Last week I sat down and opened up the readings for today to reflect upon as I prepared to write this weekend’s column. I found the clip art to the right that corresponds to today’s Gospel from Matthew 13 and my mind began to wander as I thought about my current projects: clearing out “stuff” (and more stuff!) from my closets, file cabinets, desk etc. I’d pick up something and ask myself why on earth did I buy this? Did I really ever need it? I started separating my stuff into keep, toss and “give to Thrift Shop”.
As I try to refocus on the Gospel, I am realizing my desire to clear out my stuff has more to do with my faith than my desire to get more space in my closets and drawers. At various times in our lives we purchase and procure things to “make us happy” only to find out in the long run they do not. Jesus tells us to rid ourselves of possessions and we will be freer to follow Him. It seems contradictory, but in today’s Gospel the merchant actively finds and keeps a pearl, the farmer a field of treasure and fishermen seemingly fishing to excess… all to find something priceless. When Jesus asks “Do you understand?” the disciples say yes but I say no! I don’t understand.
My mind starts to wander again back to all my cleaning out efforts and I start pondering why now? Why do I wish to clean out my life? I suddenly had an “AHA” moment… The pearl of today’s Gospel is my faith! As I have explored more deeper into my faith and found the love of Jesus, the strength of the Father and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I no longer need as much “stuff” to keep me happy. I am like the merchant who has found a great pearl--- the pearl of great price is my faith. I will gladly give away all that I have to keep my faith in our Lord and hope in the kingdom of heaven.
This week let us remember those who seek happiness in possessions and pray that they will find a great pearl. Let us also remember and pray for those who have nothing, not even the basic necessities and lastly, let us pray for ourselves to rid ourselves of what keeps us away from the love of our Lord.
God Bless, Holly Clark
Monday, July 25, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
At Rock Bottom
Despair is contrary to God's goodness
CCC #2091
A few weeks ago I was watching the tide go out and gazing out at the exposed rocks musing that this was probably the origin of phrase “hitting rock bottom.” I saw all the exposed rocks, cracked and worn from the elements and passage of time. I got up from my beach chair and decided to take a walk “at rock bottom.” There have been times in my life that I have been at rock bottom and full of despair as I am sure we all can identify with. We look to the Cross for our hope but we can also find hope surrounding us in the form of nature and each other.
As I walked among the seemingly barren rocky shoreline I started to look for signs of life and little treasures that may have been hidden by the sea. In the little tidal pools I found sea-life that couldn’t exist without the ebb and flow of the tides. I found little seashells, now devoid of life but bringing me happiness in their dainty forms and shapes. I found little fish, temporarily safe from predators and little bits of polished stone… polished by the sea over centuries or eons. I got to musing what a perfect balance there is in nature.
Keeping the now rising tide in mind I continued my walk and found an awesome little spot that was full of rocks, but water had collected in the indentations and the sun was hitting the wet stones and water to give me a dazzling array of God’s handiwork. A beautiful ballet of water, stone, light and life danced before my eyes. I paused and gave thanks to God. I thought perhaps life at “rock bottom” isn’t so bad after all and when faced with times of despair we should take a walk and explore rock bottom a bit and we will find life, and God, again. Always remember, too, Jesus’ humanly life hit rock bottom when He was nailed to the cross… and look what He gave us… new life… new hope… and so much more…
God Bless, Holly Clark
CCC #2091
A few weeks ago I was watching the tide go out and gazing out at the exposed rocks musing that this was probably the origin of phrase “hitting rock bottom.” I saw all the exposed rocks, cracked and worn from the elements and passage of time. I got up from my beach chair and decided to take a walk “at rock bottom.” There have been times in my life that I have been at rock bottom and full of despair as I am sure we all can identify with. We look to the Cross for our hope but we can also find hope surrounding us in the form of nature and each other.
As I walked among the seemingly barren rocky shoreline I started to look for signs of life and little treasures that may have been hidden by the sea. In the little tidal pools I found sea-life that couldn’t exist without the ebb and flow of the tides. I found little seashells, now devoid of life but bringing me happiness in their dainty forms and shapes. I found little fish, temporarily safe from predators and little bits of polished stone… polished by the sea over centuries or eons. I got to musing what a perfect balance there is in nature.
