"[G]uard
what has been entrusted to you...[a]void contradictions" (1
Timothy 6:20 RSVCE). "[T]he Lord's servant must not be
quarrelsome but kindly" (2 Timothy 2:24). * * *
Living
out my Catholic faith can be, at times, difficult. But, such has also
been an exercise in humility and meekness. When first opening myself
to the presence of Christ, I was extremely timid and avoided all
forms of debate. Similarly, there was a strong tendency to steer away
from discussing anything in the realms of faith and religion because
I had not developed any reasoned opinions. Plus, the bickering and
division witnessed in others was not appealing: "The blow of a
whip raises a welt, but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones"
(Sirach 28:17). Today, however, firm positions have been adopted and
developed. Even so, I tend to avoid debates...that is, unless the
atmosphere is ripe to gently sprinkle seeds or bear fruit. Whether
planting or harvesting, caution must be exercised to ensure that
pride or ego or anger have not emerged as my motivating forces
(Psalms 39:1-3); the ultimate inquiry being: Will this, that, the
other glorify God? There are many opportunities to evangelize in this
community; but, sometimes more can be accomplished if silence is
maintained ("there are times when good words are to be left
unsaid out of esteem for silence" Rule of Saint Benedict 6.2).
Of the Christian classes which I have been blessed to receive
admission over the past several years, all have been non-Catholic in
theological and philosophical perspectives (save but a few
correspondence courses). This notwithstanding, a tremendous volume of
insight has been gleaned. Also, a greater understanding and love of
our separated brothers and sisters has manifested.
While attending
an elective philosophy class recently, the facilitator made the
following comment: "Holy Scripture is black and white, there are
no shades of gray." Hmph, my Bible has red, too! (Yeah, that
last comment was clearly a tad juvenile on my part...bad Karl!) The
facilitator continued: "No dot or iota can be altered or added
or removed." Okay, I can dig it! But a short time into the
lecture he read the following swath from our Lord's discourse on the
Living Bread: "I am the living bread which came down from
heaven...he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life"
(John 6:51-54).
Admittedly, those are pretty difficult words
which Jesus spoke. If you read this brief text from the pages of your
Bible, it will be noticed that these phrases are repeated several
times with the same emphasis. Yet, our facilitator dismissed such as
hyperbole: "Surely, we are not to believe that Jesus was
referring to his actual flesh and blood, the text is only meant to be
understood in the spiritual context, symbolic."
These
passe comments were met with bobbing heads of acceptance from the
class. For those who know me, I have a tremendous reverence for
Christ in his Eucharistic presence...oh, goodness, is such ever
intense. As a result, I was conflicted with what to do. For lack of a
more genteel expression, because this was a Protestant class in which
I had been invited, seldom would I voice a Catholic perspective. Yet,
this time there had been a bugger clawing at me: If I failed to
engage, would those who were present assume my ascent? Plus, there
exists the weight of being charged to promote the truth (2 Timothy
1:14, 2:15; James 5:19-29), even in the face of adversity (Matthew
5:10-11; John 15:20; 2 Timothy 3:12; Galatians 4:16). Aargh! Poked
and prodded if not by the Holy Spirit then by the spirit of a pope
past, I felt like Moses when God asked him to address Israel: "'Oh,
my Lord, I am not eloquent...I am slow of speech and of tongue'"
(Exodus 4:10).
Waiting for a moment when there would be limited
disturbance to the lecture, I put my plow to the field and kicked the
mule. With respect and gentleness, permission was given to the
facilitator to stop my address if at anytime he felt uncomfortable
(not as though he needed license, it was his class).
Sweaty
palms and a steeled voice, I began trampling weeds and cultivating
the seedbed. At the outset, it was conceded that God's word is indeed
"black and white" with no room to add or remove (see
Matthew 5:18; Luke 16:17; also Mark 13:31). But, this was where
concessions ended. Referring to the Greek definitions of "eat"
and "drink" in the context of the disputed text, such
wholly supports the Catholic position of the Real Presence in the
Eucharist. What becomes glaringly evident, other variations of the
same words are available in Greek which endorse a symbolic
application, but such were not employed by Christ.
To further
bolster the veracity of the Catholic interpretation is a contention
between Jesus and many of his followers who, like my class,
complained: "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it"
(John 6:60-61). A few verses later, our Lord accuses these
discouraged souls of lacking faith (6:64a). Soon after, "many of
his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him"
(6:66). Recognizing beforehand that his words would be troublesome
(6:64b), our Lord could have changed his intent or application, but
he chose not to. Moreover, when seeing many of his followers flock
away, Jesus could have called them all back and expressed that they
had misunderstood; but, he didn't. Actually, they understood quite
well.
Alas, "[w]hoever, therefore, eats the bread or
drinks the cup in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the
body and blood of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 11:17). Whoa, there
is a wallop of heavy evidence which weighs in favor of something much
more than a mere symbol. Even more stern are the following words:
"For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats
and drinks judgment upon himself...[t]hat is why many of you are weak
and ill" (11:29-30). Ouch! It's pretty difficult to be much
clearer.
The counter was complete. Being that this was an
elective class consisting of mature Christians studying philosophy,
there was little fear of discouraging one's spiritual journey.
Instead, there was anxiety over any negative fallout being directed
towards me. None. Nadda. Nothing. There was no further discussion or
grunting or anything, we simply moved on with the lecture. In a
peculiar way, this befuddled me...I wanted a little push back, some
passion about their convictions...did they hear a word of what I drew
from scripture...I was mounted on my mule and ready to charge, ahem,
or gallop away (uh, aimlessly saunter).
* * *
Please, do not
think that this was a win in the sense that "Karl and his mule
broadcast Catholic seeds all throughout the fields of Kingdom Come."
Though, indeed a victory, said triumph was not how one would
generally perceive.
Thanks to the programs which I have been
invited to participate, I now possess confidence where such was
absent. Also, the past several years in the Prison Fellowship Faith
Dorm have provided an atmosphere where differing faiths and
traditions and beliefs can be shared constructively. Yes, there have
been struggles and persecutions suffered, but viewed appropriately we
have all been able to learn how to navigate such. The calmness with
which the above exchange unfolded exemplifies the growth of all
present. I am greatly indebted to the facilitators and community for
providing a climate which is conducive to germination. If not for
these blessings and tribulations, I would still be a fledgling
Christian (well, more so than currently). Thank you.
