When doctors and their families make a commitment to serve for three years this calling, taken out of context seems absurd. Why would a doctor leave their practice in the United States to serve in the missions receiving a stipend of $150 a month? Why would anyone leave their friends and families to serve those in need half a world away?
The readings for the second Sunday of Advent, taken on their own, may be confusing at the least, but we are reassured by Paul, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
As we continue to make this Lenten journey, of prayer, sacrifice and striving to do good works to renew our own baptism, we read of Abraham being put to the test, and Jesus transfigured with Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets.
Taken on its own, Abraham is being asked to sacrifice his only beloved son, to us an obvious foreshadowing of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Taken in context, Abraham is willing to do so because he deeply believes in the promise God had already made, and he believes that if he carries out what is asked, God will raise Isaac from the dead to deliver on that promise.
Jesus appears transfigured with Moses and Elijah. On its own we can completely understand Peter’s reaction – "Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents...” In the context of the Resurrection we see that Jesus is the fulfillment of both the Law and the teachings of the Prophets, his transfiguration a foreshadowing of the Resurrection, with the exhortation from the Father, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
Mission Doctors and their families serve in the context of their faith. Called to live our Baptism, we too, with prayer, sacrifice and good works, believe in the Promise and know “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Friday, March 6, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The First Sunday of Lent
This First Sunday of Lent --- taking the first steps on this journey to renew our baptism, where we were washed clean in the waters, signed with the cross and received the Holy Spirit.
Jesus tells us today that; "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
The old covenant has passed away – the covenant made with Noah that prepared the world for the Son of God. The new covenant was made through Jesus’ sacrifice bringing to us the opportunity for forgiveness, wholeness, perfection, and union with God.
Our baptism begins with God's love and continues with us, living and bringing God's love and care to the world. Our mission doctors strive to do this each day and those who support are partners in this care.
As we walk this 40-day path together we can strive to remember that we must act in a way that both recognizes Gods love for us, and also calls us to act in a way that reflects God’s love to others.
How will we do this? Step, by step, with prayer, sacrifice and fasting.
What are you doing as you begin your journey? Please share your experience with me here, by posting comments on this blog, I would love to hear how you are living this Lenten journey.
Jesus tells us today that; "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
The old covenant has passed away – the covenant made with Noah that prepared the world for the Son of God. The new covenant was made through Jesus’ sacrifice bringing to us the opportunity for forgiveness, wholeness, perfection, and union with God.
Our baptism begins with God's love and continues with us, living and bringing God's love and care to the world. Our mission doctors strive to do this each day and those who support are partners in this care.
As we walk this 40-day path together we can strive to remember that we must act in a way that both recognizes Gods love for us, and also calls us to act in a way that reflects God’s love to others.
How will we do this? Step, by step, with prayer, sacrifice and fasting.
What are you doing as you begin your journey? Please share your experience with me here, by posting comments on this blog, I would love to hear how you are living this Lenten journey.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Ash Wednesday
On this 40-day Lenten journey we are called to renew our baptism that begins with God's love and continues with us, living and bringing God's love and care to the world.
Ash Wednesday, our first step on this journey gives us the Gospel reading with Jesus speaking of three important things we should be about on this path: sacrifice, prayer and fasting, all to be done without a desire for recognition.
What we do recognize is that we are in need of conversion, and the ashes that are on our foreheads today publicly acknowledges this and reminds us that we are to called to "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel."
The prophet Joel tells us that we can rely on God who is "gracious and merciful...slow to anger, rich in kindness and relenting in punishment," And the reading from Paul expresses the urgency of the message – the time is now, this very day is our “day of salvation”.
As we walk this 40-day path together lets remember that it we must act in a way that both recognizes Gods love for us, and also calls us to act in a way that reflects God’s love to others. How will we do this? Step, by step, with prayer, sacrifice and fasting.
What are you doing as you begin your journey?
Ash Wednesday, our first step on this journey gives us the Gospel reading with Jesus speaking of three important things we should be about on this path: sacrifice, prayer and fasting, all to be done without a desire for recognition.
What we do recognize is that we are in need of conversion, and the ashes that are on our foreheads today publicly acknowledges this and reminds us that we are to called to "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel."
The prophet Joel tells us that we can rely on God who is "gracious and merciful...slow to anger, rich in kindness and relenting in punishment," And the reading from Paul expresses the urgency of the message – the time is now, this very day is our “day of salvation”.
As we walk this 40-day path together lets remember that it we must act in a way that both recognizes Gods love for us, and also calls us to act in a way that reflects God’s love to others. How will we do this? Step, by step, with prayer, sacrifice and fasting.
What are you doing as you begin your journey?
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
And a good time was had by all….
What does a black tie party in Los Angeles have to do with the medical needs of patients at a mission hospital or clinic?
On Valentines Day the Mission Doctors Auxiliary hosted the celebration of 50 years of ‘Hearts and Hope” at a Benefit Gala at the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles.
So much work goes into this type of event – and I continue to be completely impressed by the generosity of the Mission Doctors Auxiliary members with both their time and treasure! Everything from addressing invitations, assigning seating, collecting donations for and making the beautiful silent auction baskets, handwriting the placecards, overseeing the beautiful decorations and then running around all evening to ensure that all went well.
