Retreat and Lect. 377

Dear Readers, I am writing this very short summary of the retreat just
about an hour before it ends on this day, Saturday, June 25, 2011. During
the retreat we learned that two fellow Marianists had died: Fr. Jack Russi,
S.M. (June 20) and Brother Jim Dods, S.M. (June 25).
The presenters for the retreat were Fr. Martin Solma , our Provincial, and
three of his assistants: Brother Joseph Kamis, assistant provincial, and
counsellors Bros. Dennis Schmitz and Francisco Gonzalez. Fr. Martin gave
the theological, scriptural, and spiritual content for the three themes of
the retreat: Faith, Mary, and Mission. These themes will continue to be the
focus of the members of the Province during the coming three years and are
the motivation for fulfilling our Province Plan which is called Vision
20/20 for the year 2020. The other presenters both personally witnessed to
what it means to be a Marianist and follow these calls of the Province;
they added to the content of the retreat through their understanding of the
themes from the point of view of their Marianist life experiences. The
variety and creative of these members of the Provincial Council helped to
make the retreat a very enjoyable spiritual experience. We were edified at
the openness and faith sharing of all four persons. Story telling and
power-point presentations made the retreat even more interesting and
helpful for remembering the themes and ideas. All howeve did point us
toward the Province Plan of 20/20.
The vision of 20/20 became more visible, clear, and convincing and we have
a good start for the novena of years that remain till the actual year 2020.
Each of us as a vowed Marianist can deepen our faith, our knowledge and
love of Mary, and our apostolic mission by implementing the ideas,
suggestions, and spiritual motivations received during this retreat. Day
by day God gives us the special graces of our beloved Society of Mary as we
seek to "Do whatever Jesus tells us." And Mary is the one who started this
persuasive and gentle command. (Fr. Bert Buby, S.M.)

Scripture: Lectionary 377. Genesis 18:16-33. Psalm 103:1b-2,3-4,8-9,
10-11. Matthew 8:18-22:

Abraham has such a close relationship to God that he can speak candidly and
openly with the Lord. He is also a master at bartering with the Lord as he
tries to test as far as possible the mercy and forgiveness of God toward
the people of Sodom and Gommorah who were wanton behaviors. Abraham
continues to talk frankly and prudently with an ounce of genuine humility
to his continuing bartering prayer with the Lord. He does not want Sodom
and Gommorah to be destroyed. He whittles down his plea from fifty
righteous persons, to forty-five, then to forty, thirty, twenty, and
finally ten. Nice try in testing the patience of the Lord, who finally has
to do what justice requires and thus gives us an example of how far his
mercy does go for everyone of us who are sinners. Not even ten were found
and probably the Lord would have spared the destruction of these cities had
fewer than ten been found, but Abraham had reached his own wits end on this
request. God would have his justice prevail.

This event is a powerful story of how much God is willing to forgive us
even fifty times a day if we ask for forgiveness or even have someone
intercede for us--especially a person of prayer and faith-- a saint whether
with the large S or small s. These persons from Sodom and Gommorah offer
us an example of God's justice as well as his mercy. They lived at the
lowest part of the earth in the Dead Sea region of the Negev and were among
the meanest people to have tested God in the Scriptures. Even if the story
may not be historically true there is the powerful religious and spiritual
message in it that helps us to be attentive to a serious examination of our
consciences each day. This will help us put a check on any of our wanton
behavior patterns for we need to face God as Abraham did and talk openly,
humbly, and honestly about our failures to our Best Friend, God.

After our meditation or our examen of conscience we may wish to recite with
all our hearts the beautiful Psalm that is given to us as the meditative
response to God this day: "The Lord is kind and merciful. He pardons all
our iniquities and heals all our ills. For as the heavens are high above
the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. The
Lord is kind and merciful." (Psalm 103). Amen.