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Resources and Inspiration

The Sisters of Providence offer you some prayers and recommend some readings you may find inspiring.

Prayer to Providence

Providence of God, I believe in you.

Providence of God, I hope in you.

Providence of God, I love you with all my heart.

Providence of God, I thank you for all.

Reflections on the Sunday Gospel

Sunday Reflection March 17, 2024
The Gospel According to John 12:20-33

Now there were some Greeks among those who had come up to worship at the feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me. “I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.

Reflection

For this reflection, I will focus on the following verse from the Gospel: ” Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.”

In using the image of the grain of wheat, Jesus was talking about his own death. He knew that unless he died, God’s redemption plan would not be fulfilled.

The message of Jesus is clear. As it happens with life itself, a grain of wheat only releases all its energy when it dies, to bear fruit and produce new seeds.

In these times we are living as a Congregation, Jesus invites us to die to our own selves, to what is preventing us to grow, to our preconceived ideas, to our old ways, prejudices, and individualism. If the seed is planted deep into the earth, our “I” will germinate, bearing abundant fruit as a single congregational entity, united by the common good, greater than what we have now.

Jesus promises abundant fruit to those who take risks and trust his word. That is His promise to us.

The good news is that we are not alone. In letting go, we can count on Him and on each other, sharing our companionship and our active, compassionate, and prayerful listening. In such amazing ways, God loves us.

Sister Ana Georgina Rozas, SP.

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Sunday Reflection March 10, 2024
The Gospel According to John 3:14-21

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

Reflection:

The Gospel follows the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, who had come to encounter Him at night looking for answers to his existential questions. Jesus said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.; Nicodemus replied, “How can this happen?”

Let us imagine ourselves in Nicodemus’ place, eager to be reborn into a new life. We too welcome the teachings of Jesus on the message of the cross presented to Nicodemus and to all those who wish to follow Him in deep silence.

Jesus uses the case of bronze serpent raised by Moses in the wilderness as a symbol: when someone was bitten by a snake, they would just look at the bronze serpent to stay alive. Jesus invites us to experience this faith and trust: “So must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life”.

The verse 16: ” For God so loved the world [“si tèlman” in Creole] that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” reminds me of the Rules of St. Vincent de Paul to the Daughters of Charity, Servants of the Poor. On the last rule of the first Chapter, St Vicent asks the Daughters of Charity to entrust themselves to the Divine Providence, completely abandon themselves, like a child to its nurse, knowing that God will always protect them, even when everything seems to be lost.

God sent His Son into the world not for judgement, but for salvation and freedom through his grace. Believing in him brings the experience of abundant Life. Being aware of our relationship with God, with ourselves and others leads to conversion and transformation.

Believing in salvation for our social, political, and religious environment, with humanity deeply wounded by all types of violence, by war and by misery, is a great challenge!

Yet, under a gaze of faith we can delve deeper into the message of Jesus on the cross, the space where he was most vulnerable, inviting us to embrace our own vulnerability, offering us freely to his Love, by giving our life to be reborn into the true “lasting” Life!

Sister Diane Sarrazin, SP.

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Sunday Reflection March 3, 2024
The Gospel According to John 2:13-25

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the moneychangers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” His disciples recalled the words of scripture, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the scripture and the word Jesus had spoken. While he was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, many began to believe in his name when they saw the signs he was doing. But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.

Reflection:

The Gospel talks about the temple of God as the most sacred place of all. Jesus loves His Father’s house and is most concerned about its use or abuse.  It should not be used for commercial and money-making ventures. Jesus’ passion for the purity of the temple is clear.  God’s house is for worship, prayer, communion, and fellowship.

The Son of God dwells in the temple and made the effort to cleanse it. Jesus as God’s zealous Son was willing to endure any suffering and hardship because of his intense devotion to God.  We belong to God. Jesus dwells in the temple of our hearts. We need to be reminded of this; the temple of God is living in us.

Now is the time when Jesus wants us to renew and purify our hearts so that we can radiate the presence of God that we reveal through our deeds. We are called to enter relationship with God, zeal for God and worship of God. Only in union with Him can we truly worship in our hearts and in our lives.

May the Lord open our hearts to Jesus and ask him to cleanse us as he did the temple in Jerusalem, removing all that must be cleansed, so that we may have room for God in our lives, and that God truly becomes the center.

Beth Rayray. SP

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Sunday Reflection February 25, 2024
The Gospel According to Mark 9, 2-10

After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them. As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So, they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.

Reflection:

Sometimes I wonder if Peter, James, and John were able to grasp the consequences of the invitation of Jesus. The Transfiguration was a foretaste of our Lord’s resurrection.

To spend time with Jesus is something unpaired. The disciples did not want to leave. They wanted to remain by his side.

” Rabbi, it is good that we are here!”

These words translate accurately the human experience of being in the right place, with the best companion. Such a source of joy, of fulfillment, and of strong feelings can only prompt us to say: “I hope this will last forever”.

The three apostles were part of an unrepeatable experience that resonated in their hearts in such a way that aside from their comprehension of it, they were able to experience deep inside a full, and deep warmth, connecting with the longing of the human heart for communion. Understandably Peter did not want it to end. It must have been something beautiful.

The concrete lesson we can draw from the Gospel of the Transfiguration is this: we should renew, rekindle, and regain the sacredness in our lives. To this end, Jesus comes to us, touching us and saying: “Do not be afraid”. It’s a path we don’t have to walk alone (we would not be able to in any case). He stands by our side, always comforting us and teaching us.

I’ll finish with these words: the Transfiguration of Jesus emphasizes the need for us to sow seeds of the new humanity, compassion, and generosity, of justice and inclusion.

Sister Gladys Flores, SP.

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Sunday Reflection February 18, 2024
The Gospel According to Mark 1, 12-15

At once the Spirit drove him out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry. After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Reflection:

Jesus had just been baptized. Immediately afterwards, his identity as Son of God was confirmed by the Father: “You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased.” (Mk 1:11) Then, the Spirit drove him into the desert, a hostile life-threatening place where one would endure trials, but also a place to encounter God. He remained there forty days, being tempted by Satan. How did Jesus pass his days during this long retreat? He encountered God in prayer, he contemplated the work of his Father and reflected upon the mission to which he was entrusted, the mission of salvation, proclaiming the Good News. At the same time, he was tempted by Satan. One thing is certain, whatever action came from Satan it was against the plan of God. While being baptized, Jesus had heard that he was the Son of God, the beloved Son of the Father. Were his convictions about his identity being put to test? While being baptized, the Holy Spirit had descended upon him. Was his obedience to the impulses of the Spirit being put into test? Mark says nothing about the number or nature of the temptations. Nor does he speak about how Jesus overcame them, but we do know that since hostile forces were tearing him apart, he had to fight the good fight, using the inner strength of the Spirit. After he had left the wilderness, temptation did not cease to come to Him.

He was tempted for forty days in the desert, much like he was tempted for the rest of his human life. When we look attentively at the Gospel, we can see that Jesus was called early on to remain faithful to his mission and that he acted accordingly. If we go back to the Capernaum scene, we can picture him facing the trap of success, after Simon told him: “Everyone is looking for you” (Mark 1:37). But Jesus replied to him: “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose, have I come” (Mark 1:38). And on his last evening in Gethsemane, he faced the temptation of avoiding the suffering that awaited him. “Abba, Father, he cried out, “all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me”. However, he continued: “But, not what I will, but what you will”. (Mark 14:36). Jesus entrusted himself entirely to his Father’s will.

As Lent begins, what could stop us from studying the Gospel and contemplating Jesus’ struggle to remain faithful to his mission?

We have given into the temptations of pride, self-isolation, laziness, indifference, relaxation, and others. As consecrated women, how do we face these? Are we concerned, like Jesus, about fulfilling the Father’s will? Do we rely on the power of the Spirit to fight our battle?

When John was arrested, Jesus began preaching and went to Galilee to proclaim the Gospel. He said: “The time has come: the Kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent and believe in the Gospel.”

Satan was defeated when Jesus overpowered him. The Devil is not God; neither is the Adversary. God is Love, and Love is the only true “Kingdom of God.” A new human story, a new creation begins.

The fight is not over. Satan still prowls around presenting us with false images of God. But Jesus invites us to resist these temptations. Hence, the urgent need of converting now that the “Kingdom of God is at hand”. Lord, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

Sister Rita Richard, SP.

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Sunday Reflection February 11, 2024
The Gospel According to Mark 1, 40-45

A leper came to Jesus [and kneeling down] begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

Reflection:

We can learn a great deal from the Leper in today’s Gospel about embracing vulnerability in our interactions and the life this can open us to live.

The leper teaches us to approach with courage, as he embraces his flaws and humanity. As a leper, he would have been suffering as an outcast, isolated and prohibited from interacting with others. Yet, he had the courage to approach Jesus acknowledging his realities and asking for help, for healing as he desired to live differently.

The leper teaches us to approach with humility and respect, kneeling before Jesus he asks not demands healing. He recognizes his humanity in the act of kneeling and Jesus’ divinity in the request for healing. His question “if you want…” recognizes Jesus has the power to heal and that he has the choice to heal. It is important to come before God asking, recognizing that God knows what is best for us and believing that he will provide.

The leper teaches us to approach with faith, trusting in the power of God’s compassionate love. He has great trust in Jesus’ ability to heal, and with confidence he asks for this gift.

Jesus’ response shows us how our willingness to come with courage, humility, and faith can change our lives. He listens to the leper and responds. He reaches out in compassion and touches the leper. Imagine the comfort of his touch, the love and healing that flowed through it. When we come to Jesus as vulnerable, imperfect followers and ask, we too can receive this compassionate love leading to a changed life.

After healing the leper, Jesus sends him off with a specific mission to tell the priest, to be a witness. We too are called to be witnesses of Jesus’ love, to share the compassion he shares with us with others. I believe that in embracing our own vulnerability we can witness to the transforming power of compassionate love.

Serena Chappell, SP

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Sunday Reflection February 4, 2024
The Gospel According to Mark 1, 29-39

On leaving the synagogue he entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and sheick persons waited on them. Other Healings. When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

Reflection

Jesus began his preaching and then went with his companions to their town. As a first act of healing, he treated a direct relative of one of his disciples. Just by meeting her and grasping her hand, he made her fever disappear, and so she was able to go back immediately to her chores.

Then, in the evening, people brought before him at the door many sick persons not just because of the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, but rather Jesus’ self-evident fame. I imagine they wanted to know if He was at Simon and Andrew’s house.

Then Jesus went out and healed many of them from various diseases, and with great authority he cast out many demons without letting them speak, for they knew who He was. When dawn came, he stepped away from them to pray, but when Simon, James, Andrew, and John noticed his absence, they started looking for him. When they finally found Him, they said to Him “everyone is looking for You,” which he knew already, for many came to Him hoping to be healed and delivered. For He always acted out of love for His creation and showed his mercy to those who were possessed by demons. Everything Jesus does comes from the heart of the Father, to bring us faith and salvation.

Jesus invited his disciples to go with him to preach in the nearby towns. Today the four Gospels, the Pauline letters, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and especially the Grace of God, allow us to accept his call and our mission, which is mainly to bring faith and salvation to the world.

Sister Ana Maria Montenegro, SP.

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Sunday Reflection Janvuary 28, 2023
The Gospel According to Mark 1, 21-28

Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes in their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

Reflection:

This week, we look into another intriguing passage from the Word of God. First, Jesus and his disciples had arrived in Capernaum on the Sabbath. Jesus entered the house of prayer and began to teach. When it comes to our Savior’s service there are no holidays. He is always ready to meet anyone in need. This is what the faithful service of Jesus is about, and it is for us an example. Moreover, the motto of our Congregation always reminds us of this: “The charity of Christ urges us.”

It was the Sabbath, the day set apart for our Eternal Lord to gather and hear His Word. Jesus took the place of the master and he astonished everyone by the way he was teaching them. What is remarkable is the effect he had on those who were listening to him. No one can remain indifferent to the words of Jesus. His words have a huge impact. Through them everyone may be either delivered or judged. There was a man in the synagogue tormented by a bad spirit who felt threatened. One might wonder what he was doing there; but there is no process of selection for those entering a place of worship. If the Lord is truly present, Satan will have to leave. And this was exactly what happened in the synagogue. The presence of the Son of God in the house of prayer did not leave Satan indifferent. An open conflict between Jesus and this evil spirit opposed to the arrival of the Kingdom of God break out. A strong reaction from the evil spirit ensued, and he revealed the identity and the destiny reserved for Jesus. “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”. Satan knew the identity of Jesus, He who lives as one with God and who has divine omnipotence. Jesus silenced him, freeing the man from this evil spirit. Satan had no choice but to leave. The fame of Jesus spread throughout Galilee.

Sister Danielle Charron

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Sunday Reflection Janvuary 21, 2023
The Gospel According to Mark 1, 14-20

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” The Call of the First Disciples.  As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So, they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

Reflection:

Jesus came to Galilee after John was arrested – a difficult time for him. Yet, he begins his ministry. A call to follow him and a call to ministry with him – “proclaiming and living” the Good News.

Simon and Andrew left immediately left their nets and boats. By doing so, they were leaving their livelihoods, their means of provision, their families, all that they were – to become followers of Jesus.

Something compelling about Jesus caused them to follow him into an uncertain future.

They followed him with no idea where it would lead.

Jesus sees them – they were not looking for him.

The call by Jesus was personal – to step out onto an unknown pathway that he will show them; their first steps into the unknown, trusting Jesus to lead to the right destination.

To proclaim the Good News is a compelling nature of Jesus’ call.

He called people much like you and me. The call is to every one of us to use our gifts and the talents God has given us in proclaiming the Good News:  to help us know our lives are rooted in God’s life, to provide light and hope for our lives no matter what difficulty might come.

God is always in our midst; God always goes with us.

God intends for us to live with purpose for justice, joy, peace, wholeness, love, and light for everyone.

God comes among us. God calls us. God asks for the best from us.

We may change our direction and change our ways.

Sister Kaye Belcher, SP

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Sunday Reflection Janvuary 14, 2023
The Gospel According to John 1:35-42

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel, St. John the Baptist shares with two of his followers the experience of his encounter with “The Lamb of God,” the long-awaited Messiah, and invites them to go with Jesus. And without hesitation, they set off and follow Jesus.

In telling this story, St John invites us to attentively recognize Jesus’ call to follow him on every occasion. Emmanuel always walks with us, speaks to us, questions us, and invites us to an intimate experience, a decisive encounter of “coming and see”.  Right after undergoing this experience, Andrew shared it with his brother Simon, who also “went and saw.” Andrew’s actions had a great impact not only on their lives, but on the life of the Church. Jesus renamed Simon as “Peter,” and gave him a great mission.

During her lifetime, Emilie Gamelin encountered Jesus. And now, as years have gone by, we encounter her and her experiences to recognize the Son of God in the poor and the vulnerable who suffer in many ways. Our mission is to proclaim the mystery of Providence and Our Lady of Sorrows in our society.

May God grant us the grace of being aware of his actions in our lives. May our whole self be attentive to his call, so we can “go and see” where he lives and with whom he identifies, to recognize his message, and the experiences that have left a mark in us from him.

Sister Isabel Cid

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Sunday Reflection Janvuary 7, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 2:1-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod,* behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary, his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.

Reflection

During this liturgical feast of the Epiphany, we are invited to look around us, close to us but beyond our borders, too. The Eastern Magi arrived in Jerusalem asking for the newly born King of the Jews.  They were led by a star and came to kneel and worship Him. We can only imagine the immense love and courage that led them to follow the star! And what a joy it must have been to see the child and to offer his mother, with such generosity, gold, frankincense, and myrrh! The magi also showed proper discernment by not letting Herod know of their itinerary, nor of the birthplace of Jesus.

The Magi convey the same spirit of faith that prompted them to overcome the barrier of distances, follow the inner stars that reveal God’s will, and accept unexpected challenges.

Closer to our hearts, we can examine the way we see those around us: how we experience their behavior, how we interact with them to learn more about them, how we are moved by their joys and their woes.

Reflecting on what we have been hearing for months and years now, it’s hard not to make a connection with Herod’s preoccupation to know the exact location of Jesus.

We pray the Lord for peace in Haiti, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Russia, Sudan and each place where someone is suffering violence.

May this Gospel from Matthew 2:1-12 remind us about the various stages of our pilgrimage, of our leading stars, and the consequences of our most simple actions.  Let us rejoice at this manifestation of Christ to the world!

Sister Claire Houde, SP.

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Sunday Reflection December 31, 2023
The Gospel According to Luke 2:22.39-40

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

Reflection

This day being the end of the year and the beginning of a new year.  Let us take time to reflect on the past year’s blessings and to set our hopes on those yet to come.

We can imagine the Holy Family doing this too.   They, too, had much to look back on and much to anticipate.  Mary might recall the angel’s words about Jesus “He will be called Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:32).  Joseph must have remembered his dream, when the angel told him to name Mary’s son Jesus, “because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) Recalling these mysterious interventions must have helped this couple to trust in God’s faithfulness and to know that their future was safe in his hands.

What about you?  What about us, as Sisters of Providence?  How was God with you, with us, as Sisters of Providence this year?   With our Journey into Oneness, it is overwhelming with the many meetings, new thoughts, new ideas, and new ways of doing things.

Let us try to identify God with us through all of this.  However, let us not only look back but look forward too.

This is a day to be amazed at God’s blessings, and to know that even better things are yet to come!

Sister Toyleen Fook, SP

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Sunday Reflection December 24, 2023
The Gospel According to Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Reflection:

Mary receives an inner movement making her aware of the great challenge before her and into the future. The announcement that she will be the Mother of the Son of God does not come by chance, so to speak, but it is the consequence of living a coherent life. For all we know, she had already taken the decision to prepare herself to possibly become the mother of the Savior, as, we can imagine, was the case with each Hebrew woman at that time.

Her discernment process was well advanced. Her life was anchored, in what I believe was her deepest desire, and, therefore, her decisions led her to the discovery and confirmation of her mission in life, to become THE MOTHER OF GOD. Her relationship with God, as we can understand, was constant. Listening attentively to God’s voice must have been part of her life. “The voice of the angel” doesn’t take her by surprise. When she welcomes the visitor, she does not “react” instantly to what is happening. Rather, her response comes deep from within her own being. It is not something out of the blue, but the result of simply knowing who she is. In that context, she asks questions in search of confirmation for what she feels inside herself, believing it is either a new call or a confirmation of her daily discernment.

She confronts the invitation received with her self-knowledge. Mary’s answer does not come from the angel praising her as “full of grace” or repeating to her that “God is with you.” Her reaction springs from the vulnerability she has fully accepted. Although it is not explicit in the text, we can deduce this by observing her new reality. She starts by replying, “What will this be like?”, words that stem from a “narrow understanding” of the moment she is experiencing. She does not get a detailed and long explanation. The angel contributes to her good disposition by saying, “Do not be afraid,” giving her essential information that will help her carry on with her discernment.

Mary must certainly have felt that she was not ready, and she must have thought of several ways to avoid what seemed almost the only “logical” outcome, considering how her life had yet unfolded. Isn’t it the same for us when we live our lives coherently?

The consequences and outcomes of our life decisions—when in our fragile fidelity, we choose over and over what we believe best, not only for us personally, but for humanity’s sake, i.e., “the common good”—bring along with them the transformation of the different realities that surround us.

Mary replies, ” I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Being aware of her true self, she recognizes her fragility and vulnerability, and offers the best of herself with absolute humility. Since that is her only truth, she is willing to let everything unfold coherently, according to what she will consciously have to continue discerning for the rest of her life.

By consciously, vulnerably, and readily saying “yes”, Mary makes her way to the transformation of the history of humanity;  until then,  deprived of the sense of God. By enabling the coming of Jesus, she becomes the co-creator of a new humanity.

May Christmas help us to rediscover what is essential in our lives and strengthen us in our responses to God’s message.

Merry Christmas and a happy 2024 full of blessings!

Sister Alba Letelier, sp.

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Sunday Reflection December 17, 2023
The Gospel According to John 1:6-8, 19-28

A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites [to him] to ask him, “Who are you?” he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Messiah.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?”

He said: “I am ‘the voice of one crying out in the desert, “Make straight the way of the Lord,”’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, he one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Reflection

The third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday. In his letter to the Thessalonians, Saint Paul exhorts, “Rejoice always.” But, isn’t it a great challenge to answer to this call when we think about everything that is going on in our world right now? How can we reach joy?

In the Synoptic Gospels, John the Baptist is characterized as a prophet of repentance. But Saint John presents him as one who came to bear witness to the Light, Jesus, the Son of God, among us. He is the true source of joy, from within our hearts. Jesus walks by our side, offering us kindness and goodwill. He is teaching us the Father’s love.

The life of John the Baptist raises different questions. “Who are you?” The witness remains humble, faithful to his mission and to his true nature. “I am not Elijah, nor the prophet you expect, I am not the Christ”. He has come to prepare the way for Him, who will baptize in the Spirit.

On this day, let us contemplate Mary in her true self, as a woman of faith and hope. Was she not the witness to the Child she was carrying, which prompted her to cry humbly the Magnificat?

Let us pause, close to Blessed Emilie. With her compassion she gave testimony of the kindness of our Provident God by practicing simplicity, humility and charity in her life.

Sister Estelle Boisclair, SP.

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Sunday Reflection December 10, 2023
The Gospel According to Mark 1:1-8

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.’” John [the] Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey. And this is what he proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit.”

Reflection:

This Sunday’s Gospel reminds us of the prophecy announcing the messianic age. With his words the prophet Isaiah anticipates and confirms the prophecy of a time of Mercy through John’s baptism and conversion, and then through Jesus, who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

This is the great cry of the Advent: The Lord is coming and invites us to prepare our hearts. It is true that we live in difficult times full of individualism and greedy utilitarianism, which brings war and hate into the world.

An so we walk into a time of reconciliation and of turning back to God, to be filled with his love. Times to be open and ready to become the face of Providence in a world that needs to discover the love of Jesus, which we wish to reveal to those who are blind today.

We need to be transformed more than ever. Our time and our world are in search of prophets like John the Baptist, who can consciously embrace their mission, to joyfully deliver the grace of baptism, in Spirit and in Truth.

Sister Marta Alvear Araya, SP.

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Sunday Reflection December 3, 2023
The Gospel According to Mark 13:33-37

Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch. Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”

Reflection:

This Sunday is the first week of Advent. As we begin this liturgical season, we are invited to put aside some quiet time to reflect and to prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus in our time.

In the Gospel Jesus said: “Be watchful! and alert! You do not know when the Lord is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. . . What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’.”  We need always be prepared for the Lord’s coming, when we least expect it.

As I ponder these words, I am mindful of Sr. Marilyn Charette’s death. Her unexpected death was a shock for all of us in Mother Joseph Province and for all those who knew her. I never thought that Marilyn would leave us so quickly and suddenly. I do believe she was prepared because of how she lived her life.

This makes me think that we never know when or where God is calling us. It’s so important that we are always prepared, watchful and aware of how God may enter our lives, maybe to call us to our heavenly home or to call us to something new.   When we prepare, when we are watchful and aware we are ready to respond whether in death or letting go or being made ready for new life.

I believe we Sisters of Providence are being called to a certain death or letting go at this time in our history.  It seems this Advent invites us to watch, to be alert, to prepare ourselves to let go in readiness for new life.  We are called to be alert to the signs of movement in and among us that will prepare us for the coming of our God anew in our Providence Community.

Sister Gabrielle Nguyen, SP

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Sunday Reflection November 26, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 25:31-46

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave me no food, I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’ Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’

He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ l And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Reflection:

On this Sunday, Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, the Church invites us to celebrate Our Lord Jesus Christ as our king who will sit at the right hand of the Father. Indeed, Our Lord is a compassionate king, full of love and goodness. His kingdom is eternal and open to everyone. For us to gain access to it, we must stay attentive to the poor, and the marginalized. This is the central idea behind today’s Gospel on the Last Judgment where Jesus has identified himself with the little ones and those who are most in need. And so, when we offer a piece of bread, or a glass of water to them, we are also offering it to Him. “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Mt 25:40). In this way, he invites us to enter the Kingdom in store for us.

The two things we should remember about this teaching are: First, that Jesus empathizes with persons who are poor. The way we act towards them mirrors the way we act towards him. Being generous with them, will allow us to take part in God’s Kingdom. Secondly, it is in our daily lives, in our daily interactions with others that we prepare for eternal life. This means that small gestures, kind words showing concern and appreciation for others, such as “hello”, “how are you?”, or “can I help you?”, contain an essence of eternity. Even if they are human by nature, these gestures are concerned with divine life. Hence the importance of being open to others and to observe God’s loving face reflected in them. Welcoming the smallest, the most vulnerable and the poorest is the way to the Kingdom. The following questions then are left for reflection.

Sister Merci-Christ Sylméon, SP.

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Sunday Reflection November 19, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 25, 14-15.19-21

It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away. […] After a long time, the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’

Reflection:

This week’s Gospel presents a powerful parable on the Kingdom of God as the administration of resources. A boss entrusts different sums of money to three of his employees, according to their skills: five thousand, two thousand, and one thousand coins respectively. The two of them that invested the money, managed to double the profits, while the third one, afraid of losing it, decided to hide it.

Upon returning, the boss assessed their employees’ actions. The first two, who increased their wealth, were rewarded and admitted to the Kingdom. In contrast, the third one, who missed the opportunity to increase the resources with which he was entrusted,was left out.

This parable urges us to use wisely the gifts God has given us, whether we talk about skills, resources, or relationships. That includes taking care of our family, of the neediest and of everyone who needs our help in these challenging times. To manage responsibly our gifts is crucial. The Gospel remarks the importance of not letting fear taking over us but instead let our skills work for the common good and for the glory of God.

Mrs. Erika Straube Rios, PA

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Sunday Reflection November 12, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 25, 1-13

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Reflection:

Gospel parables usually instruct us about how God works in our world.  In today’s gospel, God is the one who arrives on the scene at unexpected moments.  God depends on our partnership with human beings, expecting us to be prepared for the sudden arrival of grace in our world and in our lives.  God welcomes the smaller number of attendants properly prepared.

 

The example of young women in an ancient Near Eastern wedding procession illustrates delay, waiting, sudden arrival and the need to be prepared.  Five were ready and five were not.

As Sisters of Providence, we are in the process of becoming “One.”   Are we ready and prepared?  Over the 180 years we have seen many changes within our community and have responded to God’s call around the world trusting in Providence.  Did our sisters always feel ready?  Through years of prayer, sharing, listening and dialogue we have been preparing for a new way of operating to continue our mission as Sisters of Providence.  The needs are present as we continue on this journey.

Joan Gallagher, SP

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Sunday Reflection November 5, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 23, 1-12

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.

Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.

They tie up heavy burdens [hard to carry] and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’ As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Reflection:

Being consistent in practicing what we preach is a constant challenge in our lives. Sometimes we end up giving advice to others without putting it in intro practice first. However, true wisdom lies in practicing our own advice in our lives. This is what today’s Gospel shows us.

Jesus invites us to find the right balance: to observe the law, to understand it and put it into practice. To comply to it, not because it is an obligation established by the authorities, but because it is the right path to God. He warns us against chasing titles and honors and emphasizes the importance of humility and service.

The true path is to be humble and act with love. Humility forces us to be in the presence of others convinced that we are equal instead of pretending to be great leaders and right doers.

Jesus tells us to follow the teachings of the Pharisees and scribes because those teachings are correct, but he also warns us not to imitate their behavior, which he denounces as hypocritical, since they do not practice what they preach. For us, it doesn’t have to be this way. Bearing this in mind, Jesus invites us to act according to what we say. This consistency is essential to live an honest spiritual life.

Jesus reminds to us that consistency of words and actions demands hard work and requires the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. By regularly remembering the importance of consistency and by committing to it, we become true leaders and give testimony to those around us.

Am I aligned with what I preach? Are my behavior and actions in harmony with the principles I preach? From now on, I want to live every day more consistently.

My Lord, let me act with the consistence you demand from me, and help me stand in the right place. Grant me the grace of being like you, a humble servant of those in need, following in the footsteps of Mother Gamelin. Through Jesus, the prototype par excellence. Amen!

Sister Guerla Alexis, SP.

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Sunday Reflection October 29, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 22, 34-40

When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them [a scholar of the law] tested him by asking, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

REFLECTION

It sounds so simple, but it is really difficult, in our times, to observe these two principles mentioned by the Gospel. How can we love God and our neighbor in this world devoid of faith and full of individualism?

Day by day, we are seeing a great number of events in which the forgetfulness of loving God above all things become evident. We place our passions and desires above our love for God, and our faith does not lead our thinking. And so, we end up forgetting about our neighbor who urgently needs love and compassion. Likewise, we have forgotten how to recognize in every child and every elderly the face of God.

It is time to pause and reflect on our faith and our actions. It is time to correct the course of our life and follow the path that leads to the love of God, and of our neighbor. Let us give love, faith and hope in this world so devoid of compassion and so in need of the word of God.

Susana Garrido, AP

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Sunday Reflection October 22, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 22, 15-21

Then the Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap him in speech. They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion, for you do not regard a person’s status. Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” Knowing their malice, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census tax.” Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” They replied, “Caesar’s.” At that he said to them, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” When they heard this, they were amazed, and leaving him they went away.

Reflection:

This particular passage which appears in all the synoptic Gospels is one of those passages that may seem baffling at first, at least it is for me. Why would Jesus say “pay to Caesar what is owed to Caesar” when we Christians believe that everything we have is owed to God?

I would like to offer a few points for reflection here. The first is God’s knowledge of our hearts, the second is the notion of freedom, and the third is the clear distinction between “what is of the world” and “what is of God”.

My second reflection comes from the notion of freedom. I would like to highlight here the dialogue, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?”. We are all created in God’s image with innate freedom. In God’s goodness He respects our freedom. He does not dominate and takes, what is in human terms, for humans. Therefore, as the coin has Ceasar’s image on it, then it belongs to Caesar. However, let us not forget that our freedom must be considered within the context of God’s design – freedom from the bonds of this world. Hence, as we look at how we live our vows which to the world may seem as “restraints to living a good life”, they are in fact ways by which we can remain in God’s gift of freedom through our free responses. God does not dominate us; he patiently waits for us to act on our freedom. God invites and in freedom we respond.

The last main part of the passage says, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” Caesar is the title attached to the name of any emperor of Rome at that time. As the Biblical stories tell us, we know that the Romans exercised civic governance over the Jews of that time. These words of Jesus speak to me of our responsibilities to fulfill our civic obligations written out in civic laws. As we live on earth, so too must we abide by its laws. But let us not forget that Christ is the fulfillment of the Law which Moses received for the people of Israel to live by. Hence, in our fulfillment of our civic responsibilities, let us always ask ourselves, are we contributing to God’s reign by doing so? There will come a time when we no longer must abide by the laws of the earth, but only dwell in the love of God.

Sister Rezebeth Noceja, SP

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Sunday Reflection October 15, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 22, 1-10

Jesus again in reply spoke to them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those invited: “Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.”’ Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests.

Reflection

Today Jesus presents to us the parable of the wedding guests. Indeed, the Father sent his Son to save us, but the guests do not come. Their interests being elsewhere, they do not accept the invitation. Each one of them unanimously have different excuses (a field bought, or some oxen bought, or being recently married). And these are the same reasons why the seed was choked in the parable of the sower (preoccupations, wealth, worldly pleasures). Some people are overwhelmed by work, others by insignificant chores. But in a second moment, God tells his servants to summon either good or bad people, so that they benefit from his invitation, as a token of the infinite Love of God without distinction.

Choosing the guests for a party is an important task that requires a lot of consideration. Likewise, refusing an invitation is an offense that can affect our relationships. Such is the case of God’s constant invitation to nourish our journey of faith and join the eternal banquet. God invites us to be servants of the Gospel. This implies passing on our call, introducing Christ to others, clearly reminding them that He is calling them.

Secondly, what clothes should we wear? God grant us the garments we need: baptism, reconciliation, the Eucharist. No matter how insignificant we are, God is waiting for us… The wedding gown is the awareness of having a grateful heart and open arms. The wedding gown is the decoration of the soul: charity.

Sister Lucille Vadnais, SP.

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Sunday Reflection October 8, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 21, 33-43

“I chose them from the world, that they may go and bear fruit, and that fruit may be lasting.”

Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again, he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” They answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.” Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes’? Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”

Reflection

In today’s Gospel, Matthew shares with us one of Jesus’ many parable teachings to the people in which his love and dedication to humanity are revealed.

Let us reflect on how God, in his infinite goodness, has given us life, and many other gifts. Likewise, He has given to us, members of the Church, a vineyard to keep and cultivate so that it bears good fruit. He is always there for us, to welcome us, guide us, console us, and accompany us. But still, how many times, unconsciously or consciously, have we walked on ignoring what he has given us as inheritance, namely, his own son? How many times have we acted like those tenants, who, questioning his authority, expel him and kill him to take over the vineyard, imposing their ideology and silencing the messengers sent to preserve the divine project? Despite this, God continues to be there, waiting, trusting his creatures, offering us a new opportunity to start over, to commit ourselves to change and to follow the path He has traced for us in the project of building the Kingdom

Mrs. Alejandra Valdes, AP

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Sunday Reflection October 1, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 21, 28-32

“What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.”

Reflection:

In this parable, Jesus is directly addressing the honored, holy religious leaders of the temple. He is reminding them that they did not recognize or accept John the Baptist, the holy man sent into their midst by God. They did not listen to him and did not believe his words.

Jesus then points out to them that known sinners, the tax collectors, and the prostitutes, listened to and believed the words of John. These “sinners” accepted John’s words and changed their lives. And even then, after witnessing these changes, the holy men of the temple did not change their minds about John, they could not recognize holiness in their midst.

In this parable, Jesus is saying that appearing “religious and carrying the reputation of holiness” does not guarantee “holiness”, nor does it guarantee entry into eternal life with God. What is required for eternal life with God is an open, listening heart that responds to God’s presence and words with actions of love, goodness, and repentance. Our response to God may also require a willingness to undergo a change of heart and mind for the love of God and our neighbors.

Sister Kathryn Rutan, SP

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Sunday Reflection September 24, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 20, 1-16

“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ So they went off. [And] he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? [Or] am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Reflection:

The main point of the parable of the Workers in the vineyard is our confidence in the generosity of the landowner.

In this story, the owner of the vineyard introduces a new way of dealing with his workers. They work hard, and they do it with pride and freedom. Even those hired at the last minute are treated with respect and dignity.

In our world, fewer and fewer people find joy at their jobs, because they live full of fear, anxiety, and problems. This parable might be just a frustrating story unless we are able to appreciate God’s generosity and abundant compassion. All of us collaborate in the Lord’s vineyard and we must give ourselves without reserve. We can trust that He will treat us not only in a fair way, but with generosity.

The Kingdom of God brings out respect, justice, and solidarity among people regardless origin, race, or nationality. Jesus is not talking about the workers’ rights, but about the call to build his Kingdom. He treated the first to come fairly, and the ones that came after with mercy. Origen, the great theologian of the patristic period, whom we consider the father of biblical exegesis, compares the vineyard to the Church and the landowner to Christ.

This Gospel also reminds us that God invites us workers to work in the vineyard today by calling us, in due course, and into different fields in the community and the society. Let us live up to the mercy and generosity of the landowner.

Following the example of our Mother Emilie, let us work and show merciful compassion in a world filled with injustice, conflict and violence.

Sister Jude Merline Bernard, SP.

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Sunday Reflection September 17, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 18, 21-35

Then Peter approaching asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full. ‘Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.  Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”

REFLECTION

With his question, Peter seeks to set limits to forgiveness; he sees only the offense received. But Jesus responds to him referring to the Parable of the Master and the Servant in an extraordinary way.

It is God who grant us forgiveness while teaching us that his forgiveness is valid for life and under any circumstances. It is an offering from God to humanity, as the evangelist Luke tells us stating the words of Jesus himself while on the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” In faith, of course, we must concede the same gift that we have received, but to do it always is something difficult to achieve.

But what is forgiveness?

We have thousands of definitions from the greatest thinkers and even from the humblest in the Kingdom of heaven.

The root of “forgive” comes from the Latin word “perdonāre”, which is formed by the prefix “per” and the verb “donāre”. One of the meanings of “per” is that of complete action, while “donāre” means to give or donate something. Therefore, to forgive means to pardon the wrongdoing someone has committed against us, without holding any grudges.

Forgiveness is a gift placed in our fragile hands leading to serenity from the heart. The Bible teaches us that Jesus died for us, even if we had sinned. In other words, he forgave us. Without God’s forgiveness, a person cannot fully experience love, freedom, joy, peace, etc. God shows us His mercy continuously and expects us to be merciful to others in return.

To learn how to love we must “forgive”. Those willing to grow in love need to live in forgiveness. Forgiving is the way to freedom, and if you really want to free yourself you must forgive, leaving out of your soul any grudge or sense of revenge that otherwise can only degrade you and devastate you.

Finally, forgiving others for what they have done is eloquent evidence of our faith.

The measure we use to judge others is the measure the Lord will use to judge us. If we are severe, we can only expect severity. If we are merciful towards those who offend us, He will be merciful when we fail. If we don’t forgive, he will leave us wrapped in our own sins.

In the Scriptures it is written that each creature will be measured using the same measure used with others, and it is the Lord who will judge.

In today’s Gospel we are invited to trust forgiveness as our way of life, and with the Lord’s help, forgiveness will allow us to be in peace with ourselves, with others and with God. This kind of peace is a wonderful and enormous blessing, that God wants to share it with all humankind.

If you wish to deepen your reflection, we invite you to listen to the following song in Spanish:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5BrOUxVl54

Sister Maria Fernanda Apablaza, sp.

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Sunday Reflection September 10, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 18, 15-20

“If your brother sins [against you], go and speak to him about his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, [amen,] I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Reflection:

Today, we hear Jesus recognizing human frailty and the need for personal and communal reconciliation. He wisely instructs the disciples on how to discretely and lovingly assist one another when someone is going astray from commitments as followers of Jesus.  Jesus is concerned about breaches in communion between individuals which inevitably impact communion within community.

How well Jesus understood human nature! We are bound to fail from time to time; there will be conflict, but then what? His teaching emphasizes our interdependence, our mutual accountability, and the importance of restoring right relationships with God, with self, with our neighbor, and with community.

In this Gospel, he is clear about the accountability of each person within the community to act with respect, openness, transparency, and love whether one is giving or receiving information about one’s behavior that is a threat to unity and communion with God and each other.  Jesus provides us with the spiritual power and freedom for healing injured relationships. Providence is always with us in each encounter.

Reconciliation and restored relationship is the goal, not brooding over a wrong, or imparting blame and guilt or conducting a trial. First, we communicate in private one to one with loving concern. If that fails, we bring another person, wise and gracious, who can assist by listening and clarifying and supporting the process. We don’t give up on reconciliation at that point.  If needed, we have our community to assist. All the while, prayer is our ongoing companion as we seek light and grace.

The Sisters of Providence Constitutions and Rules speak often of contemplative listening, dialogue, and discernment. Respect, pardon, and reconciliation, are also emphasized.  The wisdom of our Providence way of life can support us as we seek to follow Jesus’ instructions in St. Matthew’s Gospel today and contribute toward healing relationships in our congregation, our church, and our world.

Sister Karin Dufault, SP

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Sunday Reflection September 3, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 16, 21-27

From that time on, Jesus began to show His disciples that He had to go to Jerusalem, suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. Then Peter, took him aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you”. He turned and said to Peter, “Go behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct.

Reflection

Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself ” (Mt 16:21-27)

Dear friends, here we are on the 22nd Sunday of the ordinary time in the liturgical calendar, and Saint Matthew brings to our minds this portion of the Gospel where Jesus publicly announced to his disciples that he would suffer, die, and rise again. At the same time, he demanded three things from those who were with him:

1- To put aside their own will

2- To follow the will of the Father

3- to commit to following Christ.

For us, reflecting upon this passage, we see that every rose has its thorns. Jesus is saying to us: ” Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me “. Jesus does not mean, “take up my cross, made out of wood” for there will never be another Golgotha, but rather He’s saying, “Take up your cross.” Not an imagined and distressing cross, but that from your own life, from situations such as your health challenges, the burden of responsibilities, your concerns for your beloved. You must embrace with a smile the traces of your emotional history, and not be afraid of the scars of life, and stop looking for yourself in someone else’s mirror. Take up your cross, and above all, do not stop following Him! Moreover, “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,” Jesus adds, ” but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” In fact, those who take up their cross start living by following the Lord. Strange madness that turns out to be the sweetest of wisdom.

Day by day we are defied to trust in Provident God’s work in our lives. We are also invited to experience the self-abandonment that Our Lady of Sorrows showed at the foot of the cross, and to embrace again the hope that Mary had. For, as the author of Psalm 63 tells us, “For your love is better than life”. We then must avoid falling from grace and seek to do God’s will.

The gospel for this week also confronts us with a rather common situation in our lives, our desire to revolt against another’s suffering, which is sometimes stronger than the one who is suffering.  Likewise, Peter could not accept to see Jesus’s suffering. But if he was to do God’s will, he had to deny himself, take up his cross and follow Jesus. The path laid down by the Lord is not exempt from trials and sacrifices. Peter had to learn that Jesus was not a worldly king. His army was from Heaven. He had also to learn that Love is revealed by arduous acts, by the abandonment of oneself. Today, Jesus is addressing to us this invitation from Matthew’s text, ” seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.” The best way to achieve this is to listen to his voice and seek to be in union with his great will. The prophet Jeremiah had a similar experience, as is clear in the first reading: “You seduced me, LORD, and I let myself be seduced; you were too strong for me, and you prevailed.” (Jr. 20, 7). Let us be guided by the love of Christ urging us to live in the deep intimacy of Christ our Savior, through listening, prayer, and obedience. Christ asks us to establish a basis of goodness and to abandon ourselves to humbly come to him. Then we will find peace and joy, since this is the path that Christ has traced for human accomplishment.

Sister Eugena Nogaüs, SP

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Sunday Reflection August 27, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 16, 13-20

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Messiah.

Reflection

The gospel of Mattew gives us several ponderings this Sunday. Jesus is with his disciples who have been out with the people of the area. Jesus is curious: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Their responses tell us that none of them know who he is.

Turning to them, he asks more directly: “Who do you say I am?” Peter, impetuous Peter who is so human, is moved by the Spirit: You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus blesses Peter and affirms the action of the Holy Spirit. What a revelation!

What movement of grace! This response is coming from deeply within. And, in response, Jesus entrusts Peter to lead his Church promising that the Holy Spirit will continue to lead, to guide.

In our own lives we are invited, perhaps challenged by Christ’s question to the disciples.

Sister Anne Hemstock, SP

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Sunday Reflection August 20, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 15, 21-28

Then Jesus went from that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children* and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

Reflection:

In this gospel, a Canaanite woman asked Jesus to heal her daughter who was possessed by demon. Surprisingly, Jesus did not respond to her request immediately, moreover his disciples asked Jesus to send her away. This is the most shocking response that the Canaanite woman did not expect from Jesus. Is this the Jesus about whom everyone was speaking? The Jesus who healed many people,  who gave sight to the blind? The Jesus who made the lame walk, and even more, the Jesus who brought a person back to life. Why not heal my daughter?

The story intensified when Jesus discriminated against her because she was not Jewish and insulted her by referring to her as “a dog”.  The woman should have left in shame, despair, and disappointment, but her response was “Lord, help me”, words of urgency, passion, and humility and, most of all, an affirmation of her faith in Jesus that led to the healing of her daughter. “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.”

This gospel teaches us the message of Pope Francis in his encyclical Fratelli Tutti Chapter Three: Vision of an open world. Pope Francis teaches us to go “outside´ the self” in order to find “a fuller existence in another¨(p #88), opening ourselves up to the other according to the dynamism of charity which makes us tend toward “universal fulfilment” (p # 95). The right to live with dignity cannot be denied to anyone; since rights have no borders, no one be excluded, regardless of where they are born (see p# 121).

Sister Marita Capili, SP

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Sunday Reflection August 13, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 14, 22-33

Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening, he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once [Jesus] spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

Reflection

To update this tale about the storm, we could use the current situation of the Church, and why not, of the people of Haiti who dangerously navigate through the stormy sea of this world. The enemy, the devil, creates disharmony, conflicts among individuals. The wind and waves are like the temptations that almost annihilates the effort of the Christians.

The episode of the storm follows the multiplication of the loaves and shows us that going through life’s trials and challenges requires that we are invigorated. Such strength is only available through prayer and especially in the Eucharist.

By focusing even a few seconds on the high waves and the violent wind, Peter did something he was not supposed to do: He took his eyes off his Master, and we know what happened. If we really want to follow Christ, we must not be distracted by the raging waters to the point of losing our faith. On the contrary, despite everything and against everything, we must fix our gaze on the Master of all things and move forward with firm steps. Some people attend the Mass prayers with a heart burdened with problems, all kinds of sufferings, and heavy winds interfering with a healthy life. But I can tell you with all certainty that God is with us, that He is our shepherd, and He is telling us “Come! with all your burdens and trials”.

Sister Daveline Livert, SP.

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Sunday Reflection August 6, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 17, 1-9

After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Reflection:

May this week’s Gospel call us to open our hearts and ears and listen to the voice of God, which drives us to prepare our hearts so that Jesus may occupy the center of our lives truly. Jesus has chosen us today leading us to the top of a mountain, just as He did with the three apostles Peter, James, and John. He was transfigured before them and this event generated a divine manifestation. It was Jesus who manifested himself since, after the event, after the surprise and the splendor, a voice from above identified the figure in front of them: “This is my beloved Son … listen to him”. Then the apostles fell prostrated hearing this revelation, but they were immediately touched by Jesus who told them not to be afraid.

I think we are in a similar situation. Jesus has revealed himself to us in our new path of congregational transformation. He has shown us the way to follow personally and communally to constitute ourselves as one canonical entity and to live this congregational union through a personal transformation. He also keeps our feet on the ground, confronts us with reality while providing us with concrete steps to take. How will we achieve this? Who will be with us?… If we are attentive and sharpen our senses, we may also be able to hear the voice telling us : “This is my beloved son, listen to him” and most probably Jesus, as he did with his apostles, will also touch our shoulder and tell us:  “Be not afraid”…  Listening to Jesus impels us to do what He Himself did, to live as He lived, to love as He loved, to serve as He served. As we listen, we are invited to welcome everything that comes from someone else. However to welcome it, we need to empty our selfish interior to receive what comes from others, those personal gifts transmitted in a sacred moment.

Being open and welcoming whatever is ahead of us, will lead us to unity while enabling us to place ourselves in the position of others. Through this gesture we can open to a new reality, engaging into action and growing stronger from letting go and focusing on the future, moving forward together towards the response we are seeking. It also makes us believe in what the Spirit of God is telling us in contemplative silence while allowing us to take risks and make things happen. This is what Mother Emilie Gamelin, Mother Joseph and Mother Bernarda experienced too: They emptied themselves to hear the voice of God and to follow the divine inspiration in becoming the face of God for so many poor and vulnerable people like those that are among us today. Moreover, they cared for their sisters in moments of joy and pain, being fearless and showing tenderness and courage, like the Women of the Dawn* who broke through the darkness of the night to meet the Risen One.  Because they were able to listen, they managed to transform themselves, offering their lives for the sake of others and for a common ideal which arose from the first inspiration transmitted by Mother Gamelin: “I pray that you may always love the poor and cultivate peace and union among yourselves”. Mother Bernarda and Mother Joseph welcome us, receive us, and also inspire us to always cherish peace and union, while keeping in mind that “Everything that concerns the poor is our business”.

May God be our strength and our certainty while as we persist in listening to his Son in our Journey to Oneness. May the glow of Jesus’ transfiguration give us the joy that comes from following him unconditionally. May He illuminate our steps with the assurance that he is at our side.

Sister Gloria Garcia, SP

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Sunday Reflection July 30, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 13, 44-52

The kingdom of God is found in the humblest of places among the least likely people.

Jesus came to reveal a truth in each parable.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. Thus, it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Treasures New and Old. “Do you understand* all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.”

Reflection:

One of the best ways to teach someone a new concept is to begin with something one already understands from experience, and then to draw the listener to something more complex. The surest way to get their interest is to tell stories.

This is a method Jesus used when he taught the parable stories. Once he got the listeners’ interest, he enabled them to discover a truth for themselves. Jesus came to reveal a truth in each parable.  In the parables of finding a hidden treasure and finding a valuable pearl of great beauty, we can relate with their joy of discovery that made them willing to give up everything to possess this valuable gift. I think we have all had a similar experience when we realized we were being called to religious life.

After reflecting on the story of the net being thrown into the sea to catch fish, we also read of the selection process of keeping some and discarding others. What is the truth in this parable? What does it mean for us? If we are called to spread the good news of the gospel, we must accept the fact that not all people care to listen. We must not discriminate. The truth is that all are given a chance to change and grow. It is not for us to judge or separate but we must leave the final judgment to God.

Sister Betty Kaczmarczyk, SP

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Sunday Reflection July 23, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 13, 24-30

He proposed another parable to them. “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”

Reflection

This parable from Jesus to his disciples represents the perfect plan, the ideal path for a Christian and for anyone who commits faithfully to follow his or her call. A priori, I think that my engagement, that of my neighbor, and anyone else’s, is the good seed that is sown; it is my constant effort, and the response to an ideal to which I feel called. A call that has been addressed to each and every one of us.

The next step, between the sowing and the harvest, is to give oneself completely, despite how difficult it may be, through full engagement. The enemy is every obstacle that stands on my way to accomplish my decision and my mission; it means condescending with my bad habits. It represents a test, the contradictions I must overcome, the evil I have to keep at distance. It is avoiding my sister and brother. I must grow remaining faithful to my convictions, I must persevere.

Then the time for harvest will come. This represents the fruits of my good deeds. The harvest mentioned by Jesus will occur at the end of times. Our assistance comes from our constant relationship with Jesus. We can count on the advice of the Gospel, on our allegiance to the Church, on our ever-growing faith, our persevering loyalty. He who sows the good seed is above all the Son of Man. But those who accomplish their call sow it too. The field is this world, the environment where circumstances brought us into being and made us fulfill our mission. The weed represents our enemies. The harvesters are the angels from this parable.

Sister Annette Aspirot, SP.

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Sunday Reflection June 18, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 9, 36; 10,8

At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd.

Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.

Reflection:

The Gospel of Matthew starts out with Jesus looking at the crowd and feeling pity for them. Jesus is moved to compassion, and He acts.  He calls his twelve apostles to “gather the lost sheep of Israel,” to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.   The Apostles were called by name to heal the sick, cleanse lepers and to drive out demons along with raising the dead. They were to do these actions without cost to the people they were helping.  We are still called by name to the mission of Jesus, and we have all answered that call.  We joined the Sisters of Providence and have given our lives to become the laborers of Jesus.

As Jesus calls us and gifts us freely, we are also called to share our gift with others freely and to work for the Kingdom of heaven.   Matthew uses two images to indicate that discipleship always implies mission: people are like sheep without a shepherd and like a harvest that needs laborers to get the work done.  We are called to be active in our world, to see the troubled and to see the abandoned of our time, and to work for justice and healing for all.   We continue the mission of our community by serving the unmet needs of the world.  We work to bring about the reign of God to the world.  In our ministries we see and touch the lives of so many that we become the laborers working in the field.  We share life with those on whom Jesus took pity and we have the same reaction towards those who are in need around us.  And we call others to help “in the field”.

