Sister Wendy Beckett, Contemplative and Art Critic, died at 88

Sister Wendy Beckett lived her life as a contemplative and art expert. Her life of deep silence enabled her to comment on art from around the world with keen insight and faith. In the 1990’s she became a BBC star, inviting people from around the world to open their eyes to the profound nature of creativity, art and beauty. She changed the way many people view art and life, creativity and faith.

I am one of those people. I watched her shows over and over again, waiting for her response to some of the most beautiful and important art in the world. However, it was her book of prayer, “Sister Wendy on Prayer” that still captivates my attention. Her text on prayer is one of my favorite invitations to find God that I have ever read. This book was published in 2006. I always admired her fresh eyes and soulful understanding of the world, especially because she lived as a hermit.

She died this week at the age of 88. I pray with her life as a piece of God’s art, an invigorating journey toward the real life she desired, a life designed to rest in her Creator.

New York Times Obituary: CLICK HERE

The Holy Family: Painting by Ronald Raab, CSC (The original painting is located in the loft of Sacred Heart Church)

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Dear Followers of Jesus,

Today’s gospel, Luke 2:41-52, illustrates a parent’s worst fear, a missing child. With much miscommunication, Jesus stayed behind to preach in the Temple without the knowledge of his parents, Mary and Joseph. We can all imagine the fear that ran through the minds and bodies of Mary and Joseph searching diligently for Jesus in the caravan.

Mary and Joseph find Jesus in the Temple. Jesus does not seem concerned that his parents were frantic. This gospel begins to outline his death and resurrection, even though he is still a youth. First, he is lost and then his parents find him after three days. This refers to his passion, death and resurrection. After three days, he becomes a new person. We see this visibly in the Temple, where he is preaching and answering questions. In other words, his real identity emerges, his place among the leaders of faith. He was lost but now is found among those whom hear his message of peace.

How ironic that we are celebrating the Incarnation during the Christmas season and today the real presence of Jesus is already lost. Jesus asks his parents, “Why are you looking for me?” Jesus assumes that his parents would know that he is in the Temple, doing the work of the Father. I want to hold on to Jesus asking me this question because so often I do not fully understand myself why I search for him.

We need to be honest about why we search for the Christ, the person of Jesus. We cannot live the mystery of our lives apart from Jesus. He is our hope when we are lost, when we get caught in personal sin, heartache and ill will. He is our direction when we believe we have all the answers, when we are confident that we can do life on our own. Jesus is our creative life even when we feel lost in our jobs or unimportant in our families. Jesus is the place we rest when we are tired and emptied from beating ourselves up when things just do not go the way we planned.

I wonder how we would answer the question Jesus poses to his parents? I desire with all my heart to find my way to his side, to his creative love for our world and for me. This Christmas season is just another step in our awkward search for Jesus, of being lost and found. Yet, Jesus makes a home within us. We already have what we desire, the love God has for each of us. Christmas is creating a home within our hearts to find that Jesus is not lost, but living among us today in all that we do.

The gospel tells us that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, held all these things in her heart. She pondered the mystery of his sorrows as well as his goodness. I hold on to the life of Jesus in this Christmas season within my heart, as I know we all long to do. For the mystery of the Incarnation is continuing to teach us how to love and how to live together.

Blessings,

Fr. Ron

Text: Ronald Raab, CSC

MORE INFORMATION: CLICK HERE

I will be offering one of the twenty workshops for this conference in June, 2019. The title of my worship is: Fr. Ron Raab, CSC – Bending toward the Light: Our Posture of Solidarity through Preaching.

My presentation will offer a discussion based on my experiences working with people on the margins and learning how to interpret the scriptures through relationship with people in poverty and powerlessness.

Sacred Heart Church, Colorado Springs, CO 2018

Christmas Day

December 25, 2018

Let us pray that the Word-Made Flesh may find a home in every human heart this Christmas Day. May our voices herald Good News for all nations and all peoples in the joy of our Savior.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for Pope Francis and our Church leaders, that the Word of God may reveal compassion for all people surviving poverty and living in fear throughout the Church. May our leaders discover honesty and real concern for people.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for people living on the margins of society. For people waiting for housing, healthcare, education and the essentials of human dignity. We pray that the Word of God becomes flesh in our service to people in need.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for our families around our dinner tables this Christmas Day. For reconciliation among those we love. We pray for our children home from college and for our enthusiastic toddlers. We pray for our guests and strangers who dine with us this day.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for all military families this Christmas Day. For all who serve our country, for all who serve far from home this year and for all who wait the return of loved ones.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for all who have died since last Christmas Day. For our loved ones who rest in God’s Kingdom and who see firsthand the face of Christ Jesus. We pray for all who grieve on earth on Christmas Day. At this Mass…

We pray to the Lord.

