Fine and cloudy, then sprinkles; fine rain; dreary; colorless sky. I wanted a fiery Sunset.
Right now I feel that the entire world is concentric. I feel that everybody has an opinion that they are ready and willing to share. I was with a group of friends being goofy but I refused to have any alcoholic drinks. When pressed about this, I explained my new policy of not drinking on Saturday night if I am going to morning Mass. At this point I must add this bit of personal trivia, I also do not drink the night before I travel especially on airplanes and trains. In reality this is my personal quirkiness or foible.
When one member of our party learned that I was Catholic everything briefly changed. A seriousness descended. I prepared myself for the worse, then realized that was in itself silly. So, all I could do was listen. I did say that I was not going to debate Church teaching.
I think because I had affected a mocking somewhat sarcastic supercilious tone throughout the evening and peppered my conversation with words like organization, determination, obedient, horizontal, tangent, predicate, prevaricate, perpetuate and because I probably looked as if I was ready to say something truly irreverent but truly thought provoking what was stated by a young New England Catholic resonated with me.
In short there was a concern that the Church spends too much time being political and not enough being pastoral. A couple of examples were given. I conceded that I was able to see this position. But, I could neither truly vigorously support or attack this position.
And I wondered if other young educated American Catholic’s think that the Church’s pastoralism is lost behind the Church’s politics.
After this conversation, I decided to walk home. The rain had stopped. On the sidewalk there was a wet bunny head with floppy ears. I could hear an oppressive thump, thump peppered with a lot of profanity and I knew someone was listening to rap music.
I wondered if it easy to forget that which the mainstream media chooses not to show us.
It is difficult being an active listener. It is equally difficult being an active, loving Christian trying to move closer to God. Both require patience, wisdom, work, and hope.
And like everything else in life, they both require prayer. Lots of prayer.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Parallel Lines
I was looking at the sky. I was imagining being at the beach, watching the waves crash into the shore. At first the waves were smaller, gentler but over the span of a couple minutes, the wind became more powerful and the waves more violent and louder. And then my eyes opened and I realized that I was dreaming.
When you look at either a photograph or a picture of the beach, usually, if the artist has properly done their job you are able to see a series of lines. If you are able to discover the lines, then you are able to see all types of things, you are able distinguish water from sky, you are able to locate the horizon, you are able to locate ships and land.
Mathematics is always present even if the photographer or painter does not acknowledge it. Look at the different intersections of the lines. But, equally important are the lines which run parallel to each other. Sometimes the dramatic tension of a photograph rests within subtle changes of light within parallel lines. Any twilight photograph, either dawn or dusk, contains many parallel lines varying in color, varying in darkness and lightness, varying in intensity.
Within our spiritual lines I wonder if the same type of parallel structure is naturally present which teaches us about goodness and then reaffirms goodness viewed, again and again and then confirms the goodness in our deeds.
Within our spiritual lines I wonder if a series of parallel connections provide the foundation which both encourages and allows us to hope in God.
Within our spiritual lines I wonder if love unconditional and love universal are parallel or if they intersect each other or if they are infinite or if they have definite start and stopping points. I sometimes think that although we talk about unconditional and universal love they shall always be unattainable abstracts because within many human beings buried within their hearts and souls are bigotry, pettiness, fear, and so many other negative things that nothing true sincere and honest can either bloom or flourish there. We can talk about love unconditional and love unconditional but can we ever truly experience it and more importantly are we able to share love unconditionally, love universally with everyone especially those who have harmed us? I think that is the true test of a Christian.
Our spiritual lives need to be examined and then reexamined. We must always be striving to live a life of love, humility, and mercy like Jesus Christ.
When you look at either a photograph or a picture of the beach, usually, if the artist has properly done their job you are able to see a series of lines. If you are able to discover the lines, then you are able to see all types of things, you are able distinguish water from sky, you are able to locate the horizon, you are able to locate ships and land.
Mathematics is always present even if the photographer or painter does not acknowledge it. Look at the different intersections of the lines. But, equally important are the lines which run parallel to each other. Sometimes the dramatic tension of a photograph rests within subtle changes of light within parallel lines. Any twilight photograph, either dawn or dusk, contains many parallel lines varying in color, varying in darkness and lightness, varying in intensity.
Within our spiritual lines I wonder if the same type of parallel structure is naturally present which teaches us about goodness and then reaffirms goodness viewed, again and again and then confirms the goodness in our deeds.
Within our spiritual lines I wonder if a series of parallel connections provide the foundation which both encourages and allows us to hope in God.
Within our spiritual lines I wonder if love unconditional and love universal are parallel or if they intersect each other or if they are infinite or if they have definite start and stopping points. I sometimes think that although we talk about unconditional and universal love they shall always be unattainable abstracts because within many human beings buried within their hearts and souls are bigotry, pettiness, fear, and so many other negative things that nothing true sincere and honest can either bloom or flourish there. We can talk about love unconditional and love unconditional but can we ever truly experience it and more importantly are we able to share love unconditionally, love universally with everyone especially those who have harmed us? I think that is the true test of a Christian.
Our spiritual lives need to be examined and then reexamined. We must always be striving to live a life of love, humility, and mercy like Jesus Christ.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Owing to October Overcast Mornings
October 28, 2009.--Sunday, I was an Altar Server at the Cathedral. Months ago I allowed myself to dream about becoming an Altar Server. Months ago I dreamed a quiet dream of contented service to God and his community. I enjoy going to Mass. I enjoy praying. I enjoy being in the presence of other people who are praying. In my own way I am attempting to follow Jesus Christ. The more I do the more I want to do; the more I do the more I believe, the more I believe the more I understand that only Jesus Christ is the true God and I can only allow myself to believe in only Him.
Believing in God means discovering the truth, seeing the image of love. Our imaginations will create an unique image of God within each of us. In our daily lives we should remember our Baptismal promises and make decisions based upon them. When we keep our lives simple, goodness will guide us with a gentle hand. When you allow yourselves to believe, not because you read a passage in the Bible but because you have had one moment when you felt God’s loving presence in your life and then you will begin to understand and comprehend the majesty and mystery of God.
The message of love and hope that Christ taught us is for everybody. There are no restrictions on it.
We simply have to accept it in our minds, believe it in our hearts, and share it in our lives.
There is nothing more beautiful than sharing our spiritual lives in the service of our loving and merciful God. We must always remember to walk in Jesus Christ’s footsteps. Our lives should be filled only with universal love and hope.
I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you. 1 Corinthians 11:2
City Reflections
Fresh and delicate skies returned to us yesterday. I desired a long afternoon walk. Meditation by sunlight. How simple! Had lunch with a friend. Chili, cornbread, conversation. Surprised that I had two pieces of cornbread. The chili was not as spicy as I expected. On the streets everybody was out in shorts or short sleeves. There was an exquisite delicacy over the metropolitan area especially as dark clouds appeared to suggest more rain. But yesterday I saw all types of babies, some were in traditional strollers and others were in an ugly contraption which looked like a metal work cart with miniature seat belts. The children looked uncomfortable. But for a few seconds the sky was a dazzling blue, the light was direct, luminous. It was a moment of leisure, of thinking about goodness. I felt a youthful desire to write, to photograph, to imagine. How peaceful was that moment. How handsome the world looked from a restaurant window. All exterior sound was muted and therefore melodious at low volume.
How delightful I felt as I sat there talking about life and trying to be encouraging, inspirational. Friendship can be very peaceful. But conversations can greedily consume the shared energy and lead to concupiscence, spoken and imagined. But, there was also laughter and a few unanswered questions which would lead to some personal alone meditation. Good friendships inspire us to be charitable, compassionate, merciful. Good and active listening is a necessity and require for a good friendship.
For a moment, I imagined the world as boundless and filled with content worshiping faithful people.
My eyes did not rest. I wanted to see the world, hear the world, feel the world. And on the street corner there were grim faces, all types of rushing, surging rudeness. Part of me wished for the rains to return and to cleanse the city.
But there is gratitude and hope to be discovered. Days of despair and trouble seem ready to ambush everybody. I have no presentiments or preferences beyond moving a little closer to God. There is no happiness, there is no sadness. There is only perception. There is our personal intrinsic weighing or judgement of a situation.
With God present in our lives there is a delicious clarity to everyday lives. God provides a fresh, unwrinkled perspective. We have to allow ourselves to listen to him and to seek him out with our questions and concerns. We must accept that we are human and fallible and creatures of habit. God is all knowing, all loving, and merciful. He wants us to come to him with both our joys and our griefs.
A good friend will always encourage us to enjoy the simple things, the free things to enjoy the beautiful splendor of God’s love.
I had much to write you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink; I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face. John 3:13-14
How delightful I felt as I sat there talking about life and trying to be encouraging, inspirational. Friendship can be very peaceful. But conversations can greedily consume the shared energy and lead to concupiscence, spoken and imagined. But, there was also laughter and a few unanswered questions which would lead to some personal alone meditation. Good friendships inspire us to be charitable, compassionate, merciful. Good and active listening is a necessity and require for a good friendship.
For a moment, I imagined the world as boundless and filled with content worshiping faithful people.
My eyes did not rest. I wanted to see the world, hear the world, feel the world. And on the street corner there were grim faces, all types of rushing, surging rudeness. Part of me wished for the rains to return and to cleanse the city.
But there is gratitude and hope to be discovered. Days of despair and trouble seem ready to ambush everybody. I have no presentiments or preferences beyond moving a little closer to God. There is no happiness, there is no sadness. There is only perception. There is our personal intrinsic weighing or judgement of a situation.
With God present in our lives there is a delicious clarity to everyday lives. God provides a fresh, unwrinkled perspective. We have to allow ourselves to listen to him and to seek him out with our questions and concerns. We must accept that we are human and fallible and creatures of habit. God is all knowing, all loving, and merciful. He wants us to come to him with both our joys and our griefs.
A good friend will always encourage us to enjoy the simple things, the free things to enjoy the beautiful splendor of God’s love.
I had much to write you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink; I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face. John 3:13-14
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
That Puddle, This Prospect
Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Matthew 7:21
Darkness lasts longer on rainy mornings in October. In the alley near my building a long puddle has formed. The noise that puddle creates as vehicles drive through amuses me as I try to describe the various sounds. The sound is dependent upon the speed of the vehicle and and the weight of the vehicle. At times it is a quick hiss, or sounds like a piece of paper being crumpled and sometimes it is a violent, angry splashing.
Our lives are in darkness until we form a relationship with God. Building and maintaining a life with God as the foundation can and should be a life long commitment and endeavor.
Throughout our lives our brains process all types of stimuli. Sounds, smells, tastes, sights, touch are always being reviewed. We live with a constant bombardment of sensation and stimulation.
Understanding and controlling our responses can be very difficult. All decisions have consequences, seen and unseen. Often what we consider to be insignificant can easily become very important to someone else.
I believe that the focus of life of all Christian is each day to move a little closer to God. To achieve that we must remember to temper all our actions with God’s grace, God’s mercy, God’s love. When we are acting in his name it is important that are words and deeds are clearly his words and deeds. We must put aside ourselves, our pride, our vanity, our pettiness. We must behave in such a way that all the goodness which is God flows from us and is clearly visible to all. Doing God’s work is very difficult; it requires a steadfastness, a strength of character, and a beautiful, dynamic, overflowing love and belief in God. Doing God’s work requires an gentle enthusiasm always be required. Doing God’s work requires patience and wisdom.
The person who does God’s work should always understand that others are looking to them for guidance, support, and inspiration. It is a great responsibility; at times it might become a great burden. But a person who truly believes in God, believes the teachings of this Faith, believes that God is present in all our actions understands this and their lives become inspirational touchstones.
We must always be happy to do God’s work; we must always share that happiness and ask others to join us. Others will respond favorably when they are able to see how Faith manifests itself in our lives, to hear how we honor and respect God in our conversations and discussions, to feel our Faith and love for God by simply being in our presence.
