Pure gift and sheer grace

Let us love this distance, which is thoroughly woven with friendship, since those who do not love each other are not separated. ~ Simone Weil, writing to a faraway friend 

There were four of us in our noviciate group: three British, and an Australian, who came over in order to spend the majority of her time as a novice with a peer group. Despite our different personalities, backgrounds and interests, the two of us not only bonded, but became the best of friends. And while it may have begun as an unlikely friendship, it has not only survived twenty-eight years of separation across continents, and infrequent opportunities to meet, but it has thrived, and deepened over the years. Not counting zoom, and a few hours during an all-too brief stopover, the two of us had managed to meet six times since she returned to Australia in 1997, the last 'proper' time being nine years ago: and while - unlike Simone Weil - I have never been able to love the distance between us (I'd much rather have my best RSCJ friend in the same country as me, or at least the same continent!) I know the miles are thoroughly woven with our friendship, and our interwoven lives in the Society.

And now we have made it seven! This time, my friend was on her way to a renewal course in Scotland, via time spent visiting places and catching up with people that had been significant in her formation and ongoing journey; and at its heart - to my delight - five days staying with me. 

So, how did I spend the Jubilee of Consecrated Life, which also happened last week? Not in Rome, but at home; not by processing through Holy Doors, but by walking softly on the holy ground of my friend's life. No Vatican liturgies, but the simplicity of Mass with our elderly sisters, and the sacrament of each grace and shared meal. I did not listen to talks and homilies on religious life, but sat with my friend, in a relaxed ease of sharing... of laughter and pain, memories and hopes; of news, cares and concerns, be they domestic or global, and times of companionable silence. And through it all, and especially towards the end, a heartfelt prayer of gratitude: for our friendship, yes; but fundamentally, for God's call to live and love for and with him, in the Society of his Heart. 

This scarf was Lynette's parting gift to me. It speaks to me of our Cor Unum and our friendship, with its common rooting and grounding and nourishment in inexhaustible Love; and of the many fruits of this friendship, and of our common mission, to make Love known, here and far, far away, wherever in the world we may be... 

Soon after waving her off, I saw a social media post which included these words from a homily by Pope Leo: God is pure gift and sheer grace. Yes indeed! - and God also bestows free gifts and grace in abundance. And then, at the start of Mass yesterday, and in keeping with the day's Gospel theme, our parish priest suggested we begin by recalling something from the week for which we were grateful. For what did we wish to spend a few minutes giving thanks? I didn't have to spend more than a nanosecond thinking about the 'what'! - my heart was already so full of beatitude, and of gratitude, for the pure gift and sheer grace of these days spent with my best friend in the Society...

And you; what are the gifts and graces, what is the gratitude, which are carrying you into this new week?