Sunday Scripture - Reflection for January 14, 2024Scripture 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
0 Comments
Message of love, faith, and hopeBy 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. Sunday Scripture - Reflection for January 7, 2024Gospel 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 New Year - Renewed CommitmentBy Tammy Townsend Denny, TI Executive Director In this first week of the new year when my renewed commitment to doing things that enliven my brain and spark my soul is still fresh, I read Brian Doyle’s essay “A Better Monk Would Know.” Doyle begins the essay, “I was in a monastery the other day and got to talking to a monk who, when I asked him why he was a monk… said, because it’s hard.” The monk goes on, “Because I am not sure I can do it all… let alone do it well, and do it for years and years, perhaps for my whole life.” Amen, yes! My professional work; my home life; my spiritual life; the way I parent and step-parent; the relationship with my husband; my coursework for my Master of Divinity program; the way I wash my face, brush my teeth, blow-dry my hair; the way I exercise; the garden I plant; the books I want to read; the healthy food I want to eat – all of it! I am not sure I can do it all and do it well for years and years. The temptation is to curl up on the couch, pull a blanket over my head, and watch Netflix until my brain turns to mush. But Doyle’s monk continues, “I try to be a good monk for a week at a time… I might have been happy and fulfilled in a dozen ways. But I knew inside that I had to try to do what was hard for me to do, to be of best use.” This year, our Theresian Litany of Solidarity invites us to stand in solidarity through prayer and action with women emerging in leadership in church and society -- the women, like you and me, who are not sure they can do it all or do it well, but who have committed themselves to being of best use by doing difficult things. As we prayerfully unite to support women emerging in leadership, I invite you to spend some time with Doyle’s essay “A Better Monk Would Know.” What does it say to you about the emerging leaders in your life, in your church, in your family, and in your Theresian community? What does it say to you about being of best use and doing hard things? My hope is that 2024 is filled with opportunities for each of us to take these words of Doyle’s monk to heart: “I cannot explain why I hope that what I do matters; all I can do is do what I do, either well or ill, patiently or not, gracefully or not.” You are enoughThere is a phrase I have been sitting with in my quiet moments this Christmas: You are enough. The words are from writer Tosha Silver who recently shared on her Facebook page: “The innermost heart says, ‘You are enough. Nowhere to go, nothing to get, nothing to change. No need to grow more deserving. You, yes You, are Love.’” You are love and you are enough. (Notice that the word is “love,” not “loved.”) Imagine for a moment that right here, right now, exactly as you are, you are love and light in our tumultuous world. In your brokenness, in your tiredness, in your mourning, in your joy, in your delight, and in the messiness of presents and wrapping paper and leftover Christmas dinner strewn around your house, you are love and you are enough. This Christmas season and in these concluding days of the year, I invite you to rest with me in the light of the Word made flesh (John 1:14) and to feel love, to be love, and to know that you are enough. An Advent Invitation to SilenceBy Tammy Townsend Denny, TI Executive Director As I write this reflection, contractors are at work in our kitchen, hammering and sawing and grinding their way through a remodel. To drown out the noise, I have headphones on and am listening to instrumental Christmas music. Next to my keyboard, my phone emits intermittent sounds alerting me to messages and emails and phone calls. Soon my husband will be finished with his workday and will be walking through the house with questions for me, then the TV will be on. Noises from the furnace drone in the background. A school bus rattles by on the street. And that doesn’t even begin to describe all the thoughts running through my head – the to-do lists, the plans, the worries! My life is very noisy. Quiet time with God is almost non-existent for me right now. And I am craving silence. I am reminded of the Yiddish folk tale “It Could Always Be Worse.” In the story, a poor man complains to the Rabbi about how crowded and loud his small house is. The Rabbi’s advice is for the man to bring his chickens into the house. As the story builds, the Rabbi continues to advise the man to bring in more animals: goose, rooster, dog, cat, goat, cow (the animals vary depending on the version of the tale you read). At the end of the tale, the Rabbi tells the man, who is now at his breaking point, to remove all the animals from his home. The story ends with the man exclaiming, “Holy Rabbi, you have made life sweet for me. With just my family in the hut, it’s so quiet, so roomy, so peaceful… What a pleasure!” I believe God gives us chaos and noise as a way to teach us to appreciate the gift of silence. In this week’s Advent video from the Ascension Press video series Rejoice: An Advent Pilgrimage into the Heart of Scripture, Fr. Mark Toups from the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana, reminds us that silence is difficult, especially with all the distractions in our world. But silence is so important in our relationship with God. Fr. Mark says, “Silence is to prayer like a canvas is to the artist.” He goes on to say, “Silence sensitizes us to hear God.” If your life is as noisy as mine is right now, join me this Advent in accepting God’s invitation for silence, even if it is only for a couple of minutes. For inspiration, please watch Fr. Mark’s 9:39 minute video below. AdventBy Tammy Townsend Denny, TI Executive Director My husband and I recently treated ourselves to reservations at a new restaurant. We thought it would be nice to enjoy some conversation over a plate of tacos after a long week. Maybe a bowl of guacamole if we were feeling extravagant. The reality proved to be a bit different. When we arrived, we discovered the restaurant was loud, crowded, and