I should have posted this earlier, but I'll be away from keyboard (AFK) until Monday. I'll be back to the reflecting soon.
Blessings,
Isaac
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Fun with dates
From the day Dezzie and I became engaged (November 22, 2007) until the day we're getting married (June 26, 2010), 947 days will pass by. That is 2 years, 7 months, 4 days. Or 2.592 years. Or, in regular person speak, a very long time.
Thanks to WolframAlpha for making this possible.
Blessings,
Isaac
Thanks to WolframAlpha for making this possible.
Blessings,
Isaac
Lent Reflection: First Wednesday of Lent
The responsorial psalm today says "A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn." This is the bridge between the first reading and the Gospel, a piece that syncs the two together. Nineveh repented with a humble and contrite heart and thus was not spurned. Jesus calls us to have the same humble and contrite heart. But how do we go about doing that?
In lieu of reflecting extensively today, I'm going to link to an excellent, excellent article I read about preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation as an adult. It's a method I plan on using the next time I am preparing to go to participate in the Sacrament. Check out the link -- in fact the entire Archdiocese of Washington blog is dynamite. I hope one day to be able to work in that fine archdiocese or one near it.
Blessings,
Isaac
In lieu of reflecting extensively today, I'm going to link to an excellent, excellent article I read about preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation as an adult. It's a method I plan on using the next time I am preparing to go to participate in the Sacrament. Check out the link -- in fact the entire Archdiocese of Washington blog is dynamite. I hope one day to be able to work in that fine archdiocese or one near it.
Blessings,
Isaac
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Lent Reflection: First Tuesday of Lent
Today's Gospel contains the Our Father, one of the central prayers of the Christian faith. But that's not what draws my attention, but rather the words Jesus use the introduce the Our Father: 1) Do not babble; speaking many words doesn't mean you will be heard; 2) Your Father knows what you need before you ask him; 3) This is how you are to pray.
Words /= prayer (that's a doesn't equals sign: Words doesn't equal prayer). Jesus tell us that just because were moving our lips doesn't mean we're praying. We may be saying prayers precisely and accurately, but prayer isn't just some exterior action. Parrots can repeat words precisely and accurately but parrots don't pray. This parrot says "Thank you, Lord" and other short prayers, but is this parrot praying? I don't think so. And our prayer? If you're like me, you often drift off while in prayer, moving your lips or reading the words with your mind wondering, thinking about anything and everything but what the prayer is calling you to do -- to praise God, thank God, ask God, seek forgiveness from God, be with God, etc. Prayer is not just an exterior thing but requires an interior movement.
Yet, Our Father knows what we need before we ask. Some people might say, "Well, why do we pray then? God knows, so I'm good." I think this errs in the opposite direction, where we don't even try to pray but say that God has it under control so it's all good. Yes, God does know what we need before we ask, but then again so does a doctor before we go to the doctor's office or the emergency room. We just want to be healthy! Or a mother before a child asks for some food. We just want to be fed! And a significant other before a kiss. We really do love you! The doctor knows before, the mother knows before, and the significant other knows before, but we still follow through with the action and with the asking. We must set the doctor's appointment to start the movement towards health; we must ask mom for food when we're a kid to receive sustenance; we must show affection to say I love you; and we must present ourselves and our needs to God in prayer to receive blessings. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened" (Matthew 7: 7-8).
So our prayer needs an interior element and we do indeed need to pray, so how to we do that? Jesus teaches us how. Jesus doesn't say, these are the words you say when you pray, but gives a how-to. The inside (our hearts) should match the outside (our words). When we say "Our Father who art in heaven" we proclaim the reality that God is not my father, but our father; we are united together in a common humanity. We also proclaim that we are adopted sons and daughters of God and the existence of heaven, which isn't a place where we polish our halos and tune our harps, but heaven is a place of eternal joy and communion with God. All the while, when we pray these words on the outside, our hearts should be lifted up to the Lord, they should raise up to Our Father, who art in heaven. Our focus and concentration should be not on the job we have to do when we're done praying or the grocery list or the Winter Olympics, but on Our Father, who art in heaven.
When Jesus teaches us how to pray, he doesn't just teach us what to say but teaches us that prayer involves our entire selves, mind, body, heart, and soul ascending to God not only in a mystical way but in a practical way.
----
Reflection Questions:
How do I pray? Do I focus too much on the words?
Am I afraid of silent prayer? Am I afraid of prayer with others?
