Pilgrim progress- a disciple on a journey!

“Mary brought in a pound of very costly ointment, pure nard, and with it anointed the feet of Jesus, the house was filled with the scent of the ointment” (John 12: 3) As I listened to today’s Gospel being read on this Monday of Holy Week, my mind returned to the day of my Perpetual Profession back in June 2011. The text of the Gospel was that used for the liturgy of the rite of Profession. It is a passage from John’s Gospel where a woman anoints the feet of Jesus with precious ointment (John 12:1-8). The story of Jesus’ feet anointed with tears and perfume by a sinful woman is a love story, pure and simple. Not some cheap romance or TV soap love but one of complete and oblivious donation! As I stood on the threshold of complete dedication to Christ in religious life, I saw this biblical woman’s gesture and felt Jesus  saying to me: “Louise, are you ready to do the same? To be this self-emptying gift of prayer and joyful love, unafraid of stares or conflict from an often uncomprehen

The picture is of a statue I keep in my room. It's not the nicest of statues but it has a special place in my heart as it was a model done by Sr M. Paul our sister who passed away in 2015. It was in her art studio and almost ended up in the bin but I rescued it! It reminds us that when the burdens of life seem to crush us and weigh us down, Jesus takes them if we allow him to take them. If you look closely you can see the cracks from the weight of the boulder. I was tempted to fix it but left it as a reminder that Jesus takes my pain, suffering, nothingness and carries it willingly and lovingly. Three years later I found a scrap of paper among some art designs Sr. Paul had. It had the explanation of the piece of clay: 'the weight Jesus carries is the love He gives to us but we reject'. This Lent may we be aware of how infinitely loved we are, we are beloved and we never walk alone!