Even when I'm tired, the reality of Easter cannot be overstated. (oops, just discovered I had typed "understated" in the prior sentence, so edited it at 7 p.m. today to read "overstated" - sorry about that)(I had written one version of this post yesterday - and real early in the morning, read it again - and said to myself, "Good Grief, it's all theological jargon - and was also frightfully boring. So let me begin again writing in people English.)
Here is what Easter means to me - and hopefully to you. Easter means that it is safe to trust. We believe in a God of non-abandoning love who, despite all we might do, is just not going to leave us alone. This is the God whom Jesus told us about: I will not leave you orphans. Do not be afraid. Have faith in God and faith in me.
There are so many things in life that can bring us down: failures, sickness, the death of people we love, family troubles, difficult relationships, and so many other things. Easter is God's declaration that God has our back. We need to know this. It can be easy to forget this, but it is what helps us hang in - and hang on.
For me, Easter changes everything. It certainly did for Jesus' disciples - and it can do the same for us. Jesus said that fear is useless, what is needed is trust. Well, I'm often anxious, I can be afraid, but eventually I come home to the fact that it is safe to trust God - because that is what Easter is about.
There are some things which I hear that really get to me. Even though I have heard these lines a couple of times at the Christmas show at Radio City over many decades, I return to this very simple explanation of who Jesus was. It is not theologically complicated. The words are simple - but I believe them - and they give me hope.
So, here is One Solitary Life:
"Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.
He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself. . .
While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Nineteen long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centerpiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress.
I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built, all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life."
Pope Francis reminded priests this week that we should not use/we do not have to use complicated words to speak about God. How true. I do get more frustrated with those who insist that we use words which are so complex and anything but understandable to people in their lives. Jesus did not do this. Why should we?
This is what Easter is about. Here is a photograph of my favorite place on earth, for me, the holiest place on earth. This is the place where Jesus was raised from the dead in what is now the Church of the Holy Sepulchre:
Jesus is risen. The tomb was empty. He has gone ahead of us to lead us home to God. It is indeed safe to trust. It is safe to hope. We will survive everything because of Jesus, even death.
So today, we must say, with relief and hope: Alleluia.
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This ends a continuous series of 47 blogs from Ash Wednesday through today, Easter. I found them helpful in my own faith, in thinking about and applying religious themes to my life. I hope that things in the blog, even my struggles, were helpful to you.
I'll resume the blog weekly starting next Sunday.
Pray for me as I do for you.
love, jim
Today's Gratitude: I'm grateful that I kept faith with you in doing this blog for the last 47 days.
We ended the season of Lent on Holy Thursday with the Liturgy of the Lord's Supper. Now we are in the third day of the Easter Triduum. Tomorrow is Easter Sunday.
I hope I'm not disappointing your expectations of scholarship and profound thought by mentioning that one of my very favorite things about this time of the year is the Easter Egg Hunt - hosted by the Easter Bunny at noon on Holy Saturday. I love the Easter Egg Hunt and the Easter Bunny. This custom here started many years ago. But a few years after we began doing it, there was no one available to play the Easter Bunny, so I volunteered. Clearly one of the high perks of being the pastor.
I learned some things from playing the Easter bunny. Now, the Easter Bunny does not speak, so there is no pressure to say the right thing. The next thing that I noticed is that no kid places expectations on the Easter Bunny. Poor Santa Claus (whom I played one year) has lots of expectations because the kids, quite rightly, have things they would like for Christmas. The only task that the Easter Bunny has is to give out eggs to every single person. Little kids come up and hug the Easter Bunny. Big kids smile at seeing the Easter Bunny. It is too much of a theological stretch to say that the Easter Bunny is a Christ figure, but, at the very least, the Easter Bunny can be a benign sign is a benign sign of the care of God for us. That is not a bad thing for a parish to offer!
We will have the Easter Egg hunt on our front lawn led by the Easter Bunny. Around a thousand plastic eggs will be on the front lawn with candy inside each of them. Once the Easter Bunny waves everyone to go hunt the eggs, the entire front lawn will be cleared of all eggs in usually less than 40 seconds. I often suspect that some kids may have benefited from Easter Egg Hunt tutoring. Everyone is happy. If a little kid does not reach the egg in time, the Easter Bunny is ready with additional eggs just in case.
Is there a theological point to this particular posting? Yes, albeit a little one. Today we are in the time between Jesus being placed in the tomb after the crucifixion and the moment when he rose from the dead. Even though in the tomb, the world itself was still filled with the presence of God. Somehow, in the midst of sorrow and grieving, those who love Jesus and knew him maintained some connection, however benign, with Jesus. Minimally they experienced God who created the world - and the Holy Spirit - who was the presence of God in the world.
So the Easter Bunny theologically, even if minimally, gives us each a hint of the presence of God. Therefore, be nice to the Easter bunny. Any force, any entity, that can make us smile is a good thing.
(I've run out of things to write today!)
Today's Gratitude: I'm very grateful to the people who were kind enough to let me know that they found some things that they liked or that helped them during this daily blog since Lent began.
Tomorrow will be the 47th blog since Ash Wednesday.
There is something so primal about Good Friday. The liturgy which we have on Good Friday afternoon just hits at the heart of so many things in our lives that are profound and do not allow the slightest bit of glibness.
Here is my favorite painting of the Crucifixion by Salvidor Dali:
Art critics, students, historians, even scientists have waxed eloquent on this painting. I don't want to get into an analysis of it here (no time, and certainly no energy.) But Dali used mathematics, science, and religion to bring about this painting.
My simple thought - - as I've noted in earlier posts, the crucified Jesus found in the Gospel of John is markedly different than the Jesus we see in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In John, Jesus is clearly reigning from the Cross over all humanity. Suffering and crucified - yes - but in charge as the Lord of the heavens and the earth. This shows that the crucified Jesus was the one who rose - and who will always be with us. This is what one author cited in Wikipedia noted: "Dali shows Him fixed to the cross, but not fixed. He levitates and projects Himself. Rising above his mortal avatar, His suffering, the earth's gravity, hate, war, death, passions...everything. Get it? The auoyancy of Absolutely Love versus the gravity of hate."
Good Friday moves into Easter. Our lives, even when we are depleted or drained or empty, can in fact move to more solid ground and come to a much better place. This is what Dali showed us about Good Friday.
In my homily for Good Friday, there is one line I recall from decades ago that sums up everything: "Jesus died the death we fear - and freed us from the fear of death."
We have the Cross as our major symbol of our faith - not as the end - but rather the springboard into every possible good and wonderful and hopeful thing - which we call Easter.
Today's Gratitude: I don't mean this to be highbrow, but I'm so grateful for scholars I've known who have helped me to think beyond the usual categories and boundaries - helped to introduce me into the reality of who God is - and what God wants from us - and why God does not give up on us. I have been so blessed in my life to be in contact with those scholars who are the very best in their field - and they helped me to be better. I will never forget them.
This past week or so, I feel like the Jackson Browne piece called Running on Empty. Here are some of the lyrics:
Running on, running on empty Running on, running blind Running on, running into the sun But I'm running behind
What does this have to do with Holy Thursday? Reasonable question. When I committed to write this blog daily from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday, I also resolved that I would be totally transparent - meaning that if I was great, I would mention it; if I was frustrated or sad, I would mention it; if I was struggling, I would mention it. I have always tried to follow a principle that I would never write or speak about something that I did not know to be true. So, I kind of knew that there would be times when I would be saying something other than - things are wonderful - and, obviously, I'm wonderful too.