Within all of us there is a little darkness; being human means having all types of combinations. Being Christian means working hard to leave the darkness, to lead others from the darkness. Being Christian means moving closer to the light, moving closer to God, and living Faith based lives with an atmosphere of humility, charity, compassion and hope which will both encourage and inspire others to follow in Christ’s footsteps.
For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Matthew 10:20
Monday, October 26, 2009
October Morning
Dawn arrives later this time of October. The temperature is cooler. The sky is darker. As a photographer and as a writer I have preferred the colorful theatrical twilight sky. I equally enjoy both dawn and dusk. Both inspire all types of ideas. This morning I rushed to the rooftop to examine the sky, to see the different colors in their different variations. I rushed to see the clouds and their shapes.
When I arrived on the roof, I realized at some point during the night it had rained. The stones on the walkway had that damp look. But, the sky itself was dark. There was a stillness, a silence which I had not experienced in a long time and which I had not expected.
At first I stared into the Eastern sky wanting some fantastic Las Vegas like explosion of color. I aimed the camera, took a few pictures. It was cool this morning. Neither the construction workers nor the school children were around to create the cacophony associated with their activities. I was happy. A cold blast slapped my face. I turned around, noticed the wispy, delicate clouds in the Eastern sky. Immediately I started taking pictures.
The beauty which I discovered was not the beauty which I was seeking. It was the beauty of being open, allowing myself to turnaround, to see more than the Eastern sky but to see the entire sky. I could have kept my gaze securely, evenly pointed to the east, searching for the arrival of the sun.
To the east on the horizon there was a glowing belt, a soft combination of pink and orange light, the sun was somewhere hidden yet preparing to make its appearance. And I with a camera in hand was thinking about my friends who participated in the Marine Corps Marathon.
I wish that I had seriously began my discernment when I was either sixteen or seventeen. But, I am glad that I have waited. I am a product of both secular and sacred worlds. Both, in my opinion, are needed to uncover beauty, encourage piety, and create universal love. We live in a confusing time of science and detachment. Natural order has been replaced by consumerism of convenience, materialism of the disposable and replaceable. Discontent and unhappiness are present but have new names which camouflage their true meanings from some of the younger generations.
I once, about a year ago, made a simple comment that my life was tinted by sadness and suffering. This was greeted by an outcry by my friends who stated that there was no sadness, no suffering in their lives. When I listen to the precise words that they speak, I am often concerned about how my friends want to be perceived. An idea of God is sometimes present, but more often, there is the idea of the individual, alone and strong enough to defeat anyone and anything.
I have slowly begun to reject the idea of the individual. The world of the individual can be selfish and restrictive if it is not balanced by humility, charity, compassion and the love of God.
Now, I am beginning to make my entrance into the Church not as a spectator, there to observe the spectacle and pageantry of Holy Days but as a participant, a volunteer, there to offer my work, my love, and my life in the service of God. This decision is difficult because it challenges my comfortable, insulated existence. But, beyond the physical trappings of my life there are so many other items to consider.
Both my heart and soul have had a love and longing for the Church, the beliefs of the Church, and a life within the Church. My life has repeatedly been shaped and influenced by lessons that I learned during my initial exposure to the Church.
God has been in life, through my prayers and the prayers of my loved ones. It is the consideration of all those individuals who shared their belief in God, included me in their prayers, encouraged me to go to Mass, encouraged me to become involved in Church activities, encouraged me to pray and meditate, provided me with books and information about the Faith, and everyone who shared their Faith, their love of God with me which helped me make this decision. I was not alone. My desire, my discernment reflects the entirety of my being, all the members of the Christian community who have touched me, influenced me to do goodness, to be humble, to learn about and love God above all.
When I arrived on the roof, I realized at some point during the night it had rained. The stones on the walkway had that damp look. But, the sky itself was dark. There was a stillness, a silence which I had not experienced in a long time and which I had not expected.
At first I stared into the Eastern sky wanting some fantastic Las Vegas like explosion of color. I aimed the camera, took a few pictures. It was cool this morning. Neither the construction workers nor the school children were around to create the cacophony associated with their activities. I was happy. A cold blast slapped my face. I turned around, noticed the wispy, delicate clouds in the Eastern sky. Immediately I started taking pictures.
The beauty which I discovered was not the beauty which I was seeking. It was the beauty of being open, allowing myself to turnaround, to see more than the Eastern sky but to see the entire sky. I could have kept my gaze securely, evenly pointed to the east, searching for the arrival of the sun.
To the east on the horizon there was a glowing belt, a soft combination of pink and orange light, the sun was somewhere hidden yet preparing to make its appearance. And I with a camera in hand was thinking about my friends who participated in the Marine Corps Marathon.
I wish that I had seriously began my discernment when I was either sixteen or seventeen. But, I am glad that I have waited. I am a product of both secular and sacred worlds. Both, in my opinion, are needed to uncover beauty, encourage piety, and create universal love. We live in a confusing time of science and detachment. Natural order has been replaced by consumerism of convenience, materialism of the disposable and replaceable. Discontent and unhappiness are present but have new names which camouflage their true meanings from some of the younger generations.
I once, about a year ago, made a simple comment that my life was tinted by sadness and suffering. This was greeted by an outcry by my friends who stated that there was no sadness, no suffering in their lives. When I listen to the precise words that they speak, I am often concerned about how my friends want to be perceived. An idea of God is sometimes present, but more often, there is the idea of the individual, alone and strong enough to defeat anyone and anything.
I have slowly begun to reject the idea of the individual. The world of the individual can be selfish and restrictive if it is not balanced by humility, charity, compassion and the love of God.
Now, I am beginning to make my entrance into the Church not as a spectator, there to observe the spectacle and pageantry of Holy Days but as a participant, a volunteer, there to offer my work, my love, and my life in the service of God. This decision is difficult because it challenges my comfortable, insulated existence. But, beyond the physical trappings of my life there are so many other items to consider.
Both my heart and soul have had a love and longing for the Church, the beliefs of the Church, and a life within the Church. My life has repeatedly been shaped and influenced by lessons that I learned during my initial exposure to the Church.
God has been in life, through my prayers and the prayers of my loved ones. It is the consideration of all those individuals who shared their belief in God, included me in their prayers, encouraged me to go to Mass, encouraged me to become involved in Church activities, encouraged me to pray and meditate, provided me with books and information about the Faith, and everyone who shared their Faith, their love of God with me which helped me make this decision. I was not alone. My desire, my discernment reflects the entirety of my being, all the members of the Christian community who have touched me, influenced me to do goodness, to be humble, to learn about and love God above all.
Another Beginning
This morning as I awoke and began to plan my day, I said a day after prayer for all the participants of the Marine Corps Marathon, especially those who ran or walked on behalf of the Archdiocese of Washington. Congratulations to the Archdiocese Run for Vocations team. May you always inspire others with your Faith and goodness.
Thoughts of finding additional ways to serve God continue to grow in my mind. The predilection toward providing assistance and prayers to God and the Church community pleases me as it challenges me. I have recently felt an interior assurance of calm while praying during Mass. My mind is wanting learn and experience the purgative, illuminative, and unitive ways of life. I want to develop tools to combat all types of sins glamorized and encouraged by the secular world.
I want to protect my imagination from all which might harm in this time of concupiscence.
I do not have an indifference to the present, I only seek the real value of modernity. What is believed, what is encouraged, what is absolute, what is the self and self-distrust? These are private questions asked inward in infinite variations. Is God represented in modernity? Is his authority respected?
I am always inspired by the tender, loving efforts of others when they make personal sacrifices in the name of God. Their diligence is inspirational.
While searching the internet I discovered this prayer which captured my imagination.
Prayer of St. Michael
By order of the Pope this prayer was recited daily after Low Mass throughout the Catholic churches around the world. After Vatican Council II the practice almost disappeared due to liturgical modifications.
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the malice and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.
Thoughts of finding additional ways to serve God continue to grow in my mind. The predilection toward providing assistance and prayers to God and the Church community pleases me as it challenges me. I have recently felt an interior assurance of calm while praying during Mass. My mind is wanting learn and experience the purgative, illuminative, and unitive ways of life. I want to develop tools to combat all types of sins glamorized and encouraged by the secular world.
I want to protect my imagination from all which might harm in this time of concupiscence.
I do not have an indifference to the present, I only seek the real value of modernity. What is believed, what is encouraged, what is absolute, what is the self and self-distrust? These are private questions asked inward in infinite variations. Is God represented in modernity? Is his authority respected?
I am always inspired by the tender, loving efforts of others when they make personal sacrifices in the name of God. Their diligence is inspirational.
While searching the internet I discovered this prayer which captured my imagination.
Prayer of St. Michael
By order of the Pope this prayer was recited daily after Low Mass throughout the Catholic churches around the world. After Vatican Council II the practice almost disappeared due to liturgical modifications.
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the malice and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Sunday Reflections
To be Catholic involves being viewed as a living bellwether of the Church. Even as our love grows questions and suspicions of many nonbelievers also grow. It is easy for a nonbeliever to forget the sacrifice of the cross and to live a life balanced between temptation, the bitterness of life without Christ, and the emptiness of materialism. It is an universal fact that all men have secrets and private memories of sadness and that all men have melancholy sighs which are not easily explained or understood; it is the cruelest comedy to watch false devotion. What did we learn from the Son of man? Have we no time to sacrifice, to suffer, to forgive, to love, to hope? Do we honor those whom we say that we love?
It is important to keep our souls in motion, moving toward God, leading our minds and body forward with grace, hope, purity. It is important to be prepared for any number of wounds physical and spiritual to test your faith. It is important to believe with the entirety of your being the beautiful mysteries of our Faith. It is important to allow the entirety of your being moments of natural pure hope.
Our duty is to love always. Our obligation is to love always. We are asked to act with the charity, humility, compassion of Christ. We are to live lives which encourages our souls to freely open to God; which allows others to see radiance of God’s love and mercy in the interactions of our lives.
Finding lives tender, humble, compassionate is a sweet, natural goal.
We must learn to master concupiscence.
Each day I pray to have more forgiveness in my personal interactions and to feel and encourage pure, gentle hope in my life and the lives of others.
A good Christian life requires our sympathy, empathy, and prayers.
It is important to keep our souls in motion, moving toward God, leading our minds and body forward with grace, hope, purity. It is important to be prepared for any number of wounds physical and spiritual to test your faith. It is important to believe with the entirety of your being the beautiful mysteries of our Faith. It is important to allow the entirety of your being moments of natural pure hope.
Our duty is to love always. Our obligation is to love always. We are asked to act with the charity, humility, compassion of Christ. We are to live lives which encourages our souls to freely open to God; which allows others to see radiance of God’s love and mercy in the interactions of our lives.
Finding lives tender, humble, compassionate is a sweet, natural goal.
We must learn to master concupiscence.
Each day I pray to have more forgiveness in my personal interactions and to feel and encourage pure, gentle hope in my life and the lives of others.
A good Christian life requires our sympathy, empathy, and prayers.
O-K-T-O-B-E-R-F-E-S-T
The St. Matthew’s Cathedral and St. Thomas Apostle young adult groups had spent months planning this evening, getting live entertainment, arranging the food, acquiring additional chairs.
Saturday night church basement conversations about football, the Marine Corps Marathon, German songs, Mass, marriage, Black Forest cake, beer, German wine and other topics filled my ears.
No, this Saturday night, the bright minds and hearts of two urban Catholic parishes are happily pouring beer, serving different sausages and cooked vegetables, slicing pieces of cake and strudel, and bussing tables. The atmosphere was relaxed, almost playful. The volunteers were happy to be working that Saturday night and happy to see all the faces in the room. Everyone was greeted with smiles. Everyone had active brains and worked to remember names and faces of new people whom they had just met minutes before.
I must declare that volunteering does have both a mental, and spiritual benefit. I believe that the volunteers displayed the cultivation of virtuous vigour, with a glance toward spiritual development. And spiritual development, remains very important to us both as individuals and collectively as members of the Church. We all want to be the best Christians that we can and to help each others be the best, too. That is the reason that we participate in events such as this so that others can participate in other events.
