For part of my retreat, I did lectio divina with the story of the man born blind from John's Gospel (Ch. 9). I meditated with much of the story, but the final words of Jesus to the Pharisees struck me in a particular way:
If you were blind you would not be guilty,
but since you say, "We can see," your guilt remains.
For a very long time I have thought myself able to see, and because of this, I've been stuck in my sin and pride. However, through the past couple of years, and especially on this retreat, it is ever clearer to me that I am blind. I am constantly lying prostrate asking for God's help simply because I know I am incapable. I can only see because he gives light to my eyes.
This story is after all centered on Jesus' statement "I AM the Light of the World." I was born blind, as was the man in the story, as well as the Pharisees. And, like the Pharisees, I have insisted for all my life that I can see. Now I know this is wrong; I can only see because he makes me to see.
God is content to let us continue on claiming we can see, claiming to have everything figured out, claiming to have the Truth. He patiently bears with all of that nonsense. He grants us the power to push him away, and we do not hesitate to use it. But every so often, he completely brings down the barriers and leaps into our experience. Every now and then, we need to be undone. Thank God for those times when he disturbs us. He stirs up the waters and brings our stagnant faith back to life.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Monday of Holy Week
I just want to quote the words of St. Augustine from the Office of Readings on Monday of Holy Week. Augustine can sometimes be a little longwinded, so I often look with despair when I see his name in the breviary. Yet, there is a reason he comes up so often, and every now and then, his spiritual/literary/theological genius comes out in force.
The case in point being the Wonderful Exchange. This is a very famous passage about the Incarnation:
Of ourselves we had no power to live, nor did he of himself have the power to die. Accordingly, he effected a wonderful exchange with us, through mutual sharing: we gave him the power to die, he will give us the power to live.
There is very little I can say beyond the beauty and simplicity of those words, so I won't try. Instead, I'll just try and live the life He gives us.
The case in point being the Wonderful Exchange. This is a very famous passage about the Incarnation:
Of ourselves we had no power to live, nor did he of himself have the power to die. Accordingly, he effected a wonderful exchange with us, through mutual sharing: we gave him the power to die, he will give us the power to live.
There is very little I can say beyond the beauty and simplicity of those words, so I won't try. Instead, I'll just try and live the life He gives us.
Random Bavaria photo:
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| Light rain at Andechs |
Holy Week Thoughts
Now that the Easter Octave is almost over, this post and the ones to follow might seem a little late in coming. I was on retreat over Holy Week, and then didn't have internet access for most of this week. So, while I've wanted to share some of the fruits of that retreat, I haven't had the opportunity until now. Don't worry though, I'm sure I'll come up with something for Easter after I post all my Holy Week thoughts.
The retreat took place at Ampleforth Abbey, in North Yorkshire, England. It was great to be in a monastic setting as I made my retreat, especially since I began my priestly training at a Benedictine abbey (St. Joseph's in Covington, LA). In the posts that follow, I certainly won't be including all of my retreat experience, but just some of the fruits with which God blessed me. Also, after the retreat, I visited Bavaria with some other Mobile seminarians, so I'll throw in pictures from that trip.
The retreat took place at Ampleforth Abbey, in North Yorkshire, England. It was great to be in a monastic setting as I made my retreat, especially since I began my priestly training at a Benedictine abbey (St. Joseph's in Covington, LA). In the posts that follow, I certainly won't be including all of my retreat experience, but just some of the fruits with which God blessed me. Also, after the retreat, I visited Bavaria with some other Mobile seminarians, so I'll throw in pictures from that trip.
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| Ampleforth Abbey |
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Rocks
I'm posting this a little late, but I haven't gotten the opportunity to write it until now. The first line of Friday's Gospel really struck me (pardon the pun):
The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus. (Jn 10:31)
Immediately I thought: What irony! They would pick up little hand-held rocks with which to stone the Rock of Ages.
