Welcome!
Thank you for visiting. I hope you will enjoy the variety of topics to enhance your spiritual life. You can either read them below and/or down-load them and read at your leisure. I have also added my Sunday Homily for those interested.
CURRENT TOPICS: Short History of the Eucharist series, The Prodigal Sons, The Prophet’s Wife, and Stories From Africa. ENJOY!
15th Sunday OT – Mark 6:7-13
Jesus gives them a list of what they were not to take. They were to be like him in carrying almost nothing. He allowed them a staff for the road and a pair of sandals. Heading the list of forbidden baggage is bread. (This may be significant!) The section of Mark that we are beginning is often known as the bread section because of the number of times the word bread is mentioned. Mark may be hinting at the Eucharist, a doctrine easily misunderstood by outsiders. Missionaries of Mark’s own time would reflect that though they lacked often material bread and resources, they had with them the Eucharistic presence of their Lord.
In Give Us This Day reflection Heidi Cerneka, a Maryknoll Lay Missioner, writes, “…often when I asked what had led them to be pastoral visitors, they would say, “I want to bring Jesus to the prisoners.” But honestly, Jesus was there long before us. Our mission is not to bring Jesus, but to go out and meet him in our neighbor.” That is why when the mass is ended we go out to meet Jesus in others with the presence of the Eucharistic Lord within us. We don’t have to say or do anything special, and sometimes being present is enough.
When I visit the folks down the street each week at Margaret Hall I usually like to accompany Mark, who is the lay chaplain and spiritual coordinator. He distributes the Eucharist several times a week and I accompany him once a week to anoint the new people. With this simple ritual, there isn’t much time to chat. On a few second visits we chat for a while before Mark gives them communion. I can tell they are happy to see us, but bringing communion, there is a special joy for some.
Heidi writes, “…what does this gospel ask of me? What are my security blankets today that Jesus calls me to leave at home or to not be distracted by? Things I might use to buffer me from direct contact with others or that get in the way of my truly connecting with people…How can I disarm myself so that, as in the gospel, I can truly approach others and be unencumbered enough to accept their hospitality, to meet people where they are so as to walk with them?” We really don’t need any special training except for whatever keeps us from being ourselves.
The gospel reminds us that we don’t have to do it alone. Find a companion, since Jesus did send them in pairs, two by two. Also, be ready for rejections, and big time. How many times have you sent away those pesky Jehovah Witnesses? We Catholics are smart, though, since we go to the hospitals and rest homes where it is harder to escape us. But really, do we need to go anywhere? Nowadays our biggest ministry can be to our own families. Through prayer and witness there will be a time when they will be coming to us.
We have our family gathering of just us siblings at the Lake next week. It is a great opportunity for us to support one another and to see where we are in our lives, especially spiritually. My two older sisters’ husbands have both died in just the past few months. My older brother still has health issues, but we hope he can come. It’s the next generation we are all concerned about, the children and grandchildren and great grandchildren.
I am convinced that these next generations do not need people to preach dogma or the gospels to them, but to see them lived through example. As Saint Francis reminded his friars, “Teach the gospels, and when necessary use words.” Teach the gospels by living them, otherwise they are just words on paper without life. Our generation continues to have a unique opportunity to model the gospels for them. What a great parish we have for them to find out how that is done, and not just through our programs but in our faith community.
Jesus used parables about nature, like the mustard see and the birds and the flowers in the field. It is also not surprising that Saint Francis preached to the birds and tamed the wild wolf terrorizing the city of Bobbio in Italy. Saint Anthony was said to preach to fish of the sea where they gathered at the shore to listen to him. (I didn’t know fish had ears!) We have some eagles and osprey attend mass on Sunday mornings here. I used to tease the folks at the lake that they were gathered to hear the word too.
We have our own St. Francis, Bro. Bob, who feeds the birds outside our back door. I used to think that he was really feeding the sparrow hawks, until he started scattering the bird seed under the bushes for their own protection.
We celebrate our other Bro. Bob Politi today for the seed that he has scattered over the years here at St. Francis de Sales and fed us by his quiet work for the parish in the background as our sacristan and liturgy coordinator. May they both continue to be examples for us in our faith community.
