Reflection Our objective must be the realization of peace for all people and to support the harmony and progress of global civil society. The way to achieve this is through the dialogue of spiritual openness. The key to such dialogue is devoting our very lives to listening and learning from those different from us. This humble willingness to learn is…
Reflection That all may be one. John 17:21 We use words as tools to divide reality; In reality we exist in relationship. Everything in the world is interconnected and is all part of the one entity, the Universe. “The natural world is the larger sacred community to which we belong. To be alienated from this community is to become destitute…
Reflection The spiritual life requires that we think enough of ourselves to believe we can serve others without putting ourselves above them. Oftentimes, we are our own worst enemies. We commit acts of sabotage by doubting our own competence. We close off avenues that could lead to personal growth. We put ourselves down. Aiming for perfection, we are not satisfied…
Reflection Yesterday was the feast of Kateri Tekakwitha, called the “Lily of the Mohawks.” She was born in 1656 near Auriesville, New York. Her mother, a Christian, was a member of the Algonquin nation and her father was a Chief of the Mohawk tribe. Kateri lost her parents and brother to an epidemic of smallpox. She was adopted by an…
Reflection The image of the Good Samaritan is so familiar that it has become a common idiom in our ordinary speech. Yet, it causes us to reflect on many aspects of our beliefs: the dignity of the human person, the compassion for those in need and the connection between love of God and neighbor. All persons, even those on the…
Reflection Responsibility does not only lie with the leaders of our countries or with those who have been appointed or elected to do a particular job. It lies with each of us individually. Peace, for example, starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us. When our community is…
Reflection The circumstances of our lives are another medium of God’s communication with us….. Through the wisdom of our bodies, God tells us to slow down or reorder our priorities. The happy coincidences and frustrating impasses of daily life are laden with messages. Patient listening and the grace of the Spirit are the decoding devices of prayer. It is a…
Reflection We have the power to raise our voices on behalf of those without voice, those held powerless, those whose lives cannot express their desire for better lives. This includes non-human animals as well. We need to remember all this; then we can go that extra mile, take that courageous action, remind that powerful someone that peace and right relationships…
Reflection Insight and compassion enable us to see the world beyond the accepted view. We see ourselves within the larger context of creation. In a spirit of love and understanding, we see persons as always more important than rules, and creation as the interdependent reality in which we all exist. This frees us to be open to the action of…
Reflection Summer is a season that believes in the miracle of growth and knows that abundant life is possible. It provides the contemplative eye with its own insights. Summer reveals itself in all colors. It has its own special sounds, its fresh aromas, its own special tastes. In nature there is abundance, variety, and lush productivity. It is a season…