Tag Archives: god

Discipline and Formation

Posted on by Rob Peace
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During the fourth week of Ordinary Time, the readings continue to reflect the themes of encouragement to faith communities and challenges to embrace what is new so that we may maintain what is sacred. Being open to the presence of God in uncertain times figure prominently. Please consider writing your own responses to the readings or reflection questions below, or to reply to other peoples’ contributions. Also, if you know of a person, either religious or lay person, who has modeled the Xaverian way, and wish to share their story, please feel free to add to the comments section. 

Today’s passage from the Letter to the Hebrews focuses on the discipline, or correction, that comes with formation, and the author uses the image of parent and child to make their point. Love can come in many forms, but self sacrificing love can mean having the difficult conversations with a loved one to help them redirect their actions.

(Painting below “An Old Man and his Grandson” by Domenico Ghirlendaio)

Here are the readings for Wednesday, February 5 from the Letter to the Hebrews and the Gospel of Mark.

Reflect on the Description of the Xaverian Charism for Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools.

(Above photo of Br. Joseph (Maximus) Comber, CFX)

  1. The readings for today remind us of the need for constant formation. “Discipline” is used as a term like correction or the redirection of naughty children, but it really is a call to humility. Are we able to accept the need to change even when in our minds, the way we’ve always known and done things has been just fine?
  2. In the Gospel, the people cannot see or hear the Good News that is right in front of them, because they are unwilling to accept who or what might have changed, even if it benefits them. Think about the words of encouragement in Hebrews, especially when we are reluctant to accept correction or opportunities for growth and formation.
  3. Read the appreciation for Brother Joseph Comber, and reflect on how he embraced a life of humility that led him to great acts of service and ordinary moments of joy.

Out of Weakness Made Powerful

Posted on by Rob Peace
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During the fourth week of Ordinary Time, the readings continue to reflect the themes of encouragement to faith communities and challenges to embrace what is new so that we may maintain what is sacred. Being open to the presence of God in uncertain times figure prominently. Please consider writing your own responses to the readings or reflection questions below, or to reply to other peoples’ contributions. Also, if you know of a person, either religious or lay person, who has modeled the Xaverian way, and wish to share their story, please feel free to add to the comments section. 

(Painting below “Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac”)

Here are the readings for Monday, February 3 from the Letter to the Hebrews and the Gospel of Mark.

Reflect on the prayer, “Prophets of a Future Not Our Own” by Bishop Kenneth Untener.

(Above photo of Brother Plunket Doherty, CFX Teaching at Malden Catholic High School in 1970-Xaverian Brothers)

  1. Are we able to be at peace with the idea that our legacy or life’s work may not be remembered by many, or that we may not see the fruits of our labor? How does this apply to anyone charged with forming or educating a young person?
  2. If you were a follower of Jesus who witnessed him healing the man with the unclean spirit, would you judge the events that unfolded as a success? What was the source of the onlookers’ fears?
  3. A former student once remarked that “Brother Plunket Doherty commanded a roomful of boys with just a look and a whisper.” How can our very dispositions around others be an efficacious way of sharing our faith or understanding of spiritual gifts?

Joy and Storm Clouds

Posted on by Rob Peace
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As we begin the fourth week of Ordinary Time, the readings continue to reflect the themes of encouragement to faith communities and challenges to embrace what is new so that we may maintain what is sacred. Please consider writing your own responses to the readings or reflection questions below, or to reply to other peoples’ contributions. Also, if you know of a person, either religious or lay person, who has modeled the Xaverian way, and wish to share their story, please feel free to add to the comments section. 

