Advent, something that God does

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We are approaching the season of Advent. Nights are longer, days are colder, and the lights in our homes shine brighter. If we have an Advent wreath, lighting candle after candle each week in our houses and churches, we are guided by their light. Hope, love, joy and peace are traditional meanings for each of the Advent candles. These can also be the gifts of healing that we pray for week after week. Hope to sooth our disappointments, love to heal our wounds, joy to lighten our days, and peace to sooth the ache of discord among and within us.

There is a lot that we do in terms of preparing for Christmas, both externally as well as spiritually. Yet Advent is something that God does. It is God’s initiative, His coming into the world. With Mary being pregnant, in Advent Jesus is already here, though not yet fully. Like Jonah was in the belly of the wale we are with Mary waiting for the fruits of our Advent.

Lord, what will You do this Advent?

We can carve out some time for prayer in our daily schedule and ponder on this question.
Ask yourself, what do you want the Lord to do for you? Where do you need Him the most?

As a response to God’s gracious action in our lives, we can also ask,
Is there someone who needs the light of hope, the light of love, the light of joy, the light of peace? Is God inviting us to visit someone with this light in Advent?

Be attentive. Pay attention to the movements in and around you where you may notice His workings.

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1)

Iva Beranek
Dr Iva Beranek is the Ministry Facilitator for the CMH: Ireland

A time to remember

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The change from autumn to winter is a time when the natural cycle of nature in this part of the world invites us to reflect on the reality of change and the inevitable process of ageing and death. It is no coincidence that at this time of the year we often reflect both personally and liturgically on the memories and lives of those who have died. November in particular is a poignant month of remembrance on so many levels. What is it though to remember? For those who are bereaved, it can be an unsettling mixture of deep love and sadness at the same time; a deep love for the person we remember and of course a very human sadness because we miss them. In the Christian tradition we live daily with the mystery of death and life where as followers of Jesus Christ we proclaim his victory over death and rejoice in eternal life. While society and popular media often struggle to describe the reality of death through euphemisms such as ‘passed away’ our funeral liturgy gives a clear reminder that someone has died. Why do we find it hard to talk about death?

As people of faith, we have an opportunity this November to talk meaningfully and pastorally about death and remembrance. We can do so knowing that yes it can bring a tear to our eye as we miss someone close to us, but that is OK. In fact it is important. To be remembered is to be cherished. We have an opportunity to offer healing as we accompany those who are bereaved, no one else can do their grieving but we can accompany them with a tender presence as we speak of their loved one.

As we celebrate All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day in early November may we be inspired by those who have nurtured us, inspired us and loved us. May we mention their names and in the timelessness of eternity feel their communion and fellowship. In the words of William Draper

In our day of thanksgiving one psalm let us offer
For the saints who before us have found their reward;
When the shadow of death fell upon them, we sorrowed,
But now we rejoice that they rest in the Lord.

In the morning of life, and at noon, and at even,
He called them away from our worship below;
But not till His love, at the font and the altar,
Had girt them with grace for the way they should go.

These stones that have echoed their praises are holy,
And dear is the ground where their feet have once trod;
Yet here they confessed they were strangers and pilgrims,
And still they were seeking the city of God.

Sing praise, then, for all who here sought and here found Him,
Whose journey is ended, whose perils are past;
They believed in the Light; and its glory is round them,
Where the clouds of earth’s sorrows are lifted at last.

Daniel Nuzum.
Rev Dr Daniel Nuzum is a Chair for CMH:I

Looking beyond ourselves in compassion

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There is a natural human inclination at various times in our life to move into times of introspection and periods of self-reflection. Socrates after all said, “an unexamined life is not worth living”, and while this is relevant for everyone it is particularly important for the follower of Christ and especially so for those involved in the healing ministry.

For those consumed with the mission to be made well again, it is very easy to become trapped by the inner pain and suffering that we are experiencing in the immediate present. This often comes at the cost of forgetting others close to us, who may also be in search of healing. There is a challenging call to each of us, to constantly broaden our horizon even in the midst of our own suffering. The wider world is full of conflict, and we shouldn’t let our own pain, or our own search for inner meaning cause us to forget to look outside our immediate circle with compassion and love. Sometimes it is not even enough to remind ourselves to remember “the least of these”, instead as a spiritual practice we should be willing to look beyond the circle that so often confines our horizons and what we believe is possible.

