Mass Readings for Sunday, November 9, 2008
Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
Reading I
Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12
...He said to me, "This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah, and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh. Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh. Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.
Reading II
1 Cor 3:9-11, 16-17
Brothers and sisters:
You are God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ.
Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.
Gospel
Jn 2:13-22
..."Take these out of here, and stop making my Father's house a marketplace." His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for my house will consume me...
-----------------------
Our vocation is to love. It is to be holy. If something is contrary to love or stops us from growing in holiness, then we probably shouldn't do it. All we have to do is love. After all, if love God and others (the two most important commandments), then we will never do anything contrary to God's will. We don't have to know exactly what we are called to do at this moment, or in the near future, because God will reveal that to us in time.
God called to St. Francis of Assisi and said, "Go and rebuild my church, for as you can see it is in ruins." Francis took this literally and reconstructed 3 churches that needed renovation. It was only after this that he realized the Lord had greater plans for him to rebuild the Church spiritually. He sold everything, announced God as his only Father (much to the dismay of his biological father), and began preaching the mercy and forgiveness of God. Francis just loved and followed God's will for him as he understood it, which evolved over time. This, too, is how it is with us. God will not necessarily strike us down with a bolt of lightning and tell us our specific vocation or course of action. Our understanding of God's will for us will gradually evolve and form us into the followers that He wants.
Of course, we have to be open to this. As the scriptures above say, wherever the river flows, there will be abundant fruit. If we want to see the fruit, we have to let the river flow. LOVE as God calls us to love, and we will build our foundation as a temple for Jesus Christ and therefore become holy. This affects others whether know it or not, whether we want to believe it or not.
"If you are what you should be, you will set the world ablaze."
- St. Catherine of Siena
Seriously, if our faith is boring, something is wrong.
If our life is boring, we're not doing God's will.
It's as simple as that.
I will sing a song of hope, sing along
God of Heaven come down, Heaven come down
Just to know that you are near is enough
God of Heaven come down, Heaven come down
Monday, November 17, 2008
The Little Flower
Recently, I've been feeling a strong calling to service to my friends, family, and sisters. I've accepted it and have been trying to gocus on teh Lord, knowing that he must work through me. To God be the glory! But in Rome, I had the opportunity to meet with one of my sisters who already graduated and she spoke of St. Therese, the "Little Flower," and how she loved in little ways. We talked about how becoming a great saint isn't something that happens overnight, but over time, through a complete dedication to Jesus Christ. I related this also to something Fr. Brad and I talked about a couple weeks ago - we need to work on building the foundation of a relationship with Jesus Christ, step by step. We need to start small, and build up our faith from the bottom through practice of consistent prayer, sacraments, and LOVE in everything. Then and only then will we be equipped and able to serve one another.
I also realized that true service and love only comes through the little things anyways. It's not the big, grand acts of serivce that mean the most, but the small, everyday activities done with love. In addition, the radical service that we are called to can't be accomplished without the initial stepping stones. How can love and serve in large ways when we can't even love those that we see every day?
St. Therese, pray for us.
I also realized that true service and love only comes through the little things anyways. It's not the big, grand acts of serivce that mean the most, but the small, everyday activities done with love. In addition, the radical service that we are called to can't be accomplished without the initial stepping stones. How can love and serve in large ways when we can't even love those that we see every day?
St. Therese, pray for us.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Your Treasure Is Where Your Heart Is
"Where your treasure is, there also is your heart" (from Mt 6)
Where is our treasure? What do we treasure? What is the difference between placing our treasure, and therefore our heart, in school, work, music, and friends or Jesus? Is there that much of a difference?
Yes.
It's not easy though. It's not easy to place our treasure in the Mass, in the Eucharist, in the sacred scripture. We are called every day to constant conversion towards our Lord, striving to live a holy life no matter what our vocation is. Slowly but surely, however, if Jesus Christ IS where we place our treasure, then he WILL become where we place our hearts. The desires of our heart will be Jesus, and everything else will follow. The love of God will overflow into our lives and to the people around us.
We are called to love. To place our treasure in Jesus is to place our treasure and heart in love because God himself is love.
"Love one another as I have loved you." As I have loved you. It hit me what Jesus is really saying. As I have loved you. He loved us by dying for us. This is how he tells us to love one another - as he did. Now, I feel that it's absolutely impossible for me to love like Jesus did, and that's because it is. It is impossible for me, a human, in my sin, to love as Jesus loved. However, by the grace of God, we can love one another. By the grace of God, we can live the life he calls us to. But it's only by the grace of God. And since it's grace, that means we have to accept it from God. He will not turn us into saints against our will. He does not force grace upon us.
"Where your treasure is, there also is your heart."
Is it Jesus? Is it love? Or is it something else?
