Lenten Reflections

Below you will find reflections from current Volunteers, AV alumni, Augustinians, service site supervisors, and members of our Advisory Board. Each day, we have asked a different person to reflect upon the readings of that day and share their insights with us. Take time to prayerfully read and think about these reflections each day.

Thank you to all who contributed to this effort. Let us keep these people in our thoughts and prayers during this Lenten season.

We encounter God in our daily lives – through others in our homes and workplaces, through our experiences, and through our surroundings.  But, often times, the chaos of the day-to-day grind blinds us to God’s presence in our midst.  Sometimes our emotions and reactions are so defined by earthly things, that we lose focus on our relationship with God.  

Today, marked with ashes in the sign of the cross on our forehead, we are called to return to God, in spite of our sins.  We stand before God as believers, united with the mark of sin, but also united in our commitment to our loving God.  In the first reading from Joel, the prophet reminds us we are never too sinful to return to God, “For gracious and merciful is God / slow to anger, rich in kindness, / and relenting in punishment.”   So long as we let him, God welcomes us back to himself.  

Our ashes are a physical reminder of our earthly existence, which separates us from God.  Indeed, we are sinners, but we are not to be held captive by this stigma of the human condition.  We are called to repent, to reconcile, and to return to God, confident in his love and presence in all that we do.  Though we may not understand God’s will for us, God understands us beyond our capacity to understand Him, and calls us to return to him, for in him we will find our answers.  Let us use this sacred season to deepen our faith through reconciliation – with God, ourselves and others – and celebrate God’s continued presence in our lives.  

Where there is Life, there is Hope!

Walking up the path leading to the Shelter entrance, on a Friday morning, just after a brief snow shower, I noticed that the green daffodil shoots had started to push through the earth. Yes, there was a bit of a snow covering, but due to the mild Winter this year the daffodils have to be a bit confused. Will the sudden cold temperatures keep the flowers from blooming in the Spring?

Sometimes, as I see some of the women in the Shelter seeming to be giving up in the face of the many obstacles in their lives, and not taking positive steps to change their situation, I ask the question, “How will they survive?” 

How can those of us, who strive to bring Good News to those who are broken in spirit, continue to bring Hope, to help them cherish their children and to believe that their lives will get better? 

When we are able to live simply and to give witness to the Joy of being “fully alive”, we are then able to open the minds and hearts of those who have never experienced “being loved for who they are.” Being willing to give a helping hand or to reach out in a caring and loving manner can open the way for the broken hearted to hope for a better life, and to know that we are there to support them.

The Lenten reflections for today deal with fasting. Fasting for Lent has meant many different things to me, and likely to you too, over the years. In 1^st grade, I thought God would really be happy with me if I gave up some TV time, then in middle school if I talked on the phone a little less, and in high school if I ate fewer sweets.

It wasn’t until the latter part of college that it occurred to me that my “sacrifices” were born out of a tradition that I didn’t really understand. I had never stopped to question WHY giving up “xy and z” for Lent was a good idea or HOW it was bringing me closer to God. I realized that for me, Lent meant being more intentional about growing my relationship with God, and that could mean giving something up, or doing something new. 

I took baby steps; the first year after this realization I resolved to stop using the Lord’s name in vain, so I got a “God jar” and deposited $0.25 every time I slipped up, and donated the money to the church at the end of Lent. The next year, I promised myself I would go to church every week, which had been hard as an overactive, overcommitted student. The following year, which was last year during my service term in Peru, I made a commitment to read a daily devotional (something I had never done) and journal about it every day. I had never felt so alive in my faith or so good about my relationship with God.

Some of the Lenten promises I made have stuck with me, and some have not, but I feel Lent gives us the motivation and opportunity to begin new routines that bring us closer to God. It is much easier to envision success when you are dealing with only 40 days than it is to imagine yourself starting something and continuing it for years on end. But the great thing about 40 days is it is just long enough to change a good intention into a habitual action. I don’t journal about my daily devotional every day anymore, but I do read it. I found that my days end better when they start with God.

Start small, but start somewhere! Pick a goal this year that helps you be mindful of God everyday and stick with it. At the end of Lent, you may realize that whatever you picked didn’t get you where you wanted to be, no harm done; but you could realize that what you chose to do or abstain from was a missing link in your relationship with God.

“Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.”  If the Augustinian Volunteers were looking for a new motto, I’d imagine that this line from today’s psalm would certainly be in the running.  Although it’s been nearly four years since I’ve finished my term of service with the AVs, I still struggle to find the words to accurately portray all that the year was.  Yet, these words from Psalm 86 remind me of my how my desire to serve was and continues to be grounded in a desire to live out my faith authentically.  From our first day at orientation, it was clear that our goal was primarily to love and serve each other, in the model of St. Augustine, in a Christian community.  Since our lives were shaped in this model, it was inevitable that sacredness pervaded all aspects of this year, even when faced with difficulties.

It is a fact that when we pack our bags to return home at the end of our volunteer year, we will leave behind people who are still hungry, homeless, orphaned, or in need of a friend or advocate. At times, it can be hard to understand if we are making any difference as we serve, but if we believe our goal is to walk in the truth of the Lord, we can truly be the hands and feet of Christ.  During this Lenten season, let us serve and live in a manner that enables others to know God through our work, actions, and words.               

On an August afternoon, we all proclaimed a promise. A commitment statement. A covenant.

A year as an Augustinian Volunteer is very much about the words we recited at the ambo for friends and family. It was a declaration of our personal intentions for the coming year. We are held to and reminded of those proclamations through our communities, our service sites, and our own integrity. 

Similarly, Lent is a time of promise. We make a promise to both ourselves and to God that we will walk with Christ during this season through a personal, chosen sacrifice. In order to keep our promises, we are required to practice a necessary degree of discipline. Yet, the commitment is not derived from a mandate. Just as Christ’s death was out of his love for us, we make a sacrifice out of our love for God and our desire to ‘Repent, and believe in the gospel,’ as this week’s Gospel reading says. Simply put, we made a choice.

This theme of promise is threaded through all of this week’s readings. In our first reading, God establishes a covenant with Noah that is intended to be a sign to all human beings of His love for us. In the second reading, we are reminded of the sacrifice that Jesus made for ‘the sake of the unrighteous,’ that we might one day rise with him to eternal life. Finally, the Gospel reading provides us with the example of Jesus’ ordeal in the desert where he refuses to give into temptations of the devil.

