December 2007

...is like ten bridesmaids who went to meet the bridegroom (Matt 25;1)

Five bridesmaids were unprepared for any delay - they were not ready when it mattered. Meister Eckhart summed it up when he said, "Wisdom consists in doing the next thing you have to do with your whole heart and finding delight in doing it".

For Marists: Wisdom consists not so much in knowing what to do in the ultimate as in knowing what to do next. Availability - being ready is part of our Marist charism.

November 2007

..is like a treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field. (Matt. 13;44)

Was the man totally mad in risking everything on this one venture? Jesus is asking us to perceive the Kingdom of God in the same way - a treasure that is worth more than anything we value in life.

For Marists the treasure is not in the earth, in the sky, in the sea, but rather in the ordinary dwelling places of our lives, in our everyday coming and going and meetings. This is "our hidden and unknown" charisma.

October 2007

..is like a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds, but when grown is the biggest shrub of all and becomes a tree to shelter the birds of the air. (Matt 13;31)

Great things begin small. The mighty oak tree grows silently from the tiny acorn seed. Great convictions grow only in silence and reflection. God speaks only in silence. We in this rootless, noisy age need to learn this lesson.

Marists are invited by Fr. Colin to go often, in spirit, to Nazareth. Nazareth teaches us the value of small beginnings. It reminds us of the the fact that true values often lie below the surface, hidden from sight. Nazareth teaches us to be real before God.

September 2007

..is like a good employer, a landowner going out at daybreak to hire workers for his Vineyard. (Matt 20;1)

Jesus gives us a marvellous insight into the wisdom of reversal which is at the heart of the Kingdom. The landowners' generosity to the latecomers aggrieves the early starters. Do we allow God the freedom to do things his way? We may think it's only our right to sing "I did it my way" but what happens when we hear the Lord singing it?!

For Marists; we try in "our way" to bring to our corner to the world, something of the presence and the Spirit of Mary. We believe that in God's plan we are all important even at times if we are unnoticed.

August 2007

..is like a lamp. Jesus said "would you bring in a lamp to put it under a tub, or under the bed? Surely you will put it on the lamp-stand (Mark 4;21)

Light is not a private energy; it is not for hiding or hoarding. Light should be put where it shines for everyone. We need lights - we need to be lights in our world of darkness. We need to share our light, in the witness of our lives. Jesus said "let your light shine".

For Marists; Mary was like this - a transparent light. We see right through her to the 'Light of the World' whom she protects. Marist - through Mary to Christ.

July 2007

...is like the loving Father and the Prodigal son. The Father said, "my son you are with me always, but your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found" (Luke 15;11)

The son being lost has not nullified his father's relationship with his son. The father does not let go of his son. He finally meets his erring son with love's extravagance and rather than listening to a boring speech, he organises a good party. The older brother has no reach in him. His hard work has made him hard-hearted.

For Marists: we pray that the father in each of us be fit and willing to run for mercy. It is our privilege and duty to join Mary in her work today, to show something of her mercifiul and motherly face to those we meet.

JUNE 2007

..is like a king who gave a feast for his son's wedding. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited. (Matt22;1)

The image we get is that of a gracious host who hopes that everyone will come to his banquet. We hold precious the image of God who calls good and bad to the banquet of life. The expectation is that we prepare ourselves now by being dressed appropriately in "sincere compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness adn patience". (Col. 3;12)

For Marists; their vision is of an age of Mary - represented by Mary, the woman who dreams not of judging, picking and choosing, but rather of gathering and re-uniting all her children.

MAY 2007

..is like a dragnet cast into the sea, that brings in a haul of all kinds. When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are no use. (Matt 13;47)

In the parables Jesus baptises the ordinary and tells us that it is in the theatre of the ordinary that the drama of the kingdom is lived out. This parable has shades of the 'end of time' and those who will enter the Kingdom.

For Marists: a welcome is afforded for all kinds. In our dragnet we try to deal with those wounded by life and provide a safe harbour filled with compassion - a harbour always open and caring.

APRIL 2007

..is like the unscrupulous judge and the importunate widow (Luke 18;1)

The judge and the widow are at crisis point. Finally, the widow exhausts the judge into justice. Her persistence pays off finally. Jesus encourages us to be persistent in our prayer and never loose heart. We have become used to instants - instant coffee, instant results. But the valuses we, as Christians cherish are not instantly available. We have to be persistent - we have to invest our time in our beliefs.

For Marists, Fr. Colin said "unless we renew ourselves, our treasure will run out. We must wind ourselves up, as people do with clocks to make them go. Unless we are attentive, generous and persistent the Spirit of our society will be lost.

MARCH 2007

..is like a Good Shepherd. Suppose a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays: will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go in search of the stray? (Matt18;12)

Shepherding was a hazardous occupation. The figure of the good shepherd, the mixture of tenderness and toughness of foolishness and extravagant love, is how Jesus actually behaves as a leader. In the eyes of Jesus the loss of one sheep is not "just one of those things"! Jesus searches, he never leaves people for lost - he said "I have come to seek out and save the lost."

For Marists shepherding means fidelity to the Church of NOW. We live in the present and workfor the re-building of the Church, with love as Mary did. Fr Colin said "The Society of Mary must begin a new Church.