Fulton J. Sheen once noted that although we are God's chosen people, so often we behave more like frozen people.
Frozen in our prayer life, in the way we relate with one another, in the way we celebrate our faith.
We seem unhappy to be in God's house.
We are always in a hurry to get it over and done with as quickly as possible.
Today is a day to ask the Holy Spirit to rekindle in us the spirit of new life and enthusiasm, the fire of God's love.
This is the climax of our Easter celebration, Pentecost, meaning "fifty days" after the Passover -- the feast day in which Jewish people marked the giving of the law on Mount Sinai. Here the tribes of Israel entered into covenant with God and with one another and became the people of God.
"There is a way that seems right to a people, but in the end it leads to death" (Proverbs 14:12).
The tale of the Tower of Babel in Genesis was an attempt to build a bridge to heaven.
But, God came and confused the languages of the people. Misunderstanding ensued.
Pentecost is a reversal of Babel. God builds a bridge to humans by sending the Holy Spirit - a divine initiative.
Babel was a requiem of confusion while Pentecost is a chorus of mutual understanding and grace.
At Pentecost people of different ethnic backgrounds (Persians, Asians, Romans, Libyans, Arabs) came together unable to communicate, but after the miracle of Pentecost, they affirmed:
"Are not all of these who are speaking Galileans? How is it that we hear them, each of us in our own language?" (Acts 2:7-8)
LOVE is this eternal language.
Let us begin again.
And, we will rediscover fire for the second time.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Picking A Pope
Plenty of ink tells how Pope Francis was selected to lead the Catholic Church.
The Argentine's four-minute speech in Italian to the General Congregation on March 7 won the cardinals over.
The inner life needed to steer to issues of poverty and injustice.
Authenticity mattered, and, Cardinal Bergoglio's proved that.
Before that, others stacked the deck to fill the role of Pope.
Conversations and dinners in small groups convinced the cardinals to elect Francis.
An outsider would work best to deal with the elephant in the living room amid a fortress mentality called for by other contenders who wanted to hunker down.
Francis wanted to reach out to the people of God.
And, he is.
The Argentine's four-minute speech in Italian to the General Congregation on March 7 won the cardinals over.
The inner life needed to steer to issues of poverty and injustice.
Authenticity mattered, and, Cardinal Bergoglio's proved that.
Before that, others stacked the deck to fill the role of Pope.
Conversations and dinners in small groups convinced the cardinals to elect Francis.
An outsider would work best to deal with the elephant in the living room amid a fortress mentality called for by other contenders who wanted to hunker down.
Francis wanted to reach out to the people of God.
And, he is.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Meaningful Living
Without meaning, or, a purpose for living each day, life seems futile.
While suicides are up along with diabetes, and an epidemic of obesity, let alone violence everywhere these days, I know people who fill their lives with a reason to live for daily.
That makes all the difference in the world.
It does.
A visit to the jail, to Detroit's Gratiot and McClellan's delicious On the Rise Bakery managed by the Capuchins, a chat with someone in the hospital, or, homebound, I find that that I come away from these experiences more blessed.
Purpose is fulfilling.
It makes one feel appreciated and satisfied along the way.
Whether thirty or fifty-four, or more, a reason to live for can fuel's anyone's life through a travail of tears, turns and twists, and, unexpected, even, life-threatening news.
Purpose with a prayer each day puts me in place to know who I am. That is, that I am a creature who can do something to make a difference.
I try each day.
It's a deciding factor between happiness and despair.
While suicides are up along with diabetes, and an epidemic of obesity, let alone violence everywhere these days, I know people who fill their lives with a reason to live for daily.
That makes all the difference in the world.
It does.
A visit to the jail, to Detroit's Gratiot and McClellan's delicious On the Rise Bakery managed by the Capuchins, a chat with someone in the hospital, or, homebound, I find that that I come away from these experiences more blessed.
Purpose is fulfilling.
It makes one feel appreciated and satisfied along the way.
Whether thirty or fifty-four, or more, a reason to live for can fuel's anyone's life through a travail of tears, turns and twists, and, unexpected, even, life-threatening news.
Purpose with a prayer each day puts me in place to know who I am. That is, that I am a creature who can do something to make a difference.
I try each day.
It's a deciding factor between happiness and despair.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Mother's Day, the Church, and Leaders
An ounce of mother is worth more than a pound of clergy, a Spanish saying goes.
How true.
Mothers are like that.
They are.
Parishioners were all enthused about their own mother this Mother's Day celebrating with the Ascension of Jesus into heaven.
Jesus' disciples were feeling abandoned when he left them to fulfill his ministry now.
