When I first heard about Sion’s trip to Guatemala, I was slightly skeptical. I was worried that there wouldn’t be a way for me to make the kind of impact that needed to be made in a community like the one that we were serving. San Andres Itzapa is so far removed from anything I had ever experienced in my life before. How could an unskilled and sheltered person like me possibly make a difference?
Sion´s authority is a paternal and maternal authority; it is never imposed, it never forces anyone’s will. God himself… leaves us the merit of our free actions and we shall do as He did. B4 page 208
Too often you attribute to others and even to our father the colour of your own glasses. B4 p. 209
“So when there was question of sheltering in your house the catechumen, whom providence was offering to you, I would have been very glad to hear from you a word of charity and sympathy for an act of love in which the heart of Sion is directly involved. (Who could providence send us today? Maybe not Catechumen but………..) This would have been a kind feeling suggested by the spirit of God. After this reaction you could have explained to me in all simplicity the obstacles the inconveniences and the inspiration of human prudence. You did the opposite. Without even toughing the main question you come out with such an exaggerated flow of words enumerating the difficulties that I had to withdraw without a single word when faced with your objections …” Letter by Fr. Theodore to Sr. Desiree Ricardo August; Book 4, page 209; 29th 1860
“When the sickle has begun to cut the ears, you will begin to count seven weeks. Then you will celebrate the feast of weeks” (in Hebrew: hag ha-shavuot, cf. Deut 16:9). Seven weeks (and even fifty days, cf. Lev 23:16) after the barley harvest at Pesah, the feast of Shavuot celebrates the end of the wheat harvest (in Hebrew: hag ha-katsir, cf. Ex 23:16). Later, the Exodus from Egypt was grafted onto the agricultural feast of Pesah, and the gift of the Torah onto the agricultural feast of Shavuot: From one harvest to the other, from spring to summer, the time of maturation, the passage from an external, physical liberation to a spiritual liberation. For Jewish tradition sees the gift of the Torah as the goal of the exodus from Egypt: “Let my people go that they may serve me”, as Moses repeats tirelessly to Pharaoh in the Lord’s name (cf. Ex 4:22; 5:1; 7:16.28; 8:16; 9:1.13; 10:3). The service meant here is none other than welcoming the Torah and putting the commandments into practice …
Easter is a time of joy and hope of new beginnings. It is about God’s resurrection, it’s also about working to eliminate slavery, heal pain and hurt, break down hate and destruction…where we allow our faith and values to build community. We hope that Easter will gift you with all the reasons to celebrate and enjoy the resurrection of life. The Community of St. John in Montana wish you many Easter blessings as you gather to celebrate the Risen Lord. Sr. Celia, Sr. Lucia, Sr. Colette, Sr. Juliana
“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children alone, and do not stop them from coming to me; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of Heaven belongs.” (Matthew 19,14) After we made our Vows on February 2nd we left Jerusalem keeping in our hearts Theodore’s words; „Make your heart the ‘holy land’ wherever you will be.” On our way home we, Andrea and Nancy went to visit our sisters in Tunisia. We had a wonderful week in the Community in Nabeul, Tunisia with Sr. Agnes NDS and Sr. Aracely NDS, who received us with a warm welcome. We bless God for each moment that we lived there and we appreciate our time and our sharing with the sisters in the community life, prayer and their ministries. Their community is really an example of charity and fraternity; they have a harmonious relationship with one another and with others, their friends and their co-workers. Nabeul is a village where the majority of people are Muslim. We had the chance to speak and share with some …
