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Today\’s Mass readings are all about life and resurrection–a preparation for the celebration of Easter which is coming so quickly. It is a comforting theme in the midst of Lent, but Jesus\’ words and actions in the first part of the Gospel are unsettling. When Jesus hears of Lazarus\’ illness, he doesn\’t immediately go to him; he doesn\’t tell the messenger, \”He will live\”, as he had done on previous occasions; he simply says, \”This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.\” And Lazarus did die, and was in the grave four days before Jesus came to see what was happening.

Often, we are in situations similar to that of Lazarus, where everything seems lost–spiritually dead–and we ask ourselves, \”Where is God when I need him? He helped other people, why doesn\’t he help me?\” This was the question Martha and Mary asked, indirectly, saying, \”Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.\” It seems that Jesus is doing several things here. First, he is leading us to a deeper faith. It is one thing to heal a blind man or multiply bread and fish for the multitude; raising the dead is the clincher, so to speak. When the Jews saw this miracle, many more believed in him. Second, he is reminding us that God does not necessarily give the answer we are hoping for in our prayers. God knows better than we do what we need and when we need it, and what will give him the greater glory. This is a hard concept to accept! Finally, the raising of Lazarus is a sign of what Jesus himself will do in a short time–but it is only a shadow of the reality. While Lazarus eventually died again, Jesus rises from the dead in order to live forever.

When we have seen our cherished plans, our hopes and dreams buried in the tomb, Jesus stands with us and shares our sorrow. But at the same time he reminds us that there must be a painful death in order to bring forth a new and resurrected life. It won\’t be the same as the old life–it will be different, and perhaps hard to get used to. But in the end we will be able to give God the glory, and say with Martha, \”I have come to believe that you are the Christ.\” As the Lord tells us in the book of Revelation, \”Behold, I make all things new.\”

You know spring has come to Lufkin when the dogwood trees bloom! It\’s also a reminder that Easter isn\’t far away. The beautiful weather and the loveliness of the scenery drew many sisters out into the woods–for a photo op!

The dogwood tree in all its solitary splendor

Sr. Mary Giuse, Sr. Mary Gabriel, Sr. Mary Jeremiah, and Sr. Irma

Sr. Mary Margaret, Sr. Mary Gabriel, Sr. Mary Jeremiah and Sr. Mary Giuse

You may have noticed–on our website Community page or elsewhere in this blog–that we have two new faces here at the Monastery! 

 …our postulant Mary Catherine…

…and Sr. Irma, who comes to us from a Dominican monastery in Puebla, Mexico. We are so happy to have them both with us!

This Sunday marks a turning point in Lent–we only have about three weeks to go–and the liturgy today encourages us to \”hasten toward the solemn celebrations to come\”. Today the usual Lenten violet vestments may be replaced with rose colored ones–if your pastor is so inclined! 

In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul exhorts us, \”Live as children of light…Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.\” Lent is the time to throw off the works of darkness. In the darkness and sleepiness of sin, it is impossible to see clearly. We are called to expose our sinful ways to the light, for \”light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.\” By acknowledging sin, it loses its power over us, and we are free.

In the Gospel reading, Jesus tells his disciples (and us) that \”we have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day…while I am in the world, I am the light of the world.\” To prove his point, he heals the man born blind. This man becomes a disciple of Jesus. He boldly proclaims that Jesus has come from God to the Pharisees who question him relentlessly. However the Pharisees are themselves blinded by their preconceived notions of what God is, and they refuse to accept the miracle. Let us allow ourselves to be healed by Jesus, and, as Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI once said, \”Let us confess our blindness, our shortsightedness, and especially what the Bible calls the \”great transgression\”: pride.\” The Pharisees could not do this; let us be humble enough to do it today. Let us be \”light in the Lord\”!

At Solemn Chapter yesterday morning, we heard a beautiful sermon on the Annunciation, and we share some excerpts from it here:

Once upon a time, over 2000 years ago, living quietly in a town called Nazareth was a lovely young Jewish virgin named Mary. She was a faithful descendant of Abraham, who belonged to the \”humble and lowly\” people of Israel and who waited fervently to welcome the Messiah with all her heart and mind. 

