One of my favorite liturgical seasons is the time after Easter. Lent, with its introspection and focus on personal failure, is over. We can, for a time, rest in the unbelievable, just be with the unfathomable promise of the Resurrection.
I’ve come to love the Easter stories. No doubt about it, Jesus has returned as a “changed man.” The rich and complex message that he preached during his ministry is transformed into almost a one-note drumbeat (heart-beat?): Peace. “Peace be with you.” ”Peace I leave with you.” ”My peace I give to you.” Jesus could have come with some recriminations. Instead, he brought a message of reconciliation, paving the way for a Spirit who would bring courage. Lent may be over, but I/we still have a lot to pray for. Two events of the past couple weeks spoke powerfully of that need.
A couple weeks ago, many of the Sylvania Franciscan Sisters gathered for our General Chapter, a meeting we have every four years to set goals for the next four years and to elect Sisters to lead us in the process. All the Sisters had spent the last two years in prayerful discernment and conversation in preparation. When we gathered that week, we shared with each other the fruit of that preparation – deep sacred conversation where we each told our stories, offered our insights, prayed, argued, laughed, cried, and challenged each other. Gradually, we were able to move from “what I want to see happen” to “what we all can do together.” It wasn’t easy, but we got to know each other better, as individuals and as a congregation; we grew in respect for each other, becoming more convinced of the gifts we have to offer our sisters and brothers for whom and with whom we minister and the gifts we bring to our world. The Easter message was palpably alive.
It was during that same week that the other event occurred, the announcement of the reform of LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women Religious) overseen by the US Bishops. There’s been a lot said, from many corners with many points of view. My intent is not to rehash the commentary, but to offer my hope that the Easter message of peace and reconciliation can prevail. Our world and our church are certainly as human and as fragile as when Jesus greeted his Apostles after the Resurrection. We will always be fragile and human. But we also carry the peace of Christ and the courage of the Spirit with us; those gifts are just as real.
The church and world that St. Francis of Assisi interacted with in the late 12th and early 13th centuries were equally dysfunctional, with remarkably similar problems as today. His response was to consciously model his behavior after Jesus, becoming an instrument of healing and reconciliation in his society. In the microcosm of our congregational meeting, the Sylvania Franciscan Sisters were able to model the peace that is needed in our world. Our Sacred Conversations could bring the Civility in Public Discourse needed today!
Peace be with you!