The events of the past weeks prove that “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools” (Martin Luther King, Jr). We Sisters of Notre Dame throughout the nation divided the hours on Friday, January 15 so that a community of Sisters would be praying continuously during the day. This event was initiated by our Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Committee. This committee is very active and keeps all of us informed for prayer, communications with political leaders, and involvement.

Today’s First Reading to the Hebrews tells of the Son of God who is able to “sympathize with our weaknesses.” Such empathy is often found with saints who have worked with children, such as Saint John Bosco. Similarly, the foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame had a great love for poor and neglected children. The annals of the Sisters of Notre Dame relate a time when Sister Maria Aloysia Wolbring was playing organ in the country church in Landeck, Ohio. She noticed a little girl shivering from the cold. Sister invited her to sit beside her on the organ bench, where she spread her habit over the girl’s legs. The incident occurred several years after our foundress decided to teach and house hungry orphans in Germany. The whole life of Sister Maria Aloysia seemed to be one of empathy. May we Sisters continue in her footsteps and in the footsteps of Jesus Christ who always sympathizes with us.

The lectionary this month gives us passages from the Letter to the Hebrews. Its authorship, audience, and even its inclusion in the New Testament canon are uncertain. What is certain is that the author teaches that Jesus is the One who can take us to God. He writes, “Let us draw near…in full assurance of faith.” The Letter wants to get us to the Genuine, the Truth, to God Himself. Such a relationship is unmerited; consequently, the author tells of the covenant taking down barriers to God. How?  A perfect Priest. A perfect Sacrifice. We have the Perfect Priest and Sacrifice in Jesus Christ. The thesis of the Letter to the Hebrews is that Jesus gave access to God. “So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.”

When I petition God for a favor, I sometimes pray, “If you wish, you can _____.” Then I hear or imagine God saying, “I do will it.” And I feel confident that my petition will be answered. Maybe it will happen exactly as requested; if not, I am still confident of an answer. Unlike the leper, I don’t hear or imagine God warning me not to disclose the favor. Usually I wouldn’t think to “publicize the whole matter” (Mark 1:45). There’s a time to proclaim answered prayer, but there’s a time just to keep it between God and me.

“Silence grows me and frees me,” writes Joan Chittister in Radical Spirit. “It enables me to become the ear of God on earth. . .” (p. 162). So often we remind ourselves that we are the hands and feet of Christ, but it is a bit surprising to talk about becoming the ear of God on earth. With our hands we make sandwiches for a food pantry, and with our feet we go to a Habitat site. Our hands and feet do the work of God to meet the needs of his children.

But what do our ears do? Listening to God’s small voice, we may discover our weaknesses, we may hear a different interpretation of Scripture, we may focus on a call to do more or be more. In this way silence grows and frees me.  In the deep silence of listening, we may hear what enters God’s ear. We may hear the moans of suffering that God attends to. We may catch sounds that delight the Creator. We may catch the whispers of children, the agony of the grieving, the shouts of injustice. When we hear what God hears, we become the ear of God on earth.

Today let your hands and feet do the work of God that you heard by being God’s ear.

Vinita Hampton Wright is the author of The Soul Tells a Story. In her book Wright says, “Faith figures into creative work at every step. You say yes to the work, trusting that you are in some way called to it.” She goes on to say that the creative person has faith that there is a reason for the creative project, whatever it may be. It is this faith in the call to be creative that enhances one’s spiritual life. Whether the creativity produces a decorated birthday cake, a song, an essay, a lesson plan via zoom, an art piece in wood or clay, or a clean room arranged in a different way, it is you saying yes to the work to which you are called. And if the cake flops, the song isn’t a hit, the essay remains unpublished, and the artistic pieces doesn’t meet your satisfaction, your faith will be stronger in the effort. And that’s accomplishment.

Are you assessing your New Year’s resolutions after a couple weeks of resolve? Did you make a spiritual resolution? Because a spiritual life has goals and practices that engage us in our formation, it is open to a New Year’s resolution. This spiritual resolution doesn’t need to be taxing or arduous. No, our spiritual life is meant to be joyful, because we are being transformed into Jesus Christ, who lives in us. Paul writes in Galatians: “The life I live now is not my own; Christ is living in me. I still live my human life, but it is a life of faith in the Son of God.” Do you have a spiritual goal? Most probably, but if you want to do more, I suggest becoming more mindful of living the life of Christ at work, at home, or wherever you may be. Look over your day in the morning to set yourself a goal and examine your day at night. Then be grateful for the ways Christ has lived in you.

We’re starting Ordinary Time today. After the Christmas Season, these weeks before Lent may seem uneventful, even dull. But let’s take the “ordinary” out of Ordinary Time. These weeks until Ash Wednesday on February 17 are not some leftovers on the Church Year menu. Over half the Church Year is Ordinary Time, its name coming from “ordinal” or “counting.” There will be 33 weeks of Ordinary Time, and each week can be a gourmet’s delight. The Sunday gospel passages tell of Jesus’ call of the apostles, miracles, parables, relationships, and discourses. We see Jesus as a Teacher, Healer., and Reconciler. Stories abound for our imitation and inspiration. The seasons of Lent-Easter, Advent-Christmas are indeed extraordinary in their richness. But we can count on finding the Lord in extraordinary ways every day of the year.

The rite of Baptism has one phrase about original sin being taken away. Yet many people think the removal of original sin is the main purpose of baptism. Actually, there is much more richness in the ceremony. The ritual starts with the questions “What name do you give your child?” and “What do you ask for this child?” Both give the child his or her identity. There’s focus on the parents and godparents to raise the child according to the new life of God within the child. And there’s a whole lot of welcoming into the community of faith. This last element—the responsibility of the community–needs to be elevated in importance to see the purpose of baptism. The child is initiated into the community, becoming part of the People of God. Besides the parents, the whole parish community can say, “You are my beloved son/daughter, in whom we are well pleased.” And then it’s everyone’s duty to help the child grow into the Beloved.

From the moment of creation God ceased to be alone. God became totally involved with his creatures. Down through billions of years to this very minute God remains close at hand. God is always available. God is here in us as our deepest reality—ours and everyone else’s. With God so completely present to us, it is our privilege and responsibility to evolve out of our human limitations into the life of Christ. Surrounded by divinity, living the divine life, we can never have too high an opinion of ourselves. We are more than we can imagine. We are God’s.