This weekend I was away at a brief men's retreat in Pendleton, OR (www.gowestcatholicmen.com). The retreat began on Friday evening and went nearly all day Saturday. Bishop Carey from the Diocese of Bend celebrated our two Masses and gave a talk on Friday night. We were also graced to have confessions available the whole time, talks by three other priests, and a magnificent holy hour to conclude the weekend.
I wanted to offer a few reflections from the weekend...
-The Hispanic youth group from a neighboring parish came to do a living Stations of the Cross. I thank Mel Gibson for his work on the movie "The Passion." For all the controversy surrounding him and the making of the movie, there are some very moving and beautiful scenes. I'm very thankful for the movie! One of my favorite scenes is Jesus encountering His Mother while carrying His cross. In the movie, Mary sees Jesus fall and has a flashback of watching a five year old Jesus trip and fall. It was very tender and an insight into the mind of a mother. At the living stations on Friday, I couldn't help but recall that scene from the movie as Mary came running to Jesus and embraced His legs. Our Lady is a great model for us in the love she has for Jesus.
-One of the priests, Fr. Robert Greiner of the Diocese of Bend, spoke about Catholics in the modern world. Specifically, he confronted every single uncomfortable Church teaching and reminded us: if we believe the Catholic Church was instituted by Christ, these matters of faith are there for us to believe. Period. The Church's teachings on contraception, abortion, euthanasia, and homosexual unions aren't unclear because of something the Church did/said; the Church is very clear. The problem is with the minds of believers, taken in by the world's opinions. Those that dissent from the Church's teachings might have the best of intentions; they might be brilliant intellectuals; they might have less than pure reasons for turning away from the Catholic faith. Wherever they are on that spectrum, they lack one thing: obedience.
Obedience is a dirty word in American culture. It has connotations of subservience, inferiority, blind submission... and in religious circles (not just Catholic, I'm guessing) it can come across as checking your brain at the door and believing "because the Bible/Church/Pastor/etc. says so." If that were truly the case, why would the Catholic Church bother to have a Catechism, a summary of its belief? Why would the popes have issued volumes of encyclicals? Why would the Church councils have published their decrees? Wouldn't it have been easier for Pope Benedict to say, "Your concern is to believe X, Y, and Z. Do not trouble yourselves with why."
Actually, I think those Catholics that hold to that negative definition of obedience are stuck in the past. Obedience to Church teachings as something robotic and archaic? Really? Have they read anything by John Paul II or Benedict XVI? Do they see how the Church has published the contents and reasons behind her faith for all the world to see? Obedience is a dynamic virtue, not a passive one. The Catholic faith makes demands on our intellect and does not seek to destroy it. (check out the old Catholic Encyclopedia article on obedience)
I think the final word on obedience rests on one central question: is Jesus really Who He said He is?
Reflections of a Catholic layman on the Mass, spirituality, books, and the occasional tangent
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Praying is--oh wait, there's something shiny!
When Pope Benedict announced his resignation, I was surprised. Shocked, really. I understood his reasons and respected his decision; I also figured there was more to the story of his medical condition than we knew. Inevitably, some attention turned to the prophecies of St. Malachy. Many other people have written on this, and better than I could, so I'd refer you to Fr. Dwight or Fr. Z or The Anchoress.
I received the news on a Monday morning that Pope Benedict resigned. At work, I was terribly distracted. What if the next pope is the last one? What if this is the end of the world? And if it's the end of the world soon, then severe tribulations should be coming soon... my imagination spiraled down in fear. At the same time, other concerns that I previously had--a job interview the previous Friday the chief among them--disappeared. A better salary and a job with more responsibility seemed insignificant to the state of my soul and the scenarios running through my imagination.
Then a funny thing happened. I was offered the job that afternoon and it was a complete surprise! I thought I had a decent chance at it but I didn't expect my work to move that quickly (it is the guvmint, after all). And poof! My apocalyptic imagination ceased. I resolved to read up on the prophecies when I could, but I had so many things to think about! Getting ready for my new job... preparing a training list for my replacement... thinking of ways to spend my raise... and so forth.
Granted, not all of that is bad--especially being better able to provide for my family. Working harder and confronting new challenges will require personal growth on my part, which in turn will benefit my marriage and my spiritual life. All good things!
In the midst of that, however, was the stark realization of how easily distracted I can be when it comes to the spiritual life. For all my efforts toward greater holiness, there are many more failures, distractions, sins, etc. Last Monday was humbling and a reminder that I have a ways to go in holiness.