Marana tha
Saturday, July 22, 2017
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
I Offer You
Within
a devotional prayer titled the Chaplet of Divine Mercy there is a
segment in which one will encounter the following proclamation:
"Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and
Divinity, of your dearly beloved Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, in
atonement for our sins and those of the whole world." This
expression can be quite humbling; but also difficult, especially for
the unprepared.
Attending a Holy Communion service recently, the extraordinary minister called an audible (an unsuspected change of direction) during our worship. He suggested that we collectively spend some time in silence.
When he had led us down this path on a previous occasion, Jesus was still on the altar and we were blessed with an opportunity for Eucharistic adoration. An awesome experience. However, this audible was announced after our Lord had been consumed. Hmph.
It must be conceded, I was a little buggered that our extraordinary minister waited until this juncture to make such an announcement. Could he not have promulgated these intentions prior to Jesus being consumed? Ah, perhaps he was just following the promptings of the Holy Spirit! Or, like me, he was wrestling with (ignoring) the Holy Spirit like I do and had at that late moment responded!
As I sat there and stewed (pouted) like an uncouth Neanderthal, I began reflecting on those words cited earlier from the Chaplet. Jesus, in his entirety, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, was inside me at that moment. Just minutes before I had ingested him.
Also, recalling the reflections shared after one of the liturgical readings of the service (Acts 2:42-47), I pondered how we are counseled to die to self, that each time we approach the altar we are to have the disposition and intention of offering ourselves fully to God. How much more complete could my sacrifice be: Here I am God, your Son, his fullness within me, I offer myself in conjunction with him, to do with me what you will....
Sobering. Humbling. Scary. All of my thoughts and emotions zigzagged and collided in a variety of variables. The implications of the Chaplet and our response to our Lord took on new dimensions. Whoa!
Admittedly, I feel a bit silly about my earlier grievances of not being able to enjoy Eucharist adoration during the worship service. Instead, I was able to set self desires aside and offer myself more undividedly to God (still have a ways to go).
When will I learn to simply trust! Silly....
Marana tha
Attending a Holy Communion service recently, the extraordinary minister called an audible (an unsuspected change of direction) during our worship. He suggested that we collectively spend some time in silence.
When he had led us down this path on a previous occasion, Jesus was still on the altar and we were blessed with an opportunity for Eucharistic adoration. An awesome experience. However, this audible was announced after our Lord had been consumed. Hmph.
It must be conceded, I was a little buggered that our extraordinary minister waited until this juncture to make such an announcement. Could he not have promulgated these intentions prior to Jesus being consumed? Ah, perhaps he was just following the promptings of the Holy Spirit! Or, like me, he was wrestling with (ignoring) the Holy Spirit like I do and had at that late moment responded!
As I sat there and stewed (pouted) like an uncouth Neanderthal, I began reflecting on those words cited earlier from the Chaplet. Jesus, in his entirety, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, was inside me at that moment. Just minutes before I had ingested him.
Also, recalling the reflections shared after one of the liturgical readings of the service (Acts 2:42-47), I pondered how we are counseled to die to self, that each time we approach the altar we are to have the disposition and intention of offering ourselves fully to God. How much more complete could my sacrifice be: Here I am God, your Son, his fullness within me, I offer myself in conjunction with him, to do with me what you will....
Sobering. Humbling. Scary. All of my thoughts and emotions zigzagged and collided in a variety of variables. The implications of the Chaplet and our response to our Lord took on new dimensions. Whoa!
Admittedly, I feel a bit silly about my earlier grievances of not being able to enjoy Eucharist adoration during the worship service. Instead, I was able to set self desires aside and offer myself more undividedly to God (still have a ways to go).
When will I learn to simply trust! Silly....
Marana tha
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Forgiveness
In the prayer which Jesus taught to the apostles, there is a line which has caused havoc in my life: "[F]orgive us our trespasses [a]s we forgive those who trespass against us" (Matthew 6:12 RSVCE 2d). This particular proposition rang a bell while I was still wrestling with whether belief in God was objectively true or a bunch of subjective hocus pocus. Chewing on this passage, I had latched onto "as," a seemingly innocuous pronoun. To this day, the reverberations of this quantifier continue to resonate. Hence, the "havoc" referred to moments earlier.
The ding-donging of this spiritual gong brought with it a recognition that a response in the form of duty or performance was fundamental, a gate keeping mechanism. Such a threshold obligation ultimately gave credence to the whole Jesus thing. This amounted to another piece of evidence which added to the reasonableness of Christianity. Coincidentally, the soundness of this theology impacted my everyday life before having entered the Church!
It's no secret that I have always struggled with forgiving myself for the ugliness which landed me in prison (such will not be rehashed in this essay, read my earlier writings). Several years ago a milestone had been reached in which the strength and wherewithal to forgive myself had been a result - mind you, this is an on going process, never static or complete. Unequivocally, some days are more difficult than others (again, detailed accounts are written elsewhere).
All of the aforementioned has been presented as a refresher and segue into God's forgiveness of me.
Ever since I became a Jesus freak, people who are aware of my difficulties in forgiving self have inquired as to whether I know that our Lord has forgiven me. Well, in response, yes and no. Though, the "no" has always been kept to myself. Intellectually, on paper, if you will, it was recognized that God had forgiven me. However, I didn't know this grace in my soul.
You may not understand this, but it has never mattered to me whether forgiveness was attained from our Lord! I feel so horrible about the past...whatever happens to me will be just. So you may ask, "Why bother becoming a rootin' tootin' Christian?" Because I love Jesus. If I can draw souls to him, I will have made a difference. In the off chance that somebody can be prevented from making the same errors in judgment that I did, wow. By bringing people to Christ, perhaps there will be one less victim of crime. If God embraces them...awesome, awesome, awesome.