KEPKILION MONASTERY, Kenya
Our Lady Of Victories, Kepkilion, Kenya
Every year we took our novices to experience monastic life at Kepkilion Monastery, Our Lady of Victories, near the city of Molo in eastern Kenya. The monastery was located high up in the mountains of this area, north of the famous Mau National Reserve and south of the Nandi Hills. Kisumu, which sits on the bay of Lake Victoria, is due east of the monastery, about a two hours drive. This may mean nothing to the reader, but this information will help if you are following along with a map to get a feel of the area. Kipkelion lies off the main road and is easily seen as a somewhat moderate town in Kenya, but once off the main road, the real driving fun begins. Depending on the time of the year, which is usually denoted by the rainy seasons, this road is almost impassable at some points, mainly because it gets washed out in many places and repairs are far and few between. One year our van had to be towed through the mud by the huge monastic farm tractor, which itself almost got stuck.
The main reason our staff likes to bring our novices to visit the monastery is the beauty of the place where it is situated. We certainly don’t enjoy getting up at 0300 hours a.m. for Vigils and then after that quietly sitting in the dark until the Mass starts at 0430 hours a.m. when some of the local people join us. Even then breakfast is not until after Morning Prayers which begin at 0630 hours a.m. Notice I keep adding ‘a.m.’ just in case you are not quite awake yourself. Of course, being a monastery, the whole day is filled with prayers. During the day there are three short prayer periods called, ‘Terce‘, ‘Sext‘, & ‘None‘. One can see there might be a slight confusion if this is your first time at a monastery. One of our novices didn’t show up for ‘None’ because they thought there was ‘no’ prayer time, even after we explained it very carefully to all of them. I wonder what they did during ‘Sext’?
Bananas of Kepkilion
The beauty of visiting the Monastery begins with the road trip, but since this isn’t a travel guide, I will just begin at the city of Kipkelion. Even though the area isn’t the highest in Kenya, Mount Kenyatta in central Kenya takes that honor, it is the highest in the western part. Not surprisingly, the monastery is located near the highest point. The last part of the drive, beginning at Kipkelion, is up, up, up on bad, bad, bad roads. Usually a good driver is not part of enjoying the scenic views that the rest of us delight in, since the road does skirt the ridges with disastrous drop-offs. Along the way are several villages with open spaces where banana groves are planted wherever there is a mountain stream coming down from the peak. Even thought we will climb up to eight thousand feet we are still located near the Equator where the weather is unusually warm. The landscape changes constantly between little mountain streams with banana groves to hilly country sides planted with maize (corn) with little or no thought to contour planning. Unfortunately, the word has not gotten around yet that planting without contour planning, the roads get washed out with half of their fields.
There are also small and large patches of pine tree groves dotting the landscape, but becoming fewer as we climb. Once in a while there will be some smoke coming from the middle of the pine trees where someone is most likely making wood charcoal. I ran into several charcoal mounds on my hike up to the peak that already had the charcoal removed. As we approached the monastic main road, we were driving on the last ridge that leads to a small valley where the monastery was located beneath the main mountain peak. They owned an incredible amount of land in this area, enough to include the peak, but it was mostly inaccessible only twenty years ago.
The panorama of the monastic grounds took in acres of corn fields and grazing fields for their four hundred or more head of milking cows. The property also boasted a primary school for the children of the monastic families that worked there and the folks living in the surrounding area, an up-to-date clinic, and housing facilities for the monastic families. Already encroachment was a main problem from the surrounding Kalogen tribe that was reducing the monastic lands year by year. Because of the tension in the area, it was difficult to remove the families without serious repercussions breaking out from other tribal members.