So, full transparency, right now - I'm running on empty. Ironically, I had things so carefully scheduled for the last two weeks of Lent that I thought I could approach all of the responsibilities deliberately and thoughtfully. This reminds me of the Hasidic wisdom - "if you want to make God laugh, tell God your plans."
At my other job, I had a situation that people did not really know about that just sapped me, depleted me, stressed me, made me sad, and any other down word you can come up with. I did feel ripped apart. So, now, I am empty.
I did get a little ahead of things in planning for Holy Thursday through Easter Sunday - but I have a lot of work to do - because these are important events and experiences - complicated and tiring, and obviously I want them to go well - and be helpful spiritually for the good people who come to church.
Right now, tonight (which is the day before you read this) I cannot think of anything to say. I'm empty. My only reason for repeating this - is that maybe you have times when you're empty. It is not the end of the world. It is frustrating and even scary, but it happens. If you can identify with this and it's helpful to you, I'm really glad.
One thought on the mystery of Holy Thursday that I will mention in my homily for this great feast of the Lord's/Last Supper, where Jesus gave us the Eucharist - and washed the feet of his disciples as a model of service for the rest of us. Here's the thought: "we eat with those we love - and we love those with whom we eat." Think about it. I think it makes sense. And if it does not happen for you or me, this is something great to work on.
So, experience the Real Presence of Jesus today. Remember - God is love - and there is nothing better than this.
Today's Gratitude: Once again, I'm grateful for friends, old and somewhat new.
In the past week, we have had a number of events. None were mentioned in the blog since I was reflecting on the Seven Last Words of Jesus. I've missed commenting on the actual feast of Saint Patrick, the feast of Saint Joseph, the beginning of spring, the presidential campaign, the NCAA basketball tournaments, and the magnificent victories of the Chicago Cubs which happened several different times in spring training.
Lent ends tomorrow at the beginning of the Mass of the Lord's Supper. Sometimes we can get hung up in the Church on the precise time/second for certain events. Lent ends tomorrow evening. If a parish celebrates the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 7 p.m., then Lent ends precisely at that time. It could end at 7:30 at Corpus Christi and so on. And, if people on Central Daylight Savings Time end it at 8 p.m., does this mean that we can end it at 7 p.m. on Eastern Daylight Saving Time, and what about the people in Europe. Poor God, having to keep track of all the different time zones. Sigh.
Let's look at the principle - Lent ends tomorrow evening. The precise second is less important than the principle that we have a proper transition from the practices and time of Lent into the celebration of the Easter Triduum. It is easy to lapse into religious language and not be aware that many people may not know what the phrases mean. The Easter Triduum means the three days of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday - moving right into the actual celebration of Easter. The Easter Triduum is not part of Lent. However, it used to be until the mid 1950's. Then it was separated into a distinct three time liturgical period. For those who are slightly weak in their faith, this would mean a discovery that, if you gave things up for Lent, you can now gorge on them starting on Holy Thursday at the beginning of the evening liturgy. I recall doing that on Holy Saturday. I would store up candy in my room, and then, when Lent was officially over (I vaguely recall that it was at noon on Holy Saturday), I would just eat and eat and eat.
I feel in this particular post that I'm treading water. (May I add that when I saw the picture of the duck treading water, it made me smile for the first time in a while due to some stuff that I'm dealing with.) In addition, I'm really a bit depleted on Lent and spiritual topics because I've been working on the four different homilies which must be given from Thursday evening through Sunday. Do you ever feel depleted and just cannot pull out all the stops and give something your all? I do right now. Have had to deal with a problem that is simply awful - not involving me - but I have to deal with it. It has sapped me big time. So, for this post, I'm treading water. Hope you don't mind.
Starting tomorrow, I'll have a brief reflection for the next three days on the Easter Triduum - and wrap it up on Easter Sunday. Then I'll switch to a weekly, rather than daily blog, to see how it works.
Today's Gratitude:I almost started to write that I had no gratitude for the post today. But even in the worst of times, this would not be true. I am grateful for God, for love, for friends, for support. Those are not bad things - and certainly not absent things. They are real. I just have to make a conscious effort in order to be grateful.
As I look over the list of posts that I have made since Ash Wednesday, one topic that I intended to discuss, and somehow it got lost, is the very important topic of forgiving yourself. It is amazing how many people, for a whole host of reasons, are not able to forgive themselves. They cannot accept that they are human, that humans mess up things, and it happens to everyone. At the core of this is a hunch that they are simply a bad person. I reluctantly admit that I suffer from this at times as well. I think a lot of people do.
When we're aware of it, it is easy to identify some remedies. The initial problem is even being aware of it. This does tie in, as do so many things, with the triad of Love of God, Neighbor, and Self.
Here is where we must start. With an incredibly simple, but perceptive observation:
This says it all - and I wish it were that simple, but we must try to figure it out for each of us. The point is that God loves us. If God loves us, then we can foul things up, but we can be forgiven. And once we're forgiven, we start again, we are free. This is the theory. The reality is that we often forget this immediately. When this happens, we get locked into patterns of helplessness, unhappiness, and negative thinking that can be hard to reverse.
The remedy is to try to listen to God - and understand that there is a reason why God loves us. The reason is because God has created us. To get even more personal, God is absolutely crazy about you and me. Say this as a prayer or as a daily mantra - "God, you're crazy about me. I'm not sure why, but you love me. I believe in you. Help me believe that I'm good - and that I'm forgiven."
If you have trouble with this, and I certainly do, the only remedy is to keep saying the things in the above paragraph. Gradually, hopefully, it will sink in. You can forgive yourself. So can I. We can accept that God loves us. It is ok to be happy. God does not want us to be sad. This is what it means to be "blessed" - essentially, to be happy. It's not a bad goal to have - and it is certainly what God wants for us. So - believe it, darn it! Me too!
Today's Gratitude: I'm grateful for the grace to keep trying to be better. May it happen.
The Seventh Word: "Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit." (Luke 23:46)
One interpretation of this passage suggested that this is not a request, but clearly an announcement. Jesus is announcing to us that he has joined God the Father, our Creator, in heaven.
Just consider what this seventh Word is telling us. Jesus has joined with God in heaven. We eventually will refer to this union as the Trinity - with the Holy Spirit experienced on Pentecost - one God, three Persons. OK - this is the doctrine - but what is the connection with our everyday lives?
I suggest that this is an even deeper way of understanding the non-abandoning love of God. If, on the Cross, Jesus is proclaiming that he knows he will be with God - - then, here's the connection, we who believe in Jesus, who receive Jesus, and who will be led by his Spirit, will experience the same thing - union with God in heaven. I know that theologians and other folks will find all kinds of ways to nuance this and to make it more complicated, but I'm a simple person born in Chicago who now lives in the Great Swamp. So I want to keep it simple - for me and for you.
God loves us. Jesus came to show us how to live. He came, through his life, death, and resurrection, to make God intelligible to us. He came so that we might identify and become close to God. He came to tell us that we're not alone. He came to show us how to live through his suffering and death. He wants us to know that life, even struggles, are, in fact, worthwhile. There is a wonderful reality at the end of all this called salvation, heaven, the Kingdom of God. Hope is what God offers us. Mercy is how we reach heaven. This is not a bad direction to follow in life - we just have to love. When we love, participate in the mystery, the mercy, and the eternal love of God.