----
Jars of Clay: Unforgetful You
----
Blessings,
Isaac
Words /= prayer (that's a doesn't equals sign: Words doesn't equal prayer). Jesus tell us that just because were moving our lips doesn't mean we're praying. We may be saying prayers precisely and accurately, but prayer isn't just some exterior action. Parrots can repeat words precisely and accurately but parrots don't pray. This parrot says "Thank you, Lord" and other short prayers, but is this parrot praying? I don't think so. And our prayer? If you're like me, you often drift off while in prayer, moving your lips or reading the words with your mind wondering, thinking about anything and everything but what the prayer is calling you to do -- to praise God, thank God, ask God, seek forgiveness from God, be with God, etc. Prayer is not just an exterior thing but requires an interior movement.
Yet, Our Father knows what we need before we ask. Some people might say, "Well, why do we pray then? God knows, so I'm good." I think this errs in the opposite direction, where we don't even try to pray but say that God has it under control so it's all good. Yes, God does know what we need before we ask, but then again so does a doctor before we go to the doctor's office or the emergency room. We just want to be healthy! Or a mother before a child asks for some food. We just want to be fed! And a significant other before a kiss. We really do love you! The doctor knows before, the mother knows before, and the significant other knows before, but we still follow through with the action and with the asking. We must set the doctor's appointment to start the movement towards health; we must ask mom for food when we're a kid to receive sustenance; we must show affection to say I love you; and we must present ourselves and our needs to God in prayer to receive blessings. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened" (Matthew 7: 7-8).
So our prayer needs an interior element and we do indeed need to pray, so how to we do that? Jesus teaches us how. Jesus doesn't say, these are the words you say when you pray, but gives a how-to. The inside (our hearts) should match the outside (our words). When we say "Our Father who art in heaven" we proclaim the reality that God is not my father, but our father; we are united together in a common humanity. We also proclaim that we are adopted sons and daughters of God and the existence of heaven, which isn't a place where we polish our halos and tune our harps, but heaven is a place of eternal joy and communion with God. All the while, when we pray these words on the outside, our hearts should be lifted up to the Lord, they should raise up to Our Father, who art in heaven. Our focus and concentration should be not on the job we have to do when we're done praying or the grocery list or the Winter Olympics, but on Our Father, who art in heaven.
When Jesus teaches us how to pray, he doesn't just teach us what to say but teaches us that prayer involves our entire selves, mind, body, heart, and soul ascending to God not only in a mystical way but in a practical way.
----
Reflection Questions:
How do I pray? Do I focus too much on the words?
Am I afraid of silent prayer? Am I afraid of prayer with others?
----
Jars of Clay: Unforgetful You
----
Blessings,
Isaac
Monday, February 22, 2010
Lent Reflection: First Monday of Lent
Today's Gospel poses the quintessential question for Christians from the mouth of Jesus: "Who do you say that I am?" The core of Christian is the person of Christ, not a moral code, not a liturgical tradition, but the person of Christ. What we say about Christ affects what we say about everything in our faith. If we were to think of Christ as only human or only divine, we would lose that intimate connection with God that we get through Christ, the primary mediator between God and humanity. If we think of Christ as someone who didn't have a body but was just some sort of spiritual being, Jesus becomes an angel, Jesus becomes unhuman. An image of Christ the King elicits a different response than an image of Jesus in the bread line or an image of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
What we say about Jesus matters. There's a huge schism between the East and West Churches stemming from the West's belief that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son (Filioque). That was a thousand years ago. Christians today still feel the effects of that time.
And you? Who do you say that Jesus is?
----
Reflection Questions:
What image of Christ speaks to me?
Who do I say that Jesus is?
How do I profess that belief in my daily life?
Do I focus the particulars of my faith more than Jesus?
----
Blessings,
Isaac
What we say about Jesus matters. There's a huge schism between the East and West Churches stemming from the West's belief that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son (Filioque). That was a thousand years ago. Christians today still feel the effects of that time.
And you? Who do you say that Jesus is?
----
Reflection Questions:
What image of Christ speaks to me?
Who do I say that Jesus is?
How do I profess that belief in my daily life?
Do I focus the particulars of my faith more than Jesus?
----
----
Isaac
Sunday, February 21, 2010
All of this, all of this will be yours
No reflection for today, but some music that coincides with today's Gospel reading, Jesus' temptation:
All of this, all of this will be yours. Sound familiar?
