Remembrance

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Remembrance

Bread     Wine

Consume     Strengthen     Embolden

Fruits of Your Redemption

Begotten

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   1 Corinthians 11:23-26

I received from Jesus what I have shared with you:

Jesus at the Last Supper took bread, gave thanks, and said,

"This is My body. Do this as a remembrance of Me."

Jesus took the cup in the same way saying,

"This cup points to a new covenant, a covenant in My blood. As you drink this, do it as a remembrance of me."

When you celebrate this, you will make known the death of Jesus through eating this bread and drinking this blood until He comes again.

Reflection

How important for us all to remember certain great events.

We think obviously of the birth of our children, our wedding day, the first day of beginning a new job, or times of great celebrations of a feast day or an important family event.

Those great memories sustain us in difficult or challenging times (such as dealing with a pandemic). They help us to see the many great moments in our lives.

We reflect on certain moments and remember them with great joy. Other memories might bring tears or upset us---for example when we recall the death of a loved one or a time when we failed to accomplish a goal we had set for ourself.

Our scripture today from 1 Corinthians reminds us of a time of mixed emotion. Certainly the apostles and the others who were at the Last Supper were joyful to be together to celebrate this special Passover meal with one another.

Yet hanging over this meal was a cloud of uncertainty because the apostles and other followers of Jesus knew of the growing opposition to Jesus among the authorities of the Jewish faith. 

Certainly Jesus understood how they were feeling. He was ministering to them till the end.

Jesus wanted to be with them every single moment of their lives to give them the strength that they would need to meet the challenges that they would face and to heal the loneliness and loss that they would feel when Jesus left them physically.

Jesus left them His very self through the signs of bread and wine. He would always be with them.

And also with us.

We remember Jesus because He remembered us.

What a remembrance!

1. What are some of your favorite memories?

2. How do your memories help you in your hard times?

3. How did Jesus minister to the apostles at the Last Supper?

4. How does Jesus minister to you today?

Craftsman

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Craftsman

Divine      Mystery

Guiding     Communicating     Unfolding

The Spirit of Sanctification

Truth

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   John 16:12 to 15

Jesus said to His disciples:

"I want to tell you so much more, but you cannot accept it now.

But when He comes, the Spirit of truth, He will lead you to every truth.

He will not talk about His own thoughts, but share what He hears, and will let you know about the events that will be coming.

He will bring glory to Me.

He will take that which is Mine.

He will proclaim it to you.

All that the Father has belongs to Me.

That is why I have said that He will take from what is Mine and share it with you."

Reflection

Jesus tells us that He is sending a Craftsman to help us. We will not be left alone!

And what a Craftsman Jesus sent us!!

This Craftsman, the Holy Spirit, is Divine. The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Most Blessed Trinity. 

This Craftsman will lead us to every truth. The Holy Spirit enlightens us and helps us to know how we can follow Jesus and spread His message and His Love.

The Holy Spirit will bring glory to Jesus---the glory of truth, the glory of understanding, and the glory of sanctification.

The unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is so intense and so complete that the Holy Spirit can take from both the Father and the Son and share it totally with us. 

Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will take that which is His and share it with us. Jesus also tells us that all that the Father has is His.

Jesus makes completely clear how the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity are united to one another and to us.

That unity models for us exactly how we should act. We are called to work towards unity with all people. 

This, of course, is no easy task. Jesus knew that and has not left us alone.

An amazing Craftsman has been given to us to guide us and help us. 

1. How does the Holy Spirit help you in your life?

2. What does the Holy Spirit calls us to do?

3. What is your feeling as you look at Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)

Breath

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Breath

Unconditional     Love

Receive     Witness     Transform

Your Sevenfold Gifts Descend

Peace

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   John 20:19-23

On the night of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were gathered, because they were concerned about the Jewish authorities,

Jesus came.

He stood right among them and said,

"Peace be with you."

After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side.

The disciples were all filled with joy when they saw this.

Jesus once again said,

"Peace be with you. In the same way the Father sent me, I will be sending you."

When He had said this, He breathed on them and said:

"Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive someone's sins, they will be forgiven. If you retain someone's sins, they will be retained."

Reflection

The power of breath!

We experience that power every moment of our lives.

Our breath sustains us.

We are all concerned about the purity and safety of our air. We fight against pollution and support the Clean Air Act.

Jesus here makes a direct connection between breath and the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit comes to us to give us life, to "inspire" us (literally to breathe into us), to fill us.

That breathing in shows us how deep the unconditional Love of God is. There is no holding back, there is no limitation, there is no hesitation.