Jesus is still calling laborers to the field. He is giving the gifts that are needed for these times and telling us to be open to being moved with compassion for all those in need.

Sister Jessica Taylor, SP

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Sunday Reflection June 11, 2023
The Gospel According to John 6:51-58

Jesus said to them: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

Reflection:

The words of Jesus nurture us through our readings, as we are spiritually nourished by the communion and teachings that we have inherited from Jesus himself.

This is how we can feel the presence of Jesus in our lives. Jesus, like our dear Emilie, inspires us to give the best of ourselves, by helping those in need. In today’s world the needs are many but each one of us can help by listening, sharing, and making the right gestures to provide for those who suffer.

Accordingly, each one of us take part in building a better world, by nurturing in our turn, a part of our journey. Together we can make a big difference in the lives of those that will find comfort in it.  We should not give up, but join forces, to share the life within us, imbuing the lives of those in need with our spirit. The cause for which Emilie gave her life remains valid in 2023, and we must follow her example of humility, simplicity, and charity. Jesus and Emily are our inspiration, as we wish to inspire others so that those who follow in her footsteps may increase in number, passing on these beautiful values to future generations.

Have a fruitful reflection,

Hélène Chevrefils, AP

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Sunday Reflection June 4, 2023
The Gospel According to John 3:16-18

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Reflection

The message of these clear and meaningful words is that God so loved the world that he gave us his only Son. God is Love and by that pure love he gives us his Word, the Word that became flesh for us. God’s message. The Word comes close to us and gives us salvation, gives us fullness, gives us the deepest knowledge of God through Himself incarnated by Love … But what for? What is the purpose? What is the intention? The sole intention is that we may be happy, that we may feel in unity with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, that we may have faith so that we believe in Him, who came to redeem us. Jesus Christ brings salvation to all men and women, but he also invites us to have a deep, trusting faith and abandon ourselves to God, which also means a life devoted to the commandments and precepts of the Gospel. God’s love is infinite, endless, and so immense that it provides us with a path for salvation through his only Son.

The greatest gift that God has given to humanity is his own Son, his own Son who presents to us the plan of salvation and happiness that Provident God has in store for each one of us. A plan of love and salvation that is woven day by day in our lives, as we fulfill the will of God in our own history of salvation, always inviting us to open our hearts in the surge of hope letting new life spring forth, along with hopefulness, and God’s dream.[1]

Verse 16 summarizes the central message of Christianity… “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” God wants everyone of us to be saved and for that reason he gives us true Love guiding us into eternal love. To know and to love the Son of God means waking up to life and entering a process of deep faith knowing how privileged we are of having this love as we step into the hope of eternal life. This is the case of Mujeres del Alba (Women of Dawn)[2] who, rooted on hope, step forward without fear, full of confidence because they believe in Him, who has loved them and shows them the path towards true and full life. Help us, Lord, to penetrate into your mysteries, and to make our experience of faith an experience of love embracing true life, life in the Triune God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Help us accept this great gift of love and salvation engaging us into true life, and into the true encounter with the Risen One that invites us to renew our commitment to love and serve the poorest people in society, looking to the present and the future with transformed hope, always tending to peace and union.[3]

Sister Gloria Garcia, SP

[1] General Chapter 2022.

[2] Inspiring horizon. Women of the Dawn. The daring hope to awaken the aurora CLAR 2022-2025

[3] Bernarda Morin: “Always strive for peace and union”

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Sunday Reflection May 28, 2023
The Gospel According to John 20:19-23

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. [Jesus] who said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Reflection:

This Gospel situates us in the day after Jesus has risen from the dead.  The disciples, afraid for their lives, are hiding in a room behind locked doors. Suddenly, Jesus appears in their midst and says, “Peace be with you.” He shows them the wounds in his hands and his feet, they recognize Jesus, and their fear is turned into joy.  Then, again, Jesus says to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.

Fifty days later, when Jesus was conversing with these same disciples, “he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.” During this fifty-day interval, Jesus was preparing the disciples for the mission he had given them, As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”  And he was preparing them for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

In the second reading for Pentecost Sunday, Paul gives us a wonderful description of the Holy Spirit’s role in the life and growth of the Church. In comparing the church to a human body, he tells us that, with the gifts and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are empowered and sent to spread the good news of God’s creative love and compassionate redemption to all peoples everywhere.

The message of this Pentecost liturgy confirms the presence and power of the Holy Spirit and our communion with each other in the Holy Trinity, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I sent you.

Sister Kathryn Rutan, SP.

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Sunday Reflection May 21, 2023
The Gospel According to John 17:1b-11a

When Jesus had said this, he raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began. “I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because of the words you gave to me, I have given to them, and they accepted them and understood that I came from you, and they believe that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you.

Reflection:

This passage of the Gospel is about the relationship between the Father and the Son. Jesus confirms that he is indeed the Son of God. The moment is also clearly specific: the Son is asking the Father to glorify him so that in return God may be glorified. I came to realize that the glorification of the Son is accomplished in his own testimony, his presence, his love, his mercy. He is proud, he recognizes that he is the Son of God, and he confirms to us his identity. He also recognizes that God has sent him with a mission. He feels he has fulfilled his mission and he now asks his father to glorify him. And in doing so he shows humility. At times, we may think that he is commanding God to give him what is due to him, but that is not the case.

Rather, He is showing gratitude. It is as if he is asking for a reward from his father. But he also confirms that he is God’s Son and that he is ready for his mission: to reveal himself to humankind. Glorification belongs to him. And Jesus also confirms that his mission is to make God known, the one and only true God. Now he prays for us, for those given to him by God, because God loves them. Now they belong to God, his father, but they also belong to Jesus, the Son of God, because what belongs to God also belongs to Jesus. It is a fantastic thing! They have a very intimate relationship and an exemplary sacrifice. Jesus praises the Father and asks to be given his share in accomplishing his mission. Indeed, it is a close relationship. By expressing this understanding of his mission, Jesus confirms an important point: people now recognize him as coming from God and they are invited to believe that God and Jesus are one.

Jesus makes it clear that after his glorification, his mission is not over. He continues praying: “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I am glorified in them.” Glorified! Because the world now knows the true God and the mission of Jesus is accomplished. Jesus is with us, day by day, and his glorification fortifies our lives.

Sister Francine Blanc, S.P.

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Sunday Reflection May 14, 2023
The Gospel According to John 14:15-21

At that time, Jesus said to his disciples:

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live, and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”

REFLECTION:

The context for this Sunday’s Gospel reading is the Last Supper. Our Lord Jesus said to his disciples: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always” (Jn 14:15-16). Here the praying heart of Jesus is revealed to us, his fraternal and filial heart. This prayer reaches its apex and its fulfilment on the Cross, where Christ’s invocation is one with the total gift that he makes of himself, and thus his prayer becomes, so to speak, the very seal of his self-gift out of love of the Father and humanity. (Benedict XVI, Homily, Sunday, May 23, 2010). Jesus Christ in this passage speaks to us with great intimacy and clarity. To love the Lord means to keep his commandments, since true love is expressed in actions.  The Lord knows our human weaknesses and therefore gives us life and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Those who love God have the grace to recognize the manifestations of his love in the simplicity and sincerity of daily life, in loving the poor, your brother or neighbor, without envy or division, without wanting to destroy them.

http://es.catholic.net/op/articulos/49841/www.messt.org#modal

The apostle Jude, who makes his only appearance here, asks why Jesus will discriminate against the world in manifesting himself. Jesus answers that he will discriminate against the world because the world does not love God. The discourse concludes with the second prediction of the coming of the Spirit who will clarify what Jesus had said, and in that way, the Spirit will save the Christian community from error.

During the days of Easter, we recreate the expectation of the first apostles, who anticipated the arrival of the Spirit of God. When I think of his blessings, I immediately begin to examine and rejoice upon the rich gifts that God has in store for each of us during Pentecost.

True love is not expressed in words, no matter how beautiful they may be, it is expressed through actions and as Providence family we are called to express our love for Jesus through our actions. Jesus himself had set an example by fulfilling his father’s will. As Pope Benedict XVI reminds us: ” Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.” (Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, n. 1)

Loving God and doing what God wants are two acts related in principle. “Love is shown by your actions, not your words.” We love God by following His Word, doing what his Word tells us to do. By fulfilling God’s will, our relationship with Him and our knowledge of Him improves at the same time. When praying, we can remember the works we have done for God in the past and consider the works we may do for Him in the future.

Let us stand firmly and united in love, and we will enter the glory of God the Father, united to Jesus and strengthened by the Holy Spirit. May we receive perseverance from our Holy Father so as not to falter in the fulfillment of his commandments, thus sending to us his Holy Spirit to protect us and strengthen our faith, that, by his grace, we may serve Him joyfully and transparently.

Sister María Fernanda Apablaza, SP.

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Sunday Reflection May 7, 2023
The Gospel According to John 14:1-12

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where [I] am going you know the way.” Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.

Reflection:

If I want to visit someone or go somewhere, I normally ask for directions on how to get there. In today’s gospel what direction does Jesus give for telling the disciples he is going to prepare a place for them, and that he will come back and take them there? The disciples do not think Jesus is being clear that they know the way.  Thomas certainly does not think that they know where Jesus is going to prepare a place for them, nor do they know the way. “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”

Jesus’ answer to this question is “I am the way, the truth and the life.”  In being with Jesus have the disciples understood what Jesus has been saying and doing: calling people to follow, encouraging people, healing people, being present with people. At this moment Jesus says the Father and I are one and no one comes to the Father except through me…I am going to the Father. But you will be the ones who will do great works, even greater than the works I have done. Jesus is confident that the way for the disciples is clear. And it will become even clearer after Jesus’ death and resurrection and when they receive the Holy Spirit.

We can follow the example of the disciples who listened to Jesus intently but did not always understand. Sometimes our pathway gets cluttered with non-essential activities, or the way is not clear in certain instances. But if we listen to Jesus tell us that he is the “way, the truth and the life,” we will live united with him and all his people, and someday be fully in God’s presence.

Sister Judith Desmarais, SP

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Sunday Reflection April 30, 2023
The Gospel According to John 10:1-10

“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.”

Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them. So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came [before me] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.

Reflection:

From the beginning of this Gospel, we read that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, ” calls his own sheep by name.” The divine Shepherd knows each sheep by name, even if his flock is enormous, and invites them to establish a very personal and intimate relation with him.

The sheep, Jesus said, recognize the voice of their shepherd. Indeed, through his divine Incarnation and his painful Passion, they are able to listen, welcome, understand and obey his Voice, which guides them with his love and wisdom.

Each sheep that belongs to Him is invited to come out, that is, to go out of our ego, of our selfish being, of our self-centered preoccupations, and follow the Good Shepherd by going through that Door which is Jesus himself. In doing so, we will find the rich pastures of the spiritual life, of faith, humility, docility to the Holy Spirit, and of unconditional self-giving.

To correspond the infinite love of the Good Shepherd who sacrificed himself to save his flock, it is of the uttermost importance that we learn to recognize better his voice, to tell his voice from that of his deceitful imitators, and to obey him faithfully and bigheartedly. It is a joyous, reassuring and earthly preparation for our entrance into the heavenly Sheepfold through his mercy!

Sister Fernande DeGrâce, SP.

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Sunday Reflection April 23, 2023
The Gospel According to Luke 24, 13-35

Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred.

And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” They set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Reflection:

ROAD TO EMMAUS: That same day, two of them were going to a small town called Emmaus… Who doesn’t like to travel?  Everyone likes to have travel companions to talk with, with whom we can remember the facts that give us hope for life.  Two of Jesus’ disciples were on their way to a village called Emmaus, talking to each other about recent events. Then, “The risen Lord approached and began to walk with the two of them on their way to Emmaus.”  The ultimate goal was to accomplish the Father’s salvific design. The disciples did not recognize Him, because they were talking and arguing. They had ended up feeling disappointment, sadness and frustration, symbols of the deepest of human experiences and questions.

But the risen Jesus continued to walk along with them, inviting them to communicate, to remember…  But they were not listening; they continued to argue.  With clouded eyes, they said in disappointment, “We expected Him to be the deliverer of Israel.”

They were having a hard time understanding that the barrier between death and life was brought down.  Jesus offered them different ways to recognize him, offered them the memory  of his passion, the testimony of the scriptures that He had represented throughout His life.

The life, passion, death, and resurrection of the Master had not yet presented itself as an alternative path of LIFE for the disciples… What else then?

Jesus started going in his own direction. But they insisted: “Stay with us, because it is already dark, and the night is falling …” A gesture of solidarity towards that pilgrim.

In that propitious moment, Jesus took the opportunity to open the eyes of the disciples who recognized the familiar gesture of “breaking the bread” at the table.  So, they expressed the effect that the explanation of the Scriptures had had on them. They recognized Him as he vanished out of their sight: “Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?”.

Sister Liliana Contador, SP.

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Sunday Reflection April 09, 2023
The Gospel According to John 20: 1-9

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.

When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.

Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

Reflection:

Why do you sing, Mary Magdalene?

The Why do you sing Mary Madeleine, why do you?

“I went to the master’s tomb; someone had rolled away the stone!

I am telling you!”

What about the tomb, Mary Magdalene? What about the tomb?

“I went inside, but it was empty. And I saw a splendid angel!

I am telling you!”

What did he tell you Mary Magdalene? What did he say?

“That he whom I was looking for, is alive. “You will see” he said “it is not a dream! He is alive, just as he promised.”

Robert Lebel

In this deeply wounded world, where can we look for him? Where can we find him? “It is not up in heaven that we must look for the Risen One but on earth,” wrote Jean Debruynne, the equivalent in France of our famous Ambroise Lafortune. Face to face with the open and empty tomb, we are called to listen from the bottom of our hearts to the answer coming, like at the end of a long journey, like the one Mary Magdalene went through, like the one that makes up the warp and woof of our lives.

Today, on this Easter morning, the big upheaval takes place. Where is the body? Who has hidden it? What happened to the soldiers on watch? Pope Francis himself draws a beautiful lesson from it: “Never cease to look for the risen Christ who gives life in abundance to those who find him, because to find the risen Christ, in the end, is to find He who gives life in abundance to those who come to encounter Him.”

“Finding Christ means to regain peace of mind”, assures the Holy Father, who, at the beginning of this Easter season, wished that believers could share the experience of Mary Magdalene by welcoming, in our hearts, the happy announcement of Easter. “The Risen Christ never dies. Death has lost any power over him,” said Pope Francis in his 2021 Easter Monday homily.

Jean Debruynne also wrote that “the Risen One is the gardener not the master. He’s not the landlord, but the little one, the worker. He does not live in the house but in the cabin at the end of the yard. The Risen One is not the trader, withdrawn from the business. He is a tough, hands-on kind of man, who rises with the sun, works hard, and lives in the open air”.

We do not need to go far to find Him. Saying his name will suffice.

His name is Jesus Christ.

He looks like a Native Person, an African American

Who, poor and marginalized, suffers under inhuman conditions.

His name is Jesus Christ.

He is a country man, without land, without resources,

and without future,

deprived of everything and victim of an unjust market

that exploits him.

He is among us and we have not recognized him.

He is among us and we have despised him.

His name is Jesus Christ.

He is jobless and condemned to unemployment,

The victim of development, he lives crushed by

economic calculations.

His name is Jesus Christ.

He is a disoriented young man, with no future nor training,

without abilities,

unemployed, frustrated, addicted to drugs.

He is among us and we have not recognized him.

He is among us and we have despised him.

Mato Grosso, Brazil

Rene Lefebvre, Providence Associate

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Sunday Reflection April 02, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 21:1-11

When they drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tethered, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them here to me. And if anyone should say anything to you, reply, ‘The master has need of them.’ Then he will send them at once.” This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: “Say to daughter Zion, ‘Behold, your king comes to you, meek and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them. They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them, and he sat upon them. The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.” And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?” And the crowds replied, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Reflection:

After reading and reflecting on this Gospel, which begins with the preparation of Jesus before entering Jerusalem and stepping into the most important path for Christians and believers, I invite you to live this passage in depth and in active contemplation.

Jesus enters the city as king of Jerusalem and is hailed by the people as the son of David, “he who comes in the name of the Lord.” However, by entering mounted on a donkey, Jesus reveals to us that he is the Prince of Peace, and his reign is one of humility.

Jesus invites us to accompany him by accompanying all the suffering Christs who walk by and live by our side, helping them to carry their heavy burdens, which most of the times prevent them from walking and moving forward. Our commitment to the Gospel in the light of the spirituality of Providence forbids us to remain indifferent when we face these sorts of realities.

Blessed Emilie and her faithful daughter, Bernarda Morin, understood very well that it is this Paschal dimension which transforms personal, social, and communal existence through faith. It is from that place that Mother Bernarda’s invitation arises, an invitation which remains valid until this day: “Promote peace and unity”. Amen.

Sister Nancy Arevalo, SP

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Sunday Reflection March 26, 2023
The Gospel According to John 11:1-45

Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill. So, the sisters sent word to him, saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.” When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  So, when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was. Then after this he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and you want to go back there?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in a day? If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” He said this, and then told them, “Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him.” So, the disciples said to him, “Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved.” But Jesus was talking about his death, while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep. So, then Jesus said to them clearly, “Lazarus has died. And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe. Let us go to him.” So, Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go to die with him.” When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away. And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. [But] even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying, “The teacher is here and is asking for you.” As soon as she heard this, she rose quickly and went to him. For Jesus had not yet come into the village but was still where Martha had met him. So, when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting her saw Mary get up quickly and go out, they followed her, presuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping, he became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Sir, come and see.” And Jesus wept. So, the Jews said, “See how he loved him.” But some of them said, “Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have done something so that this man would not have died?” So, Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him, “Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” So, they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” And when he had said this, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So, Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.” Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him.

Reflection:

The Gospel of John for the fifth Sunday of Lent is filled with many themes for us to consider: friendship, confusion, what was Jesus thinking, hope, and finally faith.

Friendship: Jesus had a close relationship of friendship with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus as we have learned in other writings of the Gospel. They no doubted visited together, ate together, and enjoyed each other’s company. This friendship reminds us of the human side of Jesus and his sign of affection for his friends.

Reflection: This is a sign of Jesus’s love of friendship with each one of us. How do we respond to this enduring friendship?

Confusion: What was Jesus thinking?

As we have witnessed, given the friendship that Jesus had with this family, why did He wait four days to respond to the need of this family? He doesn’t rush to be with his close friends. He does not show any urgency. Was there a threat to his life that he didn’t want to encounter?

Reflection: God’s plan is not always our plan. How do we respond to God’s plan for us?

Hope: After traveling only two miles, Jesus arrives to meet the mourners as well as comforting Martha and Mary. “Jesus wept with them”.  His disciples were not at all pleased that Jesus put his life in danger. “Rabbi, it is not long since the Jews were trying to stone you. Are you going back there?” Jesus puts aside any emotion of fear and recognizes the call to serve his friends in this time of grief at the death of a dear brother and friend, Lazarus.

Reflection: Confident with hope, Jesus always shows up to comfort us amid our trials and grief. Do we feel His presence?

Faith: The raising of Lazarus from the tomb is considered the most remarkable miracle Jesus performed. Jesus says to Mary and Martha “your brother will rise again”.  Martha expresses her faith “yes, I know”. Martha’s faith was in the context of the last day of resurrection in the future. She didn’t realize that Jesus would bring Lazarus back to life.  Jesus asks Martha to remove the stone covering the tomb of Lazarus. This asked for The remarkable act of faith attributed to Martha. And Jesus said, “Lazarus come forth”. Jesus declares,  “I am the Resurrection and the life. Everyone who believes in Me, though each may die, each shall live.”

Susanne Hartung SP

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Sunday Reflection March 19, 2023
The Gospel According to John 9:1-41

As he passed by he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So, he went and washed, and came back able to see. His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, “Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is,” but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” He said, “I am.” So, they said to him, “[So] how were your eyes opened?” He replied, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So, I went there and washed and was able to see.” And they said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I don’t know.” They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. So, then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath.” [But] others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So, they said to the blind man again, “What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” Now the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and gained his sight until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight. They asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?” His parents answered and said, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. We do not know how he sees now, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him, he is of age; he can speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Messiah, he would be expelled from the synagogue. For this reason, his parents said, “He is of age; question him.” So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give God the praise! We know that this man is a sinner.” He replied, “If he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.” So, they said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” They ridiculed him and said, “You are that man’s disciple; we are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from.” The man answered and said to them, “This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him. It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.” They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out. When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshipped him. Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.” Pharisees, who were with him,  heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains.

Reflection

A behavior full of contradictions is portrayed by this poor blind man, who nevertheless gives us all the answers that justify his actions and kindnesses towards the  who healed him of his blindness: Jesus. Humans have a flickering faith that requires concrete facts, and Jesus completed these signs to make manifest the works of God. At the center of this dark story about a man deprived from his sight, Jesus steps in. Using the mud, he restored this man to his original physical condition, which also reminds us that we are “dust.” Jesus wants to transform brothers and sisters into new creatures. They will be renovated by the abundance of His Nature.

From the moment Jesus intervened in his life, a long-lasting process started for the blind man, for which he became his own witness, as it happens for ourselves. For us, it is about our spiritual growth, when we commit ourselves to follow Jesus. It is about complying to our baptism preparing ourselves for our last encounter with Him who calls us. It is about our religious calling. And so we start our healing process, our growth towards an ideal. we plunge into the waters of baptism and continue directly into a safe harbor.

Jesus brings us peace and love, but he also causes division. First among neighbors, then among authorities, and last within families. Didn’t he declare, “They will rise up against each other…?” We experience this response when we follow the call of faith from Jesus, which is a very personal decision that can bring disbelief, and even misjudgment from persons close to us. The poor blind man lost even the support of his own parents, feeling left alone and helpless amongst the society of his time. Yet, he found a solid support in Jesus, the source of everything that is good. That was his privilege, and it is our privilege too.

Sister Annette Aspirot

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Sunday Reflection March 12, 2023
The Gospel According to John 4,5,15. 19b-26.39

So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the well is deep; where then can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.” Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Anointed; when he comes, he will tell us everything.” Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking with you.” Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me everything I have done.”

Reflection:

When I reflect on the words of this Gospel, I feel deep inside myself the need of the living water, a water that not only refreshes me but also cleanses my imperfections.

Face to face with the Samaritan woman, Jesus proclaimed this site to be a spring of living water. We often think about quenching our thirst when we are physically thirsty , but as soon as we realize the spiritual message delivered by Jesus in this Gospel,  we understand that he is speaking about the “living water”. Jesus Christ, in this Gospel passage, offers us the living water that brings us happiness, success, and eternal life.

This living water can appease the burning thirst of those who are living a parched life in these very arid times. As shown in this Gospel, in the scene at Jacob’s well,  Jesus is the unique spring of living water, a spring that appeases the thirst of those longing for divine light, a  thirst which is the cause of so much suffering in the world.

I know that the Lord’s living water springs from a well that is pure and full of life and will never run dry. Every time we come to Jesus with our empty vessel, he will fill it up, often with more than we are able to receive. For Jesus is the true living water; He is the manifestation of God’s love.

When we live the words of the Gospel, a living spring is flowing within us, a spring of water that fulfils our thirst for happiness, peace, and love.

Sister Gladys Flores, SP

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Sunday Reflection March 5, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 17: 1-9

After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. The Coming of Elijah. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Reflection

In the gospel of Thursday of the first week of Lent, Jesus predicts his passion and death.  He expresses his upcoming death again in Matthew at the end of the scene of the Transfiguration. We are being brought to a quick view of what’s ahead for Jesus, being prepared for the steps that lead to the crucifixion, and ultimately to the resurrection.  But to follow Jesus means to take up our cross daily. Before that statement though, the appearance of Moses and Elijah with Jesus, was filled with light, a symbol that meant, in the Old Testament, the divine presence with the people.

During the vision of the Transfiguration, God says, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”  Jesus and the visitors are engulfed in light, indicating God’s presence. When the light and the visitors disappear, they descend the mountain and Jesus tells the disciples to not tell anyone about this vision until the Son of Man Jesus has risen from the dead.  There is that statement about death again. It will take time for the disciples to understand the meaning of Jesus’ prediction.

Many people have lives that are closer to the suffering Jesus than the exalted Jesus.  Have I opened myself to listen to Jesus in the words of Scripture, but also in the living “scripture” of those with whom I interact daily or weekly, those who are poor or homeless, those who are suffering oppression or loss of any kind, those who are sick or in hospice care, etc.?  Let me open myself to those in need, be aware of those around me whether near or far away, and respond to them as Jesus would respond.

Sister Judith Desmarais, SP

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Sunday Reflection February 26, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 4: 1-11

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written: ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you’ and ‘with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’” Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written: ‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.’” Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.

Reflection 

As I contemplate this slice of the Gospel, I am touched twice over as this first Sunday of Lent reminds me of the day of my public commitment to follow Christ. It is a happy coincidence that I am invited to share the fruit of my meditation, inspired by the text that accompanied me throughout my preparation for temporary commitment on March 1, 2009.

First, this passage seems to extend the word of God from last Sunday. I discover a vulnerable and free Jesus. He is led into the desert where he feels hunger. Being hungry is not a trivial thing. Does this make him fragile?  Yes, no doubt it does! Therefore, the Tempter appears and put him to the test with different attractive proposals. I like how Jesus responds. Without declaring that he is the Son of God, he interacts assertively. “If you are the Son of God, the Tempter says, throw yourself down…”  Jesus answers him, “It is written ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'” Through each of Jesus’ replies, I can taste the deepness of his inner freedom. He communicates without rushing or confronting his counterpart.

Like Jesus, I also face temptations in my daily life. Occasionally I have convinced myself that all this was closely related to midlife (my forties). Such an assumption is quite plausible since Jesus was also tempted after spending 40 days and 40 nights in the desert. I am well aware that Jesus experienced a triple temptation.  This inevitably reminds me of the triple denial that awaited him during the passion. Only his faith allowed him to hold on and resist these temptations. Like Jesus, I want to live in accord with the Father by doing his will exclusively. Following Christ, I can say ‘no’ to those temptations that frequently come my way. Temptation is frightening, but at the same time it is an expression of the freewill that we have received.

Today, I feel doubly challenged by this passage of the Gospel. On the one hand, I feel vulnerable because I am in my forties and on the other hand, I feel challenged by the need to seize the opportunity that this Lenten season offers me to confront my temptations. Moreover, I feel invited to recognize that I have sometimes given in to some temptations However, without judging myself, I open up to unconditional love while handing myself over to the love of this God with a motherly heart. This is also what I hope you will experience throughout this Lenten season of 2023.

Sister Sandrine-Aimée Tsélikémé, SP

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Sunday Reflection February 19, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 5: 38-48

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on [your] right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.  But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same?

And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Reflection

“Love your enemies.” I really like this Gospel because it questions me in my daily life: Who is my enemy? We relate the word enemy to people who are not in our immediate circle. Indeed, we do not consider those people with whom we do not get along so well as enemies, even though it is very difficult for us to accept them as they are. In my particular case, every time I have issues with someone, I say to myself “Okay, stop for a while. Regardless of the way they act with me, in my presence or not, their attitudes, comments, jealousy, envy, resentment, loneliness, and so many other things that make them the way they are, I must love them just the same”. Certainly, it is a difficult task when we are not in the habit of loving those who are not how we would like them to be. However, when such an attitude becomes a way of life, the moments of sadness, pain, anger, and frustration that their way of being generates in you become less and less frequent, and you can take giant steps to love them as they are. It is not about justifying how they are, but about asking for the grace to love them as persons, as creatures, as projects and dreams of God and to have gestures of kindness and gratitude. In the end when we open ourselves to others beyond the sympathies or the good relationship that can be established, when none of that exists, we grow in love, in patience, in empathy, in tolerance and, above all, in peace and inner freedom.

Today’s Gospel is for me a call not to lose that inner peace and freedom, not to lose my happiness, my love for Christ and my surrender in the hands of others. Let nothing and no one separate us from the love of God: such is the challenge and at the same time the motivation to love first those around me, and then others. If I cannot forgive, if I cannot be merciful, charitable and loving to those who do not please me or do me wrong, then my faith is superficial and empty. Opening myself to my neighbor in Christ, for Christ and through Christ is a refuge in difficult moments. I hope you will be encouraged to do the same. Thus, you can heal wounds, forgive and continue on the path of consecration with solid and deep roots that are not only provided by years of Catholicism or life but by your ability to stop, contemplate, self-observe, ask for forgiveness, forgive and, above all, accept and love what cannot be changed.

Sister Mariana Peña, SP

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Sunday Reflection February 12, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 5: 17-37

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Teaching About Anger. “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him. Otherwise, your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.

Teaching About Adultery. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.

Teaching About Divorce. “Also, it was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.’ But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Teaching About Oaths. “Again, you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.

Reflection

The first line of the gospel directs us to Jesus’ attitude toward the Law: “I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”  What did he mean by this statement? As a Jew, Jesus grew up knowing the Law of Moses and practising its traditions. He saw how the Law had guided the lives of the people, how demanding it became to the point where many of the Jews could no longer distinguish between the Law and the spirit of the Law. So, he invited the people to a new understanding of the Law— the Law of Love.  He gives clear examples of this new understanding in his teachings about murder, forgiveness, adultery, divorce and falsehood.  Jesus’ teaching could not be understood easily nor was it fully accepted by his own people. But he was passionate and relentless in proclaiming the Good News.

Jesus continues to invite us to go beyond the letter of the law and this means to live the gospel message with love and mercy.   It is in this deeper understanding that we find true redemption.  It is also liberating in the sense that we are not asked to be perfect but to be obedient to the Law of Love.  When St. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians  (1 Cor 2:-10), writes:  “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor has the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him”, we are invited to trust that we are on the right path. We pray that we shall continue to grow in discerning how to be obedient to the law of Love.

Sister Suzette C. Bautista, SP

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Sunday Reflection February 5, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 5: 13-16

“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

Reflection

“You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.”

This Sunday’s Gospel calls us to bear personal and communal witness to Christ who urges us to mission, inviting us to become: “Salt and Light”.

To be Salt

The salt of our faith gives meaning to the small details of daily life. It gives flavor to existence, a certain taste for living, a sense of the infinite. This salt also allows us to treasure every experience of sharing, communion and happiness.

Just like good dishes need salt to avoid becoming bland, just like our bodies need salt to continue living, just like food needs salt to preserve itself and not lose its quality, the earth and all the humans who dwell on it need salt to continue enjoying life and the happiness of being alive. This salt, received and welcomed, helps every person to live in a more pleasant way. As salt of the earth, our role is to give flavor to our living environment, our society, our work and our apostolic field. We need to restore the thirst for living in those who have lost it and whose lives are dull, sad and without the sense a future.  This salt will surely lead many to change their lives. 

To be the Light

Becoming a light is a call to conversion. Indeed a just, tender, generous heart, overflowing with compassion, is a heart where light springs up, where God comes to erase darkness. God is the light of persons with merciful hearts, and as light, we too must illuminate the paths and lives of others with the light of the Gospel, with our spiritual values, our actions and our compassionate presence. Jesus wants to tell us that we are like little suns that can bring light into the lives of others. We can comfort them when they are in the dark, enlighten them when they do not understand, guide them when they are lost, fill them with wonder when they find life dull and warm them when they are cold. Often a simple smile, a hello and a presence are enough to light up a life!

Jude Merline Bernard, S.P.

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Sunday Reflection January 29, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 5: 1-12a

When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Reflection

After praying and reflecting on today’s Gospel, I was especially captivated by the verbs that describe the actions of Jesus and his disciples prior to the beatitudes, which are the program of life that the Master proposes to those who wish to follow him with a sincere heart.

 

Regarding the person of Jesus, it is worth noting first that he “sees” humanity (crowd), “ascends” to the sacred space, “sits down”, and, in an honest, compassionate and loving way, promptly “teaches” through “speech”word– to those who follow him and want to listen to him. As for the disciples, they decide to approach the Master – sacred space – to go beyond and transcend from “relational knowledge” to “relational understanding,” an itinerant path of gathering in which Jesus shares his grace and friendship (Living the Beatitudes will give us joy and peace, Pope Francis, General Audience of January 29, 2020).

Today’s Gospel allows us to continue on this relational itinerary of gathering and reminds us, among other things, that we have a common mission objective which is nothing other than “to love with a sense of ‘joy’ and to feel joyfully loved”. In this regard, don’t you think that is enough reason and experience to rejoice and jump for joy when you know that you are loved and that, at this point of the synodal journey, more of us are coming and will come, with the deep commitment to proclaim with hope the beatitudes of Jesus? Courage, we are not alone!

Sister Marcia Gatica, SP

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Sunday Reflection January 22, 2023
The Gospel According to Matthew 4: 12-23

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.  He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through the prophet might be fulfilled: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen./  From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

As he was walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother, Andrew, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  At once, they left their nets and followed him.  He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother, John.  They were in a boat, with their father, Zebedee, mending their nets.  He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.  He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.

Reflection:

In this Gospel passage, we have the account of Jesus inviting his first collaborators, the disciples, to come after him. Calling each of them by name, he invites them to be a community in mission with him. In our own lives, we, too, have heard Jesus calling us by name and inviting us to collaborate in following him as he proclaims the Gospel of the Reign of God, as he teaches and brings healing among the people and to planet earth.

Jesus is calling us today, personally and as a community, to recognize and to seek out those persons who are excluded, persons who do not know that they are loved. Every day, Jesus invites us to participate with him in the healing of lives and of broken relationships. He asks us to follow him in bringing light where there is darkness, love where there is hatred, peace where there is violence and war. Jesus calls us every day to be together with him – in our praying, in our relationships and in our actions.

His voice is gentle, his words are love: “He called them, and immediately they left their boats and followed him”.

Sister Kathryn Rutan, SP

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Sunday Reflection January 15, 2023
The Gospel According to John 1, 29-34

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God,* who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him,* but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove* from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the holy Spirit.’ * Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

Reflection 

John the Baptist testifies to Jesus as being “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”. He understood that it is through Jesus that the plan for the salvation of humanity is to happen. John may not know the details of how this is to happen, but he has always known the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, from his mother’s womb where he recognized the divine manifestation at the Visitation. We know from the Holy Scriptures that John lives in the desert and is used to solitude, which probably nourishes his inner self, and thus he can see what our fleshly eyes cannot. It is not what John “has learned” about Jesus that makes him “know” Jesus, but rather that he lives with Jesus interiorly; Jesus presence reveals to John the richness of the intimacy of the One whom he is foretelling.

Every time we participate in the Holy Eucharist, we relive that moment when John saw our Lord come to him. Today, as we meditate on these words of John, we affirm once again that Jesus is the one who gave his life on the cross out of love for us. We receive him daily in Holy Communion as “the Lamb of God”. It is Jesus’ flesh and blood that we consume in faith.

As we begin this season of Ordinary Time, we are invited to know this “Lamb” more fully by entering daily into intimacy with him. He lives in us, deep in our hearts and allows Himself to be discovered by love, like the love John had for him. Just as we make time for what we love to do: cooking, shopping, reading, socializing with friends, watching television, walking in nature, enjoying a good meal, traveling, visiting family, we, Sisters of Providence, can continually seek out this “Lamb” that John the Baptist presents to us today. We know some of the qualities of a lamb. In some cultures, a lamb symbolizes gentleness, docility, kindness, innocence, peace… May Jesus allow us to recognize Him in his Word, in every needy person and in every situation of emerging vulnerability.

Let us listen to the Holy Spirit who will make us discover Him as he did to John the Baptist, so that new life may spring up daily.

Sister Hélène Mamert Nga Amogo, SP

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Sunday Reflection January 1, 2023
The Gospel According to Luke 2:16-21

So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. The Circumcision and Naming of Jesus. When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Reflection:

January 1, 2023, we, as Christians, celebrate the beginning of a new year by reflecting on today’s feast of Mary, Mother of God. The Gospel for today’s liturgy focuses on the response of the shepherds who took seriously the angels’ message and. guided by the star.  rushed to find Mary and Joseph and Jesus.  They were quick to praise God and spread the good news of the wondrous birth of this special child whom they had seen with their own eyes. They were the first responders, the first witnesses, humble shepherds, chosen by God and foretelling the place of persons who are poor in the life of Jesus.

The line in the Gospel that particularly strikes me is “As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart?”  What might Mary have pondered THAT day when the shepherds came? Might she have delighted that the angels were involved in the announcement to the shepherds and reminded her of the infamous day when the angel announced that she was be a mother to a son she would name Jesus, Son of God. She was reassured that Annunciation day and was advised not to be afraid. Maybe she needed a reminder.

Might she have pondered the reality that the shepherds were guided to the unlikely place of Jesus’ birth, and they rejoiced with Mary and Joseph – strangers that became friends in this lonely place away from home in circumstances far beyond what Mary and Joseph had hoped. Might she have pondered all the signs of God’s providential loving presence that day and all the days leading up to it, wondered what surprises were yet to come?

In saying “yes”, Mary became the Mother of God, of Jesus and of us as well. Her life, filled with the joys and sorrows of being Jesus’ Mother, provides us a wonderful example of living fully our call.  Let us follow her example of “treasuring all things and pondering them in our hearts.” Reflecting each day on the joys, sorrows, challenges and disappointments that we experience and finding Providence within them, loving and accompanying us, is a way of staying close to Mary, our Mother.

We remember that today is also World Day of Peace and Pope Francis has given us an important message for our pondering and action. You will find it at this link in your language.

http://www.vatican.va/content/francescomobile/en/messages/peace/documents/20221208-messaggio-56giornatamondiale-pace2023.html

May New Year’s blessings of peace, hope and love be yours, radiating to our wounded world!

Sister Karin Dufault, SP

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Sunday Reflection December 25, 2022
The Gospel According to Luke 2:1 – 14 and Isaiah 9:1 – 6

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who lived in a land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing; They rejoice before you as people rejoice at harvest, as they exult when dividing the spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, the rod of their taskmaster, you have smashed, as on the day of Midian. For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for fire. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, Upon David’s throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this! The Lord has sent a word against Jacob, and it falls upon Israel; and all the people know it— Ephraim and those who dwell in Samaria— those who say in arrogance and pride of heart, “Bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with cut stone; Sycamores have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.”

Reflection

Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests!

The Gospel of Luke takes us back to a surprising reality! An invitation to obedience, courage and necessary adaptation.  Joseph, being of the lineage of David, had to go for the census.  To leave while Mary is in the last months of her pregnancy, as the Scripture has pointed out, is a challenge!

Yet, Mary is carrying an exceptional child, a secret that an angel had revealed to her.  Why do as everybody else and leave?  How could they live through such an event with so few resources and without a shelter reserved in advance?  Mary and Joseph are confident and live serenely in the present and the future.  How much faith and hope are found in this lesson of detachment, trust in God and respect for the child!

Isaiah reminds us that “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light”.  The flame of hope burns because Jesus is present.

Surrounded by shepherds, the angel reassures them with the good news that a Savior, Christ, is born and that he is wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. With Mary, Joseph and their God-Child, the shepherds and an angel, we are called to sing “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests!”

Sister Claire Houde, SP

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Sunday Reflection December 18, 2022
The Gospel According to St Matthew 1: 18-24

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:  “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

Reflection

I would like to begin my personal reflection by taking up the following phrase of Pope Francis, since its essence is reflected in this Gospel of St. Matthew: “The Son of God chose to come into the world by way of such bonds, the way of history”.[1]  Mary, betrothed to Joseph, is gathering that she is pregnant, which generates great bewilderment because he had not had relations with the virgin, and therefore considers leaving her. The virgin who conceives is also in a difficult situation because she is still unmarried and pregnant, which is contrary to Jewish customs and law. However, the angel appears to Joseph and tells him not to be afraid because the one who is to come is the work of the Holy Spirit.

In the figure of Joseph, I see the attitude of a just man and an example worthy of following, because he believes in God’s promises, even when they are strange and improbable, and quite uncomfortable in fact. Joseph’s attitude represents for me an invitation to be open to God’s ways, which are often not as I imagine them to be. I cite as an example what happened to me last November 24, when, wanting to rest, I went to bed, and five minutes later I heard a voice inviting me to get up and go out to visit, but I felt tired. The voice became louder and when I heard it, I felt ready to go and then on my way I saw a drunken man named Catocho, who was lying in the street bleeding to death. I picked him up and took him to the hospital, but if I hadn’t, he would have died. This experience of availability and listening to God’s voice led me to be Providence for this wounded man. Availability allows us to modify our thoughts, our projects, and our choices. Joseph is also an obedient man, ready, first of all, to renounce Mary, because he was going to send her away and, secondly, to welcome her, because God confirms his will. The righteous Joseph thus experiences the responsibility of having a son, and in his case, a son who does not belong to him. Many men today take responsibility for children who are not theirs and raise them, as Joseph did with the Son of God. In this sense, Joseph is also a model and a hope for us, because being just, he believed. His faith allowed him to contemplate Jesus and his betrothed wife, who would always remain a virgin for him, with different eyes.

Sister Vilma Franco, SP

[1] Pope Francis, General Audience November24, 2021.

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Sunday Reflection December 11, 2022
The Gospel According to St Matthew 11: 2-11

When John heard in prison of the works of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see; the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” This is Jesus’ testimony to John. As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothes? Those who wear fine clothes are in royal palaces. Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.’ Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Reflection:

When I address the Advent readings, what am I expecting to see? Jesus’ truth in fine clothes like I have seen before?  Clothes I understand; they are familiar? If that is so, why make the effort to go out to see John the Baptist? What is he going to tell me that I haven’t heard before? After all, this isn’t my first Advent. Am I prepared to see a prophet? Do I have ears to hear a new message? John stands before me in rags and speaking in rough language. He makes me feel uncomfortable. This is not the sweet baby I am expecting for Christmas.

Then, Jesus tells us: Among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist. Really? He is soon to be jailed and have his head cut off, no less. Do I really want to associate with this person? What do you mean, “he is the greatest person born of woman?”

Then, Jesus says: The least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. I truly want to be at least the least in the kingdom of heaven. But does that mean I must be a prophet like John the Baptist, ready to live and die for Christ – to preach uncomfortable messages? It would be so much more comfortable staying in my royal palace! Yet, I must go out to see John the Baptist before I can go to Bethlehem for Christmas.

Sister Beverly Dunn, SP

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Sunday Reflection December 04, 2022
The Gospel According to St Matthew 3: 1-12

In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: “A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.”  John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Reflection 

Matthew, in chapter 3 of his gospel, verses 1-12, reminds us of John the Baptist’s cry in the wilderness: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

We can hardly imagine what such a cry could cause… Now here is the good news, the joyful news that Jesus is going to start “crying out” for two years.  It is the feverish expectation of Israel that is about to be fulfilled!  “The offspring of the old stock of David will spring forth”  “There will be no more wicked men…” (…) “There will be universal and definitive peace on earth”…”No more evil shall be done.”

“This is the joyful news, this is the Gospel” (…) God is near; He is with us on the road… His Kingdom is near!

We have already entered the period of Advent, during which we await the One who comes for us and who desires to transform us… The theme of this Advent 2022 invites us to be united as we wait for the Savior. Let us ask Him often “Come, Lord Jesus, come and save us!”

Sister Yvette Demers, SP.

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Sunday Reflection November 27, 2022
The Gospel According to St Matthew 24, 37-44

For as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not know anything until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be [also] at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left.  Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

Reflection

Matthew’s Gospel includes five great discourses, as if they were a new edition of the five books of the Law of Moses. The text we meditate on this Sunday is part of the fifth discourse of this new law. Each of the four preceding discourses illuminates a certain aspect of the Kingdom of God announced by Jesus:

First: the justice of the Kingdom is the condition for entering the Kingdom (Mt 5-7)

Second: the mission of the citizens of the Kingdom (Mt 10).

Third: the mysterious presence of the Kingdom in people’s lives (Mt 13).

Fourth: living the Kingdom in community (Mt 18).

Fifth: vigilance in view of the ultimate coming of the Kingdom.

In this last discourse, Matthew follows Mark’s pattern (Mk 13:5-37), but adds some parables that speak of the need for vigilance and service, solidarity and fraternity.

At this beginning of Advent, it is important to purify our gaze and learn anew by reading events in the light of the Word of God. And this, so as not to be surprised, because God can come without warning, when we least expect it. To illustrate how we should be attentive to events, Jesus relies on the episode of the flood in Noah’s time.

The liturgy of the first Sunday of Advent presents us with Jesus’ discourse about the end of time and the Advent, which means coming. It is the time of preparation for the coming of the Son of Man in our life. Jesus exhorts us to be vigilant and to keep our eyes wide open. He asks us to be attentive to events in order to discover in them the hour of the coming of the Son of Man.

It is necessary to refresh, renew, rekindle our vision, awaken what has remained, revive or recover what has died. Without realizing it, sometimes the rhythm of life wears us out, tires us, turns us off, ages us… And just as our body needs vital rest every day to keep going, our soul, our inner strength, our vision, also need to be restored, at least once a year.

We should not begin this special time of waiting with a heart that is saddened, numb or pained by all of the above, as the words of Pope Francis suggest:

Let us not allow ourselves to be infected by defeatism according to which everything goes wrong: this is not God’s way of thinking. And sad people are not Christians. The Christian suffers so many times, but does not fall into the deep sadness of the soul. Sadness is not a Christian virtue[1]

The Church offers us this time of Advent to “recharge”, so that we can reconnect with God, with people, and perhaps with ourselves, because it is not unusual for us to stop hearing that inner voice that tells us what we are called to, what we are, what we want to become, what God expects of us….

We have a month to prepare our inner house. We have a month to cleanse our soul, to reread our life and to emphasize the love we can give in this time of waiting. A month to contemplate our life in general with other eyes, with the eyes of the purest love that is to spring from the womb of our beloved Mother Mary: Beloved Jesus.

Sister María Fernanda Apablaza, SP

[1]   Pope Francis. Audience to the participants in the International Gathering promoted by the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, Nov. 30, 2019.

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Sunday Reflection November 20, 2022
The Gospel According to St Luke 23, 35-43

“The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God.” Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.” Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Reflection:

The mission of Jesus is continually met with opposition. Jesus actively challenges his opponents and is not afraid of the conflict that results. The Passion of Jesus is part of a cosmic drama in which ultimate goodness and ultimate evil struggle for victory. Those who humiliate Jesus are the religious leaders, soldiers, and a criminal. The people did not join in the mockery; they stood by watching. The scene is punctuated with another sort of mockery, the placing of an inscription over him on the cross: “This is the King of the Jews “.

The two criminals who had accompanied Jesus on the way of the cross and had been crucified on each side of him, exemplify radically different responses to Jesus. One of those condemned with Jesus is not touched by his passion and taunts him: “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us! The good criminal initiates a positive response of faith and repentance when he says: “This man has done nothing wrong”. He recognizes something that all the mockers have missed: this crucified man is, in fact, the Christ, the savior of the world. He shows deep faith that the dying Jesus is truly a king and can dispense the pardon and mercy which only a king can. This is confirmed by Jesus’ words: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Sister Elizabeth Kaczmarczyk, SP

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Sunday Reflection November 13, 2022
The Gospel According to St Luke 21, 5-19

While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, he said, All that you see here—the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?” He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues rom place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.  “Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.

Reflection

When will it happen? This news not only shakes our ability to embrace the unknown or the failures which are inherent in some, dreamed of projects; it can also influence us with a certain fear of the new. We face two realities: the one we live on earth and the one the Lord has destined for us through faith and the freedom to answer his call forever. These two realities show us that eternal life and the human condition on earth come together in response to God’s desires.

Creation, which Genesis describes as a marvel from the hands of the Divine Creator and through which the human beings resemble their God, shows us its most sublime undertaking: “Let us make man in our image and likeness (…) and God saw that everything he had made was very good”. Gen. 1: 31. The account of these foretold events, far from being a threat centered on fear, gives us a glimpse of a state so glorious and great that its incomparable reality contrasts with the pettiness of our human views.

How often have we been warned of those days to come when, like the temple, everything will be destroyed through an endless series of misfortunes, wars and disorders! As Jesus confirms, the nations will be set against each other. Are not our sisters and brothers living on this planet already subject to all these things?  Let us look at the current state of our world: armed conflicts, religious indifference, in a word, everything that endangers the peace of a good conscience and leads to the ruin of people.

Jesus wants to teach his disciples to overcome fear in this world marked by disorder and war. “…you will need patience…it will not be the end immediately”. Luke 21. We find in the Gospels answers to our search. Jesus invites us to follow him.  The Spirit of God, who dwells in us, keeps us in the assurance of God’s presence in the world’s evolution and the promise of eternal life.

Sister Annette Aspirot, SP

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Sunday Reflection November 06, 2022
The Gospel According to St Luke 20, 27-38

Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to him, saying, “Master, Moses wrote for us, ‘If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.’ Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her.” Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

 

Reflection

On this beautiful spring Sunday -for us in the southern hemisphere-, I invite you to deepen what Jesus teaches us. In today’s Gospel, we read: ” Master, Moses wrote: If a man has a wife and dies without leaving children, the brother of the deceased must take the widow and give her a son”. This is a peremptory order, and one might question whether Moses was promoting polygamy at that time when it was so important to have children and ensure offspring, regardless of the feelings of those involved.

However, through these laws, God’s Providence is manifesting itself, teaching, and responding to the concerns that arise in us, human beings.

To the question posed to the Master as to which of the brothers would have the wife, He answered that in this world men and women marry, but that in the afterlife, when the dead are resurrected, they no longer take husband or wife and are like the angels, children of a God of the living. What perpetuates the name of the deceased is not the child that his brother may eventually have with the widow. It is his presence with the God of the living, because His project is that we all be His children after the example of Jesus and that we reach fulfillment by knowing him very deeply and knowing his great people. Thus, we will truly be a family and live under the care and love of a God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Sister Mónica Corral Zunino, SP

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Sunday Reflection October 30, 2022
The Gospel According to St Luke 19, 1-10

He came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone, I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”

Reflection:

The story of Zacchaeus has always been a favorite of mine. Perhaps it is because Zacchaeus and his sycamore tree were always part of the religion curriculum in my early years of teaching first graders. You are all familiar with the story. In the Gospel of Luke, we witness the encounter between Jesus and the wealthy tax collector, Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus decides to climb a sycamore tree to get a better glimpse of Jesus as He enters the city of Jericho. Zacchaeus is short and he feels that in order to see Jesus clearly, he needs to climb a nearby tree.

This story probably resonated strongly with the first graders I taught because none of us were over 4 feet 10 inches! Also, we could identify with Zacchaeus excitement, his impetuousness, but most of all, his short stature. And climbing a tree to see Jesus? How much fun is that?

Zacchaeus life is changed forever the day Jesus comes to his home. Our lives change every time we welcome Jesus who comes to us, seeks us out, looks up at us hanging from our tree, and calls out to us to come down quickly so He can stay with us. Jesus is the guest who brings God’s love into our hearts and our homes, who changes our lives every time we let Him in. “Hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house.” A wonderful invitation, indeed, and one in which we can be excited to respond with a resounding “yes”.

Sister Margaret Pastro, SP

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Sunday Reflection November 28, 2021
The Gospel According to St Luke 21: 25-28, 34-36

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Reflection:

At my first profession, like every Sister of Providence, I received a black wooden cross with these words painted in white: “My Only Hope!” Also painted in white is my religious Name: “Sister Eva Marie.” I love that name, though I returned to my baptismal and legal name during the changes after Vatican Council II.