If you’ve been to other such events you might think you already know what this one is like, but I think you would be surprised. First there are the doctors and their wives who came who have served in the missions, happy to share their stories with supporters and occasionally huddled in a corner with other doctors sharing stories of unusual surgeries.
Individuals who have been involved in supporting this work for many years bring friends to introduce them to the work and engender their support.
All evening I was struck by the sense that this is all part of a chain – each individual a critical link bringing health and hope to a child in Zimbabwe, a women in Cameroon, a family in Uganda.
We celebrated the work, honored both those who served and those who make the work possible, and introduced the mission to others. On top of all this we raised money to make the mission a mission possible. Quite a bit of work, but the outcome, as always truly outweighs the effort.
On Valentines Day the Mission Doctors Auxiliary hosted the celebration of 50 years of ‘Hearts and Hope” at a Benefit Gala at the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles.
So much work goes into this type of event – and I continue to be completely impressed by the generosity of the Mission Doctors Auxiliary members with both their time and treasure! Everything from addressing invitations, assigning seating, collecting donations for and making the beautiful silent auction baskets, handwriting the placecards, overseeing the beautiful decorations and then running around all evening to ensure that all went well.
If you’ve been to other such events you might think you already know what this one is like, but I think you would be surprised. First there are the doctors and their wives who came who have served in the missions, happy to share their stories with supporters and occasionally huddled in a corner with other doctors sharing stories of unusual surgeries.
Individuals who have been involved in supporting this work for many years bring friends to introduce them to the work and engender their support.
All evening I was struck by the sense that this is all part of a chain – each individual a critical link bringing health and hope to a child in Zimbabwe, a women in Cameroon, a family in Uganda.
We celebrated the work, honored both those who served and those who make the work possible, and introduced the mission to others. On top of all this we raised money to make the mission a mission possible. Quite a bit of work, but the outcome, as always truly outweighs the effort.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Generosity
One of our doctors recently shared a story of faith and abundance that sounded like it came right out of the pages of the Old Testament (the name of the sister and hospital have been omitted to protect their generosity).
A Catholic sister serving as hospital administrator was approached by a group of about 80 individuals and families members who had walked for two days with no food – they said that they had nothing and were turning to the hospital as a last resort.
Sister advised her staff to feed them for three days and send them back to their homes with a supply of food. The hospital staff while compassionate, informed the sister that doing so would wipe out their eleven day store of grain.
Sister’s reply was "Then we will eat just vegetable here at the hospital.” The people were fed and sent with enough to see them home and provide some nourishment for a time.
The next day the hospital learned that the Jesuit Fathers would be receiving a large shipment of corn, and that they would be sending one ton of corn to the hospital. She believes it is from God. So do I.
I would love to hear about a time in your life or in the lives of others, that were reflections of the generosity of God. Please post here and share your experiences of compassion.
A Catholic sister serving as hospital administrator was approached by a group of about 80 individuals and families members who had walked for two days with no food – they said that they had nothing and were turning to the hospital as a last resort.
Sister advised her staff to feed them for three days and send them back to their homes with a supply of food. The hospital staff while compassionate, informed the sister that doing so would wipe out their eleven day store of grain.
Sister’s reply was "Then we will eat just vegetable here at the hospital.” The people were fed and sent with enough to see them home and provide some nourishment for a time.
The next day the hospital learned that the Jesuit Fathers would be receiving a large shipment of corn, and that they would be sending one ton of corn to the hospital. She believes it is from God. So do I.I would love to hear about a time in your life or in the lives of others, that were reflections of the generosity of God. Please post here and share your experiences of compassion.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Hope
Hope is a word that we have been hearing a lot lately.
As a verb…to wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment / to look forward with confidence or expectation
As a noun…a wish or desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment, and for the faithful, the theological virtue defined as the desire and search for a future good, difficult but not impossible to attain with God's help.
It is both the action of confident expectation, and the actual virtue that allows us to have that confidence. It is this faith, that with God nothing is impossible, that gives me hope when things may seem unachievable.
In my office I have had two posters up for many years to remind me of that fact. One with the quote of Julian of Norwich ‘All shall be well, all manner of things shall be well.’ The other Margaret Meade “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
I have to take actions that bring about a better world tomorrow, confident that inch by inch, step by step, it can be achieved. There are patients who seek care at mission hospitals and clinics for whom hope comes in the form of a Mission Doctor. Their expectation that they or their family member will receive care is exactly that, hopeful. There are many obstacles to that hope. Distance from the hospital, ability to travel, their families ability to make the sacrifices to accompany them. Yet they come, they hope.
My prayer for 2009 is that we each grow to be more hopeful ourselves. Hopeful in a future where there is peace between all people and where all peoples basic needs are met. We can begin and then help ignite a spark of hope in others through our daily actions, difficult but not impossible to attain with God's help.
As a verb…to wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment / to look forward with confidence or expectation
As a noun…a wish or desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment, and for the faithful, the theological virtue defined as the desire and search for a future good, difficult but not impossible to attain with God's help.