God wants to fill us completely with the Presence of God.

After the disciples receive this breath, they are "inspired" to give witness. They are so filled with the power of the Holy Spirit that they want to share it and do so freely and passionately on Pentecost Sunday.

That feast on the Jewish religious calendar is celebrated fifty days after Passover and marks the Spring harvest. It is a time of great joy because the people can acknowledge the goodness and bounty of God and the land God has given to them.

Jesus is also giving.

To the disciples.

To us today.

The gift of life.

We will be transformed by the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit if we are open to them.

Those gifts will lead us to a life of Peace and the call to be peacemakers so that these gifts are shared with everyone.

Breathe in the Gifts.

Come Holy Spirit!!!

1. How has the Holy Spirit breathed New Life into you?

2. What are some ways you can share the "breath" of the Holy Spirit?

3. When have you been called to be a peacemaker?

4. What is your feeling as you contemplate Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)

 

Prayer

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Prayer

Jesus     Father

Believing     Glorifying     Being

To Perfection As One

Word

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   John 17: 20 to 24a

Fixing His attention on heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: "Holy Father, I pray not only for my apostles, but for all of those who will come to faith because of their word,

 so that all may be as one,

 just as you are one in me 

and I am one in you, 

that they may also be united as one in us,

so that the world may have faith

that you sent me.

I have shared the glory you gave me with them,

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 realize that

you sent me,

and that you loved them

even as you loved me.

Father, they are your gift to me.

Reflection

The importance of being one!

Jesus is sharing His life with the Father. It is a life of deep unity---a unity so profound that it is hard to understand and comprehend.

What would be a good comparison?

The type of unity Jesus is talking about is similar to that unity in a relationship when we can look at a friend's face and know something is up (either for good or ill) without our friend uttering a word.

We know immediately because we have spent time with our friend, shared deeply, laughed and cried much, and are comfortable being silent together.

We are one.

It feels good. It feels special. We rejoice in that unity.

Jesus stresses the importance of unity because of the responsibility of the apostles to share the word. It would be confusing to people if the apostles started to share different messages as they went about preaching.

When that did happen in the Church, it was necessary to bring the leaders together to clarify the message and to achieve the unity that Jesus prays for.

Jesus tells us that the way to achieve that unity is to stay rooted in our relationship with the Father and the Son through prayer. Jesus sends us the Holy Spirit to lead us to that all important union.

Jesus tries to bring us to perfection as one. It is impossible to achieve perfection by ourselves. We know this only too well as we try hard to achieve something in our personal lives and fall short due to poor communication or lack of a particular skill or talent.

Jesus leads us to that perfection through His Love for us. Jesus has so much Love for us that He even speaks of us as a GIFT from the Father.

Imagine that! You and I are GIFTS for Jesus. 

It is overwhelming to think that Jesus, who has everything, could possibly think of us as GIFTS.

We are GIFTS because we have been Loved by the Father. We come into this world through the Love of the Father and we journey to the Father in and through that very same Love.

Remain in that Love.

Always!

1. Why does Jesus stress the importance of unity?

2. Is it possible to achieve unity in a divided world and a divided Church?

3. How can we achieve the unity that Jesus prays for?

4. Do you see yourself as a GIFT for Jesus?

5. What does Kathy's photo say to you?   

Twelve

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Twelve

Tribes     Foundation

Naming     Inscribing     Radiating

God Gave It Light

Revelation

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   Revelation 21:10 to 14; 22 to 23

The angel lifted me in spirit to a wonderful, high mountain and laid before me the sacred city Jerusalem coming right out of heaven from God.

It radiated with the splendor of God.

Its reflection was like that of a special stone, like jasper, transparent as crystal.

It had a huge, high wall, with twelve gates where twelve angels were watching and on which names were written, the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites.

There were three gates pointing east, three north, three south, and three west.

The wall of the city had twelve layers of stones as its foundation, on which were written the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

I looked for the temple in the city but could not find it; its only temple is God and the Lamb.

The city did not need sun or moon for radiance, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb.

Reflection

It's all about the Light!

In a world where there seems to be a lot of darkness, confusion, hatred, and violence, where can we turn for Light? 

The author of Revelation has some ideas for us. The first one is a vision of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem was the center of religious life for the Jewish people. They would go there on pilgrimage with their friends and family. It was their place to celebrate all the major feasts and holy days.

The number twelve in our reading is so important because it represents the twelve tribes of Israel. They were the descendants of the twelve sons of Jacob. As such they represent the fulfillment of the promise that God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God was and is faithful!