So, let this Lenten season be one of both sacrifice and love. Be confident in the promises you made to God and to your Augustinian Volunteer community. That through prayer, God will provide you with the grace to fulfill your words through your actions.

After reading Matthew’s Gospel, I am quick to reason my way around the hard message to make sure that I am not the one who Jesus rebukes. I don’t think I have ever turned away someone that is suffering as greatly as those Christ speaks about in today’s Gospel. I have never let someone starve or walk around naked. I do have to admit that I have never visited the imprisoned, but besides that I have got most of my bases covered.

This mindset paired with the first reading from Leviticus, a series of “do nots,” I realize that I am set with an outlook that I can get by with achieving only the minimum. I begin to realize it is not Christ giving a formula of when I am to be charitable, but that I am always called to charity. Those who enter the kingdom are those who constantly gave, cared, welcomed, clothed and visited, not those who did so only when the need was apparent. Many times the least among us are not thought to be among us, so how can I give, clothe, care, welcome and visit? 

Christ present in those who are in the most need may be the most challenging part of this reading. It is often that I hear those in need are there for fault of their own and I want to justify my reaction with that very same response, however, Christ gives us a different command, one that requires charity without judgment, gift regardless of cost, and love beyond convenience. 

Matthew 6:7-15

The word Lent means springtime, a time to be patient and let things grow and flower. Most of us don’t live in a world of patience; we want things done immediately for instant gratification or easy answers. Prayer is not meant to be patterned on fast and easy. That is why we need a Lent – a spiritual springtime – to take time and reflect on the words we pray, if in fact we use words at all.

The only prayer that Jesus ever taught, was one in which he reminded us about his mission, namely to tell us about his/our father. We learn this prayer as small children and it is a universal prayer for all Christians. We recite it so often, it seems to come out of our lips without thinking. The question needs to be asked: If we are saying something without thinking, is it really prayer?  If this is the only prayer Jesus taught, doesn’t it seem that he wanted us to reflect on the words?

This Lent, I suggest that we try praying the Lord’s Prayer with less speed and more reflection. Take at least five minutes a day and pray the Our Father once, breathing in one word at a time. Our (pause) Father (pause) Who (pause) Art (pause)… etc. By the time we get to the end of the prayer, we might rediscover that prayer isn’t just words, it’s a dialogue between God and us. It is through that dialogue that God works a Lent – a springtime – in us in which we have spiritually grown.

Repentance and forgiveness are themes of today’s reading.  Jonah, the prophet, heeds God’s command to tell the Ninevites that they will be destroyed.  In reaction to this news, the Ninevite king chose the path of repentance and proclaimed that his people will fast and call out to God for forgiveness, in the hopes that God would not destroy them.  Observing their fasting and calls for forgiveness, ever so graciously, God forgave them. 

As a current Augustinian Volunteer, living in community has offered me many moments to pause and reflect on my actions towards others.  Every day seems to offer me opportunities to either repent or to forgive.  When you live with five other people in community, and the honeymoon phase has long past, you start to notice yours and other people’s weaknesses and strengths.  I believe that both repentance and forgiveness are essential to community life, but even more important is the intentionality of the two.  If you can repent and forgive with meaning, and truly understand what they both entail, community life can be a lot easier.  However, if you repent or forgive just for the sake of avoiding further conflict, it will only cause further problems.  God forgave the Ninevites because he saw their genuine efforts of repentance.  

Reflect on forgiveness, today.  Who do you need to forgive?  For what do you need to repent?  Is there intentionality when you repent for something or need to forgive someone? 

We always try to understand ourselves. Each day we are evaluating what we do and how well we accomplish our goal.  Often this is done in our relationships with others. The truth of the matter is, however, that true understanding of self is ultimately achieved when we evaluate ourselves before God. Making the time to reflect on our relationship to God is a great goal for the season of Lent.

Daniel understood this.  Before looking at himself, he prayed, “Lord, great and awesome God.” This is very reminiscent of the praise that St. Augustine witnessed to as he began evaluating himself in his Confessions: “Great are you, O Lord, and exceedingly worthy of praise.”(Con. 1:1) In both instances God is the starting point. When we have God as our starting point and realize his compassion and mercy towards us, we are then ready to look at ourselves honestly and openly.  

Jesus gives us much to reflect upon as he invites us in the Gospel of Luke: “be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”  Another translation uses the word “compassionate.” St. Matthew (5:48) reminds his disciples “you must be made perfect as your heavenly father is perfect.” It is going to take me a long time to become perfect, but maybe I have a better chance with mercy and compassion! For me, remembering the mercy of God and his goodness and considering how much I need his mercy, challenges me but also encourages me. I am challenged as to what God wants me to become but encouraged by what he has already given to me. We’re not very merciful when we are constantly judging, or condemning, and not seeing others the way God does.   Where would we be without the mercy of God!

We have been in Lent less than one week and the readings already are reminding us of what this season is about.  It’s not giving up our coffee or dessert or complaining for 40 days, it’s about re-evaluating our spiritual lives in preparation for the death of Jesus, the event that changed our lives.  But how do we do this?  Isaiah say to “cease doing evil; learn to do good;” however, it is never that easy.  Temptations will arise and in those moments we must decide how we will respond.  Will it be as Catholics who are trying to live out what they believe, or will it be like the Pharisees in the Gospel who put on a show for others to make themselves look good?

As an AV alumni, I was able to respond to God’s call and “make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphans plea, [and] defend the widow” as I served the poor of Peru, but how do I continue this when my life is not focused almost solely on living the gospel as my volunteer year was?  This is a question that will probably not be answered during this Lenten season, but as we do some self-sacrifice and giving of our time and treasure, surely we can come to a better understanding of our faith and how it, along with us, fits in this world.  Hopefully, we can take the time to figure this out and not let ourselves become too overwhelmed by the noise and distractions of our lives.

The Lenten season is quite similar to our AV year. During both of these times, we are required to be tested and reevaluate our relationships.  The course of these two actions simultaneously aid in our personal and interpersonal growth involving physical, mental, and spiritual aspects. It is a time to reflect on our actions and behaviors and the meaning behind them. 