Surely, with the relationship I have grown to enjoy with Jesus and his Mother, not to mention my religious education and prayer life, one would not dare suspect that I held such reservations about God's forgiveness. Perhaps I am an anomaly! Could be that I am slow to see: "How many times I yearned to gather you, as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you were unwilling" (Matthew 23:37, translation unknown).
On the morning of the Feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle (also known as, Doubting Thomas, see Luke 20:19-29), with no noticeable sequitur, it became clear in my soul, in my heart, in my very essence, that God has indeed forgiven me. An "aha" moment of the most savory variety.
Using deductive reasoning: If I was unforgivable, the Holy Spirit would not have allocated so many resources to rescue me. He would not have helped me understand his teachings and infused me with the confidence to share the same with others. And, he would not have showered me with blessings and the capacity to recognize such. If I was forever damned, these riches would have been invested elsewhere.
On a side note: Several hours after arriving at these conclusions, two religious (nuns) came to visit for the afternoon. One being my spiritual director; the other, her sidekick, was a first meeting. Coincidence? I think not.
And, on yet another note, the shining beacon to close this celebration of forgiveness consisted of fireworks peeking over the distant trees. No kidding, fireworks. Neat! Memorable.
Yahoo, God has indeed forgiven me! And, I now possess a knowledge of this forgiveness. How incredibly freeing. If only I could have shared such with my dad....
Marana tha
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
God Does Exist
"If
upon entering some home you saw that everything there was
well-tended, neat and decorative, you would believe that some master
was in charge of it, and that he was himself much superior to those
good things. So too in the home of this world, when you see
providence, order, and law in the heavens and on earth, believe that
there is a Lord and Author of the universe, more beautiful than the
stars themselves and the various parts of the whole world"
(Minucius Felix, "Octavius" A.D. 218/235). * * *
For those of you who have a relationship with our Lord, the title of this essay probably seems a little daft or trite. Or, possibly, you are anticipating some grand expression of profundity. Nope! Instead, an oversight in Christian evangelization is the focus. A potential failure, more specifically.
In what is often referred to as the Great Commission, Jesus commands the apostles to "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20; also Mark 16:15 RSVCE). In conjunction with this apostolic mandate, we, as laypeople, are charged with similar responsibilities: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). Likewise, "that we may be fellow workers in the truth" as we support the clergy (3 John 8). Approximately fifty years ago, the Second Vatican Council of the Catholic Church provided additional insight and guidance: "Each individual layman must stand before the world as a witness to the resurrection and life of the Lord Jesus and...each one according to his ability must nourish the world with spiritual fruits...announcing...Christ by a living testimony as well as by the spoken word" (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, sects 35, 38).
Such expressions of responsibility are fine and dandy, but what about the poor soul we accost who has no relationship with Christ? All too common is the propensity to run around spreading the gospel by knocking people over the head with biblical passages which condemn them for being sinners. Oh, and there is the tendency to assail them with the necessity of salvation. Or, to the other extreme, an invitation of happy go lucky utopia is proffered - that is, if they can conjure the ubiquitous faith needed. It has been my observation that unless a person is in dire straits or sick and tired of the life they are mired in, chances are they could give a hoot less about the medicine being peddled out of the Jesus wagon.
Tragically, contemporary culture is at a crossroads where everybody is being encouraged to embrace individualism at the cost of modesty and humanity. Relativism. Further, we have devolved to a point where many do not grasp the pangs of sin or the supernatural grace of sanctification. Thus, it can be noticed that God and the Church and the Bible present little consequence to those who do not already have a relationship with the Creator. This is not a thumbing of noses to God; rather, disinterest or unappreciated value.
It should be noted that these opinions are being developed from a unique vantage point: For the past five years I have been living (incarcerated) in a Christian faith dorm. A moderate percentage possess a rapport with Jesus. Conversely, a high percentage do not (they are here to discern whether Christianity is in the cards for them).
Taking an impromptu survey, I asked random faithful to describe how they know God exists. The result was frighteningly appalling. Most could not articulate valid reasoning beyond pat answers: "Because the Bible says so" or "That's the way I was raised!" Ouch. To a nonbeliever looking for sustenance or answers to the big questions of life, uh, such empty and anorexic professions of faith would be discouraging (not that I am relegating Holy Scripture to a barren state...you know what I meant). Unanticipated was a comment by a fellow believer: "Karl, stop worrying so much about this stuff, relax!" I was totally flabbergasted and, for the first time in quite awhile, speechless.
As alluded to earlier, we cannot effectively launch into evangelization from the standpoint that a damaged person needs to be saved. In their minds, saved from what: "Why does consummating the relationship with my girlfriend have to be a so-called sin; after all, I enjoy the euphoric sensations?" "For pete sakes, what is the practicality of loving my enemy; he's an idiot?" and "Why must I give up this, that, and the other to appease some deity in a book - I enjoy the life which you refer to as damned?" "Anyway, you're not perfect, either, you silly Bible thumping buffoon!"
Yet, even for those who are curious about the possibility of becoming Christian, starting with the incarnation and faith and morals and salvation and the crucifixion and resurrection and second coming is problematic. Suffocating. Setting the tone with the big questions of life may be more advantageous: "Who am I?" "Why am I here?" and "Where am I going?"
For me, before becoming receptive to Christ, I did not want to hear all of the Jesus hocus pocus. Such made no sense. One of the catalysts for conversion was when I began thinking about the "big questions" of life and existence, what is real and good, trying discern plausible reasons of why everything seems work together in a complimentary manner. It was then that God began to make some semblance of sense to me. Mind you, the doctrines which eventually followed surrounding sin and working out one's salvation and a whole litany of other foreign teachings are different stories altogether!
So, beginning with a philosophical exploration of the big questions of life, setting our Lord and his scripture aside temporarily, we are able to non-violently and non-offensively draw reasoned answers to these queries.
Now what? No God. No Bible. Thus, no theology. How will we evangelize? Philosophy does not have to be stodgy. Such is the perfect vehicle for contemporary evangelization. That is, provided the application is Christian based. Sound reason is the key. Get a person to reflect on why he or she exists, why we have the innate ability to know right from wrong aside from laws, why humans possess the capacity to reason and exercise free will when no other living entity (plant/animal) does, and the list goes on.