Where is our treasure? What do we treasure? What is the difference between placing our treasure, and therefore our heart, in school, work, music, and friends or Jesus? Is there that much of a difference?
Yes.
It's not easy though. It's not easy to place our treasure in the Mass, in the Eucharist, in the sacred scripture. We are called every day to constant conversion towards our Lord, striving to live a holy life no matter what our vocation is. Slowly but surely, however, if Jesus Christ IS where we place our treasure, then he WILL become where we place our hearts. The desires of our heart will be Jesus, and everything else will follow. The love of God will overflow into our lives and to the people around us.
We are called to love. To place our treasure in Jesus is to place our treasure and heart in love because God himself is love.
"Love one another as I have loved you." As I have loved you. It hit me what Jesus is really saying. As I have loved you. He loved us by dying for us. This is how he tells us to love one another - as he did. Now, I feel that it's absolutely impossible for me to love like Jesus did, and that's because it is. It is impossible for me, a human, in my sin, to love as Jesus loved. However, by the grace of God, we can love one another. By the grace of God, we can live the life he calls us to. But it's only by the grace of God. And since it's grace, that means we have to accept it from God. He will not turn us into saints against our will. He does not force grace upon us.
"Where your treasure is, there also is your heart."
Is it Jesus? Is it love? Or is it something else?
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Adoration
I cannot stress to you enough the importance of adoration.
In fact, I don't even know what to say here, but I know I need to say something in case it causes ANYONE to think twice...because I want you to think twice. I want you to experience everything our Lord has to offer and if you are bored or "whatever" about your faith, take another look.
It hurts to think that so many Catholics don't even know about adoration, and some that do don't care. It hurts to think that I was that Catholic for so long. I can't even begin to comprehend where I might be right now if I had just known...
I needed tremendous healing this year and I had no idea where to go and who I could go to. Actually, I pretty much couldn't go to anyone at all. I was stuck and lost, and I know how cliche this sounds, but it's true. One time I asked my friend, "What happened to my life?" and she so bluntly responded, "It went up in flames." Haha. Sadly, that is exactly what happened. However, to heal from everything, it wasn't my sisters, friends, family, counseling, or spiritual direction that I needed. Some of them offered support and help, yes, but ultimately we can only be truly healed by Jesus Christ. The only thing left for me to do was to just go to him in the chapel and so many times I just sat there crying, sometimes out of anger, sometimes out of frustration, oftentimes out of despair. Until we establish a relationship with him and GO TO HIM, then he can't fully help us.
You see, recognizing that he is here and wants us to come to him is the first step. The second is to actually desire it yourself, and the third is to DO IT. The third is OH SO IMPORTANT and so many people never get there. Jesus is waiting for us! He is waiting for us in adoration and at Mass in the Eucharist yet we are so indifferent! Someone can sit and talk for hours about how awesome it is, and we can still be indifferent! I am probably writing this mostly in vain. But you know what? I don't care. I can try and convince everyone of the powerful experience of a Steubenville conference, but people will just stay indifferent. They will sit in their indifference and then wonder why life is in the "kind of sucking, but not really, yet I'm sad and I don't know why...damn isn't there more than this?" stage. Jesus is what's more! The Son of God, Savior of the world, is present in adoration every Friday at St. Peter & St. Paul Catholic Church, and EVERY DAY 24/7 at St. Joseph's. The Eucharist is made available to YOU and to ME every single day in Mass, but because it means we have to wake up at 7am we don't go.
Well I don't know about you, but I am ON FIRE for the Lord. Do you know what that feels like?! Did you know that it's possible, that it's not just a phrase made up for when you get really into praise and worship?? I didn't. I yearn, from the depths of my soul, to be with God in Heaven. It pains me to think that I have to wait to die to get there, that I have to keep living this life HERE when I'm meant for HIM up THERE. In adoration, I can't take my eyes off of Jesus and I wish that I could experience that peace FOREVER. Peace. Oh my gosh, peace is the best feeling I've ever experienced. I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing with my life. All I want to do is follow Jesus. Yet I am so peaceful! I don't worry about it one bit because I'm taken care of. The Holy Spirit is guiding me and I'm trying to surrender to him every moment of every day, even if that means taking the invitation to go to adoration when I'm just not in the mood.
That's another thing that baffles me about us...
Why are we so often "not in the mood?" What does that even mean? Not in the mood to see the LORD?! To be with Him? To experience Him? To praise Him? Wow, we're really going to suck in Heaven. (joke lol)
Anyway, the point is that we search and search for what's missing and making our lives crappy, yet it's right in front of us. HE is right in front of us. Stop searching for healing and fulfillment in all the places that people tell you to, in all the comfortable places. Don't you ever wonder why it's so uncomfortable in a supposed "comfortable" place? Does the "healing" or "fulfillment" you get ever last? I think that most of the time, we don't know what true healing is.