The government was petitioned numerous times in the past to bring electricity to the monastery in the hope of installing milking machines. Such a project would greatly increase the income for the monastery that was already struggling by selling the little milk they did produce. One of the main problems that the monastery faced was bad management of the farm and their finances. Because of inbreeding, their cows were giving less milk with each generation of cows, which even now were down to almost a liter (quart) a day per cow compared to seven to ten liters a day that they should have been getting! Imagine the trip down to the local market on the roads that we came up on. It is no wonder that some milk was lost in transportation. Because of their poor finances, the monastery depended on monies from outside. Monies from retreats could not be depended on because of the bad roads. At one point when the electric line was nearing the monastic border, it took a diversion to a rich politician’s homestead, who was a member of parliament and obviously had connections with the government. The monastery still does not have electric to this day.
Nandi Hills of Kenya
Our stay there this trip was peaceful and quiet. We took many walks around the property, especially up to the peak where one could see for miles around. Along the way many different types of flowers could be spotted, even those not indigenous to the area, but may have been brought in by the English or Dutch monks. I remember spotting a beautiful wild gladiola and wondering how it had gotten here in the middle of Africa? In some of the glens and groves where the numerous mountain streams passed were several groves of fig trees and banana trees. Of course, banana trees were everywhere, but at least five different varieties! The monastic grounds were well kept with a few small flower gardens here and there where the old monks from Europe still kept them up. In the courtyard of the enclosure, closed to the public, were the best of the gardens. The monks kept a small but exquisite goldfish pond. Several times a hale storm that is common in the area almost killed the fish due to the quick temperature drop in the water.
One day I was resting under a kibanda (a thatched roof shelter for sitting). Not far from the kibanda, was a sturdy split rail fence where the monastery kept their two breeding bulls. They were huge animals, the likes this city boy has never seen before! I noticed one of the bulls was missing. I was planning on spending several hours in the kibanda reading and writing and was able to find out what happened to it. I saw a young man in his twenties, large and powerful as his bulls, slowly leading the delinquent bull back to his pen. The bull had escaped and had wandered over to where the young females were kept, hoping to get in a few unauthorized visits until he was caught. The sight was very impressive. Here was this huge bull humbly walking behind with his head down, being led back to his pen by the man, who was walking in front of it, straight and tall without any fear. The bull could have easily horned the man in front of him and gone back to the females to continue his escapades.
I guess I better talk about the monks before I close, since that is the reason we went to the monastery in the first place. I have to admit, my favorite prayer time of the day was the Vigil Prayer in the middle of the night. Even though it was an ungodly hour, at least for us, a loud clanging bell wakes the monks at 0300 hours. It was an almost mystical non-time where half-awake from our sleep, we move like zombies towards the large church which connects the other three sides of the monastery to form a square, enclosing the courtyard.
We have to cross the courtyard which is open to the stars above, getting a glimpse of the heavens, so clear this night and open to so many uncountable stars that one could confuse the constellations. Another novice bumped into me, a reminder to move on. Across the courtyard we enter the dark, silent church and try to find our way to the choir where the Vigil chants will be sung. If you can imagine the large rectangular floor of the church, one third at the front of the building is an area for the congregation, another third in the middle of the church with the floor raised above by several steps, is the sanctuary and large enough to accommodate about fifty people. The last third, the choir with the floor sitting below the sanctuary, is itself divided in half where three tiers of prayer stalls holding ten monks each are located on each side of the wall facing each other.
The only light in the building this night is a candle, but some of the monks enter with their own flashlights, like a scene out of Star Wars. Eventually two small gas mantle lanterns are lit that surprisingly give off quite a bit of light. Eventually they will get fluorescent lights run by solar. One monk begins the chants from one of three books in front of us. Fortunately we know the routine by now, otherwise a newly arrived visitor would have a difficult time negotiating the books, and in the dark. The Vigil Prayer time lasts over an hour, and at the end we sit in the dark for half an hour until the bell for Mass is rung. We don’t have any choice, since the building is dark and any movement is discouraged except for those preparing for the next service. The monks sing in a clear Gregorian chant with a prayer leader for the day, usually someone who knows the chant. Some of the voices are strange to us, or I should say, the English is difficult for the African tongue to pronounce and sing at the same time.