The murmur of well-read conversation rocketed from the various tables, pullulated now and again with a sense of community, sense of hope. Here in this basement, Faith punctuated our thoughts and actions.
Well, the volunteers were the evening’s "grown-ups" and they attacked the role with all the exercise and enthusiasm that you would expect in the climactic battle scene in a Hollywood action movie. They were champions that night. They were heroes.
Because of their efforts, the young adult groups at both parishes will also receive some financial, and spiritual, gain. They, because of their efforts, are likely to inspire others to join the groups, and attend Masses and other events.
The evening, as anybody who was present will tell you, included posters on the wall, crepe paper attached to the ceiling, authentic German dancers, a German singer with authentic German instruments athletics, beer gulping, wine sipping, soda slurping, food gobbling, and so on. Not to mention sporadic requests for “everyone to dance” and the ever popular to do and to observe the Chicken Dance.
This evening was unquestionably very enjoyable.
Beyond that night volunteers are always needed to keep both groups alive and growing! Regular participation at meetings and other sponsored events may help to strengthen our spiritual lives. Is it time to participate? Remember volunteers are always needed.
Saturday night church basement conversations about football, the Marine Corps Marathon, German songs, Mass, marriage, Black Forest cake, beer, German wine and other topics filled my ears.
No, this Saturday night, the bright minds and hearts of two urban Catholic parishes are happily pouring beer, serving different sausages and cooked vegetables, slicing pieces of cake and strudel, and bussing tables. The atmosphere was relaxed, almost playful. The volunteers were happy to be working that Saturday night and happy to see all the faces in the room. Everyone was greeted with smiles. Everyone had active brains and worked to remember names and faces of new people whom they had just met minutes before.
I must declare that volunteering does have both a mental, and spiritual benefit. I believe that the volunteers displayed the cultivation of virtuous vigour, with a glance toward spiritual development. And spiritual development, remains very important to us both as individuals and collectively as members of the Church. We all want to be the best Christians that we can and to help each others be the best, too. That is the reason that we participate in events such as this so that others can participate in other events.
The murmur of well-read conversation rocketed from the various tables, pullulated now and again with a sense of community, sense of hope. Here in this basement, Faith punctuated our thoughts and actions.
Well, the volunteers were the evening’s "grown-ups" and they attacked the role with all the exercise and enthusiasm that you would expect in the climactic battle scene in a Hollywood action movie. They were champions that night. They were heroes.
Because of their efforts, the young adult groups at both parishes will also receive some financial, and spiritual, gain. They, because of their efforts, are likely to inspire others to join the groups, and attend Masses and other events.
The evening, as anybody who was present will tell you, included posters on the wall, crepe paper attached to the ceiling, authentic German dancers, a German singer with authentic German instruments athletics, beer gulping, wine sipping, soda slurping, food gobbling, and so on. Not to mention sporadic requests for “everyone to dance” and the ever popular to do and to observe the Chicken Dance.
This evening was unquestionably very enjoyable.
Beyond that night volunteers are always needed to keep both groups alive and growing! Regular participation at meetings and other sponsored events may help to strengthen our spiritual lives. Is it time to participate? Remember volunteers are always needed.
How Do You Spell Octoberfest?
All children at one time or another hear something about all work and no play, but it probably needs to be modernized to include another train of action, perspiration, and thinking, a spoonfull of work, a spoonfull of play creates mugfull of volunteers. Although it might sound silly, it is sensible, plausible, believable. Just ask the members of the St. Matthew’s Cathedral Young Adults and the St. Thomas Apostle Young Adults groups.
My true involvement began with a pretty young woman who in quick succession informed me about the event, suggested that I attend, asked me to attend. I had barely a moment to consider the possibility of not going or even create an implausible yet polite reason to decline. On paper it must be revealed that I not a beer connoisseur. My gourmet palate does not include bratwurst our sauerkraut. Give me an even start on a level playing field and am I able to discuss anything and suggest ways to end child poverty, war in the Middle East, Columbian drug traffic, and avoid attending most events without anyone ever suspecting that I might not want attend the event. So earnest am I with my Pennsylvania Station at rush hour combination of excitement and exhaustion. If by accident you were to walk three city blocks on a warm Sunday afternoon, whom would you choose, a workaholic lawyer, whose reputation suggests very strongly that she never leaves the office, never sleeps, never starts a conversation without citing precedence, or the pretty young woman that meets her friends at two o'clock and schedules going to a museum, attending Church?
I found myself shelling out money which I had planned to use for other activities. I found myself adding the Octoberfest to my calendar. I found myself planning to make a cameo appearance. My mind argued fiercely with itself. It was like being a tennis ball at the US Open. I was victim to some completely American idea of social interaction and discourse and magnetism, which if I was able to contact the lawyer could be described as abduction, assault, temporary insanity.
All yesterday, I was a solitary deathbed patient in need of a second-rate hospital, a third-rate television reporter with a camera crew, and a first-rate incurable photogenic make-believe disease. The thrills of melodrama, the agony of melodrama. I pondered off and on, on and off. I pondered so much till I didn’t realize that somehow the p became a w and I was off wondering. I wondered about this and that, now and then, this and now, then and that. I wondered so much that I didn’t realize that the o had become an a. I wandered in the brief sunshine, in the cloudy moments, in the hard, cold autumn rain. I wandered so much that I could not take myself seriously.
I was going to the Octoberfest. And seventy-five per cent of my imagination was busy crafting platitudes and trying to decide what clothes would be appropriate for an Octoberfest celebration being held in Washington, DC. I wondered what an Octoberfest being held in the basement of Catholic church would be like.
And at last after shaving, showering, moisturizing, snacking, tooth brushing, sipping, flossing, gargling, mirror glancing, I was almost ready to leave. I kept waiting for the phone to ring or something. I thought maybe the torrential evening rains would begin. Of course that did not happen.
I began my journey. It was arduous. It was difficult. I had to cross the street without a traffic signal and without my iPod. I tried calling several of my friends but no one answered. Headlights were approaching dizzyingly fast. I was crossing a bridge trying to imagine Octoberfest.
When I arrived at the church, I went to the wrong door on the wrong side but I did have the right idea. So I looked around and found the right door with the Oktoberfest sign. Slowly, down the stairs to the basement my feet carried me.
At some point my imagination turned off. I was alone. I could only see what was in front of me. I could only hear what was around me. I could only smell what was around me (really my imagination must be defective, I don’t think that I have ever had an imaginary smell.)
In matching blue tee-shirts the welcoming janissaries beckoned me as I almost walked past the entrance room. I swept into the room with the receding hospitality of a settler about to be scalped by a savage. Of course I was expected to write my name on a name-tag and then wear the name-tag and of course I had trouble writing my name and after I wrote when I realized that the name-tag was optional it was stuffed into my pocket. And so I said my salutations, received my branding a green circle drawn on my right hand, and I was the picture of sepia colored servility.
As I walked into the main room, my imagination kicked back on, images literary and cinematic flooded my brain. Looking around the room at the rows of tables filled with happy faces and plates of sausages and rolls and green beans and plastic utensils I smiled and looked for both familiar faces and friendly familiar faces. Standing there as I was without any props my mind quickly decided that everyone else was inveterate and that they spent their lives attending beer festivals in church meeting rooms.
And these people were as fresh as unopened jar of spicy mustard; they were so jovial that it was impossible that any of them had ever had a logy second at anytime in their lives. I half expected to find a torpid person slumped near the beer table. But, none was to be discovered. There was much hugging, back slapping, handshaking, laughing, and waiting for beer to be poured into the long, heavy glass.
But I must concede, that as I stood in the line waiting for beer without my long, heavy glass with this year’s logo politely etched on it, I was amazed by the hurlyburly created by the army in blue tee-shirts, that I realized that this army was completely one hundred percent volunteer. There was no hidden executive director in an office somewhere with a coffee stained mug and a half gnawed sugar-free granola bar.
I was invited to this event by one of the volunteer’s; her declaration quickly turned into a gentle persuading interrogation. Standing there at the beer table with my long heavy glass, I had to decide upon which beer to get. Simultaneously, I had to forget that I don’t like beer, that I don’t drink beer unless during moments of extreme duress or in Europe but that is another story. And I was a mere spectator this evening, observing the active participants the volunteers who conducted their business with champion or near champion skills and finesse. It definitely was a first string evening.
My true involvement began with a pretty young woman who in quick succession informed me about the event, suggested that I attend, asked me to attend. I had barely a moment to consider the possibility of not going or even create an implausible yet polite reason to decline. On paper it must be revealed that I not a beer connoisseur. My gourmet palate does not include bratwurst our sauerkraut. Give me an even start on a level playing field and am I able to discuss anything and suggest ways to end child poverty, war in the Middle East, Columbian drug traffic, and avoid attending most events without anyone ever suspecting that I might not want attend the event. So earnest am I with my Pennsylvania Station at rush hour combination of excitement and exhaustion. If by accident you were to walk three city blocks on a warm Sunday afternoon, whom would you choose, a workaholic lawyer, whose reputation suggests very strongly that she never leaves the office, never sleeps, never starts a conversation without citing precedence, or the pretty young woman that meets her friends at two o'clock and schedules going to a museum, attending Church?
I found myself shelling out money which I had planned to use for other activities. I found myself adding the Octoberfest to my calendar. I found myself planning to make a cameo appearance. My mind argued fiercely with itself. It was like being a tennis ball at the US Open. I was victim to some completely American idea of social interaction and discourse and magnetism, which if I was able to contact the lawyer could be described as abduction, assault, temporary insanity.
All yesterday, I was a solitary deathbed patient in need of a second-rate hospital, a third-rate television reporter with a camera crew, and a first-rate incurable photogenic make-believe disease. The thrills of melodrama, the agony of melodrama. I pondered off and on, on and off. I pondered so much till I didn’t realize that somehow the p became a w and I was off wondering. I wondered about this and that, now and then, this and now, then and that. I wondered so much that I didn’t realize that the o had become an a. I wandered in the brief sunshine, in the cloudy moments, in the hard, cold autumn rain. I wandered so much that I could not take myself seriously.
I was going to the Octoberfest. And seventy-five per cent of my imagination was busy crafting platitudes and trying to decide what clothes would be appropriate for an Octoberfest celebration being held in Washington, DC. I wondered what an Octoberfest being held in the basement of Catholic church would be like.
And at last after shaving, showering, moisturizing, snacking, tooth brushing, sipping, flossing, gargling, mirror glancing, I was almost ready to leave. I kept waiting for the phone to ring or something. I thought maybe the torrential evening rains would begin. Of course that did not happen.
I began my journey. It was arduous. It was difficult. I had to cross the street without a traffic signal and without my iPod. I tried calling several of my friends but no one answered. Headlights were approaching dizzyingly fast. I was crossing a bridge trying to imagine Octoberfest.
When I arrived at the church, I went to the wrong door on the wrong side but I did have the right idea. So I looked around and found the right door with the Oktoberfest sign. Slowly, down the stairs to the basement my feet carried me.
At some point my imagination turned off. I was alone. I could only see what was in front of me. I could only hear what was around me. I could only smell what was around me (really my imagination must be defective, I don’t think that I have ever had an imaginary smell.)
In matching blue tee-shirts the welcoming janissaries beckoned me as I almost walked past the entrance room. I swept into the room with the receding hospitality of a settler about to be scalped by a savage. Of course I was expected to write my name on a name-tag and then wear the name-tag and of course I had trouble writing my name and after I wrote when I realized that the name-tag was optional it was stuffed into my pocket. And so I said my salutations, received my branding a green circle drawn on my right hand, and I was the picture of sepia colored servility.