I cannot make it simpler than in the last paragraph. But I think that it is on target. These Seven Last Words tell us that it is safe to hope, that evil will ultimately be overcome, and we will not be alone. We will be in heaven. That is not a bad prize to receive. Do we totally deserve it? Nah. But does God give this to us? Yeah. The God of Mercy proclaimed by the Scriptures and emphatically by Pope Francis tell us that this is true.
Today's Gratitude: I'm grateful for the mercy of God.
This sixth Word of Triumph describes the simple fact that Jesus completed his major purpose - he suffered and died for us, he saved us, and now he will be joined together with his Father. This is theologically complicated, not easy to convey in a few words, but there is something so profound about realizing this fact. We call Holy Week the greatest week in the history of the world.
Unlike the picture we get of Jesus in other gospels, the picture in the Gospel of John presents Jesus as simply in control of the world. From the throne of the Cross, Jesus declares that it is finished. His mission has been accomplished. He did what he needed to do, had to do, and even wanted to do. This is why this sixth Word is called Triumph.
There is a principle in theology called "already and not yet." This means that some things have begun to happen in our salvation, but not fully, hence, the phrase "not yet." So - this is the Word of Triumph - - it has begun to happen, but the full reality "not yet."
What this Word means to me is that death does not win. Life wins. This is the reason to continue - to hope - to go on.
Today's Gratitude: I am so grateful for the youth of our parish.
This Word is a human cry, not a prayer. No one can claim that here Jesus is praying. He is in distress. The physical act of being crucified is causing this distress. Jesus was offered some sour wine. You will be familiar with the description in various gospels where a person took a sponge dipped into wine and held it up to Jesus' lips.
As we get more into the seven Words, I just find it hard to describe. The reality is so overwhelming of what Jesus had done to him - and what he did for us. When we think of thirst, we are, as the Scriptures describe it, parched, lifeless and without water. This is how Jesus felt hanging from the Cross.
Now consider the ways in which the drinking of water is a practice followed by so many. It is common to see people always having water bottles with them, always drinking from them, filling them up at water coolers, etc. Grocery stores have whole sections where they only sell bottled water - a liquid that used to only come from a water tap!
Is this a connection between this fifth Word and our lives? It seems easy. We thirst for what really gives us life - - those are the things of integrity, self-worth, service, helping others, feeling affirmed, and so many other things. When we have these things, we do not thirst. We are satisfied.
These fifth Word may be the reminder to us that, just as we are supposed to drink a certain amount of water each day, we must also do a certain number of things each day to be genuinely nourished, satiated, filled. This is not something that we should just do once in a while - but rather every day.
Perhaps looking at Jesus on the Cross can be a daily reminder to see what we have done to address our thirst for the things of God? Maybe the water bottles we carry and use can remind us that we need to be as scrupulous about doing the things of God as we are about drinking from the water bottles. This is not the most sophisticated analogy, but I think it works.
While I ponder this and try to be sure that it is part of my life, it is also time to fill up my water bottle!
Today's Gratitude: I'm grateful for every little thing I see that reminds me of God. I'm also grateful for the times when I do not miss these signs of God because I'm too busy or rushed.
The Fourth Word: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
It is interesting to me that scholars disagree on the point of Jesus' words in the Fourth Word. Some see it as prayer to God. Others see it as a sign that he was in total desolation. Based upon non-scholarly hunches, I have always seen this as Jesus just feeling that God had abandoned him - humanly, how could he not? Who could not identify with Jesus on the cross crying out those words?
We tend to try to make things "pretty" or "comfortable." But crucifixion is crucifixion. It is a horrible painful death. This is what Jesus suffered. This is what he did for us. This is what God did for us. It is overwhelming.
Whenever I see a portrayal of the Passion of Jesus, I just get overwhelmed. This is not a debating society. Jesus died for us. I cannot really see it without being profoundly moved. I keep thinking about these words - "God so loved the world." How true. That is our faith. And it really happened during the first Holy Week.
Today's Gratitude: I'm grateful for the change of seasons. I'm grateful for living in New Jersey. Traveling is great, but I always love to be back home.
The Third Word: When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. (John 19:26-27)
This Word captures the power and poignancy in the relationship between Mary, the Mother of God, and her son, Jesus, the Son of God. Our tradition and honoring of Mary often captures her suffering - found in her love for the son and in his suffering which we observe during Holy week. While Mary is not God, she certainly reveals to us the passionate tenderness of God. This is why we honor her as the first Christian, the first disciple of her son.
A few years ago, there was a movie by Mel Gibson which many people saw, The Passion of the Cross. Many parts of the movie were grotesque, bloody, and violent. However, it did capture the pain which Jesus suffered during the Crucifixion. For me, the best part of that movie was the role of Mary. I have not seen any film that captured the depth of Mary's love and the intensity of her suffering for her son. If you want to learn about the love of Mary for Jesus, see this film.
The relationship between Jesus and Mary gives us an understanding of divinity and humanity. Divine love which was without nuance and totally non-abandoning. Human love which spent itself totally for the other. This is really at the heart of our faith - love, relationships, commitment, sacrifice, suffering, and ultimately eternal life.
One of the best things about being Catholic is the understanding we have of Mary. This Third Word honors that - and reminds us that, as we approach Holy Week, it is about Jesus - but it is also about Mary.
Today's Gratitude: I may have mentioned this already, but it is worth mentioning again. I am grateful for my friends - those of many years and those of briefer time. They give me such wonderful experiences. For some reason, they totally accept me. The greatest compliment I can pay to my close friends is that I can just be Jim, just be relaxed, and know that all my craziness is accepted. I am loyal to them. And I know they are loyal to me.
The Second Word: "Today you will be with me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43)
Today's Word was the response that Jesus gave to the person, traditionally known as the Good Thief, who died on a cross next to Jesus. Scripture scholars remind us that this is the only time the word "paradise" was used in the Gospels. It was used twice in the epistles. The word referred to the garden prepared by God for the first humans = and in that garden was the tree of life. This is a connection with Jesus on the cross.
I believe that this is but another example of Jesus reminding us of the non-abandoning love of God. The Good Thief wanted Jesus to remember him after his death. Jesus replied to him by saying that he would in fact be in paradise with him. Even on the Cross, Jesus continued to minister to people in the time of their most wrenching need.
All the words of Jesus in the Gospels about the Kingdom of God remind us of what God has prepared for us. Just as in the time of Genesis, a garden was prepared for God's people. In the time of Jesus and for eternity, heaven has been prepared. I always like to remember the words of Jesus when he said that "eye has not seen nor has ear heard what wonders God has prepared for those who love him."
You and I are placed here on earth to help build up the Kingdom of God. Jesus promised us that God would not abandon us. AND - if God did not abandon Jesus on the cross, God will not abandon us either. One of the most primal fears is the fear of abandonment. This Second Word is God's response to that fear. Salvation is the answer. Trust is how we get there. It is ok to doubt and to wonder and to question. But, not in the short run or the middle run but the ultimate run will be fully understand what this all means. God is not going to abandon us.
The Second Word is what keeps us going when things are hardest. I know it helps me. I hope that it helps you.
Today's Gratitude: I am grateful for all the people who do so many good things for others - and we don't even know about it. These are the silent saints. God love them.
What are the "Seven Last Words?" Many of us have heard of them. Often they are a device that preachers use to preach about the events leading up to Jesus' passion and death. There have been a number of composers who have set this to music. Probably the most famous was the work by Joseph Haydn.
One reason why there has been such attention in Christian piety over the centuries is the simple fact that a person's final words before death are of great importance. So, by focusing on these seven last words (or passages, more precisely), we are connecting with what has very important to Jesus before he died.
