It was our community’s day of reflection. And Adoration, too. The chapel wasn’t too big. But the light in it seemed not to be sufficient. So many families, and many more children. Buzz, noise. The pews squeaking with every movement. Some children were taking part in rosary prayer, some were walking around the chapel, some were filing a request for changing the place of their stay to their parents. One small boy quietly enjoyed sightseeing in the presbytery with the Holy Sacrament in the middle of it. Everyone was pursuing as much silence in their hearts, as they could afford. For sure, the yearning for silence was much greater than the actual experience. And among all that – He himself, God.
And it occured to me: isn’t our life just like that? Is it not what any family’s everyday reality is like? You could say: chaos in thousands of variations. And it is only up to us – to make this chaos a space available for Him to walk around. He doesn’t like being an unwanted guest. He wants so much to be invited. Wanted.
Stay with us, Lord.
Michał
I’m not afraid of your misery. I’m not afraid your wounds will stain the whiteness of my robe. I’m not looking for the healthy and the perfect. I’m taking you in my arms, careful not to make your aching places hurt more. To heal them. To turn them into the place of meeting Me and the others. To make you shine with My love.
And I’m not discouraged by your empty hands. The emptier they are, the more I can fill them. Come and hold them out.
I’m waiting for you.
Jesus
One of our regular Readers told me that Fr. Jay’s posts are the least “pious,” so today this is going to be a bit more pious for a change 😉
Yesterday we all celebrated the Feast of the Ascension. I’ve always associated this feast with the words of Lord Jesus saying it is good for us that He is going away, because we will be given “another Comforter” (John 14:16). So we’re entering the special time of vigil, of awaiting.
Who am I waiting for? Under which name – from so many of names of His – will He come to me? What is my waiting like?
And I’m praying for you, my Dear Ones from the Harbour, so that you can get His power anew – the power which will manifest itself in your marriages and families, in your struggle with your weaknesses and fears.
So let’s raise our heads, we’re clothed in the arnour to fight for our marriages and families. Let’s open our hearts to His power. All we need is to let Him act within us, as He did in His Apostles and saints. Si isti, cur non ego? If they could do it, why not me?
Fr. Jay
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the world”. (Matthew 28:20)
Let’s not be afraid He will be put off by our mess. Let’s allow Him to walk into our everyday life. Into all our relationships and issues. Only then will we experience, how close He is – and faithful “to the very end.”
Basia
“My Father will give you whatever you ask in my name” (John 16:23)
Yes, sometimes the words stuck in my throat, when I experience how He reaches out to address my needs, sometimes very simple and related to day-to-day bustle, or those forgotten and neglected (like health problems caused by “the lack of time”).
I often think that those gestures which show how close and attentive He is, He also wants to tell me something about all those requests of mine that seem to have been left without the answer.
That I can trust Him. Or: that I mustn’t mistrust Him. That would be irrational.
Małgosia
„…show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” (John 14:8)
These words often come to my mind when I reflect on the relationship with our children. They are linked with the thought expressed by Blessed John Paul II: “parental love is called to become for the children the visible sign of the very love of God”. I can “hear” those words expressed by our four kids, as in this short and simple sentence my desire to show them the Father meets their profound need of expreiencing love.
I’d like to show the Father’s love to the children – so that they can see it, hear it, feel it – through my own behaviour, words, the way I address them. I’d like to know how to channel some portion of His tenderness, His unusual patience, His joy arising from the fact that they merely are there. I’d like to give them the sense of His availability, unswearving love always offering new chances, His respect for human freedom… But also to fight for their true good. So to say “no”, set limits, have difficult conversations about mistakes.
I don’t think children remember the brand of clothes they were wearing, or how expensive their toys were. But I’m sure they remember the love they’ve been given.
Basia
* Familiaris consortio 14
“You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. ” (John 16:20)
The whole world is running, putting a huge effort and resources in looking for entertainment, adrenaline, joke – but in fact, it does not cease to be sad.
Jesus knows this and grants us joy. The joy of which He is the source. The closer we stay to Him, the easier it is to survive the sorrows of everyday life and find the strength to overcome new ones. The closer we get to Him, the easier it is to show this joy to the others, for example by a sincere smile.
So: smile! 🙂
Dosia
Family Space is our new place in the Harbour: empty, so far, but to be filled with stories. With the records of family life – wherever family life happens in its whole diversity and likeness.
We’d like to ask you for your help in creating it. One way to do so – is to share the blogs you’ve been writing (or photoblogs) or your family websites. Another way – will be suggested very soon.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
The “Harbour” Team
What happened, shouldn’t have happened indeed. So there were bitter words on the part of the customer, expressing his disappointment and dissatisfaction. There were also my sincere words of apology expressing how really sorry I was, and admitting my fault.
I remembered this situation after I’d read the comment made by Fr. Mariusz, ending with his wishes for us: “may there be only beautiful words between you.” Beautiful words are truthful words. I think the words of apology belong to that category. Let’s be able to admit our fault and say “sorry”, even though it is sometimes very difficult.
In the end, the customer called me again after some time to apologize for his words, if they’d hurt me. It’s also important to know how to accept apology.
I would like to thank Fr. Mariusz for his beautiful words.
Michał
*the reply do “remain in Me” (in Polish)
One year I took a group of young adults on a hiking camp in the Bieszczady Mountains. All of them – hungry for adventure, fit, ready get over the whole mountain range. It turned out, however, that there were various kinds of Rangers.
The first group included the Power Rangers. They ran, not walked, along the trail. They were first on the mountain tops, first at the stopping places, first – back at home.
The second group consisted of the Power & Romantic Rangers. They walked fast, but – contrary to group one – they were able to stop and enjoy the scenery, admire some rare plant specimen or a rock formation.
The third group was Romantic Rangers. Their all activity was enjoyment and admiration. It was difficult to get them to move on. Born contemplators.
During that expedition I had to be everywhere. I had to catch up with the Power Rangers, to rush the Romantics at the back, and on the run between both – to stop for a while with those in the middle.
Last Saturday I was canoeing with the members of Chojnice Holy Family Center down the Brda River. I wasn’t the boss, then. I was part of the crew.
And I could be a Ranger myself. And a Romantic one as well.
I wish you all a beautiful week. And remember: we all are Rangers. 😉
Fr. Jay