Once a person begins to recognize some appearance of intelligent design (or at least cannot deny such), then evangelization can introduce God as the force behind all that is. Mind you, not sin and salvation and faith (save those for another time), but starting with the foundation of our beginnings, the creation story, Book of Genesis.
It is quite possible that I am misdirected: My understanding of philosophy is hugely limited and wanting; yet, there seems to be a practicality to employing such to lay a solid foundation of reasoning to answer: Does God exist....
"It is one thing to be persuaded of the existence of something, and another thing entirely to know what it is. That God does exist and and that He is the efficient and sustaining Cause of all things is taught us by our eyes and by the order in nature: our eyes, because they light upon visible objects and behold in them their beautiful stability and progress, immovably moving and revolving if I may so express it; and the order in nature, because upon beholding these visible and orderly things we reason back to their Author" (Saint Gregory, "Second Theological Oration" A.D. 380).
Marana tha
_______________________
For those of you who have a relationship with our Lord, the title of this essay probably seems a little daft or trite. Or, possibly, you are anticipating some grand expression of profundity. Nope! Instead, an oversight in Christian evangelization is the focus. A potential failure, more specifically.
In what is often referred to as the Great Commission, Jesus commands the apostles to "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20; also Mark 16:15 RSVCE). In conjunction with this apostolic mandate, we, as laypeople, are charged with similar responsibilities: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). Likewise, "that we may be fellow workers in the truth" as we support the clergy (3 John 8). Approximately fifty years ago, the Second Vatican Council of the Catholic Church provided additional insight and guidance: "Each individual layman must stand before the world as a witness to the resurrection and life of the Lord Jesus and...each one according to his ability must nourish the world with spiritual fruits...announcing...Christ by a living testimony as well as by the spoken word" (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, sects 35, 38).
Such expressions of responsibility are fine and dandy, but what about the poor soul we accost who has no relationship with Christ? All too common is the propensity to run around spreading the gospel by knocking people over the head with biblical passages which condemn them for being sinners. Oh, and there is the tendency to assail them with the necessity of salvation. Or, to the other extreme, an invitation of happy go lucky utopia is proffered - that is, if they can conjure the ubiquitous faith needed. It has been my observation that unless a person is in dire straits or sick and tired of the life they are mired in, chances are they could give a hoot less about the medicine being peddled out of the Jesus wagon.
Tragically, contemporary culture is at a crossroads where everybody is being encouraged to embrace individualism at the cost of modesty and humanity. Relativism. Further, we have devolved to a point where many do not grasp the pangs of sin or the supernatural grace of sanctification. Thus, it can be noticed that God and the Church and the Bible present little consequence to those who do not already have a relationship with the Creator. This is not a thumbing of noses to God; rather, disinterest or unappreciated value.
It should be noted that these opinions are being developed from a unique vantage point: For the past five years I have been living (incarcerated) in a Christian faith dorm. A moderate percentage possess a rapport with Jesus. Conversely, a high percentage do not (they are here to discern whether Christianity is in the cards for them).
Taking an impromptu survey, I asked random faithful to describe how they know God exists. The result was frighteningly appalling. Most could not articulate valid reasoning beyond pat answers: "Because the Bible says so" or "That's the way I was raised!" Ouch. To a nonbeliever looking for sustenance or answers to the big questions of life, uh, such empty and anorexic professions of faith would be discouraging (not that I am relegating Holy Scripture to a barren state...you know what I meant). Unanticipated was a comment by a fellow believer: "Karl, stop worrying so much about this stuff, relax!" I was totally flabbergasted and, for the first time in quite awhile, speechless.
As alluded to earlier, we cannot effectively launch into evangelization from the standpoint that a damaged person needs to be saved. In their minds, saved from what: "Why does consummating the relationship with my girlfriend have to be a so-called sin; after all, I enjoy the euphoric sensations?" "For pete sakes, what is the practicality of loving my enemy; he's an idiot?" and "Why must I give up this, that, and the other to appease some deity in a book - I enjoy the life which you refer to as damned?" "Anyway, you're not perfect, either, you silly Bible thumping buffoon!"
Yet, even for those who are curious about the possibility of becoming Christian, starting with the incarnation and faith and morals and salvation and the crucifixion and resurrection and second coming is problematic. Suffocating. Setting the tone with the big questions of life may be more advantageous: "Who am I?" "Why am I here?" and "Where am I going?"
For me, before becoming receptive to Christ, I did not want to hear all of the Jesus hocus pocus. Such made no sense. One of the catalysts for conversion was when I began thinking about the "big questions" of life and existence, what is real and good, trying discern plausible reasons of why everything seems work together in a complimentary manner. It was then that God began to make some semblance of sense to me. Mind you, the doctrines which eventually followed surrounding sin and working out one's salvation and a whole litany of other foreign teachings are different stories altogether!
So, beginning with a philosophical exploration of the big questions of life, setting our Lord and his scripture aside temporarily, we are able to non-violently and non-offensively draw reasoned answers to these queries.
Now what? No God. No Bible. Thus, no theology. How will we evangelize? Philosophy does not have to be stodgy. Such is the perfect vehicle for contemporary evangelization. That is, provided the application is Christian based. Sound reason is the key. Get a person to reflect on why he or she exists, why we have the innate ability to know right from wrong aside from laws, why humans possess the capacity to reason and exercise free will when no other living entity (plant/animal) does, and the list goes on.
Once a person begins to recognize some appearance of intelligent design (or at least cannot deny such), then evangelization can introduce God as the force behind all that is. Mind you, not sin and salvation and faith (save those for another time), but starting with the foundation of our beginnings, the creation story, Book of Genesis.
It is quite possible that I am misdirected: My understanding of philosophy is hugely limited and wanting; yet, there seems to be a practicality to employing such to lay a solid foundation of reasoning to answer: Does God exist....
"It is one thing to be persuaded of the existence of something, and another thing entirely to know what it is. That God does exist and and that He is the efficient and sustaining Cause of all things is taught us by our eyes and by the order in nature: our eyes, because they light upon visible objects and behold in them their beautiful stability and progress, immovably moving and revolving if I may so express it; and the order in nature, because upon beholding these visible and orderly things we reason back to their Author" (Saint Gregory, "Second Theological Oration" A.D. 380).