For each of these seven days, I'll just highlight the particular passage that is part of the "word" - and then give a brief reflection. The bottom line is that this can be a way to focus more intensely each day upon the passion and death of Jesus. (personal note - using the seven last words starting today means that the feast of Saint Patrick on March 17 must simply be observed without mention. I will do appropriate penance that evening for this unintentional slight to the saint who truly saved civilization, at least in my opinion!)
A suggestion: if you're looking for a great book to read in the time before Easter or even after Easter, I highly recommend this new book by Father Jim Martin, S.j., The Seven Last Words of Jesus - an Invitation to a deeper friendship with Jesus." In the hope that you might read this, I'm deliberately not using his book as a reference for this posts. It is worth reading. Right now, it is about $11 on amazon.com. Consider this one review of his book:
"This insight alone makes this book worth reading: Jesus endured suffering, so he understands ours. There is nothing more isolating than suffering, everyone’s suffering is largely incommunicable. Thus, in seeking to shoulder the sufferings of others we must pray to be able to hear the muffled cry.” (Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, author of Dead Man Walking)"
The First Word, the word of forgiveness: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
The first word is forgiveness. Since we are in Jesus' seven last words, note that forgiveness comes first. It is really an entrance way that we have into God. Jesus was to clear about the necessity of forgiveness- perhaps annoyingly so. I found forgiveness to be among the most difficult things that Jesus asks us to do.
I come from a background that finds forgiveness often easy, but forgetting often difficult. This may be an intellectual game where I tell myself that, sure, I forgive so and so, but I will never forget what they did. Now this does not mean that we truly forget whatever a person did to us. This can be rather short-sighted at times, because we do not want to make similar mistakes as we made in the past which might have caused a situation. But it does mean that we consciously do whatever is necessary to make us free.
One of the best ways to look at forgiveness is to look at a chain. When someone does something to us and we cannot forgive the person, we are then chained to that person. Somehow that chain controls us. Amazingly, the person who did something to us has power over us. By not forgiving the person, we have given them the power. So, the only way to get out power back is to forgive. How to do it? Simply pray to God and ask God to help them. This might seem like a very minimal way to approach, but it truly is our way of cutting that chain. Not forgiving that person is keeping us from being close to God. No person who did something to us is worth being kept distant from God. So try it, do it, forgive - cut the chain - and become free.
I'm not minimizing that is hard. But it is possible. We cannot do it alone. But we can do it with God's help. Jesus asked forgiveness of those who were crucifying him. Let's try to at least have the same forgiveness of each other.
Today's Gratitude: I'm grateful for the extraordinary gifts that God has blessed with me - without deserving them, but simply because God loves me - and I hope to be able to accept this fact fully someday.
The new Archbishop of Chicago, Blase Cupich is a clear thinker, not a culture warrior, but a person who is seeking to find ways to unite us in our society and our Church. I just read a homily he gave yesterday at Old St. Patrick's Church in Chicago, arguably one of the very best parishes in the country - and also one of the most beautiful Celtic-designed churches in the country as well.
Even though it is about Saint Patrick's Day, Archbishop Cupich (who is Croatian, not Irish!) offers thoughtful ideas on what he sees as a cancer taking over part of our body politic. Nearly everyone that I have talked with lately is disturbed about what has been going on. Archbishop Cupich expressed the concerns far better than I could have done. He is not dealing with a particular political party or candidate, but recalling the principles that people of faith should use in building up our society.
The whole homily is worth reading. It is Catholic "social justice" teaching at its best. If you do not have the time, I highlighted in bold those sections that I found particularly helpful in looking at our society today. As they sometimes say in the journalism business, here is the "money" quote in the article below:
"Modern science tells us that the growth of any living organism has to be organic and coordinated. Whenever it is not and cells grow in ways isolated from the body, they begin to mutate in a self-serving and self-preserving way. We call that cancer. So, too, in the organism of human society. When the common good of all is not the aim of society's growth, whether that be in the economy, education, civil rights or civic participation, a cancer grows that damages the whole social body."
Homily of Archbishop Blase J. Cupich, Mass for the Celebration of St. Patrick's Day "Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Easter Rising" Old St. Patrick's, Chicago March 13, 2016
Fr. Hurley, you pay this full-blooded Croatian, a singular honor by inviting me to preside at the Mass to begin our city's celebration of St. Patrick's Day. I learned early on in my ministry as a priest that the Irish are not all that familiar with Croatians, as shocking as that may be. Years ago when I was serving as a bishop's secretary, I was asked to get another bishop on the phone. The housekeeper answered the phone in a strong brogue. I asked, "Is the bishop available" "And who would be callin'?' she insisted. "This isFather Cupich," I replied. "And how would you spell that," she demanded. "C U PI C H," I offered. With a laugh in her voice, she blurted out:" Isn't that a funny name?"
Now you have to realize that when all of this took place I was young and lacking in restraint, and so I couldn't let that go by. "Well, don't trouble yourself deary," I explained. "We shortened it; it used to be O' Cupich." She reported me to her boss, wanting to know who that cheeky lad was. Happily this Croatian's encounters with the sons and daughters of the Emerald Isle have only improved since then. And, I would have to say, today is a highlight in my years of friendships with the Irish. These are friendships we all share, making us all a little bit Irish, today. It is good to be with you.
The scripture texts chosen for today, remind us that the Bible is replete with references of how God's handiwork of creation unfolds organically, progressing step by step in an ordered and coherent way. We are all familiar with the story in Genesis, which recounts how creation unfolds. It is not capricious, but builds up day after day. This morning we hear the prophet Isaiah borrowing that image from the natural world to offer a vision about the restoration of society and the civic order to a people alienated from each other and their God. It is a restoration offered to those open to receiving God's spirit.
" In those days: The spirit from on high will be poured out on us." The desert will give way to an orchard of justice and the orchard of justice will grow into a forest of peace, calm and security. The message is clear. The growth and preservation of human civilization, culture and the social order requires a discipline, a pacing, a collaboration and coordination involving everyone. Growth cannot be forced. It cannot be advanced by favoring some over others, including some and excluding others. It cannot be left to chance, but it has to be intentional, ordered and purposeful in bringing about social solidarity.
Modern science tells us that the growth of any living organism has to be organic and coordinated. Whenever it is not and cells grow in ways isolated from the body, they begin to mutate in a self-serving and self-preserving way. We call that cancer. So, too, in the organism of human society. When the common good of all is not the aim of society's growth, whether that be in the economy, education, civil rights or civic participation, a cancer grows that damages the whole social body.
This year's St. Patrick's celebration, which marks the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising in Ireland, brings that message home so very forcefully. On Easter Monday, 1916, a group of Irish nationalists proclaimed the establishment of the Irish Republic, rebelling against British rule. In response, British troops were sent in and the violence resulted in the death and injury of more than 2000 citizens and the destruction of much of the Dublin city center. How did this happen? What were the causes? A segment of society was told they didn't matter, and were treated as sub-human, "a lower class" not only economically but socially to be excluded from the body politic. Social cohesion wore thin in a system corrupted by inequality, favoring the powerful and wealthy, their self-promotion and preservation to the exclusion of the weak and voiceless. The result: many people lost hope, solidarity vanished, hearts hardened and society ended up becoming infected by a cancer that harmed all.
William Butler Yeats described the situation well in his poem Easter, 1916:
Too long a sacrifice Can make a stone of the heart.
