God is With US Still
God is With US Still
4/26/2020
God is with us still. This is a phrase common to the Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque, Iowa. I am an Associate with their Congregation. In learning about and reading through their Congregational histories, this quote is ever present through the narrative. First uttered by their foundress, Mother Xavier, after safely arriving on the dry land of New York, after their exile from Germany. These words have always held a special place for me, perhaps no moreso than ever. I recent months, we have all been "exiles" of sorts. Stay at home orders, schools closed, businesses shut down, all of these things can make us feel like exiles in a way. But in exile there can also be profound beauty.
God is with US Still.
What have you learned during this time of exile? What new hobbies have you picked up? What new recipies have you tried? How has God been present to you? Where have you seen the face of Christ in those aroud you? How is God still with you?
These are all questions for deeper reflection. As I conclude my first year of seminary (1 week of online class, and a week of finals), I cannot help but ponder many of the questions above, but most notably the last question. How is God still with me? If there is one thing that seminary has solidified in me, it is the fact that God is always with me no matter what. This is something that I have always know concretely in my mind, having been brought up in the Catholic Faith, but now it is something embedded in/on my heart. I take great comfort in knowing and feeling the love of my God, which is ever-present in my life. God is always around me. I see him in the people I come into contact with, in the birds singing, in the beauty of creation, and in the struggles of my day to day life.
God is with US Still.
As discussed in my last post, I have been living my period of exile in the rectory in Algona, Iowa. I have been so moved by the kindness shown to me from the staff, the pastor, the deacons, and everyone I meet when out on my walks. We may all be in a time of "crisis" or "pandemic" or
"exile" or whatever other word you chose, but I can tell in the people of the parish that God is with them. They joyfully greet each other in the street, they call to check on their neighbors, they faithfully "attend" weekend Masses. God is working in all of us during this time. This time away from the seminary has encouraged me to look more closely at the ways God is still ever present and I encourage you to do the same in your life. Spend 5 minutes at the end of each day thinking about all the ways you felt God's love.
God is with US Still.
My first year in seminary has been unique and it is ending in a way none of us could have imagined. As I look back on the year, it is hard for me to believe that I am looking on a year of seminary formation. Seminary and the priesthood are something that I have thought about off and on since I was 16 years old, but I was never brave enough to make the jump. I wish I could look back and say the year was easy, but it was not. This year has been one of the more challenging years in my life, but in a good way. When I consider some of the more painful moments, I see now the growth that took place. I see now the end goal that my formation adviser wanted me to see. I now know, and have been able to vocalize things from within that I always assumed would go to the grave with me. I can now say that I am beginning to grow into a more confident and comfortable person in my own skin. These areas of growth are all based in the phrase that has become a mantra for me: God IS With US Still!
May God's Peace live in your hearts. Remember - God is with YOU still.
Jake
4/26/2020
God is with us still. This is a phrase common to the Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque, Iowa. I am an Associate with their Congregation. In learning about and reading through their Congregational histories, this quote is ever present through the narrative. First uttered by their foundress, Mother Xavier, after safely arriving on the dry land of New York, after their exile from Germany. These words have always held a special place for me, perhaps no moreso than ever. I recent months, we have all been "exiles" of sorts. Stay at home orders, schools closed, businesses shut down, all of these things can make us feel like exiles in a way. But in exile there can also be profound beauty.
God is with US Still.
What have you learned during this time of exile? What new hobbies have you picked up? What new recipies have you tried? How has God been present to you? Where have you seen the face of Christ in those aroud you? How is God still with you?
These are all questions for deeper reflection. As I conclude my first year of seminary (1 week of online class, and a week of finals), I cannot help but ponder many of the questions above, but most notably the last question. How is God still with me? If there is one thing that seminary has solidified in me, it is the fact that God is always with me no matter what. This is something that I have always know concretely in my mind, having been brought up in the Catholic Faith, but now it is something embedded in/on my heart. I take great comfort in knowing and feeling the love of my God, which is ever-present in my life. God is always around me. I see him in the people I come into contact with, in the birds singing, in the beauty of creation, and in the struggles of my day to day life.
God is with US Still.
As discussed in my last post, I have been living my period of exile in the rectory in Algona, Iowa. I have been so moved by the kindness shown to me from the staff, the pastor, the deacons, and everyone I meet when out on my walks. We may all be in a time of "crisis" or "pandemic" or
"exile" or whatever other word you chose, but I can tell in the people of the parish that God is with them. They joyfully greet each other in the street, they call to check on their neighbors, they faithfully "attend" weekend Masses. God is working in all of us during this time. This time away from the seminary has encouraged me to look more closely at the ways God is still ever present and I encourage you to do the same in your life. Spend 5 minutes at the end of each day thinking about all the ways you felt God's love.
God is with US Still.
My first year in seminary has been unique and it is ending in a way none of us could have imagined. As I look back on the year, it is hard for me to believe that I am looking on a year of seminary formation. Seminary and the priesthood are something that I have thought about off and on since I was 16 years old, but I was never brave enough to make the jump. I wish I could look back and say the year was easy, but it was not. This year has been one of the more challenging years in my life, but in a good way. When I consider some of the more painful moments, I see now the growth that took place. I see now the end goal that my formation adviser wanted me to see. I now know, and have been able to vocalize things from within that I always assumed would go to the grave with me. I can now say that I am beginning to grow into a more confident and comfortable person in my own skin. These areas of growth are all based in the phrase that has become a mantra for me: God IS With US Still!
May God's Peace live in your hearts. Remember - God is with YOU still.
Jake
Jake, I too am journeling how this isolation has given me a chance to grow deeper and realize God is still with us. When I did some research on the Dubuque Franciscan coming to Iowa City with little money or resources and saw what they accomplished by letting God lead them.
ReplyDeleteI feel my mask making is like the loaves and fishes story. I have made over 60 masks with just what fabric I had on hand and people dropping off elastic. It is amazing how a few pieces of cloth allowed me to sew. Like the Sisters they used what they had and it multiplied.
I am in a building of elders and wanted to help slow the virus, I carried my small, medium and large masks around and distributed to anyone needing a mask. People where so grateful and I was so humbled, they even gave me flowers as a thankyou.
Like the early Sisters showing an act of love brings so much joy and we always have enough.
Cheers
JO
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jake, for sharing your story and the reflection you offered as we walk on our Faith journey, always knowing that "God is with Us still" . Thank you for your words of encouragement and comfort during these challenging days; asking us to see the beauty in the simple gifts of creation and in each other. We sometimes forget to thank God for all the good in our lives , for the blessings of each day, for a mind that thinks and a body that feels. We also need to be thankful for those things in our lives that are less than we had hoped them to be; knowing through all our turmoil God is as close to us as our next breath. Let us therefore be thankful for His everlasting and unconditional love. God bless you, Jake, as you walk your Faith journey. Blessings Barb