments of life. Down is always the way up.