Marana tha
_______________________
Saturday, July 8, 2017
Sabbatical
Those
who possess the wherewithal to stay focused and maintain their
particular trajectories in life with full vigor...well, I admire you.
My capacity to remain amped up is like the weather - some days are
sunny and inviting, others are stormy and discouraging. So as to
avoid burnout, several interests are maintained; emphasis given in a
particular pursuit until enthusiasm wanes and then energies are
switched to an alternative focus or task. Thus, a certain level of
accomplishment can be sustained. However, there are those times when
exhaustion begins to take its toll and a sabbatical is called for.
For those who know me, God and Church and community consume much of my day, week, life. So, when I begin feeling overwhelmed... well, it is essentially from our Lord which I seek a vacation! Don't scrunch your face in abhorrent disgust that I'd be so crass to say something so impious, it's not as though I have run away from Jesus. Our relationship remains in place, but I do reduce my disciplines to the bare minimum as I recuperate. Shame on you for thinking otherwise! Dastardly.
Typically, much more time is devoted to outside activities and television and snacking when enjoying the relaxed state of a sabbatical. This particular break stretched for nearly two weeks. I was recharged a couple of days earlier, but had opted to take a few extra days...well, just because. Oh, how little we can sneak past God - his sense of humor made me the posterior to his punchlines!
On one of the days beyond recuperation, I encountered a fella during my walk who I'd never spoken to before. Passing by, I inquired about the state of his day. Oh my gosh, he was filled with more cursing than I've ever heard and a similar amount of complaint. Now, I am not a prude; sometimes words and phrases purge from my lips which are neither glorifying or dignified. Sparingly, mind you, but it does happen. Hey, wait, doesn't Jesus counsel us to approach people where they're at (cf Romans 14:16, 19)! Anyway, just one expletive after another. It was horrible, even by locker room standards. I searched and searched for a way to politely disengage, but he would not take so much as a breath. No joking, he was actually breathing hard. At one point, he thanked me for listening and expressed that he had not spoken to anyone in some time.
Ah, his grievances were at a close and I could.... Nope. Without missing a beat he cussed along. Finally, I broke etiquette and cut him off, inquiring whether he had anything positive to say.
Well, he had a couple of pleasant words and then fell back into his previous rant. Finally, I excused myself.
Picking up my pace so this troubled soul could not attach himself any further (sounds cold, I know...gosh, maybe I am prudish), two other people latched onto me. Thankfully, the nouns, adjectives, and verbs were moderate. Though, the topics of discussion were more in the realm of what had just previously been suffered. Geesh! As I knew these fellas, it was easier to break away.
Getting off the beaten path, I began doing some calisthenics. Ah, some much wanted peace. Thoughts could form and it was possible to simply bask in the beauty of the morning breeze.
Since I was already barefoot from my exercise (better balance), I opted to walk the rest of the morning with my toes licking the dew from the grass.
Ugh, my serenity was immediately punctuated when my thoughts had entered the ethers of daydreaming. So much for reveling in barefoot adventures reminiscent of Huck Finn.... The uncouth timing and gall of some people! This person, a friend, simply wanted to talk. Ah, but we were able to talk about God. No cussing. No cursing. The irony? My friend is agnostic.
As we wandered, I shared the hiccups encountered throughout the morning and how I was feeling my Lord poking me with an unspoken message: "Little child, it is time for you to return to me, you have enjoyed sufficient time to recharge your batteries!" Of course, as we pondered this perceived exchange, I had inferred that there would be a consequence if the Holy Spirit was ignored: If I his call to return was not heeded, there existed a potential that every following day would be consumed with untimely interruptions and the peace sought after would forever vanish!
Either I have an overactive imagination or my sabbatical was over. Yes, I observed my scolding and returned to the arms of the Lord. Recharged. Full of vigor. On fire. * * *
"Just as God rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done, human life has a rhythm of work and rest...the Lord's Day helps everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familial, cultural, social, and religious lives" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2184).
Marana tha
For those who know me, God and Church and community consume much of my day, week, life. So, when I begin feeling overwhelmed... well, it is essentially from our Lord which I seek a vacation! Don't scrunch your face in abhorrent disgust that I'd be so crass to say something so impious, it's not as though I have run away from Jesus. Our relationship remains in place, but I do reduce my disciplines to the bare minimum as I recuperate. Shame on you for thinking otherwise! Dastardly.
Typically, much more time is devoted to outside activities and television and snacking when enjoying the relaxed state of a sabbatical. This particular break stretched for nearly two weeks. I was recharged a couple of days earlier, but had opted to take a few extra days...well, just because. Oh, how little we can sneak past God - his sense of humor made me the posterior to his punchlines!
On one of the days beyond recuperation, I encountered a fella during my walk who I'd never spoken to before. Passing by, I inquired about the state of his day. Oh my gosh, he was filled with more cursing than I've ever heard and a similar amount of complaint. Now, I am not a prude; sometimes words and phrases purge from my lips which are neither glorifying or dignified. Sparingly, mind you, but it does happen. Hey, wait, doesn't Jesus counsel us to approach people where they're at (cf Romans 14:16, 19)! Anyway, just one expletive after another. It was horrible, even by locker room standards. I searched and searched for a way to politely disengage, but he would not take so much as a breath. No joking, he was actually breathing hard. At one point, he thanked me for listening and expressed that he had not spoken to anyone in some time.
Ah, his grievances were at a close and I could.... Nope. Without missing a beat he cussed along. Finally, I broke etiquette and cut him off, inquiring whether he had anything positive to say.
Well, he had a couple of pleasant words and then fell back into his previous rant. Finally, I excused myself.
Picking up my pace so this troubled soul could not attach himself any further (sounds cold, I know...gosh, maybe I am prudish), two other people latched onto me. Thankfully, the nouns, adjectives, and verbs were moderate. Though, the topics of discussion were more in the realm of what had just previously been suffered. Geesh! As I knew these fellas, it was easier to break away.
Getting off the beaten path, I began doing some calisthenics. Ah, some much wanted peace. Thoughts could form and it was possible to simply bask in the beauty of the morning breeze.
