“ Jesus referred to throwing away all defensive armor when he said, ‘Only if you lose your life for my sake will you find it.‘ Jesus was talking about the autumns in our lives – those moments of vulnerability when we are asked to shed our armor, to risk relationships, when we open ourselves to try something new so that more of our giftedness can be shared, when we walk the extra mile or turn the other cheek or forgive seventy times seven.” –  Joyce Rupp

During these pandemic times many are finding themselves more vulnerable than usual.

This is when we need to dig deep down and draw on our faith in Jesus.

He left us an example and now it is our turn to walk that extra mile.

“ Jesus continued to be vulnerable even to death on the cross because he knew that his life was a blessing to others. He grew evermore deeply in love with the Father, drawing strength and trust and courage from that relationship. It was his deep vulnerability that encouraged Jesus to pray: ‘let your will be done, not mine‘ (Lk 22:43) and ‘Into your hands I commit my spirit‘ (Lk23:46). It was this surrender that led to death and then to the tremendous new growth of resurrection. It is the faith moment that has given courage for change to all autumn hearts ever since.” –  Joyce Rupp

Even Jesus opened himself to be vulnerable and to accept suffering and death in his life.

He is our model. He gave us the way, the truth and the life. 

The seasons remind us of that death and resurrection proces

“ I finally realize why I’ve grown to appreciate autumn so much. It is because the trees tell me so much about life, especially about the inner seasons of our lives. Each year as I begin to notice that the leaves are going golden, I reflect that the trees seem to give them selves over to the ‘letting go‘ process much more freely than humans. Trees readily allow autumn to have their summer leaves. Trees allow the frost to touch them and the wind to toss them. They allow the season to make it appear that all is lost and that there is no green growth left. But they know better, for even at the most barren moment, when one can look among the branches and see scars and knot- holes the leaves once hid, the trees already show terminal buds with the secret of next spring’s leafing in them.” –  Joyce Rupp

We can learn so much from nature.

The trees do let go of their leaves and show us that there are signs of hope in letting go.

Many times it is difficult to let go, especially letting go of our loved ones who have passed.

But Jesus reminds us in our dying we find new life.



“ Today, we celebrate the presence of the angels Michael(Who is like God?), Gabriel (Strength of God) and Raphael (Medicine of God). May we live with awareness of their nearness and imitate their faith for accompaniment. May we also act as messengers of the presence of God.” Sr. Chris Koellhoffer, I.H.M

Instead of sharing my reflection today, I’d like to share Father Jette’s homily. He is speaking about a student that we both knew from Saint Joseph School.

(The Homily begins at about 12 min, 40 sec)

“What It Means to Live with Illness”

“Illness, especially when it’s invisible makes us question everything that is familiar, socially acceptable and comfortable.

Illness makes us re-examine our entire life, its priorities, meaning, and legacy.

Illness strips us of who we are, or at least who we perceive ourselves to be.

Illness leaves us exposed and naked because everything familiar is now a potential enemy.

Illness forces us to delve into deeper layers extracting the ideals we were raised with – ideals that hinder our emotional, spiritual, and physical health along with those we accumulated along the way.

Illness involves a process of self recovery – bursting out of old patterns and developing new ones that serve our newly created self.

Illness forces us to fearlessly examine the things in our life that are not working – then use that information to build and move on, not beat ourselves up for past choices.

Illness allows us the opportunity to recognize the true healing only comes when we fully love and respect who we are and, in turn learn to set our own standards for what we will and will not accept in our lives.

Illness gives us the opportunity to test our creative navigation abilities – finding a new path when suddenly the road we’re familiar with comes to a dead end.

Illness builds compassion and appreciation – you can’t have true compassion and appreciation if you haven’t experienced the loss of health.

Illness helps us recognize that the only thing we can’t afford in life is to be around negative people – negativity is contagious, often times invisible illness! “ Gloria Gilbere, ND, DA. Hom, PhD

A good portion of this rings true. In 1967 I entered the Sisters of Mercy, in 1968 my Doctor recommended that I leave because I had been in the hospital for 14 days bleeding internally. In those days it was called regioenteritis, today known as Chrohn’s disease. Fortunately, I had an excellent gastroenterologist who with treatment, got me to

remission. Thank God, in 1973, I was able to re-enter the Sisters of Mercy. Some days I wondered where is God in all this? As I reflect back, God was present in all of it.