My mind started to explore the imagery, and what it might mean. Their small rocks are the precepts of the Old Law, which as St. Paul teaches us, has no power to save. In contrast is the person of Jesus and his New Commandment, to love one another as I have loved you. The Jews can throw their rocks, but they will just shatter and bounce off of what is much harder and stronger.
And, figuratively speaking, this is just what happens in the story - he says to them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?" They reply (in an audibly frustrated tone), "we are not stoning you for a good work, but for blasphemy."
Their slavish attachment to the letter of the Law rather than to its Author causes them to let fly petty accusations, which of course simply shatter and are deflected by the love and truth that He is.
The Jews picked up rocks to stone Jesus. (Jn 10:31)
Immediately I thought: What irony! They would pick up little hand-held rocks with which to stone the Rock of Ages.
My mind started to explore the imagery, and what it might mean. Their small rocks are the precepts of the Old Law, which as St. Paul teaches us, has no power to save. In contrast is the person of Jesus and his New Commandment, to love one another as I have loved you. The Jews can throw their rocks, but they will just shatter and bounce off of what is much harder and stronger.
And, figuratively speaking, this is just what happens in the story - he says to them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?" They reply (in an audibly frustrated tone), "we are not stoning you for a good work, but for blasphemy."
Their slavish attachment to the letter of the Law rather than to its Author causes them to let fly petty accusations, which of course simply shatter and are deflected by the love and truth that He is.
While I'm on the topic of Christ as the Rock, check out these lines from Psalm 105:
[Psalm 105 is a recounting of salvation history, from Abraham, all the way to the Israelites in the desert.]
He pierced the rock to give them water;
it gushed forth in the desert like a river.
Now, if Christ is the Rock, then look at the symbolism of the rock in the desert from which God gave the Israelites water. Here, the psalmist uses the words, "He pierced the rock." (referring to Moses striking the rock with his staff) That word choice is very telling: Jesus' side was pierced, and blood and water flowed out. St. John Chrysostom teaches us that the blood signifies the Eucharist, and the water, Baptism - both of which give life to the Church, the bride of Christ, born from the side of his dead body, just as Eve was created from the side of Adam as he slept.
And so, we see just how important Baptism is, since it gives us life while we are yet surrounded by the desolation of the desert. Baptism comes to us from Jesus, who was pierced for our offenses.
Just some thoughts. Have a good Holy Week!
[Psalm 105 is a recounting of salvation history, from Abraham, all the way to the Israelites in the desert.]
He pierced the rock to give them water;
it gushed forth in the desert like a river.
Now, if Christ is the Rock, then look at the symbolism of the rock in the desert from which God gave the Israelites water. Here, the psalmist uses the words, "He pierced the rock." (referring to Moses striking the rock with his staff) That word choice is very telling: Jesus' side was pierced, and blood and water flowed out. St. John Chrysostom teaches us that the blood signifies the Eucharist, and the water, Baptism - both of which give life to the Church, the bride of Christ, born from the side of his dead body, just as Eve was created from the side of Adam as he slept.
And so, we see just how important Baptism is, since it gives us life while we are yet surrounded by the desolation of the desert. Baptism comes to us from Jesus, who was pierced for our offenses.
Just some thoughts. Have a good Holy Week!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Updating
I'm just about two months away from priestly ordination, and I'm very excited. It's getting hard to stay focused on the daily life here at the seminary, on my studies, on anything really. But I wanted to give an update on the things that have been going on:
#1 - This one is huge. A couple weeks ago, I was graced with the opportunity to travel to the Holy Land (for the second time!) with three other Mobile seminarians, and a group from the Archdiocese led by Archbishop Rodi. This was truly an amazing experience, and it deserves its own blog post, so I'll get to that later.
#2 - I've started playing music again. That is to say, I've started just sitting down and playing music for no other reason than it gives me joy. I had forgotten how refreshing and life giving it was, and I'm glad to get back into it, more regularly anyway.