As I walked into the main room, my imagination kicked back on, images literary and cinematic flooded my brain. Looking around the room at the rows of tables filled with happy faces and plates of sausages and rolls and green beans and plastic utensils I smiled and looked for both familiar faces and friendly familiar faces. Standing there as I was without any props my mind quickly decided that everyone else was inveterate and that they spent their lives attending beer festivals in church meeting rooms.
And these people were as fresh as unopened jar of spicy mustard; they were so jovial that it was impossible that any of them had ever had a logy second at anytime in their lives. I half expected to find a torpid person slumped near the beer table. But, none was to be discovered. There was much hugging, back slapping, handshaking, laughing, and waiting for beer to be poured into the long, heavy glass.
But I must concede, that as I stood in the line waiting for beer without my long, heavy glass with this year’s logo politely etched on it, I was amazed by the hurlyburly created by the army in blue tee-shirts, that I realized that this army was completely one hundred percent volunteer. There was no hidden executive director in an office somewhere with a coffee stained mug and a half gnawed sugar-free granola bar.
I was invited to this event by one of the volunteer’s; her declaration quickly turned into a gentle persuading interrogation. Standing there at the beer table with my long heavy glass, I had to decide upon which beer to get. Simultaneously, I had to forget that I don’t like beer, that I don’t drink beer unless during moments of extreme duress or in Europe but that is another story. And I was a mere spectator this evening, observing the active participants the volunteers who conducted their business with champion or near champion skills and finesse. It definitely was a first string evening.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Before I Do Something
I look at the actions of the parishioners, the deacons, priests, rectory staff to inspire me with more ideas, more questions, more philosophical abstractions. I need to learn the way of my religious devotion.
It is my wish to observe the holy body of clergy and the servants of God as their humble servant. I wish to walk in the Holy Spirit, and to see and hear everything around me with purity, in a spiritual way.
The people I have met through the parish have provided me beautiful, salutary moments of Faith and service to God to observe and to remember. Their dedication and enthusiasm for their various tasks is in general simple inspiration and in specific examples of compassion and mercy as taught by Jesus. Their actions offer praise and thanksgiving to God. Their actions allow me to observe charity, humility, and love.
Now is a moment of excited hope. Now is a moment to practice my Faith. I am open to experience the Church as a participant with the entirety of my being, with my complete imagination, with its remaining rambunctious remnants from my childhood. How excellent I feel when the youthful part of my heart allows me to love God completely, gently like a child with energy, intensity, and a sense of fun. Faith allows an excellent occasion to be humble, to love God, to experience charity.
All charity and humility depends upon the quality and purity of the love in our hearts for all mankind. How beautiful it feels to love universally, to love unconditionally. Those are the moment when the Holy Spirit touches us, surprises us with sensations unknown, sometimes unimagined; our personal feelings hide from the simplicity, everything in us is alive, thoughts touch our minds, and the strange sensation moves through my brain, halts and then, I want to cry, to rejoice in the power and mystery of God.
To be faithful is not to protect or hide your faith, but to learn about yourself and continue to evolve, and create a new way to live and include praising God in your life.
It is my wish to observe the holy body of clergy and the servants of God as their humble servant. I wish to walk in the Holy Spirit, and to see and hear everything around me with purity, in a spiritual way.
The people I have met through the parish have provided me beautiful, salutary moments of Faith and service to God to observe and to remember. Their dedication and enthusiasm for their various tasks is in general simple inspiration and in specific examples of compassion and mercy as taught by Jesus. Their actions offer praise and thanksgiving to God. Their actions allow me to observe charity, humility, and love.
Now is a moment of excited hope. Now is a moment to practice my Faith. I am open to experience the Church as a participant with the entirety of my being, with my complete imagination, with its remaining rambunctious remnants from my childhood. How excellent I feel when the youthful part of my heart allows me to love God completely, gently like a child with energy, intensity, and a sense of fun. Faith allows an excellent occasion to be humble, to love God, to experience charity.
All charity and humility depends upon the quality and purity of the love in our hearts for all mankind. How beautiful it feels to love universally, to love unconditionally. Those are the moment when the Holy Spirit touches us, surprises us with sensations unknown, sometimes unimagined; our personal feelings hide from the simplicity, everything in us is alive, thoughts touch our minds, and the strange sensation moves through my brain, halts and then, I want to cry, to rejoice in the power and mystery of God.
To be faithful is not to protect or hide your faith, but to learn about yourself and continue to evolve, and create a new way to live and include praising God in your life.
Friday, October 23, 2009
A Certain Type of Hope
Two simple culinary achievements fueled a little pride and reconnected my adult self with my childhood self. I made instant gelatin and was able to graduate to adding fruit to it in quick succession. I was able to make instant pudding. There is something wonderful about mixing ingredients together and being pleased with the result. Even making something as simple as gelatin involves a certain type of hope. This hope combines with anticipation. Depending upon whether gelatin or pudding is being made, there is a time lock, a moment when the results can be viewed and evaluated. Instant pudding needs five minutes to set, gelatin needs two hours. Of course as an adult, I provide just a little more time, and cautiously approach the refrigerator at the appointed time.
Discerning a vocation is not that easy. There is no definite recipe. There is prayer, meditation, observation. I wonder if discerning is a way of life, a perpetual state of desiring divinity, trying to imitate Jesus Christ in all interactions, a continuing, directed spiritual dialogue between my soul and God, a Faith edification process for the body, mind, and soul, and an attempt to present your entire being to God for humble, obedient service. Discerning has no time limit or guaranteed outcome. There is something comforting in the discernment process as you move closer to God.
Discernment is almost continual thought, continual prayer, continual reflection. It could also be described as automatic. My interactions and thoughts can be and are evaluated. I often ask God for forgiveness for my behavior, ask God to help others in need, ask God to help me temper my tongue, and ask for mercy for all. I am not sure if it is my developing sense of social justice or my discerning that has made me more aware and concerned about the effects of poverty and homelessness. I do find myself often saying prayers for the poor, for the homeless.
The language of this process is based upon love, understands sacrifice, encourages prayer. This is the language of enhanced service and involvement with the Church in order to grow as an individual person and to grow in Faith as a spiritual person. So important is this growth.
My thoughts are often on God. I am often analyzing am I doing everything that I can do to move closer to God. I sometimes analyze the distractions and diversions in my life and why I allow them to remain.
Currently, my heart and soul are leading me on this journey; they are connecting and reconnecting different strands of my life; asking and re-asking me how I feel about God, his Church, and doing his work. My response is to answer what I can. There is something invigorating about having this dialogue; it can make every homily, every prayer have a special meaning, special effect. Different moments during the Mass can cause a natural release of universal concern and compassion. As the my mind opens itself up to this interrogation of Faith and Hope, it is easier to love, to feel and accept God’s grace and love.
I do feel unworthy and at the same time I want to be a better Christian, more holy, more just, more like Jesus Christ.
Discerning a vocation is not that easy. There is no definite recipe. There is prayer, meditation, observation. I wonder if discerning is a way of life, a perpetual state of desiring divinity, trying to imitate Jesus Christ in all interactions, a continuing, directed spiritual dialogue between my soul and God, a Faith edification process for the body, mind, and soul, and an attempt to present your entire being to God for humble, obedient service. Discerning has no time limit or guaranteed outcome. There is something comforting in the discernment process as you move closer to God.
Discernment is almost continual thought, continual prayer, continual reflection. It could also be described as automatic. My interactions and thoughts can be and are evaluated. I often ask God for forgiveness for my behavior, ask God to help others in need, ask God to help me temper my tongue, and ask for mercy for all. I am not sure if it is my developing sense of social justice or my discerning that has made me more aware and concerned about the effects of poverty and homelessness. I do find myself often saying prayers for the poor, for the homeless.
The language of this process is based upon love, understands sacrifice, encourages prayer. This is the language of enhanced service and involvement with the Church in order to grow as an individual person and to grow in Faith as a spiritual person. So important is this growth.
My thoughts are often on God. I am often analyzing am I doing everything that I can do to move closer to God. I sometimes analyze the distractions and diversions in my life and why I allow them to remain.
Currently, my heart and soul are leading me on this journey; they are connecting and reconnecting different strands of my life; asking and re-asking me how I feel about God, his Church, and doing his work. My response is to answer what I can. There is something invigorating about having this dialogue; it can make every homily, every prayer have a special meaning, special effect. Different moments during the Mass can cause a natural release of universal concern and compassion. As the my mind opens itself up to this interrogation of Faith and Hope, it is easier to love, to feel and accept God’s grace and love.
I do feel unworthy and at the same time I want to be a better Christian, more holy, more just, more like Jesus Christ.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Discernment - October
I enjoy seeing clouds against a blue sky. Clouds provide contrast. Clouds provide motion. Looking at the October sky, I am able to see all types of geometric shapes. This sky is painterly, the clouds appear to be artistic creations.
For me discernment is a way of seeing my life, myself, and my vocation. It is a process of discovery and recovery. Discernment is not a quick process. It bends and twists with me, always quietly whispering, quietly encouraging.
Over the past year I have been thinking about my faith and what it means to me. I have thought about the Church and what I could offer to her. I have thought about Christ’s sacrifice and I wondered if I would have the strength to sacrifice myself. I have observed the faithful in different parishes and tried to be like them.
I think when I first thought of a vocation I thought that all I would have to do was say a few prayers, maybe go on a couple of retreats, read a couple of books and articles and then talk to a priest or two. In many ways I was correct; but in one important way, I was wrong.
Discerning a vocation is very serious. The questions which I asked myself were sometimes rhetorical, sometimes philosophical. I had to look within myself and imagine myself in a setting and situation totally foreign to my current condominium with cable and internet access lifestyle of living single in an American city. I make and break my rules. I answer to only myself. Discerning began a process of examining how I looked at the world, how I felt about God, how I felt about being obedient to God’s laws, how I would follow Christ.
I felt as if I was watching a mystery unfold. At different times I would remember events from my past. Past prayers, past retreats, past conversations, moments when I felt God’s love and grace. At different times I would just stop and thank God for allowing me to be alive and thinking about my vocation. Life moves so fast. There is always something to observe, photograph, and ask God about.
As a photographer I prefer buildings, landscapes and skyscapes. I have had fun doing still life images of fruit, cake, brie. People can be a little problematic. People bring and create all types of variables. The photographer either accepts, ignores, or dismisses the variables in the quest for the perfect and/or good image. While I have been discerning I have allowed myself to accept certain ideas, ignore certain observations and dismiss certain concerns. But, it is a continual cycle of question and answer, observation and analyzation.
I feel myself moving closer to the church, loving God more. I am learning more and more about the Church and looking for my place within it. My heart encourages me to offer my life to God with humility and love. My heart encourages me to continue exploring.
Now, twilight approaches. School children are playing in the schoolyard. Teachers are blowing whistles. Police sirens are whirring in the distance. Automobile horns are tooting. A cool breeze teases my skin. A fire truck siren is heard. I can see it down below on another street. I can smell the spicy aroma from someone’s kitchen. Curry chicken possibly? So many things pass before my eyes, pass through my mind. I sit here feeling like a child, filled with wonder and awe, amazed at the manmade complexities of life that confuse and amuse us, amazed at the natural simplicities of life that calm and comfort us. There are more yelling voices. Someone kicks a soccer ball. It’s goes straight up, then straight down.
And my discernment, my wondering how can I use my life to serve God, is as random and haphazard as life in a city. For me, the initial discernment steps are very personal. Listening to and understanding God’s call is important. God can be very subtle, speaking softly in tones almost imperceptible. But, you have to allow yourself to listen, allow yourself to make both grammatical and typographical errors.
Tonight’s sky is very dynamic and colorful. To the east it’s ranges from powder blue to purple, with dark wispy clouds hovering above like angels. To the west the sky is a mixture of orange, gold and purple. To the south there is a pink and lavender sky with just a hint of blue. The sky invigorates my imagination.
I enjoy the darkling sky and thinking about my discernment, my journey toward God.
