Clergy Notes — March 29, 2026

Last weekend I celebrated one year of solemn vows as a Benedictine: vows of stability, obedience, and conversion of life. But what does this mean for a monastic who lives life in the world, rather than in a cloistered community: working a job, paying rent, cooking meals, paying taxes, etc? A traditional monastic may be devoid of personal possessions, but the cloister provides shelter, clothing, food, and safety, so that those within its walls may be free to pray without ceasing, serve generously, love abundantly. So, what does it mean to live out these same vows outside of the cloister? To be part of the world in order to fulfil your vocational call? Ultimately, the goal is the same, though the means are different. As one beautiful card I received at my vows ceremony put it, “I am not my own. I have given myself to Jesus. He must be my only love.”

Although I must work, pay my bills, do groceries, exercise, study, sleep, etc, I do all of that so I may fulfil the vocation God has called me to. I care for my body, my life, my spirit, not for my own sake, but so that I may serve the Gospel and the Church; so that (just as with my brothers and sisters who live in cloistered community) I may pray without ceasing, love abundantly, and serve generously. I am not my own; I belong to Jesus.

Today as we walk with Jesus in triumph through Jerusalem, and then through his agony and death on the cross, we might ponder anew what it means to pattern our lives after his, in a world so different from the one he experienced. Like us, Jesus needed shelter, food, sleep, rest… he had family and friends; he even paid taxes. Although he did not belong to this world, he lived in it, for our sake… and gave up his life, for our sake.

Neither do we belong to this world, but we must live in it, for Jesus’s sake: caring for body, mind, and spirit so that we may offer what we have in service of the Gospel. As we walk with Jesus through this Holy Week, may we find fresh strength in giving of ourselves however we are called in our various roles. May we each be grateful for the gifts of this life while holding lightly to them, being willing to say with Jesus when the time comes, “Not my will, Lord, but thine be done.”

Mother Amanda

Click here to find the Liturgy at Home for Sunday

/by

Clergy Notes — March 15, 2026

The gospel accounts contain many fascinating narratives. The gospel passage for this week is no exception. The narrative of the man born blind describes an unnamed man’s healing by Jesus and how that action affects him, his family, and the community as a whole.

Jesus makes clear that illness or infirmity were not a result of a person, or their forebears’, sinfulness. This stands counter to how a condition, such as blindness, was understood in first century Palestine. The profound change – enabling the man to see – caused the Pharisees to rail against Jesus for breaking the sabbath. Then, unhappy to be told that Jesus is a prophet, they exclude the man and his parents from the faith community. In Palestine, in the first century, exclusion from the religious community was exclusion from the community as a whole. This was the punishment this man received for being healed!

In our own lives we often have to face illness and infirmity – our own, or that of loved ones and friends. Often there is no apparent reason for these conditions, and not every illness is passed from one generation to the next. Some people can live with awful challenges; others seem to have few or no health concerns. In some situations, we can eat the right food, do the approved exercise, and still we get sick. What matters is how we face any illness or infirmity. If we are able to be honest with ourselves, and those around us about our feelings, we can face considerable hardships. This isn’t easy, it has its moments, and we do best when we are supported by our loved ones and friends as well as the medical profession.

We likely know a number of people who are courageous, determined and positive about their situations; such people are an inspiration to all of us to face the mental, physical and spiritual challenges we all face during our lives. We are fortunate to be part of a religious community that takes prayer, as well as health and healing, seriously. May we continue to pray and support one another in following the way of Jesus Christ.

Father Stephen Rowe

Click here to find the Liturgy at Home for Sunday

/by