#3 - Over Holy Week, I'll be making my canonical retreat before ordination, so please keep me in your prayers. I'm traveling with some friends to Ampleforth Abbey in Yorkshire, England where we will spend the week not only celebrating the Triduum, but also preparing ourselves spiritually for ordination. I was there two years ago. It's a wonderful location. The Abbey liturgies are beautiful, very reminiscent of my time at St. Joseph's Abbey in Louisiana. I'm really looking forward to this retreat.
#4 - I've got my "thesis" topic. (It's really just a short 30 page paper to cap off the MDiv program.) My area of specialization is patristics, so I'll be writing a few of the Fathers' interpretations of Gen 27 (that's when Jacob dresses up like Esau and deceives Isaac into giving him the blessing), focusing mainly on the moral problem of Jacob's deception.
#5 - Southern Night - the Gulf Coast seminarians at the NAC are starting our annual labor of love in putting together Southern Night, an invitation only event for the southerners at the seminary. We go all out with specialty drinks, seven courses, music, etc. It's always a lot of fun, but also a lot of work.
#6 - Clericus Cup! The annual clerical soccer tournament is now going into it's third week. The North American Martyrs are performing fairly well, but we need a win this Saturday to get into the quarter finals. As always, the fans from the NAC are going all out, dressing up and shouting our heads off. I'm more or less leading the charge as Uncle Sam. If you don't mind dealing with the Italian, you can check out the tournament website: Clericus Cup (The "Photo Gallery" is easy enough to find; Martyrs pictures will always be found under "Girone B.")
I guess that's about it. Things are going pretty well these days...
#1 - This one is huge. A couple weeks ago, I was graced with the opportunity to travel to the Holy Land (for the second time!) with three other Mobile seminarians, and a group from the Archdiocese led by Archbishop Rodi. This was truly an amazing experience, and it deserves its own blog post, so I'll get to that later.
#2 - I've started playing music again. That is to say, I've started just sitting down and playing music for no other reason than it gives me joy. I had forgotten how refreshing and life giving it was, and I'm glad to get back into it, more regularly anyway.
#3 - Over Holy Week, I'll be making my canonical retreat before ordination, so please keep me in your prayers. I'm traveling with some friends to Ampleforth Abbey in Yorkshire, England where we will spend the week not only celebrating the Triduum, but also preparing ourselves spiritually for ordination. I was there two years ago. It's a wonderful location. The Abbey liturgies are beautiful, very reminiscent of my time at St. Joseph's Abbey in Louisiana. I'm really looking forward to this retreat.
#4 - I've got my "thesis" topic. (It's really just a short 30 page paper to cap off the MDiv program.) My area of specialization is patristics, so I'll be writing a few of the Fathers' interpretations of Gen 27 (that's when Jacob dresses up like Esau and deceives Isaac into giving him the blessing), focusing mainly on the moral problem of Jacob's deception.
#5 - Southern Night - the Gulf Coast seminarians at the NAC are starting our annual labor of love in putting together Southern Night, an invitation only event for the southerners at the seminary. We go all out with specialty drinks, seven courses, music, etc. It's always a lot of fun, but also a lot of work.
#6 - Clericus Cup! The annual clerical soccer tournament is now going into it's third week. The North American Martyrs are performing fairly well, but we need a win this Saturday to get into the quarter finals. As always, the fans from the NAC are going all out, dressing up and shouting our heads off. I'm more or less leading the charge as Uncle Sam. If you don't mind dealing with the Italian, you can check out the tournament website: Clericus Cup (The "Photo Gallery" is easy enough to find; Martyrs pictures will always be found under "Girone B.")
I guess that's about it. Things are going pretty well these days...
Love Your Enemy ...
... but who is my enemy?
Most of us don't have "enemies" in the sense of mortal combat, or combat of any sort, but that's not necessarily what Our Lord is getting at.