I received the news on a Monday morning that Pope Benedict resigned. At work, I was terribly distracted. What if the next pope is the last one? What if this is the end of the world? And if it's the end of the world soon, then severe tribulations should be coming soon... my imagination spiraled down in fear. At the same time, other concerns that I previously had--a job interview the previous Friday the chief among them--disappeared. A better salary and a job with more responsibility seemed insignificant to the state of my soul and the scenarios running through my imagination.
Then a funny thing happened. I was offered the job that afternoon and it was a complete surprise! I thought I had a decent chance at it but I didn't expect my work to move that quickly (it is the guvmint, after all). And poof! My apocalyptic imagination ceased. I resolved to read up on the prophecies when I could, but I had so many things to think about! Getting ready for my new job... preparing a training list for my replacement... thinking of ways to spend my raise... and so forth.
Granted, not all of that is bad--especially being better able to provide for my family. Working harder and confronting new challenges will require personal growth on my part, which in turn will benefit my marriage and my spiritual life. All good things!
In the midst of that, however, was the stark realization of how easily distracted I can be when it comes to the spiritual life. For all my efforts toward greater holiness, there are many more failures, distractions, sins, etc. Last Monday was humbling and a reminder that I have a ways to go in holiness.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
What a Relief
The daily Mass readings have been coming from the Letter to the Hebrews. It's an epistle that I admittedly haven't read much... and I've been missing out!
The first reading at Mass last Friday was from Hebrews 10. The feel of the chapter is exhorting and encouraging--the author is trying to remind the Christian community to hold on to their faith in Jesus. Don't go back to your old ways; continue pursuing Him Who IS the Way, the Truth, and the Life! That's a good reminder for Christians of any age. Embracing the faith requires turning away from sin; no matter how much we devote ourselves to the faith, temptation to turn away from it will never cease.
As the first reading progressed, I heard what immediately became one of my favorite verses in Scripture: "Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised." (Heb 10:35-36) Actually, it was relieving to hear. We don't have to do it on our own, and we're not expected to! We need (=can't get by, are unable on our own, etc.) endurance, we need grace.
On one hand, this shouldn't be a surprise. It's a "first principle" of faith and belief in God. Since the beginning of time, God is the one making the first move toward us. On the other hand, if we get too wrapped up in the things of the world, our relationship with God and the faith can fall out of focus. The author of Hebrews is trying to restore their focus on Jesus and the faith; may God grant us all the grace of focusing on living and doing His will!
The first reading at Mass last Friday was from Hebrews 10. The feel of the chapter is exhorting and encouraging--the author is trying to remind the Christian community to hold on to their faith in Jesus. Don't go back to your old ways; continue pursuing Him Who IS the Way, the Truth, and the Life! That's a good reminder for Christians of any age. Embracing the faith requires turning away from sin; no matter how much we devote ourselves to the faith, temptation to turn away from it will never cease.
As the first reading progressed, I heard what immediately became one of my favorite verses in Scripture: "Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised." (Heb 10:35-36) Actually, it was relieving to hear. We don't have to do it on our own, and we're not expected to! We need (=can't get by, are unable on our own, etc.) endurance, we need grace.
On one hand, this shouldn't be a surprise. It's a "first principle" of faith and belief in God. Since the beginning of time, God is the one making the first move toward us. On the other hand, if we get too wrapped up in the things of the world, our relationship with God and the faith can fall out of focus. The author of Hebrews is trying to restore their focus on Jesus and the faith; may God grant us all the grace of focusing on living and doing His will!
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Fickleness, Thy Name Is Human
Sunday's gospel reading is one of many that's very illustrative of human nature. First the crowds love Jesus and flock to Him; just a short time later, they want to kill Him. (Read the readings here)
Although it's not surprising that a group of people would change their minds, the situation in Luke 4:16-30 makes more sense when we flesh some things out. Specifically, Matthew, Mark, and John all have details leading up to this situation in the beginning of their gospels. Huge crowds followed Jesus (Matt 7:28-29) for three main reasons.
1) He taught with authority. Jesus was undoubtedly a dynamic speaker; not always in a showy way, but in an enthralling way. There are many gospel stories of Jesus being surrounded by crowds. And there was good reason! "And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes." (Matt 7:28-29)
2) One passage from Mark's Gospel: "Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, 'the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel." (1:14-15) A little imagination would aid us here. These would have been heavy, heavy words for a first century Jew. Those Jews no doubt had prayed the psalm many times throughout their lives: "How long, O LORD? Will You hide Yourself forever?" (Ps 89:46) And now Jesus is talking about the coming of the kingdom of God! Could this one truly be the Messiah? Imagine the expectation! Nearly a millennium away from David and Solomon... after being conquered many times... centuries and centuries of celebrating the Passover and the other Jewish feasts. This would have been more than enough to arouse at least the curiosity of people in the area.