When one's mom passes, parishioners feel that loss also.
Grieving is like that.
It's a normal and natural process by which one get through the tunnel, as it were, of a significant loss.
Much like the Detroit/Windsor Tunnel. I can't wait to see light at the end of that stretch in the dark.
Loss is like that.
One does get through it, however.
But, it does take time.
After Mass, a parishioners told me that she felt "abandoned" at the leaving of her pastor weeks ago.
Human emotions emerged for many this Mother's Day.
Caregivers tend to give and give.
Glimpses of the great love of God for us shines in small ways in moms, in Mary, the Mother of God, who Catholics revere, and in pastors who lead Catholic parishes in trying times.
Pastors are expected to lead large sprawling parishes, schools, and more with dwindling clergy.
There has to be another way to prevent "burn out" and the like for the selfless leaders who do have limited energy.
Imagination could see the Church through these trying times and personnel shortages.
And, clergy could feel more support also.
I hope bishops will step up to the plate and ask the Vatican to imagine other ways of assisting clergy who are overworked these days. Enough is enough for any idealistic clergyman.
Parishioners want to help, but, their lead has to come from bishops who approach the Vatican with this epidemic.
How true.
Mothers are like that.
They are.
Parishioners were all enthused about their own mother this Mother's Day celebrating with the Ascension of Jesus into heaven.
Jesus' disciples were feeling abandoned when he left them to fulfill his ministry now.
When one's mom passes, parishioners feel that loss also.
Grieving is like that.
It's a normal and natural process by which one get through the tunnel, as it were, of a significant loss.
Much like the Detroit/Windsor Tunnel. I can't wait to see light at the end of that stretch in the dark.
Loss is like that.
One does get through it, however.
But, it does take time.
After Mass, a parishioners told me that she felt "abandoned" at the leaving of her pastor weeks ago.
Human emotions emerged for many this Mother's Day.
Caregivers tend to give and give.
Glimpses of the great love of God for us shines in small ways in moms, in Mary, the Mother of God, who Catholics revere, and in pastors who lead Catholic parishes in trying times.
Pastors are expected to lead large sprawling parishes, schools, and more with dwindling clergy.
There has to be another way to prevent "burn out" and the like for the selfless leaders who do have limited energy.
Imagination could see the Church through these trying times and personnel shortages.
And, clergy could feel more support also.
I hope bishops will step up to the plate and ask the Vatican to imagine other ways of assisting clergy who are overworked these days. Enough is enough for any idealistic clergyman.
Parishioners want to help, but, their lead has to come from bishops who approach the Vatican with this epidemic.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Spring and a Garden
The bright sun and beaming light everywhere delights me no end.
A warm, cool breeze of air matches well. I like what I feel.
Fresh air of spring.
Spring has come.
And, so has a garden of onions, beets, peas and squash, let alone the marigolds and geraniums already in full bloom.
Color.
There's something about color that appeals to the senses.
Color adds much to the environment.
And, to one's spirit.
Awaiting summer becomes even more imaginable.
A warm, cool breeze of air matches well. I like what I feel.
Fresh air of spring.
Spring has come.
And, so has a garden of onions, beets, peas and squash, let alone the marigolds and geraniums already in full bloom.
Color.
There's something about color that appeals to the senses.
Color adds much to the environment.
And, to one's spirit.
Awaiting summer becomes even more imaginable.
Monday, May 6, 2013
Meaningful Living Daily
The rise in the suicide rate in this country is alarming to me.
In 2010 there were over 38,000 suicides.
Way up on the national norm.
What gives?
What accounts for the hike?
Are more head traumas from returning soldiers the reason? With brain injuries up from explosive devices, soldiers continue to be victims of the consequences of embattled nations.
It seems that meaning, and, one's search for it, is key to wellness.
The thirst for Meaning, for God, pervades one's life. Otherwise, others thirsts get in the way in the lust of money, power or sex.
That's why the search requires companions on the road, so to speak, and, mentors, parents, spiritual directors, significant role models.
The Trappist monk, Thomas Merton's No Man Is An Island was popular while I was in high school.
Communion intertwines each of us with one another. When classmates, among others, said they didn't need anyone, I wondered. Such statements stem from hurt or injustice and anger about relationships.
Merton notes:
"Therefore the meaning of my life is not to be looked for merely in the sum of my own achievements. It is seen only in the complete integration of my achievements and failures wit the achievements and failures of my own generation, and society, and time. It's seen, above all in my integration in the Mystery of Christ. That was what the poet John Donne realized during a serious illness when he heard the death knell tolling for another. "The Church is Catholic, Universal," he said, "so all her actions, all that she does belongs to all...Who bends not his ear to any bell which upon occasion rings? But who can remove it from that bell which is passing of piece of himself out of this world?"
