The circle that has no center and whose circumference is everywhere

By Fr. Francis Di Spigno, O.F.M.

I recently had a wonderful experience at Mt. Irenaeus. Eighteen members of the incoming Class of 2021 joined Amanda Naujoks, associate director of University Ministries; Jeff Sved, director of the Franciscan Center for Social Concern; the friars at Mt. Irenaeus — Fr. Lou McCormick, O.F.M., Br. Kevin Kriso, O.F.M., Br. Joe Kotula, O.F.M., Fr. Dan Riley, O.F.M. — and me, for a Mission and Ministries Day. These incoming first-year students arrived the day before their Orientation session to explore who, what, and why we are a Catholic Franciscan institution.

The weather was gorgeous. The sunny blue sky was accented by those white clouds that mark a great summer day. During our first session of introductions, Fr. Dan referenced an image of God that has captured my imagination for a long time.

He said, “God is like a circle that has no center and whose circumference is everywhere.” As we sat in our circle in the grass beside the main house, we imagined the God that has no end, no beginning, and constantly calls all of us into unity.

I have often used that quote at wedding ceremonies when preparing to bless the wedding rings just before they are given away to their husband or wife. It is my hope that the couple will remember that image of God through their rings.

They are in a covenant with each other and that covenant “foreshadows the covenant between God and the Church.” It is a bond that unites us, that holds us fast, and that can never be broken.

God’s love has no beginning or end for us and we are called to live in that same infinite circle.

I don’t know about you, but for me, that is an amazing invitation. We are called to live within that circle of life that we call God.

Unfortunately, some of today’s media bombard us with messages of how much we are not united. By now it has become trite to say, but I want Walter Cronkite back. Is there a way that we can become informed of what is going on in our world without “spin” or political agenda?

I don’t know. Quite honestly, I’m not old enough to know whether or not Walter Cronkite had an agenda. I think it is safe to say that in reality, we all have agendas — or perhaps, better said, perspectives.

As part of our time at Mt. Irenaeus with our first-year students, we celebrated Mass in Holy Peace Chapel. As is common at the Mountain, after the homily we are all invited to share a reflection on the readings or on what we heard. Someone commented on how scary the world is and how difficult it is to enter now because it has become so dangerous. There were nods of agreement throughout the chapel, and perhaps even some sighs.

Then, one of the elder members of the community spoke. He recalled that when he graduated college 50 years ago, his classmates thought the world was dangerous, too. “The world is always a dangerous place,” he said. He referenced the Vietnam War, the fear of nuclear proliferation, and racial injustice. (The ’60s were an interesting time!) But then he reminded us that no matter what is going on in the world, “As long as we do our best and continue to remember that God is with us, it’s all going to work out.”

We do need to do our best, that’s for sure, but we don’t always remember that God is with us. We forget that we are called to be, not just in this world but of the unending circle of God’s infinite presence. We are in a covenantal relationship with a God who will not forget us, forsake us, or abandon us.

The world is divided, but always has been. The world doesn’t always accept our message, but it never did.

Part of the fabric of our Franciscan lives is that we don’t contribute to that division but respond to it and bring love where there is hatred, healing where there is injury, faith where there is doubt, hope where there is despair, light where there is darkness, and joy where there is sadness.

I will tell you this, I met 18 wonderful young men and women who not only call themselves Bonnies but are ready to embrace our Franciscan call to be instruments of peace.

The circle of life continues and God’s eternal embrace is ours for the taking.

(Di Spigno is executive director of University Ministries at St. Bonaventure.)