Lent and Easter is always such an emotional time in the Catholic church. The images, the music, the ceremonies are meant to stir the heart and stimulate the mind to strengthen the faith. This is the home of Christianity. And we need to renew our core beliefs once a year to combat the everyday evils that lead us astray.
While the passion and crucifixion of Christ are often the most painful to try to imagine, I am most often in sympathy and devotion to Christ in the garden at Gethsemane. The image of Christ as most human. At first wanting the cup to pass as he faces the will of God. Feeling abandoned by his disciples in his hour of need.
When I see paintings of this moment I just want to become James or John and go to the garden to lay a hand on Jesus' shoulder and say "It will be alright, I'm with you."
I have been in a situation where I found myself alone in a crisis with nobody around to lend support. And my love of God was eclipsed by my fear of what he asked. But I gather he needed me to show him my weaknesses so he could infuse me with a spirit to guide me through. And He did.
Repeatedly Christ waits for us in the garden. Do we use the excuse of our evenings feast followed by too much wine as a reason to let Jesus suffer for us alone? A night on the town on Saturday night makes a Sunday morning mass a little harder to make. Harder, but not impossible. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
When we take that one hour a week to join Christ in the garden to pray, we not only give thanks for the sacrifice he accepted at Gethsemane, but we accept his hand on our shoulder as we suffer life's trials and tribulations. Walking with Christ on our journey to eternal life.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Let Francis Take the Lead
Everyday I turn on the news and see a story of someones hardship. They lost their job, their home, their 401k. Corporations are losing billions or going under. People are being exposed for stealing billions from others. Politicians selling appointments and leadership positions. It goes on and on. Everyone and everything is so focused on what we have, don't have, or have had taken away. A stark reminder of the value of fame and fortune is the tragic story of Natasha Richardson's end. The famous family, the money, the fans didn't matter in the end. Her family had to watch as her life came to an end, and I am sure the only thing that made the difficult situation more bearable was and is the love, support and prayers of family and friends. These are things that nobody can take away.
When we look at the life of St. Francis we see a man who learned at a very early age what true wealth is. He gave away everything he had to show others his faith. He learned to love and respect everyone and everything that God put on this earth. And he guided others away from worshiping material goods and toward the path to eternal peace through the charity and love.
If we examine our lives, the first thing we tend to notice these days is what we have lost. What we must now do without. But when doing so, we should take a look around us and see what others are forced to do without. We may not have what we had yesterday, but we have so much more that many people will ever have. Letting our loss guide us to giving will add wealth to our souls.
I'm not suggesting that we all give away our possessions and become Franciscans. I am suggesting we take a closer look at what is important. You can't take your 401k, your SUV or your summer cottage to heaven. God won't care that your name is on a deed or a title when he judges you. It will be the riches you have gathered in your soul that He will itemize. And you can't blame Bernie Madoff for what you are lacking in your heart.
When we look at the life of St. Francis we see a man who learned at a very early age what true wealth is. He gave away everything he had to show others his faith. He learned to love and respect everyone and everything that God put on this earth. And he guided others away from worshiping material goods and toward the path to eternal peace through the charity and love.
If we examine our lives, the first thing we tend to notice these days is what we have lost. What we must now do without. But when doing so, we should take a look around us and see what others are forced to do without. We may not have what we had yesterday, but we have so much more that many people will ever have. Letting our loss guide us to giving will add wealth to our souls.
I'm not suggesting that we all give away our possessions and become Franciscans. I am suggesting we take a closer look at what is important. You can't take your 401k, your SUV or your summer cottage to heaven. God won't care that your name is on a deed or a title when he judges you. It will be the riches you have gathered in your soul that He will itemize. And you can't blame Bernie Madoff for what you are lacking in your heart.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Morning Prayers
Lately I have been finding the power of prayer and it's ability to bring me peace of mind and strength of body. Some people only see the repetition of phrases and old words that seam out of date and from a time when the faithful were a simpler people. While this may be true, it doesn't mean that we cannot receive the same fulfilment that our parents, grandparents and ancestors received from the simple chanting of words of devotion.
When I was a boy I fondly remember mornings with my grandmothers. It was always a special time when visiting one grandmother, or having a visit from the other. Both could always be found sitting in a chair near a well lit window. God's morning light shining onto their tattered prayer books. I would quietly enter the room, sometimes I would just pass through on the way to the kitchen, other times I would just sit nearby until Grandma finished. It was the same with both of them. A comforting smile for the start of the day. Sometimes I would hear "I'm almost finished" or "I'm praying for you kids now". You could see the faith, love and devotion on Grandma's face as she closed her prayer book and rubber banded it to the others she had already completed. I knew that someday I wanted to have that same look on my face as I started the day.