Images of crucibles and foreshadowing of crucifixions permeate today’s readings from the book of Malachi and Gospel of Luke. These are sobering messages but hopefully not foreboding. Christianity, and the spiritual life in general, are not about glorifying suffering or masochism. Rather, just as Mary carried the sorrowful mysteries with her, the more attentive we are to our present realities, including times of dull or acute pain, the easier it is to accept moments of grace and happiness. What can help us in this journey is a commitment to the present tense with contemplative practices, even simple ones, that can put our lived experience into greater focus. Consider the very active life of Br. Philip Neri Crossen (bio below) that was animated by his commitment to stillness in prayer. This week, continue to reflect on the gentle and sometimes urgent prompting and encouragement in the letter to the Hebrews to follow the ways of Jesus, even when the path forward is not clear. Note also the patterns of activity that Jesus establishes for himself and his friends in the Gospel of Mark, and the tensions that his choices cause among even with people who admire him and his ministry. Like Jesus, may we own these uncomfortable moments with others as a part of revealing who we truly are meant to be, rather than to seem in appearance.

(Fresco below “Presentation of Christ in the Temple” by Giotto)

Here are the readings for Saturday, February 1 from the Book of Malachi, the Letter to the Hebrews, and the Gospel of Luke.

(Above photo of Brother Philip Neri Crossen, CFX-Xaverian Brothers)

  1. Read the appreciation of Br. Philip Neri Crossen by Br. Thomas Ryan. Note the details of Br. Philip’s daily routine and the intentionality of his commitments large and small.
  2. Reflect on the interactions of Mary with Simeon and Anna. How do their omens and warnings fit into a moment that is meant to be both a rite of passage and celebration of life? Remember, the Gospel literally means “Good news!” How can this inform us in our interactions with people we truly love in very active and selfless ways?

Turn Toward Not Away

Posted on by Rob Peace
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In this third week of Ordinary Time, the readings continue to reflect the themes of encouragement to faith communities and challenges to embrace what is new so that we may maintain what is sacred. Please consider writing your own responses to the readings or reflection questions below, or to reply to other peoples’ contributions. Also, if you know of a person, either religious or lay person, who has modeled the Xaverian way, and wish to share their story, please feel free to add to the comments section. 

Like yesterday, today’s readings challenge us to embrace what is unknown. We are not to ignore our fears or pretend they do not exist, but instead recognize that these fears-of failure, rejection, mortality, are all real. In doing so, by being honest and vulnerable about what makes us uncomfortable, we can experience a transcendence, a grace that shines bright in the midst of the confusion caused by life’s storms. The author to the Hebrews, ever the cantankerous cheerleader for their community, recounts the difficulties faced by heroes of the Old Testament, and how they connected to the mystery of God even as they knew they would most likely not see the fruits of their labor fulfilled in their lifetimes. Like Jesus in Mark, the author to the Hebrews reminds the audience that faith does not let them avoid the storms, but to engage the storms and emerge stronger, regardless of the immediate outcomes.

(Painting below “Jesus Calms the Storm” by Neil Thorogood)

Here are the readings for Saturday, February 1 from the Letter to the Hebrews and from the Gospel of Mark.

Next, read and reflect upon “A Description of the Xavrerian Charism”

(Above portrait of Theodore James Ryken, Xaverian Brothers)

  1. In the Charism statement, we acknowledge that like the Founder, Theodore James Ryken, we are called to be open to being “put in our place.” This implies the need for a disposition of humility but also one of gratitude. How can we experience this gratitude while at the same time navigating the very real and tangible challenges and conflicts that come with trying to live a spiritual life in an environment that may be inhospitable to this life?
  2. It is important to not overlook the humorous detail in the Gospel of Mark that Jesus was fast asleep while out on the boat with the apostles. Ironically, it is the apostles who were actually asleep in this situation. What does this mean and why does Jesus so badly want them and us to wake up? What does Jesus want us to wake up to and recognize, perhaps for the first time?