Kids, projects, and community members etc. are bound to test your relationships with them, yourself, and God.  It is not what happens, but how you react to it that counts. Mainly, it is important to remember that God is on your side. To put full trust in Him in moments of both triumph and disaster proves your commitment to His word.  

It is important to remain true to oneself and not be altered by another’s impulses or instincts. Greed, wrath or envy can consume any relationship in the community. Stand convicted in your intentions and do so with the love that God has given you. Do not dwell on the need for positive reinforcement, for great rewards will come for those who wait. Therefore, the sacrifices that might seem obvious to you are all done for God.  You should not get caught up in power or self-advancement, but enjoy the journey of walking among God’s chosen people.

This is your year, and especially your Lent to embody Jesus. We have already all sacrificed our friends and our family relationships to be here, so what is stopping us from taking that extra step? So take a moment today to test and reevaluate yourself. Have you affirmed the confidence and trust in all God has sacrificed for your life, and if so, have you been willing and able, to the fullest extent possible, to share and exemplify such assurance with others?

“My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here…”-Lk 16: 19-31

In the reading from today’s Gospel, we encounter the rich man, who dined sumptuously while Lazarus laid at his door, asking for food and for help, though the rich man gave him none.  When we look at this story, what we should recognize is the great sin of the rich man is not what he did, but what he did not do. He was capable of sharing of his goods and helping Lazarus and chose not to do so; that choice is what landed him in hell. The sin of omission for Christ is as serious as the sin of commission.

As a rare treat one day while I was a volunteer, myself, a roommate of mine and a friend of hers who was visiting ventured into downtown San Diego to eat out.  We found a small Italian restaurant, and though I had only $10 in my pocket, I planned to dine as “sumptuously” as I could manage on a volunteer’s budget.  Entering the restaurant, a man and a woman stood just outside, looking forlorn, unwashed and asking for help.  “Please,” the man said as I walked by, “even $1 would be great.”  My heart ached in the eternal struggle we face when giving, particularly monetarily:  is this person going to use what I give him for “good”?  Or is he going to use it to feed a habit?  My roommate, her friend and I were seated, but the small, still voice within would not let me relax.  I realized that it wasn’t my problem if that man in need used the money for what I had deemed as “evil”; I would be committing a bigger sin by not giving of what I had.  I exited the restaurant, pressed the money into his hand and looked him in the eye as I told him to take it.  The woman at his side teared up as she thanked me, and I headed back inside.  Do I know what became of my $10?  No.  That is between God and that man.  All that God asks of us is to be a good steward of what we have, and He will do the rest.    

“Be the Change.” This phrase has been an underlying theme in my life and way of thinking during my past two years as an Augustinian Volunteer.  It’s unrealistic to think that you can change an entire society in a year, but we must realize that every little bit does count.  In the first reading, Ruben does not stop his brothers from throwing Joseph into a cistern, but he does stand up and prevent them from killing him. So while he may have felt like he ultimately failed to save Joseph, he undeniably made a difference in his brother’s life. I find his decision to do the right thing, even though it’s hard, very applicable to my year in South Africa, and have realized that God is in the struggle. 

The way we affect people in South Africa is going to change throughout the year but this is what we are called to do.  We will struggle with being far away from home, struggle with our community members, and struggle at our work sites. We have all picked favorite kids or students because they are smart and well behaved but we must always remember to see everyone for who they are and help them in any way we can.  South Africa has so many underlying problems such as poverty, a flawed education system, and, of course, the AIDS epidemic.  We are not here to change, or even to attempt to change, it all.  We are here to make a small difference in the lives of the people.  We may not be able to teach fourth graders how to spell ‘beautiful,’ or get the toddlers to stop hitting each other, but we can respect everyone we meet and hopefully touch even one person’s life in a meaningful way.  We have been called as Christians to be the cornerstones, the building blocks for the Augustinian Volunteers to come and, maybe some day soon, to South Africa as a whole.  

Most of us are familiar with the Parable of the Prodigal Son, today’s Gospel reading. And probably most of us, at different times in our lives, can identify with all three main characters in the story – the older and younger sons and the father. Think back on a time in your life when you have gone astray and needed help or forgiveness. Think of a situation when you have felt angry or jealous when someone else behaves badly and then gets what we might consider an undeserved second chance. Now, reflect on a time when you have felt great compassion like the father in this story, and when you have offered forgiveness or a second chance to someone who has wronged you.

In any of these situations, it can be very difficult to consider the perspective of the other. When we ask for help or forgiveness, it is hard to understand, or may feel very hurtful, when someone is unforgiving toward us. When we are angry at second chances given to others, it is challenging to remind ourselves that we are called to be infinitely loving and forgiving, just as God our Father is to us. And when we are forgiving and compassionate, it may be easy to judge others who are not. Yet, is that not what we are called to do – both as people of faith and Augustinian Volunteers – to always consider and strive to understand the perspective of the other? As volunteers, there are probably many ways you encounter this challenge, both with the people you serve and those in your community. During this holy season of Lent, may we all be ever more mindful of our call to respect, understand, and love the other, and to make efforts each day to respond to this call.

Our first reading reminds us of the basic Commandments that we are called to live by. Many times I may look at them and say "well, I didn't kill anyone, or I didn't rob a bank, so I didn't really break the commandment." But we must look deeper—have I talked behind someone's back? Have I spread gossip or rumors? By doing so, I may have "killed" someone's reputation. Was I lazy and missed an opportunity to serve, and, therefore, robbed others and myself of an encounter with the Lord? 

In the Gospel, Jesus is filled with righteous anger because the moneychangers are cheating the poor and lining their own pockets. How do I stand up for the poor and helpless in society? Am I willing to speak up for their rights even when it may be seen as going against the accepted norms of society? Am I willing to use my faith as a sign of Christ crucified, which may be perceived by others as a stumbling block or foolishness?

Jesus' Zeal is based on an intensity of love, a love that cannot tolerate injustice. Do I recognize the signs of our times and see opportunities to spread the Wisdom of God by putting my Faith into Action? These are some questions for us to reflect upon as we enter more deeply into this season of Lent by fasting, prayer and giving of ourselves and as we look forward to the great feast of Easter and contributing to the building of a kingdom of justice, love and peace!