Every morning, when I make my bed, I place that black cross on my pillow, and it has become for me a sign that my life and all of creation are in God’s good hands. Like the first Eve, I make mistakes. Also, like Mary, “the new Eve,” who said “yes” to God’s surprising request, I, you, all of us, may be called to become a partner in God’s Providence when something new is needed.

I believe that even in troubled times we can trust in God’s loving care for all created things. This first Sunday of Advent invites us to renew our awareness that “redemption is at hand.” What a season for hope, what a joy to participate in God’s loving care!  May it also be a time when we all lift up our souls to the Lord in living our call together.

Sister Margaret Botch

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Sunday Reflection November 14, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 13: 24-32

Jesus told them: “But in those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather [his] elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky. Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

Reflection:

These words from the Gospel of St. Mark cause us to meditate and become aware of the fragility of life and they remind us, that at the end of life, we will be questioned regarding love. Therefore, in the present moment, we must be vigilant and prepared, for Jesus warns us that, regarding this final hour, “no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” With his Word that is eternal, he opens our eyes to keep in mind that everything that could happen is in the hands of God the Father.

Everything we are and have in this life is ephemeral and temporary, only God is infinite, eternal, and immortal. Only GOD abides, the God of our salvation and our history. This Gospel story reminds us that we are born of God and our heart will remain restless until it rests in HIM. He is our origin and our destination … and, since the creation of the world, he has prepared a place at his side for all his sons and daughters

Through the comparison of the fig tree, Jesus reminds us that the best way to prepare ourselves is to bear fruit, to put ourselves at the service of others at all times. In the image of the fig tree that has the particularity of bearing fruit twice a year, figs and brevas … that is, all year long, it is ready to provide us with food. In the same way, we must remember that the best way to find salvation is to lose ourselves in the service of others.

Today Christ encourages us to continue working for a more just and united  world, more full of love and solidarity, and where we all feel like brothers and sisters, imitating Emilie, Bernarda, and Joseph. Having the certainty that if we manage to alleviate the suffering of just one person, our life will have been worthwhile… Let us live from now in the hope of the oneness of which we dream.

Sister Elvira Letelier, SP

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Sunday Reflection November 07, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 12: 38-44

In the course of his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation.” The Poor Widow’s Contribution. He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.”

Reflection:

As I get older, with the grace of God, I gain a deeper knowledge about who I am. I do so by living out the stored knowledge of being one with God and all His creations, through prayers from workshops I attended, and Spiritual readings about my connection with the Universe. At the same time, this stored knowledge helps me to discover who God is in my life and who I am before Him.

In addition, as I get older, the more I realize each day that the life of the poor that I encounter allows a deepening of my relationship with God. I am poor too, because I have nothing; yet I have everything because God is everything in my life.

The words of the Scriptures are one of the many ways that can also help me to deepen my knowledge about my God and myself. So, when I read the Scriptures, I try to listen to a statement that is a life-giving message and apply it to my life.

The story of the poor widow impressed me greatly because Jesus witnessed the sincerity of the genuine motivation of her heart. This poor widow received some of the greatest gifts from God, especially self-surrender and self-abandonment to Him. She put all her money, a few cents, into the treasury. She did not worry about what the people would think of her when she dropped her few cents. The people may have heard the noise of the few cents dropped into the treasury. Jesus noticed her action and felt very much amazed. Jesus pointed out to His disciples the sincere heart of the poor widow and challenged them to follow her example of having an overwhelmingly generous heart.

For me, the poor widow lived from day to day and relied on Providence because she had no abundance of material things in her life. She was very humble before God and before others. She had a pure heart and accepted her human condition.

The poor widow reminded me again that I took a vow of poverty and willingly promised, before God and through my community, that I would not have anything on my own. God gives all through my religious community, the Sisters of Providence.

Since God is everything in my life, how can I respond to His unlimited goodness to me? I will try to live out His words, “I did not come to be served but to serve”.  Yes, serving God through others, especially the less fortunate, is a pleasure for me. When I have the opportunity to respond to the needs of my vulnerable brothers and sisters, I try to leave my comfort zone, because they deserve to experience the fullness of life that God has intended for them.

There are many ways for me to serve/help the most vulnerable. Material things like money are not the only way, but listening to their misery, smiling when I meet them, accepting them as they are, being non-judgmental, sharing my time with them, being compassionate…By all the good deeds that can be done to and for them as I desire them to be done for me, but above all by praying for and with them.

To conclude this simple reflection, I would like to share the experience of one of my visitations to a poor family in my hometown in the Philippines years ago. It reminds me of the life of the poor widow. This poor family lived in a very humble house:  hardly any furniture inside, dirty floors, no electricity. A very primitive way of living, yet they were very hospitable and very happy. They served me Coke in a glass and they used coconut shells for their Coke, because they did not have extra glasses.  It was obvious they gave me the best container for my drink, and it was a pleasure for them to serve me. I have treasured this experience of hospitality in my heart up to now. So, when I give, I will try my best to give the best I have and not the leftovers.

Sister Deling Fernando

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Sunday Reflection October 31, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 12, 28b-34

“Love of the other … as a loving response to the Love contemplated!”

“You shall love the Lord your God…

You shall love your neighbor as yourself…”

One of the scribes, when he came forward and heard them disputing and saw how well he had answered them, asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.’ And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that [he] answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Reflection on the Gospel

With Psalm 132, let us express with all our hearts:

“How good and how pleasant it is, when brothers and sisters dwell together as one!”…

It is then that the Lord gives his blessing and his Life forever.

If this seems difficult to us, let us remember that for the Lord, nothing is impossible. He can help us as long as we ask Him with confidence.

It is important to “see in every person we meet, in every person we love, the icon of God,” as Father Didier Noblot highlights.

Is this not the Good News to be announced to the world, through our lives, since we are all children of the same Father? Already, the pagans were astonished when they observed the life of the first Christians and expressed, “See how they love each other!”

On this 31st Sunday, what if we asked the Lord for the GRACE of living as brothers and sisters with the people with whom we come in contact?

Claire Le Houx, SP

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Sunday Reflection October 24, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 10, 46-52

They came to Jericho.  And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, he is calling you.” He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

REFLECTION

This blind man sitting by the roadside, begging, must have heard some testimonies of the life of Jesus.  He was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd. How important are the people who make Jesus known and speak of him!

The son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus was waiting for Jesus and began to cry out to him, even though some people told him to be quiet and rebuked him. How difficult it must have been for him, not seeing anything, only hearing all these words coming from different people! But his anguish, his suffering and his decision to change his life made him stronger, regardless of the risk or the inappropriate words of those who rebuked him.

Jesus heard him and called to him. I can imagine the cries that came from within him, from his gut. “Son of David, have pity on me.” … that “have pity on me,” which makes one realize that he knew very well, in his misery besides his condition as a blind man and a beggar and his weariness in leading a life that did not bring him happiness, that he knew he could change it, with the help of the One who was passing by on the road.

Some others encouraged Bartimaeus with compassion and joy and made him get up because Jesus had heard him and was calling him.  They did this in obedience to Jesus and trusted that, indeed, this blind man had his chance, for Jesus was passing by doing good deeds.

“He threw aside his cloak,” signifying casting off all his misery, letting go of attachments in order to obtain freedom, and thus being able to go to Jesus, to encounter him, to know him and to follow him, accepting this beautiful invitation.

“What do you want me to do for you?” “I want to see.” He asks for nothing more. Just to “SEE.”

Jesus, you know all our misery and although many times we have good eyes to look, we cannot see, we cannot see you. We listen to your word, inviting us to look at this divided world, to look around us, to see with compassionate hearts those in need of you

Let us open our eyes to look, to see as you do. And let us follow you.

You call us every day, inviting us to listen to the pleading of those who are suffering, to go and to liberate them, so that they may continue on your path, following your steps. You enlighten us with your Word, inviting us to renew our faith, to be witnesses of God Providence where you are calling us.

Grant us to follow the path that God has traced for us from eternity, living Providence with compassionate hearts, in this society that is so much in need of your presence and that has closed its eyes. May we follow you, O Jesus, recognizing you as the Son of David, the Son of God, who brings us salvation.

Sister Herna Astorga, SP

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Sunday Reflection October 17, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 10, 35-45

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish [me] to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to him, “We can.” Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.

Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Reflection:

Our world measures greatness by personal achievement. In Christ’s Kingdom service is the way to move forward. The desire to be on top will hinder, not help. Rather than seeking to have our needs met, we look for ways in which we can minister to the needs of others.

Our attitude to serve others should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. He was humble, willing to give up his rights in order to obey God and serve people. Like Christ, we must have a servant’s attitude and a heart that serves out of love and with love for others, not out of guilt or fear. Remember, we can choose our attitude: to be served or we can look for opportunities to serve others.

Christina Wong, SP

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Sunday Reflection October 10, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 10, 17-30

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? “Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.’ “He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing only.  Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through [the] eye of [a] needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” Peter began to say to him, “We have given up everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come”.

Reflection:

Today’s gospel reminds us of the difficulties arising from being too attached to material things and forgetting that true self-fulfillment comes from loving God and loving our neighbor. It is a great blessing to be free enough to use material possessions to strengthen our love…

It is not this man’s wealth that itself constitutes a problem, but his attitude toward wealth. It is as if he is possessed by his own possessions instead of putting them at his service. Wealth and material things can subtly become our masters. Do material things or worldly considerations sneak into our relationships with God and with others? Am I forgetting the real treasures of life: health, faith, friendship, love…?

However, Jesus looks at this man and “loves him” even though his many possessions prevent him from following Jesus. This reminds us that God, in the person of his Son, understands our weaknesses and limitations and continues to love us. Let us thank God for his great love that surrounds us and fills us.

Sister Lucille Vadnais, SP

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Sunday Reflection September 26, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 9, 38-41

At that time, John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent her because she does not follow us.”  Jesus replied, “Do not prevent her. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose her reward.”

Reflection:

Today’s Gospel text from Mark echoes a scene from the first reading of this Sunday’s Liturgy. When John reports to Jesus that “someone is casting out demons in His name,” Jesus calms the concern of his disciple and replies: “Do not prevent her. Whoever is not against us is with us.”  In the words of Moses from the first reading, “Would that the Lord would bestow His Spirit on us all.”

Jesus’s words are being spoken to each one of us. They are urging us to be open to the Spirit of God and to recognize the freedom the Spirit has in bestowing Her gifts. Jesus is inviting us to be humble in receiving the Spirit’s gifts and inclusive in recognizing Her presence and her gifts in ourselves and others.

As we move closer to our 2022 General Chapter, these words of Jesus are encouragement and affirmation for us. With confidence, we can welcome the graces we are receiving through our personal, communal, and congregational discernment.

With humility and gratitude, we can accept the energy and life of the Spirit that is flowing in us and among us, drawing us together. With courage, we can recognize that we are being called to come together, in this time, around our Charism and Mission that now are global and environmental; a Charism and Mission that moves us to compassionate love and a commitment to justice for those who are persecuted, abandoned, victims of war, prejudice, and injustice.

“Would that the Lord would bestow His Spirit on us all.”

Questions:

On the path of discernment:

When do I know that I am open to receive the surprising gifts of the Spirit?

When do I recognize these gifts of the Spirit in others?

Prayer:

We commit to continue to welcome with attentive and compassionate hearts all who suffer and to respond with the Charism and spirituality inherited from our Mothers Emilie, Bernarda and Joseph. In a surge of hope, let the new life spring forth that You, O God, are urging us to live. Through Mary, Our Mother of Sorrows, and the love always present in her Son, Jesus. Amen.

Excerpt—Prayer for the 2022 General Chapter

Kathryn Rutan, SP

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Sunday Reflection September 19, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 9, 30-37

They left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death he will rise.”  But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him. They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around the child, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”

Reflection:

The liturgical texts for this Sunday give us “service” as a common thread. It is not just a matter of serving. There are prerequisite attitudes for serving in the manner of Jesus. He is benevolent, humble, and discreet. The evangelist tells us at the beginning of this text that Jesus did not wish anyone to know about it. Why do you think he does not wish us to know? For my part, I think that one of the fundamental reasons why he wishes to remain in the shadows is because discretion is a central value for Him.

He is present, passing by without making himself noticed. What matters to him is doing good works, freeing the oppressed, and healing those in need. He is not afraid to go down, to get on his knees, if necessary. He makes himself so humble that he washes the feet of his disciples. It is breathtaking!

Moreover, when asked who is the greatest, he answers that the greatest is the one who serves. Such an answer would be very controversial in today’s society where many think that the greatest are those who have power. I must confess that Jesus’s answer overwhelms me. It is a strong invitation to become like Him, a transformational leader. A person who serves with humility and kindness, putting the other person at the heart of all action. The question we can ask ourselves today is, “What motivates me to serve? Do I serve out of love or do I serve out of complacency?” In verse 35 of this text, St. Mark says: “Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, ‘If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.’” As I reread this excerpt, I could not help but think of our foundress, Emilie, who knew how to incarnate this message. She always put herself at the service of others and especially the neediest. It also reminds me that we were founded to do what others do not do.

On this Sunday, let us pray that our charity will continually be inventive. Let us also pray for all those who give themselves to the service of the neediest to build the kingdom of God.

Finally, the question that we can ask ourselves today is:  What is the quality of my service to others? Am I a servant in the way of Jesus or in the way of the world?

Sandrine Aimée Tsélikémé, SP

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Sunday Reflection September 12, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 8, 27-35

Now Jesus and his disciples set out for the towns of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Messiah.” Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.”

Reflection:

On the road to Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks his disciples a decisive question: who am I in your life?

Our friend Peter answers without hesitation: “You are the Messiah sent by God”… How easy it is to answer this question with rote answers!

However, to follow Jesus, nice words, long prayers or the beautiful Eucharists in which we participate are not enough. What matters to Jesus is that we share his humanizing project, sharing the hopes and sufferings of our people, but this road to Jerusalem was not easy for Jesus and it will not be easy for us either… We will be misunderstood even by our own sisters in faith.

Like Peter, we reveal ourselves before the Cross of Jesus, because we love to be approved, to be praised.

However, following Jesus responds to another logic, it is a free and voluntary decision, like the one taken by Emilie, Bernarda and Joseph who were able to renounce their personal projects to share the fate of the crucified of this world … thus bequeathing us a more human world.

It seems to me that, in the light of this Gospel, it would be worthwhile to ask ourselves…

On a personal level… What selfish interests would I have to renounce to follow Jesus more faithfully?

As a community… Have we been able to “bear” the reality of these times of uncertainty and pain or have we remained sheltered in our security?

Sister Monica Campillay

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Sunday Reflection September 05, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 7, 31-37

Again he left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”) And [immediately] the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and [the] mute speak.”

Reflection:

A couple of weeks ago, I was listening to a program on public radio about the experience a teenager with deafness had after she had received a cochlear implant. She had lived with deafness all her life so she had never heard a sound until the implant and she didn’t know what to make of it. When the therapist first made a beep into her implant, she thought, “That must be sound”. When asked what she was most surprised about soon after the implant, she responded that, when people laugh, there was a sound accompanying it.

I often drive by a business that helps children to listen and speak once they have received an implant.  The sign on the wall of this business says, “Cochlear implants help you to hear but we teach you how to speak”.  It takes time to make sense of the sounds that you are hearing.  It makes sense that a person who never could hear and, who all of a sudden hears sounds, has no reference for understanding the meaning of those sounds.

But in today’s Gospel, immediately, the man could hear and speak plainly. Something very deep and mysterious must have taken place in the man’s life.

When Jesus said, “Ephphatha”, was this man listening?  Jesus was speaking not only to the man’s ears and tongue but to the man himself.  In the Gospel, when Mark talks about the man born deaf and unable to speak, Mark is really talking about all of us. We are all blind, deaf and in need of God’s healing.  We may hear but we aren’t really listening to what is being said in our hearts. Also, often the words we speak are not words that are coming from our hearts, in the praise of God and of all of God’s creation. Just take a look at our world right now, burdened with disharmony.  Surely we are not speaking to one another from the heart.

Jesus begins the encounter by taking the man aside and by laying His hands on the man’s head, which speaks of a gesture indicating the transfer of power or blessing. Then Jesus touches the man’s tongue and puts His fingers into the man’s ears.

This is why, when a person receives Baptism, a sacrament of initiation for adults as well as infants, the priest, the person’s parents and the sponsors lay their hands on the person’s head and then they touch the person’s ears and mouth while making the sign of the cross.  They are asking God to open the persons’ ears so that they might hear God’s word in his/her heart and to open the persons’ mouths so that he/she might speak words of praise to God.

God wants to heal our hearts so we might take God’s words to heart when they come to us and then live them out with our lives and give praise to God with our mouths. As a community of people, we need to listen to each other, not only with our ears, but with our hearts as well and praise God and each other, not only with our mouths, but also with our hearts.

As the teacher and scholar Henri Nouwen said “Something very deep and mysterious, very holy and sacred, is taking place in our lives right where we are, and the more attentive we become the more we will begin to see and hear it. The more our spiritual sensitivities come to the surface of our daily lives, the more we will discover—uncover—a new presence in our lives”.

Sister Susan Orlowski, SP

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Sunday Reflection August 29, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 7, 1–8.14–15.21–23

Now when the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles [and beds].) So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.’ You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”  He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.

Reflection:

The Word of God of this Sunday helps us understand that the true defilement that makes us impure for God, is not so much what we touch or what we ingest, but what we bear witness to. In this text, Jesus wants to emphasize that this is a question of moral or religious impurities, and not of food hygiene. Jesus proves that the Pharisees and scribes put so much importance on the ritual, that it is easier for them to observe, even strictly, the smallest details of the ceremonial law than to recognize the moral impurity that is part of human nature.

Jesus wants us to understand that all these rituals are only external, mere appearance. “The purification of cups and jugs and kettles; this people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Jesus teaches us that this is not how he wants to relate to his disciples. Therefore, he invites them to talk to each other about the important matters, to recognize each other in the truth of who they are, to experience the shift from appearance to their deep inner being. This is how he wishes to enter into a relationship of love with his disciples.

Danielle Charron, SP

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Sunday Reflection August 22, 2021
The Gospel According to St John 6: 60-69

Master, to whom shall we go…?

Then many of his followers who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, “For this reason, I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.” As a result of this, many [of] his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

Reflection:

Today’s Gospel presents us with two choices:  to be with God or to turn away from Him.

In this Gospel account according to John, the followers of Jesus were many. One day, some of them decided to abandon him.  Jesus then asked his twelve disciples, “Do you also want to leave?” and He invited them to discern and to make a decision.  Jesus’s question arose from the weak faith of some of those who were following him.  They did not understand that Jesus is the BREAD OF LIFE.  Those who believe in Him know that Jesus is the “Holy One of God.”

This confession of faith is a huge statement; it helps us realize that without the Lord, we are vulnerable; that without Him, we are adrift; that without His divine presence, we are shipwrecked on the sea of history without a port or a fixed course, submerged in the darkness of our pride and our self-sufficiency.

Life is a long walk and within us, there is the desire to move forward.  When we stand still, we stagnate.  When we do not know what to do or where to go, we need a voice that whispers to us and speaks to our hearts, a voice that takes us out of our comfort zone and leads us to continue to follow the path to which we have consecrated our lives. When we hear his Voice and when we allow our souls to be caressed by the sweetness of his call, then we are able to answer and, like Peter, we can say: “Master, to whom we shall go? You alone have the words of eternal life.”

We can imagine that Peter and his companions felt the same anguish, the same restlessness, the same perplexity as the others who were following Jesus and left Him.    We know from the Gospels accounts that Jesus’s message was also difficult for his disciples. They, however, had the insight to know that they were not strong and the wisdom to recognize that they did not understand. That is why Peter’s response is so powerful.  Peter is making himself vulnerable before Jesus, opening his soul and saying to him: Jesus, I don’t understand anything either, but my heart is taken over by your love. To whom would I go except to you?

Pope Francis tells us, “I invite all Christians everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ or at least to a welcoming encounter with him.  I am asking all of you to do this unfailingly each day.”

Sister Cristina Urbina, SP

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Sunday Reflection August 08, 2021
The Gospel According to St John 6: 41-51

The Jews murmured about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven,” and they said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven?’” Jesus answered and said to them, “Stop murmuring among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: ‘They shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

Reflection:

These verses from the gospel according to Saint John reveal the discontent of the Jews. They are deeply shocked when they hear Jesus’s words: “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” If I had lived among Jesus’s contemporaries, how would I have interpreted his words? Claiming to come from God, Jesus aroused the wrath of his listeners. Is he not the “carpenter’s son” for the people of Nazareth? “We know where this man comes from, but we know that the Messiah we are hoping for will be someone whose origin and identity is unknown to us.” Jesus will answer this objection with an even more disappointing statement: “Do you think you know me? No, you do not know me! The proof: you do not know my true origin: ‘I am the one who comes from God’, and therefore, I am ‘the only one who has seen the Father’. My true identity comes from this unique relationship between me and my Father who is your God.”

These statements of Jesus will make those who hear him say that he is blaspheming. He calls himself the Son of God. Thus, he will be accused at his trial of having said he was the Son of God. (Luke 22:70) People did not know how to recognize Him. What prevents me from recognizing Jesus? I take into consideration the dream of God in my life, in my community. Are my dreams and my human projects according to His dream? To know Jesus’s dream, I must have a deep intimacy with Him. Through the Word and the Eucharist, He reveals Himself and makes Himself known. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him up on the last day.” It was written by the prophets: They will all be taught by God himself. I wonder about the strength of my faith. Did Jesus not say: “Whoever believes has eternal life” (Jn 6:47)? Let us get closer to God and He will make Himself known to those who seek Him and follow Him.

Sister Annette Aspirot, SP

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Sunday Reflection August 01, 2021
The Gospel According to St John 6: 24-35

When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found him across the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life,* which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God that you believe in the one he sent.” So they said to him, “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” So Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” So they said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst”.

Reflection:

The beginning of Chapter 6 of John’s Gospel tells us this about Jesus: that “a large crowd followed him because they saw the signs he was performing for the sick.” A few verses later, the passage includes the multiplication of the loaves where the hunger of the crowd was satiated and which generated so much admiration that they wanted to proclaim Jesus king. Sunday’s liturgy begins by showing us these same people in search of Jesus and the apparent reproach he makes to them, for they seek him because he gave them food and not because of the signs they saw.

In both the Synoptic Gospels and John’s, miracles such as healing the sick or multiplying food are always signs of the Kingdom, that is, proof that God is in our midst, on all levels of existence.

The good life that Jesus promises supposes the minimum for a dignified life. It is indeed an ethical imperative that people have what is necessary to live, and the fact that unfortunately, this is not the case, is proof of how far we are from God, who wants a good and abundant life for everyone… The sign—or signs—show us, on the one hand, God’s power and, on the other, God’s will. Having said this, the Gospel account expresses the divine pedagogy, inviting us to look deeper. The Kingdom is more, much more, than overcoming any need; Jesus’s promise to give us the bread of life, which comes down from heaven answers our personal and communal questions about the ultimate meaning of existence, who we are, and what our destiny is.

As Sisters of Providence, let us ask for the wisdom to reaffirm together with all those with whom we work, Associates, collaborators, and friends, what our Constitutions say: “The Mission of the Congregation is to proclaim Providence as the loving presence of God, active in us and through us,  watchful over the created universe and attentive to the needs of all.” (C. No. 7).

Let us ask Ruah to give us the wisdom to see where to put our eyes, hands, and heart and thus, in a wave of hope, let the new life promised by Jesus, which overflows even our deepest desires, burst forth.

Sister Jaquelina Juárez

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Sunday Reflection July 18, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 6: 30-34

The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

Reflection:

In this passage of the Gospel, we receive both the Word of the Lord who invites us to rest and the invitation to better pace our lives, because everything has its place and its time. Certain events can help us to open the door of our tranquility and these will give Jesus the opportunity to manifest his love of abandonment, his pity… The Passion looms on the horizon, but it is not the whole of his life, of our life… He took the time to go into the desert to pray to his Father to restore his tranquility. Jesus calls his disciples to take time to rest. After all, He himself sees their tiredness because he lives it himself.  Jesus has time, takes time, for himself, for his inner life, for his relationship with the Father.   This movement opens one up to welcoming life in oneself, life in the other…

Why is it necessary to take some rest in our life? To rest is to open a path of freedom and discovery, a path to understanding. To take time allows me to find myself face to face with my reality. This opens me to accept myself as I am, to work on my limitations to becoming more human, more profound, and to weave peace between ourselves and others.

Why do we go to the desert? The desert can be the empty place of our own depth; therefore, a place where we can open ourselves to what we can be, with the meekness of listening patiently to others, “letting them be before wanting to understand them.” This is the same for Jesus. He loves his disciples and sees them as “sheep without a shepherd.” With his word “he began to teach them many things.” This means that, when we love a person, we want their well-being and their growth.  We give them a true listening that allows the Word to be born in them, falling on good soil, producing renewal of life in them and giving them consistency.

“Every encounter is individualizing, not because it consists in finding oneself in things, [in others], but because in it I become what seizes me.” Henry Maldiney

Lord, give us this attitude, your attitude of living in us, in complete unity with our brothers and sisters.  Give us openness to your Son, who is true love, so that this love will live in us.

Sister Nagwa Gameel

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Sunday Reflection July 04, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 6: 1-6

He departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples.

When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Reflection:

“They took offence at Him … He was amazed at their lack of faith.”

Endemic is a characteristic of a disease or condition regularly found among particular people or in a specific area, while rejection is an act of pushing someone or something away. One may experience rejection in broad or in small ways and typically it is a part of life. I would even go so far as to say that rejection is endemic.

The persistence of rejection is endemic, and religious life is not free of this reality. We all play our part, whether as a transmitter, as a recipient or as both. Insolence in both our speech and in our dealing with others, or cultural bias, subtle or deliberate exclusion, inappropriate use of authority, or extreme control to manipulate others, vengeance and any behaviours that generate alienation, whether real or perceived, are some alarming examples of rejection.

Masking, social distancing and handwashing are no cure. It takes a full dose of God’s healing grace to ease endemic rejection. One can only prove its full effectiveness when one is open to intentional and regular quarantine, for more self-awareness, for contemplation, and for integration of daily life activities in order to genuinely radiate trust and faith in each other, and ultimately in God.

The gospel reminds us that Jesus experienced total rejection from His townfolk, yet He never abused His power to alienate them, or His disciples or people in His ministry. Besides, He continued to heal and bless people.

Sister Mae Valdez, SP

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Sunday Reflection June 27, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 5: 21-43

When Jesus had crossed again [in the boat] to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.” He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him. There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.” While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?” Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. [At that] they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

Reflection:

Today, Jesus returns to the other side of the lake and a large crowd gathers around Him.  A fearful woman approaches Jesus but she does not feel worthy to make her request directly to him. Instead, she goes behind Jesus to touch his garment, saying to herself: “If I touch his garment, I will be healed”.  She trusts; she believes in the love of Jesus, even if she does not feel worthy to approach him face to face, but she dares to touch his garment. What audacity!  Despite her feeling of unworthiness, she approaches and dares to touch the garment of Jesus.

In this time of the pandemic, when we cannot approach each other, and even less touch each other, here is this woman, she dares to stand close to Jesus and touch his garment, because touching is a way of communicating, it is an act of relationship, and this woman establishes a relationship with Jesus, because she trusts him.  Touching is also a healing practice; how heal a wound without touching. And we see, as soon as this woman has touched his cloak, Jesus feels a healing force coming out of him.  She decided, today, that she will seek her healing after having exploited all her resources.

And we, do we go to Jesus with great confidence when we are in distress, assured that we will obtain healing?  Providence watches over each one of us, do we really trust in God’s care?  Do we dare to touch the fringe of Jesus’s mantle in these difficult times so that he may be active in each of our hearts?

Sister Lucille Vadnais

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Sunday Reflection June 20, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 4: 35-41

On that day, as evening drew near, Jesus said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with them. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was filling up with water. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Master, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you frightened? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

Reflection:

This is the first time in Mark’s Gospels that Jesus crosses from the predominantly Jewish world to the predominantly pagan side of the Sea of Galilee. He is accompanied by a small fleet of boats. It can be a dangerous crossing if a squall comes up unexpectedly, which happened on this occasion. To make matters worse, it is nighttime, and the boats lose contact with each other. The disciples are terrified, fearing for their lives. But Jesus, like Jonah before Him (Jonah 1:4–6) seemed to sleep through this emergency!

Imagine taking your place in Jesus’s boat and allow yourself to be immersed in the whole experience. Wait for the drama to unfold. How do you feel when the waves crash against the boat, almost sinking it? Do you cry out for Jesus’s help and consider Him irresponsible because He is asleep? After a while, He wakes up and calms the wind and the sea; and rebukes His disciples for their lack of faith. Do you share their sense of wonder when they realize that they are in the presence of an extraordinary power? Are you as incredulous as they were when storms arise in your life and Jesus seems distant and unconcerned?

Today’s gospel invites us to look at how we are living our faith, how rooted is our faith in God’s Providence. It is key in these times of pandemic to remind ourselves that by holding the hand of Jesus everything will be easier, that in any storm, regardless of how fragile our boat is, it will never sink.

Jesus is with us throughout the storms of our life and has the power to bring us great calm with just a word. He understands our fears and allows us to express them to Him, like the disciples who cried out, “Master, do you not care that we are perishing?”

In the storms of my own life, I can also cry out: “Lord, do you not care that I am perishing?” He will hear me, reassure me and say: “Why are you afraid? I am here with you.”

The voice of Jesus brings peace and there is no storm so powerful that it cannot calm, let us allow ourselves to be pacified by the voice of Jesus even more so in these times where COVID-19 has completely changed our projects, our lives, our day to day, it is our faith in this voice, that calms the storms, assures us that we can rely serenely on the Providence of God in every second of our existence.

Sister Maria Fernanda Apablaza

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Sunday Reflection June 13, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 4: 26-34

Jesus said, “This is how it is with the kingdom of God.  It is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.”

Jesus said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

Reflection:

As I write this reflection, a very sad reality has once again come to the surface – the uncovering of 215 bodies of Indigenous children buried in a grave of a former residential school in the western Canadian province of British Columbia. I do not intend to cast a heavy dark cloud in the minds and hearts of those who will take time to read this reflection. My intent is to try to make sense of what Mark described as the kingdom of God at a time when I come face-to-face with such realities. When I read this part of Mark’s gospel, one thing that emerges is the concept of mystery. Jesus taught in parables and “without parables he did not speak to them…” (New American Bible Revised Edition, 2016, Mark 4:34). Parables to me are mystery to be deciphered, just as there are many things in life I don’t fully understand. In the area of grief and loss, many people try to look for meaning and purpose and ask questions such as, “if there is God, why did he let this happen?” A very timely question I dare say. Questions of meaning about life are attempts at transcendence, a quest for something bigger than oneself – a quest for God.

How are we all to heal from this tragic past that still haunts us to this day? Mark’s account of Jesus’ parable offered a wisdom that I would like to draw from in connection to Indigenous spirituality. In the parable, it was said that the land yields fruit on its own accord, signifying the power of the earth to produce nourishment for us. Similarly, in lectures I’ve heard from many Indigenous elders in Treaty 6 territory, many of them will say that Indigenous spirituality is very much tied to the land. We find spiritual healing and nourishment from nature and for our Indigenous people this means reclaiming their identity and ceremonies that are grounded in nature. The popularity of ecotherapy brings this ancient wisdom to contemporary living for the healing and nourishment of many. This is not surprising because God is everywhere and very much so in Mother Earth.

Mother Earth is full of mystery and wisdom, of pain and joy, of questions and answers. Mother Earth is the presence and kingdom of God. I may forever be questioning and the more I hear perhaps the more I don’t understand. As this part of Mark’s gospel concludes, Jesus explained everything to his disciples in private. I keep trusting that in my private moments with God, that he will open my mind so that I may understand.

What questions do you have that you would like to bring in your private moments with God?  How do you envision the kingdom of God in times of pain?

Sister Rezebeth Noceja

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Sunday Reflection June 06, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 14: 12-16, 22-26

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover.

While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Reflection:

Passover was a religious meal, obligatory in the Jewish religion, during which people remembered the interventions of God in their life, like the Exodus which was for the Jewish people their deliverance from the yoke of Egypt. We Christians we believe that we are saved, delivered from the evil one by the death of the Man of God on the cross and that he is alive, resurrected.

It seems like Jesus knows this room in that he gives precise directions to the two disciples he sends. The number two is important.  Jesus sent his disciples two by two on a mission: because of security reasons?  To have a witness?

The Spirit leads the disciples and they reach their goal. They prepare the traditional meal of newly harvested barley, wine, bitter herbs, but where is the lamb? It is two days before Passover. When Isaac asked his father Abraham: ‟‛where is the sheep for the burnt offering?’ ‘My son’, Abraham answered, ‘God will provide the sheep for the burnt offering’” (Gen 22:7-8). For us, Jesus will be the sacrificial lamb in a few hours.

After the blessing of the bread, Jesus says: “Take it; this is my body… This is my blood…” (Mk 14:22-24). The disciples know the blood that sealed the old Covenant, but do they understand the meaning of Jesus’s words? The new Covenant that is being created will be sealed in the blood of the lamb, in this case, Jesus.

Jesus knew that he was eating human food for the last time; he had said to them: “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you” (Lk 22: 15). Who among the disciples could understand that the TIME had come? The moment was so traditional, so normal, but at the same time mysterious. Christians see in it the institution of the Eucharist and the arrival of the New Covenant, the New Testament. And these words: “until the day when I drink it (the wine) new in the kingdom of God” (Mk 14: 25; Lk 22: 18). There is then a Passover to come! An eternal Passover!

Each year the liturgy reminds us of the price of our salvation, the will of Christ, Son of God, to save us all, peoples, nations, men and women, present and future. It is the promise of the eternal Passover for each and every one of us.

Sister Jeanne d’Arc Dubé

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Sunday Reflection May 30, 2021
The Gospel According to St Matthew 28: 16-20

The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

Reflection:

Let us pray with God’s word that it reaches our hearts and we may live it…

“To you Holy Trinity be glory, be honour, Father, You are the only Father, the Creator.

Son, You are the Son, the only Son, the Savior.

Holy, Holy Spirit, the only Comforter Spirit”.

The offering of gratitude that God the Trinity poured into his Creation.

If the Beloved is God, how can this great love not have a powerful taste of Eternity! When it comes to God, his love is eternal because “With age-old love I have loved you…” (Jer. 31:3).

To make real this gift of love, the Holy Spirit called and anointed those of us whose turn it was to follow in the footsteps of the Son. Our response as Providence must be total, with determination and without limits… I give myself to HIM for HIM and in HIM, as He tells us: “I belong to my lover, and my lover belongs to me” (Cant. 6:3 f. s.).

On this Sunday, feast of the Most Holy Trinity, St. Matthew calls us to follow the path: for them, to Galilee, to meet the One who captivated their hearts and way of living. He calls us brothers and sisters, bearers of the flame in this world to continue seeing his face in each person who needs us: family members, brothers and sister in the community, friends, strangers, especially the suffering. May doubt never enter our hearts when there is a call from our neighbour, no matter our own state, GOD will give us the necessary strength to go to meet them with a smiling face: “I will take delight in doing good to them: I will plant them firmly in this land, with all my heart and soul” (Jer, 32, 41 f. s. s.).

I remember when my mother used to say to me, “Go and see your brother, aunt or someone who is suffering”, and I would answer her: “And what do I do, if I am the youngest?” She would look me in the eyes and say: “I will be praying for you”.  In silence she would leave and then I would notice that people felt better. “Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20). Here we see the hidden richness of the intercession of praying people. In every family, community, group, etc., there should always be people who pray for our path, in addition to our personal prayer, “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love” (Eph. 3:17), do not doubt the cry of the poor, which is the cry of God.

We the baptized are all disciples and missionaries of Creation. Yahweh said: “Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness” (Gen. 1:26s.). He sends us as new missionaries of his Vineyard, consecrating us to “Providence, providencing us so that the world may be providenced (Monsignor Gérard Cambron). “As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world” (Jn. 17:18). Let us not forget to transform, in our hearts, this infinite and gratuitous love and the love that divinizes, desiring to reach every human being in creating the Universal Covenant.

Our eternal Father blesses us, our good Friend accompanies us, our Holy Spirit enlightens us.

God, ONE and TRIUNE who exchange love, I owe you your life and your passion. I have no words to thank you, thus in silence I say to you.

Amen, Amen, Amen.

  • I recommend that you pray with the biblical quotes in italics, reading two verses before and two after.

Maria Victoria Torrent, PA

Argentina

PRAYER

Trinity, mystery of the living God

Unfathomable mystery of the living God who created all and sustains all;

moved by your love which is gift and grace,

hidden in life you remain.

Your divine imprint is stamped on everything as a living seal;

And in the being of your beloved children, you wanted to make a dwelling for yourself.

With yearnings of love, we seek you today, sensing your silent steps; wrapped in the breeze of your Spirit,

you surprise us in a mysterious encounter.

Give us, Father, a taste of your presence, in silence and deep reverence, breathing the pure air of the Spirit,

which in your Son Jesus, remains.

Amen.

Brother Javier Fontan, hermit monk

Our Lady of Grace Monastery

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Sunday Reflection May 23, 2021
The Gospel According to St John 20: 19-23

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors, where the disciples were gathered were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. [Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you shall forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Reflection:

In John’s Gospel, we find the disciples gathered on the evening of the day of Jesus’ resurrection. Aware of Jesus’s death by crucifixion, imagine how distraught and unmoored the disciples must have felt! Perhaps you have felt that way after experiencing a traumatic or tragic loss. Despite their being behind locked doors out of fear, Jesus appears to them, saying reassuringly “Peace be with you.”

A second time Jesus says to them, “Peace be with you”, this time adding, “As the Father has sent me, so I also send you.” But Jesus does not send the disciples out empty-handed, so to speak. Breathing on them, Jesus says “Receive the Holy Spirit” as he sends them out, missioning them as ambassadors of peace and reconciliation.

Though we too may have felt locked behind doors in fear during this past pandemic year, Jesus says to us as well, “Peace be with you.” Maybe we experienced that peace in prayer, or perhaps in our relief and gratitude in receiving the Covid vaccine. As women of Providence, though, we trust in God’s ever-present love and attentive care for all. Like the disciples, we too are missioned. Our mission is to proclaim the Providence of God. How blessed we are!

Sister Elizabeth (Liz) Cole, SP

For reflection:

Recall a time when you felt distraught or lost. In what ways did you experience God’s love and care at that time?

As you pray with this Gospel, what line or lines strike you? Reflect on their meaning for you.

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Sunday Reflection May 09, 2021
The Gospel According to St John 15: 9-17

As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”

Reflection:

Jesus today takes as an example the parable of the True Vine to give us several teachings. As a good teacher and pedagogue, he speaks to the heart of those who listen to him. He is clear, direct and speaks with authority.

“As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.” Jesus gives us the proof of his love for every one of us by laying down his own life.

He being God becomes one of us in all things, equal to us except in sin. He learns to obey through pain and suffering, all this to accomplish his Father’s will, this being his joy no matter how difficult it may be. Thus, he will say “No one takes it [my life] from me, but I lay it down on my own.” Then he says: “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.”

Regarding the commandments, He sets the example. He made life in His life, keeping in His heart the commandments of His Father and He did it with love to give us an example. I think of how many men and women call themselves Christians and ignore so many of Jesus’s teachings and live in their own way.  Jesus’s greatest desire is that we experience in our lives the joy of being happy and living fully our love for God, His Father. That is why he tells us, “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.” Thank you, Lord, for this outpouring of love for me.

He tells us that we are His friends and to His friends He reveals all that He has heard from His Father. He has chosen us to bear good fruit, fruits of kindness, patience, gentleness, and mercy for our brothers and sisters who are suffering in this time of so much uncertainty because of the pandemic. And so, with confidence as children of a Father so good, so generous and so full of tenderness, let us ask him with full confidence for all our needs and for those of the whole world, trusting in the words of Jesus, “And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

Yes, “This I command you: love one another.”

Sister Ema Maureira González, SP

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Sunday Reflection May 02, 2021
The Gospel According to St John 15: 1-8

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

Reflection:

Jesus said “I am the true Vine and my Father is the vine grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit”. I see our Provident Father helping us to see what blocks our understanding of His Word or what holds us in darkness that prevents us from coming closer to Him.  With this new insight into our way of seeing and being, and with His grace and help, we can choose to do our personal work. In removing these obstacles (branches), or at least living with them in a way that healing can take place, He brings transformation and new life. This is pruning and pruning is not easy! It can be very painful as we come to see the truth in ourselves through His eyes and in His love.

 

We must also remember that our loving Father never removes our gift of free will to live for Him or for ourselves. God constantly reaches out with love to us and tries to get our attention to live in a loving relationship with Him. As pruning is necessary for healthy trees and plants so is the pruning of the spiritual, psychological, emotional and physical aspects of our selves to live healthy holistic lives. Everything within us is connected and when one part of us suffers all other aspects feel it as well. It is the same with God and with our relationships with one another and with all of creation.

 

I also need the beautiful Sacrament of Reconciliation when I am aware of a failing in my relationships, in my “Yes” to God in my Vows, and because I do not want to hurt the one to whom I have given my heart, Providence. I am not at peace until the relationships have been restored and I once again abide in Him. It is in this sacrament that I receive the grace to help me live in relationship with God and others. The Sacrament of the Eucharist is my nourishment for my relationship with Jesus to grow and to help me live out my Vows to our Provident Father, in community life, in mission, and with all those whom I meet each day. It is also a reminder that we are all on this journey together as we live the community’s mission in solidarity with the poor, the marginalized and with all those suffering from an unjust system. During the Last Supper, Jesus also gave us the example of the washing of the feet, being open to accept help when needed (humility) and being able to serve one another (compassion and mercy). We know this can only be done when we are connected to the Vine (Jesus) who gave us the Holy Spirit. It is through prayer, openness, awareness, acceptance of God’s grace, dying to our own will that we may live for Him and grow in this relationship. It is only in being connected to the Vine in a loving relationship, united in trust and hope in Providence (the Vine grower), walking together with His grace and with the compassionate love of our Mother of Sorrows that we will live a healthy community life (a healthy tree).  This is our support for the mission, and through it we will be able to discern how and where we are being called to live out our charism and mission in our changing world.

Sister Mary Phillips SP, Edmonton

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Sunday Reflection April 25, 2021
The Gospel According to St John 10: 11-18

At that time, Jesus declared: “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.”

Reflection:

The Good Shepherd

Who has not been captivated by the image of the Good Shepherd, attentive to each of his sheep, even to those that go astray? These strays benefit from the very special tenderness of the shepherd. Jesus, out of love for his Father, becomes a shepherd, going so far as to lay down his life for each human being, for every one of us. To “lay down one’s life” means to no longer possess one’s life for oneself; for Christ, the Good Shepherd, it is to place his life in the hands of Another (the Father) who gives life to us.

Christ is One with the Father and he longs for us to be united as one single family. “There will be one flock” (16th verse).  Is this not an allusion to the universal mission of every baptized person, of every member of our community?

Today, the Word of God challenges us as a “Providence” congregation, exhorting us to be close (like the shepherd is) to people in need, to people beaten down by life.

This word “These also I must lead … and there will be one flock” is a universal mission, the mission of the Church to which we are all called.

  1. How does this text from today’s Gospel nourish our contemplation?
  2. Today, am I being called to move closer to a “stray sheep”? Today, am I being called to see someone with a look of kindness?

Have a good week!

Marguerite Cuierrier, SP

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Sunday Reflection April 18, 2021
The Gospel According to St Luke 24: 35-48

Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them. He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

 

Reflection:

I read somewhere that “Peace is not only the absence of conflict, but a deep sense of knowing all will be well!”. From the experience that I have been living for some time now, I can say that this statement is true, peace is the deep certainty that in the face of everything that may happen, all will be well. And it is a gift, it is not the voluntary effort that can achieve this gift. Especially in the experience of the disciples, who have just violently lost their beloved Master in response to love, fidelity and total obedience to the Father.

 

Death and life are closely linked. What is it like for me to be invited to touch his wounded hands, feet or side? And allow me to be a bit more convinced of his profound love.

Why are you afraid? Jesus is our consolation! His wounded hands, feet and side remind us of His incredible love for us and for all His wonderful creation. “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” Talk about this with Jesus.

 

Jesus is keen to reassure his friends that he is not a ghost, but the same one as before, though in a new state. The strongest proof of this identity can be found in his wounds, a clear sign that “the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day” However, they are also signs that “repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations” Death and life are closely linked, but yet life has the last word.

 

Jesus tells his friends that they are to be his witnesses. He asks that of me too, and I pray to be a faithful witness of the Resurrection and the good news about the forgiveness of sins. Like the Apostles, I can only witness what I have already experienced, and I ask for a heart open to Jesus’ presence in my life.

This scene parallels the Emmaus story, but includes a wider group of Jesus’s disciples. They are trying to understand what is happening in their lives. Jesus makes himself present among them and wishes them peace, which is his special gift. He opens their minds to understand that Christ – Himself – had to suffer, and then He will rise from the dead. The truth of the Easter story hits them: “Jesus is back!” He is the Jesus we saw die, but He is alive.”

 

We see the disciples, observe their fear change to bliss as they realize that the Lord is indeed among them and has a solid body. Share the emotions of the disciples, can you feel the emotion of God?

Our Christian calling is fourfold: to hear his voice, to accept his word, to follow his word and to spread it.

Jesus comes as a consoler, with words of peace, to the fearful and doubt-filled disciples. Their world has been turned upside down. They were terrified when confronted with the living Presence of the one they knew to be dead.

Jesus used many means to strengthen their fragile faith. He showed them his wounds, he ate with them. What are the ways he uses with me?

Pope Francis in a homily on this passage says: “We are afraid of joy, and Jesus, by his Resurrection, gives us joy: the joy of being Christians, the joy of following him closely, the joy of taking the road of the beatitudes, the joy of being with him.” The Pope described the fear of joy as “the sickness of Christians.”

Let us pray together with Pope Francis: “that the Lord may open our minds and make us understand that he is a living reality, that he has a body, that he is with us and that he accompanies us, that he has conquered: let us ask the Lord for the grace not to be afraid of joy.”

Luke wants to affirm that the Risen Christ is not a ghost or a pure spirit. There is still something physical in Him, even though His body is transformed. That is why Luke presents his disciples not only looking at him, but touching him, and Jesus not only speaking but eating. However, the nature of the Risen Christ will always remain a mystery.

“You are a witness of these things.” All through the resurrection stories, people receive faith by encountering Jesus and, at the same time, they are witnesses to others. How are you a witness to those around you, your family, co-workers, and friends?

The disciples received another notice of Jesus’s Presence and were talking about this, although they were not yet ready to receive their message. “Peace be with you.” I pray that, in these Easter days, I may not only receive the notice but that I might accept Jesus’s gift of peace in my heart.

Jesus realizes how an animated or excited conversation can become a distraction. His approach to me is calm, confident and reassuring. He wants peace to be with me, and so lead me to Life.

Lord, You wish me to leave the safety of my private room and meet You when You come to me daily on the street. But first let me be with you in prayer, waiting for the power of your Holy Spirit. Strengthened by this gift, let me go forward to witness to you in word and deed.

Jesus likes company at meals rather than eating alone. Imagine serving a meal for you and Jesus! His eyes sparkle when He sees what you have prepared. Watch as He blesses, first you, and then your food and drink. How does it feel? What do you talk about?

Some early Christians were led to believe that the first disciples had only seen a ghost. I too can doubt the veracity of Jesus’s resurrection. Do I only believe in the Jesus I see on the cross? I ask for the faith to believe that Jesus has truly risen and that He is now ever-present in me and the world.

The Greeks thought that only the soul survived death. But Luke emphasizes that the risen Jesus is the same as the man who walks our earth. His wounds are still visible. The real Jesus is indeed back with his friends, and doing all he can to help them believe. Only then can they be “witnesses of these things.”

An ancient tradition, based on the intuition of the union between them, and not on Scripture, is that Jesus appeared first to his mother. An old Irish poem addresses her: Queen of all queens, oh wonder of the loveliness of women, Heart that has held in check for us the righteous wrath of God, Strong staff of light and fosterer of the Bright Child of heaven, Pray thou for us as we now pray that we may be forgiven.

In a simple way, such as eating a fish, the disciples saw with the eyes of Faith. He is showing them, in a simple way, that He is the same Lord they knew in earlier days. The Lord of Easter is called the Lord of Faith. We are blessed because we believe, though we cannot see. Lord, I believe; strengthen my Faith.

Take this journey in prayer. Walk with the disciples and share their fear and anxiety, as well as their sense of disappointment. Feel their hope that the promise He made to them would be fulfilled. What might you receive from this? Darkness and light, shared in this hour-by-hour walk with the Lord of Light. Walk and listen; let Jesus remind you of the Scriptures that bring us trust, confidence and peace.

In our relationship with Jesus, we are tempted to think of Him as a ghost. But, as He tells his disciples, He is flesh and blood, just like us. He knows what we are made of. He shares everything we experience, and he offers us a part of everything he experiences, including his Resurrection.

Jesus had told His disciples that when they gathered in His Name, He would be in their midst. His Presence brings peace and drives away fear. Do I allow Him to give me that peace? Do I recognize fear as the opposite sign?

His Resurrection breaks down all barriers, removes all divisions – in us, between us and others, between us and God. His true disciples are ambassadors of reconciliation in every age. To whom do I need to be reconciled? Am I a source of divisions or unity with others? Do others find, through me, the power of his Resurrection?

We do not understand what we are living but trusting and obeying what God is asking will bring us a benefit, as a gift, peace, because it comes from God.

Sister Alba Letelier

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Sunday Reflection April 04, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 16: 1-7

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint him. Very early when the sun had risen, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb. They were saying to one another, “Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back; it was very large. On entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed. He said to them, “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold the place where they laid him. But go and tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.’”

Do not be amazed!

Reflection:

“Very early when the sun had risen, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb.” The Gospel tells us that this event happened very early, on the first day of the week; something new had just happened, a novelty! We can ask ourselves what this is all about. How does the Resurrection change something in me and my life? What is new in my life’s present-day?

“Who will roll back the stone for us?” This is the question of the women, which is also our question today when we look at the world, our society. For those of us who are in Haiti, looking at the situation of our country, of our people, we ask ourselves who will roll back this stone because it is so large and so heavy;  this stone of insecurity, unemployment, injustice and uncertainty. We can question ourselves by asking which stone is worth rolling back to free the life within?

When the women entered the tomb, they did not find the body of Jesus, their Savior. They were frightened, but instead of the absent body of Jesus, they found a word, a word of hope that is good news for them. Let us listen to this word that resonates in our hearts.

“Do not be amazed!” said the young man clothed in a white robe. Let us look at what this word means to us today. It is paradoxical. In a world where violence has more place than peace, where hatred dominates over love, where division reigns over union, today’s Gospel comes to tell us not to be afraid. How can we live in peace and tranquillity when, before our eyes, our fellow countrymen are mistreated, our brothers and sisters are beheaded without any consideration, when we know that human beings are used as objects without any value, in our country and many other places around the world? Despite all these sufferings, we are invited to let ourselves be inhabited by the peace of the Lord. May this peace enter our hearts.