This tradition is continued by Jesus as He selected twelve apostles. These apostles spread the Good News of Jesus---the Kingdom of God is here.

It is that Kingdom that gives Light as there is no temple but the Lamb will provide the Light. When we keep our focus on Jesus and try to follow Him in our love for each other, we can overcome the darkness.

We have seen this over and over in our days. We witness time and time again so many people respond with generosity and care after horrible tragedies.

There is something deep within us that says I want to radiate Light. I will not let the darkness rule over me and have the last word.

This is the revelation. Yes there will be challenges. Yes there will be obstacles. Our world is far from perfect.

In the midst of these struggles Jesus, the Lamb who was sacrificed, will lead us to a Kingdom of Light!

1. Where do you turn for Light?

2. What does the number twelve signify for you?

3. How can you spread the Light in your community?

4. What do you feel as you contemplate Kathy's photo?

 

Commandment

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Commandment

New     Greatest

Ascribing     Extolling     Glorifying

I Have Loved You

Transmit

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:    John 13:31-33a, 34-35

When Judas had left them, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man surrounded with glory, and God is exalted in Him.

If God dwells in glory through Him, God will also exalt Him and do so immediately.

My friends, I will be with you for only a short time.

I want to share a new commandment with you: share love with one another.

As I have spread love with you, you should also love one another.

This is how everyone will know that you are my followers, if you spread love with one another."

Reflection

In this reading Jesus knows that He is facing a huge confrontation with the authorities and He wants to leave some final wisdom for the apostles. He tells the apostles that He will only be around for a short time.

The commandment that He leaves is a call to love. Jesus knows that this is the most important way for us to follow.

It is the way that Jesus is going to follow after His Last Supper with the apostles. Jesus puts all His fears aside and remains faithful to what the Father is asking Him to do.

Jesus is walking the path of glory. That is the path of God. When we walk with God, we are always surrounded with His Glory. 

Jesus tells us that God will exalt us immediately. God does not hesitate. God wants to share the Glory of God with us.

That Glory leads us to love one another. Jesus encourages us to love one another just as Jesus loves us. 

Jesus has given us an example. He has held nothing back. He gives us the full GIFT of His Love.

If we love another with that Love, we will be dwelling in the Glory of God.

Always!

1. How do you encounter the Glory of God?

2. Can you love others in the same way that Jesus loves us?

3. What are some ways you transmit the Love of God?

4. What do you see when you look at Kathy's photo?

Sheep

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Sheep

My     Father

Hear     Voice     Follow

They Shall Never Perish

Eternal

(photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   John 10:27-30

Jesus said: "My sheep respond to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 

I gift them with eternal life, and they shall never perish.

No one can break them away from My hand.

My Father, who has gifted them to me, is more powerful than all, and no one can break them away from the Father's hand.

The Father and I are united."

Reflection

Sheep get to know the voice of the shepherd and will respond to only that special voice. A relationship has been established.

A priest I knew very well used to share an experience he had with sheep and shepherds. He had just finished lunch and was about to board a bus to continue his tour in the Holy Land.

He noticed some sheep gathered outside the restaurant. When the shepherds came out to gather them, the sheep responded to the voice of their shepherd and left the flock with him. 

They were all mixed together waiting but did not hesitate to leave the others with their own shepherd. He could not believe it as he saw this scene play out in front of him.

In some ways we are just like those sheep. We listen to many different voices. 

We are attracted to certain newscasters, celebrities, influences, musicians, athletes, and humorists. We can wind up dedicating a lot of our time to following them.

Many of those voices can have a positive effect on our lives and we can find them very helpful and enjoyable.

Some, however, we can find disappointing and misleading.  

Jesus tells us that if we want to follow Him, we have to listen to His voice. It is a voice that cares for us and surrounds us with Love. 

We have a beautiful image of that in our reading: Jesus is holding us with His hand. Imagine the deep Love that Jesus feels for us.

When we are struggling or disappointed with a "voice" that we might have been following, just reflect on that image.

Jesus is reaching out to you.

He wants to hold your hand and tells us that no one can take us out of His hand. Some might try to lead you in a different direction but they cannot succeed.

Jesus has you.

He won't let go! 

He wants to make sure that we don't perish. He leads us to eternal life.

Kathy's photo is from Good Shepherd Hospice in Port Jefferson. It is a special place of comfort and care for those who are close to death. 

Those who work there make a special effort to hold the hands of their patients and to lead them to the Good Shepherd.

1. Which voices are important for you?

2. Have you ever been disappointed by some of the voices you followed?

3. What is different about he voice of Jesus for you?

4. How has Jesus held your hand?

(scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)