In the Gospel text from the evangelist John, Jesus speaks to a community of disciples that he prays will live united, and in solidarity. He speaks of the importance of friendship for remaining together. They are not just to be acquaintances but friends.
Friendships too develop naturally; they are relationships that grow organically. They take time, discipline, mutual respect and dialogue. They don't just happen. They take work and they grow in ordered sequence. We meet someone. We see something in them that we like and they see something they like about us. In friendships we reveal something about ourselves that we may not have appreciated. Friendships transcend differences of opinion and conflicts, bring comfort in trial and they grow in moments of forgiveness and failing. Jesus understood all of this as he invited his disciples to be his friends and friends of one another so that the community would live united, and in solidarity. For their community to remain united, they needed to befriend one another.
While Jesus aims his remarks about friendship at a community of faith, all human communities, and society at large understand the value of friendships for society. In fact, centuries ago, Aristotle in the Nicomachean Ethics, noted that friendships are needed for the growth of civilization. He remarked that while friendships, like justice, are not found in tyrannies, they are proper to democracies, "because the citizens, being equal, have much in common."
We seem to have lost the value of friendship in our social relationships. Our nation seems to have lost a sense of the importance of cultivating friendships as fellow citizens who, being equal, share much in common. Instead, our politics and public discourse are often marked by enmity and animosity. There is an overly competitive character that defines how we relate to one another, emphasizing what divides us rather than what we share in common. And because we do not value growing together, a cancer is developing that threatens to harm us all. Positions harden, progress is stalled, and it is becoming clear that the body politic is nearing the limits of how much suffering it can endure.
Too long a sacrifice Can make a stone of the heart.
Is it not time to remember that we are a democracy and that in being equal we have so much in common? Can we recapture the value of friendship as fellow citizens? Is that not what we should all pray for this day, as we call on the spirit of God promised by the prophet?
We are given a special grace this morning to reflect on all of this in a church that has come to symbolize how Chicagoans have learned the value of friendships that transcend prejudice, tragedy and differences. Old St. Patrick's was founded 170 years ago in 1846, by Irish immigrants not welcome elsewhere. The oldest continually-used church and public building in Chicago, it survived the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.
Yet, in spite of their past sufferings, succeeding generations of Irish immigrant descendants have welcomed Chicagoans, Catholic and others, to Old St. Pat's to share common prayer, hopes and dreams. As a result, Old St. Pat's stands as a tall reminder that Chicago owes its greatness precisely to its historic ability to weave the diverse cultural identities of the many immigrant communities who have journeyed here into a unified social fabric. In this history Chicago became a series of orchards each reflecting a rich culture, which in turn became a forest in its unity and strength. The source of this unity and strength has always resided in the city's thirst for the very justice and social peace which Isaiah points as a deep reflection of the grace of God.
In a special way today we honor how that grace of God has worked in the Irish community, making it a central element of this thirst for justice and peace in the building up of our city.
On the occasion of St. Patrick's day, as Chicagoans, as believers, we are invited to be open to the spirit of God moving us to take up the work of restoration, a restoration that comes in building friendships, in stages, with the discipline and with a commitment to dialogue, a commitment to walk together step by step as equals who, while not always agreeing with each other, have so much in common. The Jubilee of Mercy, which Pope Francis has called, can be that fresh start we need to step back, reflect on what we all share in common, and reach out to each other with works of mercy that foster friendship and reconciliation and open up new horizons for us to live together as children of the one Father. In fact, it is in the shared aspiration as a people who know the value of friendship, that we, no matter our heritage or our funny names, can gather as friends in this sacred space and wish each other a Happy St. Patrick's Day.
Today's Gratitude: I am grateful for some kind people who said something that I did for them recently made a difference.
I get frustrated with myself and/or laugh at myself when I discover that I am doing something that is important, helpful, and it does not make me happy. It makes me tense. I had a perfect example of this yesterday.
I had several presentations to give in the parish. It was going to be with a very nice group of people. It was on a topic that I had never spoken about, even though I knew some things about it. I had to do a decent amount of work to get ready for the presentations. But, as the time grew closer when I had to give the presentations, I started on one of my super-serious jags. My goodness, I can become super-serious.
These presentations were going to be for a two hour period - which is not a very lengthy amount of time. I do a lot of talking (babbling, as I call it to myself) so this was not going to be a very difficult experience. But during the past week, I started to just worry about the talks. I felt that I knew the topic. But I began to think that perhaps what I had to offer was not going to be helpful to the group. If I have never shared this in past posts, then I do it now, I am a world-class worrier. If you are not able to worry about something, then just e-mail me and I will do the worrying for you. I am an expert. (please note that I did not say that my approach was healthy in the slightest)
So I started worrying about the presentations, doubted the value of what I had prepared, and did even more reading and thinking about the talks. Early yesterday morning, I prayed about it and asked God to at least let it be ok. I was not going for "very good." I just did not want to embarrass myself. Although I hoped that I did not show it when the group arrived, I was just dreading the morning presentations.
The participants were congenial and good people. I realized something as I got about a half hour into the first presentation. I had totally forgotten to practice one of the things that helps me to do things. I had looked at this ultimately as an ordeal. I had not looked at it as fun. I strongly believe that many things I do are fun. I tell priests that if they are not having fun, they need to readjust their approach. I enjoy so much of ministry. I suddenly realized that doing this was really fun. I totally relaxed. I was eager to continue. Hopefully, the group found some value in it.
Since I've thrown caution and propriety to the winds in writing this blog during Lent, I'll end with this clear reminder to me that I did know how to have fun - as seen in the picture for a modeling agency when I was five year old. I was a professional child - which may explain a lot.
LIfe can be hard. The challenges can be relentless. But you and I also have the right to have fun. Jesus wants us to be free. He wants us to be happy. So, try it. You'll like it. I just hope that I remember to do it as well.
Rather than continuing to wallow and bemoan my lack of self-care, it is time to shift into remedies. I fear that I lapsed ever so gingerly into whining during the last several posts. Realize that this is part of the problem. In writing about self-care, I associated it with whining - rather than with taking care of myself. Interesting. Please don't psychoanalyze that. But I do forget that self-care is an important part of our relationship with God.
I like to follow certain principles in life - or at least articulate them and try to follow them - or articulate them and fall far short. Whatever.
So, in trying to identify some remedies for not practicing self-care, one of the best principles that comes to mind is from Stephen Covey. He maintained that priorities must be scheduled. They will not simply happen by accident. They certainly will not happen when you get around to it. They must be scheduled.
IN practical terms, what this means for me - - - is to also follow another principle at the same time - never let the critical replace the important. In human language, it means that there are so many things that may appear to be critical - things that must be done. But, when you look at them, often these things are not always the important things. So, it is time to start to distinguish between those things that are truly important from those things that seem pressing, or urgent - but, in truth, the world will go on if they are not done. For this post, it is a reminder that practicing self-care must rise in importance and in scheduling - or it will never take place.
I use calendars and schedulers that go from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. in 15 minute increments. For me, scheduling the priority of self-care means that I must place in the schedule things like exercise, time to just think, time to dream, time to connect with friends and a whole host of things that i just kind of do without placing it in the schedule - and it is evident that these things often do not end up being done.
I'm in a constant effort to make my life simpler, to really smell the flowers, and to focus on the most important things. It is so clear that I am victim to the question Doctor Phil poses on his show -- "how is that working for you?" It is not working for me. I do not practice sufficient self-care. In spiritual terms, once again, I do show love for God,hopefully love for neighbor, and love for myself - not so much. Sigh.
