Reflection for Companions...

I was invited to write a reflection for the companions, so I thought I would put here too... 

Morning Tea at ours, after the celebrations the next day.
With a few familiar faces from overseas.
(Breda, Father Tony from AU, Father Joachim from Rome,
Jeff living Vietnam, Vy, Rosie and Anne..
Myself, Quang, Nga and Mary) 

St Paul of the Cross encourages us on our pilgrim way with these words

“When you are walking alone, listen to the sermon preached to you by the flowers, the trees,

the shrubs,

the sky,

the sun and whole world.

Notice how they preach to you a sermon of love,

of praise of God,

and how they invite you to proclaim the greatness of the One who has given them being.”

On the 26th January 2019, here in Vietnam, St Paul’s Monastery was officially blessed and the doors were open to welcome all. It was a joyous day, with two local bishops, some higher officials, Father Joachim who did the honour of cutting the ribbon and blessing the house, Passionists from around the world, many religious and laity alike all present to share in the celebration. I don’t want to give a report of the day, as I’m certain a few will be in your inboxes if not already very shortly.

This day was not a stand-alone event, rather the journey builds on that of St Paul of the Cross, where he too walked with all pilgrims on the journey while travelling to many places and building communities along the way. It’s all interconnected, building upon that path the people before us have walked.

Walking away from the day I was left with a sense of wonder. That joy, that pure delight that lets everyone come together to celebrate a special occasion in our lives or in this case history; how it can carry on beyond the moment? Carry this over to our faith and I wonder if the way we live makes a life with Jesus look like a joyous adventure or just a celebration of landmarks, or at times an unhappy religion when you hear an Alleluia in Mass that belongs on the same depths as a reluctant sorry!

Looking around the new building, I was reminded of a reality that is a little foreign in a sense, there was little to no garden present. Maybe this is the way forward, in alignment to the cultural way here for certain, yet have we lost the importance of what having a little garden means?
A garden is unlike a house, it is never still. It is not defined by structures, fine lines, colouring inside the boxes, rather it is a movement. To observe a garden, one must catch it, just like a butterfly in a net then it must be let go, as beauty cannot be preserved or it ceases to be itself.
There is a certain language needed when on a garden tour, it is not one language of plant names, or verbs, similar or feeling words. Rather it’s a language that the soul speaks through its response, with a sense of nostalgia, reunion of sorts and an awareness of interconnection. The garden has seasons, it’s easy to be tangled in the past when the daffodils were blooming, and the roses starting to open as the rays of sunshine pour over their petals. We must remember that today’s garden is only for today, paying attention or we will miss it, there is no encores or second chances just this moment, this formation, this equality of all coming together to bear witness to what is before us.

If this is the case, that the moment passes and we move forward, then why garden. In my apprentice years of gardening I was gifted the insight into why and in todays’ world this insight can be translated to many things. It is needed to be re-enlightened in many hearts today of people on the journey. The insight is the simple act of gardening is making a promise; I will clear the weeds from around you, I will bring the water to you and when the sky turns dry I will shelter you. I will not leave you.

I’m aware that the house blessing we attended the garden is very limited like all city dwelling houses. The smell of dirt is replaced with broken rubble, the field of green is replaced with concrete, and the smell of flowers is replaced with the mixture of scents from daily actions of living. 

All this is no reason not to have a garden, as in this environment the power of that one tree, that

one flower that lets off scent, that one patch of grass brings more joy, more beauty than a thousand acres.

A garden can be seen as a burden at times, possibly restrictive in the sense that one must be a caregiver, attentive and stay with it. Our English language could let us down, giving an image of a relationship between garden and house being one of ‘homebound’ alluding to the difficulties and heartbreaking realities, speaking of the way home can hold us and keep us steady. 

Though one must remember to live as ‘bound for home’ is to live as a pilgrim sure of the welcome that awaits us.

When we cultivate and nurture the garden of our lives we do continue the sense of adventure so that our lives are a continuous whole rather than a series of experiences without connection. The work of our pilgrim Passionist journey is to nurture the garden within so that we can reach out and walk the journey with others as we continue to grow. It is making that promise to others, to live by it and bring fullness of life all around us.

“Those who go out weeping,

 bearing the seed for sowing, 

shall come home with shouts of joy, 

carrying their sheaves.” 

Psalm 126

The gift of a garden is that it brings movement and change to the still point that is our home. What does your garden look like and how does it change with the seasons of transformation?

Look! The world is new again.
How do you carry that gift of celebration in life to be nurtured and brought to fullness, as you continue the journey as a pilgrim?