It is both the action of confident expectation, and the actual virtue that allows us to have that confidence. It is this faith, that with God nothing is impossible, that gives me hope when things may seem unachievable.
In my office I have had two posters up for many years to remind me of that fact. One with the quote of Julian of Norwich ‘All shall be well, all manner of things shall be well.’ The other Margaret Meade “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”I have to take actions that bring about a better world tomorrow, confident that inch by inch, step by step, it can be achieved. There are patients who seek care at mission hospitals and clinics for whom hope comes in the form of a Mission Doctor. Their expectation that they or their family member will receive care is exactly that, hopeful. There are many obstacles to that hope. Distance from the hospital, ability to travel, their families ability to make the sacrifices to accompany them. Yet they come, they hope.
My prayer for 2009 is that we each grow to be more hopeful ourselves. Hopeful in a future where there is peace between all people and where all peoples basic needs are met. We can begin and then help ignite a spark of hope in others through our daily actions, difficult but not impossible to attain with God's help.
Monday, January 5, 2009
A New Year- Looking Back 50 Years
1959 President Eisenhower welcomed Alaska and Hawaii as the 49th & 50th States in the Union.
Castro became president of Cuba.
A chartered plane transporting musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper crashed in Iowa, killing all 4 occupants on board, including pilot Roger Peterson.
Ben Hur premiers, Walt Disney releases Sleeping Beauty, and The Twilight Zone begins on CBS.
Pope John XXIII announces that the Second Vatican Council will be convened in Rome.
And here in Los Angeles, working with the local Catholic Medical Community, Msgr. Anthony Brouwers begins the work of Mission Doctors Association to recruit, train, send and support Catholic Doctors and their families for mission hospitals and clinics.
There have been a lot of changes in 50 years. Technology has made our world smaller. We can communicate in an instant where it once took months to send aerogram letters. Travel, while we may complain about the delays - can still be accomplished with relative ease – (First lay missionaries went by ship to Africa!)
However, one thing hasn’t changed – the need at mission hospitals and clinics for qualified medical personnel who can offer direct patient care and training for the local medical staff. Dick Stoughton, on returning to Zimbabwe in 2000, after being away for 25 years noted some improvements in universal immunization increased availability of potable water and sanitation. However the overwhelming scourge of HIV/AIDS and resurgence of TB were still being addressed by a decreasing number of medical professionals, even at that time – a situation which has worsened.
This ‘smaller world’ has also opened the eyes of a lot of people about these needs, and the fact that what impacts people in one place may well impact all of us.
Many of the supporters of the work of Mission Doctors have been here since these early days. There is no way this organization would have survived without their dedication to the work. I am as inspired by their generosity as the courage of those who have made the commitment to serve. I have always seen this partnership as the vital link. These people never hear the thanks, never see the babies or grateful parents.
So, 2009 is a big year for looking back on 50 years of service by Mission Doctors, and also looking forward. We need to begin the work of answering the increasing number of requests from Missionary Bishops for our doctors. We need to prepare, send and support them in their work, so someday someone else can say, as they are looking back, not on half a century of service but a full 100 years of dedicated care, an honorable legacy for Msgr. Brouwers.
Castro became president of Cuba.
A chartered plane transporting musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper crashed in Iowa, killing all 4 occupants on board, including pilot Roger Peterson.
Ben Hur premiers, Walt Disney releases Sleeping Beauty, and The Twilight Zone begins on CBS.
Pope John XXIII announces that the Second Vatican Council will be convened in Rome.
And here in Los Angeles, working with the local Catholic Medical Community, Msgr. Anthony Brouwers begins the work of Mission Doctors Association to recruit, train, send and support Catholic Doctors and their families for mission hospitals and clinics.
There have been a lot of changes in 50 years. Technology has made our world smaller. We can communicate in an instant where it once took months to send aerogram letters. Travel, while we may complain about the delays - can still be accomplished with relative ease – (First lay missionaries went by ship to Africa!)
However, one thing hasn’t changed – the need at mission hospitals and clinics for qualified medical personnel who can offer direct patient care and training for the local medical staff. Dick Stoughton, on returning to Zimbabwe in 2000, after being away for 25 years noted some improvements in universal immunization increased availability of potable water and sanitation. However the overwhelming scourge of HIV/AIDS and resurgence of TB were still being addressed by a decreasing number of medical professionals, even at that time – a situation which has worsened.
This ‘smaller world’ has also opened the eyes of a lot of people about these needs, and the fact that what impacts people in one place may well impact all of us.
Many of the supporters of the work of Mission Doctors have been here since these early days. There is no way this organization would have survived without their dedication to the work. I am as inspired by their generosity as the courage of those who have made the commitment to serve. I have always seen this partnership as the vital link. These people never hear the thanks, never see the babies or grateful parents.
So, 2009 is a big year for looking back on 50 years of service by Mission Doctors, and also looking forward. We need to begin the work of answering the increasing number of requests from Missionary Bishops for our doctors. We need to prepare, send and support them in their work, so someday someone else can say, as they are looking back, not on half a century of service but a full 100 years of dedicated care, an honorable legacy for Msgr. Brouwers.
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