My Grandmothers weren't the only faces I could see the results of morning blessings on. My mother always seemed to be one with the spirit at mass. Especially after communion. I was always curious as to what she was praying for so intently. I only knew that when she finished, she had that same look of serenity as my Grandmothers. One hot summer, Mom volunteered me to serve (I was an altar boy) at many of the weekday masses. She would tell me I would enjoy the air conditioning in the church that we didn't have at home. Now that she is gone I realize that she was guiding me to prayer. And probably trying to shake out a few of my childhood demons.
In this past year of loss and grief, I found my way to that chair by the sunny window. My prayers are a mix of traditional, modern and a few I wrote myself. I also find myself with my rosary, calming my anxious soul, clearing my troubled mind. I know why my Mother and Grandmothers had that look of peace when they finished their prayers. They began their days by opening their hearts to God and by giving their days to Him.
I encourage you to begin this ritual if you haven't already discovered it's benefits. Here is a simple prayer to help you start:
The Good Morning God Prayer
Good Morning God!
You are ushering in another day, untouched and freshly new.
So here I am to ask you, God, if you'll renew me too.
Forgive the many errors, that I made yesterday,
and let me try again dear God to walk closer in Your way.
But Lord, I am well aware, I can't make it on my own.
So take my hand and hold it tight, for I cannot walk alone.
When I was a boy I fondly remember mornings with my grandmothers. It was always a special time when visiting one grandmother, or having a visit from the other. Both could always be found sitting in a chair near a well lit window. God's morning light shining onto their tattered prayer books. I would quietly enter the room, sometimes I would just pass through on the way to the kitchen, other times I would just sit nearby until Grandma finished. It was the same with both of them. A comforting smile for the start of the day. Sometimes I would hear "I'm almost finished" or "I'm praying for you kids now". You could see the faith, love and devotion on Grandma's face as she closed her prayer book and rubber banded it to the others she had already completed. I knew that someday I wanted to have that same look on my face as I started the day.
My Grandmothers weren't the only faces I could see the results of morning blessings on. My mother always seemed to be one with the spirit at mass. Especially after communion. I was always curious as to what she was praying for so intently. I only knew that when she finished, she had that same look of serenity as my Grandmothers. One hot summer, Mom volunteered me to serve (I was an altar boy) at many of the weekday masses. She would tell me I would enjoy the air conditioning in the church that we didn't have at home. Now that she is gone I realize that she was guiding me to prayer. And probably trying to shake out a few of my childhood demons.
In this past year of loss and grief, I found my way to that chair by the sunny window. My prayers are a mix of traditional, modern and a few I wrote myself. I also find myself with my rosary, calming my anxious soul, clearing my troubled mind. I know why my Mother and Grandmothers had that look of peace when they finished their prayers. They began their days by opening their hearts to God and by giving their days to Him.
I encourage you to begin this ritual if you haven't already discovered it's benefits. Here is a simple prayer to help you start:
The Good Morning God Prayer
Good Morning God!
You are ushering in another day, untouched and freshly new.
So here I am to ask you, God, if you'll renew me too.
Forgive the many errors, that I made yesterday,
and let me try again dear God to walk closer in Your way.
But Lord, I am well aware, I can't make it on my own.
So take my hand and hold it tight, for I cannot walk alone.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Fishing for Catholic Renewal
As someone who has had my differences with the Catholic church over the years, I never stray from a discussion on the merits of being, not only a Catholic, but a PRACTICING Catholic. There is a difference!
Having been raised in the Catholic church by parents who were very active in our local parish and encouraged the same from us kids, I have taken every possible view of the church. From being the sheep herded into mass each Sunday. Through my walking out and protesting changes. My years of rebellion. To finding my path to the front pew. I now confidently go to mass knowing that I have taken my faith apart to see how it works, and put it back together.