Between now and Easter, I'm going to start doing this. I must admit that it really galls me about my inability to do this instinctively - and have to rely upon proper scheduling of self-care. I'm somewhat smart. I am an Eagle Scout. But it is not working.
Pray that I can become more sensible and healthier in every way.
Today's Gratitude: I'm grateful that, in the midst of so many things to do, I actually noticed what a beautiful day it was yesterday. (This might not seem like a big deal to you, but it is rare enough to be a big deal to me!)
I decided to continue on the theme of "self-care." There is a lot to say about this. Frankly, it is something that many people, certainly me, needs to consider. It also is an essential part of the religious triad - that we are called to have love for God, neighbor, and self. We express this as the command to love your neighbor as you love yourself.
When I was in the seminary and in early years of teaching high school as a priest, there was a very popular book used in religious education and other programs with the title "Why Am I Afraid to Tell You Who I Am?"
(Special note: I really debated not mentioning this book. The author many years after publication had some apparently credible allegations concerning his treatment of minors. He was very famous. My conclusion on mentioning him was that his insights in these areas were helpful. What he is alleged to have done to minors was reprehensible. I will mention his insights, but will not honor him by mentioning his name.)
The book dealt with self-knowledge. A major point was that if I tell you who I am inside, you may not like me or value me. Therefore, I will stay bottled up. We can do all kinds of games by keeping things bottled up. In the long run, it does not allow us to develop as fully integrated persons. For me, this has been a lifelong process trying to work through this. It has so much to do with self-image, patterns growing up, etc.
To address the topic of "self-care" explicitly, it may be that the reason you do not take care of yourself is that you do not think you are worth it. You can think so little of yourself that all the energy is spent in other parts of the religious triad, loving God and loving neighbor, and little or no effort is spent on loving yourself.
If you push the point spiritually, can we honestly believe that God does not want us to love our self? Of course, God wants you to love yourself. So why don't we do it?
This really comes down to taking care of yourself, such deceptively simple task. This can be a fundamental problem for many people. My hunch is that it can get in the way of great relationships with others. It is sad, but it is a reality.
One wag (I forget the wag's name, so s/he must simply be known as "wag") observed that for some people - to love their neighbor as themselves - is a cruel thing to do to their neighbor. There is a lot of wisdom there.
Do I have a point? Yeah. The lack of an appropriate level of self-care may apply to a lot of us. Is this inevitable? I don't think so - and will try to suggest some remedies - both to me - and hopefully to you.
Today's Gratitude: I'm grateful for being reminded once again that I must take care of myself - and that the failure to do so is neither smart nor spiritual.
I'm writing this yesterday afternoon. I have a totally unscheduled period of two hours. My goodness, that time can be quickly filled in. But I have decided to be irresponsible, slothful, self-centered, and unreasonably unproductive. Sadly, I do not have one bit of guilt for doing this. (oops, I just realized that in using this two hour period to write this post, I am no longer doing nothing -but, actually, the topic of his blog may be personally helpful - and perhaps even to you.)
Here's the point - which actually took me the above paragraph to try to figure out. I am not good at practicing self-care. I can take care of other people without hesitation, but myself, not so much. That is not really good. It also works against one of the major things that I preach - love of God, neighbor, and self. Pretty good at love of God. Hope I'm good at love of neighbor. But, self-care, love of self, Nah. Sigh.
Lent is meant to be a time to get our act together - to look at balance, to look at priorities to see if they are in conflict, and to see if spiritual progress is being made. I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that I am not good at all in terms of loving myself. I do try - lots of time. I then forget. Sigh.
I'm just going to stop writing now. I have slightly less than two hours to go of unscheduled time. I'm going to wallow in it. I actually hope I like it. Odds are that I will - and odds are also that I will forget how great it felt. Sigh.
Today's Gratitude: I'm grateful for thoughts of good self-awareness -- and not terribly grateful that I do not have enough of them.
Do you ever think about being successful? Most of us do. But when asked to define what “being a success” means, there are lots of different answers.
I have been thinking about this at various times during Lent. Looking inward, I ask – am I being effective? Am I making a difference? Am I getting closer to God? And, bottom line, is the world a better place because I have passed through it.
But to press the point, I have to ask myself – what are the criteria that I use to judge whether I’m doing good or being successful. At times, I would simply say that I’m trying to be a saint. I believe that we are each called to be a saint. For some reason, this type of language does not instantly cause a positive response in people.
My interest in looking at this question was prodded by a really great article, How I Learned the Meaning of Success the Hard Way, by William O’Malley in the November 8, 2016 online version of the National Catholic Reporter (www.ncronline.org). I should tell you that O’Malley is a Jesuit. I should also tell you that I have always liked Jesuits. Someone mentioned recently that the pope is a Jesuit. I did not know that. Go figure.
Father O’Malley taught for over 50 years in Catholic high schools and colleges. Occasionally he has had articles in Catholic periodicals, including NCR and America and written a few books along the way. He is trenchant, sardonic, possibly without nuance, and usually right on target. I have never met him, but from his writings, I suspect he may be a somewhat crusty fellow. He has lots of qualities I like.
He makes the point in the article that he would ask his students about being a success – and what did it mean. They gave all kinds of answers. No one ever said that they would be a success if they were like Jesus Christ. In his own life, O'Malley said that he finally concluded that, to be a success, he must be kind.
Is this disappointing or predictable or puzzling that no one referred to Jesus Christ? I believe that each of us is placed here on this earth to be a saint. I also believe that the purpose of a parish is to give us the practical resources to be a saint: prayer, sacraments, service to others, etc. I have observed that when I use language such as “the parish exists to help you be a saint” – I am usually met with blank expressions. (ok, same expressions on lots of things I say, but definitely about this)
Are saints so far removed from our present-day realities that we cannot identify with them? I will confess that I was really annoyed over the past few decades that the only people canonized saints were usually priests and nuns. Seldom were saints canonized who were in other walks of life. If you’re not going to canonize saints from other walks of life, then who should be surprised that people do not think about being saints. It’s logical – and I would contend – troubling.
I have met so many people in the parish over the years whom I consider to be saints. Their sacrifices for family and others, their goodness, how they cope with illness, financial hardships, their wanting to help those in need – I am overwhelmed by their goodness. In practical terms, these people will never have the large institutional support which makes possible the canonizing of members of religious orders, That is how it works because canonization is quite rightly a long and detailed process.
Those who are saints are considered “successful” in the Christian life. They are our heroes. We need to remember that the canonized saints are not the only saints. This is why we have All Saints Day – for all those who were never canonized, but are nonetheless with God.
My favorite definition of a saint is simple: “Saints are sinners who keep trying.” May that be all of us.
Today’s Gratitude: I am so grateful for all the people that I’ve known who are saints.
Let me just be personal. I apologize if this post is so self-centered.
I began the time of Lent thinking and believing that 40 days was way too long. Now I look at the different things on my calendar between now and Easter - and I am somewhat panicked - thinking "can't Lent be longer?" I am frightfully inconsistent at times.
Now as I look at everything that must be done between now and Easter week, I just feel such a crunch. I did try to space things out better this Lent. I desperately needed a couple of days away and took them - and felt less stressed. But now there is the reality of so many things to be done - and this does not even consider the various important things or circumstances that must be addressed, worked through, solved, or just somehow managed - things that just pop up without warning and have to rise to the top of things to be done.