Suicide is very much like cancer's growing within someone. Often, however, few, if anyone knows of suicidal ideations in those we live or work with daily.
Helpful comments from Merton about meaningfulness, include:
"It is useless to try to make peace with ourselves by being pleased wit everything we have done. In order to settle down in the quiet of our own being we must learn to be detached from the results of our own activity. We must withdraw ourselves, to some extent, from effects that are beyond our control and be content with the good will and the work that are the quiet expression of our inner life. We must be content to live without watching ourselves live, to work without expecting an immediate reward, to love without an instantaneous satisfaction, and to exist without any special recognition."
"We have to learn to commune with ourselves before we can communicate with other men and with God. A man who is not at peace with self necessarily projects his interior fighting into the society of those he lives with, and spreads a contagion of conflict all around him."
In 2010 there were over 38,000 suicides.
Way up on the national norm.
What gives?
What accounts for the hike?
Are more head traumas from returning soldiers the reason? With brain injuries up from explosive devices, soldiers continue to be victims of the consequences of embattled nations.
It seems that meaning, and, one's search for it, is key to wellness.
The thirst for Meaning, for God, pervades one's life. Otherwise, others thirsts get in the way in the lust of money, power or sex.
That's why the search requires companions on the road, so to speak, and, mentors, parents, spiritual directors, significant role models.
The Trappist monk, Thomas Merton's No Man Is An Island was popular while I was in high school.
Communion intertwines each of us with one another. When classmates, among others, said they didn't need anyone, I wondered. Such statements stem from hurt or injustice and anger about relationships.
Merton notes:
"Therefore the meaning of my life is not to be looked for merely in the sum of my own achievements. It is seen only in the complete integration of my achievements and failures wit the achievements and failures of my own generation, and society, and time. It's seen, above all in my integration in the Mystery of Christ. That was what the poet John Donne realized during a serious illness when he heard the death knell tolling for another. "The Church is Catholic, Universal," he said, "so all her actions, all that she does belongs to all...Who bends not his ear to any bell which upon occasion rings? But who can remove it from that bell which is passing of piece of himself out of this world?"
Suicide is very much like cancer's growing within someone. Often, however, few, if anyone knows of suicidal ideations in those we live or work with daily.
Helpful comments from Merton about meaningfulness, include:
"It is useless to try to make peace with ourselves by being pleased wit everything we have done. In order to settle down in the quiet of our own being we must learn to be detached from the results of our own activity. We must withdraw ourselves, to some extent, from effects that are beyond our control and be content with the good will and the work that are the quiet expression of our inner life. We must be content to live without watching ourselves live, to work without expecting an immediate reward, to love without an instantaneous satisfaction, and to exist without any special recognition."
"We have to learn to commune with ourselves before we can communicate with other men and with God. A man who is not at peace with self necessarily projects his interior fighting into the society of those he lives with, and spreads a contagion of conflict all around him."
Thursday, May 2, 2013
National Day of Prayer
At the Roseville, MI., City Council Chambers this noon, clergy among others will pray.
For the American media, I will pray:
That truth, your Truth, O God prevail in the letters of our alphabet, in the words, paragraphs and sentences crafted by writers, journalists, broadcasters, computer users.
That youngsters be led, supervised and steered on computers. Help them, O God, to go down paths of fruitfulness beyond predatory destruction, and more.
Assist parents in placing computers in public places at home to make children accountable.
Steer television broadcasters, and more, to enlighten a dark world with lasting life and love beyond the passing fads, styles and fashioners that come and go.
Guide all forms of media, O God, in your way, truth and life.
Bring us to a place of light, only your Light.
On this National Day of Prayer, O God, help us to be on your side always for the common good, and, for communicating only for the common good of all.
Amen.
For the American media, I will pray:
That truth, your Truth, O God prevail in the letters of our alphabet, in the words, paragraphs and sentences crafted by writers, journalists, broadcasters, computer users.
That youngsters be led, supervised and steered on computers. Help them, O God, to go down paths of fruitfulness beyond predatory destruction, and more.
Assist parents in placing computers in public places at home to make children accountable.
Steer television broadcasters, and more, to enlighten a dark world with lasting life and love beyond the passing fads, styles and fashioners that come and go.
Guide all forms of media, O God, in your way, truth and life.
Bring us to a place of light, only your Light.
On this National Day of Prayer, O God, help us to be on your side always for the common good, and, for communicating only for the common good of all.
Amen.
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