Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity
Monthly Reflection: December 2004

Gifts: An Advent and Christmas Reflection

Bro. Richard McCann, S.T.

The apostles, gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while." Mark 6:30-31

As I put these brief thoughts together, we are standing at the threshold of another Advent and listening to the invitation of Christ: "Come away to a deserted place and rest awhile." Two weeks ago I had an early Christmas gift that allowed me to go and rest awhile. I made the Cenacle Spiritual Exercises Retreat at Holy Trinity, Alabama.

For me, it was a gift of time away from daily ministry to spend with God in graced silence at our own Missionary Servant Bethlehem. Holy Trinity is "holy ground." What became clear for me during the retreat, was the great gift we have in our Rule of Life and Constitution; and what a tremendous legacy we have in our Cenacle charism and heritage.

Gifts unopened remain just beautiful wrappings with bows and ribbons. We have to open the gift to use it, to appreciate it, to share it. This retreat helped me to un-wrap the gift of Father Judge, Mother Boniface and our Missionary Cenacle life and mission. God has graced the Missionary Cenacle in so many ways, and over the years we have tried to respond to this grace. Now, as we strive to identify, renew and become even better instruments in God's hands we have the opportunity to draw more deeply on our heritage, charism and Rule of Life. The Cenacle Spiritual Exercises Retreat presents the opportunity to pray and reflect on the essentials of our Missionary Servant lives contained in our rule of Life and Constitution.

God's love and grace surrounds us. When we are open to receive God's love, then this allows us to be good, to do good, and to be powers for good in our every day Missionary Servant lives. The grace of our Rule of Life surrounds us, sustains us, and gives us life. Sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees.

There is an ancient oriental story that comes to mind. The story tells of a little fish swimming along the edge of the river. Nearby, on the river bank a science teacher has assembled his class for an instruction on water. As the fish swims by, it hears the teacher speak: "Water is absolutely necessary to life. Without water, we would all perish within a week's time." "Golly", says the little fish, "if what that man says is true, I'd better find some of that substance called water' or I shall die in a few days." It asked every other little fish it sees where water might be found, but none of them know. Then it puts the question to some older, larger fish, but they are more interested in food for the day. Some think the little fish is crazy. "Go away and let us alone," they say in fish language. From stream to stream the frightened fish carries its quest, but in vain. Finally, it came upon a fish that seems wiser than the rest. "Please, where can I find the substance called water that will give me life?" "Water?" replies the wise old fish, "you are in water this very moment. You were conceived and born in water. Water is your environment. Water supports you very life. Draw on it and you will live."

We too are immersed in a precious substance on which our life's fulfillment depends. Like that little fish, we are born and conceived in it, at baptism it flowed over us and gave us a new birthright as daughters and sons of our loving God, our lives are sustained by it, we eat, sleep, work, minister and play in it, we are immersed in it. Like that little fish that couldn't see the water for the river, we can fail to recognize it and we wait longingly to encounter it and we wait, and we wait. All we need do it to draw on this love, this grace and we will live.

Father Turibius, of happy memory, was my spiritual director for many years. He once told me that for him, grace meant that God is continually loving us, doing for us everything we need to have done for our life's fulfillment. Whether we are worthy of it or not, whether we recognize it or not. The God who is grace "surrounds" us, like the air, gently, respecting our freedom, giving us room and time.

God obviously wants all people to grow, and "grow up", not only in age but also in wisdom and grace. We Missionary Servants are called through our Rule and Constitution to a deepening relationship with God. It is letting the Light fully illumine our lives and the love of God more thoroughly become the power whereby we live and love. This relationship with God is a lifelong task. This un-wrapping of our Rule of Life and living our charism is a life long task. We all are immersed in the grace of the Cenacle! Draw on it and together we all will live.

The Advent/Christmas season is a time of growth and expectation. God invites us to a quiet place of reflection and grace. I pray that this Advent/Christmas we can choose some time for silence. Make space within ourselves to grow large like Mary, with the abundance of God's grace. May this be a time to fill our lungs deeply with God so that we can breathe Christ into the world. O God, who comes to us this Advent, help us to recognize our Missionary Servant humanity and vocation to the Missionary Cenacle as a gift that, with Jesus, we share with you.


For our reflection:

Will we hear the call of the congregation and respond willing to experience the gift of the Missionary Cenacle Spiritual Exercises Retreat?

Will we make time for silent Advent reflection?

Do we live in grateful thanksgiving for our Missionary Cenacle vocations?