Since I was already barefoot from my exercise (better balance), I opted to walk the rest of the morning with my toes licking the dew from the grass.
Ugh, my serenity was immediately punctuated when my thoughts had entered the ethers of daydreaming. So much for reveling in barefoot adventures reminiscent of Huck Finn.... The uncouth timing and gall of some people! This person, a friend, simply wanted to talk. Ah, but we were able to talk about God. No cussing. No cursing. The irony? My friend is agnostic.
As we wandered, I shared the hiccups encountered throughout the morning and how I was feeling my Lord poking me with an unspoken message: "Little child, it is time for you to return to me, you have enjoyed sufficient time to recharge your batteries!" Of course, as we pondered this perceived exchange, I had inferred that there would be a consequence if the Holy Spirit was ignored: If I his call to return was not heeded, there existed a potential that every following day would be consumed with untimely interruptions and the peace sought after would forever vanish!
Either I have an overactive imagination or my sabbatical was over. Yes, I observed my scolding and returned to the arms of the Lord. Recharged. Full of vigor. On fire. * * *
"Just as God rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done, human life has a rhythm of work and rest...the Lord's Day helps everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familial, cultural, social, and religious lives" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2184).
Marana tha
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Apologetics
Attending
a class recently, Building on God's Foundation: A New Community,
students were asked to gather into small groups for discussion. Not
one who is overly enamored with cliques, I opted for a table with two
people who seemed to garner no attention, possible outcasts. The
gentleman who was initially sitting with me had likewise followed
suit. The topic of discussion focused on the Story of Nicodemus (John
3:1-21). You know, the narrative between Jesus and the Pharisee who
was confounded about salvation and how he was to reenter the womb and
be born again. As a grown man, at that. Of course, as many of are
wont to do, Nicodemus was looking at this teaching from a temporal
perspective, not recognizing that Jesus was speaking of being born
again by water and Spirit. The common quantifier, of course, being
faith.
Our religious traditions consisted of a hodgepodge. One who subscribed to Pentecostal Protestantism. A Messianic Jew. Of course, yours truly representing Catholicism. And, a fella who had yet to make up his mind about God.
It is curious how the Holy Spirit brings opposites together. Sense of humor?
The groups were given five points to navigate concerning the text. We did not make it past the initial leg of the query: "When Nicodemus asked Jesus about salvation, what does Jesus say?" Silly me, I regularly struggle to stay on task and, in this particular instance, I was curious about what each person thought about salvation from their individual or traditional perspectives. Specifically, does the doctrine of salvation (being saved) consist of a single or continual event?
Yep, for those of you who know how volatile this query can be...well, I sure can pick 'em! This not so little rabbit trail, by the way, was the path in which we collectively learned of our religious differences. But, much to my relief, we each handled our interactions and dissimilarities with dignity. Jesus was proud this afternoon!
As with any mixed bag, our topic of choice fractured into other areas. Of particular interest, I spoke of there being venial and mortal sins, how mortal sins sever the covenant with God. An extenuation of salvation. O yeah, that bunny hop sparked a response from the Pentecostal gentleman. He stood atop his soapbox and professed that "all sin is sin and therefore equally offensive." Hmph! Not being the first time this flawed notion had been heard (such is actually quite popular in this environment), I calmly grabbed my Bible - coincidentally, me, the Catholic, was the only soul at our table to bring the Word of God, go figure - and turned to the following passage: "If anyone sees his brother committing what is not a deadly sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not deadly." In and of themselves, these words indicate different categories of sin. However, to ensure understanding, the text restates itself immediately following the preceding statement: "There is sin which is deadly...." And, again: "All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not deadly." (1 John 5:16, 17 RSVCE). Without a hint of superiority, I asked our Pentecostal friend how he understood the magnitude of those words?
To keep you informed of the other rabbit chasers, the Messianic Jew was on my page. The undecided gentleman simply listened and occasionally asked for clarification. It is so pleasing that we all remained cordial.
The response received was not what had been anticipated. I had really thought that the "all sin is the same" gentleman would recognize the hiccup in his reasoning and embrace what had been clearly placed before him in Scripture. Nope. I am indeed naive. Instead, he seemed to not be deterred and continued to embrace the faultiness of what he had been erroneously taught. Even the undecided gentleman connected the dots; albeit, it is unlikely that the significance was appreciated. I will reach out to him at another time, soon.
With my Pentecostal friend it can only be hoped that the seed has been planted and he is currently wrestling with the logistics.
Later, after the class, I happened upon my evangelical friend and we explored some other teachings. All culminated with the same "agree to disagree" yawn. Unwilling to let this rabbit to hide in the darkness of briers, I am going to slide him scriptural passages which support what we had bumped heads on. Because we had remained genteel and non combative, I am reasonably confident that he will hop away.
On a funny and related turn: While my confused Pentecostal friend and I were engaged after class, a booming voice could be heard in our proximity which was chanting: "Get 'em, you can get him, I know you can...." Initially, the two of us were ignoring the words, perceiving that such vocal encouragements were related to a ballgame airing on the community television. Finally looking up, we both saw the undecided gentleman prompting me to keep on with what I was saying. It is not clear if such was in jest, but he had a big smile and seemed to grasp what was happening.
Perhaps more than one seed has been planted? Is it too optimistic to hope that a small crop of fruit is on the way? Yahoo! As a result, your prayers are needed so that not only will their hearts be receptive, but that I will be open to the Holy Spirit's guidance so so as to not do any adverse damage. Thank you.
A great appreciation must be extended to all of the apostolates (ministries) and individuals who provided the resources and encouragement to share and defend Jesus. This is apologetics. I am indebted.
Marana tha
Our religious traditions consisted of a hodgepodge. One who subscribed to Pentecostal Protestantism. A Messianic Jew. Of course, yours truly representing Catholicism. And, a fella who had yet to make up his mind about God.
It is curious how the Holy Spirit brings opposites together. Sense of humor?