For me discernment is a way of seeing my life, myself, and my vocation. It is a process of discovery and recovery. Discernment is not a quick process. It bends and twists with me, always quietly whispering, quietly encouraging.
Over the past year I have been thinking about my faith and what it means to me. I have thought about the Church and what I could offer to her. I have thought about Christ’s sacrifice and I wondered if I would have the strength to sacrifice myself. I have observed the faithful in different parishes and tried to be like them.
I think when I first thought of a vocation I thought that all I would have to do was say a few prayers, maybe go on a couple of retreats, read a couple of books and articles and then talk to a priest or two. In many ways I was correct; but in one important way, I was wrong.
Discerning a vocation is very serious. The questions which I asked myself were sometimes rhetorical, sometimes philosophical. I had to look within myself and imagine myself in a setting and situation totally foreign to my current condominium with cable and internet access lifestyle of living single in an American city. I make and break my rules. I answer to only myself. Discerning began a process of examining how I looked at the world, how I felt about God, how I felt about being obedient to God’s laws, how I would follow Christ.
I felt as if I was watching a mystery unfold. At different times I would remember events from my past. Past prayers, past retreats, past conversations, moments when I felt God’s love and grace. At different times I would just stop and thank God for allowing me to be alive and thinking about my vocation. Life moves so fast. There is always something to observe, photograph, and ask God about.
As a photographer I prefer buildings, landscapes and skyscapes. I have had fun doing still life images of fruit, cake, brie. People can be a little problematic. People bring and create all types of variables. The photographer either accepts, ignores, or dismisses the variables in the quest for the perfect and/or good image. While I have been discerning I have allowed myself to accept certain ideas, ignore certain observations and dismiss certain concerns. But, it is a continual cycle of question and answer, observation and analyzation.
I feel myself moving closer to the church, loving God more. I am learning more and more about the Church and looking for my place within it. My heart encourages me to offer my life to God with humility and love. My heart encourages me to continue exploring.
Now, twilight approaches. School children are playing in the schoolyard. Teachers are blowing whistles. Police sirens are whirring in the distance. Automobile horns are tooting. A cool breeze teases my skin. A fire truck siren is heard. I can see it down below on another street. I can smell the spicy aroma from someone’s kitchen. Curry chicken possibly? So many things pass before my eyes, pass through my mind. I sit here feeling like a child, filled with wonder and awe, amazed at the manmade complexities of life that confuse and amuse us, amazed at the natural simplicities of life that calm and comfort us. There are more yelling voices. Someone kicks a soccer ball. It’s goes straight up, then straight down.
And my discernment, my wondering how can I use my life to serve God, is as random and haphazard as life in a city. For me, the initial discernment steps are very personal. Listening to and understanding God’s call is important. God can be very subtle, speaking softly in tones almost imperceptible. But, you have to allow yourself to listen, allow yourself to make both grammatical and typographical errors.
Tonight’s sky is very dynamic and colorful. To the east it’s ranges from powder blue to purple, with dark wispy clouds hovering above like angels. To the west the sky is a mixture of orange, gold and purple. To the south there is a pink and lavender sky with just a hint of blue. The sky invigorates my imagination.
I enjoy the darkling sky and thinking about my discernment, my journey toward God.
Preparation
It is wise, as a Christian, to prepare yourself to be misunderstood even by those whom you love. When people have strong beliefs they sometimes do not have all the facts. If it is possible practice patience and use reticence when discussing the wonder and the mystery of your faith. Being Christian does not mean insulting another person’s faith or viewpoints. It is sometimes better to simply listen, and respond with a Bible verse or one of the parables of Jesus Christ.
As you become known in the community because of the church you attend or as a living faithful Catholic please be prepared to be confronted by many people with all types of grievances with the church, the clergy of the parish, the diocese priorities, Papal letters, and many other ancient grudges. Be prepared to pleasantly greet ignorance, intolerance, and rudeness. Faith is often accompanied with suffering.
Do not interpret my meaning as a suggestion to be cowardly. You must engage everyone as you see necessary. But you must engage them with the patience and love of God. As you listen to comments and observe actions, you will learn what to say and how to say. When discussing Faith and/or religion do not treat it as a win/lose opportunity.
In a funny irony that communication sometimes involves suffering. We suffer to listen to half-truths, ignorant statement, fallacies, lies, personal opinions masquerading as universal truth. We are members of the church universal will be singled out and ridiculed because of our beliefs. But do not be troubled by this. Respond as you deem necessary with respect. Be prepared for malicious jokes and all types of anecdotes against the Church, the faithful, the faith. Suffer these with dignity and respect. Do not respond in anger.
Old people used to say that we were put on this world to suffer before gaining admittance to the kingdom of heaven. Suffering is not always visible, it often is subtle. Understand and believe that all men suffer, all men have fear, all men have pain. No one is immune to them. Understand and believe the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Modernity likes to expose the bitterness of life. Do not let this change you or your faith. Your faith is based upon something true, tangible, and real. Your faith is there to provide love, comfort, and hope.
Remember God and his love for you as you confront your day to day life. Be prepared for melancholy laughter; modern humor is often the cruelest trial by audience; let your devotion to God help you when you hear or see unpleasant things.
To be misunderstood is avoidable in this frenetic chaotic time of instant justification, instant rationalization. Be prepared to greet all misunderstandings calmly, with love and hope.
As you become known in the community because of the church you attend or as a living faithful Catholic please be prepared to be confronted by many people with all types of grievances with the church, the clergy of the parish, the diocese priorities, Papal letters, and many other ancient grudges. Be prepared to pleasantly greet ignorance, intolerance, and rudeness. Faith is often accompanied with suffering.
Do not interpret my meaning as a suggestion to be cowardly. You must engage everyone as you see necessary. But you must engage them with the patience and love of God. As you listen to comments and observe actions, you will learn what to say and how to say. When discussing Faith and/or religion do not treat it as a win/lose opportunity.
In a funny irony that communication sometimes involves suffering. We suffer to listen to half-truths, ignorant statement, fallacies, lies, personal opinions masquerading as universal truth. We are members of the church universal will be singled out and ridiculed because of our beliefs. But do not be troubled by this. Respond as you deem necessary with respect. Be prepared for malicious jokes and all types of anecdotes against the Church, the faithful, the faith. Suffer these with dignity and respect. Do not respond in anger.
Old people used to say that we were put on this world to suffer before gaining admittance to the kingdom of heaven. Suffering is not always visible, it often is subtle. Understand and believe that all men suffer, all men have fear, all men have pain. No one is immune to them. Understand and believe the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Modernity likes to expose the bitterness of life. Do not let this change you or your faith. Your faith is based upon something true, tangible, and real. Your faith is there to provide love, comfort, and hope.
Remember God and his love for you as you confront your day to day life. Be prepared for melancholy laughter; modern humor is often the cruelest trial by audience; let your devotion to God help you when you hear or see unpleasant things.
To be misunderstood is avoidable in this frenetic chaotic time of instant justification, instant rationalization. Be prepared to greet all misunderstandings calmly, with love and hope.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Approaching Moral Thought
And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception (Philippians 1:9)
Recently I have allowed myself an inward examination and assurance of morality. How and why I made decisions became important to me. I wondered whether my presentiment was for honor, humility, and God’s service. I have seen myself in the shimmering world of my imagination ready to sacrifice everything with God grace and in the name of God. I have also imagined an important diplomat. And I have imagined myself as a complicated hero with an impossible decision to make. I have been an imaginary husband, father, government official, priest. The events always occurred a couple of hours, a couple of days in the future. Someone’s life or world peace was in danger. A sacrifice was always requested and given. This luxuriant approach to the future, this absolute trust and faith in a formula over time began to amuse then bemuse me. My daydreams were vague mini Hollywood productions and my reactions over time were indefinite. It is easy to create a scene in our minds; it is easy to ask questions about faith; giving our hearts, minds, and souls time to discover solutions is very difficult, sometimes it is almost impossible. So influential is our civilized, technological currently de facto instantaneity rule.
Asking moral questions is easy. Applying moral thought is difficult. Each thought that we have can help to produce a legacy of sensations and images. Traditional Catholic teaching explains that the moral value of a human act depends on its object, end, and circumstances. What do we think as we make decisions in our lives. How do we make decisions? Why do we make the decisions that we make?
Being a Christian means more than stating that you love everybody. It means sacrifice. It means struggle. It means suffering. Being Christian implies a courage to bring God into your life, your whole life and allowing yourself to become a living temple of God’s grace and love. Allow the Holy Spirit into your heart and your imagination. Encourage both good thoughts and good works in yourself. Use goodness to encourage happiness and betterment in the lives of others.
Purity of thought, purity of consolation can exist within a mind that maintains a rigorous discourse with itself and which believes and follows the teaching of the Church. It is the fellowship and the community developed there which will help to guide each person toward the kingdom of God.
Recently I have allowed myself an inward examination and assurance of morality. How and why I made decisions became important to me. I wondered whether my presentiment was for honor, humility, and God’s service. I have seen myself in the shimmering world of my imagination ready to sacrifice everything with God grace and in the name of God. I have also imagined an important diplomat. And I have imagined myself as a complicated hero with an impossible decision to make. I have been an imaginary husband, father, government official, priest. The events always occurred a couple of hours, a couple of days in the future. Someone’s life or world peace was in danger. A sacrifice was always requested and given. This luxuriant approach to the future, this absolute trust and faith in a formula over time began to amuse then bemuse me. My daydreams were vague mini Hollywood productions and my reactions over time were indefinite. It is easy to create a scene in our minds; it is easy to ask questions about faith; giving our hearts, minds, and souls time to discover solutions is very difficult, sometimes it is almost impossible. So influential is our civilized, technological currently de facto instantaneity rule.
Asking moral questions is easy. Applying moral thought is difficult. Each thought that we have can help to produce a legacy of sensations and images. Traditional Catholic teaching explains that the moral value of a human act depends on its object, end, and circumstances. What do we think as we make decisions in our lives. How do we make decisions? Why do we make the decisions that we make?
Being a Christian means more than stating that you love everybody. It means sacrifice. It means struggle. It means suffering. Being Christian implies a courage to bring God into your life, your whole life and allowing yourself to become a living temple of God’s grace and love. Allow the Holy Spirit into your heart and your imagination. Encourage both good thoughts and good works in yourself. Use goodness to encourage happiness and betterment in the lives of others.
Purity of thought, purity of consolation can exist within a mind that maintains a rigorous discourse with itself and which believes and follows the teaching of the Church. It is the fellowship and the community developed there which will help to guide each person toward the kingdom of God.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Impression of A Birthday Party
“Lord, let our eyes be opened.” (Matthew 20:33
But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.
(Wisdom 3:1)
We did calmly discuss the Vatican.
The twilight sky did turn gold and crimson.
The clouds remained between heaven and us
And two teenagers did a Monty Python laugh in unison.
Did the New Yorker decorate our minds
with towel-snapping historians waving bye, bye?
Vietnam still conflicts. he likes pork rinds. she finds
My face, your heart, remnants of a juvenile sigh.
Thundering moments are sometimes lurking
for some youngsters. The measure of youth’s madness
is the ratio of the probable and possible working
to create a mood of upbeat general gladness
of life in an era. of words in error
the Hall of Dilemmas is multiplying
me and you and you and I must somehow open the door
between our hoping, our praying, our trying
ideals and Faith and making first-person goodness
be a priority, immediate, urgent
Sharing prayers and hope, and tales of Loch Ness
falling into memories, daydreams spent.
Autobiography invites spiritual awakenings
and the obviously routine birthday party ritual
of candles, frosting, singing voice happenings
a moment tender, loving, a time for all
Someone did yell surprise, surprise
then there was joyous chaos then applause
followed by glances quick, pleased and wise
With enthusiasm for a prayer we did pause
Life’s hierarchy begins with love
caressing and protecting us. Love is our teacher
directing our gaze toward heaven above
Faith is our guiding preacher
gently complicit to the cameras flash
you deserve this moment of converging
Love, hope, faith, good cheer, with a dash
for all the prayers said, loved shared, Faith merging
For the spirit of the LORD fills the world, is all-embracing, and knows what man says.