When I look back on many Lenten Seasons in the past, I think about what I chose to give up. Most of the time I went with things like chocolate or french fries and in college I would occasionally try to give up procrastination.  It wasn’t until my volunteer year that I really began to think about what Lent truly meant for my faith life and me. Where does God fit into my everyday life and what can I do to find Him during this time? 

I believe today’s readings really show what we should be focusing on. The Responsorial Psalm states “Athirst is my soul for the living God. When shall I go and behold the face of God?” Where do you see God in your everyday life? What can you do to listen for the answers He is giving us?

With the remainder of this Lenten season, I challenge you to focus on your goals. I’m sure in the back of your mind you have a list of what you want to accomplish. Think about your work site and what you want to get out of your job in the remaining few months. Focus in on community and what little things you can do to go that extra mile. And, most importantly, during Lent at least, cultivate your individual prayer. Find the best way that you see God. Ask Him questions and search for His answers. It’s not always easy to hear a response with daily distractions, but what better time than now?

On this Tuesday in the third week of Lent we reflect upon these passages in which forgiveness and God’s goodness is a reoccurring theme. The passage from Deuteronomy calls us to remember how good God is and how we should nobly proclaim his name. We should try our best to live in his likeliness and be humble. We are called to be sorry for our sins and repent in order to be forgiven by God. While God forgives us, we must try our best in our daily lives to forgive those around us who wrong us, as the passage in Matthew depicts. Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother and Jesus replies “77 times”.  When we sin against God we are disrespecting all the gifts and love he gives us, we must ask for forgiveness and be willing to forgive. God forgives us, so who are we to not forgive our peers? The golden rule holds so much meaning; treat your neighbor, as you would like to be treated. God’s goodness should not be stifled by grudges or resentment.

As we work with others or share our home with community members we must remember that all those who surround us are children of God and as a favor to him we should find in our hearts a way to forgive. During this Lenten season let us open our hearts to new challenges, be ready to accept our faults, ask for forgiveness and grant forgiveness to those who wrong us. 

Today’s readings are clearly themed on the idea of God’s law.  

There is a law that we are called to live by as Christians, and the first reading spells this out. Moses says, “I teach you the statutes and decrees as the Lord, my God, has commanded me, that you may observe them in the land you are entering to occupy.

However, we know that there are many other “laws,” other than God’s law, which can be used to dictate how we live. They can be given to us as legal laws in the countries where we reside, or sometimes as unwritten laws from our families, friends, or our society in general. For example, many may agree that it is an unwritten law that we must search for the best job possible. It is certainly a law in my family that I must make money to provide for myself. Or there are other laws, which say only those who are deserving of help should receive it. But sometimes, societal rules and guidelines do not mesh with what we hear in our hearts that are lighted by Christ. Moses asks later in the first reading “what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?” There are none. There are no laws which are greater than the law of God.

So when we are in our year of service and we hear others say that we should not work for free, we should not waste a year that could be spent bettering ourselves, or we should not commit our time to others, we can turn to this idea. We can say that we chose a year of service because we believe in a law that is greater than the laws of the United States and greater than the laws of our families, communities, or societies. 

Our God has asked us to live a life of love, faith in His word, and a commitment to the laws of His kingdom. And even after our year of service, we must take care, as today’s reading also tells us,  “not to forget the things which your eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children’s children.”

The responsorial psalm (Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9) for this day contains one of my favorite lessons:  “If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.”  I often wonder about the sound of God’s voice; I wonder if I would recognize it if I heard it.  Am I listening closely enough?  Is my radio too loud to hear him?  Are the distractions of everyday life creating a sound proof wall between us?  How can I better hear God so as to “harden not my heart?”  

As servants we are called to hear the voice of the voiceless and become their voice.  I reflect on the teaching and understanding that God lives in each of us.  Realizing that God’s image is portrayed on the faces of strangers, and His voice is in the mouths of our families, those whom we serve, friends, and enemies, I am able to be more open to others.  When a strange man asks for help, will I see him as a strange man or as a creation of God?  Will my heart be closed to a criminal seeking forgiveness or can I recognize her as a formation of something beautiful?  Can I live in solidarity with others who may be different than me?  Will I be able to find common ground knowing that we all carry the likeness of God in our hearts, in our minds, and on our tongues?  Will that bond be enough to create change in the world? Can I find time in this Lenten Season to see differently and to listen more closely to what God is saying?

God speaks to all of us in various ways.  Let us pray that when He speaks we will understand and have the courage to live His love.

My initial reaction to the readings for today was: “Oh, it’s the golden rule again.” How many times have we heard this saying? To “love your neighbor as yourself” has been taught since second grade when schoolyard teasing began. But, when I looked closer at the words, I realized the depth and weight of the adage. To truly love someone as you love yourself is extremely difficult. It’s not that I am so narcissistic that loving others as much as myself is unfeasible, but to constantly maintain that level of love for all your neighbors is a near-impossible undertaking. This is why it’s important to draw the distinction between love and like. 

I am no saint. I fall victim to judgment, envy, and dislike; I am human. I cannot claim to like everyone I meet. How can I like the person who raped my patient and infected her with HIV? Or the person who beat my student with the black eye and broken leg at the boys’ home? The point is that I do not have to like them; I just have to love them. While this is still not an easy task, it is doable and, if we are conscious of our thoughts, it is within our reach. We must try to look past the surface, past our judgments and feelings about people, and recognize them as fellow human beings. My supervisor at the Respite continually emphasizes the importance of respecting the human worth and dignity that is in everyone. In the first reading, God says of Israel, “I will heal their defection…I will love them freely.” My work in the clinic shows me that unfortunately ‘healing’ doesn’t always happen—while some patients recover and are discharged, some do not. However, my work has also taught me that the second part is more important. Whether they’re on the mend or declining, every patient wants to be loved. Loved in spite of their illness, and also loved for it. To be loved unconditionally. So, while laughter is still important, I have come to find that love is the best medicine.

Humility is a virtue.  How many of us really believe that? 

Jesus tells today's parable to teach us – be yourself, be humble and celebrate what God has given you. Do not do what the Pharisee did – “Look how great I am!!"  

How am I living my life?  How am I trying to use the gifts and talents God has given me to better my life and the lives of those I encounter each day?  How is my Volunteer experience enabling me to be humble in the eyes of God and thus do great things?

