Daily Reflection for Wednesday, May 12, 2021
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners!
We encourage you to reflect on Wednesday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/051221.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Acts 17:15, 22-18:1
Responsorial: Psalms 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14
Gospel: John 16:12-15
Our reflection on Wednesday’s readings:
“Jesus said to his disciples :I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.” (John 16:12)
This year, May is a month of memory, treasure, and transition for me. After almost 33 years of active parenting, our last “baby” of 4 leaves the nest. As are many nest leavings, this feels sudden, too fast, as she takes flight with the first beat of her newly found wings. What happened to practice attempts and overnight rests until the next flight? I feel incredibly blessed that there will be a collegiate graduation ceremony her Dad and I will be able to attend. Very quickly she will, on her own, take the first step of her future, flying from this 1st world nation into a 3rd world nation, fulfilling a 12-18 month fellowship with an organization called Touching Tiny Lives.
Just as Jesus said to the disciples, He has much more to tell me too. He knows that I need the Holy Spirit in order to bear it, process it, and live it to the best of my ability. Often, I have wished for the “crystal ball,” the peek into the future to know and be able to plan for what is coming. Of course, God knows that I really would not be served well by knowing what is to come. Rather, He does His best to help me lean into Him and to rely on His grace to provide all that I need for the journey right now, right here.
Our daughter’s collegiate story is a glimpse into how He carefully leads us where He calls us. How the pieces are given as we are ready. How He works to make all things good and new. Freshman year, she had a chance to join a group t
hat was packing meals for a nation in Africa in a 24-hour event the cluboffered to students. She fell in love. The process alone caught her attention as she is a lover of detail, organization, and process flow. The next year resulted in many more of these packs and the chance to learn more about the people, the nation, and the country where these meals would be transported, shared, and served. She then had the opportunity to visit that nation for a month and work right alongside the people in sharing those meals and building shelter and community centers with them. Her words upon return were “I will go back.”
Covid had its impact on their group’s ability to get food packs made to ship, but it also provided a challenge to not let the orphaned children of Lesotho go hungry. As a Mom, I am so proud of the work this group has done to persevere despite Covid and all the changes it necessitated. As a Child of God, I am blessed to watch grace at work through these members of the next generation tackling big world issues and not being stopped by a roadblock in their path.
Won’t you join me in asking Jesus what it is He needs to tell you today?In Heartfelt Joy,
Lynne Brennan