Giving up chocolate, our favorite tv show, coffee, Guinness, or scotch are all lenten practices that I have tried - to varying degrees of success. In our house growing up, my sisters and I gave up many things, but we were also expected to do more. Instead of jut giving up stuff, we were to perform more acts of kindness - volunteer, attend more masses. We were meant to change our lives as much by addition than by subtraction.
Our lives today are busier and more hectic than ever and working to eliminate some of the burden is important, but as the saying goes, "Nature abhors a vacuum." When you free up time and space in you life, what will you do with that time?
Lent attempts to remind us that by working on our own lives, we can then go out and change the lives of others.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Gossip: The Devil's Radio
A few years back, many actually, George Harrison sang a song called, The Devil's Radio, a song about gossip.I think it is pretty safe to assume that most people have started, passed on, and been the victim of gossip.
Gossip weakened from within. It is subversive. It is everywhere. Much of what we see in the press about celebrities that is called gossip truly is actually promotional material coming from celebrity publicists. But even the true gossip we feel we must learn. because of all the information about various celebs on tv, the internet, twitter, or in print media ends up meaning we know them better than members of our own families.
Gossip among our families, friends, school communities, work, and more truly divides. The Book of Proverbs makes clear, "a perverse person spreads strife, and a gossip separates close friends." (16:28) Many of us have had that experience of losing friends because of gossip and the damage caused is not easily repaired. "The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body."(Prov. 18:8) Like food from a great meal, gossip is not easily forgotten.
However, gossip can be stopped though it takes effort. We often say, " I don't even realize that I am gossiping" or "It just slipped out". Whether or not we intended to gossip, the damage is still done. Watch to movie "Doubt" and see what the priest teaches about how gossip damages. But to NOT gossip, that can only happen through the clear intent and decision to NOT gossip. The action of closing my mouth comes from my intention of not wanting to gossip.
Let our intentions be good in order to guide us to good actions.
Gossip weakened from within. It is subversive. It is everywhere. Much of what we see in the press about celebrities that is called gossip truly is actually promotional material coming from celebrity publicists. But even the true gossip we feel we must learn. because of all the information about various celebs on tv, the internet, twitter, or in print media ends up meaning we know them better than members of our own families.
Gossip among our families, friends, school communities, work, and more truly divides. The Book of Proverbs makes clear, "a perverse person spreads strife, and a gossip separates close friends." (16:28) Many of us have had that experience of losing friends because of gossip and the damage caused is not easily repaired. "The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body."(Prov. 18:8) Like food from a great meal, gossip is not easily forgotten.
However, gossip can be stopped though it takes effort. We often say, " I don't even realize that I am gossiping" or "It just slipped out". Whether or not we intended to gossip, the damage is still done. Watch to movie "Doubt" and see what the priest teaches about how gossip damages. But to NOT gossip, that can only happen through the clear intent and decision to NOT gossip. The action of closing my mouth comes from my intention of not wanting to gossip.
Let our intentions be good in order to guide us to good actions.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Preparing for Sunday
Knowing I have to preach on a given Sunday, I find it very useful to take my time in allowing ideas to come to mind. Going over the readings early in the week and allowing them to float in my mind for a few days helps me to to focus on what events of the week connect to the readings.
As the week continues, I return to the readings with greater focus and attention. Using various homily helps and biblical commentaries give depth to the readings while I allow my own mind to delve into my own experiences to relate personally to the passages.
Some weeks the message of the readings is crystal clear, other times not so much. yet, as it is the Word of God, no matter what, there is a truth to be uncovered if we are willing to work and open our eyes.
As the week continues, I return to the readings with greater focus and attention. Using various homily helps and biblical commentaries give depth to the readings while I allow my own mind to delve into my own experiences to relate personally to the passages.
Some weeks the message of the readings is crystal clear, other times not so much. yet, as it is the Word of God, no matter what, there is a truth to be uncovered if we are willing to work and open our eyes.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Who Do You Say That I Am?
