Ivars' Voice

Yesterday at First Vespers of All Saints our little community welcomed Jeff Farmiloe and Daniel Jetty into the Novitiate. A year of discernment and prayer to see if God is calling them to our Benedictine way of life. It was a happy day for all of us. As we were practicing for the ceremony in the early afternoon Fr. Michael was sitting at the organ going over some music. The first thing I say to the two men in the ceremony is: “What is your request?” Before they could practice their line Fr. Michael piped up and said: “I’ll take a cheeseburger and fries.” Nothing like injecting a bit of humor into a serious moment. But the real answer is: “I seek the mercy of God and fellowship in this community.”

For all of us living this way of life as a Benedictine, and really for any Christian, that is a good response. We all should seek the mercy of God, for we are all sinners in need of mercy and forgiveness. And we all should seek to be in fellowship, in communion with others. We need others as we journey back to the Father and our heavenly homeland. We need others for support, encouragement, others for whom we can and ought to show compassion, care, forgiveness.

# posted by Ivars: 8:39 PM ikrafts@msn.com