Have you ever crossed a mountain stream by stepping on the rocks? It’s always a matter of keeping your balance as you keep looking ahead to the next rock which might be large or small, close or a big step away. That is certainly the way life is. It’s never a measured pace with absolute regularity. How dull that would be! We’re always pausing, stepping out, measuring the next step, deciding whether it’s a wise step or not.
The weeks since I’ve last written some thoughts for this column seem to have been filled with all kinds of big and little steps for the community and for me. The consistency of monastic life could be considered the flowing mountain stream which each of us has to navigate, always pushing forward to reach the head waters, the source of it all.
The season of Lent in which we now find ourselves leading us to the climax of Holy Week has reminded us for some five weeks that our spiritual journey is never the same and is always changing in its challenges and opportunities. Early on in Lent we were most grateful for the three presentations given to us by Fr. Paul Turner of our diocese who spoke from his experience and widely respected expertise dealing with the theology and reasons behind the new changes we’ll find in the new Roman Missal. This new translation will eventually be used in the celebration of the Eucharist.
During this season of Lent the monastic community is giving special attention to the meaning and implications of monastic culture. Perhaps a bit like picking out the solid rocks in negotiating a mountain stream, naming and embracing the essential aspects of monastic culture help us to appreciate the current and coming challenges and opportunities of our life. At two week intervals Abbot Gregory and two other monks, Frs. Xavier and Daniel have in turn presented reflections about monastic culture which the community discussed in small groups each following week.
As always the pace and range of commitments for pastoral ministry both in the Abbey Guest Center through retreats here and away continues to challenging. Several of us have been involved with giving parish missions which is a very rewarding experience. My time at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish at Hitchcock, TX proved to be a wonderful and grace-filled experience. I left Missouri in a blizzard expecting to find welcome warm temperatures in south Texas, but to my surprise the cool temperatures (cold by Texas standards!) followed me through out the five days!
Coming to the threshold of Holy Week finds us again preparing for the great Paschal Mystery. No matter how many times we have approached this high point of the liturgical year there is always a new dimension to be noted and pondered. May this be a time of blessing for all of us.