The groups were given five points to navigate concerning the text. We did not make it past the initial leg of the query: "When Nicodemus asked Jesus about salvation, what does Jesus say?" Silly me, I regularly struggle to stay on task and, in this particular instance, I was curious about what each person thought about salvation from their individual or traditional perspectives. Specifically, does the doctrine of salvation (being saved) consist of a single or continual event?
Yep, for those of you who know how volatile this query can be...well, I sure can pick 'em! This not so little rabbit trail, by the way, was the path in which we collectively learned of our religious differences. But, much to my relief, we each handled our interactions and dissimilarities with dignity. Jesus was proud this afternoon!
As with any mixed bag, our topic of choice fractured into other areas. Of particular interest, I spoke of there being venial and mortal sins, how mortal sins sever the covenant with God. An extenuation of salvation. O yeah, that bunny hop sparked a response from the Pentecostal gentleman. He stood atop his soapbox and professed that "all sin is sin and therefore equally offensive." Hmph! Not being the first time this flawed notion had been heard (such is actually quite popular in this environment), I calmly grabbed my Bible - coincidentally, me, the Catholic, was the only soul at our table to bring the Word of God, go figure - and turned to the following passage: "If anyone sees his brother committing what is not a deadly sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not deadly." In and of themselves, these words indicate different categories of sin. However, to ensure understanding, the text restates itself immediately following the preceding statement: "There is sin which is deadly...." And, again: "All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin which is not deadly." (1 John 5:16, 17 RSVCE). Without a hint of superiority, I asked our Pentecostal friend how he understood the magnitude of those words?
To keep you informed of the other rabbit chasers, the Messianic Jew was on my page. The undecided gentleman simply listened and occasionally asked for clarification. It is so pleasing that we all remained cordial.
The response received was not what had been anticipated. I had really thought that the "all sin is the same" gentleman would recognize the hiccup in his reasoning and embrace what had been clearly placed before him in Scripture. Nope. I am indeed naive. Instead, he seemed to not be deterred and continued to embrace the faultiness of what he had been erroneously taught. Even the undecided gentleman connected the dots; albeit, it is unlikely that the significance was appreciated. I will reach out to him at another time, soon.
With my Pentecostal friend it can only be hoped that the seed has been planted and he is currently wrestling with the logistics.
Later, after the class, I happened upon my evangelical friend and we explored some other teachings. All culminated with the same "agree to disagree" yawn. Unwilling to let this rabbit to hide in the darkness of briers, I am going to slide him scriptural passages which support what we had bumped heads on. Because we had remained genteel and non combative, I am reasonably confident that he will hop away.
On a funny and related turn: While my confused Pentecostal friend and I were engaged after class, a booming voice could be heard in our proximity which was chanting: "Get 'em, you can get him, I know you can...." Initially, the two of us were ignoring the words, perceiving that such vocal encouragements were related to a ballgame airing on the community television. Finally looking up, we both saw the undecided gentleman prompting me to keep on with what I was saying. It is not clear if such was in jest, but he had a big smile and seemed to grasp what was happening.
Perhaps more than one seed has been planted? Is it too optimistic to hope that a small crop of fruit is on the way? Yahoo! As a result, your prayers are needed so that not only will their hearts be receptive, but that I will be open to the Holy Spirit's guidance so so as to not do any adverse damage. Thank you.
A great appreciation must be extended to all of the apostolates (ministries) and individuals who provided the resources and encouragement to share and defend Jesus. This is apologetics. I am indebted.
Marana tha
Sunday, July 2, 2017
Bride of Christ
Do
you ever wish that our Lord would have prescribed different language
in the Bible? No, I am not referring to easier commandments and less
burdensome expectations. Instead, it is those phrases which come
across wonky or simply do not appear to be applicable to contemporary
culture.
I like to think of myself as a manly man. In my heart of hearts, it is believed that others perceive the same of me. Mind you, I am also balanced by a softer side, too. Compassion. Empathy. Understanding. And, yes, love. This gentler disposition notwithstanding, what was Jesus thinking when he employed the imagery of him being the bridegroom and us the bride?
In the current climate of our culture the application of "bride" to my identity causes me to squirm. Why that noun? Buddy, pal, friend, chum, confidant, sidekick, or a host of other monikers would more pleasantly have sufficed. No matter how secure a fella is in his masculinity, such a frilly designation is unsettling. It is imagined that males from two thousand years ago said, "What!"
Bear with me a little longer, this ranting is not yet complete!
Saint Paul, when addressing the community in Corinth, stated the following: "I betrothed you to Christ to present you as a pure bride to her one husband" (2 Corinthians 11:2 RSVCE). In the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Maidens, it appears on the surface that Jesus is passively speaking of the fairer sex (Matthew 25:1-13). Ha! In every homily or sermon or study group we have ever been exposed to where the Christian body is being expounded upon, the Church is always implicated as "she" and "bride." By proxy, this seems to indicate that us red blooded males fall within the category of "bride!" Aargh. And, let's not overlook Saint John's encounter with an angel during a dream: "'Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb'" (Revelation 21:9). Another indica of the Church.
Such allusions are not confined to the New Testament. "'For your Maker is your husband...the Lord has called you to be his wife'" (Isaiah 54:5-6). Thus says the Lord, "'I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride'" (Jeremiah 2:2). Perhaps the most revealing intent of bride is what follows: "'And in that day, says the Lord, you will call me, "My Husband,"...[a]nd I will betroth you to me forever'" (Hosea 3:16, 19). C'mon!
With all of the proof texts outlined above, it has become impractical to continue plunking my head in the sand and pretending that these feminine phrasings were some hiccup during the translation process. Nonetheless, there still remains that quintessential struggle within the contemporary male mind, the manly mind. Not that getting to the crux of this bride conundrum was ever at the top of my list to discern, if in my scope of view at all. Yet, when reading or hearing references to such, there still resonates that creepy twinge. No, I am not some Neanderthal or male chauvinist pig. "Ugh, ugh, ugh...me Tarzan, she Jane!" Maybe the Holy Spirit, in his comedic way, is trying to humble me, to humble all of us fellas.
There is one more unsettling factor which contributes to what may amount to a phobia. Kisses. Not to belabor this point, but why? "O that you [Hebrew: he] would kiss me with the kisses of your [Hebrew: his] mouth" (Song of Solomon 1:2). Really! Taking all of this together, I am jumping out of my skin....