dark -- that level of darkness that makes it hard to read a menu. Most diners seemed half our age. A live DJ blasted music in one corner. Performers in Day of the Dead costumes strolled among the tables while servers brought out flaming plates of food and drinks. Quiet, intimate, simple, it was not. This misguided date night comes to mind as Advent approaches (Sunday, December 3). While I like to think of Advent as a month-long date with God where we make plans to hang out and talk, maybe over a plate of tacos and guacamole, the reality is rarely the quiet intimacy I had planned. Too often I allow my life to become too loud and too crowded with holiday preparations that I leave little space for quiet time with God. It is this noisy distraction that is addressed in the Ascension Press video series Rejoice: An Advent Pilgrimage into the Heart of Scripture. The series features Fr. Mark Toups from the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Louisiana; Fr. Josh Johnson from the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Sr. Josephine Garrett, a Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth. (Sr. Josephine offered a presentation on community and commitment to Theresians on June 24, 2023. You can watch a recording of her presentation here.) In the first Rejoice video offered below, Fr. Mark, Fr. Josh, and Sr. Josephine talk about the importance of silence, perceptions of silence, and obstacles to silence. If you are unable to watch the entire 28-minute video, please consider watching Sr. Josephine’s three-minute message that can be found at the 11:50 minute mark in the video. Each week through Advent, we will be sharing these Rejoice videos with you. A journal is mentioned in the video and is available for purchase through various online booksellers (options are available here). The journal is NOT needed to enjoy the program. Please join with me this Advent in finding time for silence and simplicity. Maybe we can even find some time for tacos with God this holiday season! Interview with Margaret Malsam, Colorado, Woman of Wisdomby Millie Foster, Still Water Community, Fort Bend, Texas
Margaret told me that her Theresian experience was wonderful. She loved the meetings where she had the opportunity to get to know her Theresian sisters. She also loved participating in the Theresian International gatherings which she and her late husband enjoyed attending together. She cherishes the fact that Theresians is a faith and truth group that helps us grow closer to God. Margaret lives in Colorado, the state in which the first Theresian communities were formed. There are currently no active communities remaining in the state. I asked Margaret about this. She explained that the communities in Colorado were not able to survive the challenges posed by Covid. She also told me that there is still a great deal of fear associated with meeting in groups as a result. We discussed what Margaret thinks is important for prospective Theresian members to know about our organization. She would want women to know that membership in a Theresian community is a gift! Prospective members must be aware that it will be necessary for them to give of themselves to get a successful community started. She feels that women need to see tangible items that help them to embrace the beauty of a Theresian community. Margaret stressed the importance of prayer in getting a new community established. I told her that I think that is the easiest part! Margaret again expressed the concern that she and others feel about contracting a virus in a group setting - which is a common format used for most Theresian community meetings. She thinks it would be helpful to our growth if we could foster some different formats in addition to meeting in homes and breaking bread together. She and I discussed the thought that this concern may not be an issue for younger members, but it is for older Theresians. Since Margaret resides in a care facility, I suggested she share her experiences with her fellow residents so they can, in turn, share the Theresian story with their extended family. Many people are not familiar with our organization and anything we can do to extend the blessing of a Theresian community to as many women as we can is well worth the effort! I would suggest that we make it a priority in our communities to connect with our area Women of Wisdom to brighten their days and let them know we love, respect, and value them. Margaret’s greatest request was to ask for prayers without ceasing for her and her friends and for prospective new members. I made a new friend, and I will be keeping in touch with Margaret. Margaret Malsam on St. Therese Margaret Malsam on Parents of St. Therese A Book Review: I Believe in Love by Fr. Jean D’Elbéeby Melanie Hartshorn, Spiritual Springs Community, Fort Bend, Texas I am a long-time subscriber to the monthly publication Magnificat. There is a daily section called “Meditation of the Day” which follows each day’s readings and never fails to give me pause. It often contains quotes from Fr. Jean D’Elbée. Recently, one of those quotes was from Fr. D’Elbée’s book, I Believe in Love, published in 1969. This book is subtitled, “A personal retreat based on the teaching of St. Thérèse of Lisieux.” I discovered that Fr. D’Elbée is one of the world’s foremost scholars on St. Thérèse. What a coincidence, I thought to myself (since I am a Theresian, after all)! Of course, I don’t believe in coincidences but rather recognized that the Holy Spirit was moving me to delve into this book. I decided that it could be a rich source of prayer and meditation – truly a personal retreat - for me during the upcoming season of Advent 2023. The book has an unusual format, but one that works very well to allow for progressing at one’s own pace through the ten conferences (as Fr. D’Elbée calls them). The conferences build on each other and are packed full of insights – many of which seem so simple but had never occurred to me! Excerpts from the writings of St. Thérèse are an integral part of each conference. More than a few of these quotes were familiar to me, but when placed in the context of a more complete passage and Fr. D’Elbée’s commentary, they took on much deeper meaning. I found that I could relate to St. Thérèse