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Reflection on the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted on October 1, 2023, by Eleanor Craig SL

Ezekiel 18:25-28.   Philippians 2:1-11.    Matthew 21:28-32

  Whether I am reading the Motherhouse bulletin board or the New York Times, listening to CNN or Fox News, I am uncomfortably aware that the last few weeks have been packed with events of great consequence for our state, nation and many nations of the world. Moreover, it seems certain that the rapid pace will continue or even speed up.  Perhaps my awareness of rapid change is heightened because we Loretto members also face certain and unsettling changes now and in the near future.

This morning we probably don’t need a lot of words, sandwiched as we are between the six days of reflection we just had here at the Motherhouse, and the Zoom Gathering of the entire Loretto Community this coming week.  So, I propose we reflect briefly and quietly on a few lines from today’s readings.  Here are ideas we can count on as we strive to be the persons we want to be during these challenging times of unsettling change. 

In the words of the psalmist we might pray, “Your ways, God, make known to me, … teach me … guide me.”  If we can relax our tense shoulders and slow our breath, our attention will naturally turn to the Spirit, who is our teacher and guide.

We might take to heart the words of Paul to the Philippians, “Be of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing.”  Charles Nerinckx put it this way, “Have only one heart, one soul, one mind.”  This is not the sameness of ideas, but rather unity of intention, that all may be as God is leading. United in heart, we will look out for the interests of others as well as ourselves.

Jesus’ words to the Jewish teachers are meant for us, too: “Even when you saw and understood, you later did not change your minds.”  Jesus doesn’t look for instant and total conversion; nor does he measure by a standard of perfect performance. But he treasures honesty, the willingness to admit a change of heart, to graciously acknowledge seeing another’s point of view.

And finally, I found wise and sisterly words posted on the MH bulletin board, calling us to “monitor our suspicions, our judgment and our blame.”  And inviting us to “convert those energies into prayerful support of one another. … preserving the bonds of friendship among us … for our personal and collective evolution.”  May we let God make it so.

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Eleanor Craig SL

Eleanor has been a Sister of Loretto since 1963 and an educator since birth. She graduated from two of Loretto's best known St. Louis institutions, Nerinx Hall High School in 1960, and Webster University in 1967. She taught mathematics at Loretto in Kansas City, where her personal passion for adventure history inspired her to develop and lead treks along the historic Oregon Trail. From 1998 to 2010 she created an award-winning program of outdoor adventure along the Western trails for teens who are visually impaired. Eleanor claims to have conducted more wagon trains to the West than the Mountain Men! From 2012 to 2021, Eleanor led a talented staff of archivists and preservationists at the Loretto Heritage Center on the grounds of the Motherhouse. Now retired, she still serves in the Heritage Center as Loretto Community Historian.