Dear Friends,
This time of year is one of marked change, especially for we who are blessed to live in New England and witness the trees splashing their colors as they prepare to settle in for winter. In recent weeks, in our letters to you we've reflected on a variety of 'other' changes including our newly revamped website (visit www.spiritoflifecommunity.org) which we hope you've had a chance to visit. We're delighted with its new look and so grateful to Mary Southard, CSJ of Ministry of the Arts for gifting us with permission to use her beautiful "Holy Spirit Soaring" for our logo. Last week at our quarterly Community Meeting, the question was raised about the possibility of changing our time of liturgy to 4:00PM (rather than the present 5:00PM) during the period of Daylight Savings. After checking in on many levels including especially with the church who so graciously offers us the use of their sacred space, we have made the decision to make this change. So, please mark your calendars, to indicate that on Sunday, November 6th (the day the clocks are turned back an hour) our liturgy will 'turn back' one hour also, making our time of gathering at 4:00PM.
In our gospel reading this Sunday, the Pharisees continue their attempts to 'trip Jesus up', this time with the demand that Jesus tell them which is the "greatest commandment" in the law. Jesus, ever adept at not being ensnared in their theological traps, responds that the 'whole law and the prophets' depends upon following the commands to "love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind....and to love your neighbor as yourself". While I'm sure each of us strives to live in accord with this sacred command, often in our humanness, we fail, and with our limited vision it's difficult to image what the world would be like "if only" we all could hold this value and belief....and live it out. Below is a reflection that will be our 2nd reading this Sunday....and it expands our imaginations to envision "what then"....
And Then
And then all that as divided us will merge
And then compassion will be wedded to power
And then softness will come to a world that is harsh and unkind
And then both men and women will be gentle
And then both men and women will be strong
And then no person will be subject to another's will
And then all will enrich and free and varied
And then the greed of some will give way to the needs of many
And then all will share equally in the Earth's abundance
And then all will care for the sick and the weak and the old
And then all will nourish the young
And then all will cherish life's creatures
And then all will live in harmony with each other and the Earth
And then all will live in harmony with each other and the Earth
Judy Chicago
May your hearts be at peace even as you seek to deepen your love of God and neighbor,
Jean & Ron