This sunday's gospel asked a truly central question to our lives of faith. Who do we say that Jesus is? Peter's response was correct; Jesus is the Christ. Unfortunately, Peter knew the right answer, but didn't understand what that answer truly meant. As a former English teacher, there have been many times when students would give the correct answer or use the right word in a sentence, but when asked to explain that answer or to define the word, they find that they cannot.
Each of Christ's followers had a different idea of what being The Christ meant, but they were thinking as humans do, not as God does. God redefined Messiah.
So, who is Christ for each of us? Jesus wants us to be able to not only give the right answer but to explain that answer in how we live - hence the second reading from James.
Each of Christ's followers had a different idea of what being The Christ meant, but they were thinking as humans do, not as God does. God redefined Messiah.
So, who is Christ for each of us? Jesus wants us to be able to not only give the right answer but to explain that answer in how we live - hence the second reading from James.
Friday, June 5, 2009
The Year of Saint Paul
When Pope Benedict XVI declared The Year of St. Paul, to commemorate the 2000th anniversary of the great apostle’s birth, the Church was blessed with the opportunity to get to know Paul once again. In my own faith journey, Paul has been a figure that I have tried to avoid. He is too controversial, too confrontational, too challenging for my tastes. In some ways it seemed as though Paul had become the domain of Protestants, while Roman Catholics focused on the Gospels. Rightly or wrongly, I struggled with Paul.
This year of renewed focus on Paul has truly been a blessing. The man from Tarsus became a true figure of faith to me. The only other time I can honestly remember appreciating Paul was when I took an introductory course on the New Testament with Fr. Paul Broadhurst CSB, when I was a student at St. John Fisher College. He is without a doubt one of the greatest teachers I have ever had.
As Vocation Director, I have used this year of Paul to reflect upon Paul’s call and how he responded to it. Paul was an intelligent man, proud of his faith and concerned about that faith’s role in the Roman world. When that concern led to his persecution of followers of Jesus, Paul was confronted by Christ and challenged with blindness. Christ called Paul directly, but that call meant others were needed as well. Ananias, Barnabas, Peter, and more had a part to play to supporting that call and leading Paul to the understanding of Christ’s teaching that would drive Paul all across the Mediterranean.
As we wind up this year of Paul and prepare for a year dedicated to the Priesthood, let each of us reflect upon those moments in our lives, when Christ’s truth was so bright and clear that it knocked us to the ground. Let us open our eyes to those young men who may have a similar experience, but need a new Ananias to help restore their sight. They may need a new Barnabas to accompany them in their new works of faith for the gospel.
As we enter the summer months, let us give thanks for the example of Paul and his answering of the Lord’s call to bring the Gospel to the world. That is our call, as well.
This year of renewed focus on Paul has truly been a blessing. The man from Tarsus became a true figure of faith to me. The only other time I can honestly remember appreciating Paul was when I took an introductory course on the New Testament with Fr. Paul Broadhurst CSB, when I was a student at St. John Fisher College. He is without a doubt one of the greatest teachers I have ever had.
As Vocation Director, I have used this year of Paul to reflect upon Paul’s call and how he responded to it. Paul was an intelligent man, proud of his faith and concerned about that faith’s role in the Roman world. When that concern led to his persecution of followers of Jesus, Paul was confronted by Christ and challenged with blindness. Christ called Paul directly, but that call meant others were needed as well. Ananias, Barnabas, Peter, and more had a part to play to supporting that call and leading Paul to the understanding of Christ’s teaching that would drive Paul all across the Mediterranean.
As we wind up this year of Paul and prepare for a year dedicated to the Priesthood, let each of us reflect upon those moments in our lives, when Christ’s truth was so bright and clear that it knocked us to the ground. Let us open our eyes to those young men who may have a similar experience, but need a new Ananias to help restore their sight. They may need a new Barnabas to accompany them in their new works of faith for the gospel.
