What Can I Do?

In these uncertain times, many of us ask “What can I do?” This question was tackled tonight, and my wish was that all of you who ponder this question and have not found an answer could have been there.

If you have not heard of FutureChurch (Catholic Women Preach), you would be blessed to tune in some time. It is an organization which studies all different areas of women’s gifts in the manner of Vatican II. Tonight, we heard a young woman from Fordham begin our Lenten gathering with the Gospel from Mark regarding the woman with the alabaster jar. The title was, “What Is Mine to Do?”

Think about what happens when you’ve gone to a talk recently. Basically, it is a “sit and listen” to someone for an hour, or so. Then, get up and go home. This never happens at FutureChurch. It always engages the participant. Tonight, the title led us to “…a journey of prayer, reflection and action,” And it was all “…inspired by the Anointing Woman in Mark’s Gospel (14:3–9), who “did what she could.”

Many different women preach, from students to seasoned theologians like Joan Chittister, OSB. Three books have been published containing homilies which have been given for every Sunday in all three liturgical years. FutureChurch is also inclusive in that Protestant women and women of other religions are welcome. What is believed by FutureChurch is that each of us is equipped with gifts we are able to use. Not all will be able to do the same thing, but we CAN discern what it is we can do. It is in this discovery we truly find joy because we are doing what we were created to do.

What can we do? What can I do? No one else can really give us an answer. The answer is inside each of us. The passion we find and embrace makes it impossible to burn out because it is a love gift.

You were made so that someday, it will be said of you:

“She did what she could.”

Pat Pickett, OblSB

Photo: The Crucifixion Group in the Saint Benedict’s Monastery cemetery. Taken by Nancy Bauer, OSB.