God, help me be humble.  Help me use my gifts and talents you have given me to serve You and others.  Thanks God for all you have given us!

St. Patrick, pray for us!

“What’s wrong with the world, mama?” Like the Black Eyed Peas, everyone can see the problems. But do we look for the solutions? Sometimes our solutions are just avoiding the problem for a while, but then we get right back to it. We make excuses for what we’ve done, too, like, it’s ok this time. I’ll make up for it later. And maybe the biggest threat to correction is just writing off the world’s problems like they are inevitable, which can be our pain especially when our service to others seems to go nowhere.

That’s why this Gospel reading remains as important as it always has. It contains maybe the most quoted verse in the New Testament: John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that he sent his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish, but might have eternal life.”

God sent Jesus into the world. The world cannot be corrupt and irreparable if Jesus came into it. According to this reading, if you believe in Him you have already gained eternal life. We can still be a part of this world and be saved. We are part of the heavenly kingdom on earth if we believe in Jesus and let Him be the solution to our problems. He’s the connection between the worldly and the divine. Everything we do either brings us closer to or away from Christ’s light. We need to make sure our commitment and service to others has a base, so that it’s not merely a temporary blockade against injustice. We need to ground our service in Christ because Christ is that rock upon which we build and grow stronger. By bringing Christ into our service we leave a lasting impact, a hope for the future. Heaven is on earth. How do we react to its presence?

Today Jesus speaks his first words… 

“Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

Well, these were probably not His first words, but chronologically they are the earliest words recorded in Luke’s gospel and this is the only story in the Bible in which we get a glimpse of the adolescent Christ. What is probably more immediately striking to me than Jesus’ words, however, is Mary’s question. Stricken with worry after the disappearance of her son, upon discovering him in the temple she asks, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety." There is no doubt that not knowing Jesus’ whereabouts caused stress. Perhaps we can relate to Mary and Joseph, to the panic of even temporarily losing track of a child with whose care we’ve been entrusted. I have to wonder, however, if Mary and Joseph also felt abandoned.

What are the things in our own lives that cause us anxiety? How do these things act as barriers in our relationship with God? Have we ever wondered deep in our hearts if we have been abandoned? Have we questioned God, asking “why have you done this to us?”

In the search for antonyms of “anxiety” you will find words like “calmness,” and “peace,” but perhaps another antonym of anxiety is trust.  Today, on this Feast of St. Joseph, we remember a man’s powerful example of trust in the face or fear and anxiety. Joseph’s is not a trust born of ignorance, but a radical trust chosen in love, the trust in God to which we are called.

What do you remember about 1974?  Probably not much!  Maybe you weren’t even born yet. Today’s gospel introduces us to a man who spent 38 years lying beside the pool of Bethesda whose waters, he believed, an angel occasionally stirred into a healing bath.  But he had no one to help him to get into the freshly stirred pool and he’d been too weak to move himself in before others have used up the blessing.  Thirty-eight years is a long time to wait for healing.  My mind immediately thinks of those thousands of the poor here in South Africa who wait in the “queue” for hours and even days on end to receive medical attention at a government clinic or hospital for service that is woefully inadequate.  Getting them there is itself a problem for lack of transportation. Most of us know what it’s like to wait for healing.  Old emotional wounds, long-held prejudices, obsessions with our own needs to the exclusion of the cries of the poor are examples of how long healing can take. Lent is that time when we ask ourselves what crippling weakness has long afflicted us.  Lent is that time when through God’s Holy Spirit the waters of our own baptismal consecration have been stirred up.  Someone carried us to that baptismal font early in our life but we can’t reenter that cleansing bath of so long ago.  But now our Lord stands before us this Lent, eager to heal us, eager to free us from all that holds us bound.  He asks us, as he asked that crippled man 2000 years ago, “Do you want to be well?”  What’ your answer?

Today’s scripture readings shine light on God’s presence within our lives. There may be times when one feels lost or abandoned, but the readings remind us that God is always with us. It is in those times of darkness that God shines through, helping us to know, to love, and to serve him. God is alive and well within our lives. He is there for all seeking his support and guidance. The Gospel spoke that Jesus cannot do anything without the father. The readings reminded me of the famous Footprints in the Sand story by Mary Stevenson, which depicts God carrying us when one feels that no one else is there. As Augustinian Volunteers, it is important to be mindful of God’s presence not only in the community we live in but also through the people we serve in our communities. So even during our toughest days, we must remember Christ loves each of us and is always carrying us and giving us the love and support we need to get back up and continue his will.

Society tells us to be our own person. It is all about putting our own spin on things. However, today’s reading from John addresses the potential consequences of this type of individualism, which is often masked as self-confidence in our culture. John says, “But you do not want to depend on God.” I read this line and think that it can be challenging at times to hold steadfast to our faith when self-sufficiency and ambition run rampant today. We are told to be “the captains of our fate;” because at the end of the day if we fail, it is either because we didn’t want it badly enough or we just didn’t work hard enough. The truth is, as we Catholics believe, everything happens according to His will. God, our Lord and Creator, allows or doesn’t allow certain things to happen for a reason.

We must pray for the grace and strength to trust that, for we know it to be true deep in our hearts. We just need a friendly reminder sometimes. I pray this Lenten season that while you embrace your unique gifts, as you should, because they are from Him, you do not forget the bigger picture: we are standing here today because of His sacrificial love. Contrary to public opinion, dependence is not a weakness. We are mortal beings and were born with original sin. We were not meant to make this journey alone. We have a Divine ally and this should bring us solace and peace, not guilt or fear for reaching outside of ourselves because if we earnestly listen to our own hearts, the Father who placed those very hearts within us will speak to us. If we seek Him wholeheartedly, He will bring us our hearts’ desires. May you begin each day this Lenten season praising His good name and ending each one reflecting on how your relationship with Him, not your dependence, brought you abundant joy.

“On Eagles’ Wings” is kind of a classic.  It’s the kind of song that when you hear it at church, pretty much everyone gives a little smile.  “I know this one,” they all think, individually and yet collectively.  “I love this one.”

In the hymnal, it’s designated as a song of “Comfort” or “Trust,” big blanket themes that the congregation can wrap up in, taking what they need from the words they sing.  That’s also why it’s such a popular song at funerals; it soothes our souls with gentle words as we sing a familiar tune.

