Let Us Play

By Lucy Strohl OPA ~ February 6, 2009

Phone: 620-792-1232  Fax: 620-792-1746  E-mail: sisters@ksdom.org

Dominican Sisters of Great Bend, 3600 Broadway, Great Bend, KS 67530-3692

1 John 3:22-4:6, Psalm 2:7-8, 10-12, Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25

Depending on which side of my family you are talking to I could be described as determined--or just plain stubborn.  I claim both because both are the truth. But thanks to an encounter with a coworker who became a faithful friend, I'm also a bit more playful. My friend's lightheartedness, deep honesty and unpretentious love of God were real eye-openers to me--and they continue to be. The first reading tells us Jesus came in the flesh. Through the years my friend and each of you have helped me experience God in the flesh, to come to my senses. Fr. John Kavanaugh, SJ remarks further, "there's no end to the ways that the Word of God can more fully take on our flesh. The entry of God into our lives is still unfinished".

Reflecting on the scriptures today it seems like God is asking us to come to our senses, to no longer sit in darkness, but instead to really hear and believe, "Child of God, we belong to God". Could our God be the one who laughs and enjoys life? The gospel reminds us God's kingdom is here, now… a great Light has come. And the psalmist sings, "You are my daughter, my son... rejoice before the Lord".  Our Dominican brother Brian Pierce, OP writes that the essence of our contemplative living is seeing all of creation and ourselves through God's eyes. Light has arisen, Matthew and the prophets tell us. Letting go a little of some of our blinders-- busyness, indispensability, and endless schedules-- maybe we can learn to pray and PLAY before God.  Doesn't the Spirit of God dance, laugh and love among us, calling us to appreciate and cherish our lives?  Aren't we invited to participate in the divine song that makes melody in the heart of all creation? Perhaps our playfully prayerful side has been pushed down, forgotten and wounded in early life. Still the good news is God takes us where we are.

 St. John Neumann whose feast we celebrate today surely gives us as the Family of the Dominican Sisters of Peace some light. He helps us grasp that we all belong to God. Like our pioneering Oxford, Michigan sisters, his roots were in Czechoslovakia. John was ordained in 1836, joining the Redemptorists.  Like our foundress, Mother Antonina Fischer,OP, he had a missionary heart and spirit, beginning his missionary work in New York among German-speaking Catholics.  He continued his endeavors in the home state of our of Akron and Columbus, Ohio sisters.  And like so many before us and around us, John was an ardent educator and preacher.  But more than anything, John understood deeply that the source of his gifts-- his Light and solace in success and failure--was the fiery, ever-faithful Spirit of God.  May John Neumann enkindle with hope our adventuresome, missionary spirits.  Through our saintly friend we also pray for the renewal of our gratitude and childlike delight in the gifts of each hour, each day.

 Journeying as God’s beloved children into a New Year and new possibilities maybe we needn't take everything so seriously.  Perhaps just for today we don't have to worry so much about accomplishing something. For instance, we might try walking just for the sake of walking--to simply enjoy it.  Our Judeo-Christian tradition has a long history of holy walking called pilgrimage.  In many ways, though, our pilgrim spirit has gotten swallowed up by our "gotta get things done, gotta get somewhere" living.  Fr. Brian suggests that there’s a wonderful word that more closely describes what is meant by contemplative walking: strolling.  "Going for a stroll" carries with it a gentle invitation to rest, to walk without purpose--like down a country road.

 For those of us for whom walking is more of a challenge, we can certainly go for a leisurely stroll anytime in our minds and hearts--open to seeing again-- as if for the first time.  Who knows what gifts and graces could be waiting as we meander down an old familiar path --or perhaps strike out on an untried one.  Maybe just strolling along will let us look at some of our soul's milestones and memories a little less critically, more compassionately.  That's what it means to be a pilgrim-- to stroll lovingly with God. The path of prayer seems to be the only sure light through our darkness.  Faithfulness to contemplation restores our soul-sight. On our pilgrimage we stroll with God in faith, aware that wherever we are is a holy place, wherever we walk is holy ground.

 Maybe today we can ask for an inner attitude of more childlike playfulness and ease with ourselves, our sisters and brothers and our prayer.  We might have much to do; but another Dominican brother, Meister Eckhart reminds us that "our primary task is to enjoy God". Gathering at this table we, too, claim that we belong to God. All our yesterdays, this day before us and all our tomorrows belong to God as well. Embraced by the Light of God, we can lighten up a bit.  Continuing our journey, we keep using our eyes, our minds, our hearts, hands AND our FEET in joyful praise of God!