Most of us don't have "enemies" in the sense of mortal combat, or combat of any sort, but that's not necessarily what Our Lord is getting at.
Rather than what we normally think of as adversaries, I think Jesus' words might also point us in a more creative direction. In examining my day, I can easily find that there are many people for whom it is difficult me to love. I would submit, therefore, that love your enemies means love those whom you find it most difficult to love. (and all those in between)
We all have a tendency to think that this or that person is just unacceptable, so incompatible with the way we understand things to be, that they're just not worth the time. We find ourselves saying or thinking things like "I just can't stand that guy," or "there she goes again," etc.
Hold it right there.
Stop for a second and think if you could ever imagine Jesus saying or thinking the same thing in your place. It's kind of a twist on the old WWJD. Or better (worse?), imagine that you are that person, and it is Jesus who is regarding you. You are a sinner, constantly "letting him down," failing to live up to his expectations - would he ever say or think such things about you? Could you ever imagine Jesus saying "I just can't stand that guy" about ANYBODY? No! Not at all! Not ever!
Hold it right there.
Stop for a second and think if you could ever imagine Jesus saying or thinking the same thing in your place. It's kind of a twist on the old WWJD. Or better (worse?), imagine that you are that person, and it is Jesus who is regarding you. You are a sinner, constantly "letting him down," failing to live up to his expectations - would he ever say or think such things about you? Could you ever imagine Jesus saying "I just can't stand that guy" about ANYBODY? No! Not at all! Not ever!
We often forget that it is also these people whom Jesus is talking about when he says "love your enemies." Love that person whom you find it most difficult to love. Jesus does not hesitate to love that person, even if you do.
"I really only love God as much as I love the person I love the least."
- Dorothy Day
Back to Random Photos:
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| Clericus Cup season is back, and so is Uncle Sam. Here I am holding up the Oscar that we wave whenever a player from the opposing team takes a dive. (It's pretty weird wearing fake facial hair.) |
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Idolatry: does this still happen?
I can't imagine bowing down to worship a little wooden statue, or a big golden calf, or any sort of idol. People used to do it, but it's really just not done anymore, except maybe by a small percentage out on the fringe.
But most of us see the stupidity of it. We can foresee just how awkward and bizarre an experience it would be to actually give homage to something that is obviously just a man-made object. We have all listened well to the words of St. Gregory Nazianzen (even if maybe we haven't actually heard them before):
How can that which is seen be higher and more godlike than that which sees?
Gregory lived in the 4th century, when a very large portion of the world still worshipped idols, and so he loves to point out how backwards it is. We are human beings, far more godlike than idols, because we're made in the image of God. Idols are mere images of us, or of animals, or of some other created thing.
So it's settled - idol worship is just some silly ancient idea that's as stupid as it is irrelevant to modern man. The First Commandment is therefore the easiest commandment to follow because it's so obvious, at least in our enlightened world, wherein no one would ever be so dumb as to worship a piece of silver or stone. It's a no-brainer.
Right?
...well, no. Leaving aside questions of atheism (perhaps for a later day?), there is a very real danger to which we all fall prey: that of putting other things ahead of God. Sure, no one is so strange as to bow down and pay homage to a cat sculpture, but
I think it's really a question of priorities. Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. None of us sacrifices animals to false gods (at least, I hope not), but how many of us sacrifice our time or talent or treasure to worthless or even sinful things? What's our real goal in life, and how does that manifest itself in the small things? It's very easy to say that God and family are the most important things, but when it comes down to it, there's a strong tendency to not actually live that out.
And as far as I see it, time is probably the biggest thing. It's the one that we're most possessive of - just think about the phrase "me-time." Sacrificing our time to the false god of our egos is a pretty common and very self-centered sin. Clearly everyone needs recreation time - that's part of being human. But if we have enough time to watch 2 hours of TV, but at the same time don't have enough time for 15 minutes of prayer everyday, there's an imbalance. If we spend hours of time on the internet, while neglecting relationships with those closest to us, there's also an imbalance.