As we enter the summer months, let us give thanks for the example of Paul and his answering of the Lord’s call to bring the Gospel to the world. That is our call, as well.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Workers in the Field
The last few weeks of Sunday readings have brought us in touch with the workers in the fields. In vocation work, many of our prayers are to the Lord of the Harvest. So many are called to the harvest and in truth many do say yes. While we concentrate mainly on those saying yes to serve the church through ordained ministry, many have chosen to serve in other ways. The growth of lay ministry in the church is to be celebrated, but it has also challenged religious to make clear for themselves and others why they have chosen to serve in their chosen manner.
Those discrening a vocation to a religious community have begun to feel a pull to serve God's church, but aren't quite sure how that will take place. With that being the case, it is necessary for active religious to demonstrate the tyoe of work to which God has called that community.
Some communities are guided by a clear and charismatic leader, others are guided by strong foundational documents, and still others by a distinct mission. In each is needed a clear display to the world a positive and joyful response to God's call by the members. Whether we were called to work early in the morning, at noon, or in the afternoon, we are to do the work of the Master, and do so joyfully. If we began by saying no to the Father who called us out to the vineyard, let us reconsider and go. The reward is nothing less than the kingdom of God.
Those discrening a vocation to a religious community have begun to feel a pull to serve God's church, but aren't quite sure how that will take place. With that being the case, it is necessary for active religious to demonstrate the tyoe of work to which God has called that community.
Some communities are guided by a clear and charismatic leader, others are guided by strong foundational documents, and still others by a distinct mission. In each is needed a clear display to the world a positive and joyful response to God's call by the members. Whether we were called to work early in the morning, at noon, or in the afternoon, we are to do the work of the Master, and do so joyfully. If we began by saying no to the Father who called us out to the vineyard, let us reconsider and go. The reward is nothing less than the kingdom of God.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Infinite Generosity
This weekends readings challenge us in accepting generosity that knows no bounds. Being in the flesh, as Paul reminds us, brings about its own challenges, especially when one anticipates the glory of life in the spirit. Our existence in the flesh means points out the finite nature of life. Our minds have limits and so does our generosity.
The first workers in the gospel are upset for many reasons, one being that they perceived the landowner being "unfair". All of us have complained about someone or something being "unfair". It is our reaction to an injustice. However, no injustice was present in the parable. We simply cannot wrap our minds around such generosity.
There are other interesting aspects to this parable. From my perspective as a Vocation Director, the most edifying part of the story is that the Landowner was always able to find more workers willing to work. Many seem frustrated today that there are fewer workers in the field. However, if we accept that God truly does the calling, people will answer positively.
When we do answer positively to that call to work, God will be generous. Another key point of the story is that there is now dispute about the workers actually working. Other parables deal with workers not working when the Master arrives. In this story, all the workers work. This again is an encouraging sign. In our human weakness we can often feel as though we are incapable of the work to which God has called us. This parable seems to remind us that when we do the work of the Landowner in good faith, we cannot fail.
The first workers in the gospel are upset for many reasons, one being that they perceived the landowner being "unfair". All of us have complained about someone or something being "unfair". It is our reaction to an injustice. However, no injustice was present in the parable. We simply cannot wrap our minds around such generosity.
There are other interesting aspects to this parable. From my perspective as a Vocation Director, the most edifying part of the story is that the Landowner was always able to find more workers willing to work. Many seem frustrated today that there are fewer workers in the field. However, if we accept that God truly does the calling, people will answer positively.
When we do answer positively to that call to work, God will be generous. Another key point of the story is that there is now dispute about the workers actually working. Other parables deal with workers not working when the Master arrives. In this story, all the workers work. This again is an encouraging sign. In our human weakness we can often feel as though we are incapable of the work to which God has called us. This parable seems to remind us that when we do the work of the Landowner in good faith, we cannot fail.
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