I probably don't either, but I DO know that I have healed from something that usually takes years, lifetimes...and I was only able to do so through the Eucharist and adoration.
I apologize if this all came off as arrogant, but really I can't fully describe how awesome adoration is, and it's so important that I had to write this, or write something...because you don't just keep something this incredible to yourself. People need to know about it.
In fact, I don't even know what to say here, but I know I need to say something in case it causes ANYONE to think twice...because I want you to think twice. I want you to experience everything our Lord has to offer and if you are bored or "whatever" about your faith, take another look.
It hurts to think that so many Catholics don't even know about adoration, and some that do don't care. It hurts to think that I was that Catholic for so long. I can't even begin to comprehend where I might be right now if I had just known...
I needed tremendous healing this year and I had no idea where to go and who I could go to. Actually, I pretty much couldn't go to anyone at all. I was stuck and lost, and I know how cliche this sounds, but it's true. One time I asked my friend, "What happened to my life?" and she so bluntly responded, "It went up in flames." Haha. Sadly, that is exactly what happened. However, to heal from everything, it wasn't my sisters, friends, family, counseling, or spiritual direction that I needed. Some of them offered support and help, yes, but ultimately we can only be truly healed by Jesus Christ. The only thing left for me to do was to just go to him in the chapel and so many times I just sat there crying, sometimes out of anger, sometimes out of frustration, oftentimes out of despair. Until we establish a relationship with him and GO TO HIM, then he can't fully help us.
You see, recognizing that he is here and wants us to come to him is the first step. The second is to actually desire it yourself, and the third is to DO IT. The third is OH SO IMPORTANT and so many people never get there. Jesus is waiting for us! He is waiting for us in adoration and at Mass in the Eucharist yet we are so indifferent! Someone can sit and talk for hours about how awesome it is, and we can still be indifferent! I am probably writing this mostly in vain. But you know what? I don't care. I can try and convince everyone of the powerful experience of a Steubenville conference, but people will just stay indifferent. They will sit in their indifference and then wonder why life is in the "kind of sucking, but not really, yet I'm sad and I don't know why...damn isn't there more than this?" stage. Jesus is what's more! The Son of God, Savior of the world, is present in adoration every Friday at St. Peter & St. Paul Catholic Church, and EVERY DAY 24/7 at St. Joseph's. The Eucharist is made available to YOU and to ME every single day in Mass, but because it means we have to wake up at 7am we don't go.
Well I don't know about you, but I am ON FIRE for the Lord. Do you know what that feels like?! Did you know that it's possible, that it's not just a phrase made up for when you get really into praise and worship?? I didn't. I yearn, from the depths of my soul, to be with God in Heaven. It pains me to think that I have to wait to die to get there, that I have to keep living this life HERE when I'm meant for HIM up THERE. In adoration, I can't take my eyes off of Jesus and I wish that I could experience that peace FOREVER. Peace. Oh my gosh, peace is the best feeling I've ever experienced. I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing with my life. All I want to do is follow Jesus. Yet I am so peaceful! I don't worry about it one bit because I'm taken care of. The Holy Spirit is guiding me and I'm trying to surrender to him every moment of every day, even if that means taking the invitation to go to adoration when I'm just not in the mood.
That's another thing that baffles me about us...
Why are we so often "not in the mood?" What does that even mean? Not in the mood to see the LORD?! To be with Him? To experience Him? To praise Him? Wow, we're really going to suck in Heaven. (joke lol)
Anyway, the point is that we search and search for what's missing and making our lives crappy, yet it's right in front of us. HE is right in front of us. Stop searching for healing and fulfillment in all the places that people tell you to, in all the comfortable places. Don't you ever wonder why it's so uncomfortable in a supposed "comfortable" place? Does the "healing" or "fulfillment" you get ever last? I think that most of the time, we don't know what true healing is.
I probably don't either, but I DO know that I have healed from something that usually takes years, lifetimes...and I was only able to do so through the Eucharist and adoration.
I apologize if this all came off as arrogant, but really I can't fully describe how awesome adoration is, and it's so important that I had to write this, or write something...because you don't just keep something this incredible to yourself. People need to know about it.
Monday, August 4, 2008
I Lay It Down
Everything I am, everything I long to be
I lay it down at Your feet
Everything I am, everything I long to be
I lay it down at Your feet
I lay it down, I lay it down
I lay it down at Your feet
I lay it down, I lay it down
I lay it down at Your feet
I lay it down at Your feet
Everything I am, everything I long to be
I lay it down at Your feet
I lay it down, I lay it down
I lay it down at Your feet
I lay it down, I lay it down
I lay it down at Your feet
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Bipolar Life
It's not about wondering why God lets us make so many mistakes while he's trying to bless us.
