Presente: On the 25th Anniversary of the UCA Martyrs

November 16, 2014: Today marks 25 years since the massacre of the martyrs at the UCA.

It is also a day marked by remembrance and action in the Ignatian Family.  6 years ago, at the Ignatian Family Teach-in in Fort Benning, Georgia, I delivered a talk on how this event in a different country years ago still has an important connection to us today.  I thought I would share it in this forum today, as a way of marking this anniversary.

"Vocations for Justice"

“You’re Catholic and you’re a woman?”

 “You know it.”

“And you’re preparing for ministry in the Church?”

“Precisely.”

I cannot tell you the number of times I have had this conversation.  Everyone from the stranger next to me on the airplane to my mother has asked me these questions.  Sometimes I wonder if they think that I somehow didn’t notice that I was a woman. 

Now I realize that lay ministry in the Church isn’t something with which everyone is familiar.  I know that the fact that I am in a Masters of Divinity program yet not preparing to be a pastor is confusing.  I am also acutely aware that given current Church practice, women cannot be ordained to the priesthood.

But I’m also aware of something more.

I’m aware that God continues to call.  And I’m aware that God does not limit his or her calls.

I’m aware that I am here, that you are here, because God calls us to be here.

I’m aware that in this room, God is calling each and everyone of us to something unique, to be a fire that kindles other fires.

And if we listen, truly listen, we can hear God stirring in our midst at this very moment.

Now, you might be asking yourself, how on earth does this lady know that God is working in me?

Well, first of all, a call isn’t necessarily the booming voice of God telling us what to do.

I know that God is calling you because I’ve seen it.

I saw in yesterday in the students who spoke about their experience in El Salvador.  I saw it this morning in sleep deprived people piling out of the hotel into this room. 

And I’ve seen it in my own life.

I have been called to study theology at the wonderful Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley.  And let me tell you, if you would have asked me 5 years ago if I thought I’d end up at a theology school, I would have told you that I had no idea what that was.  Throughout my studies, I’ve continually asked myself exactly what it means to be a female lay minister in the Church.

It means collaboration with my Jesuit brothers who are preparing for ordination.

It also means being told that I do not work as hard or am not as important as priests.  It means coping with this rejection.

But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that far outweighing the struggles are the joys. 

Preaching at a Eucharistic celebration is an exhilarating experience. 

Sharing conversations about why we traveled all the way down to Georgia and feeling the presence of God in our midst continues to give me chills. 

And being here with the Ignatian Family continues to be one of the most inspiring experiences I could imagine.

As we gather together, we talk a lot about people who have gone before us. 

Well, I’ve got news for you. 

Women who inspire me, women like, Ita, Dorothy, Jean and Maura. 

They were called to vocations of justice, and so are we. 

Ignacio, Segundo, Elba, Celina, Amando, Nacho, Joaquin and Juan were called to vocations of justice, and so are we.

God is an equal opportunity recruiter--- and calls all of us, regardless of whether we think we are good enough or holy enough or even want to hear it. 

It may not be a call like we expect, but I guarantee the One who called Mary and Jeremiah and Peter is stirring in you in a way that only you can recognize.

God continues to call each and every one of us.  Men and women.  Lay and ordained.  All ages.  All nationalities.  All types.

God is calling each and everyone of us to something unique.

God is calling each of us to be a fire that kindles other fires.

God is calling you to be a fire that kindles other fires

Everything Is Yours: Essay in America Magazine

The October 28 issue of America Magazine is easily one of their best.  I do not say that because I am in it, I promise.  "Women in the Life of the Church" features all-female writers and topics important to women.  In my opinion, it is the best work that has been done in the church regarding women and the church.

I was honored to write, "Everything Is Yours: Self-gift as a framework for ministry."

The entire issue is worth reading.  In particular, I recommend "Conscience of America," in which the editors reflect upon women in the magazine and how this issue came about.

The Feast of the Transfiguration

Today marks the Feast of the Transfiguration.  This passage from the Gospels is one of my all-time favorites.  As someone who ministers in educational settings, each year I am hit with 1/4 of the community leaving with everyone saying, "Can't we just stay here, just like this, for forever?"  My response to this is to pray with the Transfiguration.Here is a portion of a Gospel Reflection I offered at the end of the school year at a high school.  Note:  the school was on a hill, hence the references to "on the hill"


So here, we have Peter, James and John on a mountain with Jesus.  And they have a beyond incredible experience!  I mean, Jesus is transfigured.  He turns white, there are bright lights everywhere, and then from a cloud comes the voice of God.  Talk about a great experience.