Don't keep your time to yourself - give it instead to those who deserve it.
Just something to think about...
But most of us see the stupidity of it. We can foresee just how awkward and bizarre an experience it would be to actually give homage to something that is obviously just a man-made object. We have all listened well to the words of St. Gregory Nazianzen (even if maybe we haven't actually heard them before):
How can that which is seen be higher and more godlike than that which sees?
Gregory lived in the 4th century, when a very large portion of the world still worshipped idols, and so he loves to point out how backwards it is. We are human beings, far more godlike than idols, because we're made in the image of God. Idols are mere images of us, or of animals, or of some other created thing.
So it's settled - idol worship is just some silly ancient idea that's as stupid as it is irrelevant to modern man. The First Commandment is therefore the easiest commandment to follow because it's so obvious, at least in our enlightened world, wherein no one would ever be so dumb as to worship a piece of silver or stone. It's a no-brainer.
Right?
...well, no. Leaving aside questions of atheism (perhaps for a later day?), there is a very real danger to which we all fall prey: that of putting other things ahead of God. Sure, no one is so strange as to bow down and pay homage to a cat sculpture, but
I think it's really a question of priorities. Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. None of us sacrifices animals to false gods (at least, I hope not), but how many of us sacrifice our time or talent or treasure to worthless or even sinful things? What's our real goal in life, and how does that manifest itself in the small things? It's very easy to say that God and family are the most important things, but when it comes down to it, there's a strong tendency to not actually live that out.
And as far as I see it, time is probably the biggest thing. It's the one that we're most possessive of - just think about the phrase "me-time." Sacrificing our time to the false god of our egos is a pretty common and very self-centered sin. Clearly everyone needs recreation time - that's part of being human. But if we have enough time to watch 2 hours of TV, but at the same time don't have enough time for 15 minutes of prayer everyday, there's an imbalance. If we spend hours of time on the internet, while neglecting relationships with those closest to us, there's also an imbalance.
Don't keep your time to yourself - give it instead to those who deserve it.
Just something to think about...
Proverbs
Better a little with fear of the Lord
than a great fortune with anxiety.
Better a dish of herbs where love is
than a fatted ox and hatred with it.
Proverbs 15:16,17
I love this scripture passage! There is so much to be learned from it. It's yet a another great way of saying what God has said to us so many times: "What good is it for someone to gain the whole world but lose his soul?" (Mk 8:36) We've all heard it, but we also conveniently forget it when it suits us. It's amazing how many things can suddenly become more important in practice than the faith that we believe in theory. How quickly do we switch from professing love for God and for our neighbor to needing to fulfill this or that selfish need.
We all want that fatted ox, when all we need is the dish of herbs, that is, if we let love in.
If the only thing that I have is the love of God, then I have enough... which means, we all have enough already! God loves us already. And yet we feel the need to fill ourselves with so many things that cannot satisfy. That's the heart of St. Ignatius' Suscipiat:
Take, O Lord, receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, my entire will. You have given me all that I am and all that I possess. Now I return it. I surrender it all to be disposed of wholly according to your will. Give me only your love and your grace. That's enough for me.
Moving on...
The passage from Proverbs also makes a great point about fear. People have asked me in the past about fear of the Lord - how is it that a God who loves us and wants us to love Him in return also wants us to fear him? Well, Proverbs shows us that there's a big difference between fear of the Lord and anxious fear. When one has a lot, one fears losing it, but when one has very little, there's nothing to lose.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. It's a holy fear that comes from the realization that God is God, and I am not. It's not an abject trembling before an overlord type god who can and will crush us at the first provocation. It is rather very much connected to humility. Even Mary, she who is without sin, has fear of the Lord. Even Adam and Eve before sinning had this holy fear. It is the kind of fear that does not preclude us from approaching Him, but rather encourages us to approach Him.