He's blessing us so that we can get through our mistakes.
He's blessing us so that we can get through our mistakes.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Come Holy Spirit
It's been an awfully long time since I've written in this, but that's OK because I am doing AWESOME right now.
I really feel like God is moving in my life. In about two weeks, I will have the opportunity be a small group leader during the Steubenville West 2008 conference. I can't wait! I have never led any group before, and I feel like this is where God is calling me. Also, we got a new junior high EDGE coordinator from Missouri last week, and she is trying to start a young adult program at our church. I'm helping her out and I can't wait. I won't really be able to see the fruits of our labor because I leave for school on August 21, but I'm really excited about this!
I have found the paradox that if you just let it go, let your life go, and stop stressing about where you're going and what you want to do, God will blow your life to pieces - while at the same time giving you the hugest sense of peace you could ever imagine.
Let go and let God.
Come Holy Spirit...
I really feel like God is moving in my life. In about two weeks, I will have the opportunity be a small group leader during the Steubenville West 2008 conference. I can't wait! I have never led any group before, and I feel like this is where God is calling me. Also, we got a new junior high EDGE coordinator from Missouri last week, and she is trying to start a young adult program at our church. I'm helping her out and I can't wait. I won't really be able to see the fruits of our labor because I leave for school on August 21, but I'm really excited about this!
I have found the paradox that if you just let it go, let your life go, and stop stressing about where you're going and what you want to do, God will blow your life to pieces - while at the same time giving you the hugest sense of peace you could ever imagine.
Let go and let God.
Come Holy Spirit...
Thursday, June 12, 2008
It's Not Just About Me
So I had somewhat of an epiphany on Tuesday. God's plan for me isn't all about me. It was one that you realize over a period of time, knowing something already but looking at it in a new light.
I know that my actions and words, no matter how small or how big, can affect other people, whether positively or negatively.
So why have I not applied this to my faith?
In some ways I have. I know that certain people have completely changed my life, especially spiritually by the tiniest actions or words. However, I am talking about God's plan for my life. I'm talking about living a holy life and trying to get to heaven. I'm talking about fighting the good fight. Why have I not applied this?
I've been out of school now for over a month, and I have to be honest, I've pretty much sucked in regards to my spiritual life. A lot of the fervor and perseverance I built up at school seemed to gradually (but quickly) drain out of me. I talked to friends from school, asked them what I should do and how I should get my butt back in gear...My complacency was bothering me so much because I knew that deep in my heart I desired to do God's will, and I wasn't doing it. I couldn't imagine life being so mundane if I was living as a saint like we're supposed to. As much as people like to think so, God is not boring and I don't believe that His plans for us are either.
So last Tuesday I was in adoration, and as I sat in front of Jesus I realized that everything I'm called to do isn't just about me. It's not only God's plan for me, but how I fit in His plan for everyone else. The reason I need to get off my butt and kick myself into gear spiritually isn't just for my own salvation, but for my preparation to become what God wants me to be - and when I am who He wants me to be, He can then use me in His plan with everyone else. So if for no other reason, regardless of how down I can get on myself or how complacent I can become, I know that I can pick myself up for the sake of what it means to God and everyone else.
I have no idea what I will be called to do, who I will impact, or how I need to be formed in order to live for God, but I do know that if I do everything I can to truly live a holy life, then I am only helping myself and everyone else out. I am doing what I was meant to but not focusing on how it helps just me.
I know that my actions and words, no matter how small or how big, can affect other people, whether positively or negatively.
So why have I not applied this to my faith?
In some ways I have. I know that certain people have completely changed my life, especially spiritually by the tiniest actions or words. However, I am talking about God's plan for my life. I'm talking about living a holy life and trying to get to heaven. I'm talking about fighting the good fight. Why have I not applied this?
I've been out of school now for over a month, and I have to be honest, I've pretty much sucked in regards to my spiritual life. A lot of the fervor and perseverance I built up at school seemed to gradually (but quickly) drain out of me. I talked to friends from school, asked them what I should do and how I should get my butt back in gear...My complacency was bothering me so much because I knew that deep in my heart I desired to do God's will, and I wasn't doing it. I couldn't imagine life being so mundane if I was living as a saint like we're supposed to. As much as people like to think so, God is not boring and I don't believe that His plans for us are either.
So last Tuesday I was in adoration, and as I sat in front of Jesus I realized that everything I'm called to do isn't just about me. It's not only God's plan for me, but how I fit in His plan for everyone else. The reason I need to get off my butt and kick myself into gear spiritually isn't just for my own salvation, but for my preparation to become what God wants me to be - and when I am who He wants me to be, He can then use me in His plan with everyone else. So if for no other reason, regardless of how down I can get on myself or how complacent I can become, I know that I can pick myself up for the sake of what it means to God and everyone else.
