The Way of the Cross

When we did the Way of the Cross in Jerusalem, we were taken aback by the fact that one has to wander through market places, and across streets. But in Jesus' time, city life did not stop from noon until 3:00 p.m. for his Crucifixion. Much like the violence and terror we experience today, the stories of people's suffering and death fades into the background of all the other news stories.

The other night at a parish meeting a parishioner had brought up the fact that in our Parish stations of the cross, the meditations we use, poverty, injustice, violence, and discrimination, have nothing to do with what the stations of the cross are about. I couldn't respond since my mouth was on the floor. When St. Paul reflects upon the Paschal Mystery he points out that through Sin and Evil we become strangers in our relationship with God. By the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we once again have unity and communion with God.

But there is still that propensity to sin. Evil has a way to make bad things look good. On Ash Wednesday I pondered why it is that I had such a great desire to graze on snacks, though normally I do not snack during the day. Temptation abounds. Suffering, violence, and poverty, are in part of our Sinful human condition. So throughout our lives we are challenged by the way of the cross even in the market-place and on street corners.

While we are not called to be monks and nuns, we are challenged to ponder the mysteries of our faith; and so to live them with courage and faith. Christ crucified calls us out of darkness, to walk the Way with our brothers and sisters.

Repent and Believe in the Gospel

The season of Lent is an awesome time to explore our lives in relationship with the paschal mystery. The ashes are an external sign of an interior reality - hopefully. Our churches will be swamped today, and I hope that this means these same folks will begin a Lenten journey of prayer, conversion, and discipleship. Through prayer, fasting, and alms giving, we are invited to grow closer in our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

The challenge to rend our hearts and not our garments, a we read from the scriptures today, means to examine the underlying causes of our sin. I see this with the kids a lot. The child who kicks the back of the other child's chair, talks back to teachers, or becomes the class clown, will often be responding to hurts or pain that they seemingly cannot control. Why do we use profanity, become offensive, or look at pornography. These are the results of something much deeper in our lives.

The Woman at the Well, or the Man born Blind, are all stories which tells us about how our choices, actions, and responses to one another can afflict others. But developing habits of grace and love can bring peace and healing to others as well. While we cannot always control our surroundings, we can make decisions which reflect the image and likeness in which we were created. God has made us for life and not for death and we are to dwell in that mystery.

So may our Lenten journey be filled with every good thing. Hopefully we will move into Holy Week drawing closer to the ideals of conversion and discipleship. May the good work God has begun in us be brought to completion.

Say 'No' to federal funded abortion

Mr. Richard Doerflinger, the USCCB Secretariat on Pro-Life Activities, recently testified before the Senate Judicial Committee, on making the ban against Federally funded abortions. During recent health care discussions, and during legislative sessions in regards to the health care law, it was assumed that there are already adequate rules and procedures which preclude federal funds being used for abortion. Mr. Doerflinger points out that this is not the case.

Presently the law, especially legislation connected to the Hyde Amendment, contains exceptions and is narrow in its scope. Some of the present medical assistance programs would continue to allow abortions using federal monies, in particular through medicaid and programs to assist the poor. Part of the Pro-abortion discussion has been that the lack of available abortive services would affect those who live in poverty, and victims of rape and incest. The latter categories account for less than 1% of all pregnancies.

As long as we make decisions based on emotion and hype, we will find our pathway to a Pro-life Congress, and a society, all the more difficult. John Paul II referred to ours as a culture of death. As I have mentioned before, some fifteen years ago, while at a conference, a speaker had mentioned that when abortion becomes easy and readily available, so will aborting children with birth defects, or allowing infants to die who have some sort of abnormality. And we have already seen this.

To be sure it is important to pray for the respect of all human life, at all stages of life. But it is not a bad idea to contact our legislators and share with them our thoughts and concerns. More so we want to pass on to our children the importance to respect and respond to the dignity and value of life. Teaching charity and chastity are important values to convey to the next generation. This might be a good Lenten practice.

I believe ...

There was a book by Morris West entitled, The Clowns of God. A futuristic fiction, it was written back in the 80s, and centered on the Pope's revelation of the apocalypse. It was a fast moving, and wonderfully intriguing. As I recall the person responsible for putting all of the pieces together was a Jesuit professor from Boston College. He had to struggle with faith, fear, and his academic background. While I do not remember how the book ended, the scenario that was presented was not too far from what is happening today in the world.

