A Reply to Love

from the foot of the cross

 

“Sister, I have a question.”

These words fill me with a whole array of emotions: fear, curiosity, trepidation, excitement, and eagerness. 

And I must say, I hear these words a lot – most especially on the days when we journey to Athens, OH to be present for activities at the Newman Center at Ohio University.

Some sisters like to say that our simple way of life makes us easy to entertain. It's another way of saying that our simplicity makes us childlike. It opens our eyes to the miracles that are of the everyday variety - like Chesterton's God who cries, "Do it again!" before each new sunrise.

A few months before I entered community, I received a list of things that I could bring with me to the monastery as well as a list of our policies. My roommate at the time was discerning marriage and she and I were looking at this list together.

I heard my vocational call during Holy Week of 1998 (the Year of the Holy Spirit) while on retreat in Rome. That week started with Palm Sunday mass in St. Peter’s Square with Pope John Paul II. 

 I can't get over it.

Every year, she takes the towel and dries between my toes. She lifts my foot to her lips and kisses it, ever so gently.

Each Holy Thursday, our community follows a beautiful tradition of having our sisters in leadership wash the feet of the sisters whom they serve.

“If you build it, they will come.”  These words echoed through my mind as I looked out one of our windows this past Saturday morning and watched car after car turn into our driveway and make their way to our motherhouse. 

This afternoon I was walking along our driveway with Sr. Sarah Marie, enjoying the beautiful sunshine. At one point, we saw a sister walking toward us, fixing all her attention on the precious object in her hands. As she approached, we realized she held a ciborium in her left hand and a tall tabernacle candle in her right.

Today the greatest wedding that has ever taken place and that ever will take place happened in the womb of Our Lady. Divinity emptied Himself into the bridal chamber of her womb and she welcomed this humble seed with a receptivity like no other in the name of humanity.