I have no idea what I will be called to do, who I will impact, or how I need to be formed in order to live for God, but I do know that if I do everything I can to truly live a holy life, then I am only helping myself and everyone else out. I am doing what I was meant to but not focusing on how it helps just me.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
A New Pentecost
"Let us implore from God the grace of a new Pentecost for the Church in America."
Amen to that.
Amen to that.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Noise
Our lives are filled with too much noise.
It's a simple concept to grasp. Sometimes the voice of God is blocked out by all the noise we surround ourselves with.
I'm a multimedia major so I always use media in many different forms. I often have to spend many hours on the internet for required schoolwork. Regardless, there is still a point where the amount of noise we fill our lives with is unacceptable. The actual sources of the noise are not intrinsically bad, but when they begin to replace the time we need to grow in our relationship with the Lord, they do become bad.
In fact, "noise" is not always "sound" either. Many times, it is, but noise is anything we fill our heads with. How many times is it awkward for us to just literally sit in silence? When we pray, we usually talk to God, ask for things, pray for help, thank Him. Maybe we read the Bible or reflect in a journal. All of this is very good, but why is it so hard to just sit and try and listen to what God has to tell us? And if we try this, why do we expect a booming voice within one minute? We don't hear it and then decide...Well, I'll just read the Bible. But technically speaking, though God may speak to you through the Bible, the purpose for reading the Bible in this situation is to fill our heads with something, when maybe God wants us to empty our minds and have nothing, a space that HE can fill.
Thoughts to ponder...
It's a simple concept to grasp. Sometimes the voice of God is blocked out by all the noise we surround ourselves with.
I'm a multimedia major so I always use media in many different forms. I often have to spend many hours on the internet for required schoolwork. Regardless, there is still a point where the amount of noise we fill our lives with is unacceptable. The actual sources of the noise are not intrinsically bad, but when they begin to replace the time we need to grow in our relationship with the Lord, they do become bad.
In fact, "noise" is not always "sound" either. Many times, it is, but noise is anything we fill our heads with. How many times is it awkward for us to just literally sit in silence? When we pray, we usually talk to God, ask for things, pray for help, thank Him. Maybe we read the Bible or reflect in a journal. All of this is very good, but why is it so hard to just sit and try and listen to what God has to tell us? And if we try this, why do we expect a booming voice within one minute? We don't hear it and then decide...Well, I'll just read the Bible. But technically speaking, though God may speak to you through the Bible, the purpose for reading the Bible in this situation is to fill our heads with something, when maybe God wants us to empty our minds and have nothing, a space that HE can fill.
Thoughts to ponder...
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Love is Hard
Love.
It is something that I'm struggling with right now. I say I love my family, and I do. I say I love my friends, and I do. I say I love my boyfriend, and I do.
But sometimes it is so hard to love. Sometimes I just can't find it in myself to love someone who has hurt me or who doesn't love me back. This is because by loving them, it feels like I am condoning what they've done, when in reality this is not the proper concept of love at all.
True love does not depend on whether you're receiving love back. True love does not have conditions on which it will exist, hence unconditional love. Actually, the word "unconditional" should not even be necessary because it's implied by the real meaning of the word love, but we have successfully perverted such a beautiful thing into one that does have conditions.
I realized tonight the conditions I have put on loving someone. I had a very hard time today loving a friend because I see her putting conditions on her love for me, yet turning around and giving herself wholly to someone else who hasn't been there for her nearly as much. This is TERRIBLE because not only is almost a vengeful condition that I have put on my love for her as my friend, it is also prideful because I feel I have given so much to our friendship without recognizing what she's done. Love is not prideful. This is something basic, something you learn in grade school catechism classes along with singing the Fruits of the Spirit.
Now, I don't know the extent to which the people around me struggle with love, but I think that in today's society, having and understanding the proper concept love is a problem in general. I guess besides this being just a random reflection, I have also come to the conclusion that maybe through recognizing our own small ways that we fail to love, eventually we can be more loving as a whole.
It is something that I'm struggling with right now. I say I love my family, and I do. I say I love my friends, and I do. I say I love my boyfriend, and I do.
But sometimes it is so hard to love. Sometimes I just can't find it in myself to love someone who has hurt me or who doesn't love me back. This is because by loving them, it feels like I am condoning what they've done, when in reality this is not the proper concept of love at all.
True love does not depend on whether you're receiving love back. True love does not have conditions on which it will exist, hence unconditional love. Actually, the word "unconditional" should not even be necessary because it's implied by the real meaning of the word love, but we have successfully perverted such a beautiful thing into one that does have conditions.
