Sr Anne's Reflections

Dear Sisters,
Greetings from Nairobi where I am preparing for my journey back to the UK tonight.
On Wednesday we will begin the Lenten season of 40 days, a journey of preparation for the feast of the Resurrection. Every Lent the church offers us this time of preparation, a call to renewal, to transformation, “an opportunity to allow the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest” (Oscar Romero). The readings the church offers us during this season provide opportunities for preparation and reflection and I know we all value the invitation to grow in our relationship with the Lord.

I know my own preparation for Easter will be influenced by this time I have spent in Kenya. I have seen Jesus’ passion being lived out today in those living in unimaginable poverty; lacking basic resources such as water, food, health services, education etc.
Fasting is not only for 40 days for so many living in the slums of Nairobi and in many rural areas in other parts of Kenya, and of course all over the world, but it is a way of life. Pope Francis in his Lenten message says:

“It would be a good Lenten exercise for us to compare our daily life with that of the migrant or foreigner, to learn how to sympathize with their experiences and in this way discover what God is asking of us so that we can better advance on our journey to the house of the Father.”

We could replace “migrant or foreigner” with disabled, the sick who can’t afford treatment, slum dwellers, the homeless, HIV/Aids sufferers, alcoholics, etc.
I feel privileged to have witnessed the compassionate face of Christ in the missionary outreach of our sisters, in the sacrifices they make, in reaching out to those left the furthest behind in our world. They are improving the quality of life of those they serve and giving them hope for a better future. These are signs of the presence of Jesus, signs of Resurrection, as is also witnessed in our generous giving and care for each other within community.

I pray that during these 40 days of preparation for Easter we may all allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit into the depths of ourselves, into the wilderness, where the Lord will renew us.

The following prayerful reflection is from Joyce Rupp:

The Fourth Sorrow: Mary Meets Jesus Carrying His Cross

“Meeting Our Pain”

Mary, you have been there before me.
Your heart opened wide to embrace Jesus
when you met your son on his way to death.
You felt the depth of his suffering.
You entered his wounded path of pain.

I, too, need courage and spiritual stamina
to be with the pain of my own journey.
Teach me how to be with my suffering.
I want to meet myself as lovingly
as you met your wounded and pain-filled son.

With love,