In a curious twist, reflecting on my adolescence, it is a surprise that any of this nonsense of the mind is bothersome. See, I used to kiss my mom and dad every night before going to bed, an expressed token of love. Right on the lips. If close family friends were present, they'd receive the same kisses. Right on the lips. Of course, these almost family members would not receive the words of love as my parents did. Come to think of it, I may have carried this innocent practice a little too deep into my youth - even I could detect in myself a sense of discomfort in kissing company. But, it must be admitted, I miss giving and receiving those kisses!
While reading "Sermons on the Song of Songs," Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (the patron whose name I took when becoming and Oblate of Saint Benedict), he eloquently addressed this contemporary nuptual dichotomy between Christ being the Bridegroom and us as the brides, male and female. "[B]ridegroom and bride. Between these all things are equally shared, there are no selfish reservations, nothing that causes division. They share the same inheritance, the same table, the same home, the same marriage-bed, they are flesh of each others flesh. 'This is why a man leaves his father and mother and joins himself to his wife, and they become one body.' The bride for her part is bidden to 'forget her nation and her ancestral home,' so that the bridegroom may fall in love with her beauty. Therefore if a love relationship is the special and outstanding characteristic of the bride and groom, it is not unfitting to call the soul that loves God a bride" (Sermon 7: Intimacies of the Love of God).
Taking time to discern Saint Bernard's counsel, it has become wholly necessary that I abandon any discomfort or feebleness in this regard. Actually, through Saint Bernard's assistance the phrasing which Jesus employed is quite beautiful. Sadly, I have permitted cultural and temporal ideals to negatively impact spiritual growth. All of which to say: Jesus, may I be your bride, may we enter more completely into that conventional marriage relationship?
Marana tha
I like to think of myself as a manly man. In my heart of hearts, it is believed that others perceive the same of me. Mind you, I am also balanced by a softer side, too. Compassion. Empathy. Understanding. And, yes, love. This gentler disposition notwithstanding, what was Jesus thinking when he employed the imagery of him being the bridegroom and us the bride?
In the current climate of our culture the application of "bride" to my identity causes me to squirm. Why that noun? Buddy, pal, friend, chum, confidant, sidekick, or a host of other monikers would more pleasantly have sufficed. No matter how secure a fella is in his masculinity, such a frilly designation is unsettling. It is imagined that males from two thousand years ago said, "What!"
Bear with me a little longer, this ranting is not yet complete!
Saint Paul, when addressing the community in Corinth, stated the following: "I betrothed you to Christ to present you as a pure bride to her one husband" (2 Corinthians 11:2 RSVCE). In the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Maidens, it appears on the surface that Jesus is passively speaking of the fairer sex (Matthew 25:1-13). Ha! In every homily or sermon or study group we have ever been exposed to where the Christian body is being expounded upon, the Church is always implicated as "she" and "bride." By proxy, this seems to indicate that us red blooded males fall within the category of "bride!" Aargh. And, let's not overlook Saint John's encounter with an angel during a dream: "'Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb'" (Revelation 21:9). Another indica of the Church.
Such allusions are not confined to the New Testament. "'For your Maker is your husband...the Lord has called you to be his wife'" (Isaiah 54:5-6). Thus says the Lord, "'I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride'" (Jeremiah 2:2). Perhaps the most revealing intent of bride is what follows: "'And in that day, says the Lord, you will call me, "My Husband,"...[a]nd I will betroth you to me forever'" (Hosea 3:16, 19). C'mon!
With all of the proof texts outlined above, it has become impractical to continue plunking my head in the sand and pretending that these feminine phrasings were some hiccup during the translation process. Nonetheless, there still remains that quintessential struggle within the contemporary male mind, the manly mind. Not that getting to the crux of this bride conundrum was ever at the top of my list to discern, if in my scope of view at all. Yet, when reading or hearing references to such, there still resonates that creepy twinge. No, I am not some Neanderthal or male chauvinist pig. "Ugh, ugh, ugh...me Tarzan, she Jane!" Maybe the Holy Spirit, in his comedic way, is trying to humble me, to humble all of us fellas.
There is one more unsettling factor which contributes to what may amount to a phobia. Kisses. Not to belabor this point, but why? "O that you [Hebrew: he] would kiss me with the kisses of your [Hebrew: his] mouth" (Song of Solomon 1:2). Really! Taking all of this together, I am jumping out of my skin....
In a curious twist, reflecting on my adolescence, it is a surprise that any of this nonsense of the mind is bothersome. See, I used to kiss my mom and dad every night before going to bed, an expressed token of love. Right on the lips. If close family friends were present, they'd receive the same kisses. Right on the lips. Of course, these almost family members would not receive the words of love as my parents did. Come to think of it, I may have carried this innocent practice a little too deep into my youth - even I could detect in myself a sense of discomfort in kissing company. But, it must be admitted, I miss giving and receiving those kisses!
While reading "Sermons on the Song of Songs," Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (the patron whose name I took when becoming and Oblate of Saint Benedict), he eloquently addressed this contemporary nuptual dichotomy between Christ being the Bridegroom and us as the brides, male and female. "[B]ridegroom and bride. Between these all things are equally shared, there are no selfish reservations, nothing that causes division. They share the same inheritance, the same table, the same home, the same marriage-bed, they are flesh of each others flesh. 'This is why a man leaves his father and mother and joins himself to his wife, and they become one body.' The bride for her part is bidden to 'forget her nation and her ancestral home,' so that the bridegroom may fall in love with her beauty. Therefore if a love relationship is the special and outstanding characteristic of the bride and groom, it is not unfitting to call the soul that loves God a bride" (Sermon 7: Intimacies of the Love of God).
Taking time to discern Saint Bernard's counsel, it has become wholly necessary that I abandon any discomfort or feebleness in this regard. Actually, through Saint Bernard's assistance the phrasing which Jesus employed is quite beautiful. Sadly, I have permitted cultural and temporal ideals to negatively impact spiritual growth. All of which to say: Jesus, may I be your bride, may we enter more completely into that conventional marriage relationship?
Marana tha
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