No Need to Look

Posted on by Rob Peace
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I’ve always had mixed feelings about the movie “Forrest Gump.” I always thought it was the third best movie of 1994 behind “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Pulp Fiction”, yet it got all the accolades. Nevertheless, there are several powerful quotes in the film that resonate today and have nothing to do with chocolate. My favorite line comes after Lt. Dan sarcastically asks Gump if he has “found Jesus yet?” Without missing a beat, Forrest replies, “I didn’t know I was supposed to be looking for him, sir.”

In this third week of Ordinary Time, the readings continue to reflect the themes of encouragement to faith communities and challenges to embrace what is new so that we may maintain what is sacred. Please consider writing your own responses to the readings or reflection questions below, or to reply to other peoples’ contributions. Also, if you know of a person, either religious or lay person, who has modeled the Xaverian way, and wish to share their story, please feel free to add to the comments section. (Painting below “Jesus Preaching from a Boat” by Jorge Cocco)

Here are the readings for Wednesday, January 29 from the Letter to the Hebrews and from the Gospel of Mark.

Next, consider the advice of Anthony de Mello:

“Don’t ask the world to change….you change first. People who want a cure, provided they can have it without pain, are like those who favor progress, provided they can have it without change. The one who would be constant in happiness must frequently change.” -Anthony de Mello, SJ

(Above photo of Tim Coppejans, head of school at Des Freres in Bruges, Belgium, and Br. Dan Skala, CFX, General Superior)

  1. What does de Mello insist is necessary for spiritual growth as well as tangible change for the better in our world?
  2. In Mark, Jesus suggests that we are actually standing on fertile ground, we do not have to search for it. What daily reflective practices can help remind us of where we actually are and break the illusion that we are far away from God?
  3. The Xaverian Brothers began in Belgium, and the Charism is still alive and well there, led by committed lay people and the Xaverian Brothers. Consider the story of Des Freres as an example of how the Charism continues to inspire people to recognize the fertile ground underneath their feet.

Return and Rejoice

Posted on by Rob Peace
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(Painting below “Nehemiah at the Walls of Jerusalem” by Paul Gustave Dore)

As we come to the end of the second week of Ordinary Time, the readings shift to two homecomings: Nehemiah and the Israelites as they begin to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, and Jesus returning from his time in the desert to the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth. Both moments are emotional, as they conjure up memories of the comfort of the past. But Nehemiah and Jesus look at their people squarely and reveal to them what they may not be ready to hear-it is time to build something new. Today we also feature the life of the extraordinary Brother Arcadius Alkonis, who answered a call to join the Xaverian Brothers, take on leadership positions in schools, and then, to build something new. In his case, it was to teach and serve in multiple schools in Kenya.

In this third week in Ordinary Time, we continue to encounter the encouragement from the Letter to the Hebrews and dare to keep up on Jesus’ rapid but intentional journey through the Gospel of Mark.

Please consider writing your own responses to the readings or reflection questions below, or to reply to other peoples’ contributions. Also, if you know of a person, either religious or lay person, who has modeled the Xaverian way as Brother Arcadius did, and wish to share their story, please feel free to add to the comments section. 

Here are the readings for Sunday, January 26 from the Book of Nehemiah the Gospel of Mark.

Read Brother Ed Driscoll’s tribute to Brother Arcadius Alkonis.

(photo of Brother Arcadius Alkonis, CFX-Xaverian Brothers)

  1. After reading the tribute to Br. Arcadius, it is easy to marvel at the scope of his career and ministry just in terms of the places he traveled! However, Br. Ed Driscoll claims that “…in his own unique way, Arcadius embodied the Xaverian Charism as no one else can.” How does “embodying the charism” make a person’s life so much more than the sum of one’s achievements?
  2. The themes in this week’s readings are about the actual grace in answering a call from God, and navigating the pushback from well meaning people who struggle to accept that traditions must change in order to reflect the holiness that created them in the first place. Today, the tension between preserving the past and exploring the future is very real in spiritual communities. This tension can be healthy if all parties are open to dialogue. What is dialogue, and how is it different than mere agreement or consensus?