Blessings,
Isaac
All of this, all of this will be yours. Sound familiar?
Blessings,
Isaac
Saturday, February 20, 2010
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Note: To play video messages sent to email, Quicktime@ 6.5 or higher is required.
Catholic Church statistics
Note an article that quantifies some trends in the Universal Church, including an overall increase in the number of seminarians and an overall decrease in the number of consecrated religious. I'm not sure if there's anything to make of it, as numbers don't tell the entire story. Some hope, perhaps, that there are more seminarians? I'll go with that.
Blessings,
Isaac
Blessings,
Isaac
Lent Reflection: Saturday after Ash Wednesday
In today's Gospel reading, Jesus says "Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do." An essential part of being a Christian is to realize that we are in need of healer, in need of a God. We are not healthy people -- or at least we cannot maintain our health ourselves. Even physical health requires proper nutrition and exercise too. That nutrition doesn't come from within that person, but can only come from the outside. All animals need things outside themselves to live; all plants need things outside themselves to live.
We need Jesus to keep our spiritual health up where it should be. It's more than just going to Mass or to Service once a week to receive a shot of Jesus in the soul, it's a way of life. Someone who exercises once a week and only once a week will not get healthy, especially if they don't eat correctly. Likewise for the spirit. If we do spiritual exercise only once a week we cannot expect to get healthy, especially if those other things that enter into our body though our eyes and mind don't line up with our overall goal of spiritual health.
Unfortunately, this all requires hard work. Fortunately, God gives us grace. It's still a matter of engaging in the struggle for spiritual health, but it is a good struggle, even when we are worlds apart from where we are and where we are called to be. No athlete is born with perfectly molded muscles, but instead they cooperate with the genetic gifts God gives them to mold those muscles. No Christian is born with a perfectly molded relationship with God, but instead they cooperate with the spiritual gifts God gives them to grow in this relationship.
We must strive to realize that we are in need of healing forever. It isn't a one time conversion that we're called to, but a lifetime of conversions, a lifetime of healings.
----
Reflection Questions:
Where do I struggle in my relationship with God?
Where can my relationship with God grow?
Where do I enjoy my relationship with God?
----
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0fPAdEmCz8&feature=player_embedded
----
Blessings,
Isaac
We need Jesus to keep our spiritual health up where it should be. It's more than just going to Mass or to Service once a week to receive a shot of Jesus in the soul, it's a way of life. Someone who exercises once a week and only once a week will not get healthy, especially if they don't eat correctly. Likewise for the spirit. If we do spiritual exercise only once a week we cannot expect to get healthy, especially if those other things that enter into our body though our eyes and mind don't line up with our overall goal of spiritual health.
Unfortunately, this all requires hard work. Fortunately, God gives us grace. It's still a matter of engaging in the struggle for spiritual health, but it is a good struggle, even when we are worlds apart from where we are and where we are called to be. No athlete is born with perfectly molded muscles, but instead they cooperate with the genetic gifts God gives them to mold those muscles. No Christian is born with a perfectly molded relationship with God, but instead they cooperate with the spiritual gifts God gives them to grow in this relationship.
We must strive to realize that we are in need of healing forever. It isn't a one time conversion that we're called to, but a lifetime of conversions, a lifetime of healings.
----
Reflection Questions:
Where do I struggle in my relationship with God?
Where can my relationship with God grow?
Where do I enjoy my relationship with God?
----
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0fPAdEmCz8&feature=player_embedded
----
Blessings,
Isaac
Friday, February 19, 2010
Lent Reflection: Friday after Ash Wednesday
Fasting is throughout the text in today's readings.
The Old Testament reading calls us to a renewed sense of fasting, so that it is not only something that we do but an attitude that should be carried throughout the day. When the people of Isaiah's time fasted, God responded, through the prophet Isaiah: "Lo, on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits, and drive all your laborers." When we fast, we should strive to reorient ourselves to God, not merely to give things up so that we can lose weight, eat healthier, or attain some goal that we have in mind for ourselves. Those are all fine and good in their own right, but when we fast with those ends in mind we have received our reward. Instead, through our fasting, we should worship God and through that worship of God bring about the Kingdom of God on earth AKA work towards a more just society. But how?
