WHITE HOUSE JESUIT RETREAT

St. Louis, MO 63129

1-800-643-1003

Jesuit retreat center high on the bluffs of the Mississippi River in St. Louis, MO.  Since 1922, thousands of people from around the world make annual three-day silent, guided retreats here to relax, reconnect with God and strengthen their spirituality.  A true gem in the Midwest!  Call 314-416-6400 or 1-800-643-1003.  Email reservations@whretreat.org  7400 Christopher Rd.  St. Louis, MO 63129

Both men's and women's retreats are offered as well as recovery retreats.

Take Spirituality to the Next Level!

Weekend Reflections for 3/16/18

March 16, 2018  /  Joe Parisi

The Paradox of Glory

     In John's Gospel this Sunday, Jesus reminds us that his moment of greatest glory will be the moment of his self-surrender in death.  He has been preparing for this.  He will perform this ultimate act of love on the cross. 


     Then he offers this curious analogy: "Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat."  On the farm where I grew up, when we planted wheat, a small percentage of the kernels would actually be dead, with no life in them.  And they would only decompose in the soil once placed there.  But all the other kernels would have to die to their exterior form and break open and unleash their power to break through the soil and turn from one seed to possibly a hundred--a full head of wheat. 


     The best things in life, then, have to be turned inside out.  Like popcorn (a staple of Jesuits here at White House).


     You and I to have to die to our exterior form in this world.  In Jesus' terms, "Whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life."  That is, no clinging is to be allowed to our worldly way of doing things, focusing on self-preservation.  Rather we are to focus on self-gift, letting ourselves be turned inside out as was Jesus.  For he tells us, "Whoever serves me must follow [my example]..."

Fr. Anthony Wieck, S.J. 

 

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE ON RETREAT THIS WEEK AS WELL AS OUR DECEASED RETREATANTS.

 

PLEASE PRAY FOR PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITY 

 

WOMEN'S RETREAT WITH SPACE:

March 19-22 with Fr. Anthony Wieck, S.J.

 

CO-ED RETREAT WITH SPACE:

April 23-26 with Fr. Joe Tetlow, S.J.

 

LENT DAYS OF PRAYER WITH OPENINGS:  March 27 & 28

Limited space remains on each.  Call 314-416-6400 to register.