(Wisdom 1:7)
I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ (Matthew 23:39)
But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.
(Wisdom 3:1)
We did calmly discuss the Vatican.
The twilight sky did turn gold and crimson.
The clouds remained between heaven and us
And two teenagers did a Monty Python laugh in unison.
Did the New Yorker decorate our minds
with towel-snapping historians waving bye, bye?
Vietnam still conflicts. he likes pork rinds. she finds
My face, your heart, remnants of a juvenile sigh.
Thundering moments are sometimes lurking
for some youngsters. The measure of youth’s madness
is the ratio of the probable and possible working
to create a mood of upbeat general gladness
of life in an era. of words in error
the Hall of Dilemmas is multiplying
me and you and you and I must somehow open the door
between our hoping, our praying, our trying
ideals and Faith and making first-person goodness
be a priority, immediate, urgent
Sharing prayers and hope, and tales of Loch Ness
falling into memories, daydreams spent.
Autobiography invites spiritual awakenings
and the obviously routine birthday party ritual
of candles, frosting, singing voice happenings
a moment tender, loving, a time for all
Someone did yell surprise, surprise
then there was joyous chaos then applause
followed by glances quick, pleased and wise
With enthusiasm for a prayer we did pause
Life’s hierarchy begins with love
caressing and protecting us. Love is our teacher
directing our gaze toward heaven above
Faith is our guiding preacher
gently complicit to the cameras flash
you deserve this moment of converging
Love, hope, faith, good cheer, with a dash
for all the prayers said, loved shared, Faith merging
For the spirit of the LORD fills the world, is all-embracing, and knows what man says.
(Wisdom 1:7)
I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ (Matthew 23:39)
Tuesday, October 20 - Impressions
October is almost finished. Eleven days remain. The leaves are orange, gold. The temperatures are sliding down. Yesterday I took a late afternoon walk to see the fall colors. I remembered other October afternoons, other moments spent thinking about absolutely nothing and then every great topic.
There are moments which create natural footnotes in our lives when events inspire us to action or inspire us to remember some detail. Life is a series of preceding prayers, promises, prefaces, and problems.
Whether we vacationed in Paris or Berlin, whether we have a MBA or MFA, whether we prefer the city or the country, our lives present us with a unanswered questions. There are times of indecision in all of our lives. A little indecision is good. Especially, if it leads to prayer and God.
My life is endless journeys, impressions, observations, thoughts, anecdotes, memories, and photographs. Life is formless, random. I say prayers for those who have died before me and those who are alive and occasionally annoyed by me.
The last two years are important too me as prayer becomes more important to me. I am such a neophyte, my intelligence exists to ask questions and to wonder. My initiation continues as I learn more about the Church and my interpretations about the Church and I feel like a new Christian being.
Three rainy days, three rainy nights. I went to the grocery store and decided to remain indoors to keep dry. What a difference a cold October rain makes when you’re trying to balance four or five plastic bags, a black umbrella, and walk across a busy street and up a slight hill, almost steep. The faces of some of the other pedestrians is blank, lifeless. All I can do is say little prayers and smile.
October somehow reminds me of the many compromises and considerations which strongly lead me toward goodness, toward God. There is something meritorious about the days becoming shorter and the doubts about football playoff prospects. All that matters is deciding what matters. Being a humble, loving servant for God looks appealing in the October afternoon sunshine. October creates great justifications for prayer and meditation and self examination and confession.
October is a great time to wonder about putting things in context, putting God first. It is a great time to read a verse or two or a chapter in the Bible. We can find new meanings and directions for our lives if we allow ourselves the time to think.
Prayer offers us hope and new beginnings.
There are moments which create natural footnotes in our lives when events inspire us to action or inspire us to remember some detail. Life is a series of preceding prayers, promises, prefaces, and problems.
Whether we vacationed in Paris or Berlin, whether we have a MBA or MFA, whether we prefer the city or the country, our lives present us with a unanswered questions. There are times of indecision in all of our lives. A little indecision is good. Especially, if it leads to prayer and God.
My life is endless journeys, impressions, observations, thoughts, anecdotes, memories, and photographs. Life is formless, random. I say prayers for those who have died before me and those who are alive and occasionally annoyed by me.
The last two years are important too me as prayer becomes more important to me. I am such a neophyte, my intelligence exists to ask questions and to wonder. My initiation continues as I learn more about the Church and my interpretations about the Church and I feel like a new Christian being.
Three rainy days, three rainy nights. I went to the grocery store and decided to remain indoors to keep dry. What a difference a cold October rain makes when you’re trying to balance four or five plastic bags, a black umbrella, and walk across a busy street and up a slight hill, almost steep. The faces of some of the other pedestrians is blank, lifeless. All I can do is say little prayers and smile.
October somehow reminds me of the many compromises and considerations which strongly lead me toward goodness, toward God. There is something meritorious about the days becoming shorter and the doubts about football playoff prospects. All that matters is deciding what matters. Being a humble, loving servant for God looks appealing in the October afternoon sunshine. October creates great justifications for prayer and meditation and self examination and confession.
October is a great time to wonder about putting things in context, putting God first. It is a great time to read a verse or two or a chapter in the Bible. We can find new meanings and directions for our lives if we allow ourselves the time to think.
Prayer offers us hope and new beginnings.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Our Christian Lives
Faith provides liberty and breadth to our Christian lives, encourages us to discover ideas from beyond the current epoch to allow our point of view of life to be equitable and universal. We must learn to question our lives and our world. We must learn to examine our actions, beliefs, and thoughts. We must judge our behavior and make adjustments to be more Christian, to be more charitable. Our point of view should be directed toward heaven and eternal life; our focus should be on fairness and justice. If all our lives were reviewed and rated like new novels and movies by critics, every word and gesture analyzed, would anyone be able to learn about our belief in God, about our faith.
Faith is salutary. It provides answers about our existence and prescience. Lucent is our honest and true faith. Our lives our brief and vincible. Faith is infinite, encourages us to survey, imagine life beyond ourselves. Faith prepares and leads us to eternal life.
Goodness follows those whose lives are filled with lenity. Our goal should always be to serve, to help. Our goal should be to offer aide and love unconditionally to all of our neighbors. And we might hope for eternal life. And we do imagine how eternal life will be and what heaven will look like.
But it is a noteworthy fact that ideas about eternal life may inspire altruism and social justice. Knowledge requires focus and study; our mental abilities will use our experience and observation to form questions and solutions. Ideas about eternal life are beyond our physiological views, are more sacred and spiritual.
Our spiritual lives influence and help to form our individual characters. We have different tendencies and idiosyncrasies which help to create and to promote our images of our eternal life. The Bible provides suggestions, our mind designs and builds gardens and palaces.
Our Christian lives remind us about other considerations that help define us as the faithful. We are prepared for eternal life by our personal humility, compassion, and adherence to God’s laws and teachings.Our Christian lives depend upon something intrinsic to nurture our faith.
My life balances hope and love; I learn about saints and miracles. My mind looks for goodness, struggles to be good, fair, and just. I am human. I have moments of being alone, moments of feeling alone. At the end of the conversation, I have danced around all types of social formulas, observed social mythologies develop and then be abandoned, recorded different social metamorphoses and name and address changes. At the end it is what can’t be seen, the spiritual developments that are important.
Faith helps us communicate with God.
Faith is salutary. It provides answers about our existence and prescience. Lucent is our honest and true faith. Our lives our brief and vincible. Faith is infinite, encourages us to survey, imagine life beyond ourselves. Faith prepares and leads us to eternal life.
Goodness follows those whose lives are filled with lenity. Our goal should always be to serve, to help. Our goal should be to offer aide and love unconditionally to all of our neighbors. And we might hope for eternal life. And we do imagine how eternal life will be and what heaven will look like.
But it is a noteworthy fact that ideas about eternal life may inspire altruism and social justice. Knowledge requires focus and study; our mental abilities will use our experience and observation to form questions and solutions. Ideas about eternal life are beyond our physiological views, are more sacred and spiritual.
Our spiritual lives influence and help to form our individual characters. We have different tendencies and idiosyncrasies which help to create and to promote our images of our eternal life. The Bible provides suggestions, our mind designs and builds gardens and palaces.
Our Christian lives remind us about other considerations that help define us as the faithful. We are prepared for eternal life by our personal humility, compassion, and adherence to God’s laws and teachings.Our Christian lives depend upon something intrinsic to nurture our faith.
My life balances hope and love; I learn about saints and miracles. My mind looks for goodness, struggles to be good, fair, and just. I am human. I have moments of being alone, moments of feeling alone. At the end of the conversation, I have danced around all types of social formulas, observed social mythologies develop and then be abandoned, recorded different social metamorphoses and name and address changes. At the end it is what can’t be seen, the spiritual developments that are important.
Faith helps us communicate with God.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Necessities of Existence
For wisdom is a kindly spirit, yet she acquits not the blasphemer of his guilty lips; Because God is the witness of his inmost self and the sure observer of his heart and the listener to his tongue. (Wisdom 1:6)
The only true necessities in life is to know, love, and serve God. Our entire beings, our entire talents and capabilities are designed to help us discover divinity. We have all types of ways of sensing and adoring God. We must learn to avoid temporal excesses and temptations, our faith, hope, and love must be directed toward goodness, humility, and compassion and in the service of what is eternal, absolute, unconditional--God’s love. Reality and actuality are abstract words which can inspire great thoughts or confuse unsuspecting minds. Our existence provides evidence of a supreme order, evidence of thought and free will, evidence of beauty, innocence, love, evidence of darkness, corruption, hate. Our existence is not a random occurrence. We are alive to question our day to day existence. We are alive to wonder about the beauty and majesty of having eternal life with Gid. We are alive to plan our eternal existence. To pray, to worship, to share, to give, to receive, to contemplate, to speak of God’s love, mercy, and goodness is the duty and obligation of all those who call themselves Christian. Modernity and materialism can make this difficult as different thoughts take root in our imaginations and hearts and we allow ourselves to be seduced and deceived by all types of kind looking sweet smelling gentle speaking cleverly concealed evils.
I often try to detach myself from the world, to have a moment or two of solitude. This is time to think about and to remember God. It is easy to say that my life is in his hands, but I am sometimes a little anxious, a little restless. I don’t want to wait for him to respond.
As a rambunctious child I was told to be good, to obey God’s law. I was told to say my prayers. I was told good people go to heaven. As an rambunctious adult I must believe in goodness, in God and his love. I must have faith.
There is no need to fear death when honest and true love for and faith in God exists.
In my existence my love for God is my happiness; each of us can do truly wonderful things which can express and strengthen our humanity. Living a Christian life can lead us to heroism, moral fairness, as we follow God’s examples. Our lives are enriched when we consciously strive try to dwell with God.
The only true necessities in life is to know, love, and serve God. Our entire beings, our entire talents and capabilities are designed to help us discover divinity. We have all types of ways of sensing and adoring God. We must learn to avoid temporal excesses and temptations, our faith, hope, and love must be directed toward goodness, humility, and compassion and in the service of what is eternal, absolute, unconditional--God’s love. Reality and actuality are abstract words which can inspire great thoughts or confuse unsuspecting minds. Our existence provides evidence of a supreme order, evidence of thought and free will, evidence of beauty, innocence, love, evidence of darkness, corruption, hate. Our existence is not a random occurrence. We are alive to question our day to day existence. We are alive to wonder about the beauty and majesty of having eternal life with Gid. We are alive to plan our eternal existence. To pray, to worship, to share, to give, to receive, to contemplate, to speak of God’s love, mercy, and goodness is the duty and obligation of all those who call themselves Christian. Modernity and materialism can make this difficult as different thoughts take root in our imaginations and hearts and we allow ourselves to be seduced and deceived by all types of kind looking sweet smelling gentle speaking cleverly concealed evils.