Today’s Psalm is also a straight-up comfort song.  David must have been having quite a day as he plucked this one out on his lyre.  “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted....  He confronts evildoers to destroy them....  He hears the just cry out and rescues them....  Those who are crushed in spirit He saves....  He watches over all his bones; not one of them shall be broken.”  These words show us that this great king knew heartache.  He knew trouble and strife and fear.  He knew frustration and sadness.  

And he isn’t the only one, is he?  Some days we greet with joy, and others, with a preference to roll over and go back to sleep.  We watch our loved ones pass on, we watch those who are usually a source of strength collapse from weakness.  In a few weeks, we’ll see Jesus go through the same – we read dark harbingers of what’s to come in today’s Gospel.

But what persists?  What is constant?  What is True?  What is the refrain that we return to, time after time?  God is there.  Even when no one else is.  You can curl up “in the palm of His hand.”  “I know this one,” He thinks about you.  “I love this one.”

In the Gospel today people are in an uproar, but for different reasons. The crowd who first hears Jesus likes his message; they acclaim him a prophet, the Christ (the Anointed One). Even the guards like what they have heard from Jesus and they go to the chief priests and Pharisees and tell them, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.” Others in the crowd, including the chief priests and Pharisees, are concerned that Jesus could not be anyone of importance because he came from Galilee and no prophet comes from Galilee.  They ignore the person and the message of Jesus because they are more concerned about his supposed place of origin.

The message of God can come from anywhere, through anyone. Throughout history the Word of God has been, and continues to be, proclaimed by all types of people from all walks of life in every part of the world. By our faith each of us, wherever we find ourselves, are called to proclaim the message of God. Whether you are a student, an Augustinian Volunteer, married or single, young or old we must proclaim the message of Jesus by the lives we live in service to others. Does God speak to others through you by your life? 

We are challenged in this Lenten season to enter into our own personal desert to come to better know ourselves and the God within us. As we journey through this Lent, have we taken the time to do this so that we might proclaim the message of God more fully by the life we live? Like Jesus, do we cause a bit of an uproar in our proclamation of the message of God to our world today? 

It’s interesting how the word “service” is often perceived. Many people envision one party lending a hand to another party in complete selflessness and sacrifice. And indeed, the readings do touch on the subject of obedience and sacrifice. In speaking of Jesus, the second reading from Hebrews proclaims, “Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” 

This Augustinian Volunteer year has highlighted the fact that service is indeed a two way street, though. Yes, one could say that volunteers sacrifice ten months of their lives in order to serve others, but in fact, those ten months encompass as much receiving as giving. Each night at dinner my community reflects on the day. More often than not, our stories demonstrate not what we’ve done for others, but how they’ve made impressions on us. The first reading from Jeremiah highlights the beauty of the new covenant in which we’re all united not only with God, but also with one another. The most prominent line reads, “I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” It would be condescending to think we’re actually sacrificing ten months on a one-way street of service and that some people are better than others in God’s eyes. We’re all united as brothers and sisters in Christ, regardless of social-economic status, age, or anything else. 

God respects us, loves us, and forgives us through his covenant. It’s our duty to respect others, love others, and forgive others in order to uphold our end of the deal. Service entails not just being active in providing for the needs of others, but also humbling ourselves to learn from those we’re called to serve. John’s Gospel states, “The Father will honor whoever serves me.” We are that much closer to that honor once we realize that we’re all together in this journey of service—a beautiful journey of give and take. 

At first, it seems strange to have readings for the Annunciation in Lent, with just one week until Holy Week.  We’re focused on the death and resurrection of Jesus, not his coming to Earth. It is nine months before Christmas, but it still feels strange.  The second reading reminds us, however, that Jesus came to Earth to do the Father’s will and consecrate us through his death and resurrection. The entire earthly life of Jesus, from the Annunciation until Good Friday, was about offering himself to God, and at the same time of God offering himself to us.  Jesus’ whole life, from the Annunciation until the Resurrection, is both an offering of God to us, and Jesus offering himself to the Father. 

And then in the Gospel, Mary gives us another example of self-offering, as she says “Yes” to God’s call to be the mother of his son.  The central call of the Christian life to follow this example, and give of ourselves completely to God, and through God to each other.

As we move near Holy Week, we have to ask ourselves, what is God calling me to offer up? What is keeping me from giving myself completely to him?

Well, we all know that a year as an AV is a time to try and search out what you believe.  We all believe in service, for that is why we all signed up for the program.  And for some this is because of faith, for others, it is about helping other people and doing good.  The passage says: “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM”.  Now what does it mean to realize that “I AM”, that “God is”?  This year is a great time to really dig into what you think and believe about God.  I am not saying you have to have it all figured out, but just to engage your thoughts and your heart in what your faith is.  

This is a quote from C.S. Lewis that I have found to be pivotal in the way I live in my faith:

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance.  The only thing that it cannot be is moderately important.”

Whatever you believe, don’t half-ass it.  If you believe something, live it out with all of who you are.  Live out your values with energy and loyalty and courage.  If you believe when God says I AM, that means you are all in. Not just half in, but ALL IN.  Yes, it is true that you are living a year of service, but what about how you treat your family, your community, the people you don’t like? Whatever it is that you are slacking on, that is not what we are called to.  Don’t just think about the kind of person you want to be, BE that person!  Have the courage to BE who you want to be.  LIVE how you want to live. Really BELIEVE what you believe.

In this gospel, Jesus says, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here, I did not come on my own, but he sent me.” (Jn 8:40-42)

This simple message is a notion we can apply to every part of our lives; we can apply this to every relationship and every interaction we experience.  This reminder is important in our homes and with our families.  It is important in our work and with our acquaintances.  

As Augustinian Volunteers, this is especially important as we are put into situations and into relationships we wouldn’t necessarily be in otherwise.  As volunteers, we are sent by God to do this work during our volunteer year.  So are our community members.  Therefore, we are called as a community to love each other as fellow children of God.  We didn’t come here on our own; we were sent.

In the work that we are called to during our year, we meet strangers who we never would otherwise be blessed to know.  This can sometimes be easy to recognize as a blessing, but it can also be incredibly frustrating and difficult, especially in Chulucanas Peru.  