Peter then begs Jesus to let them stay on the mountain. I have to say, I totally identify with Peter in this moment.  Here they are, on this beautiful hill, having a wonderful experience, and then it has to end.  

Haven't many of us felt this way about leaving this hill?  Right when it is getting really good, when we have it all figured out and are enjoying ourselves, Jesus tells us it is time to leave.

But looking at it this way is missing the point. The whole purpose of the transfiguration is not what happens on the hill---- it's what happens after the experience on the hill.         

The whole purpose of this high school isn't what happens on this hill.  It's what happens after the experience on the hill.

Isn't that what faith, integrity and truth are all about? These aren't values that matter only on the hill. In fact, they are values that matter the most once we leave this hill. 

What happened to the disciples in the transfiguration was transformative.  This year has been transformative for me.  I imagine it’s been transformative for many of you too. 

Jesus calls us to look at what this transformation means for us. Seniors, now that you are leaving, what does living a life of faith, integrity and truth mean for you?  How will you allow yourself to be shaped by the friendships with your classmates?  How will you continue to see God around you once you leave the hill?  This is the true question of the transfiguration.         
           How will you continue to see God around you?

And this message doesn't just apply to the seniors.  It applies to all of us--- how will we as the FSHA community continue to see God around us?  
How will we continue to experience God? 
How will we continue to be a community that is FIT--- a community of faith, integrity and truth? 
The good news is that there are endless replies to this question.

We all have this community to support us, a community that continues to show us God’s love.

 This community will continue to love and support all of us as we respond to Jesus’ call and journey down the hill. We’ve all been transformed while at this school.  The question that lies before us today is what we will do with this transformation.

The Visitation: An Invitation to the In Between Moments

The Feast of the Visitation is perhaps my favorite moment in the liturgical calendar.  Here is a brief reflection I offered after communion a few months back at the blessing of a chapel dedicated to the Visitation:

In order to understand the Visitation, we need to back up a little:

The Angel Gabriel comes to Mary and tells her that she will become pregnant with the Son of God.  Mary, being the all-star that she is, responds “let it be done to me.”  While Gabriel is visiting Mary, he tells her that her cousin, Elizabeth, is also pregnant.  Now, Elizabeth was very old and thought to be barren.  So, really, there are 2 major miracles here.

So, then we get into the Visitation. 

Mary, while pregnant, takes off for Judah to visit Elizabeth.  When Mary arrives, Elizabeth is ecstatic.  She describes her child, who we know as John the Baptist, as jumping in her womb.  Elizabeth’s response is gorgeous, and many of you know it from a prayer we often pray today: the Hail Mary.

Often times, that’s where people cut off the story.  But, that misses my absolute favorite part--- the part I consider to be the meat of it:

Mary stays with Elizabeth for 3 months.

That’s all the Bible says.  That’s all we get: Mary stays for 3 months.

I like to imagine what those 3 months were filled with.  I’m sure there was some freaking out about how on earth they became pregnant.  And probably lots of girl talk.  I’m sure there was praying, and laughing and some tears too.

But my guess?  There were a lot of ordinary, every day moments.

And I LOVE that.

So, for 3 months, they just hung out and went about their lives. 

And most definitely, God was present in those ordinary moments.

And here’s what I love the most:

they were together for 3 months, and our semester is roughly 3 months.

Think about these next 3 months of the semester. 

There will be profound moments. 

There will be excruciating moments. 

But most of all--- there will be a lot of in between moments.

Those moments that aren’t especially note worthy.  The moments that fill our day.  The in between moments.

So when I look at the Visitation, I see that it’s about two main things:

 Friendship

God is with us in the in between moments.

In those moments that don’t stand out, in our every day busyness:

God is there.  God is here.

If we pay attention to our every day moments, all the moments that we often just let pass by, we’ll realize the many ways that God is working in our lives. 

So whether you are trying to figure out what to major in, or whether to keep up that long-distance relationship from home, or what to do after graduation--I am confident that God is already speaking to you through your every day experiences. 

It is our job to pay attention to those moments.

So, here is my invitation to you:  listen to God in your lives.  Not just in the big, profound moments, but perhaps more importantly, in the everyday.