Miracles

Good morning my sisters and brothers. 

Let me begin this reflection with the uplifting words from 

Romans 12 : 9

The night has passed and the day lies open before us; let us pray with one heart and mind. As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light of your presence, O God, set our hearts on fire with love for you. 

Nina and I begin each day by reciting this comforting scripture passage. It clears our minds and helps us to prepare for the day that lies ahead. 

I am back from my time off, refreshed and looking forward to what lies ahead. Although my reflections were far and few between, be assured that all of you were in my thoughts and prayers.

We have a tradition at Dunblane. Every Tuesday evening is movie night. The fun part is choosing a movie from Netflix or Amazon Prime. It was my turn to choose. This always makes Nina nervous because I like any movie that stars the one and only John Candy. I have probably seen Planes , Trains, and Automobiles ten times. 

Last night I let the Holy Spirit choose. 

The Miracle Club starring Maggie Smith, Kathy Bates, and Laura Linney. 

It is a corny and predictable movie , but in today's unpredictable world, corny and predictable is like a soothing balm. 

The movie's plot hinges on a group of women who find themselves on a religious pilgrimage from a small town in Ireland to the sacred French town of Lourdes in the early 1960's . 

The cast of characters is fractured, and they are heading to Lourdes for healing. They are devout Catholics who are looking for miracles. They are led by their parish priest on this unlikely journey. The details of their trials and tribulations are too many and too complicated to try to describe. There is family tension, lies, deception at every corner, and a desperate and visceral need for reconciliation. 

They go to the sacred baths at Lourdes to plunge into the "miraculous" healing waters. 

Nothing happens. 

And one of the characters accuses the priest of being a conman, of allowing them to travel such a long way only to be disappointed. 

As they are boarding the bus to head back to their hotel, the priest stops the woman who had accused him of being a conman , and Father Dermot tells her " You don't come to Lourdes for a miracle .

 You come for the strength to go on when there is no miracle."

Everything changes after this. 

Slowly but surely there is reconciliation, forgiveness, and by the time they are back in Ireland, the group is completely transformed . And as the movie ends, the small boy who had been taken to Lourdes in hope of getting him to finally speak (selective mutism) , utters the word HOME under his breath. 

All of these characters faced incredible faith challenges. 

They were looking for miracles. 

They did not find them in the waters of Lourdes, but they did find the strength to go on despite this. And that was the miracle. 

There are miracles everywhere, sisters and brothers. 

In the unbridled laughter of children. 

In the quiet watches of the night in hospitals where kindness heals. 

In dew drops clinging to spider webs on foggy mornings. 

Let us pray 

Gracious and loving God, creator of heaven and earth. We, your humble servants, give you praise and thanks for the beauty of this day and for the splendour of your creation. Open the eyes of our hearts so that we may see the small miracles that lie scattered at our feet. Fill us with the healing presence of the Holy Spirit and give us the strength to take that next step when we feel unable to do so. Each new day is a miracle for which we are thankful. 

Amen 

Diosito me los colme de bendiciones y alegría siempre 

Paz 

I love you 

John

What have you experienced lately that was truly miraculous?