Over a lifetime each person will experience loss, rejection and betrayal to some degree. We lose a loved one, our physical or mental capacities seem to decrease, or a previously good friend may betray a deep confidence. The actual process of living life challenges us deeply, and can make it difficult to keep our heart open and alive to Christ. Our daily living tests us to keep our hearts open and trusting.

The greatest gift we can pray for is compassion. At the centre of our being lies the light of love. Our journey to that love involves accepting our humanity and forgiving ourselves for all that we are and have done. Only then a glimpse of wholeness, a glimpse of who are meant to be is in reach.

Bruce Hayes.
Rev Bruce Hayes is CMH:I Board member

Integrating the summer into daily life

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The summer may be nearly over but I decided not to be only a visitor this summer and to enter the season as if the quality of my life depended on it. Our everyday life has challenges, so at times we may feel that we need a deeper restoration. Earlier in the year that’s exactly what I felt, but I was not sure if a dream of a longer summer holiday would be possible.

I don’t know how good you are in looking after your own needs, but I needed a push and an encouragement in order to explore the options. Thankfully it all worked out and I am just back from the extended leave over the summer.

I went to Malta for some of it and enjoyed the beauty and the sunshine, but I let it penetrate my soul too. I am always grateful for holidays in sunshine and near the beach, but summer can be so much more. It can also be an opportunity for deep inner renewal where we let God bring the summer into our heart and soul.

There are benefits of merely enjoying the summer externally, like a visitor to its chambers. But it is much more beneficial to internalise some of its qualities, to store it within in the recesses of our being.

We can take in the peace that inner rest brings and integrate it in the centre of our soul, as a gift from God. It is like finding our centre-point and grounding ourself in such a way that we can weather life’s challenges when they come. Whatever was restoring over the last few months, whatever life-giving, healing, or even fun, is what we can internalise and let it nourish us in the seasons to come. It is good to be attentive to where God was present in our days – in smaller or bigger things, because those encounters with Jesus in daily life is what heal us. When we allow the blessings of summer to touch our soul, the summer has fulfilled its purpose much more fully than when we allow it to only touch us on the outside. It is as if deciding not only to be a visitor in the season of summer, but to be a host and welcome the summer inside our flesh and bones.

September leads us towards a time of harvest. While we are grateful for the fruits that the land gives us, we can also gather the fruits that the Lord gave us over the summer and over this last year. We can ponder on those fruits in thanksgiving and take them as a strength for the season of life that is ahead of us.

May God bless you with the eternal summer of His love.

Iva Beranek
Dr Iva Beranek is the Ministry Facilitator for the CMH: Ireland

Wellspring, a taste of God’s goodness

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Wellspring is our one day retreat and recently we offered another one in St Patrick’s Church, Dalkey. It was a rainy Saturday and as I was looking at the pouring rain through the window I was thinking of the talk I gave that morning about Elijah and the value of silence.

When Elijah was at Mount Horeb he realised God was not in the fire, nor in the earthquake, God was not in the wind, in a way I could have also said that God was not in the pouring rain. God was in the sound of sheer silence. And yet that morning observing the rain, I felt the sense of calm, of stilling the inner senses. That day rain actually helped create the silence in which we encounter God’s presence.

During Wellspring we try to create a space for people to meet with God on a very personal level. Out of this relationship with Jesus, healing comes. We each come with different questions and life stories and we share in the silence together. Some of us come affected with the current happenings in the world, seeking God in the midst of it. Two of us who are facilitators, Carol and myself, we don’t provide answers. We offer input that facilitates a deep exchange with God, and in that encounter people bring their questions, hopes, need for healing. What happens in Wellspring is often deeper than what we can perceive with our eyes, because it happens in the depths of people’s hearts. Sometimes we get a glimpse of it through the feedback that people give us, but I know that certain experiences where God graces us with His presence and healing are not always easy to put into words.

Every time we offer Wellspring, we have new people coming, and yet some people come back time and again. “Come to the well, the well is deep”, we say. That well is the well of God’s healing presence and whenever we come to it, it is always new. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why some people come back. The prayer practices that we teach and the theological input we offer are easily applicable to everyday life. Each of us can take something from the day and apply it to nurture our prayer life, and to seek deeper healing from God. And yet there is something life-giving when we spend a day in silence with other people. God touches us in a specific way, and it is as if tasting some of His goodness. “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). In this world marred with evil, tasting God’s goodness enflames hope and it brings healing to our heart and soul.  

