Written by Sister Jan Kilian, this blog will give an understanding of what it’s like to be Franciscan. Living out the spirit of Saint Francis, we see all God’s creation as brother and sister. We, Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, are committed to building relationships and community, ministering wherever there is greatest need, promoting justice and healing Mother Earth’s wounds. My writings will give a glimpse of the compassion, spirituality, interconnectedness and goodness of living Franciscan.
Welcome to the present moment, wherever you are; whatever is on your plate at this time may you receive it with open hands and heart. Our morning prayer this Lenten Friday brought some reality home to me: it doesn’t work to try to live in some ideal way. The first two days of Lent knocked me flat for trying to get up earlier to have extra prayer time along with fasting. Today we read from Jean-Pierre de Caussade, “Every moment we live through is like an ambassador who declares the will of God.” The path to holiness lies in everyday tasks and duties, not in heroics.
Christ arrives now carrying eternal riches. Christ arrives NOW carrying eternal riches. I was pondering the incomprehensible riches of Christ’s presence here and now. As this awareness came to light, I suddenly I saw the acronym formed by the first letters of this little meditation; it reads “cancer.” I was quite startled. I didn’t figure that out; it was just there. Christ IS present in every experience so, of course, the experience of cancer is no exception.
In recent months, we Sisters have learned numerous persons very dear to us have been diagnosed with cancer. Many of the prayer requests we receive are for people with a diagnosis of cancer. Sometimes the intent of the person requesting prayer is to help the individual “battle” cancer. “God, help me beat this!” Can I pray to “win this war?” I’d rather pray that instead of preparing for battle, we enlist the healing energies of courage and grace to face whatever lies ahead. I pray we all stay in touch with Christ’s eternal riches of immeasurable compassion here and now.
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