3) Take everything from #1 and #2 and add miracles. Luke 4 references miracles that Jesus had done but it doesn't list them. Mark 1:21-27 shows Jesus healing a man with an unclean spirit; John 4:46-54 has Jesus in Capernaum, and He heals the son of an official. For the first century Jew, this is now a serious thing. Later in the chronicle of the Gospels, John the Baptist sends a messenger to Jesus to inquire about who He is. I really believe John the Baptist's question was the same one that was on everyone else's minds: "Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?" (Matthew 11:3)
There are many images we could use to describe the situation in Luke 4, with the background details filled in. Like a crescendo in a symphony... the start of a thunderstorm... make no mistake, this is a huge deal. The Jews in the synagogue in Luke 4 had heard so much about this potential messiah. They'd probably even gone out to see Jesus themselves! Just as quickly as they praised Him, however, doubt crept in. Isn't this the son of Joseph? In other words, who does He think He is??? The crowd likely wanted Him dead for blasphemy.
Part of me thinks that if I was alive at the time, I wouldn't be so foolish as to not recognize Jesus. Pretty obvious, right? Although that might be comforting, it's also vain. And stupid.
Whenever we hold on to sin, we throw Jesus out of our hearts just as that crowd threw Jesus out of the synagogue. Just like the Jews on that day, we distort the question "Who is He?" into "Who does He think He is?" And just like He did that day, Jesus won't force it. He very well could have called down thunder and lightning and performed sign after sign until they all believed. Nope. He taught the crowd and He revealed who He was in the synagogue. He leaves the response completely to us, for good or ill.
Although it's not surprising that a group of people would change their minds, the situation in Luke 4:16-30 makes more sense when we flesh some things out. Specifically, Matthew, Mark, and John all have details leading up to this situation in the beginning of their gospels. Huge crowds followed Jesus (Matt 7:28-29) for three main reasons.
1) He taught with authority. Jesus was undoubtedly a dynamic speaker; not always in a showy way, but in an enthralling way. There are many gospel stories of Jesus being surrounded by crowds. And there was good reason! "And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes." (Matt 7:28-29)
2) One passage from Mark's Gospel: "Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, 'the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel." (1:14-15) A little imagination would aid us here. These would have been heavy, heavy words for a first century Jew. Those Jews no doubt had prayed the psalm many times throughout their lives: "How long, O LORD? Will You hide Yourself forever?" (Ps 89:46) And now Jesus is talking about the coming of the kingdom of God! Could this one truly be the Messiah? Imagine the expectation! Nearly a millennium away from David and Solomon... after being conquered many times... centuries and centuries of celebrating the Passover and the other Jewish feasts. This would have been more than enough to arouse at least the curiosity of people in the area.
3) Take everything from #1 and #2 and add miracles. Luke 4 references miracles that Jesus had done but it doesn't list them. Mark 1:21-27 shows Jesus healing a man with an unclean spirit; John 4:46-54 has Jesus in Capernaum, and He heals the son of an official. For the first century Jew, this is now a serious thing. Later in the chronicle of the Gospels, John the Baptist sends a messenger to Jesus to inquire about who He is. I really believe John the Baptist's question was the same one that was on everyone else's minds: "Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?" (Matthew 11:3)
There are many images we could use to describe the situation in Luke 4, with the background details filled in. Like a crescendo in a symphony... the start of a thunderstorm... make no mistake, this is a huge deal. The Jews in the synagogue in Luke 4 had heard so much about this potential messiah. They'd probably even gone out to see Jesus themselves! Just as quickly as they praised Him, however, doubt crept in. Isn't this the son of Joseph? In other words, who does He think He is??? The crowd likely wanted Him dead for blasphemy.
Part of me thinks that if I was alive at the time, I wouldn't be so foolish as to not recognize Jesus. Pretty obvious, right? Although that might be comforting, it's also vain. And stupid.
Whenever we hold on to sin, we throw Jesus out of our hearts just as that crowd threw Jesus out of the synagogue. Just like the Jews on that day, we distort the question "Who is He?" into "Who does He think He is?" And just like He did that day, Jesus won't force it. He very well could have called down thunder and lightning and performed sign after sign until they all believed. Nope. He taught the crowd and He revealed who He was in the synagogue. He leaves the response completely to us, for good or ill.
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