“You seek Jesus of Nazareth,” like the women of the Gospel, let us seek what is essential, let us direct our young people to the essential, the essential is Christ; He is within us as Saint Augustine says. The Gospel invites us to stop seeking Jesus where he is not, “He is not here.” Let us not seek him anywhere but within us. He lives in those persecuted for their faith, in those used for organ trafficking, in those who cannot express their point of view, and finally in those on the margins of our respective societies.

The Risen Christ comes to bring us peace amid all these wars, he comes to bring us love in this world where hatred, competition, and the struggle for power predominate. He comes to bring us hope when we think that there is no way out. May the hope of Easter this year fill us so that we can comfort those who are around us. Happy Easter!

Sister Eugena Nogaüs, SP

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Sunday Reflection March 28, 2021
The Gospel According to St John 12: 12-16

On the next day, when the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet him, and cried out: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!”  Jesus found a donkey and sat upon it, as is written: “Fear no more, O daughter Zion; see, your king comes, seated upon an a donkey’s colt.” His disciples did not understand this at first, but when Jesus had been glorified, they remembered that these things were written about him and that they had done this to him.

Reflection:

In this Gospel, John recounts Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, where many people had come to the feast upon hearing that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. I am struck by the fact that the people welcomed him with palm branches and shouted: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel!” The custom of waving palm branches was a way of externalizing the nationalistic sentiment of hope in the Messiah or the King of Israel for deliverance from foreign rule.  Evidently, all these people saw the Lord Jesus simply as a leader whose healing power would bring about Israel’s deliverance from Roman rule.

The word “Hosanna” is the transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning, “Save us now.” Here we have another evidence that what the multitude saw in the Lord was nothing more than a means of fulfilling their longing for deliverance from the dominion of the oppressors. They had no idea of Jesus’s meaning on the spiritual level. They saw only the material benefit.  As it currently happens to us in our reality, we seek Jesus only when we need him or find ourselves in danger. Or we want to receive a sacrament.  But as a Catholic Church community, we must not be a “sacramentalist” church. Nor can we, as Christians, be a People of God Church that remains silent; we must denounce the injustices inflicted on the poor. As Monsignor Romero said in his time, we need to be the voice for the voiceless.  Jesus re-entered El Salvador through Monsignor Romero and when Romero’s time came, the Salvadoran people acknowledged him as a martyr.  But,  today people are forgetting this story.

Often, St. Oscar Romero is only acclaimed when we need him,  just as we acclaim Jesus only when we call on Him to save us.

Finally, John also mentions that the Lord Jesus rode on a donkey. This was not by coincidence, nor was it so that the Lord Jesus would not get tired, or anything like that, but for the fulfillment of a prophecy: “Exult greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! Behold: your king is coming to you, a just savior is he, humble and riding on a donkey’s colt.” Zechariah, 9:9.

Sister Maria Vilma Franco Calles, SP

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Sunday Reflection March 21, 2021
The Gospel According to St John 12: 20-33

Now there were some Greeks among those who had come up to worship at the feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me. “I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” He said this indicating the kind of death he would die. 

Reflection:

The Gospel for this fifth Sunday of Lent talks about the importance of certain significant moments of Jesus’ life. It states that some Greeks came to Jerusalem during Passover purposely to see Jesus but somehow were not able to meet Him even though they begged Phillip and Andrew for such a meeting arrangement.

Jesus then revealed his upcoming death when he said “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” He further highlighted the significant consequence of his own imminent death by stating that “unless a grain of wheat dies in the field, it will remain just a single grain: but if it dies, it bears much fruit”. These simple verses of today’s gospel now become the most essential messages for our living reflections.

Furthermore, Lord Jesus taught us the truth of faith by saying that “one who tries to keep his own life will lose it and whoever hates his life will gain eternal life”. This is a very paradoxical proclamation showing how easily human beings can be blind-sided by holding onto their temporal and earthly well-being.

If we wish to gain eternal life, we must be willing to forfeit our temporal well-being and follow Jesus’ way and carry our own cross. In essence, we should follow Jesus and his disciples to totally subject ourselves to GOD’s desire.

On the path of reflection:

If the wheat doesn’t die, it just remains a single little grain; only when it’s dead can it bear many grains! Are we willing to be this wheat of self-sacrifice?

Sr. Magdalena Chan

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Sunday Reflection March 14, 2021
The Gospel According to St John 3: 14-21

At that time, Jesus said to Nicodemus: “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God”.

Reflection:

In this gospel reported by John, on this 4th Sunday of Lent, Jesus evokes an event in the Old Testament that manifested God’s concern for his people, to enlighten us on the mystery of the Cross.

Lowering and raising, death and life, light and darkness, this dualistic language is common in the Gospel according to Saint John. He introduces us to the mystery of Easter. The torment of the crucifixion was a terrible humiliation, the brutal and complete annihilation of a human life. But paradoxically, this torment consisted in raising the condemned.

At that time, the Hebrew people kept in their memory the image of a bronze snake raised in the air and fixed to a pole, thanks to which they were delivered from a terrible scourge that had almost caused the death of all the people (this is the origin of the caduceus). This memory helped to shed light on the mystery of the Cross. The serpent was raised by human hands; Jesus will also be raised on the Cross by other human hands, those of the judges, of the executioners, but these external actions go hand in hand with a profound interior evolution. The other comparison, that of the light, is more familiar to us, especially in this season when the days grow longer, winning over the darkness.

We have heard it from the mouth of Jesus: “…the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil”. Then we despair. But God does not think so since he loved the world so much that he sent his Son to save it. He continues this work in our time and through us He would like to raise the world and enlighten it, to resurrect it.

Pope Francis wrote: “When we adopt a pastoral goal and a missionary style which would actually reach everyone with-out exception or exclusion, the message has to concentrate on the essentials, on what is most beautiful, most grand, most appealing and at the same time most necessary” (EG 35). And he added: “In this basic core, what shines forth is the beauty of the saving love of God made manifest in Jesus Christ who died and rose from the dead” (EG 36).

In the paths of love there is room for all, for these are the paths of God. The world is called to change, for it is loved by God, but it is up to us, who have the privilege of knowing about this love, to proclaim it, for how would the world know it? And if the world does not know about this, how will it change?

God of light and truth, grant us what we ask of you this Sunday. May the light of Christ, your Son, enlighten our steps on the path of faith! May the breath of your Holy Spirit lead us to the joy of Easter! Amen.

Nathalie Jean-Philippe, SP

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Sunday Reflection March 07, 2021
The Gospel According to St John 2: 13-25

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” His disciples recalled the words of scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me.” At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the scripture and the word Jesus had spoken. While he was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, many began to believe in his name when they saw the signs he was doing. But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all, and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.

Reflection:

Frequently human beings do business with everything: death, sickness, birthdays, Christmas, classes… And even with the pandemic: If it is not the masks, it is the hand sanitizer, or even the lockdown. Business can be done with everything, profit can be made from everything.

However, there are things with which it is not licit, it is not ethical to do business, even though we have become accustomed to it. The fact that something is common, does not give it a patent of morality.

Jesus does not accept that people’s faith should be traded. It was a very common and accepted custom. However, it infuriates him to see his Father’s house turned into a “den of thieves”. Let us imagine how outraged Jesus would be when people’s health and lives are traded, as their dignity and their rights. How angry he would be when truth is traded and when “justice” is bought with money.

The Jews complain about the “destructive fury” of Jesus: “What sign can you show us for doing this? With whose authority? Why all the violence and destruction?” The arguments of the hypocrites are the same in all times! Their hypocrisy and their mistaken scale of values do not allow them to understand Jesus.

How about us, are we capable of being outraged like Jesus, or are we part of those who hypocritically tear their garments?

Sister Ana Georgina Rozas

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Sunday Reflection February 28, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 9: 2-10

After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them. As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.

Reflection:

We are very familiar with the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain in the presence of the three disciples. In the three synoptic gospels, the Transfiguration comes after the first prediction of the passion. And in Mark’s version Jesus says to the disciples not to tell about this appearance until after “the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”  However, they don’t understand what this means. This puts the disciples in an awkward and puzzling position. In Mark the Transfiguration occurs midway between the beginning of the gospel (1:15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe the good news”) and the end, when Jesus goes through the passion, death and resurrection (Mark 14, 15, 16) This midpoint is when Jesus begins both his journey to Jerusalem and teaching the disciples about the sacrificial nature of discipleship.

Transfiguration involves a change of form and appearance. The elements in the story – the mountain, bright light, a cloud, change in appearance, Moses and Elijah, the voice of God, all connect this with the Hebrew scriptures of God’s power and glory, law and prophecy, focusing on the need to be changed. Mark is telling us that suffering precedes glory. This change in Jesus’ appearance is a prelude to the resurrection when Jesus will be fully glorified.

Putting this Scripture passage early in Lent, the second Sunday, encourages us to remain with Jesus even without knowing or understanding fully what will happen to us in the days ahead. We can share with the disciples in their lack of knowledge about the future, as they did at that moment. We do not know the future for ourselves during the pandemic. But God spoke from the cloud and clearly spoke to the disciples about Jesus, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”   We can do the same.

During this Lenten season, there are many ways you and I can listen to Jesus, encounter him and follow his example of service to others, especially during this pandemic. One can calm another’s fears; make contact by mail, phone, email with a person who is alone; provide food for those in need; write a poem expressing one’s pathway from suffering to glory; pray for people in their many situations of struggle; express love and care to someone who needs it, and other expressions of care you can think of. If we truly listen with our hearts to Jesus, we will act and follow in his footsteps. And our Lenten days will bring us closer to Jesus and to all God’s people.

NB: There are many beautiful icons of the Transfiguration. If you care to look, here is one address: www.sinaimonastery.com. It is St. Catherine Monastery in the Sinai. You could choose an icon as your focus for a prayer time.

Judith Desmarais, SP

Suggested questions for reflection:

How and where will I listen to hear Jesus’ voice this week?

What have been some experiences in my life – of darkness to light, – of suffering to an intermediate glory? Did I hear the voice of Jesus in these experiences?

Let us pray:

God, you have commanded us to listen to your beloved Son. We pray that you will nourish us inwardly by your word, give us insight and understanding, and let us rejoice to behold you in glory. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Sunday Reflection February 21, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 1: 12-15

Letting ourselves be led by the Spirit

“Jesus is driven into the desert by the Holy Spirit.” Mark, 1, 12–15

“Jesus had just been baptized. Immediately the Spirit drove him into the desert, and in the desert, he remained forty days, tempted by Satan. He lived among the wild beasts, and angels served him. After John’s arrest, Jesus left for Galilee to proclaim the Gospel of Lord, saying, ‘The time is fulfilled; the kingdom of God is at hand. Convert and believe in the Gospel.’”

Reflection on the Gospel

There is no great human work or authentic spiritual life if we do not make time for reflection, solitude, inner silence.

Jesus was led into the desert to be tempted… In common language, the word “temptation” is often pejorative. To be tempted is to want to do something forbidden… In the Gospel, temptation is much more serious than that. The fundamental temptation concerns “faith” or “non-faith” in God. The Jews, the first hearers of Jesus and the first Christians, at the time Mark was writing this account on temptation, and we TODAY… let us admit that we are sometimes disappointed in God!  Finally, He should show himself a little more! … Show who He is, all the same! Why this disease?  This cancer in full activity … and so young? … Why this pandemic that is destroying so many of our parents, our friends, our colleagues, our compatriots, and the whole world?  Why this pandemic?

The Spirit of the true God, of the only true God, “pushes” Jesus, the Son of God, far from advertising, far from crowds, far from loud success … to the “desert!” The only true God is the “hidden God.”   I contemplate God “in the desert”… Jesus alone….

When a person refuses to “dominate”, refuses to accept the image of a “certain God,” accepts his own “impotence,” and lives by “faith,” it is only then that one finds paradise again and is “a person according to God!” This is the “good news” that we must believe in!

The struggle of “faith” is not over.  Satan still continues to propose his idea of God to us. Jesus invites us not to consent to it: we must be converted, by faith, to the true God. “Lord, do not let us enter into temptation.”

On the path of reflection:

– During this “Lent” which is beginning now, will I take a few minutes each day allowing myself a time of reflection, solitude and inner silence?

– The only true God is the “hidden God.” Am I eager to be seen, to be recognized, to be appreciated? Let us ask for the grace to be faithful to the testimony received from our Blessed Foundress: Humility, Simplicity, Charity!

Concluding Prayer:

Lord,

At the beginning of this period of Lent in which you call us to conversion and to believe in the Good News, dispose our hearts and illumine our minds to welcome your inspirations. Make us available to your calls of conversion. We ask this of you who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

Sr. Yvette Demers, SP

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Sunday Reflection February 14, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 1: 40-45

“A leper came to him and kneeling down, he begged him:

If you wish, you can make me clean.”

Gospel Reflection, Sunday, February 14

A leper came to him [and kneeling down] begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

Reflection:

Leprosy was always a dramatic disease of indescribable physical suffering and serious social consequences. Leprosy was one of the most feared diseases among the Jews because they considered it a punishment from God; a disease of abandonment and marginalization, because people were immediately excluded from society. The leper lived in solitude, rejected and marginalized because leprosy was the greatest social barrier of that time.

Taking a closer look at the text, we realize that the leper of the Gospel had to cultivate his inner life, being accustomed, in one way or another, to prayer. Amid his physical ruin, the leper’s faith progressed, so that when he meets Jesus he believes in his divine omnipotence and infinite goodness; he was sure that a simple manifestation of the Savior’s will was enough to cure him. Falling to his knees, he says to him: “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean”.

Jesus, stretching forth his hand, touches him and proclaims him clean. For the Lord, to be human is above every norm, above every structure. Facing the leper, he feels compassion for this marginalized human being.  Not only does he approach and touch him, but he transforms his reality of marginalization by healing him. This is how his Sacred Heart expresses itself when we present our miseries to him with humility and true repentance.  It is at that moment that his tenderness and mercy become more evident, as happened with the leper when he touched him.

The leper, seeing the Lord, draws near, because he has understood that for his happiness it is enough to draw near to Jesus. It is desirable that the same happen to us and that during times of suffering, we keep our eyes on Jesus, our healer,  because God acts when he sees our faith and our humility.

In our world, we can also find similar situations to those encountered by the Lord, groups marginalized because of their race, language or skin color. Jesus’s attitude challenges us because sometimes our comfort leads us to accept unfair situations. The healing touch of Jesus is an invitation to get involved with Him and His Gospel and to heal so many other leprosies present in our society.

Each encounter of a person with Jesus changes the person’s life, transforms it, and brings the peace that helps us to look at our personal life and that of others from the perspective of healing.

Sisters, let us never lose the capacity to be amazed at what God does in us and through us every day. Let us allow ourselves to be touched by His Grace so that we may be a blessing to our Sisters and participants in the Mission.

The different and new leprosies of our days continue to cry out: “If you want to, you can cure me”.

On the path of reflection:

  1. How many people do we marginalize with our attitudes, actions, words, prejudices?
  2. What is the worst kind of the leprosy in our society today?
  3. Am I willing to allow myself to be touched by God’s grace so that transformation may take place in my life?

Final prayer:

“Lord Jesus, please continue stretching forth your healing hand so that I can free myself from so much unrest and the sorrows that prevent me from walking with you and my brothers and sisters with joy and in freedom.

Lord, give me the courage not to change my direction or to look the other way when I encounter the suffering of our brothers and sisters. May my eyes and my hands resemble yours.”  Amen.

Sister Ana Teresa Araya SP

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Sunday Reflection February 07, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 1: 29-39

On leaving the synagogue he entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

Reflection:

This is a beautiful passage from Mark. I am not a scripture scholar. I am an ordinary woman and I have some questions.

Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever. What happened when Jesus came to the house with Simon? Why did she get up right away? She was sick. Why not rest a bit? Jesus healed her. He took her by the hand and lifted her up. She felt immediately impelled into action. Her response to the touch of Jesus was to serve him and the disciples. Jesus has that effect on people.

When Jesus touches us, we have no choice but to immediately follow into him into his service. That is the nature and power of his love. His love transforms us into a people of service. The love of Christ impels us.

And what about Jesus? What happened to him in prayer alone with his Father? His actions that day tell us. He had work to do—his Father’s work. He was impelled by the love of his Father into actions that would send him to his death. He did it anyway—for love of us. Jesus was impelled to go on to the towns and share the message that his Father had sent him to share; even when he knew it would lead him to the cross. That is the Jesus I deeply love. I am an ordinary woman following Jesus. Why? Well, you see, Jesus loves me. The power of that love impels me from prayer into service.

Margarete St. John, SP

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Sunday Reflection January 31, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 1: 21-28

Then they came to Capernaum, and on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? -a new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

Reflection:

The scene narrated by Mark takes place in Capernaum, an exorcism that manifests the power of Jesus, capable of overcoming both cosmic forces and diabolical violence. It is interesting to identify through this gospel account, first, Jesus, who is at the beginning of his apostolic ministry. He comes to the synagogue accompanied by some disciples. This place of prayer also welcomes priests, scribes and other worshippers; finally, this well-known possessed man who, by his behavior, provokes disorder and indignation.

It was customary to invite a person to read a passage of the Scriptures and, according to their competence, to interpret it before the assembly. Today, the invitation is addressed to Jesus. He was known to teach with authority. This is a great quality attributed to him. Street preachers are not always convincing nor are scribes who repeat some of the texts they have learned. To teach with authority is to demonstrate a life experience that evokes a connection with a high value reality. Biblical stories present Jesus in close connection with God, the Father. His preaching comes from a truth that can alter behavior. It is a word that comes to correct something in our lives.

We have an example of a radical change: a man in the audience begins to behave in a disturbing way. And why, then, is this possessed man here today? He is humanly incapable of sharing with all those attending.  But he is, it is assumed, very unhappy, poorly judged by society, a victim of his demented state. He no longer believes in the effectiveness of any kind of intervention, so he turns to Jesus. Perhaps some neighbor, tired of his disturbing behavior, would have suggested that he ask for help, believing in the good intervention of Jesus. At that moment, the evil spirit enters the scene: it speaks through this man’s mouth and makes him utter a cry of terror: “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?” Strangely enough, this question is formulated in the plural: “What have you to do with us?”  Then a statement is added to the present tense, which we would probably like to attribute to the possessed: “I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” Jesus intervenes: “Quiet! Come out of him!” Then, with a loud cry, the man finds peace. He is completely transformed. Everyone in the synagogue is astonished. Thus, the fame of Jesus spreads throughout the entire region of Galilee.

Regarding the Encyclical letter Fratelli tutti, let us not be afraid today to be signs that transform this world filled with indifference and violence. Let us bear witness not only through our words, but let us be bold in our actions. We can experience this together as women of the Church. Our adaptation to the model of governance that is being proposed to us today in our Congregation will be a stimulus so that our Providence Mission will be, for our sisters and brothers of the world, a sure means of commitment that will bring us together in the same universal fraternity.

Sister Annette Aspirot, SP

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Sunday Reflection January 24, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 1: 14-20

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.

He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him. Word of the Lord.

Reflection:

One thing that makes my heart burst with joy is to recognize that Jesus is boldness itself. I imagine how shocking it must have been to live with Him, as well as how difficult it was, for many, to believe in such a wonderful person!

In all my talks, I underline the fact that Jesus is a revolutionary par excellence, and he is to the point where some people even call him “crazy” or “fanatic”!  As we heard in yesterday’s gospel.

Jesus comes to change our schemes, our mentality. For those who live their daily life between the extremes of “always and never”, Jesus rocks their life and he becomes a real threat, which is why the Pharisees cannot stand him, which is why he is so criticized and judged, which is the reason why he dies… The time has come, the promised messiah has arrived, stop waiting and enjoy the living presence of God with us, that is the message of the good news…

I have not studied theology. My closest experience with the exegesis of the Word of God is my experience of encounter with it, and from there I dare to affirm that the Kingdom of God was established forever with the death and resurrection of Jesus; in Him begins the meaning of our existence, we live to never die, death eliminates the body but not the soul, the love… Jesus allows us to transcend… We live to love eternally, to experience the communion and brotherhood ETERNALLY. That is part of the good news, and the driving force of our existence.

As Sisters of Providence we have been called, like the disciples, to announce this good news, that the Kingdom of God is in our midst; with Emilie, we understand and transcend the experience of death, of the pain caused by loss and we transform it into provident action, we turn it into an experience of communion and fraternity. Like Joseph and Bernarda, who do not content themselves with words, but translate into deeds their experience of encounter with Christ, their experience of love and dedication to their neighbor, with a sense of transcendence and communion. They do not live for themselves; on the contrary, their whole life is a testimony of the search and desire for fraternal communion. That is why they are capable of leaving everything and following Him … but they do not just do so in words, or just by founding or becoming part of a religious community through a public consecration; all those facts do not speak for themselves, and what gives true testimony is how that translates into a daily dedication, by means of which we show and live the Kingdom of God in the midst of those who suffer, but above all in the midst of the sisters of the community, in the way we experience love, forgiveness, mercy; in the way we seek to heal and cure our wounds and those of our sisters, or else why our choice to be and to stay in a religious community?  What sense of transcendence  do I give to my consecration?  To leave everything and follow Him is to change our mentality; it is to transform our lives where the unthinkable then becomes a reality, like the love for our enemies. The disciples followed him, but within the group were those who denied him, fell asleep, left him alone and betrayed him; and those who accompanied him on the path to death and those who were there when he rose from death… Who are we? What is our discipleship like? Emilie, Joseph and Bernarda were true responses to the social reality of their time. What is our proclamation of the Kingdom today? What is our response to the social reality of this time?

God does not call us once and for all, he knows our weakness and every day he comes to meet us, so every day, in every moment of our day, in every circumstance, we have the possibility to say yes, I want to follow you, even in the midst of this chaos, this crisis, this social reality, here I am: With you, Lord, everything is good news!

May the Lord give us the wisdom and grace to discover Him in the middle of pain, crisis, and uncertainty as our founders did. Current times are a strong invitation to renew our commitment, with a sense of transcendence while facing pain and death, in order to be reborn and to live with the happiness and joy of the good news of the Kingdom that is among us. God bless us and give us a beautiful week.

Mariana Peña, SP

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Sunday Reflection January 17, 2021
The Gospel According to St John 1: 35-42

The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day.

Reflection:

This Sunday’s readings begin with a call to listen and to hear and then to wait and then to come and see. It is only after they heard John say that Jesus was the Lamb of God that they became interested and began, with curiosity, to follow him. Jesus asks them: “What are you looking for?” And they respond with a question of their own asking him where he is staying, and he says: “Come and See!” Also note that John gives a precise time – it was about four in the afternoon. This invitation is important and will change their lives if they actively respond.

You and I cannot truly be disciples of Christ unless we, too, wait to hear God’s call and respond by the simple willingness to be obedient to God’s will, which is more than keeping the commandments. It means that our entire lives are directed to waiting and listening for God to be revealed to us in some way, through others usually – perhaps it is in the cry of the poor; perhaps it is in prayer when we take time to listen to God with the ears of our heart and we hear Jesus asking: “What are you looking for?”

Our Mission statement calls us: to proclaim Providence as the loving presence of God, active in us and through us, watchful over the created universe and attentive to the needs of all. We also proclaim the compassion of Our Mother of Sorrows, and we live these mysteries primarily by our compassionate love of those who are poor.

When you asked to “come and see” the Sisters of Providence, what were you looking for? What did you expect to find? Are you still listening to Jesus’ invitation and waiting to respond to his question: “What are you looking for?”

Gloria Keylor, SP

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Sunday Reflection January 10, 2021
The Gospel According to St Mark 1: 7-11

On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Reflection on the Baptism of Jesus

This Sunday’s liturgy converges with a very important episode in the life of Jesus, his baptism briefly recounted by Saint Mark. Two characters first capture our interest: Jesus and John the Baptist, cousin of the Lord. This John who had leaped with joy in the womb of his mother Elizabeth. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, she expressed herself before Mary through the following words: “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Lk 1:43). Some thirty years later, John baptizes on the banks of the Jordan River. Jesus comes forward, listening to the thundering voice of the Penitent of the Desert, to be baptized and receive purification just like the multitude claiming the same privilege.

In his behaviour, Jesus looks like everyone else. He looks like a commoner in the way he dresses, speaks and acts. No divine sign distinguishes him from the crowd. However, John feels in Him and identifies a particular divine presence. He descends hastily from the rock that served as his pulpit and advances towards Jesus. After scrutinizing him with his penetrating gaze, he cries out: “Behold the Lamb of God!” (Jn 1:29).

A good question may then arise: Did Jesus need the baptism by John the Baptist?

Obviously not! He is the only Son of God, the Incarnate Word, infinitely perfect. John himself recognizes this and wants to dissuade him from it: “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” and Jesus replies: “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” (Mt 3:14–15).

Jesus comes to save us by taking upon Himself all our sins. Heaven confirms this by the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a luminous Dove and by the voice of the Father who proclaims: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Mt 3:17). The disciples welcomed the counsel of John through conversion of the heart and faith in the Good News. By way of the sacrament of Baptism, then instituted by Jesus, the same Spirit works in us a total purification and restores the priceless privilege of our divine filiation.

May this great feast be for us an occasion of deep gratitude and renewed fervour, so that our heavenly Father may take up again in our favour the words once proclaimed in honour of Jesus, his divine Son: “This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Fernande De Grâce, SP

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Sunday Reflection January 03, 2021
The Gospel According to St Matthew 2: 1-12

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage»

Reflection for January 3, 2021

The Epiphany

Epiphany is a day of great celebration!  Through the story of the Magi, the Gospel makes known to us the manifestation of Christ beyond all frontiers and thus to the whole world. All of us are called to meet Him, to pay Him homage and to adore Him.

Let us see the steps that these people will take to meet this Jesus, about whom they have heard that the King of the Jews was born, because they want to pay homage to Him.

First they saw, the star, a star like no other, not so bright, but which appeared to them to be above Bethlehem It will serve as their guide. It is with their eyes fixed on this star that they undertake the journey. With it they cross borders and the difficulties of the road. Sure of their intuition, they do not lose sight of their star. Always they look towards this star to reach their goal, the encounter with Jesus. Their encounter with Herod, with his false intentions, could have caused them to deviate from their path, but no, their star was always above them leading them to the right path.

These Magi had to set out and cross borders to follow their star. It was not always easy for them to cross geographical borders and leave behind the comfort they knew, even to struggle with their internal borders and leave everything behind to move forward. However, they remained convinced of the direction of their star and pursued it. They give us the example that to follow Jesus, to encounter the tenderness of Love, Jesus, one must take risks and even the risk of finding oneself.

The Star guided them to their destination, the encounter with Jesus, with Mary and Joseph there, just simply present, in all humility. Naturally the Magi adore and pay homage to Him, and with joy they offer Him gifts, precious gifts, but above all the gifts of themselves. After this meeting, they return home but with the direction that God has given them, with Peace and Joy in their hearts. They can now announce the Good News far beyond all borders.

May our reflection, in observing the Magi, allow us to perceive them as symbols of what we are called to: that is, to fix the star that God designates for each one of us and to follow it across the boundaries of our daily lives, in order to reach the encounter with this newborn Jesus who awaits us in Joy, and the Tenderness of His Love. Then we will be able to pay our homage to Him, to offer Him our gifts, especially that of ourselves. With the joy, peace, tenderness and love received, we can now go, announce and share this gift with our brothers and sisters present on our roads and tell them that Jesus is born, He is among us.

May this be our path 2021!

Annette Noël, SP

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Sunday Reflection December 27, 2020
The Gospel According to St Luke 2, 22-40

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him

Reflection:

Simeon did not lose hope of one day seeing the Messiah sent by God. He prepared his whole life for this great moment, hoping to see the light that would shine in the whole world; and that day was granted to Simeon by God as a reward for his perseverance.

Simeon’s testimony of hope leaves us with a great lesson, which we are called to imitate especially in those moments when we believe that the light of Christ is moving away from our lives, when our strength becomes weaker and we feel that we are almost incapable of attracting that light again so that it can continue  to illuminate our existence.

When we think that we are experiencing darkness, the Lord comes to light our way. We learn to be grateful for this moment that we are all living throughout the world.   We can see it then as an opportunity for a new life that is about to come.

The Lord has given us a time for reflection, to dream about a better future.  It is a time to change what is not right and to look at our sisters and brothers who are suffering, more than we can imagine, and to love them as our sisters and brothers who share the same dream: To return to a renewed normality illuminated with the light of Christ.

Gladys Flores, SP

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Sunday Reflection December 20, 2020
The Gospel According to St Luke 1, 26-38

Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Reflection on the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Our Advent journey is nearing its destination! Today the readings remind us of the wonders of God’s Providence in two stories. In each story, God relies on a messenger to deliver the message and trusts that the message will be believed by the one for whom it is intended.

In the Old Testament story, the Prophet Nathan supported King David and stated “… the Lord is with you.”  That night God spoke to the Nathan and gave him an important message to deliver to King David.  It is a message that reinforces how Providence had called David from his life as a shepherd to leadership as King of Israel with a specific mission yet to be fulfilled.  David was not to forget his roots, nor to forget that Providence, with a Father’s care and love, had always been and will always be with him and all his offspring.

The second story recounts the great moment when the Angel Gabriel greeted young Mary and perplexed her with his message. “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”  Even more perplexing were the words: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and gear a son, and you will name him Jesus.”

Humbly, Mary entered into gentle dialogue with Angel Gabriel asking important questions and listening carefully. Her openness and humility with total reliance on her relationship with God, led her to respond with her life-changing “YES”:  “Here I am, the servant of the Lord: let it be done to me according to your word.”  This is the second time we hear this story during Advent; the first time was on December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It is well worth pondering again as we near Christmas and realize what a gift Mary has given us in birthing Jesus who came to live as one of us and to teach us God’s ways.

As Sisters of Providence, Blessed Emilie, and St. Vincent de Paul before her, gave us three important virtues: humility, simplicity and charity.  We see these virtues exemplified in the two chosen ones found in today’s liturgy.   Both David and Mary understood their humble roots and their dependence on God’s covenant of love and guidance.  Both were trusting servants of God though David found himself straying and needing forgiveness. Both were able to receive the messenger with openness, respect, and a recognition that the encounter manifested Providence. David served his people and Mary set out to assist Elizabeth.  Let us listen and respond with humility, simplicity and charity to the messengers and messages Providence is sending us.

In this time of uncertainty brought about by the pandemic, social unrest, and divisions on so many fronts, may we rejoice that Jesus comes again this Christmas with peace, hope, healing, joy and strength promising to be with us always, showing us His WAY.

Questions for Reflection

Who were the messengers Providence sent me today?

What was the content of the message(s) that I heard and what was my response?

Did Providence ask me to be a messenger today?

What values deepened from my responses?

Karin Dufault, SP

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Sunday Reflection December 13, 2020
The Gospel According to St John 1, 6-8, 19-28

“A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites [to him] to ask him, “Who are you?” he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Messiah.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?”  He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?”  He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, Make straight the way of the Lord, as Isaiah the prophet said.” Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.”

Reflection:

In the time of Jesus, it was common for supposedly educated people, such as priests, Levites, and those who mingled in conversations in the street, the market, or with a supposed prophet, to talk about the Messiah to come. Our Samaritan woman is well aware of this fact. She, who responds promptly and without hesitation to the Word of Jesus, who sees the true worshippers in those who worship God in Spirit and truth: “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Anointed; when he comes, he will tell us everything.” Jn 4, 25

To respond to the realities of the world we live in, the Lord needs witnesses. Why would we not be those? To be an authentic witness, we must respond to the invitation of John the Baptist: the conversion of the heart and the mission to announce the true God. “Make straight the way of the Lord, as Isaiah the prophet says”.

Some people want to be informed of all the new sciences that arise in our world and marvel at everything that is invented. Nevertheless, God, Christ, and the Gospel are all subjects that need to be given serious attention as well. The celebration of the Nativity does not always predominate, since very often, the emphasis is on the gifts and decorations, but many are not aware of the event of the coming of a God on earth. John said, “There is one among you whom you do not recognize.” Let us be true witnesses. The Church opens up avenues for us, including the sublime exhortation addressed to all our brothers and sisters in the world, which inspired Pope Francis in writing his letter, Fratelli  tutti. All of us are brothers and sisters in the great human family.

Annette Aspirot, SP

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Sunday Reflection December 06, 2020
The Gospel According to St Mark 1: 1-8

« One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water, he will baptize you with the holy Spirit. »

Reflection:

In the book that Mark wrote about Jesus, he begins by telling us it is the Good News about Jesus who is the Messiah and the Son of God.  At the time of Mark the word “Messiah” could mean many things to the Jews and so did the expression “Son of God.” These terms could mean many things to those of Greek or Roman culture.

The quotation from the prophet Isaiah goes along the same lines: to prepare the way to the Lord, we need a messenger who will proclaim his arrival, who will be influential, who will make his announcement credible to all.  But this messenger is strange, he is different, he cries out in the desert because the Lord who arrives does not come to overwhelm; on the contrary, he leaves the city and goes into the desert to listen to this announcement. To listen, it is necessary to have an attitude of searching, of not remaining comfortably installed in one’s own mediocrity.

After this introduction, we are presented with John the Baptist, a strange character as we have already met and a surprising one, with the strength of the great ancient prophets.    Many come to him because they are not happy with their own lives, because they know that a change is necessary, but they do not know how to make it.  John encourages them, gives them strength, and pushes them to convert, to change their old mentality for the new one. To await the Lord who is coming, he invites them to clean and to sweep the paths, to remove the obstacles so that they can walk with ease and without any difficulty.  John is not naïve. He knows that to change is not so easy; he is aware that he is announcing something great, that behind him will come the One who will bring the Holy Spirit, the strength of God, and That One will be able to transform us!

Thousands of years have passed since that event and the invitation remains the same, in a completely different historical context, where world suffering is critical, where the pandemic of COVID-19 makes us see life itself with other eyes. It is in the here and now where we are invited to take up our candle, light our faith and be witnesses so that others may follow the light. But for this, the first thing we need is to have courage, confidence, strength and, above all, the desire to carry the candle lit and ensure that, at no time, it goes out even when the wind blows against it.

Let us not stand still, immobilized, nor let ourselves be carried away by comforts or unexpected changes or the fears that make us lose the sense of what Advent means.  Let us ask ourselves daily, what path am I preparing?

Let us realize that the preparation to receive Jesus means effort, generosity; it is astonishment, it is to learn not to be protagonists but carriers of the most beautiful News that the world can have: the Birth in Bethlehem of God who becomes incarnate, becomes human, to share and give himself for love of humanity.

Let us dare, not to stand still, but to be a domestic Church in times of pandemic!  Advent is about dynamism, joy and preparation.  Get on our way and don’t stop!  Let us do as St. John the Baptist did, prepare the way to receive God, that poor and humble God who is present in each of our brothers and sisters who are suffering so much.

María Fernanda Apablaza, SP

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Sunday Reflection November 29, 2020
The Gospel According to St Mark 13: 33-37

“Be watchful ! Be alert ! You do not know when the time will come .”

Reflection:
In the Gospel for this first Sunday of Advent, Jesus warns his disciples at the beginning of the passage, “Be watchful! Be alert!” and again at the end: “What I say to you, I say to all: “Watch!”
When we hear a command like this, we need to ponder: “What should we be watching for?” one answer is that we should be waiting and watching for the birth of Christ on Christmas Day.
This question is important because we need to clarify what we are watching for so we do not miss the whole point of the Advent Season.
What are we watching for and waiting for? In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is telling his disciples to be watchful as they are doing their regular duties. The gatekeeper and the household servants are expected to be ever vigilant because they do not know when their master is sure to return. The time of his return is uncertain, but the reward and punishment will happen when he returns. But Jesus, in today’s Gospel, gives us the assurance that we do not need to be afraid of the end of the world, of Christ’s Second Coming and Judgment if we remain alert and prepare. We must continue to work for the Kingdom of God and look forward to return of Christ. Ever vigilant and ever watchful.
During this Advent we are given a chance to open our hearts again to Christ as he returns as the baby Jesus. Are we ready for a deeper faith? Are we ready for the realization that the birth of Jesus Christ in time is really Good News? It was good news for the shepherds, over two thousand years ago and it is the same for us. And what was the good news to the shepherds? “To you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” As we prepare for the Advent season we need to deepen our awareness that the Good News is. We have a Savior in Jesus Christ. When we celebrate Christmas this year let our hearts grow in understanding of what we are really celebrating. Our journey with Christ this advent gives us a chance to open your heart to the deeper meaning of “Christ our Savior.”
Jessica Taylor, SP

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Sunday Reflection November 22, 2020
The Gospel According to St Matthew 25: 31-46

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’

Reflection:
“Whatever you did for one of these least brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”
On this 34th Sunday of Ordinary Time, which marks the end of liturgical year A, joy fills our hearts to celebrate Christ, King of the universe. This feast draws our attention to Jesus, true God and true man, who will come for the Last Judgment. It also reveals the place of love at the heart of our lives, making even more meaningful our mission in the world. It is indeed on love that we will all be judged. Since “faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor 13:13). On that day, the sum of our love will become clear, and it will determine which side we will be on, either the side of the sheep or the side of the goats.
In love and wisdom, God created humans to give them God’s own divine royalty as an inheritance. There is a Haitian proverb that says “syèl la pa piyay pa gen ni achtel ni volè l, se travay pou w travay pou li.” Thus, it is our works that will earn us this opportunity. We understand why St. Ignatius of Loyola said in his Meditation, in order to achieve love “we must put more love in our works than in our words.” And today’s Gospel illustrates very well this word which is “Love”. A very simple love is expressed through love gestures. Thus, our humblest gestures of true love have an infinite value, a value of eternity. Every work of charity that we do, we do for Christ himself, because he identifies with the poor, the least, the destitute, and the rejected of society: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me” (Mt 25:35-36). Even more: “whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25:40). In making the link with our Founder Emilie Tavernier-Gamelin who gave everything for the least ones, those who were poor, it is more important than ever to continue this same path by helping those in most need with sincere love.
This passage of the Gospel puts our feet back on the ground and helps us to understand today’s feast. The royalty of Christ is something quite distinct from primacy. It is simply a fundamental reality of existence: love will have the last word. Jesus shows us that the meaning of royalty is to put oneself at the service of others. He confirmed that he is Master and Lord (Jn 13:13), and that he is King (Jn 18:37). But he exercised his role as Master by washing the feet of his disciples (Jn 13: 4-15) and he reigned by giving his life. Jesus Christ reigns first from a humble cradle (a manger) and then from an uncomfortable throne, that is, the Cross. On the Cross there was a sign that said “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews” (Jn 19:19). What appearances denied was confirmed by the profound mystery of God, since Jesus reigns on the Cross and judges us in his love. Therefore, seek Love, live Love, share Love, for “we will be judged on love alone.”

Happy feast of Christ the King, good meditation and good week!

Daveline Livert, SP

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Sunday Reflection November 15, 2020
The Gospel According to St Matthew 25: 14-15 19-21

“The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.”

Reflection:
Today, with the talents parable, Jesus tells us that the way to await the Kingdom of God is to work with the gifts that we have received so that his reign becomes a reality. I think that Jesus invites us to be mindful of this mission, to be aware of life and to take initiatives so that all beings live better.
The servant who buried his talent represents those who are afraid, are indifferent and do not yet know the joy of taking risks so that love is possible.
With Emilie Gamelin, let us continue living today the charism and the mission that we have received. She gave herself completely. May the compassion of Mary, Mother and Friend, inspire our meetings.
Pope Francis with his talents addresses the whole world. May his encyclical “Fratelli Tutti” inspire us to create an authentic “social friendship”.
On this World Day of the Poor, I remember family friends who are experts in cultivating and sharing their gifts of understanding, friendship, joy, affection, solidarity and respect.
God bless them.
Sr. Isabel Cid, SP

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Sunday Reflection November 8, 2020
The Gospel According to St Matthew 25: 1-13

At that time, Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps, brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps. Since the bridegroom was long delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight, there was a cry, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for you and us. Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ While they went off to buy it, the bridegroom came and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him. Then the door was locked. Afterwards the other virgins came and said, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’ But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
Reflection:
This Sunday’s gospel proposes to us the Parable of the Ten Virgins.
The evangelist Matthew presents us with the kingdom of heaven which is comparable to ten young girls invited to a wedding who took their lamps to go out to meet the bridegroom, five of whom were wise and five foolish. All of them fell asleep, and in the middle of the night, a cry rang out: “There is the bridegroom, go out to meet him”.
As they all prepare their lamps, the foolish girls said to the wise ones, “Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.” Their wise response was that the oil would not be enough for all and they advised the others to go and buy some oil from the merchant. However, while they were gone to buy, the bridegroom arrived… and the unprepared girls could not enter because the door was closed. So keep watch, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
The oil burns and illuminates. The oil, pure and golden, is protective and therapeutic. Oil soothes; it is the fruit of the olive tree, of the branch of peace.
When they took up their lamps, the foolish virgins did not take any oil with them; but the wise ones took not only their lamps but some vases with oil in them. The oil comes to us from God; we get it every time we connect with Him by entering into His presence. It is the anointing that comes from God and fills our soul, allowing our flame to continue to shine. Our spiritual lamp has been entrusted to us by God, not to decorate our lives, but to enable us to be ready for the return of the bridegroom.
No one will be able to find the bridegroom with a burned out lamp. Thus, we have to watch over our spiritual lamp, put some oil aside in a vase. Let us understand that like a cell phone, a car, a portable tablet, we always need to be connected with the energy source, the oil source, the anointing source, which is Christ to ensure that our lamp keeps burning.
Let us watch over our lamp, because the eye is the lamp of the body.
Lucille Vadnais, SP

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Sunday Reflection November 1st, 2020
The Gospel According to St Matthew 5: 1-12

… “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.” …

Reflection
In Mother Joseph Province, it is the season of “Goals and Objectives”. I assume that you in our other provinces have some equivalent. Have you ever wondered who first articulated Goals and Objectives as a way of measuring success, that is, deciding where you want to go, and how you plan to get there? Could it have been the latest guru in the Human Resources field, or a highly educated person in the field of business management?

Yes, many have developed such tools. However, I am convinced that the very first to make public his profound, magnetic discourse on such a goal and measure of success was Jesus, Matt. C.5, vs. 1 – 12. This is his famous, timeless presentation on the beatitudes. The goal is for us, you and me, to become so Christ-like that others recognize Christ in us—in our words and deeds. Jesus loves us so much that he wants us to be like him and be forever with him. He gave us the beatitudes so that we could, in our human limitations, have some notion of how to monitor our progress. . We can see each of those beatitudes in the life of Jesus as we read and reflect on the Scriptures, and come to understand how to pattern our words and actions after his example. It took a while for my five year old nephew and his little neighbor friend to get with the program. They wanted to take the same beatitude (bee toot as they called it) and have me tell them which one was better at the end of the year. But they finally got it. The idea was to measure oneself and try to become the best they could be.

The best homily I ever heard on the beatitudes was given by Father Michael Ryan at St. James Cathedral, August 1, 2018. The occasion was the funeral Mass for the beloved archbishop of Seattle, Raymond G. Hunthausen. Father Ryan illustrated each beatitude by relating an episode from the Archbishop’s life. I choose to reflect on that homily when August 1 comes round. I again place myself at Jesus’ feet on the mountain side and listen as Jesus speaks the beatitudes into my heart. “Blessed are the poor in spirit …” I ask for an open heart, full of gratitude for gifts given to me for a while, for me to treasure but not possess, then let go when age, chronic ills, and deaths of loved ones change my life and I am drawn deeper into the heart of God.

The invitation to reflect on this Scripture passage gave me a nudge to reflect again on Jesus’ memorable teaching. How good our loving God is – to keep guiding us along the way by scattering these “bread crumbs” along the path to ever lasting peace and joy at home with our Lord!

Joyce Green, SP

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Sunday Reflection October 25, 2020
The Gospel According to St Matthew 22: 34-40

“Love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul and your whole mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it: You are to love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments the whole law is based and the prophets as well.”
Reflection:
To love someone, you must first know the person, because no one loves someone they do not know. Knowing God implies opening our heart, letting God in to flood us with Divine presence. This is achieved through deep prayer and contemplation that leads us to the knowledge of God.
The love of God is reflected in the way we treat our sisters and brothers. If we treat them with respect, kindness, affection…, then that’s the measure of the love we have for God, because by loving God, we love our neighbour, and by loving our neighbour, we love God.
If we love God, we will see God in others and we will treat them justly and honestly. We will not hurt our brothers and sisters, but we will do everything possible to live in peace with them. This is why we must share with our neighbours the treasure we have in our hearts, which is God’s endless love for us. To love our sisters and brothers is the consistent way to respond, gratefully, to the immense love that God has first poured out on each one of us.
Gladys Flores, SP

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Sunday Reflection October 18, 2020
The Gospel According to St Matthew 22: 15-21

“Whose image is this and whose inscription?” They replied, “Caesar’s.” At that he said to them, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

Reflection:
On this 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the liturgy of the day takes on a double meaning. In the light of the Gospel, giving back to God who we are, plunges us into a missionary turning point. From October 11 to 18, World Mission Week takes place on the theme “Here I am , send me”.
Every year, on the third Sunday of October, the Church calls on parishioners, religious congregations, movements and associations to mobilize during the week around celebrations, animations, formations… This time is of capital importance for every baptized person: the opportunity for a renewed commitment in prayer, by participating in the Global Mission Fund to support the mission of the universal Church and to learn about the life of Christians throughout the world.
In addition, in this Sunday’s Gospel we witness how the Pharisees tried to discredit Jesus with a trick question. “Is it permissible to pay tax to Caesar, the emperor; yes or no?” Jesus does not succumb to temptation. His answer is clear, for he knows the perversity of the Pharisees.
“Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?” Jesus’ pedagogy challenges them to “repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” I am fascinated by Jesus’ answer, because it overturns human logic. It recognizes God and Caesar. Jesus highlights these two personalities without subtracting one or the other. It is a question of giving back to God what is God’s and of giving Caesar his tax money, because on this coin there is the effigy of Caesar. This coin is his, it bears his sign. We can also notice that the question of the Pharisees seems relevant because if we wondered where is the sign of God, the answer can be found in Mt 25:31-46: “I was hungry and you gave me food […] whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me”. Jesus identifies with the brother and sister of limited means. This is where the sign of Jesus is found. It is a scene that we have to consider these days in our various economic, political and social opinions.
In the face of the Pandemic, I am sure that if Jesus were asked the same question: is it necessary to repay the Covid-19 pay? Or the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit? Or is it possible to respect distancing and build a fair and fraternal world? Are places of worship to be classified in the same way as bars and restaurants? He would give us the same answer in other words. Give back to the State what is the State’s and to God what is God’s. Strengthened by this affirmation of our Lord, we are called to preach the truth without yielding to falsehood in all its forms, even by reaching the supreme witness of our own lives: please read the Holy Father’s message for World Mission Day 2020, which you will find at www.vaticannews.va Here I am, Send me! (Is 6:8)
Happy Mission Sunday!
Marie Éméline Ézami Atangana, SP

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Sunday Reflection October 11, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 22: 1-14

Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find. The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. […]Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Reflection:
According to Matthew, the wedding banquet was a popular way of imaging what life in the coming kingdom would be like. This parable is about a personal invitation to the kingdom of heaven being sent out to a choice group of people with the hope they would respond in a positive way. Unfortunately, they refused the invitation, and no one came. Finally, in frustration, the king said to his servants, “Look, the banquet is ready, but those who were invited refused the invitation. Go into the main streets and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet”. Here the response was different. They were willing, to come, the good as well as the bad alike, so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
God desires to be in a relationship with us, where we share in his divine life and love. It is all about choice. God has given us a free will to choose or refuse his invitation. When we refuse an invitation, there are consequences. Refusing to be reconciled with someone we love, or refusing to forgive another, might lead to a life that is empty. When our actions come from prejudice and discrimination, everyone is affected. It is no good putting up walls. What people mistake for safety is in fact captivity.
We must listen and take seriously the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Whatever our response is, God will continue to invite us to a relationship with him, for God wishes a deeper and richer life for us. God continues to love us, that is who God is, and that is what God does.
Betty Kaczmarczyk, SP

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Sunday Reflection October 04, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 21: 33-43

Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,* put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants* to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance. They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he returns? ” They answered* him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper time.” Jesus said to them, “Did you not read in the scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes’? Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit. When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them. And although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.

Reflection “THE MURDEROUS VINEYARD WORKERS”
ILLUMINATED BY THE LIGHT OF THE SPIRIT, THIS STORY SEEMS TO BE A STORY OF FAILURE.
The love story between God and his people appears to be a story of failure, as it happens in this parable of the murderous vineyard workers. The story makes it appear as if it were the disenchantment of God’s dream.
There is a vinedresser who plants a vine to obtain a benefit, the fruits that the vine produces will be the clusters of grapes, but these fruits were denied to them because the workers killed all those who went to collect the fruits.
The last one to come to pick the fruit was the son of the owner and he dies as well, symbolizing Jesus who came to this world and on his journey, ends up on the CROSS… In this parable, in which the workers also kill the youngest son, they kill the cornerstone, that is, JESUS.
Many times, in our own lives we want to eliminate the prophets that arise, we fight against them, or even ignore them, when in truth, they light our way by showing the evil we are experiencing.
We, Sisters of Providence, as a Congregation, were sent to make Providence fruits germinate in the hearts of our people, so that this gift from God grows in the hearts of the world. Let us be light for the world and seeds for the earth.
Sister Marta Alvear, s.p.

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Sunday Reflection September 27, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 21: 28-32

At that time, Jesus said to the high priests and elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did his father’s will?” They answered, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him. “

Reflection:
A man calls upon his two sons to work in his vineyard. This same call was once addressed to us in exercising our vocation to walk in the footsteps of the Lord.
The first son responds negatively to his father but repents and goes. We meet people who say no, and repent and do the service requested. The kind of reaction one notices in people who are too preoccupied with daily affairs and want to withdraw from the task they assume is too demanding. Nevertheless, to meet the request of a father whom he loves, the son responds to his desire. This filial love is inspiring and incites each of us to be faithful to a God whose grace is endless.
Is not the response of the second son disappointing in terms of the indifference and self-sufficiency he displays? He adopts the attitude of people who want to look good, such as those Pharisees who wear large phylacteries, who expect a lot from others, but do not move their little finger at the burdens they impose. (Mt 23:3-4). Among them are those who represent the religious elite, who have nothing but contempt for publicans and prostitutes and judge them harshly.
In the responses of both sons, many biblical examples evoke these two different attitudes, including those of the two men who go to the temple.
The publican standing at a distance recognizes himself as a sinner. “I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former.” (Luke 18:10-14). It is the attitude of heart and mind that accompanies our decision in a given situation. It can be good or bad. It is up to us to adopt the right one.