When the post-election violence broke out after President Kibaki’s election for a second term, the monastery had sheltered non-Kalogen people from tribes not friendly with them or who are their traditional enemies. Their neighbors almost burnt the monastery down! Conditions became so bad that the monks had to find safe haven in Uganda at another monastery. The monastery and land was eventually sold to another religious order.
We will miss this wonderful place that holds many good memories, but we have learned that eventually everything changes with time here in Africa.
“Short History of the Ordinary of the Mass”
Please read the whole “Short History” by clicking on the site below.
Short History of the Ordinary of the Mass
THE PRODIGAL SONS
Part VI: Second Oasis and Encounter with Telesphor the Ethiopian
“You said this trip would be full of surprises,” Abe said. “You didn’t mention that it would be full of dangerous adventure with wild and blood-thirsty men.”
“It’s no trip in the woods,” Eliud countered. “There will always be surprises in life. That is what keeps it interesting. Be honest, your life must have been boring until now.”
“We would make business trips every now and then,” Michael offered. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without those trips.”
“And none were without incidents?” Eliud asked.
“OK,” Abe admitted. “There were problems once in a while.”
“Serious problems?” Eliud pushed.
“Remember that time we were set upon by robbers,” Michael recalled. “That was close!”
“Couldn’t go anywhere without protection after that,” Abe admitted.
“We paid a mercenary group to travel with us,” Michael said, “after that, to protect us.”
“How do you know the mercenary weren’t in on it in the first place?” Eliud challenged. “Maybe they set the whole thing up just to get the business of protecting you.”
“You think?” Abe asked.
“I’m sure that is a possibility,” Eliud said. “Been down that road myself.”
“That is why we were forever worrying about our sons’ business trips, where they met your daughters.”
“Good sons, Abe!” Eliud said. “You should be proud.”
“We are blessed,” Michael added.
“How far to the next watering hole?” Abe asked.
“Not much longer,” Eliud replied. “This time, it should be only ourselves and the stars.”
“I am looking forward to some quiet conversations under the night sky,” Michael said.
“Are you sure we won’t have any surprised visitors?” Abe asked.
“One can never be too sure,” Eliud was playing it safe. “However, as you noticed, we are far from any other waterhole this time.”
“How is that helpful,” Abe said. “It would make us more vulnerable!”
“Because they would have to travel far, like us, to get there,” Eliud said. “And we would have seen them by now. My scouts have been keeping out an eye for anyone following.”
“That’s good to know,” Abe added.
“I wouldn’t put my family at any unnecessary risk,” Eliud also added.
“Is that it, there in the distance?” Michael asked.
“It is,” he said. “You have good eyes. It is nestled at the foot of the hills. My men are already there scouting the area. The hills make a good look out too.”
“It is bigger than I thought” Abe said. “I’m looking forward to a restful night.”
“You will love the spot, Abe,” Eliud said, “since the hills cool it off considerably in the night. There is also a surprise there that I am anxious to show you.”
“Oh? What is that?” Abe was curious now.
“There is a marking on the cave walls there that you might find interesting,” was all Eliud would say. “My scouts said there is an Ethiopian Official already camped there.”
“That could be good or bad?” Abe wondered out loud.
“Most of the Ethiopians we have met on our travels were mainly officials and curriers traveling to Jerusalem,” Michael said. “Maybe we know this one?”
“We think this one is probably an important official by the looks of things, waiting to rendezvous with his escort,” Eliud guessed. “That is the usual way for them and we will meet them half way. It looks like his escort from Jerusalem has already returned.”
“I wonder what he is doing out here in the middle of no-where?” Michael was guessing.
“Probably the same thing we are doing, just going from one destination to the next,” Eliud suggested. “He could have gotten off schedule, too. That is easy to do for anyone traveling on a schedule.”
“It looks like we are only a couple of hours from our destination,” said Michael.
“You are right, Michael,” said Eliud, somewhat surprised. “You have hidden gifts that are starting to show on this trip. We will be there soon. My scout is returning.”
After a short while a familiar rider approached. “The official from Ethiopia welcomes us to join him for dinner tonight,” the scout informs Eliud and the brothers.