Iva Beranek
Dr Iva Beranek is the Ministry Facilitator for the CMH: Ireland

Talk to someone, if you need to

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The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come”. And let him who hears say, “Come”. And let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the water of life without price.
(Rev 22:17)

Sometimes we Christians think that we have to hold it all together, that we have to be happy and satisfied because if we are not there might be something wrong with our faith, or with us. This anxiety or guilt arises in many life’s circumstances. Perhaps we don’t hold that belief openly or even very consciously, but it affects how we deal with difficult situations in life. Perhaps it is an expectation of fulfilment we have picked up somewhere along the way, and so when feelings of emptiness or unfulfillment come, which are part of life, we don’t know what to do about that.

Especially those of us in ministry may find it hard to reach out for help, should we need it. Life is often not easy, but it is easier if we can talk to someone about it. There is a power of healing in simply being heard, being listened to, because through it we are acknowledged. We experience that we ‘matter’. Self-care is important for everyone, but especially for those who often have to give of themselves through work or ministry.

The thing is, we do not have to hold it all together. Not all the time. There is no shame in asking for a listening ear, no shame in seeking support. I recently spoke with someone who found this challenging, who found it easier to hide the pain, even though it became overwhelming. Unfortunately, many of us to some degree may choose the same route, it seems safer not to say how we really are, even though we know this won’t help us.

Jesus understands all and every emotion we may be experiencing, from happier ones to the more difficult ones.  And He says, “come to me all who are thirsty, all who need rest”. If we use our vulnerability to connect with others, instead of to isolate ourselves, we will greatly benefit. It may seem scary at first, but less scary than feeling alone. Also, we will realise that others are willing to embrace and love us as we are. And then, if we had a burden, when shared, it may eventually lessen, even if slowly, over time. There is a power of healing in being listened to, in being loved as we are. If we need to talk about whatever might be going on in our lives, it is good to do so. Should this apply to you, be kind to yourself and seek someone you trust. In this way we feel less alone. God meets us in each other. And God meets us where we are.

Iva Beranek
Dr Iva Beranek is the Ministry Facilitator for the CMH: Ireland

Finding the peace within

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Life is often not easy, and I am sure we all struggle with different things from time to time. Life is also beautiful, with moments of connection, growth, learning. Human spirit has a great capacity for exploration and many things about life enrich us, as well as people around us. But in the areas where we struggle, areas of dis-ease, where we are not at easy, in those areas we need healing. 

In the book “Jesus Calling”, Sarah Young writes what Jesus tells her:

“Learn to live from your true Centre in Me. I reside in the deepest depths of your being, in eternal union with your spirit. It is at this deepest level that My Peace reigns continually. You will not find lasting peace in the world around you….But there is a gold mine of Peace deep within you, waiting to be tapped. Take some time to delve into the riches of My residing Presence. I want you to live increasingly from your real Centre, where My Love has an eternal grip on you. I am Christ, the hope of Glory.” (20th February)

When we still ourselves we tap into that place within us. But it may not always be as easy to do that. Let’s say we are in the midst of something that we find disturbing, and we feel that our emotions are about to get inflamed and we might react in a way we don’t want to. What may be going on is that the back part of our brain has been triggered, where all unprocessed events of our lives have been stored. That part of brain also doesn’t have a timeline: it does not know if it’s 2017, or 2012, or 1999. If we take time to focus on our breathing, this will not only take us into the present moment, but deep breathing also takes us out of our back brain into our front brain, which is known as our logical brain. So instead of a situation or emotion taking control of us, we now have the power to take control over it – and this happened simply by taking time to focus on our breath.

This will require constant practice and awareness that God calls us to recognise His presence that is always with us. If worry or a disturbing thought is taking our attention, redirecting our thoughts to the present moment and to God will not happen in an instant. We will need to spend some time focusing on our breath, and we may need to repeat this action many times. When we are grounded in the present moment we become aware that we are not alone; God is there with us too.

What is specific about Christian mindfulness is that it leads into a relationship. What I mean is that when we are mindful of the present moment, we notice the Presence around us, God’s presence, and we give it space to surface; like a fragrance it can rise around us and we feel ourselves encircled in it. This presence is the source of our peace.

