RECOLLECTION – JANUARY- 2024

THEME: GAZE AT JESUS AND YEARN FOR HIS LOVING PRESENCE LIKE VENERABLE MOTHER VERONICA OF THE PASSION.

A major sign, of spiritual persons is, that they are always happy and kind to others. They don’t like to degrade and criticise people. Instead, they always offer motivating and kind words in the hope to make the world a better place. If you believe in the same values, then, yes, you are a spiritual person. For me, being a religious person is to be a person growing in values and that is prayer. The whole teaching of the Lord is growing in values.

Eg:-The Beatitudes – Mt 5: 1-11. Even the Lord’s Prayer is all about forgiveness.

Being Charitable
Being Compassionate
Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Appreciation and Gratitude
Spreading Hope
Sharing Hospitality
Practising Humility
Advocating for justice
Taking care of the old and sick.

A spiritual person’s highest goal is to be loving towards oneself and others. Her conviction, that we are all ONE, motivates her, to work, for everyone’s welfare and stay away from harmful activities. And always serve the Lord with gladness, for HE is the source of all welfare.

This is what our beloved Foundress, Venerable Mother Veronica of the Passion always believed and practised. Let us like Mother Veronica firmly believe the real Presence of God in the Tabernacle and give thanks to God for all the graces He bestows upon us. The magnetic pull of the real presence of God in the Tabernacle was so powerful that Mother Veronica and her sister Mary Ann decided to be baptized and became Roman Catholics. So, dear sisters, Baptism is a grace, where God gives you the spiritual power to walk towards Him and for Him, against all odds. We can also understand the intense desire to be one with God through the story of Zacchaeus. (Luke 19:1-10)

In order to have an intense desire for Jesus, the following guidelines will help us…..

1.Desire to see Jesus: The most important attitude, that one must have, before prayer is, this desire, to see God. Zacchaeus had it. The text tells us, “he sought, to see Jesus”.

2)Internal and external obstacles: immediately, however, he encounters, two impediments, which are interconnected. In the case of Zacchaeus, they are, his short stature and the crowd, respectively. They are connected, because if there were no crowd, his short stature would not have been, an impediment, and if he were tall; the crowd, would not have been, an impediment. My impediments may also, be both internal (no experience in prayer, distractions during prayer, procrastination, etc.) and external (no place, too busy).

Overcoming the impediments: Zacchaeus does not, let the impediments, get him down. He does not give up. Rather, he runs (a sign of urgency and also a sign that he gives up his ego, because grown up men were almost never seen running); and even has the boldness, to climb a sycamore tree. Will I make an attempt, to overcome my impediments?
Waiting and Listening: Contrary to what many may imagine, silence is a discipline, more on the ear, than on the tongue. We silence ourselves, externally, so that we may hear well. This is exactly, what Zacchaeus does. He does not, give in to his desire, to speak first, but listens, to what the Lord wants, of him. Is my prayer only “speaking”? Do I also listen?
Responding: Since he has listened first, Zacchaeus is able, to respond accurately. His whole being undergoes, a transformation. This is what, our prayer must do.
-Human beings are created, to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord, and by this means, to save themselves.
-And the other things, on the face of the earth, are created for human beings that they may help them, in prosecuting the end, for which they are created.
From this, it follows, that human beings are to use things, as much as they help them on to this end. Human beings ought to rid themselves of things, so far as they hinder them, from reaching the end.
For this, it is necessary to make ourselves indifferent, to all created things, and to all that is allowed, to the choice, of our free will, and is not prohibited to it; so that, on our part, we want health, rather than sickness, riches rather than poverty, honour rather than dishonour, long life rather than short life, and so in all the rest; desiring and choosing, only what is most conducive for us, to the end, for which, we are created.

To be “created” means, I have, a beginning and an end. It means, that, l have come, at a moment, in time, and will go, at a moment, in time. It means, that I am limited, by space and time, and so I cannot be, in two places, at the same time or at two times, in the same place. It means, therefore, that I am dependent on the Creator, on others, and on nature. It means, that I am interdependent, not independent.