And yet, when Christ walked upon the earth way back when his disciples didn't fast, but instead Jesus invokes wedding imagery -- they feasted. What are we to do with this? I thought God wants us to do all those things above, clothing the naked and all that jazz? Yes, they will, but that doesn't come up until later (see the Book of Acts). Right now the disciples are worshiping God. They have ordered their entire life to following Jesus, the second person of the Trinity made incarnate. There is no need to fast in the presence of Jesus, instead there must be celebrating, there must be feasting! There will be a time for fasting, as Jesus says, but right now isn't the time for his disciples. But right now is the time for us.
----
Reflection:
How is our Lenten fasting? Do I need to rededicate ourselves to that practice?
Why do I fast? For selfish reasons or to reorient myself to God?
----
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJnUea_zF98&feature=player_embedded
Blessings,
Isaac
The Old Testament reading calls us to a renewed sense of fasting, so that it is not only something that we do but an attitude that should be carried throughout the day. When the people of Isaiah's time fasted, God responded, through the prophet Isaiah: "Lo, on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits, and drive all your laborers." When we fast, we should strive to reorient ourselves to God, not merely to give things up so that we can lose weight, eat healthier, or attain some goal that we have in mind for ourselves. Those are all fine and good in their own right, but when we fast with those ends in mind we have received our reward. Instead, through our fasting, we should worship God and through that worship of God bring about the Kingdom of God on earth AKA work towards a more just society. But how?
This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.When our fasting truly becomes worship and our worship calls us out to serve our brothers and sisters everywhere, then we shall know God intimately, and "Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer,you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!"
And yet, when Christ walked upon the earth way back when his disciples didn't fast, but instead Jesus invokes wedding imagery -- they feasted. What are we to do with this? I thought God wants us to do all those things above, clothing the naked and all that jazz? Yes, they will, but that doesn't come up until later (see the Book of Acts). Right now the disciples are worshiping God. They have ordered their entire life to following Jesus, the second person of the Trinity made incarnate. There is no need to fast in the presence of Jesus, instead there must be celebrating, there must be feasting! There will be a time for fasting, as Jesus says, but right now isn't the time for his disciples. But right now is the time for us.
----
Reflection:
How is our Lenten fasting? Do I need to rededicate ourselves to that practice?
Why do I fast? For selfish reasons or to reorient myself to God?
----
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJnUea_zF98&feature=player_embedded
Blessings,
Isaac
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Lent Reflection: Thursday after Ash Wednesday
From today's Gospel:
Once we recognize this wish to come after Christ, Jesus tells us we must deny ourself. This is not an option. Denying self is not just for the hierarchy, not just for those who "have it all together", and not just for the saints but for all of us. But this is where we struggle, which part of myself should I deny? What aspect of who I am or what I do should I deny?
All of it.
In his spiritual autobiography The Pilgrim's Regress, CS Lewis' character, on the verge of baptism, says "I have come to give myself up". In baptism we don't come to give up part of ourselves, but all of ourselves. Our entire self without reserve. To help with this process, St. Ignatius prays:
Then [Jesus] said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."Do you wish to come after Jesus? A wish isn't as strong as a commitment, but the beginning of a willed action and way of life. Before I get out of bed I have to wish to do so; before I put pencil to paper I have to wish to do so; before I make a life altering commitment I have to wish to do so. Jesus isn't speaking solely to those committed disciples, who also continue to wish to follow Christ, but to those on the outskirts, those who want come after Christ but are being held back by the family, by fear, or by the past.
Once we recognize this wish to come after Christ, Jesus tells us we must deny ourself. This is not an option. Denying self is not just for the hierarchy, not just for those who "have it all together", and not just for the saints but for all of us. But this is where we struggle, which part of myself should I deny? What aspect of who I am or what I do should I deny?
All of it.
In his spiritual autobiography The Pilgrim's Regress, CS Lewis' character, on the verge of baptism, says "I have come to give myself up". In baptism we don't come to give up part of ourselves, but all of ourselves. Our entire self without reserve. To help with this process, St. Ignatius prays:
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory,my understanding, and my entire will.All I have and call my own.Whatever I have or hold, you have given me.I return it all to you and surrender it whollyto be governed by your will.Give me only your love and your graceand I am rich enough and ask for nothing more.
But when we deny ourselves we must not fret, we are not left in the desert, abandoned and alone. Our Savior continues, "take up your cross daily and follow me. It will be difficult, you will fall, you will bleed, you will struggle and feel pain. But you must rise again and again and again. Follow me, follow what I have in store for you. Trust in me. I know the way from the cross to the tomb -- I traveled it myself. But I also know the way out of the tomb. Do not pay attention to those lesser things, the world which tells you to focus on yourself and your own improvement through their means. I have heavenly plans for you. Deny yourself; open yourself to my grace. Allow me to work in you and through you. Come and follow me."