I thought about this book as I considered that this weekend we enrolled our second graders as on the journey to receive the Eucharist for the first time, and we had the rite of sending for our catechumens and candidates. It is interesting to consider how different the experience of faith is for both of these groups. Sadly for some of the families of the second graders, Church is an occasional experience at best. Not unlike one's local BP or Road Ranger station, they stop in for a moment, and maybe pick up a cup of coffee or chips while they are there. For the catechumens and candidates, this is part of a faith journey made after prayer, reflection, and discernment. They are in this for the long haul.

The readings suggested over the weekend that our faith cannot be part-time faith. Belief demonstrates itself in our response to God. On one of the morning news shows today they were discussing the tendency to put emphasis on a 'proper' engagement, and a personalized wedding. One of the commentators chimed in that marriage is more than the wedding day. It seems that so much of what afflicts us today is because we fail to forgive, love, and to show compassion and mercy. Our faith becomes way too personal, and surface level at best.

The basic tenets of our faith are to love God and one another. While that might bring about images of butterflies and rainbows, the reality is more about doing the work of reconciliation and peacemaking. It is easy to lend forgiveness and kindliness to those close to us and those whom we like, but we have determined never to offer compassion or care to a co-worker, neighbor, or the clerk that was 'mean' to us. Even the scriptures challenge us to love our friends and enemies.

Our faith really has to challenge us to be counter-cultural in the world today. Not just the Church, but men and women of faith have to be stumbling blocks that cannot allow anger and nastiness to rule the response of Christ in the world today. The virtues of charity, chastity, reconciliation, peace, and justice, really have to be part our homes and communities. We go to church to pray, and we reflect everything we do through the filter of our faith. Faith rules.

A blessing and a curse

There is a radical nature in the Gospel today. Matthew completes the Sermon on the Mound section of his Gospel. A few weeks back we began with the Beatitudes, and spoke about how this was the springboard of Jesus' ministry and mission. As we finish, Jesus reminds us that faith is not simply about being in the general vicinity, but we have to have an intimate relationship with Jesus.

In the Book of Deuteronomy the invitation is to choose to follow the Covenant, or not. But it is offered as a choice between life of death. Moses tells his people that they may have a blessing or a curse, depending upon whether they follow the statutes and laws as prescribed in the Covenant. Following the law means that we are developing a relationship with God and all men and women, based on justice, love, and peace. These are important elements in our faithful response to all that God has given to us.

Eons ago, I remember this gentleman at the 'Y' who would park himself in the locker room. I would go for a swim, lift weights, and soak in the hot-tub, and come back to the locker room, where it would seem that this man had not moved. Did he think that simply being at the Y was enough to stay healthy?

But I think that we can do that with our faith too. If I pray these prayers, or get my kids baptized that will be enough. The theology of Stewardship teaches us to receive God's gifts gratefully, to nurture them, share them in love and justice, and return them with increase to God. Conversion and Discipleship asks us to go beyond looking through the 'store window' at faith. Faith and belief mean that there is a relationship with God that demonstrates itself in compassion and charity.

Aaron spoke similar words to these of Moses. His response was that for him and his people, they have chosen the Lord. Hopefully as we go into Lent we can make those choices and decisions which place us in the household of the Lord. It would be nice to hear God say to us, "Well done good and faithful servant, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

Late Have I Loved You

We are reading from St. Augustine's Confessions in the Office of Readings. Augustine realizes late in life, relatively speaking, the sinfulness of his life. He has to profound conversion experience. St. Augustine recognizes our propensity to Sin and sinfulness. All the more reason then for us to uncover grace in our lives and live according to the ways we have received in the values an virtues of Christian life. Because St. Augustine understands Sin so well, he also has an understanding of God's love and mercy.

Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. While I will write about this more, I have been think of how we need to move away from the "magical" connotation that is connected to 'ashes.' St. John the Baptist's words challenging the Pharisees and Sadducees comes to mind. Hopefully this time of Lent will become a real moment of conversion and discipleship for people. Sadly it seems that until we are on the ground writhing in anquish, we do not really appreciate the intensity of our sins, and how Sinfulness is controlling our life.

This past Fall a large group from our Diocese went to San Diego for a stewardship conference. Some who had never heard folks so alive about faith, Church, and ministry, were overfwhelmed by the excitement of so many people. There was a n understanding that there is something more about church life.

It would be wonderous if something simular happens this Lent. If men and women could come to see their life in Christ in a new and exciting way. There is that quote, "Chrisitians can be like street children satisfied with playing in the mud with sticks, because they cannot even imagine a sunny day on a beach." if just ten percent of Christians had a 'Jesus' experience this Lent, and really took on conversion and discipleship as a life motiff; That would be absolutely awesome.

Catholics Come Home - I’m Not Catholic

Catholics Come Home - I’m Not Catholic: "Coming home has never been easier. We are family. Welcome home."