Awareness of Conversion

Posted on by Rob Peace
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As we come to the end of the second week of Ordinary Time, the readings shift somewhat today and tomorrow. Today the overwhelming themes are conversion and the zeal that comes from this transformation. We read about the conversion experiences of Saul of Tarsus and of the surviving 11 Apostles following Jesus’ resurrection. Conversion and awareness of it is a central component to the Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers. Please consider writing your own responses to the readings or reflection questions below, or to reply to other peoples’ contributions. Also, if you know of a person, either religious or lay person, who has modeled the Xaverian way, and wish to share their story, please feel free to add to the comments section. (Painting below “Jesus and his Apostles” by Edward Longo)

Conversion is never truly sudden, even if it is dramatic like Saul of Tarsus. True, he was thrown from his own life into darkness, emerging as a changed person. Yet if one reads the narratives about Paul’s faith journey, along with the points of emphasis in his missionary letters, it is clear that Paul’s conversion to the Gospel keeps occurring over time, sustaining him and giving him strength to approach new audiences and the challenges of a changing world.

  1. How have experiences of humility (or humiliation) in your life been a source of wisdom which you can then share as a gift to others?
  2. How is a religious conversion like a lifelong friendship, committed relationship or marriage?

Here are the readings for Saturday, January 25 from the Acts of the Apostles and from the Gospel of Mark.

Then read pages 12 and 13 of the Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers. 

(Above painting “The Conversion of St. Paul” by James B. Janknegt)

Br. James Kelly was my first boss at a Xaverian school. I say boss because there was never any doubt that he was in charge. He is best known for leading three Xaverian Schools, the last being Mount Saint Joseph High School, and for his larger than life personality. For me, what impressed me most about Br. James was his talent for sharing the history of the Xaverian Brothers with lay people like me who had little to no background in it, and in transforming these stories of the past into lessons and parables for our shared future as a school community. I learned later that Jim was not educated by Xaverian Brothers, so he made it his mission to find out as much of their history and dispositions as possible. He succeeded, with a convert’s zeal.

  1. How has your understanding of history, either personal, societal, or of your own community, helped you share your values to new people in your orbit?
  2. How have you maintained your core values yet adapted to how they inform your actions and work based on the signs of the times?

The Rigors of the Spiritual Life

Posted on by Rob Peace
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For the second week of the season, the first readings continue to come from an unknown author directed at the somewhat ambiguous audience in early Christianity known as “the Hebrews.” The Gospel readings during Ordinary Time are focused on Jesus and his actions and words, but mostly his actions, in the Gospel of Mark. There is also a reflection question based on documents from the Xaverian Brothers or from accounts of the lives of Xaverian Brothers or lay Partners in Mission. Please consider writing your own responses to the reflection questions below, or to reply to other peoples’ contributions. Also, if you know of a person, either religious or lay person, who has modeled the Xaverian way, and wish to share their story, please feel free to add to the comments section.

Here are the readings for Thursday, January 23 from the Letter to the Hebrews and from the Gospel of Mark. (painting below from wallpapers.com)

Both the letter to the Hebrews and the Gospel of Mark speak to Jesus’ availability, especially to those pushed aside or shunned in their societies. In Mark we also read accounts of “the crowd”, which becomes a character in its own right in this Gospel narrative. The crowd is fascinated with Jesus, but is fickle when it comes to whom and when it chooses to venerate, ignore, or condemn. People in the crowd are reactive and not reflective. Jesus, on the other hand, possesses the spiritual discipline to be faithful to his mission and not be distracted by the temptations of celebrity, or to become someone that he is not to fit the desires of the crowd. Consider when you are having a moment in which you are tempted to speak or act out of expediency and not out of authenticity? When are those weak moments most likely to occur, and when can you reflect on these and other events in your day-in the morning, on a commute, or before you retire for the evening? Think about reflection to prevent reaction.