Sr. Annette Aspirot, SP

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Sunday Reflection September 20, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 20:1-16

At that time, Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ So they went off. [And] he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’
When it was evening, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you.* Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.’ “
Reflection:
In the reflection that follows, the focus is on the future of planet Earth, which for centuries has been the last of our concerns. It is this outdated thinking that we are all called upon to reconsider, finally giving our planet its rightful place, since our future depends on it.
“And this elbow to elbow that used to stun us during great gatherings, great events, great shows, will it be the one that will bring us together, that will guide us in the reconstruction of our world after this scourge? Will the exaltation of elbow-to-elbow be able to create solidarity among not only humans themselves, but also between humans and their environment? I hope that humanity will be able to find the right means to control its impulses and to repair forever the wrongs it has caused to the Earth in order to repay its debt. We observe, in some developed countries, that sports and arts have suffered greatly from the pandemic and they are still suffering. But they are also the ones who will give us the breath and courage to undertake the great adventure that awaits us!
May our faith and unshaken trust in our Savior Jesus Christ lead us to the paths of sharing and justice, as our guide, Émilie Gamelin, has done. ”
René Lefebvre, PA

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Sunday Reflection September 13, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 18, 21-35

Then Peter approaching asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times? Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full. Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, Pay back what you owe. Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, Be patient with me, and I will pay you back. But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you? Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”
Reflection:
In today’s Gospel passage from Matthew, Jesus has just concluded his discourse on the efficacy of prayer in community by saying, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.” Immediately, Peter approaches Jesus and asks Him, “If my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him?”
Imagine Jesus hearing this surprising, rather abrupt, question from Peter. He loves Peter and he understands Peter better than Peter understands himself. Jesus answers Peter’s question by saying, “You must forgive him seventy times seventy times” and then He proceeds to tell the parable of the unforgiving servant and to describe what happened to that servant.
Jesus’ answer and the parable that follows are enlightening for Peter, for the other disciples who are gathered around and for us. Jesus deepens for all of us our understanding of the nature of forgiveness. He tells us that the act of forgivness must be habitual. Forgiving habitually means to become a forgiving person. Jesus is telling us that forgiveness is not a calculation of the mind. It is a matter of the heart; it is an act of love. He is saying that forgiveness begins in the heart and ends in an embrace.
How can we become these habitually forgiving persons? The answer is only by the grace of God, only by realizing that we personally and as a people are habitually forgiven by God. And it is we who, forgiven and forgiving, gathered together in community, experience the loving presence of Jesus in our lives and in our midst.

Kathryn Rutan, SP

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Sunday Reflection September 06, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 18, 15-20

“If your brother sins [against you], go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector. Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, [amen,] I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Reflection:
Recognizing that we all make mistakes is essential and fundamental to our community life and any environment in which we are involved. Humbly acknowledging that we are fragile and vulnerable in our lives because of the experience of our falls makes us at once more compassionate, forgiving and open to the grace of forgiveness.
There are essential elements within our reach to accompany those who have fallen and help ourselves return to community: personal dialogue, listening, absence of judgment, and community acceptance are the dispositions of the heart that favor communion and love, violated by our sin.
As we gather in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, our witness must be the one that speaks. Attentive and open to listening, understanding, forgiving, welcoming, knowing how to wait patiently for the return of those who have strayed, and expressing affection, unconditional support, and forgiveness through signs, gestures, and actions that “speak louder than our words.”

Sister Alba Letelier, SP

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Sunday Reflection August 30, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 16, 21-27

Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
And Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are thinking not as God does, but as humans do.”
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit anyone to gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will anyone give in return for their life?
“For the Son of Man is to come with his Angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each according to their work.”

Reflection:

Jesus brings new light on what being the Messiah really means, and what following that Messiah entails for the disciples. He tells them that to follow him, they must take up their own cross each day. Peter could not accept that God’s plan for Jesus was so incredible. If Peter cannot bear the revelation that Jesus would suffer a cruel death (16:22), how then will he respond when the focus shifts to those disciples whose fate imitates that of Jesus?
It was only after Easter when the full meaning of discipleship became clear. Before that, they understood discipleship was to mean taking up one’s cross and following him, even being willing to give up one’s life. But it took on a far deeper meaning when in taking part in Jesus’ life and ministry, they would face a cruel death.
Discipleship in mission is costly and radical. Discipleship is a life of generosity and service, where the true disciple works for justice, gives generously and cares for the weak. We can do this because of our call. We are called to give ourselves away for the sake of others. Only then can the cost and joy of discipleship be understood.

Elizabeth Kaczmarczyk, SP.

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Sunday Reflection August 16, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 15, 21-18

Then Jesus went from that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

Reflection:

Sister Beatrice, inspired by this Gospel of St. Matthew, shares with us the meaning of faith that leads her in the present moment of her own life.
Being present in the moment is being open to seeing with new eyes. Intentionally I look for signs of new life and hope during this pandemic season. I see God’s fingerprints in all of creation. I’m trying to see and experience grace and mercy in all of this. The beauty of creation speaks to me and moves me to a deeper understanding of life’s mysteries.
“Jesus, you are making us aware that your main purpose in the revealing to us of your heart was to enable our love to escape from the constrictions of the too narrow, the too precise, the too limited image of you which we had fashioned for ourselves.” -Teilhard de Chardin, SJ
Have a good week filled with faith in our Savior and wonderment at the blessings of creation.

Sister Beatrice LaFramboise, SP

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Sunday Reflection August 09, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 14: 22-33

Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once [Jesus] spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

Reflection:
“Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
“It is I who am here and you are here in me; trust me
I love you and I’m with you.”
Jesus shows us his capacity to love and his love for us even in the most didactic way so that we really believe it is he and we are not afraid.
We are afraid to perceive him as a ghost, as if he were not really there in the darkness of the storm; we are astonished to see him appear on the waters and speak to us: “Courage, it is I, do not be afraid” and we immediately say to him: “If it is really you, Lord, bring us closer to you and allow us, like you, to walk on the water. But we sink, our body disappears and we believe that we will disappear instead of being faithful and walk with him on the water. What a lack of faith, Lord, after all your manifestations of love. We sink into the water is because of fear; this insecurity we relive every day because of a lack of faith. How can we not believe in You, Lord, if You have called us, if You have chosen us, if You are our life?
Many of us today, like Peter, want to hear the Lord’s call again. “Lord, draw us to You; allow us to walk on water, save us.” And Jesus, by his presence, inspires us with confidence, prompts us to surrender, and gives us security by saying “Come”. We come that we may walk with him on a path of personal transformation and in total surrender to his Providence. Then we may be certain that with him we have it all.
This Gospel allows us to see Jesus in his humanity and in his divinity, intrinsically united as one. This is of the deepest manifestations of his identity as true God and true man, the Lord of life, capable of making the natural supernatural: walking by our side on the water.
It is not always easy to recognize his presence in our lives; sometimes we want extraordinary signs to make this presence concrete. It is difficult for us to understand that he is always near, even in the jolts of the dark storm, making himself light, calm, hope, and trust. Perhaps the simplest way to enter into this dynamic with him is in a trustful prayer from the heart, a prayer which can transform us and even cause us to forget the fear that prevents us from staying afloat, “walking on water”.
Lord I believe, increase my faith
that I may hold your hand and walk with you always
because you are the Son of God.

Sister Gloria Garcia, SP

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Sunday Reflection August 02, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 14:13-21

When Jesus received this news he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But the crowds heard of this and, leaving the towns, went after him on foot. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them and healed their sick. When evening came, the disciples went to him and said, ‘This is a lonely place, and time has slipped by; so send the people away, and they can go to the villages to buy themselves some food. Jesus replied, ‘There is no need for them to go: give them something to eat yourselves. But they answered, ‘All we have with us is five loaves and two fish. So he said, ‘Bring them here to me.’ He gave orders that the people were to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves he handed them to his disciples, who gave them to the crowds. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps left over, twelve baskets full. Now about five thousand men had eaten, to say nothing of women and children.

Reflection:
This Sunday’s gospel reflection is based on a concrete response from Sister Julie Macasieb, a Sister of Providence originally from and working in the Philippines. .
“An Experience of Hope in this Most Trying Time
After almost 4 months of being under community quarantine with our two sisters, I was grateful that I finally had the chance to return to my ministry in Dagupan City,. Currently, the city is under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).
There were several purposes for my trip. One of which was meeting with Archbishop Soc Villegas, and the people I minister with. For two days, I and our Providence Associates in Dagupan City, had an outreach food relief event giving to those who are most in need at St. Michael the Archangel Parish. It was a lived experience of pain and suffering manifested in the pain and hunger of our people. I deeply felt for them; I was in solidarity with their suffering. The effects of the pandemic have taken its toll and created an economic crisis throughout the world.
It is through our accompanying, caring presence and sharing of our resources that we experience Hope in Providence and Jesus’s Compassionate Presence, always in our midst.
Good week of reflection and sharing.”

Sister Julie

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Sunday Reflection July 19, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 13:24-43

On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.” The disciples approached him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand. Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see.

Reflections on the three parables of Jesus in today’s Gospel.

From the first reading through the psalm to the Gospel, it is about a God whose love and power is best shown in infinite patience and mercy for all.
First: There is tares in the field of the Lord of the universe, which is sown by the enemy, the devil. He came while people were asleep. When the enemy comes, he hurries to sow the evil seed and leaves so that it will not be discovered. It would have taken vigilance to keep the enemy from entering our hearts. The roots of the chaff and the roots of our wheat are intertwined, so that we cannot uproot one without running the risk of uprooting the other. Jesus asks us to be patient until the harvest; he invites us to discernment, for God is patient until judgment.
Second: What the Saviour wants to bring out by this image of a mustard seed is how the kingdom of heaven is small in its origin in ts beginnings and means, and speak of its greatness, of its developments and effects. Today, we can compare this parable to the history of our Congregation which began with a small work of Mother Gamelin, a very small seed becoming a large tree and spreading to many countries in the world.
Thirdly: This parable which speaks of the leaven hidden in the dough is the divine life acting slowly but constantly by its proper power, until the whole moral person , the whole human life, in the individual, the family and society, is penetrated and sanctified by it. God invites us to allow ourselves to be transformed by him so that we may become the one we should be according to his own design.
This Sunday’s Bible readings invite us to discover the true face of God who is slow to anger but full of love. He invites us to be patient, but also vigilant, to stay awake so that the enemy cannot enter. In the same way the 12 virgins were asked to stay awake so that the bridegroom might find them awake. Jesus asks us to be vigilant because we must never forget that our Christian life is a daily struggle against “the enemy”.
Thus, in today’s Gospel, there are three messages to remember: 1) the invitation to patience and discernment, 2) No matter how small or how very small we may be, God can do his work in us and calls us to a great mission, 3) allow ourselves be grounded by God according to his design.

Sr. Eugena Nogaüs, SP

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Sunday Reflection July 12, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 13: 1-9

On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”

REFLECTION
Beloved in the Lord, good morning!
On this 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time, liturgical year A, the texts submitted for our meditation invite us to bear fruit in abundance. Already in the first reading, the prophet Isaiah describes the abundance of grace that come down on the seeds planted as rain and snow. This can be compared to the word of God which acts daily in us. Paul, in the second reading, draws a parallel between the abundance of grace and creation groaning through the pains of childbirth. We easily find all sorts of good reasons to shield ourselves from the painful reality of growth. The early words of Paul are meant to remind us clearly of the need to wait patiently for the seed to grow, to experience the death of the seed without being certain that it will really take root, and bear fruit in its time.

The parable of the sower in the Gospel of Matthew is all the more striking because in Jesus’ time people were unaware of the biological phenomenon of germination. God’s word is received in various ways. In some people it finds a heart of stone and does not grow at all, in others it grows with difficulty, but it does grow. Whatever each one of us has received as grace, let us put it at the service of others. Let the pianists play the piano for the glory of God. Let the drivers drive the vehicles according to the rules of the road; let the carpenters no longer set doors that won’t close after only one year of service! May the faithful Christians rediscover the freshness and beauty of evangelical values through pastoral work! May the teachers prepare their lessons properly and teach them well, knowing that each student is a young Jesus! Let the nurses and doctors care for the sick with compassion! Let the political, economic and social authorities work for the development of their constituencies! Let magistrates render justice for the good of all! May this parable of the sower be the motivation of our hope, the seed of which is the plant that germinates and gives a hundredfold! In these days of loosening lockdown, it is not only necessary to weed the soil of our hearts so that the seed planted by the Father may be fruitful, but also to await with confidence the growth of every human being. The late Bishop Jean Zoa used to say the following:
“Happiness for Christians consists in sharing, but sharing means that we own something; owning requires that we produce abundantly; producing abundantly requires to organize ourselves rationally; and working rationally means working in solidarity.”
May your meditation be fruitful!

Marie Éméline Ezami Atangana, SP

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Sunday Reflection July 05, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 11:23-30

And as for you, Capernaum: ‘Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld. For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

Reflection

Who are the simple people to whom Jesus revealed the things of the Father?

They are those who have a pure heart, without prejudices, and who are ready to welcome the seed that Jesus wants to plant in them and make it germinate. God enters into their heart and fills it with what only He can give.

Simple people are those who recognize their poverty and do not hold grudges; they look at life with optimism, trusting in a Father who does not forsake them. It is natural for them to seek their own happiness and that of others.

The mission of the simple people in this life is to counteract complications: struggles, pain and mistrust we have created in the course of history. These people show us through their witness that it is possible to live a deep interior life, without having to bother with other things that do not lead us to God. They are ready to accept what God deems to best for them and, like children, they freely entrust themselves to God’s Providence.

The Lord invites us to take His hand and to walk with Him, to leave aside the insecurities and fears which trouble our hearts at times. He offers us the hope we need to continue our journey and, with simplicity of soul, we seek to live a full life by abandoning ourselves into His loving paternal hands.

Sister Gladys Flores, SP

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Sunday Reflection June 28, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 10: 37-42

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is righteous will receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple, amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.”
Reflection
In those days, just as today, persecutions existed. We still see people being persecuted or killed because of the colour of their skin, their origin or their political views. Also in Jesus’ time, to follow His path meant to run the risk of being misunderstood and even rejected by one’s relatives, friends and neighbors.
Today, even outside a context of violent persecution, we are well aware that it is often most difficult to bear witness to one’s faith with family or among friends.
In a world built on individualism, accepting the cross of Christ as one takes a path that leads to true life is a great challenge: to follow Christ in his encounter with the excluded, to follow him on the path of non-violence and refusal of hatred, to take up one’s cross also means to bring good news, for the cross of Christ has become the tree of life. Death has been defeated, Christ has risen. There is a way even through death.
What God expects from us is not suffering, but love. These are life choices inspired by love. The cross of Christians is the consequence of their fidelity to Christ’s message of love.
Loving Christ teaches us to love others. To love Christ is to hear continually, “Love one another”.
It is in the little things of daily life: welcoming, serving, listening, sharing, that the sincerity of our witness is at stake. Let us keep in mind the words of Saint Augustine: “The measure of love is to love without measure”.

A Providence Associate

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Sunday Reflection June 21, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 10:26-33

So do not be afraid of them. Everything now covered up will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of human beings, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven. But the one who disowns me in the presence of human beings, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven.

Reflection:
Dear Provident God, my Lord and Savior, thank you for telling me to “Fear no one.” I have a favorite saying: “Whom should I fear when God is near?” I say this often but you have also told me that you are with me always! Knowing that you are always near me, you are in me, you are around me, you go before me, you know everything about me yet you care and love me anyway! WOW!
It is like being a child and knowing and believing that nothing will go wrong because their parents love them and are always there!

My mother’s favorite prayer: “Lord, help me to remember that nothing is going to happen to me today that you and I can’t handle.” I can’t and won’t deny you Lord!
I have a dear friend whose greeting to me is “I bow to the God in you, I look and I see God there; praise be our God in you.” I say this to myself when I look in the mirror; I change it to my God in me because it helps me to stay focused on the goodness/ beauty and protection of you, Provident God. I cannot deny a God who is so good to me!
With the trying times that are going on in our world right now it is so comforting know that you are here Provident God!
I love you,

Lillian Rouzan, AP

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Sunday Reflection June 14, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John 6: 51-58

I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

Reflection: “Towards a new normality”
René Lefebvre is a Providence Associate of Montreal, committed by his pen and by his faith to spread the Good News and to make known the foundress of the Sisters of Providence, Blessed Émilie Tavernier-Gamelin. Today he shares with us one of his reflections that is very much in the spirit of the times and in continuity with of the Gospel of this Sunday.
“There’s a saying that a misfortune never comes alone. The death of George Floyd in the USA confirms the saying. Former President Barack Obama issued a statement on his Twitter page, saying that “this cannot be normal” in 2020 and urged Minnesota authorities to “ensure that the circumstances surrounding Floyd’s death are thoroughly investigated.
Barack Obama, the first black American president, added: “It should not be normal in 2020 in America. It can’t be normal. If we want our children to grow up in a nation that lives up to its highest ideals, we can and must do better.”
“It is primarily the responsibility of Minnesota officials to ensure that the circumstances surrounding George Floyd’s death are thoroughly investigated and that justice is finally done.”
“But it is incumbent on all of us, regardless of race or position, to work together to create a “new normality” in which the legacy of fanaticism and unequal treatment no longer infects our institutions and our hearts.”

“It is natural to hope that life will return to normal as a pandemic and an economic crisis disrupt everything around us,” he added.
“But we must remember that for millions of Americans, being treated differently because of race is tragically, painfully and exasperatingly normal, whether it’s dealing with the health care system, interacting with the justice system or just jogging through the park admiring the birds.”
Have a good week, everybody! René Lefebvre, PA

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Sunday Reflection June 07, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John 3:16-18

For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

For God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.

No one who believes in him will be judged; but whoever does not believe is judged already, because that person does not believe in the Name of God’s only Son.

Reflection:
For God so loved the world.
We are God’s beloved children, we feel His love when in the difficult moments of our life we turn to Him for protection and hoping to obtain a loving response to our call; and God is there, ready to welcome us with a Father’s love. At times we feel that His response is not always the one we expect, the response is the one God wants for us, the one that will lead us on the way that leads to full happiness, even if we do not understand it at the time and resist God’s response, then we will understand that it was the best thing for us; the important thing is to believe and hope in His loving mercy.
After all that I have experienced since I was infected with the COVID-19, I have gone through moments of fear, anguish, sadness and hope; I have always felt God’s presence in my life. What I have experienced is not easy, I am far from my home, but I feel the closeness of my people at all times, the strength of their love and the ever-present prayer has kept me strong and has increased my faith.
I have felt God’s love very strongly during this time, in the care that I have been given to improve myself, in the prayers and attentions of my sisters and people who love me.
Thank you Lord for your great love.

Sister Gladys Flores, SP

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Sunday Reflection May 31, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John 20, 19-23

After the death of Jesus, on the first day of the week and evening had come, the doors of the house where the disciples were gathered were locked for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After He said this, He showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord they were filled with joy. . Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Reflection:
There they were all together… united in prayer. It was the nascent Church. Praying together, they were putting in place the necessary conditions for receiving the Holy Spirit. All the hopes of a new world, based on Love, were present.
To form one body, while accepting our diversity, we must know how to overcome our fear of the other and be inhabited by the Spirit of peace. The disciples, before Pentecost, out of fear, locked up everything and were confined at home, the Gospel tells us. They were afraid of the very people to whom they were suppose to bring the good news. How can we approach the other when we are afraid of them and do not welcome them as they are? It is the Holy Spirit who will give them the courage to take a step towards the other. This spirit is a spirit of peace. The spirit that Jesus gives twice in this Gospel is not a spirit of war, of polemics or a spirit that moralizes the other, it is a spirit of peace: “Peace be with you. “These are the same words that we repeat at Mass and put into practice before communion.
Even if because of current restrictions our life and our environment change, the Holy Spirit does not change, He always brings us Peace, Courage and Hope which sustain us in this life of perpetual change.
Have a good week blessed by the Holy Spirit!

A Providence Associate from Montreal

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Sunday Reflection May 24, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John 17, 1-11

“After saying this, Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said: Father, the hour has come: glorify your Son so that your Son may glorify you; so that, just as you have given him power over all humanity, he may give eternal life to all those you have entrusted to him. And eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I have glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. Now, Father, glorify me with that glory I had with you before ever the world existed. I have revealed your name to those whom you took from the world to give me. They were yours and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now at last they have recognised that all you have given me comes from you for I have given them the teaching you gave to me, and they have indeed accepted it and know for certain that I came from you, and have believed that it was you who sent me. It is for them that I pray. I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All I have is yours and all you have is mine, and in them, I am glorified. I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep those you have given me true to your name, so that they may be one like us.”

Reflection:
To love Jesus requires that we be in a constant process of getting to know Him. It is a relationship that grows little by little, a friendship that extends beyond ourselves. Recognizing Him as God and Lord is the fruit of this close relationship and is what leads us to worship Him; and how it costs us to trust and believe in Him. Our love and faith are weak, that is why we doubt.
However, He trusts in us, He loves us unconditionally and knows who we are, with our weaknesses, doubts and fears. And He continues to send us out to live the mission. For Him our vulnerability is not an obstacle to living that which is the only important thing: to be witnesses and to give witness to the One whom we know and love, knowing that it is not we who are at the center of this story, but Jesus and His Message.
In this time which we are now living is a time that challenges us to live differently and his “sending” remains the same. How am I responding and what is the message that I am offering as my testimony?
In what way does my vulnerability sometimes become an obstacle and a justification for my “non-commitment” to the realities I am living?
If my “love is stronger”, simplicity of life, humility in my relationships and charity in my actions will be, first of all, the principles with which I will live the “sending” that Jesus gives me today. His promise, “I will be with you always, until the end of the world”, is what causes me to trust and gives me the strength and boldness to respond to His invitation. He is our “only hope”.

Alba Letelier, s.p.

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Sunday Reflection May 17, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John 14: 15-21

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”

Reflection
Promise of the Spirit

It is a gospel full of hope, it is the first promise of the Spirit that shows a new kind of the presence of Jesus among his people. He does not leave us orphans. But now it is the Spirit who comes to unite and strengthen the community.

For the times in which we are living today, this reading is more real than ever; it is inviting us to remember the way to Jesus. Difficulties cannot make us lose faith. He reminds us that we are not alone, that we have the strength of the Spirit with us

He is the way, and he shows us that we have the formula to overcome the pandemic today, through unity, solidarity and neighbourly love. It is a call to remain united to the Spirit, who is our shield and just let Him in: “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me […] and I will love him.”

Our foundress and Mother Emilie pointed out to us that humility, simplicity and above all charity are the ways to strengthen the Spirit.

United in the Spirit,
Susana Garrido González
Providence Associate
Santa Rosa, Bernarda Morin Province

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Sunday Reflection May 10, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John 14, 1-12

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house, there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where (I) am going you know the way.” Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.”

Reflection:
The Way of Truth and Life
This Sunday’s Gospel invites us to follow Jesus Christ because he tells us: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. “What a joy it is to see that this remains true always, because more than ever we need this certainty in a world full of uncertainties. Faith will certainly save us. By taking this hope as our compass and making it our flag, we continue on the path already prepared by the Savior.
On this day, when we think very especially of our mothers, let us take time to think how many times, with tenderness and perseverance, our mothers have gently put us back or returned us to the Way that leads to Truth and Life. They guided us in learning to share, to help each other and to reflect on our actions.
Happy Mother’s Day! Have a good week on the Way!

PA Group from Montreal

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Sunday Reflection May 03, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John 10: 1-10

“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them. So, Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came [before me] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

Reflection:
In these times of trouble and uncertainty, Jesus presents himself to us as the guide, the passage, the door that gives access to a better world. Behind this door, there is not a God who frightens us or who demands extraordinary performance, but a God who loves, who welcomes us, who comforts us.
The Lord opens the door for us, offering freedom and joy like nowhere else. He makes us discover the beauty of the open air, of great horizons, of unlimited spaces, of all the nature and creation that we have so often neglected.
Now, most of us feel locked in a kind of “closed door”, blocked because of laws, disease, or fear. All of us, at one time or another, face problems that seem to have no way out. We feel trapped, imprisoned, not knowing how to get out. That is when Christ intervenes and tells us that He is the door, that He is the way out. Image of freedom! Image of freshness and life! To follow Jesus is not, as some people think, to live a half-life, but rather to live fully.
Let Christ liberate us and fill our lives with joy, may He be the companion who accompanies us throughout our lives.
Have a good week!

A Providence Associate from Montreal

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Sunday Reflection April 26, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Luke 24:13 – 35

Now that very day two of the disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. It happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see. ”Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and their companions em who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Reflection:
Easter time, time of joy and great feast of the Resurrection, in our present history, a time of pandemic, of contagion, of staying at home. Technology is invading us all the more because “we stay at home”.

This gospel tells us about the experience of two disciples who were walking towards Emmaus, sharing about what had happened in Jerusalem. Another “companion” catches up with them on the way and joins in the conversation, inquiring about what they are saying. They update him as he seems not to be aware of the recent events. A sense of sadness and disillusionment is obvious in their attitude and words. But He, with great authority, makes them reflect on this event and teaches them from the Scriptures.

How many times have we had this experience of staying with the events and not reflecting through the Scriptures? Or, we have reflected from our experience of faith, our experience of God, but our attitude gives us away.

“Stay with us for it is nearly evening”… We often experience this… Jesus gives us the freedom to make our own decisions. Jesus gives the impression he was going farther… But he stays with us, it’s late, the day is over. There is a special feeling that stirs inside us that we should not let him go. We still have doubts; we don’t know what it is.

“He came in and stayed with them. And being at the table”… They recognized him. But he vanished from their sight.

Jesus walks this road with us, he accompanies us in this world experience of the pandemic. He accompanies us as we stay at home or go to work; in our fears or anxieties, in our daily lives. He teaches us with his own life as the Risen One who never leaves us alone.

We find him in those who live next to us, around us. We find him in families who suffer, in unemployed workers, in those infected by Covid-19, in the elderly persons living alone, etc., we find him in difficult situations of our current history. And he invites us to reveal his truth, to include people, to embrace and take each other by the hand in a way that is different from what we are used to.

These disciples returned to Jerusalem by the same road they came… But their attitude was different, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?”… they recognized him in the breaking of the bread.

In the fraternal bread, in solidarity, thinking of the other, we recognize him. While they ask or demand us to stay at home. Love in solidarity invites us to go out of ourselves and look for other alternatives to share the Risen One. We are invited to be creative, to mobilize ourselves, and to trust that He is always at our side, that He walks with us. We must only be silent and open our eyes wider to look around us and hear him teach us the scriptures. Then go out to share it as He did, at the table, breaking the bread. And start walking…

Our attitude is to walk with security and trust, full of love from the one who gave his life for humanity. To include in our own life the Risen One who is with us. He dwells in our lives and we should help others to ignite their hearts in the love of the Risen Jesus and help our brothers and sisters by sharing the scriptures and the breaking of the bread. May faith grow in this time and may brotherly love endure forever. Let us continue to live this Easter time, for the Risen Jesus is in our lives, and He gives us life more abundantly. Hallelujah!

Sister Herna Astorga, SP

Sunday Reflection April 19, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John 20:19-31

” On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of [his] disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.”

Reflection:

Feelings of emptiness, deep longing
to touch, to hold, to see his face.
Vivid memories of the day before.

Jesus wrought with pain and agony,
relief when his suffering is o’re;
then broken hearts enter darkness.

Dreams, hopes, what if’s all fade into
absence. Deep sadness and longing
meet in this dark emptiness.

What happened long ago – still real today.
No answers to suffering and grief but the
cross – lifted up in promise of Resurrection.

We pray the terror of the horrible night of
COVID 19 be gone, hearts continue to need
mending and await the break-through of the night.

Mary how did you live through this day?
Where was your faith then in the words
you echoed long ago?

“Be it done unto me according to your
your word.” Yes so like: “Into your
hands I commend my spirit.”

Sister Annette Seubert, SP

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Sunday Reflection April 12, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Luke 24:13-35

Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer* these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Reflection
A prayer of reflection inspired by this Gospel of the Resurrection and by these pandemic days that we are all experiencing around the world.

PRAYER TO OVERCOME THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Provident God,
in this extraordinary Easter triduum,
we are at the mercy of the health crisis.
Being deprived of gatherings leads us to pray virtually.
Faithfulness to distancing norms has become an act of solidarity,
and observing containment instructions is a golden rule.
Providentially, this helps us to commune with your Passion, and with the Mysteries of your Death and Resurrection.

During these three days, we will be more closely united with you than ever.
Despite your Divine condition, you did not retain the rank that made you equal to your Father. You accepted to lose all your human dignity. You were stripped of the friendship of your apostles, who forsook you. You felt being stripped of your Father’s support, and stripped also of your clothes and modesty, while your mother Mary, by your side, remained in communion with your sufferings.

Father, in this very singular Easter triduum so different from previous years, we would like to put aside our own sorrows and turn to those of Jesus who suffers through the persons who are sick with Covid-19. We share in the pain of the whole world wounded by the loss of loved ones. In this time of health emergency, watch particularly over those precarious countries that are most at risk.

Remember our foundress and founder, Blessed Mother Emilie Gamelin and Bishop Ignace Bourget. We are the work of your hands, do not let us perish. Protect the physicians, the nurses and the entire medical profession, raise up benefactors at the heart of our societies. Be with the leaders of all nations, give them the foresight to act with compassionate charity and a genuine interest in the wellbeing of the peoples they are called to serve.

Whether we are at home or in a foreign land, surrounded by people with Covid-19, allow us, in this special time, to recognize in them the marks of your suffering. We ask this through Mary, Our Mother of Sorrows, your mother and our mother, who suffered your passion and remained standing at the foot of the cross, that she may obtain for us the graces necessary to come out of this CRISIS.

Providence of God I believe in you,
Providence of God I hope in you
Providence of God I love you with all my heart,
Providence of God I thank you for all.

Sister Marie Eméline Ezami Atangana, S.P.

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Sunday Reflection April 05, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 26:14-27,66

Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover. When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?” Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.” While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. (…)

Reflection
In the light of the Gospel of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and especially at this time when the world circumstances are bringing to light the absolute vulnerability of the human being, despite all the efforts that our governments are making, we are left with the assurance of the Lord’s presence among us, carrying us on His shoulders when we no longer have the strength to walk.
May God and the Blessed Virgin enlighten all those who make decisions, seek healing and try their best to cope with this crisis. Likewise, let us accompany spiritually with prayer the sick, the elderly, and all those who suffer alone from the anguish and uncertainty of this pandemic, and especially the dying.
This is an opportunity to strengthen our faith and to ask ourselves once again, as a Providence Family, what would our foundresses do in a time like this?
If God wills, we may have a future opportunity to gather and commemorate the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Chile with Canada.
Receive a fraternal embrace full of hope.

Alejandra Valdés, PA

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Sunday Reflection March 29, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John 11,3-7.17.20-27.33b-45

So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.” But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days. Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.” When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.” When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” Then Jesus wept. The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?” Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in grave clothes, his face wrapped in a head cloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen.

Reflection:

Reading this Gospel of John, I am led to reflect that many times, Jesus, the all Powerful, passes by my side and I don’t realize it. Today, more than ever, we must be open to the Spirit of God so that the light of his life brings us to discover how we are lacking in faith in many circumstances.

Unfortunately, with everything we are experiencing, we may have lost touch with what humanity is going through today with the COVID-19 pandemic and that, through it, Jesus is passing by our side to awaken us to the truth that He is the Light of the World and that “He is the resurrection and the life: the one who believes in Him, even though they have died, will live; and whoever is alive and believes in Him will not die forever.” And may we remember that it is the reign of God that can bring us to the opening of our hearts.

Our lack of faith today can cause us to forget that we are family. We need to be sensitized to realize that the virus of individualism and many other viruses are ruling our lives.

The miracle for today is to open our eyes, purified by baptism, to discover how humanity is living – the virus of today: Slavery to the market economy, materialism and individualism, selfishness, indifference, unforgiving, forgetting of God and loss of faith- all of this blinds us more and more.

The antidote for today is to cultivate faith, to open our hearts to compassion and to open our ‘arms’ to those who need us.
Marta Alvear, SP

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Sunday Reflection March 22, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John 9 : 1-41

And Jesus passing by, saw a man, who was blind from his birth: And his disciples asked him: Rabbi, who hath sinned, this man, or his parents, that he should be born blind? Jesus answered: Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, whilst it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had said these things, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and spread the clay on his eyes, And said to him: Go, wash in the pool of Siloe, which is interpreted, Sent. He went therefore, and washed, and he came seeing. The neighbours therefore, and they who had seen him before that he was a beggar, said: Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said: This is he. But others said: No, but he is like him. But he said: I am he. They said therefore to him: How were thy eyes opened? He answered: That man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said to me: Go to the pool of Siloe, and wash. And I went, I washed, and I see. And they said to him: Where is he? He saith: I know not. They bring him that had been blind to the Pharisees. Now it was the sabbath, when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Again therefore the Pharisees asked him, how he had received his sight. But he said to them: He put clay upon my eyes, and I washed, and I see. Some therefore of the Pharisees said: This man is not of God, who keepeth not the sabbath. But others said: How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. They say therefore to the blind man again: What sayest thou of him that hath opened thy eyes? And he said: He is a prophet. The Jews then did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight, And asked them, saying: Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then doth he now see? His parents answered them, and said: We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: But how he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: ask himself: he is of age, let him speak for himself. These things his parents said, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had already agreed among themselves, that if any man should confess him to be Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore did his parents say: He is of age, ask himself. They therefore called the man again that had been blind, and said to him: Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner. He said therefore to them: If he be a sinner, I know not: one thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see. They said then to him: What did he to thee? How did he open thy eyes? He answered them: I have told you already, and you have heard: why would you hear it again? will you also become his disciples? They reviled him therefore, and said: Be thou his disciple; but we are the disciples of Moses. We know that God spoke to Moses: but as to this man, we know not from whence he is. The man answered, and said to them: Why, herein is a wonderful thing, that you know not from whence he is, and he hath opened my eyes. Now we know that God doth not hear sinners: but if a man be a server of God, and doth his will, him he heareth. From the beginning of the world it hath not been heard, that any man hath opened the eyes of one born blind. Unless this man were of God, he could not do any thing. They answered, and said to him: Thou wast wholly born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. Jesus heard that they had cast him out: and when he had found him, he said to him: Dost thou believe in the Son of God? He answered, and said: Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him? And Jesus said to him: Thou hast both seen him; and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said: I believe, Lord. And falling down, he adored him. And Jesus said: For judgment I am come into this world; that they who see not, may see; and they who see, may become blind. And some of the Pharisees, who were with him, heard: and they said unto him: Are we also blind? Jesus said to them: If you were blind, you should not have sin: but now you say: We see. Your sin remaineth.

Reflection:

In these last days and in all those that we are going to live, Jesus asks us to believe in Him, to keep our faith in order to have better days. Here is a poem very much about our present time. Let us keep faith and hope in our Lord.
Pandemic
What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.
And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.
Promise this world your love–
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.
— Lynn Ungar

Sister Patricia McKittrick,SP

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Sunday Reflection March 15, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John (4, 5-42)

“He had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” [The woman] said to him, “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the well is deep; where then can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” Jesus said to her, “Go call your husband and come back.” The woman answered and said to him, “I do not have a husband.” Jesus answered her, “You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.’ For you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true.” The woman said to him, “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.” Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Anointed; when he comes, he will tell us everything.” Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking with you.” At that moment his disciples returned, and were amazed that he was talking with a woman, but still no one said, “What are you looking for?” or “Why are you talking with her?” The woman left her water jar and went into the town and said to the people, “Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Messiah?” They went out of the town and came to him. Meanwhile, the disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” So the disciples said to one another, “Could someone have brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, ‘In four months the harvest will be here’? I tell you, look up and see the fields ripe for the harvest. The reaper is already receiving his payment and gathering crops for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together. For here the saying is verified that ‘One sows and another reaps. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the work, and you are sharing the fruits of their work.” Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me everything I have done.” When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”
Reflection:
“If you knew the gift of God”, says Jesus to the Samaritan. Today, if we listen to His Word, Jesus is saying these same words to us as well. Maybe we are distant from the Divine Grace invoked as a spring water gushing up to eternal life. The Samaritan welcomed the word of Jesus as a living water and before her own people, she gushed out witnessing of this New Life that was now hers. The Samaritans from the neighboring village received her word and it turned into an act of faith: “He is the Savior of the World.”
The journeying of the disciples that of the Samaritan and of the villagers is also very much ours’s. This Gospel scene may be lived as a transition from theoretic knowledge to a vital and personal encounter where we recognize the gift of God as a source of Life. “If you knew the gift of God.”

A Providence Associate

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Sunday Reflection March 08, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 17, 1-9

After six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents* here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid”. And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Reflection:
On this day dedicated to women, the Word of God invites us to meditate on the Transfiguration of Jesus. The scene of the Transfiguration of Jesus situates us at the heart of our Christian life. This experience is recorded in the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Marc and Luc. Each evangelist talks of the event using his own nuances arising from his context, be it his audiences, the intervening communities and the objective of his gospel. Nevertheless, Matthew gives supplemental information. He adds that in hearing the voice, the disciples fell face down to the ground. Jesus approaches them and touches them saying, “Rise up and do not be afraid!” This imperative call is also for us to hear, we as baptised persons: “Rise up and do not be afraid!” The transfiguration of Jesus is a prelude to His painful death on the cross and the anticipation of His glorious Resurrection. This phrase to the disciples has a dual objective: mostly to affirm their faith but also to prepare them to live the drama of the Cross-and confirm that through the Resurrection of Jesus there is the certitude of His Divine filiation. We are talking of a revelation event about the Mystery of the Trinity. The voice of the Father reveals the identity of Jesus: “This is my Beloved Son, listen to Him.” The Transfiguration invites us to an attentive and contemplative listening. Jesus feels desired and loved by His Father. In this reciprocal Love is realized an inseparable union between the Father and the Son, who together give us the gift of life.
The Transfiguration equally invites us to the Decision: “As they descend the mountain..”….” (Mt. 17,9) The mountain is an ecological place chosen by Jesus for the intimate encounter with the Father. The mountain, the clothes and the cloud symbolize the entire cosmos. The cosmos is the house that welcomes us, the scene upon which we evolve, the one that nourishes and supports us. Peter wants to prolong that gratifying experience of the contemplation of the transfigured Jesus. Jesus is confirmed in the Father’s decision to descend the mountain and to go to Jerusalem to realize the supreme act of love, that of giving himself over to death.
When we feel loved and transfigured in our encounter with God, we too feel chosen and sent to accomplish a mission. Not to realize it by oneself by in communion with Him and with our sisters and brothers.
He approached them and touched them saying: “Rise up and be not afraid!” On this International Women’s Day, Jesus is saying to each woman “Rise up and no longer be afraid!” The transfigured Jesus appears disfigured on the Cross; this helps us to notice the disfigured faces of so many of our brothers and sisters, poor and suffering, calling for justice and peace. He also helps us to notice the disfigured face of our planet, created with so much love from our Creator God.
This reflection on the Transfiguration of Jesus brings us closer to the disfigured bodies of women beaten, raped, tortured, refuged, unemployed and murdered by marital violence in today’s world. These women aspire for a transfigured life. The transfigured face of Jesus places us on a path, calling us to facilitate the transition from disfiguration to transfiguration. Our own being, our life and our surrounding reality experience transfiguration as we are walking the path of the Gospel.
This Gospel is meant to help the disciples surmount the crisis that the Cross-and its sufferings had provoked within them. Still today, the transfiguration continues to help surmount crises provoked by crosses and sufferings. It invites us to descend our mountains and accomplish the mission that the Father has entrusted to Christians transfigured in love and joy.

Hortense Demia Mbaïlaou, s.p.

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Sunday Reflection March 01, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 4:1-11

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Reflection –
As we begin the journey of Lent, we are reminded that it is a time to reflect on our lives and to delve more deeply into the sacred mystery of God’s grace and presence.

Matthew’s gospel reading for the First Sunday of Lent is intricately tied to this season of inner yearning, repentance and longing. Through this reading, we are invited to think about filling the gaps, weaknesses, and the missing pieces of our lives with something more permanent.

In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus faces three temptations that revolve around power, prestige and possessions. In essence, these are temptations to settle for less than the fullness of our humanity. Jesus’ courageous response to each of these invitations is a model for all who struggle with similar challenges to settle for a life without depth of meaning or care for others. These three temptations remind us to be wary of greed in all its many disguises.

How much of your time is spent cleaning, protecting, storing, and multiplying your possessions; expanding your influence, and polishing your reputation? To live from the center of one’s life is the task of every person; otherwise, we are constantly reacting to situations and things that come our way. Happiness is something that comes not from external circumstances or possessions, but from an inner attitude of contentment and gratitude.

May your Lenten journey be filled with grace and gratitude, and the knowledge that God is ever present with you in the challenges and temptations you face.

Sister Maggie Pastro, SP

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Sunday Reflection February 23, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 5:38-48

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on [your] right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. Love of Enemies. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Reflection

What a challenge! Can we take it up? Think of it: what God asks of us is to be able to love every human being in this world as He does: gratuitously, completely, and without judgment. Holiness is not a moral lifestyle or a list of prohibitions to be respected or spread. It means to be and to act out of the love we receive from God. Such holiness is madness if we think of achieving it by our own strength, applying ready-made recipes, observing rites or piling up prayers. However, this holiness is divine wisdom if we accept to receive it in God’s Spirit. This holiness is communicated to us every day by God’s Spirit through the love He has for us, the love He has for all creatures. To be holy and perfect like God does not mean to make oneself God, but to receive deep within the holiness and perfection of God through the love that we are able to have for one another. Holiness and perfection are not acquired through prayers or charitable deeds. They come from the very heart of God, in a reign of love, forgiveness, mutual aid, and charity, where everyone finds her or his space. This testimony is the only one that matters, the testimony of perfection and holiness in action, which springs from our very being and not from beautiful words or long speeches.

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection February 16, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 5: 20-22; 27-28;33-34;37

“I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, “You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
“Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all. Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.
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Following a quick reading of the Gospel of Matthew, some might think that Jesus was stern with his disciples. Yet, through a careful reading of the text, we realize that Matthew’s teaching uses contrasts to propose a conception of Christian life which, far from destroying the Law, enhances it. In short, the new justice is superior to the old one.

In the text above, Matthew begins to present some cases where the prescription of the Law (“It was said to your ancestors …”) stands in opposition to the thought of Jesus (“I tell you …”).
1. Lack of love for neighbor leads to the same judgment as murder. Such an act must be taken to the court (go on trial).
2. You have heard that it was said: You shall not commit adultery. …. But I say to you, “everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
3. Regarding the oath, your ancestors were told, “Do not take a false oath; but make good to the Lord all that you vow. However, I say to you, do not swear at all”.
Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No. Anything more is from the evil one.

This brief text from the Gospel of Matthew puts us face to face with the truth of the Law and the truth of our behavior according to the thought of Jesus. Jesus, far from being severe with his disciples, warns them of the actions they must take in order to do the will of a God who loves deeply each of his creatures. God wants everyone saved and live with him for all eternity.

Sr. Claudette Chénier

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Sunday Reflection February 09, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 5:13-16

“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

Reflection

“Salt and light”, two wonderful gifts from the hands of the Creator. Salt preserves the taste and flavors the food. The cook knows how to use it to satisfy her guests, and how to turn a meal into a joyous gathering during which they can share their daily lives.

Taken in a figurative sense, as Jesus explains, the term “Salt and Light” has the virtue of nourishing our Christian life, making us meaningful witnesses to find many disciples to spread the Good News. Like the disciples, Jesus tells us: “You are the salt of the earth, the light of the world.” Through Mission, we are the human face of Providence.

Salt is a preservative. It is –and has been- used in many recipes for a long time in history. A text from Leviticus confirms the benefit of salt: “You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. Do not let the salt of the covenant with your God be lacking from your grain offering.” Lev. 2,13) Salt is therefore designed for the covenant. Let us be salt for each other.

Jesus also asks us to be light. Light, such as a lighthouse by the sea, it specifically allows us to see. The allegory of the lighthouse fascinates me and takes me back to the time of my childhood. I grew up facing a lighthouse which overlooked my village on Chaleur Bay, in Québec’s Gaspé region. Each evening I observed the rotating light of the lighthouse illumining the sea all night. The lighthouse keeper could recognize the boats, prevent possible navigation errors and guide them safely. Therefore, such light in constant motion suggests that after discerning the right path and the will of the Lord, we take action with a firm commitment. We therefore become a sure guide for our sisters and brothers in the world. Against all odds, let us be faithful witnesses to the Word of the Lord: “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.”

Annette Aspirot, SP

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Sunday Reflection February 02, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Luke 2: 22-32

When the days were completed for their purification* according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,” and to offer the sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my yes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”

Reflection
Jesus, light of the world – We all need to bear witness to this good news. Let us open our hearts and let ourselves be transformed by the Light that is in Him. We are all invited to take baby Jesus in our arms, to worship him and make Him known around us. Salvation through Jesus is not a simple theory but someone who reveals to us God’s tenderness towards living beings and all beings in Creation. Our Lord is counting on us. At the end of each Mass, we are commissioned to make Him known.
This mission concerns all of us, whatever our age or social status. However, the meeting of Simeon and Saint Ann shows us the relevance of guides to transmit faith. Many children today have heard about Jesus from their grandparents alone. The renewal of the Church also depends on its oldest members. They can be prophets of Hope like old Simeon and Saint Ann.
Let us be witnesses of Light, apostles of Jesus to all those who seek a smile, a word, some hope …
A Providence Associate

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Sunday Reflection January 26, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 4:12-17

When he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.”From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Reflection
Jesus’ attitude obviously brings us back to ourselves. We are so often withdrawn into our Christian circles, our community, our parish, our Christian friends, etc. As if we were touched by the communion virus before that of the Mission. Someone said in an original way that in the Church we are very busy installing pipes, conduits and faucets, while the Lord invites us to run sources. The pool may be luxurious, but if there is no water what is it good for!
Jesus corrects us: “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near.” Change your hearts, transform your ways of acting. Let God guide your life. No doubt because, spontaneously, we are not turned towards God or towards others, but centered on ourselves. Society will only improve drastically if I start to change myself. Actually it is at the heart of their professional lives that Jesus will call the first apostles: Peter, Andrew, James and John. And we can already see a conversion beginning in their hearts. Jesus left the tranquility of his Nazareth. These four fishermen too will leave their boats, nets and fathers to dare follow this surprising Jesus.
And so Jesus teaches us evangelization. Let us take the time to contemplate Him. He proclaims Good News: the Kingdom of God has arrived! He teaches mainly in parables and finally he heals, he lets himself be moved by all the suffering encountered on his way. Do we take the time to proclaim, teach and heal by His will? Do we let ourselves be moved?
Have a good week in contemplation of Jesus!

PA – Notre-Dame-de-la-Providence

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Sunday Reflection January 19, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John 1:29-34

On the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’ I did not recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.” Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. And I did not recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining—this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ I have both seen and testified that this man is the Chosen One of God.”
Reflection
This week’s Gospel tells us about the sacred ritual of the baptism of Jesus, but also of an encounter: the encounter of the Holy Spirit with the Son of God. From this encounter emerged an equally sacred alliance.
Our life is made up of encounters. In another setting, but also in the mysteries of the Provident God, a pre-novice (candidate), Sister Ursule Cloutier, encountered a novice, Sister Marie-Alma Couture in 1942, at the former Mother House of the Sisters of Providence on Fullum Street, in Montreal. That encounter also had something sacred, because Sister Marie-Alma committed herself at that time to become the Angel of Sister Ursule, that is to say her guide during her pre-novitiate, thus accomplishing very humbly and in a certain way the function of a guide just as, at another level, the Holy Spirit enlightens us as Christians.
Today Sister Rose-Alma, a centenary, and Sister Ursule, 96, clearly remember the time of their encounter and the alliance they formed and maintained during the pre-novitiate of Sister Ursule. However, even united by friendship and memories, it was not until 2015, that is to say, 73 years after their first encounter, that they saw each other again at the Mother House of the Sisters of Providence, where they now meet frequently.
Sister Rose-Alma tells us: “When I think of the baptism of Jesus, I believe that when He received the Holy Spirit, his desire was to share the Spirit with all those He was going to meet in his life. As for Sister Ursule, she recalls memories of her youth in Saint-Tite, of her family, of her brothers and sisters, of that special moment of baptism when she already felt that she would later become a religious.
May the Holy Spirit be our guide throughout the year and thank you to our Sisters Rose-Alma and Ursule, for their welcome and their generosity.

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Sunday Reflection January 12, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 3: 13-17

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon on him. And a voice from the heavens was saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Reflection
The baptism of Jesus
The story of Jesus’ baptism on the banks of the Jordan River is a real source of inspiration for all of us who are Christians. It reveals the true meaning of our own baptism.

As John the Baptist was inviting those who were listening to him to repent and thus be prepared for the coming of the Messiah, they allowed themselves to be immersed in the waters of the Jordan River. By so doing they expressed their desire to change their lives and to prepare for the coming of the Savior.

And Jesus, by asking John to baptize him, shows that he wishes to share with all human beings every moment of his own life. God then recognizes in him his Son whom He sent: “This is my beloved Son; in him I take great delight.”

René Lefebvre,
Providence Associate

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Sunday Reflection January 05, 2020
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 1, 1-18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, came to testify to the light. The true light which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.
And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling place among us, and we saw his glory, the glory of the Father’s only begotten Son, full of grace and truth. John testified to him and cried out, saying, “This one was he of whom I said, ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ ” From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given to Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.