Peru might as well be a different planet than the United States.  There is a completely different mentality about life, about religion, and about the way that we interact with each other.  Mostly, this is a really beautiful difference and it is very easy to call this place home and these people family for the next year.  There are some things, however, that are very much a struggle to embrace.  These are the people and situations that come to mind when I read this gospel.  Even though there are customs and norms here that I struggle with and that I disagree with, the people of Chulucanas are children of God, the same as my community, the same as my friends and family in the United States, and the same as I am.  As children of God, I am called to love them as such; I am sent to love these children of God.

I am tired. I consistently awake in the dark dawning of a new day and think to myself, how can I carry on? Being a faithful person sometimes requires your commitment to God even when you do not fully grasp where He is leading you. I remember as a volunteer I would often find myself grasping for meaning while bearing witness to real human suffering. It is so difficult to remain steady and committed to your ideals in this situation. God calls us in this reading to tirelessly seek His presence and to have faith in his covenant to Abraham. “I shall give the country where you are now immigrants.” How are we to continue in this life when our batteries are empty and the fervency of the initial volunteer commitment has waned?  

This is something I continually battle against everyday. I read the story of Abraham and how he heard from God that his many descendents would be blessed with a homeland and that they would love God. I think to myself, how did Abraham feel about this declaration? Was he fearful for his family’s future and how they would provide? Was he joyful in hearing that his legacy would be carried on for future generations? Did he feel unworthy the God could create this entire nation from his life? I can tell you I identify with that Abraham.  The Abraham that loves God, does not know how God will bring him into this great future, but trusts God anyway. Jesus says in the reading, “If I were to seek my own glory my glory would be worth nothing.” This reminds me that trusting God is not necessarily about always knowing, instead it is about humbling yourself.  It is about accepting not knowing and letting go of your control in order to ask for God’s peace and grace. Trusting God is continuing to be an instrument of His peace even when our batteries are low because He tells us He will make us a home. “In all truth I tell you, before Abraham ever was, I am.” I know it is not my role to be the one who knows all. That God existed before I ever came into this world and in this fact knows far more than I could ever comprehend. He just asks me to trust His plan, He remembers His covenant with Abraham, and He will provide the energy we need to carry on.

The passages for this Lenten day of March 30^th deal with a central theme of our continual dependence on God for protection, refuge, and prayer. Though we may deny His existence and His awesome power, we are constantly reminded of His great love for us in our every day lives, especially in the lives of the poor and marginalized. As an Augustinian Volunteer working in South Africa, I am continually reminded of God’s great love for us and realize just how pivotal his protection is in my life and in the lives of others. In my work at Hillcrest AIDS Centre, I can’t help but see God’s immense love and protection in the faces of those dying of a truly horrible and degrading disease. Yet throughout these, the worst trials of their lives, the patients of Hillcrest wrap me in love and prayer. God’s love and protection far exceeds my own comprehension and that has been evident in the lives of those at the Centre. No matter how painful and how dire each individual’s condition is, every patient finds some way to look past their illness and focus on the present. They are so aware of God’s love for them and they pay that love forward in their daily actions. Their overwhelming gratitude for every little thing the volunteers and caretakers give them, be it a glass of water or a smile that acknowledges their uniqueness as a child of God, is truly inspiring. It has been through their presence that I have truly seen God, through their smiling faces that I realize how much I am loved, and through their touch that I know am protected. In the patients of Hillcrest AIDS Centre I take refuge, I am protected, and I am loved.   

Throughout history “scapegoating” has been a widely used practice for many religious traditions.  Jesus becomes the scapegoat for the anger and envy of the Scribes and the Pharisees so that in conscience they can rest easily with their decision to kill him.  On Palm Sunday, Jesus will be acclaimed as king with shots of Hosanna only to have those same acclamations of glory turn into shouts of hatred later in the same week.  

Collateral Damage is defined as that which takes place due to circumstances beyond our control—sort of an accidental mishap surrounding some event or inadvertent causalities.  In our readings today, Jesus is being set up as collateral damage as we approach Palm Sunday and Holy Week.  Ready for his triumphal entry into the great city of Jerusalem, Jesus is seen by many to be the target of what will become simple Collateral Damage.   Caiaphas tells us that, “You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.”  Caiaphas creates the condition for the possibility that regardless of all the good works Jesus has performed, all the healings and miracles that have taken place, all the teaching that has brought people closer to their God, it remains best for him to die and everyone return to what was life before Christ.  Caiaphas contradicts in one sentence the entire reading from the prophet Ezekiel who tells the people of God about love and compassion as he reunites his chosen people. 

Both the Prophet Ezekiel and St. John find a way to prepare us for what lies ahead during holy week; both the good and the bad.  The events we are about to commemorate may not be in exact chronological order but are certainly ordered for our spiritual enrichment. They walk us through the death and resurrection of Christ so that we can journey in faith with him and one another.  What has been the collateral damage in your life due to human weakness?  Who has become the scapegoat for our sins?  For a quick answer just look up at any crucifix. 

It is no coincidence, in my opinion, that the earliest understanding of Christianity is centered around the importance of community and service.  I also find it very fitting that this understanding is highlighted in today’s readings as we prepare our hearts and minds for the holiest of weeks.

The first Christian community that Paul founded was in Philippi, so I imagine he has a special connection with this group of people.  In this letter that Paul writes to the Philippians, he chooses to focus on the understanding of Christ the Servant (Phil 2:6-11).  According to some theologians, this is perhaps one of the oldest sources we have for how early Christians understood Jesus: becoming human, emptying himself, becoming a slave, becoming one of us, and ultimately giving up his human life for us.  The ultimate life of service.  Christ the Servant should be our model for how we live our life here on earth, according to Paul.  He believes that we are given the chance to spread the Gospel in all we say and do, with our eyes always on the prize of ultimate happiness in life after death.  

Is this not the core of Christianity?  And isn’t this also what we are called to do when committing our own life to service?  Just as the early Christians focused on community and service, so do the Augustinian Volunteers.  I do not think it is a coincidence that being a full-time volunteer begs us to empty ourselves in various ways – with our community, the people we serve, our coworkers or those in our neighborhoods.  Let us look to Paul’s words of wisdom to guide us not only as we embark on this journey of Holy Week, but also as we continue on our journey to be servants of Christ by modeling his undying love for humanity with hearts directed toward ultimate happiness.

