A Place I’d call Home

What do I own?
My health,
My home,
My car,
A motorcycle,
Furniture.
Perhaps.
What do I own?
Relationships,
Shares in organizations,
Shared activities.
Not really.
What do I own?
Love,
Courage,
Humility.
No. I don’t own them.
What do I own?
Inner peace.
No. But I know what it feels like.
What do I own?
On Becoming Love
I saw Him again today,
In the gratitude which I felt within,
Like a warm soup had flooded my interior,
On a cold winter day.
Peace, should not be a buzz,
But this time it was,
I could feel it in there,
Love spilling out inside me,
Uncontrollably,
I feel it in my arms,
My flushed face,
Warmly it ran down my legs,
Speechless, I say my silent thank you.
For this mystery. This grace.
So is this what it really is to love?
To feel the pain of a homeless person,
To see the smile on the face … who I smiled at for no other reason.
Than she was my sister.
To see the love in my family,
Expressed in so many unspoken ways,
And those who have become my family,
In a unity we seek but seldom talk of,
Of nations united. United as one.
One, single, state of belonging.
The Body of Christ.
So, now what to do.
This love is beyond understanding,
But I have knowledge of it now.
I don’t just feel it.
I am it.
Not because I own it.
But because it owns me.
Not because I say it,
But because I can only act through it.
Not because I preach it,
But because I carry it, carefully and humbly.
Not because.
It just is.
So, here it is.
My desire is met.
God is there.
I am there.
Waiting for more. And demanding nothing.
Judas enters the room,
This time not kissing the one to be betrayed,
Rather ignoring them,
Although they are at the head of the table.
Then, carefully, he controls the gathering,
Sniping remarks are hidden, clothed meticulously in royal robes,
Seemingly offering praise,
Where lack of it is the message.
A well-honed ego presents itself,
Without identity,
The mask concealed in years of practice,
Demeaning others, not just for winning, but just for sport.
Or so he thinks.
For Judas wants, more than anything,
Control of destiny,
Leaving victims, unknowing victims,
Lying on the ground, unaware of their fatal wounds.
As he builds up the kingdom of self,
And a little more separation from God.
Click on the highlighted areas to view the online conference or program
Friday Evening
Opening Conference with Fr. Higgins (Conference)
Saturday Morning
Morning Prayer (at the Fountain)
WALKING WITH GOD DURING DIFFICULT TIMES (Conference)
Fr. Bruno D’Souza C.P.
Saturday Afternoon:
Michael J. Cunningham, D.Min, O.F.S.
RECONFIRMATION (Conference)
Saturday Evening
Eucharist (At the Fountain)
Saturday Evening Reflection (At the Fountain)
Ms. Jean Bowler and Michael Cunningham
_________________________________________________________________
Sunday Morning
Morning Prayer (If rain then Facebook live)
Deacon Manuel and Chela Valencia
ENCOUNTERING GOD IN THE UNEXPECTED (Conference)
Wrap up (At the Fountain)
Eucharist (At the Fountain)
Online devotions
Standing, arms apart, as if beckoning,
The black tunic speaking an intention.
Moving from the entrance,
Light streams towards the visitor.
Nothing said, but a smile of welcome presents itself,
And encourages the visitor forward.
Once inside, seating and libation offered,
The Passionist joins the visitor, saying little,
but encouraging conversation, without agenda.
The listening begins, punctuated by silence,
As the Blood of Christ enters the room.
The red mist coloring them both in love.
Then the secrets flow,
Slowly at first, then, full disclosure.
Open-hearts reveals what was hidden,
And the Passionist listens, and cries inside,
They are one in sharing.
The Passion; once again, is spilled to the floor.
Words are swallowed deeply by both talker and listener,
Changes begin within,
Imperceptible at first,
Then more measurable,
As the movement of the Passion of Christ becomes incarnate,
Once again.
And a visitor leaves changed,
And the Passionist returns again, to the doorway.
Click on the highlighted areas to view the online conference or program
Friday Evening
Welcome, Orientation and Eucharist
Opening Conference with Fr. Higgins (Conference)
Saturday Morning
WALKING WITH GOD DURING DIFFICULT TIMES (Conference)
Fr. Bruno D’Souza C.P.
Chela Valencia Spiritual Direction via phone in 30 min appointments from 10:00am to 12:00pm
Phone 626 355 8322
Saturday Afternoon:
Michael J. Cunningham, D.Min, O.F.S.
RECONFIRMATION (Conference)
Saturday Evening
Saturday Evening Reflection (Zoom)
Ms. Jean Bowler and Michael Cunningham
_________________________________________________________________
Sunday Morning
Deacon Manuel and Chela Valencia
ENCOUNTERING GOD IN THE UNEXPECTED (Conference)
Wrap up (At the Fountain)
Online devotions