My God be with us as we struggle with self-denial and rending of our heart.
----
Reflection Questions:
Do I wish to follow after Jesus?
How did I deny myself today?
What do I still cling to that I need to release?
----
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjXWpfYfgXQ&feature=player_embedded
Blessings,
Isaac
My God be with us as we struggle with self-denial and rending of our heart.
----
Reflection Questions:
Do I wish to follow after Jesus?
How did I deny myself today?
What do I still cling to that I need to release?
----
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjXWpfYfgXQ&feature=player_embedded
Blessings,
Isaac
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Lent Reflection: Ash Wednesday
In Lents past, I found it meaningful to take a few moments out of my day and reflect on the readings for that day. This Lent, I will continue this practice but post them on the blog as well, amidst any other blogging I may or may not do. Without further ado...
From today's first reading:
To rend is to rip open violently and with painful feelings. We are called to rend our hearts, that which is inside of us, not the exterior or superficial, not the garments. Lent is a time of deep and intense interior reflection, participation with grace, and subsequent action. We are called to a renewed sense of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. God calls us to return not half heartedly, but with our whole heart; with all that is within us, the pain, the suffering, the joy, the busyness, the moments of despair, the moments of hope; all that makes us who we are and all that holds us back from becoming who we are meant to be. Bring it. Now is the acceptable moment, now is the acceptable time. Don't wait until a future Lent to open your heart. Do it now. Now is the time of our salvation.
Fight the good fight this Lent. Dig deep into yourself. Rend your heart. Be opened and allow God to fill you. Do not be afraid to fast, for when our bodies are hungry we are reminded sacramentally that our spirits hunger for God in an even more intense way. Do not be afraid to pray, for one day within God's courts heals a thousand elsewhere. Do not be afraid to give alms, for what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters we do for Christ.
Repent and believe in the Gospel. Open your heart to God. Be empty that you may be continuously filled.
----
Reflection Questions:
Does my prayer strive to connect me to God or is my prayer ritual an idol?
Does my fasting lead me to immoderate feasting of something else?
Am I afraid of giving too much of my money? too much of my time? too much of my emotional self?
Am I open to God working in my life in new ways this Lent? How?
----
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJH9BLrN83U&feature=player_embedded
----
Blessings,
Isaac
From today's first reading:
"Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God."
To rend is to rip open violently and with painful feelings. We are called to rend our hearts, that which is inside of us, not the exterior or superficial, not the garments. Lent is a time of deep and intense interior reflection, participation with grace, and subsequent action. We are called to a renewed sense of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. God calls us to return not half heartedly, but with our whole heart; with all that is within us, the pain, the suffering, the joy, the busyness, the moments of despair, the moments of hope; all that makes us who we are and all that holds us back from becoming who we are meant to be. Bring it. Now is the acceptable moment, now is the acceptable time. Don't wait until a future Lent to open your heart. Do it now. Now is the time of our salvation.
Fight the good fight this Lent. Dig deep into yourself. Rend your heart. Be opened and allow God to fill you. Do not be afraid to fast, for when our bodies are hungry we are reminded sacramentally that our spirits hunger for God in an even more intense way. Do not be afraid to pray, for one day within God's courts heals a thousand elsewhere. Do not be afraid to give alms, for what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters we do for Christ.
Repent and believe in the Gospel. Open your heart to God. Be empty that you may be continuously filled.
----
Reflection Questions:
Does my prayer strive to connect me to God or is my prayer ritual an idol?
Does my fasting lead me to immoderate feasting of something else?
Am I afraid of giving too much of my money? too much of my time? too much of my emotional self?
Am I open to God working in my life in new ways this Lent? How?
----
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJH9BLrN83U&feature=player_embedded
----
Blessings,
Isaac
Thursday, February 11, 2010
File this in the "So Good" category
The Archdiocese of Washington's blog. Amazing. Check out their piece on Fear of the Lord. For all you Echo people out there, it's like an In Brief on Fear of the Lord.
So good. I'm going to have to start reading it on a regular basis.
Blessings,
Isaac
So good. I'm going to have to start reading it on a regular basis.
Blessings,
Isaac
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