I don't want to make excuses for some church policies. Or even the lack of enforcement of others. And don't think that I am too pleased at how casual mass has become. I was born after Vatican II, but feel I would have been more comfortable with my religion BEFORE they dumbed down the mass to make it simpler. The problem with the enforcement of Vatican II reform's seems to have been the under estimating of the intelligence of the Catholic people at a time when education levels were increasing. Sunday mass has become a hand holding community sing-a-long social hour. What happened to the reverence we once held toward God's house? We used to only speak in a whisper before mass out of respect for those praying. Now the volume level before mass seems to resemble a gymnasium before a basketball game. And when did t-shirts, jeans and athletic shoes become your 'Sunday best'? Don't even get me started talking about the parents who let their children wander around the church during mass.
It is the content of the mass that I am going for. I usually choose the earliest mass, when most people are sleepy...and quiet. While you may disagree with my complaints, and prefer the openness and comfort level the church has developed, you can't deny that these observations do keep some people away.
The mentality that comes with the modern comfort level is the 'drop in/drop out' attitude. People seem to think they are entitled to partake in the sacraments on an 'as needed' basis. Marriage, baptism and burial. It seems many people think that just because their parents attended mass regularly. And because they come to church every Christmas and Easter, they are entitled to the churches blessing when their social circle expects Catholic tradition. The equivalent of only showing up to work on payday...and expecting a bonus!
It's difficult to experience the joy of weekly spiritual enrichment when you don't keep at it. Exercising your faith, like exercising your body, needs to be a commitment. It won't strengthen unless you create a routine. And like physical exercise, you WILL feel results.
I have found this path. Believe me, I was once the 'drop in/drop out' Catholic I described. And I got out of my religion what I gave. Until one day I found myself in prayer more often then usual. I found the doors to God's house still open and always welcoming me back. I also found that I can tune out the distractions during mass and experience the weekly renewal that I had such a deep need for. And it carried over to my every day life. I stopped following my personally created 'religion' in which I believed in God and said my prayers every night. I found that there is much more to faith enrichment than letting Him exist in my little world. We have to learn to exist in HIS world. The church provides guidance and structure to keep our mind and hearts on the path to eternal peace. It also helps us to create a little peace for us here on earth.
Having been raised in the Catholic church by parents who were very active in our local parish and encouraged the same from us kids, I have taken every possible view of the church. From being the sheep herded into mass each Sunday. Through my walking out and protesting changes. My years of rebellion. To finding my path to the front pew. I now confidently go to mass knowing that I have taken my faith apart to see how it works, and put it back together.
I don't want to make excuses for some church policies. Or even the lack of enforcement of others. And don't think that I am too pleased at how casual mass has become. I was born after Vatican II, but feel I would have been more comfortable with my religion BEFORE they dumbed down the mass to make it simpler. The problem with the enforcement of Vatican II reform's seems to have been the under estimating of the intelligence of the Catholic people at a time when education levels were increasing. Sunday mass has become a hand holding community sing-a-long social hour. What happened to the reverence we once held toward God's house? We used to only speak in a whisper before mass out of respect for those praying. Now the volume level before mass seems to resemble a gymnasium before a basketball game. And when did t-shirts, jeans and athletic shoes become your 'Sunday best'? Don't even get me started talking about the parents who let their children wander around the church during mass.
It is the content of the mass that I am going for. I usually choose the earliest mass, when most people are sleepy...and quiet. While you may disagree with my complaints, and prefer the openness and comfort level the church has developed, you can't deny that these observations do keep some people away.
The mentality that comes with the modern comfort level is the 'drop in/drop out' attitude. People seem to think they are entitled to partake in the sacraments on an 'as needed' basis. Marriage, baptism and burial. It seems many people think that just because their parents attended mass regularly. And because they come to church every Christmas and Easter, they are entitled to the churches blessing when their social circle expects Catholic tradition. The equivalent of only showing up to work on payday...and expecting a bonus!
It's difficult to experience the joy of weekly spiritual enrichment when you don't keep at it. Exercising your faith, like exercising your body, needs to be a commitment. It won't strengthen unless you create a routine. And like physical exercise, you WILL feel results.
I have found this path. Believe me, I was once the 'drop in/drop out' Catholic I described. And I got out of my religion what I gave. Until one day I found myself in prayer more often then usual. I found the doors to God's house still open and always welcoming me back. I also found that I can tune out the distractions during mass and experience the weekly renewal that I had such a deep need for. And it carried over to my every day life. I stopped following my personally created 'religion' in which I believed in God and said my prayers every night. I found that there is much more to faith enrichment than letting Him exist in my little world. We have to learn to exist in HIS world. The church provides guidance and structure to keep our mind and hearts on the path to eternal peace. It also helps us to create a little peace for us here on earth.
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