I often try to detach myself from the world, to have a moment or two of solitude. This is time to think about and to remember God. It is easy to say that my life is in his hands, but I am sometimes a little anxious, a little restless. I don’t want to wait for him to respond.
As a rambunctious child I was told to be good, to obey God’s law. I was told to say my prayers. I was told good people go to heaven. As an rambunctious adult I must believe in goodness, in God and his love. I must have faith.
There is no need to fear death when honest and true love for and faith in God exists.
In my existence my love for God is my happiness; each of us can do truly wonderful things which can express and strengthen our humanity. Living a Christian life can lead us to heroism, moral fairness, as we follow God’s examples. Our lives are enriched when we consciously strive try to dwell with God.
Introduction
My faith is heuristic. It provides both the questions and the patience necessary to find wisdom. Our daily lives are often improved when we allow ourselves to believe in faith. Each of us describe faith in a different personal terminology; however, the gnosis of faith can help us discover interior peace which can be confidently expressed in a hostile exterior world. All love that is true and honest springs from faith. Hope is aided by gentleness and innocence of faith. The journey through human life toward eternal life with depends upon the goodness and the strength of faith.
My mind encourages me to expatiate on faith frequently because faith is so beautifully intertwined with believing in and loving God. It is impossible for me to think of God without thinking of faith.
It was in the last days of December, 2006, that my personal faith was restored to a place of honor and influence within the confines of my imagination. Several memories of attending Mass were replayed. Several intimate thoughts of prayers and promises made to God during times of the illness of beloved family members were also remembered. My faith had begun reconnecting events, opening the curtains of ego and conceit, preparing a place within my heart for the appearance of God. When I was able to acknowledge his presence and understand his presence and the truth that I was never alone, never beyond his love, I was then able to see that my life has been a long and remarkable introduction to God, his love, and the journey to eternal life.
Faith is now my most valued friend. It prefaces my thoughts and interactions. It encourages me to care for more than just my immediate private insulated circle. Faith leads me out. Faith allows me to be observer, editor, and critic of my life as I make mistakes and slowly, sometimes painstakingly slow, try to improve, try to be more Christ like.
Faith entrusts different ideas and mysteries within each of us. Currently, I have some odd idea that faith is leading me on a literary endeavor. Different thoughts and incidents, related to God and my attempt to live a life worthy to be God’s heir are to written and preserved here.
This is neither a psychological nor journalistic enterprise. This is more ethical, philosophical. It is concerned with the impressionism of living a humble Christian life.
Faith is my confidant. I am looking to examine my soul and to explore the uncharted territory of my conscious as it relates to questions of faith and loving God.
My faith is heuristic. I am heuristic.
“Learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Mt 11:29-30)
My mind encourages me to expatiate on faith frequently because faith is so beautifully intertwined with believing in and loving God. It is impossible for me to think of God without thinking of faith.
It was in the last days of December, 2006, that my personal faith was restored to a place of honor and influence within the confines of my imagination. Several memories of attending Mass were replayed. Several intimate thoughts of prayers and promises made to God during times of the illness of beloved family members were also remembered. My faith had begun reconnecting events, opening the curtains of ego and conceit, preparing a place within my heart for the appearance of God. When I was able to acknowledge his presence and understand his presence and the truth that I was never alone, never beyond his love, I was then able to see that my life has been a long and remarkable introduction to God, his love, and the journey to eternal life.
Faith is now my most valued friend. It prefaces my thoughts and interactions. It encourages me to care for more than just my immediate private insulated circle. Faith leads me out. Faith allows me to be observer, editor, and critic of my life as I make mistakes and slowly, sometimes painstakingly slow, try to improve, try to be more Christ like.
Faith entrusts different ideas and mysteries within each of us. Currently, I have some odd idea that faith is leading me on a literary endeavor. Different thoughts and incidents, related to God and my attempt to live a life worthy to be God’s heir are to written and preserved here.
This is neither a psychological nor journalistic enterprise. This is more ethical, philosophical. It is concerned with the impressionism of living a humble Christian life.
Faith is my confidant. I am looking to examine my soul and to explore the uncharted territory of my conscious as it relates to questions of faith and loving God.
My faith is heuristic. I am heuristic.
“Learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Mt 11:29-30)
Friday, October 16, 2009
Canon Law - Feast Days and Days of Penance
Here is a little information on Moveable Feast Days and Holy Days of Obligation. Also, I have created a list of the remaining Holy Days of Obligation and Moveable Feasts.
Feast Days
Can. 1246 §1. Sunday, on which by apostolic tradition the paschal mystery is celebrated, must be observed in the universal Church as the primordial holy day of obligation. The following days must also be observed: the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ,G, the Ascension, the Body and Blood of Christ, Holy Mary the Mother of God, her Immaculate Conception, her Assumption, Saint Joseph, Saint Peter and Saint Paul the Apostles, and All Saints.
§2. With the prior approval of the Apostolic See, however, the conference of bishops can suppress some of the holy days of obligation or transfer them to a Sunday.
Can. 1247 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass.
Calendar of the Remaining Holy Days of Obligation and Moveable Feasts 2009
All Saint’s Day, (Sunday, November 1, 2009) Holy Day of Obligation
First Sunday of Advent (Sunday, November 29, 2009)
Feast of Saint Nicholas (Sunday, December 6, 2009)
Second Sunday of Advent (Sunday, December 6, 2009)
Immaculate Conception (Tuesday, December 8, 2009 Holy Day of Obligation
Our Lady of Guadalupe (Saturday, December 12, 2009)
Feast of Saint Lucy (Sunday, December 13, 2009)
Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) (Sunday, December 13, 2009)
Fourth Sunday of Advent (Sunday, December 20, 2009)
Christmas (Friday, December 25, 2009) Holy Day of Obligation
In the Catholic Church, Advent is the both beginning of the liturgical year and a time to spiritually prepare for the arrival of Christ at Christmas. Advent, like Lent is a time of increased prayer, fasting, Confession, and good works. Some Catholics refer to Advent as “Little Lent.” The length of Advent varies from twenty-one to twenty-eight days.
Days of Penance
Can. 1249 The divine law binds all the Christian faithful to do penance each in his or her own way. In order for all to be united among themselves by some common observance of penance, however, penitential days are prescribed on which the Christian faithful devote themselves in a special way to prayer, perform works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their own obligations more faithfully and especially by observing fast and abstinence, according to the norm of the following canons.
Can. 1250 The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.
Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Feast Days
Can. 1246 §1. Sunday, on which by apostolic tradition the paschal mystery is celebrated, must be observed in the universal Church as the primordial holy day of obligation. The following days must also be observed: the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ,G, the Ascension, the Body and Blood of Christ, Holy Mary the Mother of God, her Immaculate Conception, her Assumption, Saint Joseph, Saint Peter and Saint Paul the Apostles, and All Saints.
§2. With the prior approval of the Apostolic See, however, the conference of bishops can suppress some of the holy days of obligation or transfer them to a Sunday.
Can. 1247 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass.
Calendar of the Remaining Holy Days of Obligation and Moveable Feasts 2009
All Saint’s Day, (Sunday, November 1, 2009) Holy Day of Obligation
First Sunday of Advent (Sunday, November 29, 2009)
Feast of Saint Nicholas (Sunday, December 6, 2009)
Second Sunday of Advent (Sunday, December 6, 2009)
Immaculate Conception (Tuesday, December 8, 2009 Holy Day of Obligation
Our Lady of Guadalupe (Saturday, December 12, 2009)
Feast of Saint Lucy (Sunday, December 13, 2009)
Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) (Sunday, December 13, 2009)
Fourth Sunday of Advent (Sunday, December 20, 2009)
Christmas (Friday, December 25, 2009) Holy Day of Obligation
In the Catholic Church, Advent is the both beginning of the liturgical year and a time to spiritually prepare for the arrival of Christ at Christmas. Advent, like Lent is a time of increased prayer, fasting, Confession, and good works. Some Catholics refer to Advent as “Little Lent.” The length of Advent varies from twenty-one to twenty-eight days.
Days of Penance
Can. 1249 The divine law binds all the Christian faithful to do penance each in his or her own way. In order for all to be united among themselves by some common observance of penance, however, penitential days are prescribed on which the Christian faithful devote themselves in a special way to prayer, perform works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their own obligations more faithfully and especially by observing fast and abstinence, according to the norm of the following canons.
Can. 1250 The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.
Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Household
My object today is to suggest, to some extent, that our experience as Catholics is often influenced by the behaviors of members of the parish that we have observed praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament, volunteering with the various ministries, discussing vocations. The language of our faith encourages various voices to bring alive numerous prayers, and familiar Bible quotations. Each Sunday Mass can nourish our faith, present ideas for our reflection and our good, compassionate household actions may help God’s love to flourish in our lives.
This idea, originally made before my morning orange juice, has been considerably enlarged by reflections about the community of the faithful which is the living body of the church. The simple hope for universal peace and universal love, remains an important theme of the church which has daily impact on the lives of the faithful. Hope is often sent forth with love and fidelity and faith.
Though perhaps imperfect sometimes we always can ask for forgiveness from God. In some respects, the need for penance is natural and good. Our lives periodically need to be examined, some decisions confessed, and our sins absolved. The household of the head, heart, and soul requires maintenance and cleaning from time to time. Our faith grows from the goodness we observe and the goodness we share. Our Faith collects and remembers quotations and smiles, conversations and hugs.
Faith needs to be protected and shared. Faith is a beautiful blessing growing within each one of us. Faith is an original resource helping us, guiding us to God and eternal life.
Outside the remnants of an October rain has been favorably received by the ground, school children endeavor to avoid the puddles, each day I want to become more worthy of having an eternal life with God.
How wonderful our lives would be if we lived each second, each minute with the simple belief that a moment of faith is a guidepost for God forever.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Events
Each day I learn something new about being Catholic.
I see my life as a Christian as an ongoing journey. There is always motions. There are volunteer opportunities, prayer opportunities. I recently added the remaining Holy Days of Obligation and Moveable Feast Days to my calendar. All Saints Day is November 1 and the First Sunday of Advent is November 29.
I like thinking of Christianity as a series of events and experiences which are helping to shape and direct my life, both my day to day interactions and my spiritual life. Each event provides insights which help to strengthen my faith.
Christianity improves my humanity. I am more aware of people and their suffering. I try to be more compassionate in my dealings with others.
I am attempting to live in friendship with Jesus but sometimes, I must admit that I feel unworthy of such an honor. But, then I will recognize someone from the parish or receive a email or phone call asking how am I doing and then for a brief second I understand the power and majesty of God’s love.
Being Christian is an individual, personal experience. Being Christian exists beyond the realm of formulas, moral and ethical codes, and worship rites. Being Christian exists in our hearts as we strive to live our day to day lives humbly, justly, and with love for everyone just as Jesus Christ taught the Apostles.
Christianity allows us to view our lives through different prisms. Christianity encourages us to do the right thing even if it might be difficult. Each prayer we say is an important event. Each time we help the homeless is an event. We hopefully will keep our hearts and minds open to more opportunities to share God’s goodness.
Our hearts and minds need to share and feel God’s grace and love. Our lives should be our striving to be more humane. We live in a society which encourages all types freedom without explaining consequence and responsibility. Basic humanity like basic civility is often forgotten. Decency is often castaway, too.
We need to give and receive compassion. Our lives provide events which hopefully will guide us on the path to being more Christ like in how we treat ourselves and others.
I see my life as a Christian as an ongoing journey. There is always motions. There are volunteer opportunities, prayer opportunities. I recently added the remaining Holy Days of Obligation and Moveable Feast Days to my calendar. All Saints Day is November 1 and the First Sunday of Advent is November 29.
I like thinking of Christianity as a series of events and experiences which are helping to shape and direct my life, both my day to day interactions and my spiritual life. Each event provides insights which help to strengthen my faith.
Christianity improves my humanity. I am more aware of people and their suffering. I try to be more compassionate in my dealings with others.