Reflection:
In this Christmas time the readings reveal the beautiful mystery of the Incarnation, where God takes on a body of flesh in our history and becomes one of us. In this great event God twins us and opens our eyes and hearts to love and love is capable of recognizing -in the other- the same God flashing his light to give us life again and again.
The Lord invites us to welcome and share that light and radiate it throughout our lives and to all those around us, with no exception of any kind since we are all equal, we are children of God and therefore brothers and sisters who have inherited this great Common Home.
If we can say that we believe in and love God, this has to be reflected in our life: if God really lives in our hearts we cannot go around sad and bitter, since God is life and joy and as the gospel tells us, God is Light and this Light must be radiated even in the midst of life’s difficulties, because we are certain that we are not alone.
Trust in the Providence of God is what must help us to rise again and again from our frailties, which are well known to our Provident Father who loves and embraces us as we are.
The Providence of God acts upon us through many people whom God puts on our road of life and who give us light in the midst of darkness. At the same time we are light to others, but we have to learn to see events with the eyes of God; this is the reason why we cannot walk through this world being indifferent.
We are invited to bring light into the midst of darkness, that is, to help make visible those whom society often ignores and do not want to see because they challenge us, they bother us and they take us out of our comfort and safety zone. But as sons and daughters of God we cannot ignore those around us, ignore injustice, pain, loneliness, discrimination, etc.
This Christmas time has to be a time of conversion, but a real conversion of the heart, which does not allow us to pass by someone who is crying, someone who is assaulting another person, someone who is cold or has lost everything, and not do anything at all, because it is God who is there calling for help, requesting attention, in need of our light; in one word, we must make a difference and this is everyone’s responsibility, because we are all heirs of God’s love.
Sometimes transformations are achieved with simple gestures, such as a hello, a smile, a prayer or just being side by side. It is amazing how a simple greeting or a smile can transform the place where we are and those around us.
The other day I took the subway to return home after my French classes. Usually what I see there are people busy with their cell phones or with their eyes closed. Very rarely do I encounter a glance that answers my greeting or smile, but this day was different. I got on the same car as a young woman with a big smile who was really radiating something special. At the next station the person who was sitting at her side left and I took the empty seat. So we greeted each other, we smiled and began to talk like old friends, sharing our life stories, feeling a need to transmit life, not only among us but with those around us, who were not indifferent to these two women who had just met and already laughed like lifelong friends.
She was a young Muslim who came from a family that gave her a lot of love and values and that was what she conveyed. For me it was a beautiful testimony and example of life. I am sure from the glances around us, that some were not indifferent and even were surprised to see a Muslim woman and a religious talking as if they had known each other for long time, only the joy of knowing we were sisters. Some persons who got off the subway gave us a smile. To this day we have been corresponding, simply to say that we are praying for each other and to commit ourselves to continue transmitting life. I keep thanking God for having met her and for what she taught me with her beautiful smile and her joy of living.
I feel that this is what God is inviting us to today, to radiate Light in this world, so often individualistic and self-absorbed in technology, instead of bringing us closer to one another. We allow ourselves to be distanced from each other and prevented from looking into the eyes of the other, the eyes of God, who very often is crying out for help and we don’t hear. Or often people are giving us love and we don’t realize or recognize it.
God invites us today to welcome the Light and to radiate it to the entire world, and not to forget that this beautiful Common Home has been given to all of us and we build it all together.
I invite you to remember and thank God for all those people who have helped us by illuminating our pathways and to ask ourselves: When have I been a light for others, and what light am I radiating today with my life?
I wish you from all my heart a Blessed Year of love filled with light, the light you are…

Sister Nancy Arévalo, SP

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Sunday Reflection December 29, 2019
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 2:13-15; 2:19-23

Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.” So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON.” But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.” So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Reflection:
CHRISTMAS! CHRISTMAS! God among us! God in all creation!
God was made visible to us more than two thousand years ago. He is made visible to our eyes and in our hearts, so that still today God’s Light may shine with Hope, Love and Peace on all the peoples of the earth.
May this Light dissipate the darkness of our humanity and may the whole creation know the benefits of justice and feel transported and regenerated in God’s Love, so that we can hear the harmony of divine Tenderness and the joy of liberation.
LET US EXALT! LET US REJOICE! LET US HAIL JESUS WHO COMES AMONG US.
The Feast of the Holy Family
Like thousands of modern day migrants, the Holy Family also sought refuge, a safe place to work and live in peace, while keeping faith in the Lord and in their deep convictions. Joseph, Mary and Jesus form a holy family, both in happiness and in trials. The Church offers us a meditation on the family of Jesus, inviting us to see in it the model of any family. It is up to us to imitate and follow it.
God desires life and entrusts this this gift to committed men and women, the parents, who are on the front line of life. Let us ask for the grace to live, like the Holy Family, as persons who are responsible and filled with love in the midst of a world in torment.

Sister Annette Noël, SP

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Sunday Reflection December 22, 2019
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 1:18-24

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband to be, since he was a righteous man, yet not willing to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.” When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.
Reflection:
At the heart of our preparation for Christmas, we find Joseph, to whom Mary was promised in marriage, in a dilemma which brings him to a veritable impasse. He questions himself.
What has happened? Mary is pregnant? He can’t believe she that has cheated on him … What should he do? No, he cannot abandon her to her fate. He “relies on Providence” … Should he “send her away in secret”? … He ponders…
Then an angel comes to shed light on the mystery for him: “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” … Recognizing that the will of God is acting in the young Mary, he decides to take her to his home.
In the life of each person, of each Christian, there are these moments of anxiety, of anguish, even of incomprehension … as we face what is going to happen.
Isn’t this just the time to leave it up to God and to “trust”? Let us look at our lives in the light of this scripture text. Surely we can recognize moments when a prayer, a passage of Scripture, a comforting word has helped us to understand the why of a situation and we have been strengthened in hope.
As we approach the 220th birthday of our blessed Foundress, Émilie Gamelin (1800-2020), let us take some time to contemplate her life.
How many frightening, incomprehensible situations she had to overcome! Think of the anguish she must have experienced when, at the age of twenty-eight, just when she was beginning to start a family, her first two sons, her husband and the last child were gone in less than five years. Why Lord? In prayer and reflection, Emilie came to discover the way in which God was calling her.
For the next fifteen years she gave herself without counting the cost. She organized the incorporation of her work of charity and became recognized as the Mother of the poor and of orphans. The poor became her husband and her children! … And we know the rest of the story: The Congregation of the Sisters of Providence was canonically erected in 1844, and Emilie became its foundress. Everything seemed to be stabilized!
And then, in 1847, Bishop Bourget became demanding and incomprehensible to her. In this situation, Emilie remained standing, like Mary, the Mother of Sorrows. Before responding to her bishop, she pondered and trusted in God…. Then, Emilie sent the Bishop a letter in which she offered to put another sister in her place as superior. What FAITH, what CONFIDENCE!
In this last week of Advent in 2019, let us keep our hearts open to the Lord’s calls to discover His Will and to TRUST in the God who loves us and who comes to dwell with us at CHRISTMAS!.

S. Yvette Demers, SP

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Sunday Reflection December 15, 2019
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 11: 2-11

Now when John[a] heard in prison about the deeds Christ had done, he sent his disciples to ask a question: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Go tell John what you hear and see: The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news proclaimed to them and blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me!” While they were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Look, those who wear soft clothing are in the palaces of kings! What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet! This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you. “I tell you the truth, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is!

Reflection:
It is quite obvious that we do not live in a world where patience prevails. We are in a “here and now” world, a world of immediacy, although as Christians, listening and being moved by the Word of Christ should be sufficient reasons to wait, observe, and be open to others, especially to those who do not live the same reality we are living.
For the Earth to produce fruit, it takes time, care and patience. Prophets like John the Baptist spoke to the people and waited –sometimes for centuries- for the coming of the Messiah.
Just as the prophets have been persevering in their approach, we too in Haiti do not cease to hope for the advent of justice, peace and prosperity for the Haitian people.
Despite sad news about Haiti, the Haitian people are resilient, patient and persevering. These virtues make it possible to foresee positive changes in the population. They want to continue living despite prevailing insecurity. They are eager to resume normal activities including returning to school and work!
Unfortunately everything is stopped or slowed down, especially in big cities like Port-au-Prince. Our ministries suffer as well, in particular that of initial vocation. However in the southern city of Torbeck, where we have a large school, weekdays are school days as usual.

We try to understand why attempts at dialogue have difficulty in delivering concrete results. Many people suffer from confrontations that are rife in environments considered “at risk”. Innocent individuals end up injured or even killed.
We collect ourselves in prayer. On the evening of November 25 we started a novena to Blessed Emilie Gamelin, for PEACE in Haiti. Because the crisis has reached a dead end we decided to do the novena and to draw, like the prophets, in our reservoir of patience and confidence in Providence.
We stay in communion with you, following Jesus and filled with love for the poor, like Emilie who hears our prayer of intercession for PEACE in Haiti!

Diane Sarrasin, SP

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Sunday Reflection December 08, 2019
Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 3:1-12

“Convert yourself because the kingdom of heaven is near.”

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. ” John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Reflection:
Daily conversion!
This gospel resonates in the depths of my being with it’s affirmation of the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven among us. The imminence of this advent requires total conversion, a conscious transformation. In order to prepare ourselves to receive the Messiah, we need a love that heals, a conversion that purifies and gain momentum to better feel the presence of God in our lives. John the Baptist said, “Therefore bear fruit worthy of conversion” (Mt 3, 8). We reflect the fruit of our conversion by the quality of our presence in our local community, our ministry, and our particular activities.
Lord, stay with us. Send us your Holy Spirit to guide our every step and help us prepare ourselves to receive you. May your grace help us achieve the complete conversion of our entire being. Grant us the awareness of our need for daily conversion.
Fill our hearts with your love!

Sister Francine Blanc

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Sunday Reflection December 01, 2019
The Gospel according to Matthew 24, 37-44

For just like the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. For in those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. And they knew nothing until the flood came and took them all away. It will be the same at the coming of the Son of Man. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one left. There will be two women grinding grain with a mill; one will be taken and one left. “Therefore stay alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have been alert and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Réflexion : Reflection:
I have the privilege of living in a big house, surrounded by consecrated persons like myself. However, due to our advanced age, many of us leave for Heaven and this occasions me to reflect. Therefore, in following Jesus, I become detached from myself and from the material world. I no longer watch enslaving TV programs; rather I seek to fill myself with Him, contemplating Him in his great love: Such a powerful God making Himself so small for me at this time of Advent.
Then, in the simplicity of my heart, I ask: “Lord, help me to understand your incomparable love as I detach myself to be ready whenever the time comes. I want to free myself from my thoughts of superiority. And I continue seeking to understand the other.
I give to the Lord, as gift, my pettiness and difficulties, for He has come to prepare for us a place with Him.
May this luminous period of Advent be a source of detachment and peace for everyone.

Sister Fernande DeGrâce

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Sunday Reflection November 24, 2019
The Gospel according to Luke 23:35-43

They had just crucified Jesus, people stood there watching. The rulers ridiculed him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, approaching and offering him sour wine, saying, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the king of the Jews.” One of the criminals who was hanging there railed at him, saying, “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we rightly so, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Reflection:
Christ the King
At a time when anyone else would tend to despair, to revolt, to blasphemy, Jesus, in his last hours, as he falls prey to unspeakable sufferings, continues to demonstrate to us his profound wisdom and divine character.
As Christians, we must contemplate Jesus whose action radiates beyond the limits of the present. Thanks to Him, the past and the future intertwine, and so do the human and the divine. This is all the mystery of God. This union we have with Jesus is a belonging that in the heart of God nothing can question. Thus, his inexhaustible mercy becomes the stabilizing force of our universe. A real paradox: mercy is the best weapon of our King!
Christ is indeed King of the universe, but a universe where everyone can be saved and welcomed through faith in Him. It is because he saves humanity from sin and death, by taking them upon Himself, that He is King of the universe and judge of our salvation. When the soldiers ask Jesus to save himself, Luke reveals that his kingship is not about a selfish salvation but about a universal salvation. God does not need salvation, but the universe does.
Have a good week united in Providence,
A Providence Associate

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Sunday Reflection November 17, 2019
The Gospel according to Luke 21:5-19

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, Jesus said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And Jesus said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them. “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” Then Jesus said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. “This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defence in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. “You will be betrayed even by parents, by brothers and sisters, and by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.”

Reflection:
In light of the Gospel of Luke 21: 5-19, we are called to create a new world.
When I see my homeless brothers, with whom I share my daily work, I learn a lot from them. They confront my lifestyle and teach me not to be attached to material things. They are always free, traveling light from place to place.

When Catholic Charities gave them a comfortable and warm apartment, they did not forget their old friends, who were also homeless and with whom they had shared many moments of cold, disease, etc. They invited them over to take a shower and have a hot coffee and not just for a moment, but every day. Their friends know that those who today have an apartment will not deny them their space and will spend time with them; they will welcome them to watch TV or simply offer them a warm place to sleep for a while. They will also share the food they received, especially during snowy or rainy days.

These vulnerable people already have many problems, they are alcoholics, drug addicts; they suffer from mental illnesses, so their families do not want them in their homes.

Then I wonder, are we willing to share our facilities with the neediest? How can I be the loving face of the Father today, the Father who opens his heart to the needs of those most in need? Do I listen when they call us?
Myrta Iturriaga, SP

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Sunday Reflection November 10, 2019
The Gospel according to Luke 20: 27-38

Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus and asked him a question, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow to raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; then the second and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? – For the seven had married her? Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed, they cannot die anymore, because they are like Angels and are sons and daughters of God, being children of the resurrection. Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, “the fact that the dead are raised, when he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.”
Reflection:
I would like to share with you a brief memory that comes to my mind when reading this beautiful page of the Gospel of the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time of the Liturgical Year C. During a Mass, in my home parish in Cameroon, a priest recounted that he had asked a girl how her days were. The young person responded that she lived every day as if it were the only and last day of her life. As if she lived with the feeling, she was going to die the following day. This girl probably had a mystical experience of death, and realized that in her life she strived to do good until the day the Lord would come.
It is fortunate that the biblical texts of this Sunday speak of the resurrection, especially in November, the month dedicated to the deceased. Also an opportunity for us to express solidarity with the victims of the upheavals in Haiti, Chile and around the world.
This week’s Gospel highlights the approach that the Sadducees had regarding the existential question of death, “a woman had seven husbands, all brothers who died one after the other”. And here is the question, “In the resurrection, whose wife will the woman be?”
This question was a bit absurd, wanting to demonstrate that they have reason not to believe in the resurrection of the dead. The Law of Moses prescribed for a man to marry his brother’s widow, provided she had not had a child with the husband. A paradoxical question elicits a response from Jesus. Jesus’ answer to the Sadducees is primarily focused on the resurrection…
“The children of this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor given in marriage. Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like Angels and are sons and daughters of God, being children of the resurrection.”
Jesus wants to stress the fact that in the afterlife, marital relations have another meaning, because everything is tenderness and love with the Lord.
Have a happy week guided by Providence

Marie Émeline Ezami Atangana, SP

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Sunday Reflection November 03, 2019
The Gospel according to Luke 19:1-10

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. Now a man named Zacchaeus was there; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to get a look at Jesus, but being a short man he could not see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, because Jesus was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, because I must stay at your house today.” So he came down quickly and welcomed Jesus joyfully. And when the people saw it, they all complained, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I now give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone of anything, I am paying back four times as much!” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this household, because he too is a son of Abraham! For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Reflection: Come down quickly

Being a short man, Zacchaeus takes a chance to climb up a tree. Someone must have seen him but he doesn’t care. He wants to know more about Jesus, but Jesus does not give him time to think. God often invites himself into our heart even before we realize it or have had the time to prepare for his visit or alternately our defense. Jesus speaks to Zacchaeus as if it were natural for him to go and stay with him.
Zacchaeus is intrigued by the personality of Jesus. He seeks to see him and he wants to become better. He does not expect the Lord to come to his home, but he does welcome Jesus with joy. This meeting transforms him. People say: “Jesus has gone to stay with sinful man”, because Zacchaeus was the chief of the tax collectors, who allowed themselves to feather their own nests.
That day, Zacchaeus was born to a new life. Quickly, he prepared the welcome of Jesus who followed him and looked at him. Everyone sees the magnificent meal, paid with dirty money. The people disapprove of this gesture of Jesus.
Zacchaeus gets up to make a statement. He will give back the money overpaid and repair the damage done to others. He addresses not only the crowd, but all of us as well with a solemn revelation that can sum up our faith: “The Son of man came to save what was lost.”
“I must stay with you,” Jesus tells us, and be where you live, where you cheat, where you steal, but I do not come to control you. I come to share your meal. Jesus enters our life so that we may enter his. For us, Zacchaeus is the one who has understood the Gospel as a necessity to welcome and share without measure.
How should we understand the initiative of Jesus and especially the conclusion to which he arrives: “Today, salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham.” We are accustomed to seeing Jesus let sinners approach him, but here he takes the lead: “Zacchaeus, come down quickly: today I have to go stay in your house.” Zacchaeus does not give all that belongs to him, but only half of his goods. Yet Jesus declares that his house is saved!
Through his gaze on Zacchaeus, by taking the initiative to visit his home to obey the will of God, Jesus has restored to a sinful man his identity as a son of Abraham. The Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost.
These days, Jesus comes to us of his own initiative. Let us come down quickly from our tree, let us welcome him with joy so that we too may have salvation home. As members of the Providence family, let’s go to our destitute brothers and sisters dwell in our, following the example of Blessed Emilie Gamelin.

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection October 27, 2019
The Gospel according to Luke 18, 9-14

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get. “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner. “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Reflection
St. Theresa of Lisieux said, “prayer is not thinking much, but loving much.” It means God asks us to lift up our whole being: body, mind and heart when we are with God, not only our intellectual thoughts. In today’s Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector with the same invitation to prayer. Jesus indicates that prayer is not listing what we have done, but centering our whole being on God’s love and mercy.
Both men who went up to the temple to pray were good men, no doubt about their goodness. The Pharisee could rightly list his qualities. In fact, many of the things he did are good. However, his prayer is less acceptable to God because he trusts in his own righteousness and centers on himself. Whereas the tax-collector stood off at a distance. He was conscious before God that he was a sinner and asks for God’s mercy. He felt humble and unworthy before the greatness of God. He places and centers himself wholly on God’s mercy and love. His prayer is acceptable because he is humble enough and knows himself. He prayed wholeheartedly, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner”. God’s kindness and mercy poured out abundantly on him. As Pope Francis said, “God never tires of forgiving us, but we tire of asking him for forgiveness.”
This parable is an invitation for us to be humble, to know our vulnerability and to center ourselves on God’s mercy. My question for us is; when we pray are we humble enough to recognize who we are and what we need from God?
Sr. Rosa Nguyen

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Sunday Reflection October 20, 2019
The Gospel according to Luke 18: 1-8

Jesus told the disciples a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for any human being. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ “For a while the judge refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for any human being, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. Will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, God will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? ”
Reflection:
The efficacy of prayer – The story of the unjust judge who ends up doing justice to a widow because she keeps bothering him makes us think about the fact that we sometimes want everything, right away; still, other more patient people persevere in faith and prayer, but also in acceptance. Thus, through this deep faith, a great inner peace inhabits them and this seems to be the key to finding that what life holds for us is only grace and learning. Prayer, Jesus says, always receives a response and we must not get discouraged.
Prayer is effective, but it takes time to show its value; it also requires active participation on our part. This is the case of the widow who actively fights for justice. With patience and determination, she does not sit back, but perseveres to obtain a judgment undoing the injustice she suffered. It is not enough to pray for a favor, we must also work at obtaining it!
However, we must first and foremost ask ourselves if our prayer is compatible with the “justice” of God. The justice of God is forgiveness, gift of life, humility, truth and love. We are also invited to ponder about the purpose of our prayer. Prayer presupposes an infinite faith in Jesus beyond the righteousness of God, which is often very different from ours. These are profound questions about our faith, our conception of justice, our impatience and the “magic” character we often place in our request. Prayer also calls forth the responsibility of the praying person; do we realize this?

Nadia Bertoluci, PA

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Sunday Reflection October 13, 2019
The Gospel according to Luke 17: 11-19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, Jesus, Master! Have pity on us.” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going, they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing that he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God? “ Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.”

Reflection

Everything is in faith and gratitude. Faith moves mountains, right? And gratitude moves hearts and changes lives.
In today’s society, we give thanks when someone does us a favor or give us something. The more unexpected or gratuitous the favor is, the more heartfelt our thanks. Whatever has been received in this way acquires such value for the recipients that they establish with the donors a relationship that goes beyond any interested or selfish consideration. The favor is not returned. Only a personal relationship of gratuitousness and affection is established between giver and receiver, a bond that is difficult to break.
Our relationship with our Jesus Christ is one of faith and gratitude. From Him we have received everything in total gratuitousness: life, freedom, love, creation. No measure can express what we have received. For this simple, but infinite reason, it seems to me so fundamental to give thanks, on a daily basis, for all the many blessings that the Lord gives us and for which we often don’t even remember to say a simple ‘Thank you’!
Even when we are not going through the best moment of our lives, there is always much to be thankful for, to marvel at and to praise. Life is sometimes difficult, but without faith and gratitude it turns sad, gray, and hopeless. Therefore, let us move mountains and hearts! Thank you for this beautiful opportunity to share a reflection with the Providence Family.

A Providence Associate

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Sunday Reflection October 06, 2019
The Gospel according to Luke 17: 5-10

The Apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. “Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’ “

Reflections:

Faith is an entirely free gift, an incomparable grace. God blessed me with the gift of faith. When I was baptized, my parents answered for me the question of the priest: “What are you asking?” They answered: “Baptism”, meaning faith.
In the beauty and wisdom that I discovered in nature, I wondered about the source of the wonders of creation. It was easy to have faith, just by opening my eyes to the universe. But faith from the Heart of God is the result of a long journey. Listening to the Word of God, searching for the most perfect and an intense spiritual life make more alive the sacred deposit of faith which, however, resides in a vessel made of clay.

Having walked with a rather fragile faith in the beginning, we delved into it in the Sacrament of Confirmation in which the Spirit gives us the strength to bear witness to our faith. Our choice is freer.

When can I tell that my faith has become the mustard seed? By believing in God, announcing God, ensuring people of the love God, this is my only reason for living! Stories from Scripture offer us many models of faith. Mary believed and bore witness to her faith. “Let it be done to me according to your Word.”

We must remain in the mode of servants, working as mere servants, saying, “I am only doing my duty.” In this life, we don’t finish the deepening of our faith. And at the moment we do, only then will it be the time to take our place at the Lord’s Table.

Sister Annette Aspirot, SP

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Sunday Reflection September 29, 2019
The Gospel according to Luke 16: 19-31

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire. “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us. “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment. “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them. ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent. “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”

Reflection
Today, God speaks to His chosen people, the Israelites, who are familiar with God’s Word, when Jesus spoke to the Pharisees.
Jesus told this parable to those among the Pharisees who loved money:
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table;
even the dogs would come and lick his sores.
“The poor man died and was carried away by the Angels to be with Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, (…)
God established the foundation of divine law in love of God and neighbour; by fulfilling this mandate, we obtain salvation for eternal life.
This parable of the rich man and Lazarus speaks of the consequences of excesses and the total loss of the practice of charity:
“The man who had been rich looked up to heaven and say Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side, he called out ,
‘, Father Abraham, I beg you to send Lazarus to my father’s house — for I have five brothers — that he may warn them, so that they too not come into this place of torment.’ (…)
“Abraham replied,
‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, someone could rise from the dead, they will not be convinced
Today, in his Word, God speaks to us of so much injustice:
Abuses of power, sexual abuses and misuse of monies collected from among the faithful, these are surely the sins that Jesus would reproach us today as a Church. And today’s Lazarus will be taken into the Kingdom of God, leaving the Church in great debt to the victims.
In the second reading, Paul tells Timothy: “Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses”.
Obedience to God and fidelity to the call we have received from God, is to do what is pleasing and honors God, and seeing God’s face in the poor, the homeless and those who are in lack of everything.
That is what we are called to and is clearly reflected in today’s Psalm…
(…) It is the Lord who keeps faith forever,
who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free.
Such is God’s Word speaking to you today, you God says, sister, who through your baptism are a member of the Church. God is gentle, kind, compassionate, merciful, and shows no partiality.
The tone of God is of Light, not of darkness; God rejects the gray tones,
God is of fire, not of cold, for God rejects the lukewarm.
God is just and asks us to be just and wise,
not foolish of heart, and
that our spirit remain uncorrupted.
Let us not commit heinous injustices;
may God help us do good and do it well.

Let us be and live as true daughters of our Provident God, like Mother Emilie teaches us: in humility, simplicity and charity.
Everything that concerns the poor is our business, as Mother Joseph says.
Mother Bernarda encourages us in saying: “This life of great works undoubtedly requires numerous sacrifices.”
Let us be fully bound and united to serve God in the poor.
Let us be happy for God fills us with the energy to serve each day.
God’s prayed Word will give us the creativity to joyfully experience God’s dream.

Sister Ana María Montenegro, SP

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Sunday Reflection September 22, 2019
The Gospel according to Luke 16: 10-13

“Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Reflection:
The texts of recent days often talked about our dependence on the material world around us; this frequently makes us forget our Christian duty.
Today, the Lord invites us to reflect on the issue of trust; to be trustworthy persons even in the smallest things and to persevere in the search for what is good. Thus, our actions will stem from our relationship with God who is justice, love and kindness.
Yes, let us celebrate the blessings that come from God that make us His children filled with God’s graces and benedictions.
“But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,” says the Gospel of John 3:21. We are made for God, so to live from Him. So, let us be irradiated by His peaceful light!
Lorraine Rainville, SP

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Sunday Reflection September 15, 2019
The Gospel according to Luke 15.1-10

The tax collectors and sinners, however, were all crowding round to listen to him, and the Pharisees and scribes complained saying, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them. So he told them this parable: ‘Which one of you with a hundred sheep, if he lost one, would fail to leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the missing one till he found it? And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, I have found my sheep that was lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner repenting than over ninety-nine upright people who have no need of repentance. ‘Or again, what woman with ten drachmas would not, if she lost one, light a lamp and sweep out the house and search thoroughly till she found it? And then, when she had found it, call together her friends and neighbours, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, I have found the drachma I lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner.’

Reflection:
As I reflect on the story of the Prodigal Son I am reminded that the story has three characters, the father, the younger son and the older son. In which character do you see myself? If I am honest, at different times in my life I can say that I can see myself in each of them. At times I see myself as the older son because I am jealous and angry because someone around me has gotten more than I did so I am blind to the generosity of the Father and cannot hear “All I have is yours, you are with me always.” At times I am like the younger son who is self-centered and selfish, thinking only of myself and my needs and don’t realize how I have hurt another person because of my blindness. Sometimes I am like the Father and able to be compassionate, merciful, generous and loving to those who have hurt me as well reaching out to those who are poor and vulnerable without counting the cost. Take time today to reflect on your life. Can you find yourselves in all three of the characters at different times?

Sue Orlowski, SP

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Sunday Reflection September 08, 2019
The Gospel according to Luke 14:25-33

Large crowds were traveling with Jesus; and he turned and said to them, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate their father and mother, spouse and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even their life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, whoever of you does not give up all their possessions cannot be my disciple.”
Reflection:
The Lord asked us not to be attached to anything, to be free for Him. Being attached to our family and friends is good but it should not become an obstacle, because attachments that would prevent us from following Christ would not be true love.
The only way to do this is to leave out any addictions to material goods and care for Jesus, our Savior.
In addition, He offered us these two short parables: one about the man who wants to build a tower, and one about the king who goes to war. Their teachings are similar: when you want to build a tower, you must first figure out your budget because you do not want to embark on a folly; about the king who is planning a war, he must also identify his possibilities. Wisdom means adjusting one’s ambitions to one’s means and this is true in all areas.
As for me, I try to be free of material belongings to be more often in direct relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. This especially happens when I think of all the wrongs that are caused when we focus too much on the material and not enough on the spiritual.
Let us unite in prayer with Providence, for all human beings of good will.
Sister Pierrette Landreville, SP

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Sunday Reflection September 01, 2019

Gospel according to Luke 14: 1. 7-14

On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the Sabbath, the lawyers and Pharisees were watching him closely. When Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honour, he told them a parable. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honour, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. “But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honoured in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Jesus said also to the Pharisee who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters or your relatives or rich neighbours, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Reflection:
In the two parts of this parable, “Humility and Hospitality”, I think Jesus wanted us to remember three beautiful virtues: humility, charity and selfless generosity.
Through humility we recognize our talents, but also our weaknesses. The first are loving gifts from our Father God and should not lead us to vainglory, while the latter are ours to strive to overcome with the help of God.
Humility illuminated by charity helps us understand that our human judgments are easily mistaken when we criticize or believe ourselves superior to others, who might sit in a higher place in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Selfless generosity is also closely related with charity and with the service to our neighbours. Jesus teaches us to not hope for nor desire to be rewarded, but to hope that He be our reward.
The model of these virtues is Mary, full of grace and humble servant of the Lord; therefore we must turn to her and the Holy Spirit.
Let us pray: Lord, because we want to transform our hearts and History, send the saving presence of your Holy Spirit. We are weak, come to us.

Pabla Vargas, SP

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Sunday Reflection August 25, 2019

Gospel according to Luke 13: 22-30

He passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evil doers!’ And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God. For behold, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”

Reflection
In the middle of a journey, someone asks Jesus, “Is it only a few who will be saved?” With his answer to the question, Jesus suggests that those who consider themselves as chosen may find themselves disappointed. Jesus’ answer to the question echoes the words of the prophets who had warned the people that their exclusiveness and their exclusion other peoples would end in destruction and exile. In their time, the words of the prophets were not welcomed by the leaders of Israel.
In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus reiterating the words of the prophets and emphasizing that salvation, entry into the communal house of God, is open to all peoples without discrimination. Entry will not depend on whom we are or the group to which we belong. Those who enter through the door will come from all the corners of the earth and will be recognized as already oriented for an eternal life in the communal house of God, prepared by the attitudes they lived in this life and by the choices they made in this life. They will be recognized as belonging to God and will recline at the table with the family of God.
Kathryn Rutan, SP

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Sunday Reflection August 18, 2019

Gospel according to Luke 12: 49-53

Jesus said to his disciples: “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! “Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Reflection:

Jesus’ Peace, our Challenge.

The awareness Jesus had of his mission made him speak in those terms, “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it was already kindled! … Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, it was rather to bring division.” For Him, the essential point is to be faithful to what He is discerning and understanding of his mission. It’s not about maintaining the status quo, quite the opposite. It is to lean against the wind of what corrupted the spirit of the human being and developed a society distant from Mercy, Compassion, Charity, and thus, from the characteristics that make us reflections of the Father. Jesus is aware that, for those who recognize and follow Him, his faithfulness frequently results in, a rupture with their environment. To Know, to Love and to Follow Jesus is not to seek peace and tranquility, which we often do when we sweep conflicts under the rug to avoid the discomfort of confrontation, and by the same token of seeking the truth that sets us free. Jesus’ fire, that passion for the Kingdom allows him to be Himself and to refuse stepping into the dynamics of the world that go against the fulfillment of his mission. Seeking and building peace requires our relationship with the Father to be such that it keeps us free and faithful to live our mission and prophetic vocation in the society in which we live today.

Alba Letelier, SP

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Sunday Reflection August 11, 2019

Gospel according to Luke 12:35-40

“be like servants who await their master’s return…ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.”

It’s been twenty-nine years since I experienced a tragic (7.8 more or less magnitude) earthquake in my city. I was in my secondary school at my music class when it happened. As we hit the highest note of DO, a great tremor came. Our wooden school chairs swayed from one side to the other side of our classroom.
My fellow students started to scream while our music teacher was trying to calm the whole class and instructed us to move fast into an open field on the school grounds. I still remember the ground wide opened and closed. I can still hear the unending Hail Mary and Our Father as we all prayed. The stronger the tremor was, the louder we prayed. After shocks were felt day and night and lasted for about 6 months or more. The whole city was isolated, all means of communication were shut down, people relied and lined-up for relief goods, buildings collapsed, many died, and funerals were all over; rescuers continued to find survivors. People made their own tents outside their homes. Students and patients in the hospitals were housed in the parking lots. The whole city was in distressed.

The “killer quake” was like a thief that came so sudden and no one was prepared.

Amidst this chaos, I asked myself, what if this is the so-called judgement day and I will meet God. And He will ask me, “Mae, how did you love me?” Honestly, I couldn’t have said I don’t know God, I didn’t expect to die at a young age. and I wasn’t prepared. I carried this question within me, every day of my life for several years. More and more often I asked my purpose on this earth and what would give meaning in my life.

One day I just found myself seeking more meaning in life, that I want to give more, and my heart is getting bigger and bigger each day ready to embrace the whole humanity especially the less fortunate. I kept and pondered for years until I found my vocation to religious life.

To live as a religious is another story, there’s a reasonable expectation, to be watchful over of all the universe. To be watchful for right relationships; justice; compassion and love. To stand for truth; be watchful for a generative way of life and keep the fire of God and of Christ within us and not lose it.

This is what we need in our world today, an alertness for the Christlike in each other to prepare us for a challenging process and remain hopeful for tomorrow. Amen.

By: Sr. Mary Grace (Mae) Valdez- Holy Angels Province

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Sunday Reflection August 4, 2019

Gospel according to Luke 12: 13-21

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.”
But Jesus said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?”
And Jesus said to the crowd, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”
Then Jesus told them a parable:
“The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself,
‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said,
‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ “But God said to him,
‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
The Word of the Lord
Reflection:
Being rich toward God is not about dedicating one’s life to gather wealth or spending hours in church, asking all the saints for earthly things, kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament and not concerning ourselves about daily life, family life, work life, which is where we find those things which are above.
We can acquire many earthly things, but we will not take those things with us when we leave this earth. The only thing worthwhile is “to be rich toward God”, but we will get this by acting the right way, caring for the suffering, for the most needy.
We must don the new Christian condition, this way we will not have differences among people; we are all brothers and sisters and we must support ourselves, we must seek fraternity and live it day by day.
Christ is our older brother and he has shown us his love by giving his life for us; now He calls us to live as a family.
We must live fraternal love within the family, on the street, at work. That is where fraternity is created, where “we reach those things which are above” and become “rich toward God”.
As Providence Associates, this Gospel calls us to reflect on our personal commitment. How much of what we offered in the commitment are we fulfilling?
We will not be richer before God by going to Mass every if we are not fraternal, if we do not care for those who suffer around us, for our family, our friends, our neighbors and our community.
Our duty as Providence Associates is to fully live our commitment and to live fraternally, helping everyone who needs us. This is the best way to become rich before God.

Erika Straube Ríos, PA
Chile

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Sunday Reflection July 28, 2019

Gospel according to Luke 11:1-13

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.’” And Jesus said to the disciples, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ And your friend answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ “I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. “So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “Is there any father among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give the child a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Reflection:
In this Sunday Gospel, July 28, Jesus teaches his disciples to pray and these are his own words: “When you pray, say:
‘Father’”
Yes, he is the Father of us all and we are His beloved children. For myself, when I say: “Give us, THIS DAY…” I tend to accentuate the words “this day”, because a daily spirituality has become increasingly important to me. I took on this habit when I was living on Goyer Street, in Montreal, with Sister Jeannine Gauthier, I believe she passed away last year. I thought she prayed well and without ostentation.

Sister Rose-Hélène Corriveau, SP. (96 years)

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Sunday Reflection July 21, 2019

Gospel according to Luke 10:38-42

Now as Jesus and his disciples went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Reflection:
Our contemplative moments nourish our evangelizing activities. While Mary prays, Martha works. We cannot separate prayer and evangelization, because they are the strength and nourishment of our every labour. However, this Sunday Gospel presents some advice from Christ who warns against doing much and meditating little. You must live more closely to the Word and then act. This way we can be contemplative people and have a more fruitful apostolate, because we can count on the support of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In today’s world, we care about many things, we complain that there is little time for what we like, but we do not realize that only one thing is necessary, listening to the Lord within us.
Let us welcome Jesus despite the hustle and the noise, let us gaze at the beauty of the landscape offered to us as we journey. As Christians and apostles, serving and contemplating are what should motivate our lives.
May beauty fill the week ahead for each of you!

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Sunday Reflection July 14, 2019

Gospel according to Luke 10:25-37

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Reflection
My neighbor
Jesus has demolished all boundary expectations. It is not social definitions such as class, religion, gender, or ethnicity that determines who is our neighbor. A neighbor is a person who acts with compassion toward another. The point becomes not who deserves to be loved as I love myself, but that I become a person who treats everyone with compassion.
When Jesus asks the lawyer who was the neighbor in the story, the lawyer can’t bring himself to say it was the Samaritan. All he says is that it was “the one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus’ response was similar to that of the first discussion: “Go and do likewise.” The lawyer, and we, know what is right. The key is to do it.
Jesus uses this parable to teach the disciples to follow the example of the hated Samaritan. He comes upon the scene and feels compassion for the injured person. What the robbers did to the man, this seeming enemy undoes by his willingness to go the extra mile in service. That will be our challenge. Let us pray for the opportunity to go the extra mile is service to an unexpected recipient. Follow the example of the Samaritan and “go and do likewise.”

MM, a Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection July 07, 2019

Gospel according to Luke 10:1-9

After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others, and sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place, whither he himself was about to come. And he said unto them, “The harvest is great but the laborers are few: so ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace be to this house.” If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him: but if not, it shall return to you. Stay in that house, eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from house to house. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, heal the sick in it and say to them, “The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.”
Today, due to melancholy or a mistaken perception, it is easy to think that “everything used to be better in the old days “. And that what awaits us is a polluted, conflictive, and problem-laden future. Climate change, the depletion of natural resources, overpopulation, wars and cultural clashes, all these challenges capture our attention and lead us, in some way, to be pessimistic. How can we possibly be happy in such a world?

Reflection:
However, if we take a closer look, we will see that the world was not much better and not even more just in Jesus’ days. Pollution may have been less significant then but there were other problems, which we have at least partly solved today and which were then much more serious and urgent, such as contagious diseases, lack of justice, etc. … Take poverty and begging, for example. Most people then were needy and without resource. It was in this context that Jesus sent his disciples, two by two, to preach the Good News, wish everyone peace, be with the sick and needy and announce that the Kingdom of God is near.
It is a simple message, clear and full of hope. This message is a cause of joy for those who transmit it and for those who receive it. Today, it is us, in the first place, who must disseminate this message. Beyond the disasters that we may have caused in our world, God continues to offer us life and peace. “The Kingdom of God is near.” This is how Blessed Emilie, the friend of the little ones, lived it, always willing to find solutions to lessen the suffering of others, giving peace and hope, and living the word of God at all times.
A very pleasant week to all in joy and peace!
Nadia Bertoluci, PA

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Sunday Reflection June 30, 2019

Gospel according to Luke 9:51-62

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for Jesus; but the Samaritans did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village. As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another Jesus said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Reflection:

With a quiet state of mind and some time, it is always easier to make decisions and they often turn out to be good ones. However, when Jesus calls us, it is with love and he calls us to love; all love requires sacrifices and Jesus experienced this. At the same time, his sentence is liberating; so to speak, it frees us of guilt, as when two duties seem contradictory, the selection criterion is the fulfillment of the Mission. When the Mission requires us, we should not feel guilty about having to miss other obligations.

Yet again we heard, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” We do not think that even upon crossing a field of roses, we can have our clothes torn by thorns and, who knows, come out with some scratches. Jesus makes us realize we have to break the ties and commit ourselves without looking back. Jesus tells us this disturbing phrase, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God,” in which He admits the renunciations without return that his mission continually required. Let us not forget that this happened when He had just resolutely taken the road to Jerusalem, that is to say, to the Passion and the Cross. From the comfort of his family home in Nazareth all the way up the slope to Jerusalem, Jesus experienced in his flesh multiple wrenches.

Emilie Gamelin did not hesitate to take up the torch of Love for the Mission and maintain it alight until her last breath. Let us thank our God for giving us such grace of being part of his family and following it, illuminated by the glory of Jesus Christ.

Providence Associates of the Notre-Dame-de-la-Providence group

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Sunday Reflection June 16, 2019

Gospel according to John 16: 12-15

Jesus said to his disciples: “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”
Reflection:
This passage of the Gospel reflects the experience of the first Christian communities. To the extent that they were following the teachings of Jesus, trying to interpret and apply His Word in the various circumstances of their lives, they experienced the presence and the light of the Spirit. And this happens today in communities who try to embody Jesus’ word in their lives. The root of this experience has always been the words of Jesus: “All that the Father possess is mine, that is why I said to you the Spirit receives what comes from me and makes it known to you
In addition, this Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Holy Trinity, the great mystery of our faith, which is difficult to understand and to explain. If we think about it, is not easy to talk about this mystery.
Perhaps we should focus on seeing God as a close, welcoming and loving Father who offers us a project to pursue and seek the good for all of humanity not just for a few. God only asks for our faithfulness to Him and do good without seeking rewards. To be honest in our witnessing.
In this Gospel, we see how a departing Jesus is preparing the disciples to follow the steps He initiated; little by little, He has also prepared us through family and community. We are living difficult times, but we must hope that truth will triumph, justice will overcome and love will prevail over evil.
Let us rest assured that God is always encouraging us and giving us the strength to move forward. I invite you to reflect on these profound and necessary questions: What is my spiritual gift – the gift of the Holy Spirit that is unique to me? Where do I see the gifts of the Spirit manifested in my life? I ask the Lord to reveal to me the spiritual gift that best suits me. I pray for the grace to use that gift to serve others. Certainly, our foundress, Blessed Emilie Gamelin, did do this exercise throughout her life.

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection June 09, 2019

Gospel according to John 20: 19-23

It was evening on the day Jesus rose from the dead, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Reflection:
With the end of the Easter season comes the great feast of Pentecost celebrating the story of the Spirit of God, our guide and inspiration. Let us look beyond that initial moment when the disciples experienced with extraordinary force the presence of the Spirit of God, encouraging them to leave their closed space they were in for fear of the Jews, and go out to proclaim the Good News to all, in all languages and cultures. God’s love and salvation are for everyone.
On this day, we remember God’s people who have acknowledged the presence of the Spirit and human fidelity. Thanks to them, today we continue to recognize the presence of the Spirit in the Church, beginning with those who wrote the Gospels and those who gave first hour testimonies , as did the evangelists, as did past century saints , as did our brave Blessed Emilie Gamelin. We must continue looking at those surrounding us during Mass, looking at the members of our Christian community. In them, in us, the Spirit is also present, encouraging us to be better, to love more and be more generous.
The tongues of fire are a symbol expressing the power of the Spirit of God present in the human heart and able to transform it. When the doors of the heart open themselves to the Spirit, nothing is ever the same again. Everything is seen from another perspective, that of the love and the mercy of God. Our personal story is transformed in the fire of the Spirit.
Today is a day to thank God for the gift of His Spirit, because He has allowed us to participate in the stories of holy men and holy women inviting us to holiness. Let us open our hearts to the Spirit of Jesus who will teach us, as the Gospel says, to live as Christians; He will help us remember Jesus at all times and keep the commandment of love.
A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection June 02, 2019

Gospel according to John 17: 20-26

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said,
“I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”
Reflection
What a beautiful prayer, pronounced by Jesus himself. He prays before his disciples, meaning he brings them into his intimacy; he shares his deepest desires with them. He speaks of the world, of what He so strongly wants; that the world may believe. He says “that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.” A little later, He repeats, “… that they may be brought to perfect unity so that the world may know that you sent me”. And why is it so important that the world recognize Jesus as the One sent by the Father? Because then the world will know the extent of God’s love. The sending of His Son is the most beautiful proof of love that God can give to the world, “the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them as you loved me.”
Rereading these lines, one is struck by the insistence of Jesus on the words love and unity; once again, we must acknowledge that the story of God with us is a great adventure, a love story. God is Love; God loves us and sends his Son to tell us in person! This is what Jesus says a few hours later to Pilate, during his interrogation, “For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.“ (Jn 18: 37). We are invited to bear and share with all our neighbors, this infinite love, the greatest ever known! In the joy of sharing the same love, the greatest of treasures, I wish you all a good week!

Sister Lise Lessard, SP.

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Sunday Reflection May 26, 2019

Gospel according to John 14: 23-29

Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. “You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. ”
Reflection:
When you love, you fulfill with enthusiasm the will of the beloved. This is the sign Jesus asks of his disciples to prove their love: the fulfillment of the Commandments of God.
Since the Commandments of the Lord are to be part of our lives, we need to know His Word more and more. . All the days of our lives will not suffice to delve into His Word and practice it on a daily bases. To achieve this, we must be disciplined and persevering, because in our view, the Word can sometimes be arduous and difficult to understand. On occasion, we also need a good dose of humility to ask for help, to enlighten our thinking and, thus, make the right decisions and choose the right course of action.
However, we must admit that it is a wonderful promise! “… We will come to him and make our home with him.” We often make empty promises because of the weakness of our nature, and because we soon forget them… But God’s Promises have eternity to be accomplished… He is God; heaven and earth will pass, but His Word will never pass. God promised… So it is fulfilled…
As for us, if we do God’s will f, He will dwell in us and we will become His home, a living temple. This will allow us to make Him known at all times and the more we are aware of this fact, the easier it will be to live in His presence… We have to reflect often on this reality, and then it will be possible to love those persons who seem “difficult”, since we will see the Holy Trinity in them. Therefore, how could we not respect them?
We are called to live in peace, serenity and joy. Instead of rebelling, stressing, closing in on ourselves and blaming God, others and ourselves, we are asked to love more.
S.L.G.

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Sunday Reflection May 19, 2019

Gospel according to John 10: 27-30

Before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
During the supper, when Judas had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. “Little children, I am with you only a little longer. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

How can we love as He loves us?
As Jesus was about to say goodbye to his disciples, He leaves them a new commandment that resembles a last will and testament. He tells them to love one another as He had loved them. This is the sign by which people will know we are disciples of Jesus. The most distinctive sign of Christians is not that we gather on Sunday to celebrate Mass. Nor that we personally know the Pope, the bishops and the priests. Not even that we celebrate seven sacraments. Jesus did not want us to be known for any of these things. Jesus wanted those outside our community to know us by another sign, humbler if you wish , but more important and more human: by the way we treat each other, by the way we love one another and love all persons without distinction: “That you love one another”.
This is the sign that the Christian community is the seed of a new world, for only God can give life to a love that can share everything and every one can live more abundantly.
It may be well to ask: Are Christians made differently? Are we superior to others? Absolutely not. We are equal, but God’s presence is with us. And when we let God work in our hearts, we experience a love springing from within us greater than our strength. This is God’s love. This love is a sign of a new earth and a new heaven. It is, for example, the love that Mother Emilie had for the poor, the orphans, the elderly, the sick and all those who were suffering. It is the love with which many mothers love their children, measurelessly, timelessly, without limitation, and with absolute generosity.
However, since we are not superior to others, since we make mistakes and sometimes we hurt each other. There is a dimension of love that the Christian community must know to live in a special way. It is the dimension of forgiveness and reconciliation. Forgiving others and forgiving oneself is a form of love that acknowledges one’s own limits and surpasses them because love goes beyond the limits set by our weaknesses. A Christian community living forgiveness and reconciliation bears witness to the love that unites it.

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection May 12, 2019

Gospel according to John 13,31-33a.34-35

Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are One.”
Reflection:
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, not only for the people of his time, but also for each one of us. He knows us by name and constantly watches over us and protects us from the dangers of such an agitated and sometimes disturbed world. What more could we ask for? With Him, we are safe.
The beginning of this Gospel passage states: “My sheep hear my voice, they follow me.” The best place to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd is it not in prayer and silence.
This is a recipe worth trying – prayer, silence… We risk being surprised at the results. Do not be afraid, Jesus is aptly named: The Good Shepherd … Let us trust Him!
A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection May 5, 2019

Gospel according to John (21: 1- 19)

Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.
That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about ninety metres off. When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” In addition, he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Reflection:

Freed from their fears and their unbelief, by the action of the Spirit, the apostles initiated their mission. There is a headline on the front page, for the messengers of Good News, though at the time there was no newspapers, no radio, no Internet. The disciples through city streets and villages loudly proclaimed what they had seen and heard, “Jesus is alive!” Such enthusiasm such determination on their part. They said they could no longer be silent. What a lesson for us! For are we not often too shy when the time comes for us to stand and be counted as Christians? Today, following the migration movement of crowds in search of human dignity and justice, we are neighboured by different cultures and faiths. Let us notice with what conviction some persons are committed, to the point of risking their lives. Their commitment goes beyond the religious symbols they wear, which can upset those who are refractory to any religious practice or to those who fear seeing their faith superseded by other beliefs. The true signs are invisible to the eyes. They are profoundly written in the soul.

Jesus sends all the disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to all of creation.” (Mark 16:15) “And woe to me if I do not proclaim it!” (1 Corinthians, 9: 16)

The apostles first experienced the same human frailty as ours. Let us delve into ourselves. Hosea made us aware of our frailty, “Your loyalty is like morning mist, like the dew that disappears early” (Hosea 6:4). What is the extent of my faith, as an apostle? Before exercising their apostolic ministry, the disciples lived a questioning and waiting time. They dreamt of an earthly kingdom. Like the disciples, we may tend to shelter ourselves, to lock our doors. Do all the subjects of attraction of our modern world make us also dream of an earthly kingdom? It is in Jesus that we find the vehement desire to announce, to transmit the flame to all those who cross our path.

Simon Peter said, “I am going fishing.” He was undoubtingly not passionate about fishing at that moment. The others followed. A moment of depression. It is human nature. They had to do something to finally break the monotony and forget about the last misadventure, the loss of a leader. Their lack of motivation made them return empty-handed. “How slow to believe you are!” This reproach is for us also, just as it was for the apostles. He had informed them: “But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7) “When the Consoler comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.” (John 16:13) Jesus said He had to go, for them to receive the Spirit. Nevertheless, Jesus sends the Spirit by whom everyone can face the most threatening challenges, even at the cost of their lives. A Pentecost wind gave them strength and courage to proclaim with a language that everyone could understand. (Acts 2.1-11)

The risen Christ invites Simon Peter to show his commitment. “Simon, do you love me? Tend my sheep.” The Scriptures are for all custodians of the Good News: Jesus is alive! “So faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17)

Just as often as with the disciples, Jesus shows his loving and fraternal presence with concrete means within our reach, as with the invitation to lunch by the lake. This means that our commitment also includes moments of rest, relaxation and success.
The Church must, like Christ, set out to lead all humans to the One who gives us life in abundance. Our testimony becomes credible according to our beliefs. The big problem is religious ignorance in the world, or indifference, isn’t it? It is essential to deepen our faith to better transmit it. We live in a society that knows all kinds of turmoil. Jesus radically accomplishes Easter: in principle, everything is finished. His announcement and welcoming aim at changing humanity. By living the Word, we identify with Jesus Christ and thus our testimony is true and bears fruit.
Jesus wants Peter to understand the kind of death awaiting him: to extend the arms like Jesus and go to the limits of his mission, to welcome the passage that leads to the resurrection, to be born again, as Jesus said to Nicodemus. This is true reality.
Annette Aspirot, SP
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Sunday Reflection April 28, 2019

Gospel according to John 20: 19-31

It was evening on the day Jesus rose from the dead, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them; “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” But Thomas, who was called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” After eight days his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. ”
Reflection
What a great mandate is the Easter mission! How difficult it is to live it in a world that tends to believe in neither peace nor reconciliation. In our own homes, in our own communities, at our own work! We have to admit that it is not easy to maintain peaceful thoughts when dealing with others who are seeking quarrels, division and discord.
However, as Christians, we are carriers of the breath of Christ, his Spirit and his values. We are “the Body of Christ, the Temple of the Spirit…” said St. Paul. This leads us to go beyond ourselves, to seek how to avoid giving in to temptation, this is so easy to do, and to respond by similar means to those looking to unbalance us, to harm us in our choice of living and spreading peace, as Christ asked us.
Let us believe and pray, for Easter time is a privileged moment, when each group or person has the opportunity to recover the freshness of the original Christian movement, as well as respect each one’s charism and the wide variety of special graces.
Christ is inviting us to create with Him a new world, a world of peace, fraternity and love.
Have a good week everyone!