I realized tonight the conditions I have put on loving someone. I had a very hard time today loving a friend because I see her putting conditions on her love for me, yet turning around and giving herself wholly to someone else who hasn't been there for her nearly as much. This is TERRIBLE because not only is almost a vengeful condition that I have put on my love for her as my friend, it is also prideful because I feel I have given so much to our friendship without recognizing what she's done. Love is not prideful. This is something basic, something you learn in grade school catechism classes along with singing the Fruits of the Spirit.
Now, I don't know the extent to which the people around me struggle with love, but I think that in today's society, having and understanding the proper concept love is a problem in general. I guess besides this being just a random reflection, I have also come to the conclusion that maybe through recognizing our own small ways that we fail to love, eventually we can be more loving as a whole.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
The Resurrection
I just received two text messages from friends. One said "Happy Easter =]!!" and the other said "Happy Resurrection Day!"
There's nothing wrong with the first text, obviously, because today is in fact Easter Sunday; but sometimes it feels as though we're focused on the joy of Easter in terms of eating candy and partying and seeing family and hearing happy music in Mass, while we can tend to overlook the REAL reason for all the celebration.
You may think, no Emma, I know that Easter is the day the Lord has made! Christ resurrected! That is the real meaning. He died for our sins and rose to life! He has given us new life!
Well yes, this is true. But we often just say things, we often know the answer, we often are joyful for events like Easter Sunday but don't REALLY comprehend what we are saying. There's a difference between believing something with your mind and believing with your heart.
I can compare it to the Eucharist. We know, because we are taught and believe, that the Eucharist is in fact the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. He offered himself to us, and we get to participate in possibly the most beautiful communion known to mankind - that of literally consuming our Savior and becoming one with Him, body and blood. If this is so, if this is what we truly believe, then why aren't we rushing to Mass every Sunday? Why aren't we reverent for the entire liturgy? Why don't we arrive early, instead of 5 minutes before (or late), to prepare our minds and hearts to receive our LORD? Why do we not fall to our knees every time we receive Him, overcome with His sheer power and glory? Why do we not burst into tears at the beauty and reality that we get to receive Jesus? Why do we complain about going to Mass and waking up early? Why do we get excited to sing at Mass in a choir, to see friends that we haven't seen in a week, to eat breakfast together afterwards, to dress up and act holy, yet we don't dress up because we will be in the presence of the LORD; we don't eat breakfast to share in community and talk about the LORD; we don't get excited to see JESUS who we haven't seen in a week; we don't get excited to sing praises to the Lord for the sole reason that HE IS THE LORD. We say that we believe the Eucharist is truly the body and blood of Christ, and maybe we do believe it; but do we believe it with our heart?
It's no wonder that many people are skeptical about the Catholic Church. The core teaching of our faith that separates us from other Christian religions doesn't even seem like it's that important to us.
So what about Easter and Christmas and these other joyous events in the Church? Are we going to get excited about Easter because Lent is over and we can eat sweets and meat and use Facebook? Or are we going to REJOICE in this day that the Lord has made! Rejoice today not because it's Easter Sunday, but because Jesus Christ rose from the dead today. For more than a month we haven't said "Alleluia!" We've sacrificed those things in our lives that we indulge in or that take us away from spending time with the Lord, but now we can rejoice and sing praises to our Lord Jesus Christ because He is risen! Happy Resurrection Day! Because of this day, because He rose from the dead, WE have life after death. WE are able to worship Him and receive Him. WE are saved from sin and death. WE are loved by the Lord and WE are called to new life in Him!
So today on Easter Sunday, or as I now like to refer to it, Resurrection Day, share in joy and feasting with family and friends, but not just that - celebrate because we all have the chance to take part in the everlasting life that Jesus Christ has offered us through His death and resurrection!
There's nothing wrong with the first text, obviously, because today is in fact Easter Sunday; but sometimes it feels as though we're focused on the joy of Easter in terms of eating candy and partying and seeing family and hearing happy music in Mass, while we can tend to overlook the REAL reason for all the celebration.
You may think, no Emma, I know that Easter is the day the Lord has made! Christ resurrected! That is the real meaning. He died for our sins and rose to life! He has given us new life!
Well yes, this is true. But we often just say things, we often know the answer, we often are joyful for events like Easter Sunday but don't REALLY comprehend what we are saying. There's a difference between believing something with your mind and believing with your heart.