“Well, this is good news,” Eliud said. “Tell him we accept. Brothers?”
“Yes, we would be delighted!” Abe and Michael answered in reply.
“I thought you said this oasis would be deserted?” Michael said more to the aside.
“Fortunately, the only person I am interested in seeing in all the world just happens to be at the same oasis at the same time we will be!” Eliud said excitedly.
“You’ve met him before?” Abe asked surprised.
“Oh, yes! Many times!” Eliud said still excited. “One cannot help but meet many people who travel a lot like us on the same roads. We even try to time it so that we can encounter each other.”
“Why is that?” Michael asked surprised.
“Many reasons,” Eliud said, “but mainly for good companionship, safety, and the latest news. Any news is important when traveling!”
“Why is that?” Michael repeated himself not realizing it.
“So that you don’t fall into any unfortunate situations that could have been avoided by simply knowing about it ahead of time,” Eliud said. “For example, the Romans are always on the move, which is why they built these roads and that is why they are successful in keeping their empire together. They may not get to a certain place in time, but they will get there eventually.”
“What good is getting somewhere too late to do any good?” Michael asked.
“The fact that Rome will get there eventually and extract retribution one way or another is a very strong deterrent!” Eliud offered. “Their opponents will think twice next time, even if they have won this round.”
“Do you find it very helpful?” Michael asked unconvinced.
“Yes, I do,” Eliud responded, “up to a point. Besides, the alternative is very enticing.”
“How is that?” Michael challenged.
“If the rulers of a territory cooperate, the Romans could even continue to let them rule themselves,” Eliud answered.
“As long as they pay their taxes,” Michael added sarcastically.
“The alternative is to be wiped out by a superior force, Rome,” Eliud countered. “Besides, even if Rome wasn’t a present danger, there are always some tribe or people waiting to expand their territory worse than the Romans. Israel had a great arrangement with Rome.”
“How is that?” Michael asked surprised.
“Our young men didn’t have to enlist in the military,” Eliud pointed out.
“If you paid a tax in place of service,” Michael countered.
“We didn’t have to send our temple tax to Rome. We were allowed to send it to Jerusalem instead,” Eliud added, “and other amenities.”
At that moment the Ethiopian Official rode up to meet them.
“Eliud, my old friend, you are still in one piece!” said the Official.
“I am, very much so, because I have traveled with the best…you!” Eliud returned the greeting. “Your good presence wards off all evil spirits. What brings you to this part of the country, business in Jerusalem?”
“Yes, the usual business,” he said. “What about you and your two companions? I haven’t seen them before. New sons in law?” he laughed.
“Sort of right, Telesphor! My daughters would be doubled blessed though. These are their new fathers-in-law!” Eliud proudly exclaimed.
“Oh?” Telesphor looked confused.
“The daughters and our sons…” Abe began.
“…our sons and their new wives…” Michael continued.
“…are at home running the business,” Abe finished, “…with their mothers.”
“So, it’s your chance to get away?” Telesphor offered.
“Yes!” they both answered and laughed.
“Good for you,” was all Telesphor could muster.
“It’s a long story, friend,” Eliud said.
“We have the time,” Telesphor added laughing.
***If you have your favorite prophet/s, and I have several, you will enjoy these series. This present series is from The Prophet’s Wife where Isaiah’s wife tells her side of the story.
THE PROPHET’S WIFE
Part Six: Finale
“What now, my love?” Miriam asked Isaiah.
“Now we wait,” Isaiah said to her, “to see what the king decides.”
“What is there to decide?” Miriam said not really wanting an answer.
“Unfortunately, the king listens to those without knowledge or understanding of Yahweh,” he said. “They are shaking like the leaves of a tree, clinging to their belief that Jerusalem is indestructible because Yahweh protects it.”
“Not if the people do not keep their covenant with Yahweh,” Miriam adds. She pauses for moment to get his attention. “My husband, what will happen to the children?”
“They will be safe, my love,” Isaiah said. “I am certain of that, since Yahweh has promised to keep his WORD alive in the hearts of our disciples.”
“You mean your disciples?” Miriam said a little puzzled.