Read page 12 of the Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers and then read the biography of Br. Hugo Hammer, CFX (p. 125 and 126 in the Xaverian Menology)

(Above Hugo Hammer, CFX as a Senior at St. Xavier High School in Louisville, KY 1940)

By all accounts, Br. Hugo led a vigorous and active life! How do the spiritual recommendations on p. 12 of the Fundamental Principles direct us to intentionally reflective practices to sustain our energy in our lives that in their own way are just as busy as Br. Hugo was?

Feeling Sluggish?

Posted on by Rob Peace
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For the second week of the season, the first readings continue to come from an unknown author directed at the somewhat ambiguous audience in early Christianity known as “the Hebrews.” The Gospel readings during Ordinary Time are focused on Jesus and his actions and words, but mostly his actions, in the Gospel of Mark. There is also a reflection question based on documents from the Xaverian Brothers or from accounts of the lives of Xaverian Brothers or lay Partners in Mission. Please consider writing your own responses to the reflection questions below, or to reply to other peoples’ contributions. Also, if you know of a person, either religious or lay person, who has modeled the Xaverian way, and wish to share their story, please feel free to add to the comments section.

Here are the readings for Tuesday, January 21 from the Letter to the Hebrews and from the Gospel of Mark. (“Father and son” painting below by Peter Brown)

This is Ordinary Time, both in the liturgical year and in secular life. It is natural to feel sluggish with no holiday or event immediately on the horizon. The two readings are an interesting juxtaposition between “sluggishness” and the “sabbath.” Reflect on a daily observance or ritual that helps you to connect, either with another person, or to God. It can be simple, but it must involve a degree of vulnerability or discomfort on your part.

Read page 7 of the Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers.

Next read the two tributes to the late Br. Bonaventure Scully, CFX.

https://www.xaverian.org/list-detail?pk=94828

https://news.nd.edu/news/in-memoriam-brother-bonaventure-scully-cfx-former-rector-of-keenan-hall/

Settings change as do circumstances even if a person or community is confident in knowing their mission and beliefs. When one moves from a familiar place to somewhere new, it can be frightening and disorienting. Reflect on how Br. Bonaventure reflected the Charism expressed in the Fundamental Principles through the different journeys his life took him.

(photo above of Br. Bonaventure Scully, CFX)

Ordinary Time Week Two: Building Communities from the Inside Out

Posted on by Rob Peace
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The readings from Isaiah and Paul’s letter to the Corinthians talk about the Spirit of God being present in community. In the Gospel of John, Jesus reveals himself as the incarnate God in an intimate communal setting, a friend’s wedding.

This week, as we read and reflect on the Scripture and on the lives of people transformed by the Xaverian Charism, consider the challenge and the joy of finding God in ordinary communal settings. St. Paul’s outline of the ideal Christian community in Corinth is quite simple-be open to one’s spiritual gifts and give that gift away to others you know those you don’t know. Then, be at peace that whatever earthly station in life you find yourself because of these gifts, that you are a reflection of God and part of something great, something holy, and that in this communal setting of faith that you are loved and free to love. It sounds so simple, but it is incredibly difficult given our very human desire to stand out and above others, be it through achievements or acquisitions. We foolishly associate them as examples of real power, instead of being aware of the real power in sharing it or giving it away. We choose fission instead of fusion. We are blessed, though, to know and read about the women and men who understand their place (which may change over time!) in their communities and in their journeys into the unknown, and who knit people and their environment back together thread by thread.

This week, as we read the letter to the Hebrews and Gospel of Mark, be inspired by the ordinary but transformative messages of perseverance, making connections with other people when social norms dictate otherwise, and healing through the balance of action and contemplation.

As an example of someone who envisioned what Paul’s letter to the Corinthians could be, consider reading the extraordinary life of Brother Lambert Bents, CFX, and think about the life giving choices he made in his long Xaverian mission. Have a good week.