Christmas Eve

December 24, 2018

Let us pray to be open to the miracles among us this Christmas Eve. May our restless hearts rejoice where faith is born. Give us new hope and genuine love in this silent night.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for the healing mission of the Church. For people searching for healthy food, adequate shelter and comfort for their ailing bodies. May the lonely and tired be wrapped in swaddling clothes in this holy night. May forgiveness find a home on earth.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for Pope Francis and all Church leaders, that they may discover the love of the Incarnation. That hope may be made flesh for all people, especially our children within the Church, no matter our race, language or circumstance.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray that children’s voices be heard on Christmas Eve. We pray for our own grandchildren far and near. For foster children, stepchildren, children at our country’s border and our children in jails. We pray for children trapped in cruelty and trafficking.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for comforting peace on earth. We pray for people who face tragedies of violence, fires, floods and addictions. That Jesus-made-flesh may show us how to become people of loving service. That peacefulness may be made known in every human heart.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for our beloved dead, especially for those who have died since last Christmas Eve. May our loved ones finally rest in the comfort of Jesus’ face, within his presence for all eternity. At this Mass we remember…

We pray to the Lord.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 23, 2018

Let us pray for our Church waiting for miracles this Advent. Let us pray for wise actions and loving responses for the needs of the world. Let us serve people with all our hearts.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray that we may receive love and acceptance in Advent. We pray for healing and forgiveness in our broken relationships and within every lonely heart. May love flourish on earth.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray that our hearts may leap for joy in recognition of Christ Jesus. For people searching for sobriety, for people who are healing from cancer, for couples seeking forgiveness in their marriage. May joy create a home in all people.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for the dignity of family life. For students home from college and for our men and women home from deployment and for our children living far away. Let the face of Christ be revealed to us all.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for those who grieve this Advent. For people displaced by sudden storms, violence and fires, may they find our support. For first responders, medical personnel, all caregivers and people who provide emotional support across our country. Help us encounter Christ this Advent.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for our loved ones who have died. Let us remember their voices as we all sing God’s praise. In this Mass…

We pray to the Lord.

Painting and column text: Ronald Raab, CSC

CLICK HERE for full bulletin 

Dear Followers of the Messiah,

The prayer texts and scriptures for the Fourth Sunday of Advent take a dramatic turn. The great prophets of Isaiah and John the Baptist who have been heralding a message of repentance and hope for us are now silenced. We turn away from our preparation for the second coming of the Messiah at the end of time. Our attention now focuses on the birth of Jesus. This Fourth Sunday calms our souls and steadies our faith for it takes us back to the human longing for love and peace. Today’s gospel is charming and exquisite in its tenderness for the coming of Jesus to be born among us, to become the Word-Made-Flesh.

Today in Luke 1:39-45 we hear the simple story of Mary journeying to visit her cousin Elizabeth. There is such rejoicing between the two pregnant women. The rejoicing did not stop with the two adults for we hear that the infant in Elizabeth’s womb leapt for joy. This child of course is John, who will be called The Baptist. This gospel in the fourth week takes us back to the beginning of Advent when we heard about John as an adult calling us all to repentance and forgiveness. Today we ponder such beauty of a child and all of his potential.

This gospel forms our short Fourth Week of Advent. Christmas is in two days. I pray that we may sink our hearts into this story and find the joy and wonder of Jesus resting in our hearts, lives and relationships. We are called in this great feast of Christmas this week to sort through our exhaustion, fear and uncertainties to find joy again. Our joy fills the empty spaces of our lives if we take the time to sit in silence, reflect and pray. Within Christmas, we are called to discover such hope among our bewilderment, peace among the obstacles that keep us apart and love even among our fragile relationships.

The four weeks of Advent have challenged us to recognize Christ in the deepest and darkest places of our human lives. This year, most especially, we lift up a child to be our hope amid the crimes of our clergy and the neglect of so many. We center on the child Jesus to become in our day a radical reminder that powerlessness will be the place of grace, hope and healing. We are called into becoming poor and powerless so that we may discover the miracles of life and receive the forgiveness for which we ache.

No matter what is going on in your life this Christmas, I pray that you may discover the joy nested in your heart as you recognize Jesus. I pray as you feed an aging parent in a nursing home, that you might be grateful for all that has been in your life. I pray as you hold a newborn in the family that you may come to a new awareness of miracles and love. I pray as you listen to your teen fidget about what to do with his future that you may welcome all the possibilities of his talent.

Thank you for all of your creative efforts to build our three communities of worship. Thank you so much for feeding our poor on weekdays and on Sunday evenings. Thank you for educating your children here and worshipping in good times and in bad. Peace to all who enter our churches this week to find the new places in which Jesus is born.

Christmas peace,

Fr. Ron

Third Sunday of Advent

December 16, 2018

Let us pray to use our possessions wisely and that we may learn to serve others by sharing our earthly goods during this Advent season. Let us live and love in deep gratitude.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray that Pope Francis and our bishops may live and teach with integrity this Advent. For our Universal Church as we learn gratitude in the midst of struggle, conflict and uncertainty.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us rejoice in the Lord and work for justice in this season of preparation. We pray for the end of racism, violence, hunger and discrimination. We pray that peace will guard our hearts.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us be confident and unafraid in prayer as we raise our families and model hope to those we love. We pray for the wellbeing of our children and our grandchildren, especially our loved ones far from home.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us live with no anxiety or worry even in the midst of our grief. We pray that consolation may find a home within us no matter our loss. We pray that our emptiness may lead us to joy in Christ Jesus.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for our loved ones and strangers who have journeyed through death to a new presence with Christ Jesus. We pray for all who have died…

We pray to the Lord.