Praying with the Sisters—October 17, 2022
This reflection was shared during our Praying With The Sisters live-streamed prayer on Facebook. A Nun’s Life was joined by guest Sister Audra Turnbull, IHM and Sister Eilis McCulloh, HM. Sister Audra is a member of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monroe, MI and Sister Eilis is a member of the Sisters of the Humility of Mary.
(The video recording of our prayer can be found below the blog.)
Reflection on Luke 12: 13-21
Right now, I am on the road with NETWORK Lobby (where I minister as the Grassroots Education and Outreach Specialist) as part of our Pope Francis Voter Tour.
As I reflect on today’s Gospel, I can’t stop thinking about how it is COMMUNITY that Jesus is calling us to…a community where we take care of each other, where we meet each other where we’re at --- no questions asked---, where we help each other grow to our fullest potential, where we help each other see new ways of doing things, a new way of distributing our wealth, our resources, and our love.
Earlier today, my colleagues and I visited the Center for Hope and Families in Toledo, OH where we learned about the amazing work the organization does in the city with children and families…I was blown away by the way that the organization shares its wealth of experience with the community that might not have access to things like dance and music classes or cooking classes.
Sharing your abundance in community is also a theme in my daily life in Cleveland, especially at the community garden at my parish, Blessed Trinity Church on Cleveland’s west side. Members of the parish community and neighborhood come together each summer to grow vegetables, fruit, and flowers…and the abundance goes to our food giveaway. For me, the simple act of tending the community garden—of watering it in the morning, pulling away the weeds, watching the tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers grow in abundance in my plot—and then sharing it with family, friends, and the neighborhood reminds me of the lesson the gospel is trying to teach with us.
I lift up both of these experiences because they show what can be done when we widen our community…when we take care of each…and when we share with one another.