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection April 14, 2019

Gospel according to Luke 22, 14-23, 56 (short version)
When the hour came, Jesus took his place at table, and the Apostles with him. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit from the vine until the Kingdom of God comes.” Then Jesus took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my Blood. See, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!” Then they began to ask one another; which one of them it could be who would do this.”
Reflection:
We have chosen to make a humble reflection on part of the suggested Gospel for Sunday April 14.
Many times, we have gathered to celebrate as brothers and Christians the important holidays of our calendar. It is a tradition that we must continue to respect. Jesus our Master did the same, He gathered people closest to Him, his apostles, and in the midst of the joy and rejoicing of the Passover meal, he announced the betrayal of one of his own…
As in the brief life of Jesus, our life is also made of inconstancies and incoherencies. However, facing all this is the coherence and consistency of Jesus, the Son of God sent by the Father, who is determined to show us His love to the end, to give His life totally for us. God is resolute in His love. He love is unchanging, although we say we do not know Him at all, He still recognizes us as sons and daughters, dear members of His family.
Therein lies the key to the Holy Week celebrations. . We remember the love of God for us. It is stronger than death and, of course, stronger than our own sin. The key to understanding this is in Jesus’ look at Peter when the latter denied Him for a third time. It was an affectionate look. He knew him well in his weakness, but He loved him no less. Today Jesus turns that look towards each one of us. He knows us well, inside and out; He looks at us with affection and total love.
Jesus responded to betrayal with love, with His life, giving us all. Very important people in the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence did the same: Mother Emilie, Mother Bernarda and Mother Joseph, who gave their lives, their energy, and their health to those who needed them, as a child needs his mother. They were also generous with those who did not behave so well with them. However, in those situations, these holy women responded with forgiveness and love, like Jesus.
We give thanks to the Lord for having so many enlightening examples to reflect upon as we begin this Holy Week.
A group of Providence Associates

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Sunday Reflection April 07, 2019

Gospel according to John 8: 1-11

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before the people, they said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. In the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test Jesus, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When the scribes and Pharisees kept on questioning him, Jesus straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground. When the scribes and Pharisees heard what Jesus had said, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”

Reflection:

In this Gospel Jesus teaches us that before any important moment in life, it is good to stand back to pray and strengthen your spirit. Facing the Pharisees, Jesus is peaceful and quiet, he knows that they want to bring him to doubt but he is prepared. They brought before him a woman, condemning her for infidelity. I imagine that her infidelity was with a man, but the Pharisees do not condemn the woman but talk to Jesus only about the law.

Jesus, first and foremost, respects the dignity of the woman and fills her with his mercy. Jesus takes upon Himself the shame the women was experiencing.   He shows respect for the dignity of the person. Then without looking at the men He says, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the one to throw the first stone”, this brings the men to look inward to their own lives and discover that each of them is a sinner. Then, Jesus raises his eyes and asks the woman, “Has no one condemned you? Neither do I condemn you, go in peace and from now on do not sin again.” He renders her the state of grace and she feels cleansed; Jesus had healed her and said, from now on do not sin, in other words, be honest, be a women loved by God.

May we like Emilie seek the path of forgiveness, to be forgiven and to forgive trustfully.

Marta Alvear, SP

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Sunday Reflection March 31, 2019

Gospel according to Luke 15:1-3 11-32

As all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus, the Pharisees and the Scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”  So Jesus told them this parable: “A man had two sons. The younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ So the father divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country where he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine came upon that country and he found himself in great need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs.  The young man would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating but no one gave him anything.   Then he said to himself, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.’ So he set off and went to his father.

But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Then take a fatted calf and kill it, so that we may eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.

Now his elder son was in the field and when he approached the house, he heard the music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. The slave replied, ‘Your brother has arrived and your father has killed the fatted calf, because your younger brother has returned safe and sound.’  Then the elder son became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you and have never disobeyed your commands; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours, who devoured your property with prostitutes, returned, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”

Reflection:

Today we are considering the conversion of the prodigal son. The youngest son had left home and carelessly squandered the best that he had: the love of his family, the love of his father, the security that gives one the feeling of being loved. He thought he could live on his own. He was sure that by himself he could get everything he wanted. And he failed.  Sinking into despair and shame, he fortunately realized what he had to do:   Return to his father’s house, ask for forgiveness and work without receiving any pay.

On his return, the prodigal son was preparing what he would say: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” When the son encountered his father, he began to say what he had prepared along the way.  But the father interrupted him and, significantly, did not allow him to finish.  And so the last sentence the prodigal son had prepared to say, “Treat me like one of you hired hands” was not spoken.   We don’t know if the son couldn’t finish or whether the father would not listen.  What really matters in the meeting between the father and the son is the joy of the father. As if nothing had happened, the father ordered a large celebration to be held in the house.  This celebration expresses the joy of forgiveness and reunion, because the most important thing for a parent is to have a united family.

For us, Lent still presents us with an opportunity for conversion. There is no need to prepare what we will say. God will be happy to see us back home. God will prepare a feast for us.             We are all made of the same human “material”, we are not gods. Our limitations lead us to do some bad things that we may not really wish to do but, on occasion, we find ourselves sinking. No one is able to present oneself before God with a sinless dossier.  And no one wants to stand before God, like the upright Pharisee, saying, “O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity”… who are sinners. Our lot is like that of the tax collector. Recognizing our faults, with an aching heart and true repentance, we tell God our Father, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” And since we are in a loving dialogue with our God, we ask Him to continue giving his tenderness, love and strength that we may be faithful to his friendship.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of belonging to the Providence Family on these special days of thanksgiving and blessings.

A Providence Associate

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Sunday Reflection March 24, 2019

Gospel according to Luke 13: 1-9

Jesus was teaching the crowds; some of those present told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate Had mingled with their sacrifices. Jesus asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them – do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.” Then Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ “The gardener replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” 

Reflection:

Freedom and wisdom

This text is a guide for all of us Christians, a guide of wisdom. We might begin by asking, what do we do with the freedom God gives us? The fact that God liberates us does not mean that we will automatically attain freedom. Opening a prison door is not sufficient, the prisoner must rise and willingly leave his cell; he must take part in his own liberation. As in Jesus’ words, “unless you repent, you will all perish.” If we connect these words with the ending of the parable in today’s Gospel, we can understand God’s great mercy always extending His saving and liberating hand towards us. The landlord had already spent time and money for three years on a fig tree that did not bear fruit. He wanted to cut it down, pull it out and use the land for another purpose. But the gardener wanted to keep trying. He thought it was still possible for the tree to bear fruit. It is certainly a matter of patience and work; the same patience God always has towards us, until we are able to live as free and responsible men and women.

Lent time should not discourage us. It is true that as we look at our lives, we discover that at times we lost  the precious heritage we received from our parents, and we do not live the Christian faith passed on to us, as we should. . But the fact remains we have a Liberator still holding out a hand to free us from our prisons, so we may walk freely, live in fullness and always keep hope in our hearts. These words confirm once again that God does not abandon God’s people, although sometimes life is so difficult we come to think that it is the case.

Let us feel united, during this time of reflection and introspection, with all Christians awaiting the Kingdom of God.

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection March 17, 2019

Gospel according to Luke 9: 28-36

Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to Jesus. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his exodus, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” but Peter did not know what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen, listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And the disciples kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

Reflection:

I would like to begin my reflection with some questions that, I think, are closely related to this week’s Gospel: Being Christian, living and acting as such, is it only a facade even  when I go to Mass? What does it mean for me to be a Christian at work? What about with my family? What needs to  change in my life so that being a Christian would transform into something more than a group to which I belong?

Interesting, isn’t it? It is as interesting as is the Gospel and the option of being Christians. Most often , faith is given to us by being born into a Christian family; we can say that faith belongs to our cultural heritage, but it is our responsibility to transform this heritage into a living reality. Just as our ancestors experienced it, and through them and their life testimony, we received faith, thus we will only transmit  it to the next generation in as much as it is part of our daily lives.

Today’s Gospel tells the story of  the transfiguration. The fact that Jesus was transfigured before the apostles shows that they did not yet have a totally mature faith. They were unable to see Him as He truly was. They were not yet able to see Him with the eyes of faith. They saw Him  as a man. A great man, for sure, but just a man. Jesus was transfigured before them so they might realize  who He is. The apostles are still a long way to maturity in their faith, to growing little by little  next to Jesus, to learning to live according to the Gospel. The best of this story is that Jesus did not leave them alone in this process. He is with them, accompanies them, assists them, and directs them. He is  patient with their mistakes. When they fall, He helps  them up and encourages  them to continue walking with him.  The Transfiguration is only a step on the path to following Jesus. They went up the mountain and then down.  He follows  the path, which is sometimes difficult, but the apostles now know that they have  Jesus with them. He will not abandon them.

We are in a similar situation. From our parents, our elders, we have received a Christian heritage, a heritage of faith. It is the best treasure they could give us. They gave it to us with love. Now, it is our responsibility that it be a living  faith, that being a Christian is more than a mere name. It is not always easy to live as a Christian at work, at home, with friends, with children. Sometimes problems arise. There are difficult times. But we know that Jesus is always with us. We can trust Him because He never abandons us. In this season of Lent, the Church invites us to revitalize our faith. So that our Christian heritage is not like a buried and useless treasure, but rather a field that once plowed, fertilized and watered is greatly life giving  for ourselves and our families.

Let us remember that the One they saw full of light and whiteness,  is the One who seemed to have seen His  ultimate destination, the cross. Let us not be  discouraged because in the end, life, love and truth are winners.

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection March 10, 2019

Gospel according to Luke 4:1-13

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.

He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone.’”

Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’”

Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will command his Angels concerning you, to protect you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

Reflection:

This beginning of Lent is the living image of the journey towards Easter, isn’t it? Not only the forty-day journey, but the one I am living since the day I was baptized, because since then, I am committed to live the mission of Jesus. Now, the liturgical season of Lent is a reminder, a highlight of the journey towards Easter, the death and resurrection mystery shared by all Christians.

A strange dialogue the devil’s emptations offerof, that he confronts himself with a question, “If you are the Son of God?” This identity of Son of God is reflected in me through the gift of my baptism that made me a Daughter of God. I am a daughter of God, I live God’s mission in the Church. This wonderful Christian vocation is it not my purpose on Earth.

Three options are offered to the Son of God. The first trial would be for Jesus to respond to the temptation to be fed with earthly goods, (command this stone to become a loaf of bread). We so very often experience the temptation of Jesus to satisfy our material appetites. But Jesus offers an  infinitely superior non-perishable food, which is to feed on God’s Word. This Word preaches that we share our material goods, our values, our talents, and our time with the poor. So many of my sisters and brothers, here and elsewhere, live in dramatic moral and material poverty, situations lived facing  those who are satiated..

The second trial would be for Jesus to assert his divine identity, (To you I will give their glory and all this authority, for it has been given over to me, if you, then, will worship me.) Jesus is invested with a divine power, but he accepts to be human like us. The humanity that Jesus wants to live is a fraternal humanity. Humans know this temptation of being attributed more value than they truly have. Their pretentions are   evidenced. This temptation wants to fill a subtle need to be superior to the other. It is good to remember the poverties  of our mortal and fragile beings, recalling that what  we mostly need is the simplicity of the poor. To God alone, commit your life.

The third trial would exceed the limits of logic and fail his mission, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, He will command his Angels concerning you, to protect you,Claiming to know the truth; considering oneself as an omnipotent super human, such arrogance would not be worthy of Him. When Peter wants to distract him from his mission, Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan(Mark 8:33). Every day I need to rekindle the flame of my lamp. I need strong prayer time like Lent; I need solidarity with the Church, my congregation, and my local community. If I do not pray, I deprive my wick of its animating fire. Prayer puts me in solidarity with people of all cultures, of all ages, of all boundaries. Prayer is the light that guides my daily journey towards Easter; it is the assurance of living my vocation and accomplishing my mission according to God’s designs.

Sr. Annette Aspirot, SP

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Sunday Reflection March 03, 2019

Gospel according to Luke 6:39-45

Jesus told his disciples a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like their teacher. “Why do you see the speck in your neighbours’ eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbour, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, fist take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye. “No good tree bears bad fruit, not again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruits. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. “Out of the good treasure of the heart, the good person produces good, and out of evil treasure, the evil person produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.”

Reflection:

First of all, I am very grateful to contribute to these reflections of the Providence Family. I can say that we used to, but even now in small towns we still have to, be very careful with what we do and with appearances. Everyone felt authorized to comment, judge and condemn others for what seemed different than the usual. Sometimes, it was based on minimal data or accidental events, which actually had nothing to do with what the person was or lived.

Nowadays we do that with acquaintances, friends, politicians, movie stars or with any public figures in general. Many dare to give advice with such absolute clairvoyance that we do not understand how they have failed to achieve greater triumphs in their own life. It is as the saying goes: “Do as I say and not as I do.” Sayings are nothing but the reflection of popular wisdom. Today’s Gospel tells us that in the words of a man we discover his heart and what is in it. That is, all those criticisms and comments about which we have spoken above say more about the person making the comments than about the person on whom the comments are made.

Jesus insists on similar ideas. Jesus uses a lot of common sense. No wonder, since popular wisdom has taken a lot from profound human experience. And this profoundness cannot be anchored in anything but God, who is our Creator. This is where Jesus finds the roots of wisdom and of the relationship of human beings with God.

I leave you with a question:  Do I have the courage to look at the log in my eye?

A Sister of Providence

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Gospel according to John 14 :15-16, 23b-26

Jesus said to his disciples:

If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always.

“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.

Those who do not love me do not keep my words; yet the word you hear is notmine but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you.

The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.”

MY REFLECTION ON JOHN’S GOSPEL

Jesus is stressing the importance of Love. Love makes us do what is good and just, and is important for us in order to succeed in this life, and attain our eternal reward.

God the Father showed us immense love when he sent His only son Jesus to earth to suffer and die for us.

Jesus lived a life of love when He went around teaching, healing, comforting and helping people, with so much patience and caring. Even suffering and dying for us. That was not enough love! Then the Father sent the Holy Spirt to continue Jesus’s work of helping, inspiring and guiding us to practise love, and in doing so, to do God’s holy will, and ultimately be saved and united with the Holy Trinity in Heaven!

Pat Nex ( PA, Calgary, Alberta)

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Sunday Reflection February 17, 2019

Gospel according to Luke 6:17, 20-26

Jesus came down with the twelve and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. Then Jesus looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.  Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. “Rejoice in that day and leap for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the Prophets. “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false Prophets.”

Reflection:

Today especially, allowing ourselves to be guided by the Gospel, we ask who in our surroundings are the poor, the hungry and those who weep? What is our community doing to make them feel loved and preferred by God? What could we do?

Understandably it is difficult for us to answer these questions. However, we know that questioning ourselves is part of the solution.

Jesus clearly tells us that those who have too much confidence in themselves, in the power of humanity, do not have much of a future. It seems that they are doomed to suffering and death. They are self-confident because they are rich, have abundant food and leisure activities and they feel that everyone speaks well of them. On the other hand   we find those that Jesus declares “blessed” or “happy”.

In addition, Jesus does not say, “Blessed are the poor who trust in God.” He simply says, “Blessed are the poor”, “the hungry” and “those who weep”. No more, no less. No title is needed to deserve to be called “blessed” by Jesus and receive the promise of the Kingdom. Only the last Beatitude refers to Jesus’ disciples, who will be persecuted because of his name. They too are “blessed”.

God’s love and mercy are for everyone. This is precisely why God manifests Himself f first to those who have nothing, who have been so deprived in this world. God’s love is directed preferentially to them. We too as Christians should have preferential love for them, because they are God’s “blessed”, because they are our poor and abandoned brothers and sisters. We are confident that together, they and us will meet in the Kingdom, , sharing at the table of “Beatitude.”

Blessed week of reflection

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection February 10, 2019

Gospel according to Luke 5: 1-11

While Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.  Jesus got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signalled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For Simon Peter and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, son of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.”

Reflection:

As we Christians of the 21st century, the disciples did not satisfy themselves with following and listening to the master. They associated with Him, they became his collaborators. While the task seemed boundless, they continued throwing the nets. This situates us before the extraordinary mystery of our collaboration with the work of God: we can do nothing without God, but God does not want to do anything without us.

God especially asks us to be confident and available. All began because Peter was confident, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” Peter had heard this master talking to the crowd at length, thus he trusted Him enough to listen to Him, enough to venture a new attempt at fishing. After the miracle, he does not say “Master,” he says, “Lord,” the name reserved for God. Peter was ready to hear the call; in order to venture to this new kind of fishing that Jesus proposed to him, he had to acknowledge Jesus as Lord.

Thanks to the generosity of Isaiah who agreed to become a messenger; thanks to the generosity of Peter and his companions who left everything to follow Jesus; thanks to the generosity of Paul who, after the road to Damascus, devoted the rest his life to bear witness to the risen Christ; now it is up to us, we are here and Christ’s words are still ringing in our ears, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets…” To what we respond, “If you say so, we will let down the nets.” So let us trust and accept to cast our nets for a miraculous catch, it suffices to believe in Him.

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection February 03, 2019

Gospel according to Luke 4:21-30

Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He went to the Synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom, and read from the Prophet Isaiah. The eyes of all were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is this Joseph’s son?” Jesus said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, “Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum’” And he said, “Truly I tell you, no Prophet is accepted in his hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the Prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove Jesus out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went on his way. ”

Reflection:

Jesus is not only our Savior He is also a prophet. However, He is not one of those we are used to. He is very different. He does not make noise. He does not enter into our lives shouting and gesticulating, but with few simple words. In the Gospel, in continuity with last Sunday, He does one of the briefest homilies in history. He does nothing more than pick up the thread of what He had read in a text of the prophet Isaiah, and said that all had already been fulfilled. It was a text that spoke of liberation for the oppressed, consolation for the afflicted, health to the sick, freedom for all. It was the announcement of the Good News of God.

This is the core of the message of the Prophet Jesus. As you see, it does not contain threats, rather an invitation to live in love. He does not speak of a dark future, but of a present full of light and meaning. In love we discover the closeness of God’s presence. In love we clearly see that those around us are our brothers and sisters, though at times it may seem to us that they act as if they were not. In love, life becomes more livable and happier. The curious thing is that the reaction to Jesus’ message was one of total opposition. Had He threatened them of a final flood, they might have listened to him more. But the message of Jesus disorients people, inviting them too much to change their lives. We are today the listeners of Jesus’ message as well as spokespersons for the world. By living our lives, we will show that love opens to a better future for humanity and for the world.

Mother Emilie and Mother Bernarda did so, as did Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart; they followed the path of light and hope that Jesus presented to them. I wish the same for all of us.

I wish you a very nice peaceful week, following Jesus’ path.

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection January 27, 2019

Gospel according to Luke 1: 1-4. 4: 14-21

Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed. Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the Synagogue on the Sabbath day, as it was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Reflection:

We are absolutely sure that Jesus is the definitive prophet of Christian history, so we are Christians and follow in His footsteps and teachings. Our faith in Him is the source of our perseverance, it help us to struggle against injustice, to combat difficulties, to care for the most vulnerable; in short we become better persons. Luke presents Him this way, in the synagogue episode, in this Sunday’s gospel: giving the Good News of a new era, a definitive time when those who were excluded from the message of God’s salvation are actually the first beneficiaries of this Good News.

Admirably, Jesus chose a text that does not speak about rules or laws. Rather he speaks about Himself and his mission. Jesus uses a text of the prophet Isaiah to explain to his compatriots, and incidentally to us also, the content of his mission, that is he preaches through towns and roads of Galilee. Jesus feels dominated, possessed by the Spirit of God, a Spirit that does not make him superior to others. He did not become a king like other kings of the earth who use their authority to dominate, oppress and enslave. He has been sent to announce the Good News to the poor, release the captives and restore sight to the blind. Such is His mission.

The God of Jesus does not love a people to the exclusion of others; God’s project is rather a universal plan of salvation for all peoples. So His message is Gospel, is Good News. The important thing is this: in Galilee, Jesus the prophet, in breaking the silence of Nazareth, brought the Good News to all who yearn for it, even though we are sinners. No one is excluded from God’s salvation.

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection January 20, 2019

Gospel according to John 2: 1-12

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding about a hundred litres. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (thought the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until know.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there a few days.

Reflection

The story of the wedding at Cana is presented in this gospel as Jesus’ first miracle; His presence announces all that He will accomplish in his life. Besides, celebrating a wedding is one of the happiest moments for families. It means a new beginning in family life. A man and a woman leave their families to form a new family. There is no reason to be sad, quite the opposite. The family is extended, but most importantly, it opens itself to life. The marriage of one of the sons or daughters means that new members will join and enrich the life of the family. When one of its members gets married, the whole family celebrates that life does not end; rather it opens itself to the future with hope.

It is not by mere coincidence that Jesus began his public life by participating at a wedding and increasing the joy of the participants. In addition, in the opinion of the steward, it is the best wine. Jesus’ presence brings to the marriage an ultimate human celebration, the celebration of life with the best wine. It is a great blessing for life and  for love that these families celebrate. The best wine is the sign that the life Jesus brings defeats death.

Weddings, joy, best wine, all are signs indicating that the encounter between God and humanity, through Jesus, is an encounter with true Life, a never ending life. . It is the encounter which will lead to the definitive family, in which all recognize each other as brothers and sisters gathered at the table of God, the Father, where death or sadness are no more. As at weddings, this celebration is only the beginning of a new family. It is still only a promise, but a promise of the fullness of life. Living as Christians is to live in hope and joy.

Hope and joy for all families is our wish for the year 2019.

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection January 13, 2019

Gospel according to Luke 3.15-16, 21-22

And as the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ”

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Reflection:

This passage is of great importance to all Christians. The Holy Spirit solemnly attests the divinity of Jesus, when He, as any ordinary being, performs the sacramental gesture of submitting Himself to the baptism of John. Thus, throughout his life, Jesus will never present Himself any greater than through humble gestures and words! It is a profound lesson for us who see things so differently. To follow Christ is to choose the path of humility, that is to say, of truth. Christ, true God and true man, teaches us the truth of our being. Stained by sin, but cleansed by baptism, we oscillate between two equally tempting extremes of evil and of holiness. And this is experienced in the most simple of daily life.  At every step, we can choose God and God’s love or reject it. Following in Jesus’ footsteps, we are assured to follow a path, though narrow and rocky, nonetheless leading to eternal life, to true happiness.

May we be guided by the light of Christ, following the example of our foundress Emilie Gamelin in this new year of peace and hope. Happy New Year!

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection January 06, 2019

Gospel according to Matthew 2:1-12

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”

When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the Prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me the word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”

When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.

On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

REFLECTION:

If we want to consider the event of the visit of the Magi from a positive perspective, we remember that:

  • “Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea,
  • The Magi arrived in Jerusalem,
  • We have seen a star,
  • We have come to kneel before Him.
  • When they saw the star, a deep joy overwhelmed them
  • They returned to their country taking a different direction”

We too can, in this beautiful liturgical season, choose the positive:

  • They saw the star and were overwhelmed with joy
  • They returned to their country taking a different direction.

This allowed them to hold and savor their deep joy of having seen the Child.

By what means, from what angle can we, do we want to look at our lives, at others, at events, so to be overwhelmed with profound joy?

MC, SP

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Sunday Reflection December 30, 2018

Gospel according to Luke 2:41-52

Every year the parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival.

When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travellers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents say him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them.

Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in favour with God and human beings.

Reflections of two Sisters of Providence: one of our centenarians (102 years), Sister Anne-Marie Tremblay, and our youngest professed sister, Sister Francine Blanc.

What came to my mind on reading this passage is a comparison. In my home parish, the Holy Family had special importance. Every home had a picture of the Holy Family.  On the Sunday that followed the feast of the Holy family, there was the blessing of the children. On that day, there were very few gray heads in the church, and as families easily had 10, 12 or 14 children, the church was crowded.

In this passage of the Gospel that speaks of the Holy Family, there is no doubt that Joseph and Mary were worried, because it took them three days to find Jesus. When they found him in the temple, they saw that people were amazed at this young boy asking questions. I believe they were surprised by this so bright 12-year-old boy. But his parents had to be anxious, they asked Jesus, “… why have you done this to us?” And he answered them, “Do you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?”

Once back in Nazareth, Jesus was obedient. But I think he certainly must have told His parents what he had done, as we would have told our parents about a special day.

Sister Anne-Marie Tremblay

Dear Sisters,

In this Jubilee year, as we celebrate the 175th anniversary of the foundation of our Community and the legacy of Mother Gamelin and Bishop Bourget, I see in Luke 2:41-52 that the parents of Jesus searched for him everywhere, but did not find him. They thought he was with their companions. They had to return to Jerusalem, where they found him.

For us who celebrate, it is a great opportunity to go deeply in our search for our heroes, Mother Gamelin and Bishop Bourget. Jerusalem is the source of our Mission, of our spirituality.  Sisters, we must always return to Jerusalem to find our Savior. May we be urged by this love. Let us pray that we may always have the impetus to go forward, to adapt to our reality, without forgetting the source. Thank you!

Sister Francine Blanc

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Sunday Reflection December 23, 2018

Gospel according to Luke 1:39-45

Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of you womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

Reflection:

With this fourth Sunday of Advent Christmas is soon upon us. The Lord gives us a beautiful biblical text, where we see Mary, cheerful and joyful, because she knows that life is growing in her womb, a life that is the fruit of the Holy Spirit and is for all humankind.

So great is the love and joy that Mary feels, she is unable to remain quietly at home waiting for her baby to be born. Instead, she needs to set off immediately to meet with her cousin Elizabeth, whom she will not only help with domestic chores, but to whom she will bring God himself. That is why when Mary entered Zacharias’ home, John leaped for joy in his mother’s womb. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud voice: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Blessed are you who believe, you who present to me the Holy Spirit, you who speaks to me of God, not only with His words but with His life.

This text invites me to remember and give thanks to God for all women who, like Mary, have come to us to help us know God, and help us discover the gift of faith with their words and testimonies of life, as Emilie, Bernarda, Joseph, our grandmothers, mothers, sisters and so many other women, filled with the Holy Spirit, have done, never were they indifferent to the needs of their brothers and sisters. Like Mary, they heard the voice of God in the cries of the poor and quickly went out to encounter life while carrying life.

Today more than ever, the world needs joyful women, centered on God, who bear and defend life, faith and hope, who are contemplative and prophetic women, always ready to go forth and reach out to our sisters, brothers and all of creation.

Our service and dedication are not meant to be sterile; indeed they have to be fruitful love, love that carries life, a life that is God, not a God for the few, but for all humankind. May we always be the joyful and loving faces of Providence and make it such that God is truly born in every corner of our planet.

Nancy Arévalo, SP

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Sunday Reflection December 16, 2018

Gospel according to Luke 3:10-18

The crowds, who were gathering to be baptised by John asked him,
“What should we do?” In reply John said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats of false accusation, and be satisfied with you wages.” And as the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” So, with many other exhortations, John proclaimed the good news to the people. ”

Reflection:

Here is a passage of the Gospel which may seem quite proper for the season of Advent, the time preceding the coming of our Holy Savior. However, I also see it as a summary of how we Christians, followers of Christ, must be people of compassion and kindness.

While it is true that Advent prepares us to Jesus’ birthday and his coming at the end of time, it is also true that this time of the year is associated with conversion, i.e. to the radical change of our values, our attitudes and our lifestyle, because even if faith dwells in us, our openness to others, as followers of Jesus of Nazareth, remains our common ground.. That is, we are bound by the One who will soon be born in the hearts of us all.

To convert may still seem easy. John only called for simple and concrete things. But let us try… and we will see that changing our lives is very difficult. In order to reach that point, it takes an act of God as well as a human act. To describe the action of God, John the Baptist used three images: diving, wind and fire. The Spirit of God wants to push us around like a wind storm in which we are immersed, like a fire that burns and strips all of our tasks. This is what the sacrament of penance offers at Christmas. We have the opportunity to experience it before the holidays. May it lead us forward on the road to true happiness, on the path to peace of heart.

Today, listen to His word that exhorts us to share our goods, and to respect justice and dignity for all. Let us prepare ourselves to receive the One coming to save us and will return to “judge the living and the dead.”

Happy Advent to all!

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection December 09, 2018

Gospel according to Luke 3:1-6

“In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the Prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,  and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

 

John the Baptist opens the way for the Lord

Advent is a time of grace, of light and of Holy waiting. A time filled with hope that fills our hearts with joy.

However, if Advent is a time to prepare one’s self for the Lord, so that every mortal may see the “salvation of God”, the way to be prepared is to treat people honestly, using our influence justly. In our lives, we should pay attention not to let ourselves be taken up by structures and their needs. These are worthy goals, but they are not the center of our spiritual life. The ultimate goal is to prepare hearts to receive the Lord, a goal that is difficult to measure. While we construct buildings and implement programs, we must remember that the truly important ministry of the Church takes place at this level, less visible and more difficult to measure… and that is the work of the Spirit.

Advent makes us descend from the heights; breaks our silence, brings us out of our rooms, chapels, churches and rituals. It invites us to go onto the streets, to mingle with the people, to be with the poor, who are the Lord’s favorites.  This Advent time reminds us that this is where we meet God. The first sacrament, the most authentic and real one is the human person. Every human being is a sign and the presence of God. When God chose to come to us, He did it with a visible face: Jesus. Since then, God has done it with any face and perhaps more intensively with those most distressed, those most wounded and those most suffering. This is the sacrament of God’s presence among us. Today, here and now, may we look to our brothers and sisters and discover that Jesus, the One who is coming, gives meaning to our commitment to a more just and fraternal world.

Let us join together in these tender waiting times, with joy and open hearts.

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection December 02, 2018

Gospel according to Luke 21: 25-28, 34-36

Jesus said to his disciples: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand. “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Reflection:

We begin the period of Advent; we begin to prepare ourselves for Christmas, a time during which all Christians are getting ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus the Savior. Waiting to celebrate the birth mixes with the hope that the Lord Jesus will definitely come into our hearts and into our world.

Deep within every Christian experiences the certainty of having a deep faith and that he or she believes in Jesus; but we are often unable to put into practice, in any total way, that same faith. We believe that Jesus, by rising, released us from death, but we still have to live through that path. There is also too much pain and suffering in this world. This is why we strongly hope that the Word of Jesus be fulfilled, and that His Kingdom come. Unceasingly our heart is saying, “Come, Lord Jesus!” This is living in hope.

In today’s Gospel, we still hear the echo of the apocalyptic messages that we heard a few Sundays ago. Nevertheless, there is a new message that closes the cycle and gives meaning to all that has been said: “…stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” Thus, hope overcomes fear.

Once more, love is the characteristic that fills the life of a Christian. One’s hope must be revealed in its special capacity to love those who live near them. For those awaiting a God of love and reconciliation already live under the law of love and reconciliation. If not, their hope is not authentic.

So we ask ourselves, “How could we prepare our self to celebrate the birth of Jesus? What signs of hope could we offer in our community, our family or our parish?

We must diffuse the light that emanates from Advent in order to prepare Christmas; this light is the light of love that shines in all hearts. This light destroys our selfishness, our prejudices and our limitations, in making our lives and our hearts shine. This is the light of a little child running to greet us receiving us with open arms.

The consumer society has quickly accommodated to itself these pure feelings and transformed them for sale, but it is ours, as Christians, to rescue these feelings and make them shine as they should.

May waiting for the Infant Jesus fill our hearts with true love.

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection November 25, 2018

Gospel according to John 18: 33b-37

Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.
Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice. ”

Reflection:

We are at the gates of Advent and here we are! The liturgical year ends with the feast of Christ the King, sovereign of the universe. The concern here is about an eternal reign, a reign that stretches beyond time, into the glory of God.  We tend to look up to better see the King of Kings, and yet we should lower our eyes to contemplate the face of the King of the universe. The only visible throne given to us to contemplate and worship the King of the universe is the Cross of Christ.

The glory and splendor of Jesus’ reign are revealed through His death on the cross. It is truly the meaning of today’s Gospel with this passage about the trial of Jesus before Pilate. The greatness of Christ extends from the creation of the world until its fulfillment; it is not reserved for a people, it is only “truly” discovered and understood through Christ’s passion and death.

Jesus reverses the secular ideas of reign, to which we are still too attached. Two thousand years later, we still do not see that the reign is revealed right before our eyes on the cross, not a gold or silver cross, but a simple wooden cross. This royalty, Jesus said to Pilate, is not obtained by war or combat, but by the abandonment and fragility of someone condemned to death.

Do we have the courage to go all the way and make truth prevail? We know what we need to do, especially what others should do, but carrying it out is a whole different world… We believe that the Holy Trinity dwells in us but we carry it to in places where we do not meet the Lord. We know well that Christ dwells in the Other and yet we despise Him and let Him suffer without any assistance… We really want to accept Christ as our King, but we are dissidents regarding His life code: His Gospel…

Let us walk with Mother Gamelin towards the Light of Christ the King.

A blessed week to one and all!

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection November 18, 2018

Gospel according to Saint Mark 13: 24-32

Jesus spoke to his disciples about the end which is to come: “In those days, after the time of suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see ‘The Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory.  Then he will send out the Angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my word will not pass away. But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the Angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

Reflection:

With these words, Jesus seems to announce terrible events, would it be the end of this world, perhaps? With the end of the world would also come the end of our earthly life. The Gospel of this Sunday is for me one of the most difficult texts: the return of Christ at the end of the world for the Last Judgment. However, we cannot read differently the assertion that the Sun will no longer give light and the stars will fall from heaven onto the Earth. It is the announcement of the final disaster. A number of movies have been released in recent years describing this horrible end of the world and of any life it houses. This world passes. Our life has an ending. That is how it is and we will not change it. The end of the world and the end of my life will come someday. The second will probably come before the first. What really matters is that we are welcomed by the forgiveness of God offered to us in Christ, we can access new life, and we are saved. This is our faith. There is no reason to fear. Jesus’ teaching is focused on the second coming of the Son of man. It is a positive development, the end of salvation history.

The Son of God, with the glory of the Risen Christ, will proceed to a Last Judgment and gather all the chosen. The images of the sun, moon and stars illustrate the greatness of this glorious coming. They form a symbolic language that expresses the conclusion and announces the climax of the universal history. The final story of the world is not a catastrophe but salvation for the chosen. It could not be otherwise, since in the beginning of human history, creation was God’s great gesture of love.

When will the glorious return of Christ come? The future is in the hands of God. This is why we Christians are not waiting for imaginary references to guess our future or that of the world; but rather live in the present with a vigilant, positive and hopeful attitude.

The believer differs from someone who is not a believer, not by his moral or ethical qualities, nor by carrying out more perfect works, but by his vigilant attitude towards the return of the Lord, who is coming. This is why faith allows us to live in hope and love.

The parable of the fig tree is an invitation to vigilance and reading of the signs of the times. When the branches become tender and sprout, you known that spring is close, but that it has not yet begun. The key word is “close”; the signs of the times do not announce the end of the world, but the proximity of the end of a stage in the evolution of our faith.

In union of prayer I bid you farewell,

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection November 11, 2018

Gospel according to Saint Mark 12: 38-44.

Jesus was teaching in the temple, and a large crowd was listening to Him. He said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets! They devour widow’s houses and for the sake of appearance, say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money in the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then He called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Reflection:

“Good and merciful God, You do not judge according to appearances, You gratify those who give all they have not worrying about tomorrow; come today and purify our hearts! Teach us to know that at every moment all gifts come from You, so that we may have confidence in You and in Your Word, and dare to give, though we own so little, yet expect no return,. Prayer of the Senegalese people

Beware of appearances; in this text we see two types of religious behaviour. On the one hand, the pretentious scribes who parade and use religion to assert themselves: Jesus condemns this attitude. On the other hand, we are presented a poor widow doing a minor action in the eyes of those present, but for her it had heavy consequences, since she divested herself of what was essential for her living. Jesus sanctioned this attitude; He pointed it out to his disciples for its impressive truth. It is not what the people see that is valued in God’s eyes. God does not judge appearances but hearts. Jesus leads us to look within ourselves. This is not a matter of success, let alone superficial acts. Salvation requires our actions to be consistent with our convictions. And in everything one does, especially in one’s religious life, human beings should always remember that we do not mock God. Make no mistake: said St. Paul, we do not mock God; for we will reap what we sow (Galatians 6, 7). What the Lord requires of us, is to have a pure heart, true faith, total confidence. This woman has nothing. She was a widow, and so without support or resources. She was poor, without income and gave what was necessary for her living; she placed her trust in God so not to die.

Following Emilie, let us entrust our lives to Jesus, the Christ. May you have a happy week in hope and joy.

Hortense Demia-Mbaïlaou, SP

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Sunday Reflection November 04, 2018

Gospel according to Saint Mark 12: 28b-34

One of the scribes came near and heard the religious authorities disputing with one another, and seeing that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘He is one, and besides Him there is no other’; and ‘to love him with all your heart, and with all your understanding, and with all your strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbour as oneself,’ – this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that the scribe answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask Jesus any questions.”

Reflection:

What is the most important of all the commandments? Jesus’ answer is clear: the most important is the relationship with God and with our brothers and sisters. This relationship is the same in both cases. It should be a loving relationship. For me it is clear that God must not be feared nor adored. God must be loved. Our relationship with God is a loving one for the simple reason that God loved us first. We are God’s creation.

We find this difficult, it seems that we may never achieve it.  It is very possible that we have not yet come to experience this universal love, but at least we should be clear about our destiny. The horizon towards which we are heading is love. But what does loving mean? Some people immediately think in terms of physical attraction, but loving is much more. It has nothing to do with owning or manipulating the other to make him/her do what I want. Loving is closeness to the other, taking care of his/her needs, and serving him/her. It is to put the interests of others before mine and do it gratuitously, without expecting anything in return. Because happiness, for the person who loves, lies precisely in the happiness of the one loved. As long as the other is happy, the one who loves experiences happiness and fulfillment.

Today Jesus reminds us that there may be many commandments, but they are all summarized into one fundamental one:  love. It is possible that those who love may not know much about theology or may not be cultured persons, but they are closer to the Kingdom of God. This is what Jesus said to the scribe. This is how today we are reminded of our first commandment.

Providence of God, I thank you for all.

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection October 28, 2018

Gospel according to Saint Mark 10: 46-52

As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout and say, « Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, « Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.
Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has made you well.” Immediately the regained his sight and followed Jesus on the way.

Reflection:

Jesus said, “Go, your faith has made you whole”.  Bartimeus, son of Timaeus, was not a blind person like others, he was aware of his blindness. This is why he could shout at Jesus passing by and ask Him to have mercy on him; it is Bartimeus’ faith that guides him. And the more he was silenced, the more he shouted. It was his only opportunity, his unique chance to see once again, he felt it profoundly. With his shout, he drew attention to his handicap, to his limitations.

In society, it is sometimes annoying to expose our poverties, our limitations. But the poor, the oppressed, those who suffer injustices and pain are always present; even though we evict them from our neighborhood or ignore them as they pass near us. Now, I think of young delinquents. They live in the midst of violence. They make noise, they disrupt peace. However, I have the impression that all those things they do, that upsets us so, and draws in true violence in our neighborhoods, are nothing more than ways of shouting their misery, their need for affection. Down deep,  they are mere children in need of a family to support them, to defend them and make them feel safe.

To see again with new eyes and heart, today, this is the miracle we need to ask Jesus and Emilie, our foundress. It is faith that leads us to walk hand-in-hand with our brothers and sisters, so that the shouts asking us for help are not so annoying, but are rather calls to experience fraternity as Jesus wanted. Jesus will give us the strength and the grace we need.

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection October 21, 2018

Gospel according to Saint Mark 10: 35-45

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to Jesus and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And Jesus said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” But Jesus said to them, You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They replied, “We are able.” But Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are Tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. ”

Reflection:

The request of James and John to Jesus:

After Jesus was questioned, He asked James and John to express themselves clearly, if they really did want to sit one on His right and one on His left in His Glory. However, in my reflection I ponder, what are my requests? What are the motives of my prayer? During the recent celebration of Thanksgiving, on October 8, my heart was filled with gratitude for the gift of life and the marvels of nature.

For a year, I have live on the 5th floor of Providence Pavilion, at the Motherhouse in Montreal, the autumn landscape, embellished with its most beautiful colors, delights my eyes and my soul. The blessings of God for the 91 years that will be mine in 2 weeks, on November 4, are graces that deserve my most sincere praise. Then, following in Jesus and our Blessed Emilie Gamelin’s footsteps, in all simplicity I say that I live to serve others. In my environment, I have many opportunities to serve, to be attentive and be a presence for my companions. When welcoming people, I try to remember what the Lord has said:  “…I came not to be served but to serve…”

How not give thanks to Providence for so many graces!

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection October 14, 2018

Gospel according to Saint Mark 10: 17-30

As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your father and mother.’” He said to Jesus, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When the man heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For humans it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.” Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father of children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age – houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields – but with persecutions – and in the age to come, eternal life”.

Reflection:

Contrary to what we may believe, this passage is not a lesson about the vow of poverty, but about something that affects the salvation of all. Jesus offers us another path: the path of truth, which certainly involves giving up our wealth, pride and arrogance. It is a call to do things differently, with wisdom. It is not a call to a life of absolute poverty, materially speaking, but to a poverty that does not rest on the simple security of formal compliance with the law, rather on the quest for God’s Reign.

Owning riches, loving them and looking for them is a way of life that defines an attitude that is contrary to the pursuit of God’s Reign and eternal life: it is power, safety, pleasure… None of these is happiness. However, to think that following Jesus’ footsteps is a miserable option would be a wrong way of understanding what the Gospel offers to us. This young man was not only materially well-off; he was also morally rich because he fulfilled the commandments. Is this immoral? No! But this moral wealth does not allow him to see that his riches are stealing true wisdom and his heart from him. He does not have the wisdom he is looking for, because he probably depends heavily on his “riches.”  Thus, walking after Jesus will teach him another way of understanding life, wealth and even religion.

Furthermore, Jesus adds that it is very difficult for the rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, because they are not able to deprogram themselves from their personal security, from their conception of God and men. Their material wealth is not only what makes it difficult for them to enter the Kingdom; their world of power and security isolates them from the little ones and their world, which is the real world that Jesus tells us about. “What is impossible for a man is possible for God” (v. 27) Jesus’ answer is a very special invitation for us to follow him radically.

Have a good week everyone!

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection October 07, 2018

Gospel according to Saint Mark 10: 2-16

Some Pharisees who came to test Jesus asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” Jesus answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has united, let no one separate.” Upon their return home, the disciples asked Him again about this matter. Jesus said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

People were bringing little children to him in order that Jesus might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant He said to them, let the little children come to me; do not stop them: for it is too such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. “Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” And Jesus took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them

Reflection:

Beyond marriage, Jesus invites us to two deep reflections: that of the sacrament of love and mutual respect within the couple. Not one of the two is more than the other, and not one is more capable than the other. Obligations, rights and privileges must be equal.  The two beings that form a couple have a mutual need of each other to form a family or perhaps only to be happy, to live in the fullness of love to which God has called us.

In current times, when families appear to be living in crisis. Jesus invites us to return to the beginning, to rediscover God’s original desire and try to make it reality in each of our families. Thus, every marriage, every family, will become a witness of God’s love, a nucleus where life is recreated daily.

While we talk about the union in love, we also talk of children, who are the fruits of this alliance and whom Jesus blesses. He says that all those who keep their child heart, pure and wholesome, shall receive the Kingdom of God as a reward. Therefore may we allow ourselves to be invaded by children’s purity of heart, their simplicity, their marveled eyes upon discoveries, and their spontaneous sincerity. How many gifts are bequeathed to us during our childhood that we gradually destroy during life? We mistakenly think we are evolving, when in fact we are simply getting older and move away from the crystalline heart that Jesus is asking of us.

Thank you for this beautiful opportunity to share with the Providence family.

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection September 30, 2018

Gospel according to Saint Mark 9: 38-43. 47-48

After Jesus had finished teaching the disciples, John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us.  For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward. If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.  If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.”

Reflection:

Christ is inviting us today to be open to those who want to do good, to be edified by their commitments, to admire the beautiful work accomplished by those who are not part of our group, our political party, our nationality. “Don’t stop them, even though they are not one of us.”

We realize that outside of the Church, there is fullness of salvation, that thousands of people cast out demons, that is, they struggle against evil, disease, prejudice, and discrimination. There are many people who are doing exceptional work with a great spirit of brotherhood and commitment.

This is an invitation to reflect on our prejudices, our exclusions, our rejection of others. Openness does not oblige us to give up our own Christian identity; it rather strengthens our identity, not in confrontation, but dialogue. A dialogue to understand, to be amazed, and to  be enriched! As we approach others, we discover jewels of humanity and spirituality. “The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes”. (John 3, 8)

Following in Christ’s and Blessed Emilie Gamelin’s footsteps, may we meet the needy and help relieve their miseries without prejudice nor after-thought.

A blessed week to one and all!

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection September 23, 2018

Gospel according to Saint Mark 9.30-37

After leaving the mountain Jesus and his disciples went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house Jesus asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. Jesus sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

Reflection:

This Gospel passage talks of Jesus’s second step on his way to Jerusalem, accompanied by his disciples. The Teacher knows, with the lucidity of a prophet, what to expect: the passion and death, but also the certainty that He will be in the hands of God the Father forever, because his God is the God of life. But this announcement of the passion in today’s Gospel, becomes one further motivation to speak to the disciples of the need for service.

In addition, Jesus, guide and master of life, in a sacramental gesture, so to speak, of the symbolic acceptance of a child, a significant gesture and words: “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the One who sent me.” It is this simple and expressive attitude of sincere service to the most humble and vulnerable that authenticates the credibility of true discipleship: “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” What better indication for a Christian commitment to this new scale of values established by Jesus?

If it is the child who must occupy the center of community life, where is the importance of ambition, honour and greatness of privileged positions? Do discords, disagreements and controversies among us make sense? They correspond to nothing of the wisdom emanating from the Gospel. The critical gaze of Jesus falls squarely on his own disciples, disowned by their behavior to exercise the mission for which they were called. The poorest and most insignificant to our eyes come first in God’s eyes. It is not the Lord who is seated at the table, but those who serve.

As Jesus, Emilie and Bernarda asked us through the example of their lives, may we continue to serve the most vulnerable of our society. Have a nice week,

LC

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Sunday Reflection September 16, 2018

Gospel according to Saint Mark 8.27-35

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”  And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the Prophets.” Jesus asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”
And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him.  But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are thinking not as God does, but as humans do.” Jesus called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “Whoever wants to become my follower, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake, and for the sake of the Gospel, will save it.”

Reflection:

Following Jesus from our cross

It may be a good way, perhaps, to know ourselves and to know Jesus. When faced with new situations, with different experiences, when we come out of ourselves, then we rediscover ourselves. When we tear down the fears that tie us up and separate us from one another, and when we break our mental clichés and preset ways of living, then we can generate opportunities for sharing and change how we look at our “I”, at our “you” and, above all, at our God.

Because it is not only about standing up, it is about living, moving forward. It is about allowing ourselves to be challenged on who we are and what defines us as Christians. By fear that whoever we least expect recognizes better than many of us the place the Lord Jesus occupies in life, in history, in our daily reality…

Ideally, everything would go great and recognizing the sovereignty of Christ in my life would be a journey of successes and triumphs, as when He multiplied the bread and fish or when He healed the sick. But no. Following the immediate confession of faith of Peter, Jesus put us on guard about what it means to make Christ our reason for living: we will suffer, we will not be understood, we will be rejected, they will be executed, a full-fledged scandal… and despite all this, we will continue professing this confession of faith.

Thank you Lord for the 175 year-long life of our community!

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection September 09, 2018

Gospel according to Mark 7, 31-37

“Returning from the region of Tyre, Jesus went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. Jesus took him aside in private, away from the crowd and put his finger into the man’s ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, He sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha!’ that is, ‘Be opened!’ And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure,  saying, ‘He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute to speak.’”

Reflection:

In our world, where the cries of the poor are neither heard nor listened to, there are only intentional, deliberate and persistent silences motivated by selfish interests. We Christians must listen, speak and act. Persons of faith are called through their sensitivity, to perceive, in the midst of worldly noise, the voice of God and consequently choose the path of truth and mercy. Blessed Emilie Gamelin followed integrally this path, giving her entire life for the benefit of those most in need. Following her example, the Sisters of Providence, of yesterday and today, hear the cry of the poor, they speak and act on their behalf.

Whoever has ears that hear and lips that speak the truth also have eyes open for others, hands extended towards those in need, and a pure heart that bears witness to true love.

Christ said to the deaf-mute, while touching his ears and tongue, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” This physical opening, fruit of a miraculous cure, must lead to an inner-spiritual openness. People are too self-enclosed with their small problems of reduced horizons. Opening oneself to faith is to accept salvation, cease to have recourse only to one’s own energies, but rely fundamentally on God, and thus see the light of hope!

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection September 02, 2018

The Gospel According to Mark 7: 1-8 14-15 21-23

Now when the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles [and beds].) So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.’ You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” When he got home away from the crowd, He said to his disciples, From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”

Reflection:

No group, not even the Church, is able to maintain itself without traditions and customs. But however good these traditions are, they have been established by human beings. Therefore, the way mass, feasts, novenas, etc. are celebrated, and everything that a pope, a bishop or a Christian community has established in the past, can be changed by another pope, another bishop or another Christian community. Now, since all this can change, we understand that it is not the core of Christian life.

There is one essential thing that does not change: the teaching of God. Where can we find it? In the Word of God. Too often we do not put much effort in getting into the spirit of the Church, while we cling blindly to antiquated and harmful customs or practices.

Why are so many Christians shocked when the Church frees itself from outdated practices? Jesus gave us the reason, quoting the prophet Isaiah: “Perhaps they cling to their rituals because they are unable to ‘believe’.” Have a good week in the joy of the Lord!

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection August 26, 2018

Gospel according to John 6:59-69

Jesus had given a teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. Having heard Jesus, many of his disciples said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this scandalize you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?

It is the spirit that gives life,

while the flesh is of no avail.

The words I have spoken

to you are spirit and life.

But there are some amongst you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning who were those that do not believe and who was the one who would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.” And from this moment, many of his disciples withdrew and no longer accompanied him.

Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

 

REFLECTION:

Had I been in the place of the disciples who followed Jesus, how would I have reacted? Would I have continued to follow Jesus or would I have done as Simon Peter, who answers Jesus: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

If one day, as a Sister of Providence, I truly chose Jesus, then, WHO is He for me when I feel much movement disturbing my inner self? Do I have reason to be upset on such occasions? In reflecting on this, the proper solution is to rely on His powerfulness, place my trust in Him, and abandon myself to His will.

When I see, in a bus, a person giving their seat to a woman or a man who has difficulty walking… To me, this is, a delicate act of goodness.

Or still when a person, touched with compassion, reacts against discrimination, abuse of any kind whatsoever, and violence.

These are expressions of love of neighbour that conveys “walking in Jesus’ footsteps.”

And there are several other small gestures of kindness, generosity and delicacy that can be performed and concretely show the “following of Jesus.”

If we believe that “Jesus has the words of eternal life” and that He is the “Holy one of God” (verses 68 and 69), how could He abandon the creature He created out of love and for whom His love is infinite? YES, God loves every person to the same extent, that is to say TO MADNESS…

Sister Claudette Chénier

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Sunday Reflection August 19, 2018

Gospel according to John 6:51-58

I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

Reflection:

In his great Love for humanity, Christ gave His Life and continues to offer His Body and His Blood to us, as a pledge of eternal life already provided here on Earth. What a mystery to welcome! How can we give thanks to our God for offering us, throughout our earthly journey, Jesus, who wishes to pursue His saving action in the daily lives of each and every one of us.

At every Eucharist, we repeat “Blessed are the guests at the Lord’s Supper”; are we aware and conscious of that blessing? Do we appreciate the greatness of our God’s generosity? Our poverty is even greater before the bountiful goodness of the One who constantly desires to give Himself to us through His Word and His Bread, through His body and blood. How great is the mystery of our God!

Let us approach the Eucharistic table with joy and gratitude, in union with our brothers and sisters and especially with those who suffer persecution because of their faith in Jesus, who becomes nourishment for the journey. Let us contemplate this privileged sacrament of the resurrection of Jesus, a summary of His life and mission.

On this Day of the Lord, may we extend our praise of thanksgiving to the One who invites us to abide in Him through this communion with his Body and Blood, in a foretaste of heaven.

