Contemplatives in Action

White Coat Reflections

“To give with ‘good measure, pressed down, and overflowing’”

I recently heard a challenging Scripture reading at Mass this past week when I was on retreat - - Jesus says, “stop condemning that you may not be condemned…stop judging that you may not be judged…pardon and you shall be pardoned…give and it shall be given to you…good measure, pressed down, shaken together, overflowing will be given to you…For the measure you measure with will be measured back to you.” It gave me pause to examine my own daily life. How much do I judge and condemn others, either in my words, or looks, or own inner commentaries? When I give, do I give with full measure, pressed down and overflowing, or do I give with small amounts of judgment and condemnation sprinkled into the ‘measure’?

I have the privilege of providing free medical care to those of low income who lack health insurance. Many of our patients lack jobs and all are in difficult financial situations. We have the opportunity to give with overflowing measure to our patients and we also, as this reading reminds us, have to watch out for attitudes of judgment or condemnation. I have found that our patients are our best teachers for so many of life’s lessons. Recently I met a patient of the free clinic in a different setting and he said, “Dr. Karen, I just got a new job and it has health benefits! I have full insurance coverage and it starts right away! As soon as I get my first check I am going to send a donation to the clinic. You folks were there for my wife and I when we really needed it. Hopefully this will help some else.” I know their financial situation has been dire in the extreme and his first thought was to give something back with his first paycheck. What an example of someone giving with full measure, pressed down, shaken together and overflowing!

Lent is a wonderful time to renew ourselves in our commitments to live as Jesus teaches us to live - - to accept others without judgment and condemnation, to pardon freely, and to give generously with full measure! May we all measure with good measures!

Sr. Karen Willenbring, Community of Anawim

From the desk of Sr. Ruth Ann:

As we have journeyed through Advent and celebrated Christmas we have been reminded once again of how much God loves us.  Jesus, the Word became one with us, takes on flesh becomes incarnate.  It is humbling and at the same time difficult to grasp the wonder of this reality!  Jesus told His disciples that they would do even greater works than what He was doing.  They would continue to make Him present even when He returned to His Father.  We too, have received that call.  We are called to make Jesus incarnate in the world today.

On a daily basis at Marian House and Life Line I am privileged to witness others making Jesus incarnate by the generosity of their lives.  Once a month we have an older gentleman that comes to Marian House’s back door with items he has purchased for the ministry.  By choice he has remained anonymous even to us.  We don’t even know his name.  All he asks is “What do you need next month”.  Another gentleman, Ed, comes once or twice a month to the front door with all kinds of food and goodies and household items.  He has taken Marian House on as a personal project in honor of his deceased wife, Marian.  Martha, who has become a dear friend over the years, supports almost every fundraiser in town and brings it to Marian House.  Those at Marian House enjoy her hoagies, pizzas, cookies and huge blocks of delicious cheese.  She rarely keeps any for herself.  Numerous organizations, churches, and individuals have become a part of our ministries by giving what they can to be Jesus for others.

The younger grades at Sr. Francis Religious Education program have a little birthday party for Jesus each year at Christmas and the children bring infant gifts for us to give to babies in need.  They too have taken on the spirit of being Jesus for others.

Marian House and Life Line receive help from dozens of volunteers.  They give countless hours of their time, energy and talent enfleshing Jesus for women and children in need of help and in need of a listening ear and heart.

One of the most touching experiences I have witnessed over these past 30 plus years in Young People Who Care ministries is when the homeless women (guests) at Marian House become Jesus for one another.  Their concern, love and support for one another at times leave me in awe.  Maybe it is because they know what it is like.  They know what it is like to have nothing – no home, no money, no decent clothes, and no real support.  Jesus became one of us to experience being human.  Jesus experienced being homeless, poor, and oppressed.  Yes, Jesus became human like us.  He continues to challenge all of us to care about others who are suffering in any way.  Jesus asks each one of us to become Him for others.  (Sr. Ruth Ann Madera – Marian House Director)