RSCJ Reflection: Week Four

As we enter the final week of Advent, the Steering Committee wishes to thank Marie, Mary and Diane for their thoughtful Advent Reflections. Sunday's Gospel reminds all of us that the quality of our relationships is the means through which the Holy Spirit continues to communicate God's profound love. Elizabeth's and Mary's mutual support of one another point to the importance of our supporting each other for it is in and through our ministries and our relationships that we continue the work of the Incarnation. May these special days give us time to continue our reflection on the 2008 Chapter Documents. Perhaps in our comings and goings we will have the chance to continue to explore with one another and our collaborators the challenges offered by the Chapter.

In a recent homily on the Fourth Sunday of Advent it was said that "wisdom is a perfection of the whole human being. Wisdom, my brothers and sisters, is not the same thing as intelligence or education. Wisdom is an openness to the spirit of God. Mary shows us what it looks like to be wise. Wisdom is a matter of the heart and the head. In fact, wisdom functions on the level of the soul which is deeper than emotions or thoughts. Wisdom unites thinking, feeling and the flesh. Intelligence is a perfection of the intellect. Wisdom is a perfection of the whole human being: head, heart and flesh. The Beatles were quoting Luke: "Let it be, Let it be. Whisper words of wisdom, Let it Be." Let it be done to us even as the angels say."

May we listen to one another's insights about the Chapter with openness of God's Spirit. And in Paula's words, may "we allow God to do great things for us, in our hearts and in our daily "lives given in love." May the incarnation of God's love, given birth on the first Christmas, become ever more a reality through us for the world."

Let us continue our prayer for one another we celebrate a joyful Christmas. We look forward to sharing our plans for the next steps in the New Year.

The Steering Committee