We want ‘glory’ but there is a cost.  This is the essential message of today’s gospel.  Jesus is addressed by James and John, two of his disciples, as ‘teacher’…and they add, “We want you to do for us whatever we ask of you” (Mk 10:35-45).  

“To sorrow in the suffering of the world together may be what we need to embrace now, something beyond hope, deeper than hope, which is to honor our grief of a changing world. . . Rather than anchoring our hope beyond the struggle, always projecting ahead, perhaps locating joy within the struggle through our full presence can be our essential gesture at this moment in time.  To feel the pain of now and not look away.  To act not with the hope of moving forward, always forward, but to see the wisdom of stepping sideways as we create a different space, a more conscious space in the direction of pause, where we can breathe and gather ourselves so we can gather others around us and create a community of care, even within our own families, especially our own families” (Erosion, at 273). I find these words of the writer Terry Tempest Williams profound and not unfitting for this 32nd Sunday’s liturgy where we are encouraged to stay awake, to be present, to be ready for the encounter with the Lord. She is saying that our tendency, way too often, is to project forward, especially to project our hope forward…always forward and the suggestion is that perhaps we do this when we are clearly not ready.

Sr. Godelieve Theys, OCSO, beloved sister of Redwoods Monastery died on June 16^th, Trinity Sunday, just 12 days after her 96^thbirthday.

(Shown above: Sr. Godelieve at her 96th birthday celebration, 2019)

Readings of the day: RB 3:1-6 Calling the Community for CounselMass: Ac 22:30; 23:6-11; Resp Ps 16; Jn 17:20-26

In the monastery no one is to follow her own heart’s desire, nor shall anyone presume to contend with her abbess defiantly, or outside the monastery.(RB 3:8)
It is thought-provoking to read today’s passage from

Readings of the day: RB 71 Mutual ObedienceMass: Ac 9:26-31; Resp Ps 22; 1 Jn 3:18-24; Jn 15:1-8


I AM THE TRUE VINE, AND MY FATHER IS THE VINE GROWER.HE TAKES AWAY EVERY BRANCH IN ME THAT DOES NOT BEAR FRUIT,AND EVERY ONE THAT DOES HE PRUNES SO THAT