Friday 30 September
Friday of week 26 in Ordinary Time Saint Jerome, Priest, Doctor Gospel - Luke 10:13-16 “if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago”. Why is Jesus Christ putting an “if”? Because he respects our freedom and our heart. Our opening of heart is the key to all. If our heart fails to see the action of Spirit in us, there is no way we will have conversion. If our heart fails to respond to a good inspiration, there is no way we will have conversion. If our heart fails to accomplish today what the Word of God suggests, there is no way we will have conversion. If our heart fails to see what the Holy Mass commands to do, there is no way we will have conversion. If our heart fails to see the model of our Saints, there is no way we will have conversion. If our heart fails to listen to what the Mother Church says, there is no way we will have conversion. If our heart fails to see the good others do to us and we fail to have gratitude, there is no way we will have conversion. The gospel passage asks: is our heart open to conversion?
Thursday 29 September
Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels Gospel - John 1:47-51 “I tell you most solemnly, you will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending”. Today in the feast of Archangels, Jesus indicates the presence of angels and their relationship with him. They are angels of God. They are above the Son of God ascending and descending. Nathanael was amazed to hear that Jesus knew him when he was under the fig tree. But Jesus is inviting him to something bigger. He is inviting Nathanael to be part of heaven, to a dynamic relationship. This happens because of his encounter with Jesus. Often our spiritual life is confined to be under the fig tree, a static relationship, when we don’t move to this encounter with Jesus. But when we have this encounter with Jesus, we will feel the presence of heaven and the angels ascending and descending. Listening and following. Asking and receiving. Knocking and opening. That means our spiritual life becomes a dynamic relationship with Jesus. The gospel passage asks: is our relationship with Jesus a dynamic relationship of ascending and descending angels or just a static relationship of being under the fig tree?
Introductory day for new employees
On September 20, 2022, the "Induction Day for New Employees" took place in the St. Augustinus Monastery in Berlin. This day has been held twice a year in Berlin since 2005 (there was an interruption only in times of Corona). The newly added employees in the Sisters of Mary facilities in and around Berlin are invited to this event, i.e. from the Marien Hospital in Berlin-Lankwitz and the senior citizens' facilities in Berlin-Kreuzberg, -Karlshorst and Luckenwalde. The day was led by the Vicar General, Sr. Petra, and the manager of our facilities, Mr. Thomas Wagner. After a round of introductions, the participants learned from Sr. Petra about the origins and history of the congregation. In a further step, Mr. Wagner explained the structure and working methods of our facilities using the organizational chart and addressed the current problems and challenges. The participants had the opportunity to ask questions and after initial reluctance, a lively exchange developed. This time it was also a special pleasure that the Superior General, Sr. M. Sybilla, took part in the meeting and was also happy to get involved in the discussions. The presentation of the mission statement of our institutions, in which the participants are familiarized with the principles and guidelines that guide the work in our institutions, was another important focus of this meeting. Here values and the Christian image of man, the self-understanding of pastoral care, dealing with dying and terminal care were informed and discussed. After a feedback session, where the participants could give their feedback and wishes, the meeting ended with an ecumenical service in our hospital chapel. Since we have been holding this day in the German Province for so long, I can say that it has a good tradition and is valued by the employees and they wish for more such meetings.