It finally came around: the end of the school year arrived and I am now enjoying the seventh day of summer break. What this means is that I now have more time to blog and pursue other things of interest, which I'll be sharing here at DDW.
For today's reflection I'm using the Memorial of St. Barnabas as a jumping off point, especially the mid-afternoon reading since I'm posting rather late today.
The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patient endurance, kindness, generosity, faith, mildness and chastity. Since we live by the spirit let us follow the spirit's lead. (Galatians 5:22-25)
The other reading that got my attention was the Acts reading from the daily lectionary, which has to do with the sending forth of Barnabas and Saul. How the lectionary reading speaks to me concerns the calling that Barnabas had from the Lord--along with St. Paul--he was sent. This speaks to me in that we are all called and we are all sent forth.
It is a great truth that we are not all called to the same thing. We are aware that we possess various gifts. I'll be the first to admit that I can't judge myself by looking to someone else as the standard of how I should be. I am who I am and I must ask the Lord to bless me in that and to use me to the fullest extent possible for the kingdom of God.
However, we are all called to live by the Holy Spirit and to follow the Spirit's lead, as the reading above from Galatians directs us. In case we're not sure what following the Spirit's lead looks like, we're given a nice checklist as a part of the same reading.
What I've found helpful is when I find a spiritual/scriptural jewel, a sacramental if you prefer, I'll copy it and put it some place where I can see it and be reminded--just a verse in 11 point font taped to file cabinet next to my desk or placed behind my driver's license will do. This past school year a holy-card-sized picture of San Martin de Porres printed on my desk jet and taped near my monitor, where just I could see it, served the same purpose (a kind co-worker recommended San Martin as a help in my line of work--perhaps in my life overall).
Undoubtedly the Holy Spirit works through the Church, so being open to the lead of the Spirit of God serves to allow the Church be a Sacrament to us. Interestingly, it is the Church that sends Paul and Barnabas off on their mission when the Holy Spirit speaks and sets them apart for it. Also interesting is the fact that each time we have Mass we are sent forth.
We live by the Spirit and we are led by the Spirit. Ours is to trust God in our going forth and in the direction that God chooses to lead us.
For me, so far, this summer has been taken up with relishing the fact that a challenging school year came to an end, but I'm also looking to the next one that will begin in just a few short weeks--really a couple months is what I get (I know, that's more than what most people get for vacation so I won't complain).
Monday and Tuesday of next week I will be attending a conference designed for educators who work with individuals who have significant cognitive and intellectual disabilities. Perhaps I'll be inspired or inclined to share in this area too. From there I plan to spend time doing a bit of photography. If any of it is worthwhile I'll post it here. Also, I'll be writing--early morning works tend to be shorter and less tiresome to the reader, so let's see where the spirit leads.
One last thing to share today, and that's the words printed on a small piece of paper and kept in my wallet this year--I'm sharing it because in my humanity, strong on some days and weak on others, I needed it greatly, and I received it as a word--of direction or as a leading--from the Holy Spirit. Indeed it was a word by which I chose to be led, empowered, and encouraged:
Behold, God is my salvation: I will be confident, I will not fear; for the Lord is my strength and my joy, he has become my savior. (Isaiah 12:2)
Whenever we encounter authentic humanity--in a way in which the mask of falsehood or pretension is removed--we are sure to encounter difficulty as well. Especially this is true in situations of life that tend to amplify our common frailties and shortcomings. Nevertheless, often the encounter of difficult situations, along with difficult people, is exactly where God intends for us to be. Being sent, and being led, in the sense of Christian purpose, is truly all about bringing the healing and transforming power of God to places that we might not choose ourselves.
More later.
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