Sister Marguerite Cuierrier

“We are called to God’s house,

We are invited to God’s feast.

Day of joy and joyful day, Hallelujah”

Robert Lebel

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Sunday Reflection August 12, 2018

Gospel according to John 6:41-51

At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered.  “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.   It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.  Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died.  But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

Reflection:

I am the bread of life

When trying to put this reflection in writing, I realized that it was very difficult to sit down and write the ideas that came to my mind… So, following the suggestion of one of my sisters in community, I asked myself, “What does the Gospel say to me?” And that’s when I became aware of a penetrating reflection that I want to share with you.

What do I nourish myself with? I mean not just physically, but also in spirit and mind.

Feeding oneself is an activity that requires personal responsibility over oneself, the same as so many other activities in our lives that require our will, decision, discernment and practice. We already have the Word of Jesus, who tells us, “I am the bread of life,” but this is not enough for us to nourish ourselves… We are offered the bread, but it is the movement of our acknowledgment, our hunger and our poverty, which will lead us to accepting, seeking and eating the Bread to satiate our hunger.

Jesus admonishes the Jews: “Stop murmuring among yourselves,” for hearing Him say He was the bread of heaven matched with neither what they had learned when young, nor the teachings passed down for centuries. The assurance that they knew Jesus, His family and His mother, certainly made them act with the confidence of being right. From the poor and hungry point of view of who cannot accept that they may be wrong  in their judgment, Jews sought to remain faithful to the law and the prophets, of which they were quite proud.

I ask myself, and invite you to ask yourselves, what is the food that I am nourishing myself with?

What are the things I keep on criticizing – without even considering the possibility I may be wrong – while trying to remain faithful to something I learned years ago, but that no longer seems to correspond to reality?

In these times in which we live, especially in today’s Church and in consecrated life and particularly in Chile where I fond myself today, I feel that it is time to recognize that we are hungry for “True Food”, and it is also time to face the reality that tells us we need to change, transform our “nutritional diet”, stop eating toxic food that gradually degrades our life.

Thus, we recognize the invitation, Health is being offered to us: “I am the bread of life…” but the reply is up to us.

Alba Letelier, SP

 

Sunday Reflection August 05, 2018

Gospel according to John 6:24–35

When the people saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into those boats and crossed to Capernaum to look for Jesus. When they found him on the other side, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered: In all truth I tell you, you are looking for me not because you have seen the signs but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat. Do not work for food that goes bad, but work for food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of man will give you, for on him the Father, God himself, has set his seal. Then they said to him, ‘What must we do if we are to carry out God’s work?’ Jesus gave them this answer, ‘This is carrying out God’s work: you must believe in the one he has sent.’ So they said, ‘What sign will you yourself do, the sight of which will make us believe in you? What work will you do? Our fathers ate manna in the desert; as scripture says: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ Jesus answered them: In all truth I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, it is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven, the true bread; for the bread of God is the bread which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘give us that bread always.’ Jesus answered them: I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever hunger; no one who believes in me will ever thirst.

Reflection:

The crowds have followed Jesus because they have been fed. They ought to be seeking out Jesus because he can give them eternal life; it seemed that the crowd might be on their way to accepting Jesus and his mission, so they asked: “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus replies that they must have faith in the one sent from God. But in the next dialogue, the crowd reveals their inability to see Jesus’ true identity. They ask Jesus for a sign so that they might know that Jesus is from God. How strange this sounds since Jesus has just fed more than 5000 people. What more is expected?

How quickly they seem to have forgotten the wonderful thing that Jesus has done for them. Or, maybe they never recognized the miracle in the first place. Sometimes we don’t recognize the wonderful things that God has done for us. And, sometimes, we simply forget and ask for further evidence of his love and care. We pray that God will remove our blindness so that we can receive with thanks and praise all the wonderful things that God accomplishes in our lives.

That’s why it’s important to name the wonderful gifts that God has given to us and some of the remarkable deeds that God has accomplished in our world. It is also significant to count our blessings because we can easily miss recognizing all of the wonderful things that God does for us. Jesus says that he will give them something greater and more important than the bread that fed their physical hungers; he will give them bread that will give them eternal life. We have this gift from Jesus in the Eucharist.

Praying together and thanking God for all that he has given to us, especially for the gift of eternal life and the Eucharist.

A Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection July 29, 2018

Gospel according to John 6: 1-15

After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little bit.” One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves* and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Jesus said: “Have the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world. Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

Reflection:

This miracle of Jesus is recounted in the four Gospels because of the expectations, and then of the importance it had for the disciples. In this passage, John begins by saying: “After this…” But what is “this”? We see Jesus trying to tell His truth and His testimony on the works of his Father. The feast of Passover is approaching and He knows what is going to happen: rejection, cross, people not believing in His Word. As a Providence Family and on the occasion of the celebration of our 175 years of existence, we are asking: and after this, what? And to remember the Community’s historical development, that it is full of life, of experiences, generosities, shadows and challenges  is to see it reflected in this miracle.

The Evangelist says Jesus crossed to the other bank of the Sea of Galilee and many people were following Him… What does crossing to the other bank mean for us? What will be our Tiberias? Through discernment with the core values bequeathed by our foundress Emilie Gamelin – humility, simplicity and charity – and like Jesus, who looked up and saw that many people were following Him, we also will see. With the charism of love and trust in our Provident God, we will see and be witnesses to the crowds that challenge us and continue to need the healing promise of Jesus. The stupendous and amazing miracle that satisfied so many people started with something small, fragile and simple: five barley loaves, the bread of the poor, and only two fish. Once in the hands of Jesus, they multiply, feed and bring to fullness. How many times, in the long history of our Community, have we experienced this miracle of our Provident God who never disappoints?

In the place where He performed the miracle, Jesus asked the people to sit down because there was a great deal of grass in that place. He wanted them to be well and comfortable and as He blessed them with the sign of peace, he shared both the material and spiritual goods that fill the heart. This is what we find in our foundresses and confirm in our Constitutions.

When we act with faith and trust in God’s loving plan, we find initiative, creativity, generosity and a proactive attitude, and the resources multiply, for God’s generosity is infinite. We see that after feeding thousands of people, there were twelve baskets of bread pieces left over.

May Mary, our compassionate and loving mother, help us to be humble and generous, and learn from her son Jesus to see the needs of around us and provide us with the means of who we are and what we have. The rest will be accomplished by Jesus himself, gratefully filling us with blessings

       Sister Ana Delia Silva. A.

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Sunday Reflection July 22, 2018

Gospel according to Mark 6: 30-34

“After their first mission, the apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When He disembarked and saw the vast crowd, His heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.”

Reflection:

What is specific to all Christians is to be artisans of peace, unifiers. It is for this that Jesus missioned His disciples. Bringing together rather than dispersing and separating. Doing what is necessary to avoid breakups, spreading gossip, jealousy and ambition and undermining the very foundations of the community. This is the daily challenge faced by people of peace.

During the ritual of the Mass, the Lord allows us to lay down our aggressiveness, to destroy the walls that separate us. We meet the Lord, receive His forgiveness, we find peace and the necessary tools to forgive those who have offended us.

The time for rest is in Jesus’ boat where, for a time, we forget any concern other than His presence and His love. Nourished by God, Jesus counts on our arms and our hearts every day. Jesus has chosen ordinary people; He left them in their milieus and asked them to announce the Good News. He has not changed His method. It is us He is calling today. Will we hear Jesus’ call?

A nice week to you all!

L.L., Sister of Providence

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Sunday Reflection July 15, 2018

The Gospel according to Mark 6.7-13:

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts.

They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them.” So they went off and preached repentance. They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

Reflection:

Like the disciples of Jesus, we are called to spread the Good News. Like them, we have to rid ourselves of everything that is superfluous and keep only what is essential, our faith and our self, which is a sacred temple in the service of Goodness.

This kind of action, in theory, might seem simple and easily achievable. Yet, everything seems to converge to make this a most difficult task. How can we rid ourselves of the luxury that our society offers to us and that we have within easy reach? How can we separate ourselves from material abundance and remain with what is fundamental? Yet, though we are living in quite different times, I’m convinced that for the disciples of Jesus, it was also difficult to let go of the little they owned and to keep only the minimum as they went from town to town, “missioned two by two.” These small nomadic communities remind us of our predecessors, our sisters, as they left for distant countries. They knew very little about the persons they would meet, but they were filled with the hope that only the urgent charity of Christ can give. I want us to continue on our way while improving ourselves and, at the same time, sharing the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A nice week to you all!

A Sister of Providence

 

Sunday Reflection July 8, 2018

The Gospel according to Mark 6.1-6

“Jesus came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, ‘Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?’ And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.’ So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. He went around to the villages in the vicinity teaching.”

Reflection:

The Lord often sends us unexpected and confusing prophets…

An encounter or a sharing can offer to us unexpected ways and both are, in fact, messages from the Lord. Let us note well that prophets are not “fortunetellers” or “messengers of misfortune forewarning the end of the world.” The prophets are those who preach the Word of God, who teach what the will of God is for us and for the world. They accomplish grand things in the simplest way and they teach Truth with the knowledge of the heart, the one that is accessible to all. If we remain alert, we will realize that we encounter prophets every single day… They may be in our family, in our close relationships, at our workplace, etc.  It does not matter what the wrapping may look like, it is the message that is important,  and the message can help us live.  There is an unequivocal sign that allows us to see who are the true prophets :  they  are always the target of criticism.

This thought leads us to profoundly question ourselves as Christians: when will we ponder things deeply before judging? When will we admit that we have something to change, to improve in our lives, and that the blame we impose on others should very frequently be directed to ourselves ? In addition, are we not judging and criticizing others much more easily than supporting them and helping them during their tough times? May the pathway indicated by the greatest of all Prophets enlighten our lives.

A Sister of Providence

 

Sunday Reflection July 1st, 2018

The Gospel according to Mark 5.21-24, 35-43

21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake.22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” 35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” 36 Overhearing[a] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” 37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly.39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this,and told them to give her something to eat.

 

Reflection

If we take a closer look, this story is about salvation and faith. The head of the synagogue asks Jesus: “Come and lay hands on my little girl that she may be made whole and be saved.” And the woman with incurable blood loss said to herself, “If I can touch but his garment, I shall be made whole and be saved”. Now this salvation (of which healing is a sign) presupposes faith. This is what Jesus emphasizes; he says to the woman who touched her garment and made her known: “Your faith has saved you”.  And to the head of the synagogue who has just heard of the death of his daughter: “Do not be afraid, just believe.”

Only faith in Jesus can give access to salvation, which in turn makes one enter eternal life through the death and resurrection of the Lord. Mark’s account reveals its catechetical character. When read in the light of the resurrection of Jesus, it appears as a prophetic anticipation of what Jesus offers to every believer. He says to the little girl: “Get up.” or literally, “Wake up.”, that is to say: “Resurrect.”

CHRIST has conquered death. HE is the inexhaustible source of our HOPE. HE is the Life that enlivens our souls. HE is Food of life by his EUCHARIST. HE constantly resurrects us with his multiple pardons. HE is the PATH of LIFE. He came for LIFE and life in abundance … How could we not trust him completely!

A Sister of Providence

 

Sunday Reflection June 24, 2018

The Gospel according to Luke 1:57-66, 80

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Reflection

John the Baptist is one of the few people whose birth is described in the Gospel. It all started with the announcement made to Zechariah whose name means, lest we forget, “God remembers.” “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call him John.”  June 24, the birthday of John the Baptist, is an occasion for us to consider the uniqueness of this man born of a unique couple. It is also an opportunity for us to unite with the joy of the people of Quebec who celebrate today the feast of John the Baptist, their patron saint, and the National Day of Quebec.

So Elizabeth gave birth to a son. She did what any woman does when giving birth. Through her, John the Baptist came into being! Elizabeth’s whole existence was impacted by this mother-son relationship. I can’t help but think about all of our predecessors, the Sisters of Providence who freely chose to “give birth” in consecrating their lives to persons on the margins of society. Yes, “giving birth” is to give the fullness of life to the other. Isn’t this why we are Sisters of Providence?

John Baptist was the one the world did not expect. On his arrival, however, the world welcomed him and rejoiced. His birth was like a miracle and he was given a name from the tradition of his people. He was the precursor and a man full of joy.

In this jubilee year of the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Congregation, we, the Sisters of Providence, are invited to look at the past and be mindful of all the events that have marked the history of our Community. And on this special day, is it not the time for us to welcome the grace of God in our personal and congregational lives? John, whose name means, “God gives grace,” is the one who continually preached conversion. In this our jubilee year, will we let ourselves be transformed by God’s grace and mercy? Will we turn inward and renew our relationship with Christ who does not cease speaking to us? Finally, with Elizabeth, are we open enough to let blossom the life that is moving deep within in us?

Sister Sandrine-Aimée Tsélikémé, SP

 

Sunday Reflection June 17, 2018

The Gospel according to Mark 4: 26-34

The seed and mustard seed

He said, “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.”  He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

While we are waiting for the “harvest time”, a process of growth is at work. It is an illusion to think that nothing is happening. We do not see what is going on, but life really develops. What happens in us and around us is often of that order: a hidden, imperceptible force is activated without our being aware of it.

Also, Jesus lets us know that our effort to spread the message of the Good News points in the same direction. He was himself a great preacher, still he did not easily convert his contemporaries and his own family. Yet, with a crazy audacity, he believed he had not lost his time when spreading the seed of the hope of the Kingdom. History has proven him right.

This short parable makes us remember that while life is shattered everywhere around us, we must learn to remain calm, not to become agitated, and to sleep peacefully. Saint Paul said that instead of building up ourselves, Christians must be shaped by the grace of God. The Lord is like the sculptor who does not stack stone on stone, but rather removes sections from the block of marble that he is working on. So we Christians must let ourselves be shaped with confidence.  We must also leave to God the development of the faith around us. The action of God is present, even if we do not see it.

 

Sunday Reflection June 10, 2018

Mark 3, 20-35

He came home. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub,” and “By the prince of demons he drives out demons.” Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him. But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house. Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

His mother and his brothers arrived. Standing outside they sent word to him and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.” But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.

Reflection:

Try to imagine, as I am doing now, that you are part of this gospel which, at first glance, looks controversial… Jesus, squeezed by people, cannot even eat anything. What do I feel when imagining this scene and what do I think about it? To my surprise, Jesus remains calm… I look askance at him… He is attentive. And among so many requests, it strikes me that he listens to the scribes, those who, with their knowledge, prejudices and fears, said on Jesus: “He is possessed by Beelzebub and expels the demons with the power of the prince of the demons…”

I am waiting for what Jesus might say; after all, they are the scribes, the men (women) of opinion, leaders in their field and jealous of their tradition. Do you recall being evaluated by some people or groups through the compass of their prejudices and fears? And you, with your prejudices and fears, have you evaluated someone? I see Jesus, who looks at me tenderly, as if knowing my ignorance mixed with deep admiration and respect… And you, how do think that Jesus looks at you? He invites me to come closer and, as to the others, he explains, with the most basic logic, that a divided family not can survive. With their activity, their zeal and their silence, they have a true foundation that is impossible to change, which is…the will of the Father! … I breathe deeply… and I realize that Jesus looks at me with longing, he says my name and directly, he asks me: “Are you my brother, my sister and my mother?” What do I answer?

Marcia Gatica, SP

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Sunday, June 03, 2018

“This is my body, this my blood” (Mk 14:12-16, 22-26)

The Gospel according to Mark

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover.

While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

From now on, those who look very well at the crucifix, recognize that there, in the true face of God, are the brothers and the sisters of Christ. They know him as He really is, the God of tenderness and mercy and, when their turn comes, they are able to live with tenderness and mercy. Finally, this would be to live as free beings, because the worst chains that exist are those that we put on ourselves.

Here is the new life to which we are invited and which is symbolized by the bread. When Jesus said, “This is my body,” he held in his hands a piece of unleavened bread, or matzo; He was announcing a new way of being, a pure way that meant being free.

During this year of the 175th anniversary of the foundation of our congregation, we will offer to the new Sisters of Providence and the Providence Associates as well, the pride and love of belonging and of being rooted in our beautiful community.

Amid the celebrations, in the joy and the thanksgiving, I marvel and I thank our Provident God and Emilie Gamelin. She inspires me to live her charism. Each and every Sister of Providence, wherever she might be in the world, is an extension of Emilie who still is very alive in our hearts and in our lives.

175 years of blessings!

Sister Lise Lessard, SP.

 

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Trinity Sunday, May 27, 2018

All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons and daughters of God….When we cry, “Abba, Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…  Romans 8, 14-17

When I pray with the icon of the Holy Trinity by Andrei Roublev, I am struck by how each of the persons depicted in the icon are inclined toward and are leaning into each other.  These three distinct persons seem to be engaged in a holy encounter, which is both conscious and harmonious.  In their engagement, we can recognize a deep and sacred communion is happening.

In the chapel at the International Centre of the Sisters of Providence in Montreal, there is an icon of the Holy Family.  Here the three persons, Mary, Joseph and the boy Jesus, are also leaning into one another, fully conscious and engaged in an encounter, which mirrors that of the Holy Trinity.  Here, too, we see communion happening and we recognize the community of love we call the Holy Family.

What is, for me, so wonderful, amazing and mysterious, is that the communitarian love of the Trinity is “made flesh” in the life of Jesus.  With the incarnation of Jesus, the Sacred Love of the Trinitarian God becomes one with all of humanity and one with all of creation. This encounter of God with God’s creation in the person of Jesus is confirmed with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit encompassing the whole universe.

In our daily lives, we are invited to be conscious and aware that we are immersed in sacredness, that we ourselves, each other person, and each aspect of creation mirrors the holiness of God.  As we become more and more conscious of this truth, we find ourselves leaning into the encounter with the sacred that surrounds us and engaged in the holy dynamic of love that has the power to transform us.  Thus we, with our sisters and brothers and all of creation, are moving together into communion, mirroring in our diverse and holy communities of life the very life of the Trinitarian God.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.  II Cor 13, 11-14

Kathryn Rutan, SP

 

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PENTECOST SUNDAY

Gospel of St. John 20: 19-23

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

 

For eight days, the Apostles have been sad and somewhat distraught. Last Sunday, they saw Jesus rise and ascend to heaven. They will see him no more and they know it. They are sad and concerned; they don’t know how things will go for them now.

Today, they meet in their same place, says the Evangelist, probably in the upper room, to talk about Jesus, his teachings, and his words during his first appearance. Jesus had arrived among them telling them: “Peace be with you” and after He spoke these words, He breathed on them and said: “Receive the Holy Spirit, the One who will teach you all things.”  Yet they still lacked confidence and felt afraid. They really did not know how they would fulfill the mission that Jesus had given to them.

So while they are pondering sadly over these matters, they hear a great wind which fills the whole room and they see tongues of fire resting above the heads of each one of them. It is Pentecost! It is the Holy Spirit they are hearing and seeing. This Spirit transforms the Apostles, fills them with boldness, love and courage. Yes, they are ready to proclaim Jesus, his life, his death and his teachings. (Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11)

Most of us also received the Holy Spirit, first at our baptism and later at our confirmation. Do we remember? Do we still think about this? Do we desire the Spirit of God? Do we pray to the Holy Spirit? When I was a child in boarding school, every Monday morning before class, we sang a prayer to the Holy Spirit.  I still sing this prayer to myself because I love it and for this week of Pentecost, I want to share it with you.

Oh Holy Spirit, soul of my soul, I love you.

Guide me, direct me, console me, speak to me,

Tell me what I need to do, give me direction.

I promise to surrender myself to all that you ask of me,

And to accept everything that you allow to happen to me.

Only let me know your will.

Amen.

Sister Pierrette Chevrette, sp

 

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Sunday, May 14 2018

Gospel of Marc 16: 15-20

He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents [with their hands], and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

Reflection

Ascension Sunday illustrates that the presence of Jesus, which had been limited to those who could physically approach him, touch him, see him and hear his Word, would now be transformed into a presence without limits. The mystery of the Ascension is far from being a dream. It has nothing in common with the promotion done by the “Children’s Wish” foundation, which has as its goal to grant the dream of very sick children before they die.

This mystery of Ascension does not move us away from the human reality we live in. It does not take us to a virtual world, but keeps us very much on Earth. It actualizes the mystery of the Incarnation of the Word, for God is with us. Jesus is a presence written into our humanity; he is in our flesh, in our hearts and in our minds. He is a presence that is found at the heart of the Church, in our faith communities and in the acts of sharing that acknowledge his presence, among the brothers and sisters around us and in those who are in need:

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” (Matthew, Chapter 25: 35-36)

Today, we also celebrate Mother’s Day, a beautiful day on which to thank our mothers with great warmth for having given life to us.

One day, my mother became seriously ill; she was taken in hospital in Sorel because she could not walk or eat by herself. As I knew a physician that I spiritually accompany, I called him to ask if he could put a word for my mother. He quickly contacted a colleague of his and the later asked for my mother to be transferred to Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, in Montreal. Mom was immediately taken care of. Everyone said, “Lucille, get ready, your mother is going to die.” But in my deepest heart, I was sure that my mother would not pass away. As you have probably guessed, I asked Emilie to intercede for mom; and I made an offering to my beloved foundress. My mother recovered after a few months of convalescence and I thank the Lord. Today, as it is Mother’s Day, I take advantage of the opportunity to thank the Lord again and to pay tribute to my mother: “Mom, thank you for giving me life, for helping me to know God, for teaching me to love the poor and the most destitute, as well as the importance of coming to their defense. Every night I heard you say ‘Our Father’ and ‘Hail Mary’ before you and dad went to sleep. Thank you for all the foster children you raised for so many years. My mother is now 95 and she has been living for some years at the Bourgjoli Residence in St-Hyacinthe, Quebec.

“Let us remember all moms with gratitude and affection, including the ones who are in heaven, by entrusting them to Mary, the mother of Jesus,” said Pope Francis.

On this Ascension Sunday, Jesus disappears from the sight of his disciples, but he remains present in our hearts. Lord, show us how to recognize your presence in all the events of our lives.  Amen.

 

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Sunday, May 5 2018

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (Jn 15: 9-17)

The Gospel according to John

6th Sunday of Easter

At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another. ”

Reflection

We are before one of the strongest passages of the Gospel.  If we take time to reflect on it, we may come to the very essence of Christianity, “Love one another.” This commandment has nothing in common with a military order; it is given to us as a “life-giving word” – like the ten words or Ten Commandments given to Moses. At the end of the day, these same words can be summarized very clearly:  to love, loving one another more than anything else, as much as God loves us.

This grand and infinite love that Christ demonstrated with his life is a challenge given daily to all of us to be human; to be alive demands an open heart, the acceptance of the other with kindness, with a warm welcome; to love and to let oneself be loved.

So bearing fruit is possible only if we love, if we accept to love as God loves, to love without limits and without notice. If we pursue this goal, we will find already here on this Earth a little of the celestial happiness of those who will love us as we have come to love them.

Thus, this word of love calls us to reflect on this question: Are we truly ready to love? Are we to the other to the point of loving them, to the point of giving our own lives, as Emilie Gamelin did throughout her life?

May the Lord guide our way towards Love.

A Sister of Providence

 

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Sunday, April 29 2018

Gospel of John 15: 1-8

At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. ”

Reflection

Today, the Sunday Gospel again presents us with a bucolic image, an evocative scene. After last week’s shepherd, this week’s image of the vine suggests many things related to life. The vine is a marvelous, complex and fragile plant, amazingly productive but one that requires much caring. Prior to being the pride of the winemaker, it needs his love, his energy, and his constant attention. A true passion! The same thing happens with our local gardeners.

Bearing fruit does not mean doing extraordinary things; it rather means doing ordinary things very well.  “Attached to Christ as the branches to the vine, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, we can bear abundant fruit. Saint Paul tells us the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5:22-23)’. (Yvon-Michel Allard, s.v.d.)” God needs us to create a better world, a world of respect, of fraternity and of love. God needs our hands, our feet and our hearts in a universe often without mercy for those who are most vulnerable.  The text of today reminds us that if we are united to Christ, as the branches are to the vine, we will receive his strength and his life, we will love each other and we will bear much fruit. “The one that remains in me bears much fruit.”

Today’s text reminds us that we must maintain a steady relationship with Christ, so that our faith and commitment do not go out, like the flame of a burning lamp. Thanks to the vivifying sap of the vine, the works of goodness can produce and multiply.

The vine is not left to itself, uncultivated. It can count on the work of the winemaker who is busy pruning it, cleaning it up; not for death and separation but for more life and more fruit. This detail invites us, it seems to me, to reconsider the ordeals that happen in our daily experience of life.

Quite some time ago, a woman, Madame Emilie Gamelin, took a long look  at the sufferings of her neighbours and, as a vine that extends its branches, she multiplied her presence, her support and her actions, in order to allow them to grow and fully become, with their lives, a hymn to God who created the universe.

“She considered a field and bought it; from the fruit of her hands, she planted a vineyard (Prv 31:16).” Thus, we are in the hands of the one who loves us. The Father offers to prune us, to free us, to disengage us, so that we may bear all of the fruit expected of us.

Sister Lucille Vadnais, SP

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Providence Spirituality

During this year of 2018, we celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Congregation. In order to have a common tool of contemplation specific to our Congregation, we would like to present you reflections of the Sunday Gospels

Sunday, April 22, 2018

The Good Shepherd Gives His Life   Jn 10: 11-18

I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father. ”

 

Reflection

The good shepherd allows those who were entrusted to him to live fully.  Saint John, in his Gospel, places emphasis on the individuality of each of us and the importance we have for God, “I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me.” When someone is important to us we know his/her name, whether it is a member of our family, one of our friends, a colleague, someone close. The knowledge I have of a person allows me to love and respect this person.  Jesus describes himself as a shepherd who knows each and every one of his sheep by its name. They all hear and recognize his voice. No one is left behind among Jesus’ flock. Strong or frail, everyone will have abundant life, if desired.

Yes, our Shepherd Jesus entrusted us to one another.  Like him, we are forced to leave our sheepfold to reach out to others; it is not easy. We are tempted to close the door and stay warm and cozy inside. The good news of the Gospel must be announced to the poor and the excluded all over the world, following the example of Emilie.

On this Sunday of the Good Shepherd, Lord, let us discover your voice amidst the noise of the world; your Word reveals the way that leads to you. Allow us to welcome your voice and to keep it, so it may transform our life, taking advantage of the 175th anniversary of the foundation of the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence to reflect more on the goodness of the Word of God.

Sister Françoise Paillé, SP

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Sunday, April 15, 2018

“Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day” (Lk 24: 35-48)

“Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them. He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

Reflection

You are witnesses of these things

We Christians remain unquestionably the privileged witnesses of the resurrection of Christ. Faithful to the promise, God raised Him from the dead. The suffering of Jesus then is the recompense for eternal life, light of life and peace, and we, like the disciples of Emmaus, are witnesses to this.

The Risen One is present, He is in our midst; nevertheless, in spite of the testimonies of the women and the two travelers, the disciples could not believe until Jesus appeared to them. Only Jesus can confirm the experience and its meaning. Jesus proves that their experience is not a hoax. The believer encounters the risen Christ through his/her senses. The disciple saw, touched and heard the Risen One. Nowadays we see, we hear and we touch Christ through the sacraments, and in the testimony and the service of others.

It is not only the breaking of the bread and the sharing the cup that establishes a union with Christ; a greater union is established through sharing: the union of all members of the Christian community. We are the witnesses and also the heirs of faith; it is now we who make known the Good News because people need, more than ever before, a Church that reaches out to them where they are, as they are.

How far does my commitment go in my sharing of the Good News? Did Emilie, 175 years ago, back away or fail when facing the scope of the task, the arduousness of the legacy?

By a Sister of Providence

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Divine Mercy Sunday, April 8, 2018

During this year of 2018, we celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Congregation. In order to have a common tool of contemplation specific to our Congregation, we would like to present you reflections of the Sunday Gospels – April 8 by Sister Rosalie Locati , SP :

John 20:18-31

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. [Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of [his] disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

 

Reflection

Second Sunday of Easter

It is the first day after the resurrection.  As morning breaks, the apostles, overwhelmed by fear, confusion, anxiety, sadness and perhaps a certain guilt, lock themselves inside.  Soon Mary Magdalen, filled with distress, comes to announce that Jesus’s body is missing from the tomb. Even as Peter and the other disciple run to see for themselves, their hopes are dashed as they see an empty tomb. Then, later in the day, excited and breathless, Mary Magdalene returns to tell her good news: “I have seen the Lord.”

Can you imagine what the disciples must have thought and felt at the news? Could they possibly believe and trust her incredible news?  Perhaps there was a rush of excitement, anticipation, and hope that they might witness this themselves? And yet they continued to hide behind locked doors paralyzed by their own personal and communal fear.

Without warning, Jesus stands in their midst.  Shocking surprise overtakes them.  His simple, calming, soothing and warm greeting of “Peace be with you” disarms their fear, breaks their sadness and  offers a deep sense of wellbeing, a release of tension and all doubt. As they rejoice, Jesus commissions them to their new ministry: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you”. They are now to reveal God’s love to the world; to be the human face (presence) of God’s Providence. They are sent to make known the compassion, mercy and love of the Father. Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit who will teach them, remind them of the mystery of salvation and guide them during the difficult days ahead.

Today is also Divine Mercy Sunday.  As disciples in a world of chaotic and challenging realities, we are sent by the Father, in the name of Jesus, to be agents of liberation and freedom for those persons who are poor, oppressed, and vulnerable. We are called to live and model lives of mercy, reconciliation and forgiveness.  As the manifestation of God’s Providence in our world, our communities and ministries, we are, as Jesus said to the disciples on the plain, also sent to be “merciful just as your Father is merciful” (Lk 6:36).  Through grace, we must be freed from our personal fears, touched by the mercy of God and inspired by the Holy Spirit to be effective, vibrant and courageous disciples of Jesus.

What fears or doubts cloud my ability to recognize and welcome the Risen Lord in my life today?

What liberates me and gives me courage to speak and act with passion for those who are poor and vulnerable in society?

How do I manifest the Providence and mercy of God in my relationships and communal life?

By Rosalie Locati, SP

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Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018

Luke 24 13-35

Now that very day two of them were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Reflection

Alleluia! Alleluia! JESUS IS RISEN!

We find him in our daily life.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Our community has been here for 175 years!

Today the Gospel tells us that on the road to Emmaus, a stranger approached some very sad, distressed and hopeless persons.  This man spoke to them, encouraged them and accompanied them.  The persons started feeling a transformative force in their hearts. After arriving home, they shared their food with the stranger and when he broke the bread, they realized that he was the same Jesus whom they had seen dying on the cross.

They acknowledged that he had risen. Their joy was so great that their hearts were bursting; they went out to share their joy.

It is this same joy, the fruit of a realized union that Emilie transmitted to the poor, humiliated, abandoned, sick and distressed persons she encountered on her way. She learned from Mary how to experience compassion. There Emilie lived her Easter, thus she received the new life, thus she became Providence.

How many Easter have been lived during the 175 years of our Congregation?

How many more can we live daily, inspired by Christ and by Emilie?

May our celebrations be vibrant echoes of gratitude for the privilege of serving, giving new life in every situation we encounter.

HAPPY EASTER!

By Isabel Cid, SP

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Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 14.1-15.47  by Sister Grace (Mae) Valdez, SP, – Sunday March 24, 2018

6TH Sunday of Lent: Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

At this time of year, we prepare ourselves to contemplate the meaning of the Lord’s passion in our own call to discipleship. I would like to propose three points from today’s gospel. First, who is Jesus? “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus answered, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power”. Jesus’ “I am” clarifies that He is truly the Son of God who came to us, was handed over to the soldiers and to the crowd and allowed himself to be crucified to save us. Secondly, the obedience of Jesus in the whole of his passion was manifested in his silence. He had enough capacity to receive and to allow the insults, negative remarks and physical.  He was obedient to His mission from the Father and faced the consequences. Obedient, not for His own glory but to save all of humanity; Jesus in solidarity with us as He embraced all our sufferings. Looking at Jesus we see also how we should be. We need the spirit of the servanthood of Jesus to save our world. We are faced with all sorts of suffering when we refuse to serve, making ourselves more important than others. Ultimately, the world suffers because of our disobedience to the will of God.

Personal Reflection and Challenge: I felt terrified and hurt for Jesus, when I read, “Crucify him!” I wanted to enter the scene and shout back, no! You can’t do this to Him. We would be hypocrites not to admit that we are part of Jesus’ condemnation and death in the actions of our daily lives. When we insult others or gave negative remarks, do we not hinder God’s Spirit at work in us?  When we are unfaithful to God’s grace, do we not betray God’s action in us? Often our behavior and values do not reflect what we are committed to live according to our state in life. Whenever we fail to respond to God’s grace, is it because we have not put Jesus at the centre of our lives? Have we not offended God when we are so focused on ministry and have forgotten to spend quality time with Him, who is the ultimate source of our gifts and skills? May we always be reminded of Jesus words, “For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish, but you will not always have me with you. Truly I tell you, whenever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her (Mk 14, 7 and 9).” May we be reminded even more of Jesus words when we make a habit of using ministry as a priority in order to avoid the responsibilities which might stretch our comfort zones.

The passion of Christ is a challenge for us as Women of Providence.  By being faithful to our way of life which is contemplative listening and dialogue, we continuously choose and respond to live in solidarity with each other and particular with the underprivileged persons whom we serve.

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Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 12: 20-33  by Sister Béatrice Bouchard, SP, – Sunday March 18, 2018

Now there were some Greeks among those who had come up to worship at the feast. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.“I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.

The grain of wheat

Is there anyone reading this who once met a person who talked about a grain of wheat for a whole evening? Surprising isn’t it? Then let us go meet with Jesus and he will tell us:

If the grain of wheat does not die, it will not bear fruit; it will remain just a grain of wheat and die. When I was a child, my father was a farmer and he used to sow half his field with wheat and the other half with oats. I am still convinced that Jesus found his inspiration in the countryside, especially in sowing and harvesting, to illustrate his conversations with the crowd. My father took special care of his field, he weeded it, plowed it, and, after sowing, he rolled it back to make sure the seeds were planted deep into the ground and that the soil was flattened, otherwise the grains would not germinate.

The Lord has given us an example: we have to die in order to live, because we are all waiting for resurrection; the Lord has shown us the way. Let us not be afraid to follow Jesus in his resurrection, in his kingdom.

My father used to wait until October to harvest, so he was sure to have a good harvest. Indeed, he had planted the seeds very deep and they had died so that they would be able to produce abundantly.

We are preparing ourselves for resurrection; this is important, because of the new life that will follow. We don’t care for death or sickness or suffering, but we are served by the example of Jesus and we rise on Easter Sunday. Then, let us seek Jesus whom we find in the person of the poor, the suffering, the rejected; there is no transformation without dying.

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Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 3: 14-21 by Sister Claudette Chénier, SP, – Sunday March 11, 2018

At that time, Jesus said to Nicodemus: “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” For God so loved the world [God’s incredible love for us] that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.   And this is the verdict, that the light [Jesus] came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.”

What gifts of God are faith, Gods love and Gods light. May I let myself be transformed by them!

In the preceding verse of the Gospel of John for this fourth Sunday of Lent, Jesus says that the Son of man who came down from heaven is the only true revelation of the Father. He now talks about his “being lifted up” on the cross. This lifting up will be for the believer “the sign of salvation” and life through the death and resurrection of Christ. What a mystery!   The gift of faith that God gave me at my baptism enables me to adhere to this truth, and even more, it leads me to eternal life. Yes, what a mystery! God saves me and saves all of humanity by dying on a cross. Why? Because God loves to the extent of madness every human being, whoever he or she is.

One might think that in the lifting up of Jesus on the cross, God’s love for humanity was revealed and that humanity then received the salvation promised to those who believe in God. But it is the entire life and mission of Jesus that bears witness to God’s love. As the Gospel text says: “God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” We believe that salvation depends on whether a person is for or against Christ. When sending his Son into the world, God asks humanity to believe in Him.  To believe or not to believe is the answer to God’s question and it is also the answer to God’s love, which is made known to us in the gift of God’s Son.

God respects his own to the point of leaving them free to choose or to refuse the revelation of Christ. By shutting themselves off from the light of Christ, they refuse to see that their works are evil. But for those who live in the truth (for John, those who come into the light), express their attraction to the Father and demonstrate that they are in communion with God.  In the presence the Light of Christ, the decision to believe or not to believe sheds light on our actions from the past and determines our future actions.

Jesus-light, light up my road so I can walk always closer to you, following you…

You who are living in me, who stay in me, come to transform me.

Increase my faith, strengthen my hope, and multiply a hundred times my love for You and for my neighbour.

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Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 2: 13-25 by Sister Mary Kaye Nealen, SP, – Sunday March 04, 2018

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem, He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said: “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” His disciples recalled the words of scripture: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” At this the Jews answered and said to him: “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered and said to them: “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews said: “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the scripture and the word Jesus had spoken. While he was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, many began to believe in his name when they saw the signs he was doing. But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all, and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.

This is the Jesus who described himself as lifting heavy burdens from people’s backs and as giving his life for his beloved sheep. But here his words and actions are very disconcerting. So also, if we look back at the infancy narratives, the youthful Jesus replied with apparent harshness to his mother when they met in the temple after their two day separation. And what about the remark during his public life, “who are my mother and my brothers?” (MK 3:33) The compassionate Jesus does not always seem so gentle. Why not?

The verse in today’s reading, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me’, may give us a clue. Jesus wanted the temple to be treated as a holy place of worship. And does not the boy Jesus in Luke’s gospel say to his parents in the temple, ‘did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?’(Lk 2:49) In the passage about Jesus’ mother and family, he does not refer to the temple, but emphasizes hearing the word of God and keeping it (Lk 8:21).

We have become very familiar with “first responders.” Such people come to a scene with one goal in mind: the welfare of the person in serious distress. They do not pay attention to the stack of dishes in the sink or the pile of laundry in the corner. During his whole life, Jesus had one purpose in mind, to know and follow the will of the God who had sent him. He desired the goal that the disciples would achieve after the resurrection, when ‘they came to believe the scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.’ These days of Lent offer us time to let Jesus teach us what is central to our lives. For whom and what are we “first responders”?

A second reflection by a Sister of Providence:

Holy anger… This paradoxical expression qualifies an action of Jesus who invokes, at the same time, his own gentleness and recommends it to us. There must be something unusual going on to infuriate Jesus to this point.

Indeed, he comes to the Temple and finds it disfigured, transformed into a “den of thieves” and diverted from its primary function: to be a house of prayer, a place of encounter with God. The commercial ambition of the merchants led them to an abuse of their true function: to provide the faithful with the offerings they needed to worship as prescribed by the Law.

By his… holy anger, his indignation, Jesus indicates we must not lose sight of the motivations for our actions, even the most noble, and we must be authentic about what is motivating us.

This episode makes me aware of the importance of having a privileged place – a sacred space – where I can enter into relationship with God, uncluttered, as far as possible, from multiple concerns and objectives other than to honor Him.

The Missalette, Living with Christ, suggests to us: I contemplate the place where I am accustomed to give myself to prayer. Am I contributing to keeping it beautiful and true to its vocation?

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The Gospel According to Mark 17: 1-9 by Sister Hélène Julien, SP, – Sunday February 25, 2018

Mark 17: 1-9 The Transfiguration of Jesus

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain on their own by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became brilliantly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus, “Rabbi,” he said, “it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.” Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them anymore but only Jesus. As they were coming down from the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of man had risen from the dead. They observed the warning faithfully, though among themselves they discussed what “rising from the dead” could mean.

It is good to be here in the grand family of Providence.  The Gospel of the 2nd Sunday of Lent presents us with an amazing scene: the event of the Transfiguration (MK 9: 2-10), which offers a message of hope and encourages us to let ourselves be transformed by God’s dream.

The mountain is as high as Mount Sinai and Mount Horeb. The man from Sinai is there, it is Moses. The man from Horeb is there also, it is Elijah. Jesus’ clothes are dazzling white; his face shines like the Sun; a voice speaks from the the cloud. This cloud is that of the Exodus which led the Hebrews in the desert. Everything points to that voice being God’s. We do not settle on the mountain, we keep going! We come down onto the plain, where our brothers and our sisters live. Only one thing is important: listen to Jesus and do what he tells us.

Like Peter, James and John, let us go to the mountain to meet Jesus and let him put us at the service of the poor, of the needy; let us walk to the heights and contemplate Jesus, attentively listening to the Beloved son of the Father, our hearts open to the intimate moments of prayer.

The disciples came down from the mountain, “their hearts and their eyes transfigured by this encounter with the Lord.”  It is a course that we also can accomplish. The rediscovery of Jesus gives us the impetus to “come down from the mountain”, filled with the Holy Spirit, to take new steps of authentic conversion;  showing kindness and compassion to one another and forgiving one another as God has forgiven us in Christ. (Eph 4: 32)

To be transformed by God’s dream is to welcome others, to accompany them, to be a bridge as Émilie Gamelin was in bearing witness towards patients, prisoners, refugees and the poor.

Let us listen to the Beloved Son through prayer, worship, reading of the Word of God, the Eucharist, silence and the life stories of those who surround us.

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The Gospel According to Mark 1: 12-15 by Sister Yvette Demers, SP, Vice Postulator of the Emilie Gamelin Cause – Sunday February 18, 2018

At once the Spirit drove him out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Reflection

On this first Sunday of Lent, St. Mark in his Gospel (1:12-15) reminds us that after his baptism, Jesus was driven out into the desert by the Spirit.

Before beginning his “public life”, Jesus needed silence; he needed to be heart to heart with his Father who would ask him later to sacrifice his life to “heal” humanity.

Any human life gets moments of doubt, hours of anxiety, misunderstanding, and only a deep FAITH, the certainty of following in Jesus’ footsteps, will bring light and give enough strength to keep going on until the end.

175 years ago, a woman let herself be driven by the Spirit without knowing exactly where it would take her. Her name was Emilie Tavernier Gamelin and she was born on February 19, 1800, in Montreal.

Wife and mother of three, in less than five years, she lost her most precious treasures: her husband and her three sons. She was only 28 years old. Why these losses? In prayer and reflection at the foot of the Cross with our Mother of Sorrows, she found her way: her husband and her children would be all those who are oppressed by misery. She went into action with no further delay.

For fifteen years, this woman responded to the charism that our Provident God had confided to her. With a group of “ladies of charity”, she criss-crossed the city of Montreal, reaching out to meet the many needs of the people of that time. But Monsignor Bourget, Bishop of Montreal, in order to ensure the permanence of this charitable work, wished to entrust it to a religious congregation. Emilie was at a crossroads. What would she do? Would she hand over to the Bishop her work, which had just received approval as a civil corporation on September 18, 1841. Prayer and reflection were again her reference points… And, always attentive and faithful to grace, she would continue to serve the poor for the rest of her life, under the authority of the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity who were soon to arrive from France. She trusted her Bishop and she began to help him prepare for the arrival of the French sisters.

However, “God’s plans are not our plans.” Mgr. Bourget was notified that the Daughters of Charity would not be able to come. Having reached an impasse, he invited Mrs. Gamelin to pray with him. After praying together for an hour, it was decided that Bishop Bourget would invite young women to form a new Canadian congregation. This new congregation was established on March 25, 1843.

Then it was that Emilie felt the Spirit calling her to dedicate her entire self to God through religious life. She shared this desire with Mgr. Bourget who hesitated at first. She repeated her desire, she prayed and she received a positive response from the Bishop. This response confirmed for her that her desire was God’s will. She became a Daughter of Charity, Servant of the Poor, Sister of Providence.

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The Gospel According to Mark 1: 40-45 by Sister Hélène Mamert Nga Amogo, SP – Sunday February 11, 2018

A leper came to him [and kneeling down] begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

 Let myself be transformed by a personal encounter with Jesus in the poor with whom I meet daily

The quote from Mark’s Gospel that has been chosen for our meditation on this 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time of liturgical year B, presents a man affected with leprosy, a disease that, according to Jewish tradition, was considered to be impure. Social marginalization came on top of this suffering. So here was a man doubly burdened but still desiring to recover his human and social dignity. He began a journey of faith which led him to the one for whom he was looking, the best physician ever: Jesus. His initiative conveyed his longing for healing. He first went to Jesus, kneeled down and begged him: “If you wish, you can make me clean.” By his actions, we can see his faith in Jesus. And he asked for something more:  purification. He wanted to be purified.  He expressed his need for physical healing and also his need for spiritual healing. This is what struck Jesus who took action with no delay; moved by compassion, Jesus stretched out his hand, touched the man and said to him: “I do will it. Be made clean.” With this concrete action, Jesus eliminated the gap between the leprous man and himself. He gave to the man the dignity he had lost. The newly healed leper could not restrain himself, in spite of Jesus’ recommendation about keeping his personal experience to himself.

Isn’t the anonymity of this leper a reflection of each of us who are invited to seek for Jesus and to cry out to Him our deep longing for the healing of the fragility and limitations that are keeping us from being the best persons we are called to be and from offering our unique gifts. The journey of this leper challenges every Christian, and each one of us, Sisters of Providence, to personally experience an encounter with Christ, because we all have need of his tenderness. This leper met the Lord for whom he was looking, and he was found by this same Lord who was also looking for him. This man was humble, confident and convinced in his hope and in his search.

For 175 years, we Sisters of Providence have been seeking this Lord daily. Do we not see today the concern of our master Jesus? He hastens to do good and shows the same compassion He demonstrated toward the leper. With a look, He broke the barrier, He transgressed the rule of isolation imposed on the lepers and his concrete gestures demonstrated the love He had for this person and for all. He touched the leper and talked to him without fear of contagion. Faith is a risk, but it is one worth choosing. Blessed Emilie Gamelin took the risk, as did all the sisters who have preceded them for 175 years. Today, with this Gospel we, Sisters of Providence, are invited to let ourselves be urged by the charity of Christ, everywhere and in all.

We all are disciples of Christ. May his grace, working in us and through us, draw us continually closer to Him that we may act as He did, in all humility, simplicity and charity!

Providence of God, I thank you for all!

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The Gospel According to Mark 1: 29-39

The Cure of Simon’s Mother-in-Law

29 On leaving the synagogue he entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. 31 He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. 32 When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. 33 The whole town was gathered at the door. 34 He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. 35 Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and those who were with him pursued him 37 and on finding him said, ‘Everyone is looking for you.’ 38 He told them: ‘Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.’ 39 And Jesus went throughout Galilee; he preached in the synagogues, and cast out demons.”

Reflection on the Sunday Gospel, February 4, 2018, by Gladys Flores, SP

“They immediately told the Lord that Simon’s mother-in-law was lying down with fever.” Presenting ill persons to the Lord in prayer and trusting that He will heal them is a good habit we must practice. We have to be persistent in prayer and not lose the hope that we will be healed in body and spirit by the Lord of life.

And Jesus, in the family atmosphere of Simon’s home, was immediately interested in Simon’s mother-in-law and healed her. He was never too tired to help and acted without delay in the face of the people’s needs, for He is the great Restorer.

Simon’s mother-in-law stood and waited on them; i.e., once she recovered her health and dignity, she began to serve because Jesus not only healed a person, but He made it so that the person could place herself at the service of others.

When serving the Lord, this woman was only employing for Him the energy that He had granted her.

Not only has the Lord freed us from many bad things, but He has given us gifts we must use to serve Him and our brothers and sisters.

Let us meditate on the question that Pope Francis asked during his gathering with the Chilean youth in the Maipú Sanctuary: “‘What do I have to offer in life?’ And many of you feel the desire to say: ‘I don’t know.’ You do not know what you have to contribute? You have it in your inner self, but you do not know what it is. Hurry to find it, then you can contribute. The world needs you, your homeland needs you and the society needs you. You have something to contribute…”

 

 

 

The Gospel According to Mark 1: 21-28

“[Jesus and his disciples] came to Capernaum, and on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?  Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!’ Jesus rebuked him and said, ‘Quiet! Come out of him!’ The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.’ His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee. ”

The reflections of Annette Aspirot, SP, on the Gospel of Sunday January 28, 2018:                                  

Jesus taught with authority. This expression is really touching. That this man taught with authority, we can find manifold proofs in the Gospels: ‘Never before has anyone spoken like this one.’ Jn 7:46. ‘Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.’ Luke 6:19. Jesus won over the crowd, not only with the healings he performed, but also with the power of his Word; not only with his saying, but also with his look, his attitude and the dignity of his person. He listened to people, attended to the poor, took an interest in their everyday life, ate with them, and cried with them. What He said jibed with the truth.

Mark added that He did not teach as the scribes did. The priests and the scribes, guardians of the Word, announced the coming of the Messiah, but they did not recognize Him in Jesus. The sight of his miracles exasperated them. However, those who heard Him said: “He really is the prophet we expected.” The members of the synagogue of Capernaum were facing a somewhat confusing situation. Jesus’ speech contrasted with what they were used to hearing.

The man tormented by an unclean spirit was unsettled by the presence of Jesus. This possessed man revealed the holiness of Jesus, because the devil spoke through his mouth. This devil felt threatened, unmasked. “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?”

There is not much of a difference between the reaction of this possessed man and the reaction of those who give themselves over to corrupt business where lies, ambition for profit and injustice reign supreme. They are afraid of getting caught, being denounced or having to admit their deceitful behaviour. They wish to remain in oblivion in order to continue their diabolical demeanour. It rewards them. They pile up earthly treasures that will be destroyed by rust.

The authority of Jesus is liberating, illuminating. When we hear the teaching of a God-loving person, this person teaches with authority because God is speaking through his/her words. Have we not already heard of holy witnesses of the Word? They share what they live. This happens because the Divine announces itself through human words.

We bear witness by being who we are. Our testimony is worth it, valuable because of how we live. We teach with our attitude, with the quality of our presence, with our intimacy with the One we want to make known. How do we bear witness to our Providence Mission? To what extent are we human faces of Divine Providence? The Gospel of Mark is an invitation to let Jesus come to us, to be penetrated by his presence and liberating voice, and to be authentic apostles of the Good News. This way, we will amass imperishable treasures.

Reading suggestions

Regarding the environment: Laudato Si’, Encyclical Letter on Care for Our Common Home. http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html

Regarding mercy: Misericordiӕ Vultus, Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. http://w2.Vatican.vA/content/francesco/en/bulls/documents/Papa-francesco_bolla_20150411_misericordiae-vultus.html

Regarding peace: “Nonviolence: a Style of Politics for Peace” Message for the celebration of the 50th World Day of Peace, January 1, 2017. http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/peace/documents/papa-francesco_20161208_messaggio-l-giornata-mondiale-pace-2017.html

Biographies of Emilie Tavernier Gamelin

Books available at the Emilie Gamelin Centre

 

Emilie Tavernier Gamelin

Biography

Author: Denise Robillard

Year of publication: 1988

ISBN: 2-89-415-090-3

316 pages. Available in English, French and Spanish.

 

Mother Gamelin Woman of Compassion

Biography and historical study

By Sister Thérèse Frigon, SP, in collaboration

Year of publication: 1984

80 pages.  Available in English, French and Spanish.

 

Emilie Tavernier-Gamelin: The Great Lady of Montreal,

Biography

Author: André-M. Cimichella, OSM, Auxiliary Bishop of Montreal, 1982

Year of publication: 2002

ISBN: 2-92229189-9

76 pages. Available in English, French and Spanish.