Occasionally in this blog, I've written about such things before - but now it seems worse. So I begin to wonder - am I really living life to the fullest? Am I making a difference? Am I just floundering trying to keep my head barely above water? OR - am I trying to do the best I can - and realize that I just can't do everything well or fully or whatever?
As I write this blog on Sunday night, I just don't know the answer. I have to pray about it. I have to think about it. It seems to me that my methods are not really working. So - tune in to see if I have any luck or wisdom in addressing these things.
I do know that there is an important principle: Never let the critical replace the important. But what does one do when everything critical is also important. I'm really not happy with such a crunch facing me, especially when I was trying to take much better care of myself. So it is time for some inner pondering - and clearly a time to practice Self-care. Do you practice this as well? It is one of the best ways to show that we love God, other people, and ourself. My problem is that I'm not very good at self-care. Lord, help me to be better.
Today's Gratitude: I'm grateful for at least remembering some principles that I have to apply much more rigorously to my life.
Pope Francis has spent a great deal of time talking about mercy. This was certainly a focus during the first weeks of his papacy. He readily admits his debt to Cardinal Walter Kasper for his work on mercy and forgiveness. We are in the midst of a Holy Year of Mercy.
It seems that Pope Francis likes the interview format instead of writing lengthy books. The pope has a great gift for communicating in practical terms to people. The interview format allows him to get his thought across easily. One of the latest examples of this is a book called The Name of God Is Mercy. This book has spent the past few weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List. Yesterday, it was #7 on the list.
If you're looking for a way to understand his thinking especially during Lent. I would recommend this book highly. The questions raised by the journalist are practical. The pope's answers are clear. At the end of the book in the appendix, he includes his formal announcement of the Holy Year of Mercy. While it is good, it seems to me that it might be less interesting than the rest of the book which is an interview. It is a great meditation use during the rest of Lent.
Pope Francis has given us in his talks and writings many different images of the mercy of God. He is emphatic that we recognize God's incredible eagerness to forgive us, to give us mercy. He speaks of mercy as part of the doctrine of God.
Now, what does this mean for us? I come across some people, even in the Church, who do not seem terribly enthusiastic about such an overwhelming idea of God's mercy. Some people really want to see a God who is stingy with forgiveness, with giving us the chance to start over. I cannot feel comfortable with that approach. I just do not see how it is possible for people to listen to yesterday's Gospel of the Prodigal Son/Forgiving Father and not want to place everyone in touch with God's mercy. Some seem content to just raise barriers to God's mercy - when, in fact, God is so eager to give us mercy.
All I know for myself is this: on the Day of Judgment, when I have to meet God face to face, I am happy to be judged for being too merciful and too forgiving. If there are times in my life (and good Lord, there have been lots of those times) when I have not been forgiving or merciful, it will not be easy to explain these actions to God. Those actions are really indefensible in light of our God of Mercy.
If you have not been merciful and I know that I have not been merciful, Lent is the time to change. Remember, mercy is not simply an attitude, it is a doctrine. Let's make it part of the Creed that we follow each day. For me, begin merciful and realizing that I must be more merciful - the feeling that I have is really one of relief. I'm relieved that finally I'm getting close to Jesus. Not a bad thing to happen during Lent!
I am relieved that our God is a merciful God.
Today's Gratitude: I'm grateful for energy. I'm often really tired, but then energy comes and I can keep on doing things. Having the energy to work helps me push through tough times. Full disclosure - I can be really exhausted as Sundays happen. The spiritual energy required is really overwhelming at times. I'm maxed out by the end of Sunday - but ready to begin again on Mondays - often, but not always.
The above painting by Rembrandt, The Prodigal Son, is probably a familiar picture to most of us. Many books and articles have been written to explain the different features of this powerful painting. When I was growing up (alright - I'm not a finished product yet!) we were taught that this parable was called The Prodigal Son. In recent decades, that title has been used much less. It seems more appropriate to put the focus directly on God's mercy - and call this the Parable of the Forgiving Father.
Let's look at the basics - this parable is about the fact that no matter how awful we have been or what kind of sins we have committed - we have a God who forgives us. Our God wants to forgive us. Our God is so in love with us that forgiveness is available and open to us whenever we ask for it.
Take a moment and just think about this truth: do you believe that God forgives you, that God loves you so much that God eagerly answers us when we ask to be forgiven?
This is why the focus of the parable and even the painting must be on the forgiving Father. Ask to be forgiven. God forgives us. The prodigal son is welcomed by the forgiving father. A banquet is held. The feast is prepared. There is not the slightest hesitation on God's part.
What about you and me? Do we hesitate to ask for forgiveness? Are we reluctant to even ask? Do we believe it is possible for God to forgive us?
The answer may come down to this: do you believe, do I believe, that I am worthy of God's love?
Here are the insights of the parable:
We may tend to side with the younger son who connects with our wanting to just be rebellious and do what we want. Or we may feel sorry for the older son who is resentful when good things finally happened to his younger brother. Or, we may get God's point: we are each called not to be the younger rebellious son or the older resentful son - we are called to take on the unconditional love of the Father. It is that simple. It is that hard.
Hopefully, we can use this Lent to work past the two sons - and start trying to measure up to the father - in the best possible way - by being unconditional in our love and our eagerness to show mercy to others and even to ourself.
Today's Gratitude: I am grateful for very close friends who will give me lots of space when I am really strung out. Although I'm not worthy of it, their love for me is unconditional. I'm so grateful for that.
Do you ever have a day when you just wonder whether you accomplished anything at all during this day? I do - and sometimes it bothers me, sometimes I just roll with it, but I often come down to just questioning what my purpose on this earth might really be in terms of achieving things on a particular day. I readily concede that some of this attitude might simply be to the type of work/vocation that I am in. You just don't see instant results. You are often in the work of planting seeds - and hopefully they will grow and people's lives will be better. But I deal with seeds, and very seldom with finished products.
As I get older, I think about this more than I did many years ago. I have certainly been thinking more about whether or not I did anything good. Will there be anything left behind to grow? I believe that it was the historian Arnold Toynbee who observed that the worth of a person's life is not so much what they did, but what they left behind to grow. I do seem more preoccupied with this issue than ever before. So what's this about?
In the course of trying to figure this out, I have become more concerned about trying to really live each day to the fullest. This is not to say that I have to live each day with a series of metrics or benchmarks to show that I'm making progress as a person or as a Christian or as a priest. I instinctively recoil from those who use phrases like "I'm a human being, not a human doing." I flee from those people for whatever reason. I know what they're trying to say, but expressing it just seems silly to me.
When I think about living each day to the fullest, I'm trying to focus on the most purposeful existence possible. I want to improve. I want to grow. I want to learn new things. I want to have the chance to try to make people's lives better. I think and hope that I have done these things a little, but I really want to just explode with saving and reveling and really trying to make things better. No half-measures. No wasted days. No days without looking back at the end of the day and seeing empirically what I wanted to do and whether I did it.
This process may make me nuts. It may exhaust me. OR it might just be a life-giving force that will give me more purpose, happiness, and, ultimately, peace. It' s fun to true - and may even succeed. It also might be just a obsessive way to live life and completely unhealthy. I don't know unless I true - so try I will.
I hope that this meandering around the purpose of life may be helpful to you. I'm not sure if it will be helpful to me, but I'm going to try. If it does not work, I'll let you know quickly. Or more precisely, God will let me know.
Today's Gratitude: I am grateful when I learn new things. It is fun. And it just possibly keeps me going.
