Receiving the Gift

A reflection on the Gospel for Dec. 13, 2007, Mt. 11:11-15, by Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB.


In today's Gospel we hear, "If you will accept it, John is Elijah... whoever has ears to hear ought to hear." (Mt. 11:14-15) The question is, can we receive the gift? In another place we read how the pharisees "thwarted" God's plan-- He had something wonderful in mind, and they refused. Is is not God's place to agree with us. Rather, we have to agree with Him... we have to accept His choices. And it's not enough to say, "Yes, yes, Lord," and then deny God by our actions. Who do we think we're fooling? We cannot alter God's choices by our actions. We must accept His choices.


Everything is a gift, if we have eyes to see it.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

A reflection on the Blessed Mother for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, by Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB.

Mary mirrors heaven in that she meets us at our weakness and helps us through. She doesn’t condemn us, but she comes with a small chide saying: “Don’t you trust me?” I think there’s something for all of us in her message to Juan Diego: “There is nothing to frighten or distress you. Do not let your heart be troubles and let nothing upset you. Is it not I, your Mother who is here? Are you not under my protection? Are you not, fortunately, under my care?”

Yes, we are fortunately under your care!

Welcoming New Postulants

On December 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, we welcomed Kristina and Raisa as postulants into our community. Postulancy is the first step made after having entered the monastery and lived with the community for a few months. The ceremony initiating their postulancy was held at First Vespers of the feast. At the ceremony, the Abbess, Mother Maria-Michael gave the postulants a modified veil and a copy of the Holy Rule of St. Benedict.

The postulants will spend the next months studying the Holy Rule as well as our monastic traditions and way of life as they live together with the community. The ceremony ended with Mother Maria-Michael praying over the postulants: "May God who has begun this good work in you bring it to perfection," to which the entire community responded "Amen!"

May this stage of their discernment be one full of grace and may the Blessed Mother keep them under her protection.

The Sign of the Spirit

A reflection for Isaiah 11:1-1, first Mass reading for December 9, 2007, by Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB.

You shall know the Spirit of the Lord has come upon you when the lion and the lamb within you can lie down together. Within each of us there is the child and the cobra, and they constantly struggle with each other. We’ll know it’s Heaven when both of them can exist side-by-side. And it is Christ who shall lead us.