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Awakening To Our Own Goodness
Sr. Marian Leaf did our reflection today on the story of the Annunciation ((Luke 1;26-38). She told us about a retreat in which her director asked her to reflect on what Mary needed to do to say yes. Marian went outside for a walk and the answer came quickly. Mary had to accept God’s opinion of her, not what others thought, not even what she thought of herself. You and I need to do the same – to ponder and believe in the mercy and unconditional love that God has for each of us and, only then, can we imagine what God truly thinks of us
Macrina Wiederkehr in one of her poems calls us to that same task – to listen to what God thinks of us and then she writes:
I will believe the truth about myself
no matter how beautiful it is:
I believe in my power
to transform indifference into love.
I believe I have an amazing gift
to keep hope alive in the face of despair.
I believe I have the remarkable skill
of deleting bitterness from my life.
I believe in my budding potential
to live with a nonviolent heart.
I believe in my passion to speak the truth
even when it isn’t popular.
I believe I have the strength of will
to be peace in a world of violence.
I believe in my miraculous capacity
for unconditional love.
I will believe the truth about myself
no matter how beautiful it is.
~Macrina Wiederkehr from Seven Sacred Pauses, Living Mindfully Through the Hours of the Day
So often we don’t hear God’s opinion of us because we spend so much time criticizing ourselves. We focus so much on the negative that we don’t allow our own beauty to come forth. Perhaps Spring can give us an equally important message: The flowers and plants blooming around us don't worry their way to awesomeness; they take each day as it comes and before you know it they’re charming the world with their beauty. Spring gives us the encouragement to live a full life and leave the old dead parts of life behind. And so, this Spring, may you believe the truth about yourself no matter how beautiful it is. You are awesome and beautiful. You were made in the image of God.
Preview Sheet 2023-2024
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