I am attempting to live in friendship with Jesus but sometimes, I must admit that I feel unworthy of such an honor. But, then I will recognize someone from the parish or receive a email or phone call asking how am I doing and then for a brief second I understand the power and majesty of God’s love.
Being Christian is an individual, personal experience. Being Christian exists beyond the realm of formulas, moral and ethical codes, and worship rites. Being Christian exists in our hearts as we strive to live our day to day lives humbly, justly, and with love for everyone just as Jesus Christ taught the Apostles.
Christianity allows us to view our lives through different prisms. Christianity encourages us to do the right thing even if it might be difficult. Each prayer we say is an important event. Each time we help the homeless is an event. We hopefully will keep our hearts and minds open to more opportunities to share God’s goodness.
Our hearts and minds need to share and feel God’s grace and love. Our lives should be our striving to be more humane. We live in a society which encourages all types freedom without explaining consequence and responsibility. Basic humanity like basic civility is often forgotten. Decency is often castaway, too.
We need to give and receive compassion. Our lives provide events which hopefully will guide us on the path to being more Christ like in how we treat ourselves and others.
Raindrops and Neighbors
Sometimes, I feel that I think too much. Every second something new seems to appear in my brain. There are minor and major things. There are many little in-between thoughts. Some of these are just distractions others are reminders of things that I either I should do or that I have told myself that I want to do.
Just writing this can be an exercise in post-modern juvenile angst and ennui as both tone and topics are tossed around in my brain and then tossed again. Sometimes I like to interpret this time of concentration as a quest for perfection. Sometimes, I describe as procrastination by over-stimulation.
There are always ideas waiting to be expressed. There are always prayers waiting to be said. As I am slowly typing this my stomach growls. I think of creating my prayer spreadsheet so that I remember to pray for all the people that I say I am going to pray for.
It is still dark outside. I think that I hear the sound of raindrops against my window. The world needs our love, our compassion. Our charity should be shared with all. We should look for the goodness, the signs of Jesus Christ in ourselves and in those around us.
My stomach growls again. I hear a truck on the street pass the building. I hear footsteps on my ceiling. But, the simple message in my life should be remember to love everyone. Unconditional love is easy to say, easy to describe, easy to request; however, it is often difficult to give. There are often little things in the way to true and complete unconditional love.
We all have our personal fears, jealousies, misunderstandings, ignorance. These can create obstacles to unconditional love. I wonder is it really possible for each of us to love each other as we love ourselves. Some of us live very frenetic lives juggling our career, family, and ecclesial lives. We give our time and attention to each part of our lives. We struggle with loving ourselves sometimes. It is fair to assume that we struggle with loving our neighbors too.
The important thing is to struggle. We must struggle. We must try to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Remember that love is personal. Love does not guarantee an end to conflicts. Love is not a happy ending.
I believe that both compassion and charity are necessary for a good Christian life. There is no hiding from the importance of love. How we choose to express love is a very personal matter. I can not promote any formula or strategy. Just ask yourself, “what would Jesus do?” Let your answer be your guide.
Just writing this can be an exercise in post-modern juvenile angst and ennui as both tone and topics are tossed around in my brain and then tossed again. Sometimes I like to interpret this time of concentration as a quest for perfection. Sometimes, I describe as procrastination by over-stimulation.
There are always ideas waiting to be expressed. There are always prayers waiting to be said. As I am slowly typing this my stomach growls. I think of creating my prayer spreadsheet so that I remember to pray for all the people that I say I am going to pray for.
It is still dark outside. I think that I hear the sound of raindrops against my window. The world needs our love, our compassion. Our charity should be shared with all. We should look for the goodness, the signs of Jesus Christ in ourselves and in those around us.
My stomach growls again. I hear a truck on the street pass the building. I hear footsteps on my ceiling. But, the simple message in my life should be remember to love everyone. Unconditional love is easy to say, easy to describe, easy to request; however, it is often difficult to give. There are often little things in the way to true and complete unconditional love.
We all have our personal fears, jealousies, misunderstandings, ignorance. These can create obstacles to unconditional love. I wonder is it really possible for each of us to love each other as we love ourselves. Some of us live very frenetic lives juggling our career, family, and ecclesial lives. We give our time and attention to each part of our lives. We struggle with loving ourselves sometimes. It is fair to assume that we struggle with loving our neighbors too.
The important thing is to struggle. We must struggle. We must try to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Remember that love is personal. Love does not guarantee an end to conflicts. Love is not a happy ending.
I believe that both compassion and charity are necessary for a good Christian life. There is no hiding from the importance of love. How we choose to express love is a very personal matter. I can not promote any formula or strategy. Just ask yourself, “what would Jesus do?” Let your answer be your guide.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Canonized
On Sunday, October 11, 2009 Pope Benedict XVI canonized five new saints in St. Peter’s Basilica. He also provided brief descriptions of each of the five newly-canonized saints: a bishop, a Trappist brother, two priests and a nun.
Archbishop Zygmunt Szczesny Feliński of Warsaw, founder of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Family of Mary,
Rafael Arnaiz Baron, a Cistercian oblate,
Dominican Father Francisco Coll y Guitard, founder of the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation Blessed Virgin Mary
Father Fr. Damien de Veuster, the famous apostle to the lepers, left Flanders, Belgium at the age of 23 to go on a mission to modern day Hawaii
Jeanne Jugan, St. Mary of the Cross, from the Little Sisters of the Poor
Archbishop Zygmunt Szczesny Feliński of Warsaw, founder of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Family of Mary,
Rafael Arnaiz Baron, a Cistercian oblate,
Dominican Father Francisco Coll y Guitard, founder of the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation Blessed Virgin Mary
Father Fr. Damien de Veuster, the famous apostle to the lepers, left Flanders, Belgium at the age of 23 to go on a mission to modern day Hawaii
Jeanne Jugan, St. Mary of the Cross, from the Little Sisters of the Poor
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
A Simple Request
“Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28).
This quote reminds me of the invitation that Christ extends to us over and over again. He makes no demands, he beckons us and offers comfort. Jesus wants us to find renewal in him, nourishment in his teachings. He places no conditions on this request. There is no hidden fine print.
As adults we are often suspicious of things which are offered to us. We frequently wonder why we received this invitation or that gift. If something arrives completely unsolicited and unexpected the questions can increase. As adults we spend much of our time applying little bits of information that we have already learned to new situations. In many ways it is a natural response. Curiosity is natural; suspicion is learned.
Adults are good at make decisions and pretending to make decisions. We are good at talking about this and that subject. Our lives are filled with all types of problems which we may or may not be able to solve. Our lives contain different types of difficulties. We share different secrets with our friends, loved ones, families.
We all have burdens; sometimes we publicly pretend not to have any problems or cares. Men are famous for doing that. We have to project strength, be stoic, non-emotional. Jesus sees all this and more. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. He knows when we need encouragement.
Patiently, Jesus invites each of us to stop what we are doing, to relax. Jesus sees us straining with our personal problems and concerns. He offers to help if we simply allow him.
Sometimes we allow ourselves to become too busy with the day to day routines of our lives to take time to pray, to praise God, and to thank God for all the good things he has given to us.
When we hear his invitation, do we respond? Do we just continue doing whatever we were doing and going where ever we were going? Do we even allow ourselves a moment to stop?
Personally, it is sometimes difficult to stop. But, I am trying to learn how to approach God a little more innocently, a little more childlike. I do not have to provide all the answers. I do not have to play devil’s advocate. I simply have to believe and make time for Christ in my life. I need to approach Christ with the curiosity of a child.
Being Catholic means always learning something new about the wonders of God and then sharing what you have learned. We must always remain teachable to receive and share God’s love. Our hearts and minds have to always be alive in the grace of God, building our faith, inspiring our hope in the goodness and love of God.
This quote reminds me of the invitation that Christ extends to us over and over again. He makes no demands, he beckons us and offers comfort. Jesus wants us to find renewal in him, nourishment in his teachings. He places no conditions on this request. There is no hidden fine print.
As adults we are often suspicious of things which are offered to us. We frequently wonder why we received this invitation or that gift. If something arrives completely unsolicited and unexpected the questions can increase. As adults we spend much of our time applying little bits of information that we have already learned to new situations. In many ways it is a natural response. Curiosity is natural; suspicion is learned.
Adults are good at make decisions and pretending to make decisions. We are good at talking about this and that subject. Our lives are filled with all types of problems which we may or may not be able to solve. Our lives contain different types of difficulties. We share different secrets with our friends, loved ones, families.
We all have burdens; sometimes we publicly pretend not to have any problems or cares. Men are famous for doing that. We have to project strength, be stoic, non-emotional. Jesus sees all this and more. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. He knows when we need encouragement.
Patiently, Jesus invites each of us to stop what we are doing, to relax. Jesus sees us straining with our personal problems and concerns. He offers to help if we simply allow him.
Sometimes we allow ourselves to become too busy with the day to day routines of our lives to take time to pray, to praise God, and to thank God for all the good things he has given to us.
When we hear his invitation, do we respond? Do we just continue doing whatever we were doing and going where ever we were going? Do we even allow ourselves a moment to stop?
Personally, it is sometimes difficult to stop. But, I am trying to learn how to approach God a little more innocently, a little more childlike. I do not have to provide all the answers. I do not have to play devil’s advocate. I simply have to believe and make time for Christ in my life. I need to approach Christ with the curiosity of a child.
Being Catholic means always learning something new about the wonders of God and then sharing what you have learned. We must always remain teachable to receive and share God’s love. Our hearts and minds have to always be alive in the grace of God, building our faith, inspiring our hope in the goodness and love of God.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Being
As a Catholic I am often amazed how many books there are about this religion. I am amazed at how many books about Catholicism that I own. I am also amazed at how many of those books that I own which I have not read in their entirety. I tend to read the cover, the dust jacket, the table of contents, maybe the introduction and the first chapter.
I am a person who likes asking questions. Sometimes I think that my astrological sign should have been a question mark. When meeting new people I have to be careful to integrate the questions sparingly into a conversation or else a friendly talk turns into an intense police interrogation.
Questions are a good thing. Having questions about your faith is natural. The questions if explored naturally, calmly should help you deepen or strengthen your faith. Our faith and our beliefs should be explored frequently. Our lives are not static. We confront change everyday. Our faith is not static. It is there encouraging us to explore, ask questions, learn more. Our faith is leading us to God.
Faith has its own lesson book. This lesson book is personalized for each of us and it is tailored to our individual idiosyncrasies. Our personalities influence how we pray, how we love our neighbors, how we love God. I sometimes wonder about all the things that must be in my lesson book. I sometimes wonder if I am learning and putting the right things into practice, if I am praying enough, and if I am helping my neighbors enough.
As the October days become shorter and the outside temperatures become cooler, I have discovered many unasked questions. I have also discovered the joy of reading an unread book.
This week I am enamored with catechesis and catechism.
I am a person who likes asking questions. Sometimes I think that my astrological sign should have been a question mark. When meeting new people I have to be careful to integrate the questions sparingly into a conversation or else a friendly talk turns into an intense police interrogation.
Questions are a good thing. Having questions about your faith is natural. The questions if explored naturally, calmly should help you deepen or strengthen your faith. Our faith and our beliefs should be explored frequently. Our lives are not static. We confront change everyday. Our faith is not static. It is there encouraging us to explore, ask questions, learn more. Our faith is leading us to God.
Faith has its own lesson book. This lesson book is personalized for each of us and it is tailored to our individual idiosyncrasies. Our personalities influence how we pray, how we love our neighbors, how we love God. I sometimes wonder about all the things that must be in my lesson book. I sometimes wonder if I am learning and putting the right things into practice, if I am praying enough, and if I am helping my neighbors enough.
As the October days become shorter and the outside temperatures become cooler, I have discovered many unasked questions. I have also discovered the joy of reading an unread book.
This week I am enamored with catechesis and catechism.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)