I have reached an age where I think more about retirement. It is not going to be tomorrow. It could be years down the road. But I have to think seriously about retirement - and what I have to do - and what it represents.
I see different ways in which people prepare for and handle their retirement. Some prepare do well financially and emotionally. Others really do not have thought things through - and unfortunately did not do all the right things in the many years before their retirement. I may fall more into the second category than the first category.
I was really rattled when a close priest friend of mine mentioned that he will probably retire next year and move to Florida. It made me realize that I have always had a tremendous fear of abandonment. When people who are friends move away from this area for business reasons, retirement, etc., I feel really abandoned. It is something that I just cannot deal with in any meaningful way.
This fear of abandonment is not a mystery to me. I know where it came from in my upbringing. It is no one's fault. It was just the reality. I have trouble handling it. Incredibly close friends have moved away and it just devastates me. I also do not find that the passage of time makes the feelings any less acute. I just don't handle it well. I do feel lost at times. It also may have something to do with being an only child as well.
Why have I linked musing about my own retirement with the issue of abandonment? Simply because for me, they are so connected. I am purposely writing about it in this blog to make me start to find ways to face this in a much more integrated way.
There is a slogan used in 12 Step programs that I find annoying, but accurate: Have a nice day unless you've made other plans. The topic of this post is simply that I have often been far more reactive than proactive. I spend so much time in my life planning, working on outcomes, trying to make things better for the people I serve and the organizations that I help to lead. News flash: I don't do it for Jim. That has to change.
Lord Tennyson had it so right: "that which we are, we are, and if we are to be any better, now is the time to begin." Hopefully, I can share some progress down the road in future postings in this blog.
Today's Gratitude: I am so grateful for the life lessons I realized in the writing of the above words.
I came across a thought recently from a spiritual writer who posed this question: Do you have space for God in your life? Frankly, I never thought of God and my life in this way. I believe and hope that God is part of my life. But I never looked at the very tangible idea of whether or not there is space for God in my life.
I live a life filled with certain non-tangible stuff - responsibilities, people, all kinds of situations. In essence, these are the non-tangible, but nonetheless real things in my life. I also live a life filled with tangible stuff - surrounded by books, papers, projects, Hummel figurines, Chicago Cubs' memorabilia, and other things. Did I mention books?
Now the question for me is simply this - where does God fit in among all of this stuff? Just raising the question has forced me to think about the place and priority of God in my life. I certainly spend a rather decent amount of time on things related to God. I'm a priest. That is what we're supposed to do.
The above quote from Albert Einstein makes sense - and it also makes me ask where there is space for God in my life. What must I remove from my life in order to be certain that God has space in my life. Have I made enough room for God in all of the clutter that often comprises my life? I'm going to start looking at this more intensely - and hopefully will emerge with more peace and centeredness by doing this.
I often do not feel at peace. I often do not feel centered. Maybe this will help me. Maybe this can help you as well.
Today's Gratitude: Thank you for helping me look at the "same old things" in a different way. This will hopefully help me to become better in lots of ways.
This post is being written the week before Super Tuesday. I have been trying to get a little ahead of things in coming up with a daily blog. So I do not know the election results for Super Tuesday. (All right, I do have a good guess, but let's wait until the votes are counted. I am from Chicago where the devout citizens were asked to vote early and often and not announce the results until after the polls have closed and you can figure out how many votes you need.)
My hunch is that none of the winning candidates in either party mentioned a great deal about social justice and the poor, and our obligations given by Jesus to help those who are in need. Father Ronald Rolheiser, OMI, one of the more popular spiritual writers today, makes the point that "one would think and hope that today there would be no question whatsoever that within Christian life and spirituality, social justice is not an optional item."
Let me share two excerpts from a recent article he wrote: "Jesus deepens what the prophets said about widows, orphans and foreigners....Jesus identifies himself with the poor, with those on the edges, and tells us that whatever we do, good or bad, to them, we do to him. Furthermore, this is not just true for how our private lives, our personal sin or virtue, touch the poor, but also for how the systems (all the social economic, ecclesial things we take part in) touch the orphan, the widow and the alien as well. What we or our systems, do to them, we do to Christ."
There is something haunting about the words of Jesus when he tells us that that we do to the poor, we do to him. There is no way that Jesus is speaking about these things as an option. They are a requirement.
I do not doubt for a minute that these topics are highly charged for many people. The solutions are clearly complicated. We should not forget this. Simplistic jingoistic solutions address nothing.
At times, I have been assailed by some parishioners for mentioning these things - and I really do not harangue people about them. But the slightest mention causes some people to get hostile. I say this with sadness because apparently we have not been persuasive and compelling enough in communicating these things.
I hope that it is not self-serving to observe that the problem these people may have with these issues is not with me, but with Jesus. I believe that I can defend what I say on these issues when I meet God face to face on the Day of Judgment. This is what these issues are ultimately about - they concern our salvation. We have to seriously think about our views when we react to what Jesus said.
It ain't easy. But it is important.
So much boils down to this:
Today's Gratitude: For people who challenge me and at times disagree with me - and make me better in the long run.
One of my most favorite TV series is Blue Bloods, a wonderful show about a family all in some level of law enforcement, who gather on Sundays for their obligatory family meal. The photo above captures what goes on - where they do work through difficulties, rejoice in successes, challenge each other, and at times just revel in their happiness and admiration for each other.At times, they have conflicts; their different jobs get in their ways; their personal histories make future moments difficult; but they do come together - and often during the Sunday family meal.
Now let's fast forward to the first century. Undoubtedly, Jesus and his disciples shared similar meals. They were times of fellowship, commitment, probably arguments, and experiences where they grew closer to Jesus and each other. The Last Supper was a time where Jesus took bread and wine and identified himself with the bread and wine. We wrap this up in theological terms - but the reality is quite simple - the bread and wine are no longer bread and wine, but now the Body and Blood of Christ. From the time of the early Church until this past weekend, we do the same. We tell the story. We share the bread and wine. God speaks to us. We speak to God. God is present among us. This sacred meal, the Mass, becomes the very center of our faith. Nothing else is as important.
Here is the human/divine principle: we eat with those we love and we love those with whom we eat. From a regular family meal to the Mass itself, this is the dynamic at work.
There are obstacles to family meals. It can be hard to have everyone together. Family members can become estranged. Disagreement may fester and explode into ruptures among family meals. But there is a reason we exchange a sign of Peace during the Mass. There is a reason why families try and try and try to bring everyone together.
The above picture of the Last Supper is by Jacopo Bassano. This painting is quite different than the more familiar painting of the Last Supper by Leonardo daVinci. DaVinci has Jesus and the apostles sitting in rather formal fashion for the Last Supper. Bassano approaches it differently by showing the emotions raised when Jesus asked who would betray him. Family meals can have conflict, disagreements, troubles - but hopefully they do not end until peace has been restored.
The next time you're at a family meal - the next time you're at Mass - try to remember this wonderful principle: we eat with those we love and we love those with whom we eat. If there's conflict, try to put down your arms. Try to embrace each other. Give each other a chance. The wonderful thing about God is that we're given lots of chances. Let's not waste them. Lets work at loving those with whom we eat - and realize that Jesus is among us.
Today's Gratitude: I'm grateful to one priest in the seminary who taught all of us how to celebrate Mass. He reminded us and showed us it is more than words and gestures. The Mass is a reality, an encounter with Jesus, that has as its solemn obligation making Jesus present among all of us. Hopefully, the people at the masses I celebrate benefit as well.
