Love

In the play, “Les Miserables,” Jean Valjean endured great hardships in his life and was on the road to destruction when he was shown mercy and given a second chance.  He came to accept responsibility for his own life as well as that of his adoptive daughter, Cosette.  His self-sacrificing and boundless love for her changed his life and heart forever.  In the Epilogue lyrics we hear, “Take my hand, and lead me to salvation Take my love, for love is everlasting and remember the truth that once was spoken To love another person is to see the face of God!”  This is indeed what we are called to.  We are called to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves.  Let us live this day and every day in love.

Pat Schifini, OSU

The Golden Rule

In today’s Gospel we hear the familiar Golden Rule -- “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.”  Matthew 7: 12.  The Golden Rule is shared by many of the world’s major religious traditions.  I remember learning it as a child and it has stuck with me ever since.  Understood by all as the ideal by which we should live – is it the reality by which we live?  We are called to live in such a way that I treat others the way I would want to be treated.  Is this the way I truly live my life?  How can I go beyond this ideal and truly treat others the way that Jesus would treat them?  These are rather difficult questions but I believe ones worth pondering during this Lenten season.

Pat Schifini, OSU

Conversion of Heart

Conversion in Greek is Metanoia, meaning change of heart.  Conversion is to turn to Christ and allow Him who is the Light of the world to enlighten and inflame our hearts. Conversion is to allow Christ to pour His grace into our hearts and transform our minds and our lives and our very being into Him.  When I think about the word conversion I am often reminded of the quote from the book, “The Little Prince” by Antione de Saint-Exupery, “And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” This quote summarizes for me what I believe conversion of heart is truly about.  As we go through our day to day routine we need to be mindful of others and remember that we are all part of the same universe.  We need to work together to achieve success, to grow in life and to be faithful followers.  Lent is a journey of conversion and our hearts are at the center.  As we continue our Lenten journey perhaps we can remember that our God is nudging us to change something in our lives.  Perhaps we are being called to let go of an old habit and embrace new life.

Pat Schifini, OSU

Prayer

When I think of prayer I am struck by how my earlier notions have changed and keep growing and changing.  Prayer is a form of communication, a way of talking to God.  It may be formal or informal.  Often we think of prayer primarily as asking God for something but it is so much more.  When we have a conversation with a friend we are able to feel that they are listening to us.  The same is true of God.  Our God is always ready to listen to us and is always present to us.  We need to come frequently to God and allow ourselves to recognize God in all we do.  By praying we strengthen that recognition of the presence of God, which draws us closer to God.  We do not always have the time that we wish to spend in prayer but I believe that our God understands that and knows the desire of our heart.  Let us during this Lenten season have the desire to spend more time in prayer –  in conversation – with our God who loves and cares for us and all we do.

Pat Schifini, OSU

Awareness of Others

Our scriptures today call us to be there for one another and to serve.  We are called to an awareness of others, their needs, their hopes and their dreams.   During this Lenten season and each day we must follow our Lord’s command to care for the poor, the hungry, the homeless and strangers in any way that we can.  We need to be there for one another the same way Jesus was for his early followers.  Jesus listened to and was present to those in need.  As we strive to imitate Jesus and be there for one another let us remember to pray and ask for God’s guidance and strength to “bless us with an awareness of the people around us.  Open our eyes to see your face in each person we meet and give us the courage to serve the poor with your love and mercy every day.”

Pat Schifini, OSU

Conversion

In his song, “Change Our Hearts,” by Rory Cooney, the refrain is:  “Change our hearts this time, your word says it can be.  Change our minds this time, your life could make us free.  We are the people your call sets apart.  Lord, this time change our hearts.”  During our Lenten journey we are reminded that it is indeed a time to change our hearts – to undergo a process of conversion.  We are invited to let go of old habits and embrace new ones.  Scripture reminds us to “put on Christ.”  Jesus continually called his followers to become their best self.  He always accepted them where they were at and challenged them to grow deeper in their love of self, God and others.

When we travel to other countries we often convert some money before we leave so that upon arrival we will have some spending money.  In this process we are never sure of what the conversion rate will truly be, yet we do it.  Sometimes we are pleasantly surprised and other times we are rather saddened.  The most important thing is the willingness to take the chance on it that it will all work out.  The Lenten season calls us to do the same.  Let us all take the chance this Lent to make the changes we need to and to trust in the true love that we are called to be.

Pat Schifini, OSU

Patience and Mercy

In a prayer booklet I am using this Lent Pope Francis wrote, “Patient and merciful.”  These words often go together in the Old Testament to describe God’s nature…In a special way the Psalms bring to the fore the grandeur of his merciful action.  (Misericordiae Vultus, N. 6)

I found myself thinking a great deal about patience and mercy as I read this today.  We live in a world where these virtues are seriously lacking at times.  The virtue of patience is often defined as “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.”  There are many obstacles in our lives to being patient but we need to remember that our God is always patient and gentle with us.  We are called to respond to the invitation to embrace God’s mercy. 

St. Teresa of Avila wrote, “Let nothing disturb thee; Let nothing dismay thee; All thing pass; God never changes. Patience attains all that it strives for. The one who has God lacks nothing: God alone suffices.”  May God alone suffice for us during this Lenten season.

Sr. Pat Schifini, OSU