I can compare it to the Eucharist. We know, because we are taught and believe, that the Eucharist is in fact the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. He offered himself to us, and we get to participate in possibly the most beautiful communion known to mankind - that of literally consuming our Savior and becoming one with Him, body and blood. If this is so, if this is what we truly believe, then why aren't we rushing to Mass every Sunday? Why aren't we reverent for the entire liturgy? Why don't we arrive early, instead of 5 minutes before (or late), to prepare our minds and hearts to receive our LORD? Why do we not fall to our knees every time we receive Him, overcome with His sheer power and glory? Why do we not burst into tears at the beauty and reality that we get to receive Jesus? Why do we complain about going to Mass and waking up early? Why do we get excited to sing at Mass in a choir, to see friends that we haven't seen in a week, to eat breakfast together afterwards, to dress up and act holy, yet we don't dress up because we will be in the presence of the LORD; we don't eat breakfast to share in community and talk about the LORD; we don't get excited to see JESUS who we haven't seen in a week; we don't get excited to sing praises to the Lord for the sole reason that HE IS THE LORD. We say that we believe the Eucharist is truly the body and blood of Christ, and maybe we do believe it; but do we believe it with our heart?
It's no wonder that many people are skeptical about the Catholic Church. The core teaching of our faith that separates us from other Christian religions doesn't even seem like it's that important to us.
So what about Easter and Christmas and these other joyous events in the Church? Are we going to get excited about Easter because Lent is over and we can eat sweets and meat and use Facebook? Or are we going to REJOICE in this day that the Lord has made! Rejoice today not because it's Easter Sunday, but because Jesus Christ rose from the dead today. For more than a month we haven't said "Alleluia!" We've sacrificed those things in our lives that we indulge in or that take us away from spending time with the Lord, but now we can rejoice and sing praises to our Lord Jesus Christ because He is risen! Happy Resurrection Day! Because of this day, because He rose from the dead, WE have life after death. WE are able to worship Him and receive Him. WE are saved from sin and death. WE are loved by the Lord and WE are called to new life in Him!
So today on Easter Sunday, or as I now like to refer to it, Resurrection Day, share in joy and feasting with family and friends, but not just that - celebrate because we all have the chance to take part in the everlasting life that Jesus Christ has offered us through His death and resurrection!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
A Shameful Past...
There aren't many things in my past that I regret or that I am ashamed of, but they do exist. Recently, I have been really struggling with trying to let them go. I know that I'm forgiven for my mistakes by the grace of God, so the guilty aspect is not there. It's the shame that follows that causes so much suffering and contempt for myself.
Last night, however, as I prayed The Way of the Cross, I was struck with how many reflections were based on our shame of sin. All of the meditations work well together, but for the sake of wasting space and time, I'll only write the small excerpts.
There is no evil so great that it could frighten God's goodness away. There is no shame so great that God's mercy could not shine forth from its very midst.
The very first manifestation of sin in the world was Adam and Eve's realization that they were naked. Out of shame they covered and hid themselves. This shame separated our first parents from one another and from God. Now Jesus finds himself naked as the armor-clad soldiers strip him of his garments to shame him. He who is without sin endures its shameful results, and leaves no shame untouched in his march for salvation. Like a parent who does not draw back from a sick child even in the worst throes of illness, Jesus is not afraid to go to the very core of our worst shame. He is not squeamish; our sins and secrets do not scare him. The serpent causes shame and hiding; Jesus invites us to mercy and communion.
So often we are afraid that reestablishing a relationship with someone we have wronged is hypocritical; but Christians call this reconciliation. How many friendships have ended because one who has betrayed will not forgive himself and so will not allow the other to forgive him? This is the story of Judas. Let us rather follow Peter. He is absent from the way of the cross, but he leads the Church in the way of repentance. Peter's life and preaching feed us by witnessing to Christ's infinite mercy.
Our Lord is so merciful. I am trying to open myself up to Him, to let Him love me that I may be saved from the torment of what I've done. I try to put great effort into allowing myself to be vulnerable in front of my future sisters as well, but it comes easier only as I make myself vulnerable to Christ and let Him forgive me and guide me every day. I am learning this through spending time with Jesus in the chapel and at Mass, and praying the covenant of Regina Angelorum, especially where it says:
"We realize that the fight against Satan's powers cannot be taken alone. This is why God, in His goodness and love, has given us the gift of our sisters to witness to each other and challenge one another to love as Christ loves. We have taken Mary as our model of womanhood through her life of humility and purity...We call upon her name as Queen of the Angels to assist us in our submission to Christ...As a household, our goal is to support and encourage each other to grow more like Mary in our surrender to Christ...Through faith, we trust in Mary and the Angels to help us fight the good fight of faith."
You would think that knowing Jesus loves you would be enough to get over things you've done, accept his love and mercy, and move on...Unfortunately, at least for me, it's not about knowing that He loves me, but rather seeing the shame of what I've done and not understanding how this could possibly be true, despite the fact that it is.
Last night, however, as I prayed The Way of the Cross, I was struck with how many reflections were based on our shame of sin. All of the meditations work well together, but for the sake of wasting space and time, I'll only write the small excerpts.