“Our disciples, Miriam, since Yahweh has spoken through the both of us,” Isaiah said with love and emphasis.
“Our sons will continue when we are gone,” Miriam said hopefully.
“These are terrible times, but they are also wonderful times to have the Lord God speak through us and even the prophet Hosea from the North,” he said with awe. “We live to see even his sons collecting his prophecies for the future of our people.”
“Then you believe we will get through this?” Miriam asked him hopefully.
“Yes, that I am sure,” he said, but hesitates. “I am not sure how Yahweh will act in this present moment, even though I am convinced that Jerusalem will fall.”
“If not now, then the Lord God will act in the future?” Miriam asked looking for some certainty.
“After listening to Rabshakeh speak, the Chief Cupbearer of Sennacherib,” he intimates to her, “I have come to an understanding that the city will be spared.”
“When was this, my husband,” Miriam asked.
“At Shiloh, the conduit of the upper pool during a truce,” Isaiah informs her. “He was negotiating with King Hezekiah and his officials.”
“Why do you think they will spare Jerusalem?” Miriam asked now with hope in her voice.
“The main reason is that the Assyrians wouldn’t negotiate if they intended to completely destroy Jerusalem,” he said. “At least for the king sake, he didn’t side with the rebels of Ashdod, and that may have saved us now.”
“But why destroy all our cities?” Miriam asked confused.
“Maybe to teach King Hezekiah a lesson, especially as an example for the other kingdoms,” he answered. “Besides, Jerusalem would be worth more paying a ransom than destroyed.”
“What was the other reason?” Miriam asked.
“Rabshakeh was a very clever speaker, chiding Judah for making an alliance with Egypt, calling that nation a broken reed,” he said. “It was his next statement that caught my attention when he said that Yahweh, your God, said to me, ‘Go up against this land, and destroy it!’ It was then that I recalled the same scene in that place at Shiloah with King Hezekiah’s father, Ahaz. I knew then Jerusalem would be spared…this time.”
Both Miriam and Isaiah noticed that Sear-Jashub returned at that moment.
Sennacherib’s report specifies that he besieged and conquered forty-six of Hezekiah the Jew’s strong walled towns and innumerable smaller villages and made to come out from them 200,150 people. Of Hezekiah himself, he wrote, “I shut him up like a caged bird within Jerusalem, his royal city.” Mysteriously, however, precisely as Isaiah had predicted, Jerusalem was spared and the remnant there did survive.
In the midst of the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, instead of looking to the “Creator of these things…the One who fashioned them long ago,” as Isaiah had hoped they would, the citizens of Jerusalem were thinking only of how they might defend their city, and then when all seemed lost, cynically ate and drank and amused themselves, saying, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall be dead.”
It was then, Isaiah informs us—faced with this display of entrenched disregard for Yahweh and what he was doing—that he received what might well have been a final revelation. It would appear that in this moment Isaiah came to the same conclusion that a contemporary of his, the prophet Micah of Moresheth, had arrived at, perhaps around this same time: namely, that not just the Judean countryside would be decimated, but that Jerusalem itself would have to fall before there could be that new beginning Isaiah so fervently hoped for.
The savage destruction of many of Judah’s cities, including the important border fortress of Lachish, forces Hezekiah into a situation in which his only means of saving the kingdom is to pay a huge ransom. While stripping the capital of its wealth saves Jerusalem from destruction, it provides little solace to villager outside its walls whose houses and fields have been destroyed. One unfortunate side effect of the ransoming of the city is a strengthening of the belief in the inviolability of Jerusalem. Despite the shame attached to Hezekiah’s capitulation and the emptying of the city and temple treasure, Jerusalem had not fallen to the Assyrians. Therefore, the conclusion is drawn by many of its inhabitants, especially the priestly community that God will not allow the place where his name dwells to be destroyed. This myth of inviolability remains in place and even surfaces in the hope expressed a century later in Jeremiah’s time that God will continue to spare the city. (The Hebrew Prophets and Their Social World, Victor H. Matthews, Baker Academic, 2013, p.111)