June 29, 2012

Reflection on the Spirit of the Sacred Heart June 29, 2012

Jesus le Christ   Lord Jesus Christ, your light shines within us. Let not my doubts and my darkness speak to me. Lord Jesus Christ, your light shines within us. Let my heart always welcome your love.  From the Sacred Heart Taize Prayer Group, Japan      (http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/home/projects-with-young-people/3047-japan-sacred-heart-taize-group.html)

For Reflection...     God calls us to transform the world, with great ambition but also deep humility. This transformation has to begin with ourselves: we must allow the risen Christ to change our hearts, and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us out into deep waters so we can head courageously into the future. Let us rejoice in the thirst God has placed in us! It gives renewed vitality to our whole lives. "Let whoever is thirsty come; let whoever desires it receive the water of life, free of charge."    Sumiko Debuchi, rscj Province of Japan (http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/home/projects-with-young-people/3047-japan-sacred-heart-taize-group.html)   Artwork by Ana Luengo  http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/reflections/90-0704/397-preparing-for-retreat.html

June 22, 2012

Reflection on the Spirit of the Sacred Heart June 22, 2012

"Duc in altum - Put out into the deep." After Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch."   Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets."   When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. ...    When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him. From the gospel of St. Luke, Chapter 5, verses 4 - 11

For Reflection...     And where is "the deep" for all of us? We know that it is a dark and scary place, as it was for Simon Peter. He and his brothers had truly labored all night and caught nothing, but they had, like so many of us, remained safely close to shore, in a sheltered harbor, unwilling to venture into the deep waters where sudden storms and tumultuous waves put their livelihoods and, in fact, their lives at risk.    The "deep" is a place of war, pestilence, famine, and death; a place of suffering, and above all, a place of fear and uncertainty. And even when we hear the words of Jesus, "Do not be afraid," without a deep faith - one of the goals of Sacred Heart education - it will be difficult, if not impossible, to find the courage to venture into that place, much less to struggle against it.  Excerpt from a graduation address given by Dr. Robert Bérard to the first graduating class from Fountain Academy, Halifax, Nova Scotia on June 12, 2010    (http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/home/projects-with-young-people/2910-canada-fountain-academy-of-the-sacred-heart-halifax.html)   Photograph by Miyako Namikawa, rscj, Japan  http://media.rscjinternational.org/general/whoweare/creativespace/resources/0507Miyako/0507Miyako11.jpg

June 15, 2012

Reflection on the Spirit of the Sacred Heart June 15, 2012

Prayer for the Feast of the Sacred Heart    Father,    We honor the Heart of your Son    broken by man's cruelty    yet symbol of love's triumph,    pledge of all that man is called to be.   Teach us to see Christ in the lives we touch,    to offer him living worship    by love-filled service to our brothers and sisters. The Roman Missal (http://www.rscj.org/node/620)

For Reflection...   "...either we live our fellowship authentically, in the spirit of the Beatitudes, or our life ceases to have meaning." To do that, we were called to "build fraternal communities centered in Jesus Christ." (p. 7) Among fundamental elements of this life, "a contemplative outlook on the world, which presupposes times of deep prayer, both solitary and shared." (p. 14) Community prayer is seen as a way to build communion for mission. Selections from  The Chapter of 1970 (http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/reflections/157-0206/722-the-tradition-of-community-prayer-in-the-society-and-its-contemporary-challenges.html)   Steel Sculpture by David Norris, 2000,   At Digby Stuart College,  Roehampton, London, England Wording on the sculpture reads: "We discover and make known the Love of Christ  through the service of Education."   (Constitutions of the Society of the Sacred Heart) "Think glorious thoughts of God and serve Him with a quiet mind."   (Janet Stuart, rscj Superior General of the Society of the Sacred Heart 1911-1914) http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality/creative-space-publicmenu-35/3048-england-wales-sculpture-by-david-norris.html

June 8, 2012

Reflection on the Spirit of the Sacred Heart June 8, 2012

We are called to become the Heart of Christ on earth today - all of us.     His pierced Heart pours out love, pours out forgiveness, pours out compassion and new life, so that once God makes us aware of what we have done, our sin becomes our salvation.   If our hearts are pierced by the harmful words or deeds around us, we want to pour out love and forgiveness, not revenge, retaliation, rejection. The Spirit of Jesus, dwelling in us, can make this possible. From A glimpse of the spirituality of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Margie Conroy, rscj, Province of Uganda-Kenya     (http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality.html)

For Reflection...   Wherever we are sent, whatever our work may be, our lives will be inspired by the love of the Heart of Jesus and the desire of making Him known, expressed in: a concern for the growth of the whole person; a thirst for working towards justice and peace in the world in response to the cry of the poor; a passion to proclaim the Gospel. (#13) Extract from Constitution of the Society of the Sacred Heart (http://www.rscjinternational.org/en/spirituality.html)      Photograph by Nancy Durand, rscj  http://www.rscjinternational.org/images/stories/creative_space/0609/0609_5.jpg