There is no evil so great that it could frighten God's goodness away. There is no shame so great that God's mercy could not shine forth from its very midst.
The very first manifestation of sin in the world was Adam and Eve's realization that they were naked. Out of shame they covered and hid themselves. This shame separated our first parents from one another and from God. Now Jesus finds himself naked as the armor-clad soldiers strip him of his garments to shame him. He who is without sin endures its shameful results, and leaves no shame untouched in his march for salvation. Like a parent who does not draw back from a sick child even in the worst throes of illness, Jesus is not afraid to go to the very core of our worst shame. He is not squeamish; our sins and secrets do not scare him. The serpent causes shame and hiding; Jesus invites us to mercy and communion.
So often we are afraid that reestablishing a relationship with someone we have wronged is hypocritical; but Christians call this reconciliation. How many friendships have ended because one who has betrayed will not forgive himself and so will not allow the other to forgive him? This is the story of Judas. Let us rather follow Peter. He is absent from the way of the cross, but he leads the Church in the way of repentance. Peter's life and preaching feed us by witnessing to Christ's infinite mercy.
Our Lord is so merciful. I am trying to open myself up to Him, to let Him love me that I may be saved from the torment of what I've done. I try to put great effort into allowing myself to be vulnerable in front of my future sisters as well, but it comes easier only as I make myself vulnerable to Christ and let Him forgive me and guide me every day. I am learning this through spending time with Jesus in the chapel and at Mass, and praying the covenant of Regina Angelorum, especially where it says:
"We realize that the fight against Satan's powers cannot be taken alone. This is why God, in His goodness and love, has given us the gift of our sisters to witness to each other and challenge one another to love as Christ loves. We have taken Mary as our model of womanhood through her life of humility and purity...We call upon her name as Queen of the Angels to assist us in our submission to Christ...As a household, our goal is to support and encourage each other to grow more like Mary in our surrender to Christ...Through faith, we trust in Mary and the Angels to help us fight the good fight of faith."
You would think that knowing Jesus loves you would be enough to get over things you've done, accept his love and mercy, and move on...Unfortunately, at least for me, it's not about knowing that He loves me, but rather seeing the shame of what I've done and not understanding how this could possibly be true, despite the fact that it is.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
My Name Is Written In Heaven
Last night I sat in Regina Angelorum's common room to pray night prayers. I decided that I should pray their household covenant beforehand, and as I did, it all became more real for me. Suddenly I didn't feel like I was just reading a piece of paper, but I was comprehending it. I realized the power of the covenant and felt the intensity of what it calls me to do every day. After I finished, I looked up and saw everything in the common room, all the stuff: the candles, the statues, the crosses, the angels, the walls...In that moment, it was real for me. It was real that I am joining this household and that one day I will be a part of the sisterhood that I now look at from the outside. But it's more than just saying I am another sister, wearing the sweatshirt, and attending commitments - I will be an integral part of the sisterhood. I will not only just have my sisters to support me and help me grow in my faith, I will need to be that for them. Instead of taking this thought and looking forward to it, suddenly I filled with fear, hesitation.
Could I be strong enough? Am I strong enough to be a sister to these girls who have been in the household for years? Will I be able to make myself vulnerable to them when I need it? Can I possibly keep the words of this covenant and its challenges for the rest of my life? My life is a long time, and though I know these thoughts are not of God, they have plagued my mind since last night.
Am I good enough? Every time I ask that terrible question, I always revert back to the Bible verse from Luke that Jess gave me a few weeks back:
"Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
I have power over evil, but what is greater is that my name is written in heaven. Why do I ask if I am good enough when the Lord has already written my name down in heaven, planning to use me to do His will on this earth? He will guide me through these times as I come so close to becoming an Angel, a sister in Regina Angelorum.
Could I be strong enough? Am I strong enough to be a sister to these girls who have been in the household for years? Will I be able to make myself vulnerable to them when I need it? Can I possibly keep the words of this covenant and its challenges for the rest of my life? My life is a long time, and though I know these thoughts are not of God, they have plagued my mind since last night.
Am I good enough? Every time I ask that terrible question, I always revert back to the Bible verse from Luke that Jess gave me a few weeks back:
"Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
I have power over evil, but what is greater is that my name is written in heaven. Why do I ask if I am good enough when the Lord has already written my name down in heaven, planning to use me to do His will on this earth? He will guide me through these times as I come so close to becoming an Angel, a sister in Regina Angelorum.
Monday, March 17, 2008
The Beginning
I have no specific thoughts right now on what my first post should consist of, but I expect that eventually I will regularly write in order to show the active work of my faith in my life. Right now I am just so thankful that my brother and sister were able to experience the faith of Franciscan University this weekend and the passion that the students have, striving to live a holy life.
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