How often, have I made myself, an end? How often, have I behaved, as if l were independent?
How often, have I tried, to be in two places, at the same time or at two times, in the same place? Is my body at 9:00 a.m. and my mind at 6:30 p.m.?
When l stir, the sugar in my tea or coffee, in the morning, am I already thinking of drinking the tea or coffee? When I am drinking it, am I already thinking of washing the cup? When I am washing the cup, am I already thinking, of placing it back, somewhere it ought to be?

While we may praise God, with our lips, the real praise of God is, through our lives. When Jesus asks his disciples, to look at the birds of the air, and the lilies of the field, (Mt. 6:25-34), he is in fact asking them to look at nature, which simply is what it is meant to be. It is not trying to be someone or something else. Imagine, if a cat would bark, like a dog or a cow would roar, like a lion, how strange, it would seem, to us. How then, do we not, find it strange, when we try, to be someone else? To really praise God, BE YOURSELF.

Am I content, with who I am, or am I constantly trying, to be someone else?
Do I often compare myself, with others, and so, feel despondent/ inferior or elated/ superior?

The other things, are also created. No matter, how precious, a thing might be, to me, it is also created. It has, a beginning and an end. It can never be, an end, in itself. “The other things” are things outside of me (my examinations, activity, family, parents, etc.) They may, even be events, in my past (hurt feelings, resentments, bitterness, etc). I need, to constantly keep in mind that they are all temporary, passing, and impermanent. In the Gospel of Mark, 10:23, Jesus says to his disciples, after the rich man had rejected his offer to give his possessions away, “How hard it will be, for those who have riches, to enter the Kingdom of God!” He repeats this, in 10:24 because his disciples are amazed, that he could say, such a thing. The point, that Jesus is making, in these verses, is, that possessions take hold of us, in such a manner, that we are not able, to realise, their temporary nature. The verses may be translated, thus, “How hard it will be, for those, whom riches have to enter the Kingdom, of God!” in other words, he is referring, to those, who are possessed, by their riches, those who are controlled, by their riches, and those whom their riches will not allow, to be free.

Do I possess things, or do things, possess me? Do I use things, or do things, use me?
Which are those things, those persons, and those events that do not allow? What am I going to do about them?

Ignatian “indifference” does not mean, a lack of concern or ignoring someone or something. Rather it is a positive attitude, of equanimity, in the face, of all situations. It means doing One’s best, in every situation and leaving the rest, in God’s capable hands. It means plunging into the din of battle, but leaving one’s heart, at the feet of the Lord. It means, doing an action to the best of one’s ability, but being unconcerned, about the results. This kind, of an attitude, is possible only if one realises one’s limitations (one’s creatureliness/dependency), and realises, that worrying or fretting about the results, will not change them. It has to do with, “letting go oneself and letting God in”.

Would I describe myself, as an anxious person? From where does, my anxiety spring?
Do I put myself, completely in all that I do, or do I do things half-heartedly and then worry, about the results?
Can I continue to be, “on top of the world” despite what happens, in my life? Can I be calm and composed even in different situations at all times?

To revere means, to regard, with deep respect, or to be in awe, of the one revered, who is present, in a tangible manner, in his creation. It has, nothing to do, with fear. It is imperative, to keep in mind, that our God is not, a God, who frightens us and so, therefore, there is no need, to be afraid, of him. On the contrary, Jesus reveals, God to us, only as unconditional love. The reverence for God, is along the lines, of the Psalmist: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic, is your name, in all the earth… When I look at the heavens, the work, of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have established; what are human beings, that you are, mindful of them, mortal beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8).

Do I take time “to wonder”, or is my life, simply, a rushing, from one thing to the next?
Am I afraid, of God, and thus, relate to him, as one would to a dictator/despot?

Service implies work, surely, but it goes beyond, to the attitude, I take, to my “work”. The number of miracles, that the Synoptic Gospels, narrate, is around thirty, yet Jesus is remembered, not merely, for the miracles, he performed, the service, he rendered, to people, but for his attitude (positive/optimistic/unbiased) in all that he did.

In Acts 10:38, Peter says about Jesus, “he went about, doing good……

If someone who knew me well was to describe my “work” in one word, what word would he/she choose?

Is there one quality in my life (kindness/charity/ generosity/ complete obedience/humility optimism/fearlessness etc.), which stands out? How would someone, who loves me, describe me, with regard, to this quality?