Keeping the now rising tide in mind I continued my walk and found an awesome little spot that was full of rocks, but water had collected in the indentations and the sun was hitting the wet stones and water to give me a dazzling array of God’s handiwork. A beautiful ballet of water, stone, light and life danced before my eyes. I paused and gave thanks to God. I thought perhaps life at “rock bottom” isn’t so bad after all and when faced with times of despair we should take a walk and explore rock bottom a bit and we will find life, and God, again. Always remember, too, Jesus’ humanly life hit rock bottom when He was nailed to the cross… and look what He gave us… new life… new hope… and so much more…
God Bless, Holly Clark
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Today
Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea –Mt 13:1
A couple of weekends ago I went out of my house and literally sat down by the sea in Gloucester. I spent a wonderful weekend on retreat, communing with God through the beauty of nature. I picked up a little book to read from the house library and found this very apt poem on “Today”. I thought with sadness how true to life these words are. How often do we not pay attention to today? How often do we not see God’s peace, joy and love in front of us in the form of each other and in the beauty of nature?
TODAY
Today came, smiling, toward me
Arms laden with brightly wrapped gifts.
And I said, “I’ll be with you in just a minute.”
You see, I was in this conversation with Yesterday
—I forget exactly what it was all about—
And it went on and on.
I called out to Today, “I’ll be right with you.”
Then, when Yesterday finally finished with me
And before I could get back to Today,
Tomorrow barged right up and began talking.
I called out to Today, “Just give me a few more minutes.” Well, Tomorrow would be satisfied with nothing less
Than dotting all the i’s and crossing all the t’s—
I forget what it was all about. really.
(You know how Tomorrow can be.)
So I called out to Today,
“Just hang in there.”
Tomorrow, satisfied at last, left me.
And I looked up.
And Today was gone.**
**Making Friends With Yourself, Leo P. Rock, S.J.- Paulist Press, 1990
This summer, make today count. Look around you right now and enjoy the moment. Thank God for the joy of today and ignore the pains of the past and worries of the future. Today only happens once in your lifetime- make it count.
God Bless, Holly Clark
A couple of weekends ago I went out of my house and literally sat down by the sea in Gloucester. I spent a wonderful weekend on retreat, communing with God through the beauty of nature. I picked up a little book to read from the house library and found this very apt poem on “Today”. I thought with sadness how true to life these words are. How often do we not pay attention to today? How often do we not see God’s peace, joy and love in front of us in the form of each other and in the beauty of nature?
TODAY
Today came, smiling, toward me
Arms laden with brightly wrapped gifts.
And I said, “I’ll be with you in just a minute.”
You see, I was in this conversation with Yesterday
—I forget exactly what it was all about—
And it went on and on.
I called out to Today, “I’ll be right with you.”
Then, when Yesterday finally finished with me
And before I could get back to Today,
Tomorrow barged right up and began talking.
I called out to Today, “Just give me a few more minutes.” Well, Tomorrow would be satisfied with nothing less
Than dotting all the i’s and crossing all the t’s—
I forget what it was all about. really.
(You know how Tomorrow can be.)
So I called out to Today,
“Just hang in there.”
Tomorrow, satisfied at last, left me.
And I looked up.
And Today was gone.**
**Making Friends With Yourself, Leo P. Rock, S.J.- Paulist Press, 1990
This summer, make today count. Look around you right now and enjoy the moment. Thank God for the joy of today and ignore the pains of the past and worries of the future. Today only happens once in your lifetime- make it count.
God Bless, Holly Clark
Monday, July 11, 2011
Resting...
“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. – Mt 25:28-30
Welcome to summer! Last Monday I saw a comic strip that featured a father and son relaxing in lawn chairs enjoying the gift of summer and in flies Mom frantic that it almost July and panicking over not making any vacation plans: “If we don’t get off our duffs and start planning something fast- I MEAN NOW- then we won’t get a chance to relax this summer.” As the father and son continue basking in the summer sun the son asks his father “Can she hear herself?” How often does this happen in your family? Cramming every minute of vacation with fun and adventure but not relaxation time? Do you ever feel like you need a vacation to recuperate from your vacation? Vacationing is not the same as resting!
Even Jesus understood the need for rest. Very often in the scriptures we see that He will go off to the mountains to get away from the crowds and to be with His Father. He needed some alone time to rest and pray and rejuvenate Himself. Today’s Gospel reading emphasizes rest. I find it interesting that Jesus does not simply tell us to rest but instead tells us to turn to Him and He will teach us and help us to find rest. He tells us He will show us how to unburden ourselves and find rest for ourselves.
This week let us remember to find time for true rest… sit in a chair quietly, perhaps outside with nature or inside by dim light. Listen to the silence around you… pay attention to the little noises you’ve never heard before… a bird chirping, wind chimes chiming, a floorboard creaking… listen for the voice of Jesus teaching you how to rest. Spending time at rest is time you cannot afford to miss.
God Bless, Holly Clark
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