in a new way - as a “sister in Jesus” and not just a canonized saint who has received the title of Doctor of the Church. The first three conferences – “Love for Love,” “Humble Confidence,” and “Unshakeable Confidence” - set the stage for all that follows. I found myself rereading each of these before I could move on (and emptied two highlighters in the process). Each conference seems more beautiful than the one before it! The Holy Spirit was blessing me with wisdom, knowledge and understanding as I prayed and meditated on each topic. Then, after completing the conference on “Eucharist,” I finally understand what St. Thérèse meant when she expressed her deepest desire to be “a victim of love” for our Lord. In the Forward to this book, the author says that its purpose is “to help us comprehend the love of God for us and to respond to it more fully.” My faith has been deepened and enriched by Fr. D’Elbée’s spiritual insights accompanied by St. Thérèse’s wisdom and love for Jesus. It is my hope that anyone who undertakes this retreat with an open, loving heart and trusting spirit, will have the same beautiful, soul-altering, experience. All that is necessary is to believe in love! Interview with Brenda Hawes, Agape Garden Community, Woman of Wisdom"by Toni Hare, Agape Garden Community, Lafayette, Louisiana It was with eager anticipation that I pulled up to Brenda’s house on that warm, sunny Friday afternoon. The stately home was obviously southern in its architecture while at the same time, welcoming with the grace of southern hospitality. Before I even walked up the brick steps to her porch, I knew at once that my time here would be amazing. As the hours with Brenda unfolded, I was truly not disappointed. Brenda’s husband Truman, a tall, grey-haired, distinguished retired physician, answered the door saying, "You got here before I could complete my assignment. I was told to open the curtains before you arrived." Truman escorted me into a beautifully appointed, formal parlor where he immediately pushed open the heavy brocade drapes to allow the sunshine in, telling me that they tried to keep the curtains closed to prevent the sun from fading the fabric on the furniture and damaging the artwork. As he motioned me into the room, Truman pointed to a blue wingback chair, which he said was where his wife sat. Taking his cue, I sat opposite that chair on the sofa. He called for his wife saying that I had arrived. Brenda came into the parlor with the sweetest smile and gave me a warm, welcoming hug, which is our southern way. I had sent Brenda these interview questions a few days before. Truman reported that she had been giving much thought to how she would respond to them. Then he departed and we began our incredibly open and personal conversation, laced with laughter and tears. Brenda has advanced macular degeneration. Since her eyesight is drastically impaired, she makes use of technology to aid in reading and responding to emails and texts. Brenda said, "I appreciate having the interview questions ahead of time, but I have to let you hear how the questions were read to me by my phone." Everywhere that the word “Theresians" appeared, it was interpreted as "virgin"! After listening to the recording, I replied, "Can you imagine how many Theresians there would be if it was a requirement to be a virgin!" We both had a good laugh which allowed us to relax as we began our time together. Brenda, let’s talk about your experience as a Theresian. How long have you been a Theresian? What drew you to join a Theresian community? I have been a Theresian for twenty years. When my husband and I moved to Lafayette, Louisiana, we moved into the heart of the Acadian culture, better known as Cajun, a wonderful French community filled with faith filled Catholics. I was raised in the Baptist Church and later joined the Episcopal Church here in Lafayette. In the early 1990’s, thanks to Robin Hebert, many Theresian groups were started. As a devout Christian, I was curious to learn about the Catholic faith. A friend invited me to the Theresian community. How has being a Theresian enriched your life? My wonderful Christian Catholic Theresian sisters embraced me warmly and taught me so much about the Catholic faith that my own faith was deeply enriched. Much misunderstanding between the Protestant and Catholic faith evaporated in my mind when I realized we were of the same heart and soul. Are there any Theresian programs you remember which meant the most to you? Absolutely, one year at each meeting, the members of our group took turns sharing their spiritual journey. Their testimonies were so powerful. You sit with women monthly, maybe not knowing the trials and hardships of their journey. That year we all grew so much closer in love and respect for each other. Another program I enjoyed was when we had different speakers come in to teach us about their religion. This was truly eye-opening. There is so much we do not understand about other religious beliefs in the world. One other impactful program was when Fr. Champagne spoke to us about the three "Theresas" —our St. Therese, St. Theresa of Avila, and Mother Theresa of Calcutta. What would you tell a young woman who is discerning joining a Theresian group? I would tell her of my very positive experience and the lifelong friendships that I have made being a part of a Theresian community. I grew in my faith tremendously and I would recommend that she seriously consider joining Theresians. “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” A note from Brenda: I would like to share with you the rest of the story. While we were visiting Toni shared her spiritual journey with me. It touched me deeply. As she left, I gave her an emotional hug and as she walked away, I thought, Toni is not only my Theresian sister, but a sister of my soul. Surely, St. Therese was with us, and she was smiling. I thought of my favorite words that she spoke when she was alive, “I want to spend my Heaven doing good on earth.” I never truly understood what that meant until that moment. To me, it means that as women who call themselves Theresians, we should endeavor to help her carry out her mission. |
Archives
April 2024
Categories
All
|
Theresians International
PO Box 487 | Elburn, IL 60119 |
QUICK LINKS
|