​Scripture Reflection: January 28, 2024 – 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

​IF TODAY YOU HEAR HIS VOICE
Psalm 95
 
The Word is Calling!
Listen!
The Word is calling!
 
Come within
the pages of My story.
I have written Myself throughout history.
 
I have been rejected, glorified, praised.
I have sung in joy!
 
Listen! Listen!
The Word is calling!
 
I have breathed my words into you.
You are part of My salvation.
Your story is mingled with those who have spoken for Me.
 
I am present
when you reject Me,
when you glorify and praise Me.
 
I am present
in your deepest sorrow and in times of forgiveness.
I am your joy.
I am your hope.
 
Listen! Listen! Listen!
The Word is calling!
 
Live your word.
A word I breathed into you
That you may write the scripture of today.
 
You are part of the plan.
Oh, please say YES!
 
Listen!
The Word is calling you!
 
Sara Fontana
Wildflowers Theresian Community
League City, TX

​Scripture Reflection: January 21, 2024 -- 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jon 3:1-5, 10
Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
1 Cor 7:29-31
Mk 1:14-20

Reflecting on the readings for this Sunday, the message I received was to embrace change. Why is that so hard to do? The Ninevites were asked to repent and change their ways. They did and they were saved. In the second reading, St. Paul is tells the Corinthians that things are changing. He tells them that “the world in its present form is passing way.” Again, that’s a hard message to hear. In the Gospel, Mark tells us the story of Jesus recruiting Simon, Andrew, James and John on the seashore and asking them to leave everything behind and follow him. Leave EVERYTHING behind! Can you imagine being asked to do something like that—to change like that?

God challenges us to rethink our lives and to change. Change is hard, sometimes almost impossible. Then we hear the message of the Psalm. Ask for help! “Teach me your ways, O Lord.” Psalm 25 tells us to ask for help. “Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.” Yes, change is hard, yet God tells us that it’s necessary and that He will guide us.

Gretchen Penny
Seekers Community, Houston, TX

By Tammy Townsend Denny, TI Executive Director
I had an opportunity this week to attend a webinar on “Transforming Grace,” the new initiative from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) that asks the question: “What is ours to do in this time?”

In November, LCWR began creating reflection guides on “Transforming Grace” that are intended for use by faith communities. Each guide has a link to an opening song and includes prayers, scripture, inspirational thoughts, and questions for reflection that are “grounded in contemplation and [are] an engagement in learning the skills and practices that will lead to decision-making and action that leads to being in right relationship...” The reflections for the weeks of January 14 and January 22 are available by clicking here and here.

If you are looking for programs for your Theresian community, I invite you to check out LCWR’s “Transforming Grace” page on their website. On this page, you will find downloadable PDFs of all the Transforming Grace Reflection Guides. 

​Scripture Reflection: January 14, 2024 -- 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Psalm 40

I have waited, waited for the Lord
And he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
And he put a new song into my mouth,
A hymn to our God. (Ps 40:2,4)

I often wonder where my words come from
When I write a reflection on a psalm.
When I read Psalm 40 today at Mass, I realized:
They come from a place deep within. 

But only after I spend time with the psalm:
I turn the words and phrases over and over,
Looking for meaning, looking for connection,
Waiting for the Lord who hears my cry.

With the Divine above and within and
With channels open between, the Spirit stoops down,
Guides, provides, and puts “a new song into my mouth”:
“A hymn to our God.”

Amen.

Anne Broussard 
Esprit de L'ame Community
Lafayette, Louisiana, USA

By Tammy Townsend Denny, TI Executive Director

​Many of you probably are familiar with longtime Theresian Robin Hebert, Open Heart Community, Lafayette, Louisiana. Robin and her husband Easton recently were featured on the podcast “Can I Getta Amen” where they share about their “life and love through loss and laughter.”

I encourage you to listen to Robin and Easton’s gentle message of love, faith, and hope in this podcast. Take some time this weekend to “let your spirit catch up with you,” to use Easton’s words.

Robin will be one of the speakers at the Theresian International Gathering in Houston on September 20-22.

Gospel Reflection: January 7, 2024 -- Epiphany

Mt 2:1-12
When people first meet the newborn king, they immediately recognize his greatness. In the Gospel we see the Magi following the star, saying they have come to “do him homage”. The Magi are guided by a light to find the Messiah when the infant named Jesus appears like a light shining in darkness. Imagine their awe at their long-awaited discovery. They are overjoyed and prostrate themselves and share their finest gifts with him. Their faith comes from their wisdom. We should seek out Jesus with this same spirit, giving all of ourselves to Him. When we greet him in the Eucharist and in adoration, we should adore Him in this very way. The Entrance Antiphon from the Vigil Mass (“Arise, Jerusalem, and look to the East and see your children gathered from the rising to the setting of the sun.”) reminds me to follow the light of Christ each day from start to finish. It doesn’t hurt that God bookmarks most days by a beautiful sunrise and sunset. This antiphon also encourages me to evangelize as I picture Christians physically filling in all of these spaces. Come let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.

Anita Roberts-Long
Roses on the Teche Community
Lafayette, Louisiana, USA