Our 4th Day winter retreat was held the first weekend of January at Christ the King Retreat House in Buffalo, Mn. About 80 of us gathered to hear talks focusing on Pope Francis’, The Joy of the Gospel. First of all we would like to give a shout out to the fabulous retreat masters, Fr. Jim Deegan, Fr Lon, Fr Tony and Sr. Brenda Rose. If you’d like to hear these extremely well done talks you can register for one of their other retreats focused on The Joy of the Gospel through November of this year.
Fr. Jim’s talk was entitled, “A Joyful Urgency”. He said Jesus is continually sending us to get out there and be a people of mission. Once we encounter Jesus we experience a conversion and then we feel compelled to share the good news just as Peter said, “It is impossible for me not to talk about what I’ve seen and heard.” He went on to share that the Gospels are road maps to joy. “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. “(John 15:11)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” (Mt. 28:19)
We loved what he shared next.—“He did not say. I want a volunteer or two: we are all sent.”
He said joy is both a gift and a decision. Don’t give up too soon. There are 3 ways to save your joy. First, give God time to work with you. Just because you’ve always done something a certain way doesn’t mean that you won’t be called to change gears. Be open to change, it may be in the change that Jesus is working on you. Second, don’t be overly sensitive. We need to overlook things sometimes—cut people some slack. After all, Jesus is always cutting us some slack. Third, don’t give in to addictions, the things that are more than what was intended for us. When we are slaves to addictions of any kind, we begin to lose our joy.
We were reminded of the 4 roads to joy—much prayer, the Eucharist/sacraments, works of charity/justice and simple living (give what you are not using to the poor).
We were reminded of the 3 steps to joy—be vigilant: God shows up in disguises & surprises, pay attention to the people and circumstances of our lives, be aware of good stories that lead to conversion and change, say only good things (what is true, good, kind, helpful), use the joy gauge (rejoice in the success of those you don’t like).
Next, Fr Lon gave a talk entitled, “My Spirit Rejoices” in which he said that the New Testament gives us an 11th commandment—to LOVE. We are not called to be negative. We are called to go out of our way to see the good in others and in God’s creation. Pope Francis says in #49 in The Joy of the Gospel, “More than by fear of going astray, my hope is that we will be moved by the fear of remaining shut up within structures, which give us a false sense of security; within rules which make us harsh judges, within habits which make us feel safe; while at our door people are starving, and Jesus does not tire of saying to us: ‘Give them something to eat.’ (Mark 6:37)
People will go where ever they will find nourishment for their souls—we need to “give them something to eat”. We are not called to pass judgment, but to reach out with compassion and mercy of the Lord. He said we are called to serve and respond with joy and not portray our service of the Lord as a burden but as an opportunity to participate, engage and reach out in love of the Lord.
Finally, Sr. Brenda Rose gave a talk entitled “Joy: Fruit of Suffering” reminding us that Jesus came to us in fragile humanity. He becomes for us Bread broken and shared. The fruit of suffering that comes with loving is dying to self and letting go for Love. How much am I willing to let go for Love? Surrender to the unfolding Mystery of His Love.
We hope this gives you a taste for how wonderful the messages of the retreat were and whets your appetite to sign up next January!
We look forward to seeing you at the February Cursillo weekends in Burnsville.
Justine & Bill Bojan