To me, Holy Week is a little like the spiritual equivalent of watching the end of a Rocky movie…but in a serious way. Rocky always gets smashed around through the middle of the climatic bout, until he is pushed to the limit and turns it around in dramatic fashion. You know he’s going to win (or get really close to it in Rocky I) but you are still at the edge of your seat.

For me Holy Week always holds a tension between trying to enter into this meditation on Christ’s own suffering. I think of how He was betrayed by friends, humiliated, and of how badly fear and doubt assailed him in the Garden the night before His Passion. But there is also the inspiring strength that comes to Him when He says, with new-found resolve: “…still, not my will but yours be done.”

Today’s readings cause me to think about this tension between the suffering that we reflect upon this week and the victory that we know we have received in the Resurrection. I look at crushing sadness and pain in parts of the world torn by war and injustice, or the obstacles that we encounter in the communities we serve or have served as AVs, or in the people I meet in my daily life, and I wait for One who “shall bring forth justice to the nations.” Today’s reading from Isaiah is a reminder to me that the One who was sent by God and strengthened by Angels walks always with us and when each day arrives with its challenges, Christ stands ready to fight with the power of unimaginable love. If fear and doubt overwhelm me, I am called again to trust that they can’t overwhelm Him, as the Cross could not keep Him in the grave.

In today’s First Reading, we are reminded that we are called to be more than God’s servants.  By acting on our duty to serve God, we also become “a light to the nations” as we spread His salvation to others.

Through service to others, we are acting as God’s servants because He exists within each and every one of us.  The personal relationships we share with one another are a reflection of His presence within us.  By committing ourselves to be Augustinian Volunteers, we have accepted the challenge to act as God’s servants and to spread His salvation to others.  Every moment of everyday, we are challenged to serve and spread God’s salvation through our presence and our actions at our service sites, in our AV community, and in the greater communities we call home.  It is also important to remember that this commitment to be God’s servants extends beyond our service year.

Here in Chulucanas, we are offered the unique opportunity to live with a Peruvian family for one month.  Through this experience, we are able to build a strong and loving relationship with the people of Chulucanas on a very personal level.  We learn to share our lives with each other and to serve one another through the various aspects of everyday life.  By respecting and serving one another, a unique friendship is formed that is based in God’s loving salvation. 

This experience, along with the many other experiences we have during our service year, reminds us that we are called to be servants of God in all aspects of our lives and through all of the relationships we share with one another.  By remembering to act as servants to one another and thus servants of God, we are spreading God’s salvation so that it may “reach the ends of the earth.”

In today’s readings, I find so much true meaning and can see such strong relation to the words we read and the life we lead as AV’s, both past and present. Particularly the first lines in the first reading are very moving for me, “The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, That I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them.” Being an Augustinian Volunteer is a calling for many. AV’s are sent to various cities each year to help where help is needed.  In a way the people at our worksites, in our neighborhoods, and even in our own individual communities are the “weary” who we must speak to on behalf of God.  But, we must know the right words to speak. We must know what to say to the child we are teaching who has been hurt, to the co-worker who hasn’t smiled in a week, to the community member who misses home so dearly, to the man on the street begging for money—as AV’s we must take our job seriously and never forget how important we are. God has blessed us each with a well-trained tongue to speak the right words to those around us and spread his love far and wide.

Today is Holy Thursday.  Lent officially ends tonight when we begin our celebration of the Easter Triduum.  The Easter Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, reaches its high point in the Easter Vigil , and closes with evening prayer on Easter Sunday.  The Order of Prayer states that the Easter Triduum is,  “the culmination of the entire liturgical year.”

On Holy Thursday, we celebrate the institution of the sacraments of Holy Orders and Eucharist.  In the morning, Bishops gather in their cathedrals with the diocese’s priests and deacons to celebrate the Chrism Mass.  In the evening, the People of God, that is, the Body of Christ, gather in their parish churches to celebrate the great gift of the Eucharist.

The Gospel reading that the Church proclaims tonight is powerful.  Sometimes, Jesus’ point can be difficult to discern.  That is not the case in tonight’s Gospel.  His message is crystal clear.  We gather to celebrate the Last Supper.  We gather to rejoice in the great gift of the Body and Blood of Christ.  And yet, tonight’s Gospel is not about Jesus blessing the bread and wine.  Rather, in tonight’s Gospel, Jesus gets up from the table, and like a servant, washes the feet of his disciples.

Imagine being there.  Imagine his disciples’ shock.  Peter is outraged by Jesus’ behavior.  And yet, even as a child I understood tonight’s Gospel. And I bet you did too.  Once again, this night, we are invited to not merely understand Jesus’ lesson. We are invited to pray that the Eucharist gift us with the grace and the courage to put it into practice.  

Fulfilling a commitment isn’t always easy. These scriptures of the Passion of Christ surely show us that! We discover an inspiring Jesus who was well aware of the difficulties he would endure. The betrayal, persecution, and surrounding factors of his crucifixion were all prophesized to him. In spite of these prophecies Jesus surrendered himself to be judged, persecuted, and crucified. He was committed to dying for our sins and salvation. He was not committed to just himself, or us, but to our Lord and his plan. That’s powerful! 

Commitments come up a lot during your volunteer year. During orientation and site visits you’re often reminded of those commitments. You review your dedication and recommitment statements. You go over the various commitments you make to your job sites, community, faith experience, friends, family, the AV program, and yourself. During these reflections it’s much easier to think about how you’re doing with those commitments and overall how the year is going. Unlike in this scripture no one enters their year with a divine prophecy of how their year will go or turn out. During your year you may have been faced with experiences, decisions and various things that affect how you view those commitments. Sometimes it’s easier to fulfill those commitments and other times it’s all just overwhelming. We are reminded in the Hebrews 4:14-16 5: 7-9: 

That Jesus as well needed to turn to God in his time of weakness and need. Jesus, who endured the cross, had needs of reassurance and support. He found his support in our Lord and Father. God offers us not just his support, but his mercy and grace. 

As an Augustinian Volunteer you are blessed with many forms of support. Support in the gift of relationships amongst your communities, the AV directors and support staff, alumni, and the entire Augustinian family.  Let this reflection remind us of the love and sacrifice Jesus gave for our salvation. Allow this reflection to also remind us of the unwavering love, commitment, and support God wants to share in relationship with us.