Iva Beranek
Dr Iva Beranek is the Ministry Facilitator for the CMH: Ireland

New Chair of Church’s Ministry of Healing: Ireland appointed

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The Church’s Ministry of Healing: Ireland (CMH:I) promotes the centrality of the healing ministry of Jesus Christ in the Church of Ireland. Based at Egan House, St Michan’s Church Dublin, CMH:I serves the whole Church of Ireland.  CMH:I is led by a board of directors and its day-to-day ministry is served by Dr Iva Beranek and supported by Olwyn Cross. In late 2016 the Revd Canon Dr Daniel Nuzum was appointed as Chairman of CMH:I in succession to the Right Revd Patrick Rooke. Daniel is a healthcare chaplain at Cork University Hospital and a priest of the Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross. Speaking following his appointment Daniel said “I look forward to this new phase in the ministry of CMH:I and to continuing the faithful work of Bishop Rooke. As a team we look forward to serving the whole Church as together we witness to Christ’s healing presence in the world.”

St Brigid, when winter turns into spring

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Today in Ireland we celebrate St Brigid’s day, which is also known as the first day of spring. Brigid lived in the 5th century, and from early age was known to care for those in need. The accounts of her life are full of stories where she helps the poor as well as miraculous stories of healing. While some of those may be harder to identify with, they can be a source of inspiration as they highlight her care for people’s physical needs, such as food, as well as for their spiritual wellbeing. 

In Ireland, our winter this year has not been very harsh nor long, so if you are like me it may seem too soon to think of spring. I prefer to enjoy one season before moving onto the next. But there are also winters of another kind, not the winters of snow and frost and trees that are at rest, but winters of old memories, winters that for whatever reason have left our souls deprived of what is life-giving, winters in which we have to overcome one thing after another instead of enjoy living. Those kinds of winters, whether we had a touch of them or they were prolonged, would welcome spring. 

Because of St Brigid’s care for those in need, I recall the beatitudes. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). This is you or me, everyone in fact, when we acknowledge that we need each other, or rather, that we need God. Interior winters have the ability to produce this beatitude within our hearts. This can be our source of compassion and our source of humility, where we learn to love our neighbour as ourselves, in the light of how God loves us. 

“Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.”
(Matthew 5:7-9)

St. Brigid was a woman of prayer. Her generosity was nourished through her relationship with God. We can take time to pray with the beatitudes in order to be able to live them more fully. We can take time to offer God our own winters, and winters of those known to us, so that God can heal them. Whether it is out of the concern for the lonely, the refugee, the homeless, our neighbour or even ourselves, our prayer and action are like water poured onto a thirsty plant. They are life-giving, which is a sign of spring. May a new season inhabit where your winter used to dwell, a season of spring which will bring healing to all the areas of your heart, mind and soul in order to make you whole. And may we bring this spring into the world blessing it with God’s goodness.

Happy feast of St Brigid and blessing for the season of Spring!

Iva Beranek
Dr Iva Beranek is the Ministry Facilitator for the CMH: Ireland

Advent, when Christ comes

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Every year I see Advent somewhat differently. Partly it is because seasons of the liturgical year as well as prayer itself inform our life, and our life changes from year to year. Traditionally Advent is a preparation for Christmas, so it is always good to try and create intentional space where we will encounter God in daily life, and let Him prepare us to celebrate His birthday at Christmas. This can be done by pausing few times a day: becoming aware of God’s presence, we let it sip into our life. It is also useful to spend some time in prayer each day, ten or twenty minutes, even if we need to rearrange our schedule in order to incorporate daily prayer.

The four weeks of Advent also remind us that Christ comes to us every day, in everyday events of our lives. There are areas of our lives where we may need His coming more, where in a way we need God to light our inner candle, similarly like we are lighting the Advent candles. This happens in the intimacy of prayer. When we are alone with God, we enter into the sanctuary of our hearts recognising it as the sacred ground. In that sacred space we can share what we treasure the most with God, we nurture ourselves on His presence, and if we need to, we ask healing for ourselves or others.

“God works as much in the darkness as He does in the light”, says the Rev. Ruth Patterson. Advent affirms this truth. This inner workings of God can sometimes be painful, as He brings His light deeper into our being. But we need to remind ourselves it is for our good. Like childbirth, some things in life are painful, and yet very rewarding.

Whatever joy or sorrow, thanksgiving prayer or prayer of petition is within you heart, know that God listens, He knows your deepest needs. And may this be a truly holy season, the one in which Christ will be born again within your heart.

Iva Beranek
Dr Iva Beranek is the Ministry Facilitator for the CMH: Ireland

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