Mary had a plan for her life…she was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David (Lk 1:26). Had God not found favor in Mary, it appears that she would have lived the very normal life of a Jewish woman with her beloved husband. Looking at it from a human standpoint, Mary\’s life plan was concrete, practical and simple. However, God had a different plan for Mary. He sent the angel Gabriel to reveal his divine plan for her life. This plan was mysterious and greatly complex, changing her world, putting her faith to a big test, and challenging her to remain faithful to the Lord. How could Mary not be afraid? Did she have concerns? On the other hand, Mary was a true believer and her poor in spirit nature intensified her inward life with a trusting heart, with humility, with a dependence on and obedience to God. Unlike Eve, who in desiring to gain wisdom became disobedience and fell, Mary\’s consciousness of her lowliness formed within her a strong sense of trust in God, a need for God. She had a spirit of total surrender, perfect conviction, and passionate love for the Lord. She accepted God\’s plan for her life and said to the angel, \”Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, may it be done to me according to your word.\” (Lk 1:38)

Pope Francis said, \”The Virgin Mary teaches us what it means to live in the Holy Spirit and what it means to accept the news of God in our life. Each one of us is called to accept the Word of God, to accept Jesus inside of us, and then to bring him to everyone.\” Our Dominican way of life emphasizes contemplating and then sharing with others the fruits of contemplation. As we celebrate the mysteries of the Annunciation, of God\’s love and mercy for us, of Mary herself, may we also contemplate the mysteries of our divine vocation as Christians and Dominicans. As we journey through this Lenten season, may we be inspired by Mary to learn from her and to imitate her virtues; may we make every effort with a strong conviction to fulfill God\’s will in our daily life; may we all meet God and hear his voice in our contemplation, and may we then share the fruits of our contemplation with each other and with all those whom we hold dear in our hearts!

Last week we were privileged to have Fr. Thomas Schaefgen, OP make a retreat here at our monastery. Father stayed in our guest room outside and celebrated Mass for us every day. We met him a few years back when he was a novice, and this time we really enjoyed getting to know him better!

Fr. Thomas is a new priest–he was ordained less than a year ago, in June 2013–but he preaches very well and has a great pastoral manner. Fr. Thomas belongs to our southern Dominican province of St. Martin de Porres and currently resides and ministers in the New Orleans area. We did ask him \”which Thomas are you?\”–Thomas the Apostle is his patron, not Thomas Aquinas! We hope he will be able to come again for another visit soon–and we encourage his brother friars to visit us, too!

Why did Jesus speak to the Samaritan woman even though he was a devout Jew? Historically, the Jews and the Samaritans did not get along. The Samaritans closed themselves off from all religious influence from Jerusalem. They only acknowledged the Pentateuch and built their own temple on Mount Gerizim as their sanctuary. Jesus loved the temple in Jerusalem, made pilgrimages to it, kept Shabbat, went to the synagogue, read and valued the teachings of the Prophets, and studied Torah. But he was tired and thirsty, and when she came to the well to draw water, he surprised her by asking for a drink.

God is not only close to this world, but present in it, infinitely present to human beings. Jesus taught the Samaritan woman and explained to her that God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. Only the Spirit of God can be \”closer than my inmost being, both in my existence and in my spiritual experience.\” The Spirit of God has the extraordinary power to make all creatures new. He fills the universe with love and inspires the new worship. This worship is \”in truth\” because the love of God the Father is poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit as a gift, an infinite grace, a source of life which is made visible and is given personally to us in Christ. (cf. Romans 5:5)

The woman discovered the sanctuary of her inmost being, where the Holy Spirit continually radiates the light and strength of a new life. She left her water jar, went into the town and said to the people, \”Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Christ?\” These words of the Samaritan woman are especially significant as Jesus declares that he is the Messiah: \”I am he.\” In the end the entire village knows him as the Savior of the world. May we too come to know him as our Savior as we meet him in the everyday world we live in.