Faith and audacity

By Sr. Mary Valerie Schneider | March 20, 2015 |

faith-factor“What paralyses life is lack of faith and lack of audacity” (Teilhard de Chardin). Audacity: a great thing to have in yourself, but others probably won’t like it. The world’s most influential people were audacious: Mahatma Gandhi, Clara Barton, the signers of the Declaration of Independence, Paul Revere, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, Jr.—and the list goes on.

With Lent half over the day’s readings from the lectionary show Jesus more and more audacious. In John 7 we hear Jesus teaching in the temple area: “I was sent by One who has the right to send, and him you do not know. I know him because it is from him I come: he sent me.” We can imagine the hearers thinking, “How audacious! Even blasphemous! Get him out of this sacred space!” Yet Jesus persists in his claims to be what he is. We know the result: crucifixion.

Are we known for our audacity for good, for truth, for justice? Do we feel somewhat paralyzed in the face of evil?

Lord Jesus, Audacious One, give us your courage to enlarge our souls and grow into the audacity needed to proclaim your Kingdom.

 

Easter spurs us on

By Sr. Mary Valerie Schneider | March 18, 2015 | Comments Off on Easter spurs us on

“Sing out, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth, break forth into song, you mountains. For the Lord comforts his people and shows mercy to omega-point-his afflicted.”

We’re about three-fourths of the way through Lent, when Lenten resolutions may be harder to keep. Today’s First Reading telling us to sing and rejoice sounds like the Exsultet at the Easter Vigil. Its hint of Easter spurs us on. Lent, a season of preparation, would be meaningless without Easter. Moreover, every day we’re heading toward what Teilhard de Chardin calls the Omega Point where all will be one in the resurrected Christ, the cosmic Christ. It’s a good day to realize that no matter what the pain or sorrow, no matter how drab the day, no matter how dismal we may feel, there is always Easter. For Easter is not just a day, not even a whole season. Easter is every second of every day, because we live in the resurrected Christ. So do some rejoicing today! Catch a whiff of spring just two days away

Kind words

By Sr. Mary Valerie Schneider | February 25, 2015 |

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless” (Mother Teresa). Do you remember some kind words spoken to you years ago? Perhaps they changed your outlook and attitude, or even the direction of your life. Today is an opportunity to speak or write kind words. Will we use this opportunity or waste it? Be creative in your words. Instead of “Have a nice day” try “Have a complimentblessed day.”  Instead of a perfunctory thank-you to a cashier, give a sincere compliment about the service. If you’re a teacher, take the time to write words of affirmation on papers. If you’re a wife or husband, put a loving note in a place where it will be found. In our age of texting when whole sentences are reduced to a few letters, give some extra thought to whatever you write today. The echoes may be endless.

Can I become change?

By Sr. Mary Valerie Schneider | February 23, 2015 |

Mahatma Gandhi stated, “We must become the change we want to see in the world.” Lent and New Year’s Day are the traditional times Recycle_Logoto consider change. It’s easy to see that our world must change. We can’t continue polluting the air and water, we can’t keep killing one another, we can’t keep letting the poor become poorer, we can’t keep closing our borders to refugees and immigrants. But what can one person do in the face of world problems? I can recycle and reuse, I can become politically involved, I can participate in organizations that make my town and world better. I can become the change I want to see.

 

Fast or rejoice?

By Sr. Mary Valerie Schneider | February 20, 2015 |

live-lent-2Lent is three days old, and I’m already feeling weak about my Lenten resolutions. That’s no surprise, but it is surprising that the Gospel for today suggests that all that fasting and discipline aren’t always the best things. Jesus’ disciples aren’t fasting, and Jesus defends them. No one fasts or mourns at a wedding, so why should disciples do penance when they’re in the midst of their Master? With God in our midst it is always a time for rejoicing.

 Ash Wednesday – the beginning of praise

By Sr. Mary Valerie Schneider | February 18, 2015 |

praise4You’ve probably heard the saying “Inch by inch, life is a cinch. Yard by yard life is hard.” As I start my Lenten journey I take a deep breath and wonder how I’ll ever persevere through 40 days. But 40 days are only one day forty times; however, that still doesn’t make Lent a “cinch.” The day-by-day taking up of my Lenten resolutions reminds me that my whole life is just one day after another day. Begin your Lenten journey today, making just this one day a day to praise and thank God. Then tomorrow continue your praise and thanks. Day by day your life will become one big sacrifice of praise to the glory of God.

Ready for Lent?

By Sr. Mary Valerie Schneider | February 17, 2015 |

strong-familiesAs we begin Lent and look for ways to improve, the first place to look is with our family. George Bernard Shaw wrote, “A happy family is but an earlier heaven.” How true! Is there some tension in the family? Is there an elephant in the living room that no one wants to address? Even in the best families, there are things that could be altered for mutual benefit. Besides personal resolutions, discuss with spouse or family those family idiosyncrasies that could be part of Lent’s metanoia, the change of heart that will make everyone’s hearts a little lighter.

Service leads to success

By Sr. Mary Valerie Schneider | February 16, 2015 | Comments Off on Service leads to success

ServiceAlbert Schweitzer said, “Aim for service and success will follow.” This axiom describes so many of our world’s finest citizens. Today we honor George Washington, a man in service of the ideals of freedom, unity, and democracy. Make this a day of service. Perhaps success will follow.

 

A generous act of kindness

By Sr. Mary Valerie Schneider | February 14, 2015 | Comments Off on A generous act of kindness

heart 2“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see” (Mark Twain). Perhaps your day will be brightened by receiving candy, flowers, or cards. And you may be brightening someone else’s day in the same way. The origin of today’s sweet treats and flowers lies in a generous act of kindness performed by a saint named Valentine. Honor Valentine’s Day with an act of generous kindness. Unlike candy, kindness has no calories; unlike flowers, the act will never die.

 

Happy Birthday, President Lincoln!

By Sr. Mary Valerie Schneider | February 12, 2015 | Comments Off on Happy Birthday, President Lincoln!

kiteI admire Abraham Lincoln, a man with a great imagination.  At the end of the Civil War he imagined the unimaginable—bringing the South back into the United States without punishment. Lincoln also imagined a country without slavery, a country where every person had a right to vote and own land. His imagination gave him far-sighted vision, not the myopic vision of punitive measures or retaining the status quo. Lauren Bacall said, “Imagination is the highest kite one cay fly.” Lincoln sailed his kite, and we the people of this great union always have something to look up to.