It is not the loss of our salvation that we should fear, but the intensity of God's love - a fearful and wonderful thing. It is knowing that God loves us even though we have done nothing to earn it. For such as us, who generally feel guilty when we have something we don't deserve, it is very disconcerting to be loved by God having done nothing to deserve it and everything to reject it. He sees our imperfections, yet looks past them and sees in us the Image of Himself. And so, we are rightfully fearful, not that he will change his mind, but perhaps that we will not change ours.
Cardinal Hume explained this humble fear very well:
How much better if I come before God when I die, not to say thank you that I was such a good monk, abbot, bishop, but rather God be merciful to me a sinner. For if I come empty handed, then I will be ready to receive God's gift.
And one more excellent quote for good measure:
The sign that a creature hopes in Me and not in himself, is that he does not fear with a servile fear. They who hope in themselves are the ones who fear... they spend so much... in acquiring and preserving temporal things, that they turn their back on the spiritual... I alone am He who provides all things... with the same measure that My creatures hope in Me, will My providence be measured to them. (God to St. Catherine of Siena, Dialogue)
than a great fortune with anxiety.
Better a dish of herbs where love is
than a fatted ox and hatred with it.
Proverbs 15:16,17
I love this scripture passage! There is so much to be learned from it. It's yet a another great way of saying what God has said to us so many times: "What good is it for someone to gain the whole world but lose his soul?" (Mk 8:36) We've all heard it, but we also conveniently forget it when it suits us. It's amazing how many things can suddenly become more important in practice than the faith that we believe in theory. How quickly do we switch from professing love for God and for our neighbor to needing to fulfill this or that selfish need.
We all want that fatted ox, when all we need is the dish of herbs, that is, if we let love in.
If the only thing that I have is the love of God, then I have enough... which means, we all have enough already! God loves us already. And yet we feel the need to fill ourselves with so many things that cannot satisfy. That's the heart of St. Ignatius' Suscipiat:
Take, O Lord, receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, my entire will. You have given me all that I am and all that I possess. Now I return it. I surrender it all to be disposed of wholly according to your will. Give me only your love and your grace. That's enough for me.
Moving on...
The passage from Proverbs also makes a great point about fear. People have asked me in the past about fear of the Lord - how is it that a God who loves us and wants us to love Him in return also wants us to fear him? Well, Proverbs shows us that there's a big difference between fear of the Lord and anxious fear. When one has a lot, one fears losing it, but when one has very little, there's nothing to lose.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. It's a holy fear that comes from the realization that God is God, and I am not. It's not an abject trembling before an overlord type god who can and will crush us at the first provocation. It is rather very much connected to humility. Even Mary, she who is without sin, has fear of the Lord. Even Adam and Eve before sinning had this holy fear. It is the kind of fear that does not preclude us from approaching Him, but rather encourages us to approach Him.
It is not the loss of our salvation that we should fear, but the intensity of God's love - a fearful and wonderful thing. It is knowing that God loves us even though we have done nothing to earn it. For such as us, who generally feel guilty when we have something we don't deserve, it is very disconcerting to be loved by God having done nothing to deserve it and everything to reject it. He sees our imperfections, yet looks past them and sees in us the Image of Himself. And so, we are rightfully fearful, not that he will change his mind, but perhaps that we will not change ours.
Cardinal Hume explained this humble fear very well:
How much better if I come before God when I die, not to say thank you that I was such a good monk, abbot, bishop, but rather God be merciful to me a sinner. For if I come empty handed, then I will be ready to receive God's gift.
And one more excellent quote for good measure:
The sign that a creature hopes in Me and not in himself, is that he does not fear with a servile fear. They who hope in themselves are the ones who fear... they spend so much... in acquiring and preserving temporal things, that they turn their back on the spiritual... I alone am He who provides all things... with the same measure that My creatures hope in Me, will My providence be measured to them. (God to St. Catherine of Siena, Dialogue)
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