"There is only one vocation. Whether you teach or live in the cloister or nurse the sick, whether you are in religion or out of it, married or single, no matter who you are or what you are, you are called to the summit of perfection: you are called to a deep interior life perhaps even to mystical prayer & to pass the fruits of your contemplation to others" -- Thomas Merton
May we pass to each other the fruits of our contemplations that we may know God more deeply always.
Blessings,
Isaac
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
The Truth Will Set You Free
On the Main Building of the University of Texas' campus is the quote from John from a Gospel from last week, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." A few years ago when I was visiting UT, I found it odd that a quote from the Bible would be on the campus of a secular school, not only on campus, but prominently displayed on the main building. Then again, as an institute of higher learning, UT and all other Universities should be committed to search out the truth, because knowing the truth set us free.
However. As we heard in this Sunday's Gospel (Lk 22:36-38), Jesus often doesn't like being taken literally. Jesus is not talking about an academic truth, something we can run scientific studies to verify or search for clues via archaeological digs. Jesus reveals a need to know a deeper Truth, so deep we capitalize the T. It's a Truth that once we know, we a truly set free, no longer slave to sin. That Truth is Jesus, who later in the Gospel of John says "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (Jn 14:6).
Through the grace and mercy of God in Jesus, sin cannot hold us back. We will sin, we all do. But we don't need to stop there. I like to think about conversion as cleaning a room. You can ignore the mess for an long time. You'll still know where everything is in your room, but there's trash on the ground and you have to walk around everything. Looking at that room just makes you feel bad. Once you decide to clean the room, you can either shove stuff in drawers, categorizing your mess by function, color, shape, or smell. Your other option is to actually clean, deciphering what should be properly put away where, clearing out the closet and drawers, and taking out the cleaning supplies and scrubbing.
Taking time to sit and sort through the mess that can be our souls and our consciences is a lifetime of work. It's never 100% clean. There are always new things to sift through and old things to throw out. This week, Holy Week, is a wonderful opportunity to do that sifting and sorting. It is when we actively allow God to work through us and change our hearts and minds that we find freedom, little by little. Rarely does a conversion happen overnight; rarely is freedom realized in an instant. But slowly, gradually, as we come to know the Truth, come to base our lives on that Truth, we come to know freedom, the authentic freedom that allows us to be true selves and to live out of the core of our being, from our heart.
----
Reflection Questions:
Where do you need to clean?
Is there a major item in your room that you need to throw out?
Are you free?
How is your relationship with Truth?
----
Jars of Clay - This Road
----
Blessings,
Isaac
Through the grace and mercy of God in Jesus, sin cannot hold us back. We will sin, we all do. But we don't need to stop there. I like to think about conversion as cleaning a room. You can ignore the mess for an long time. You'll still know where everything is in your room, but there's trash on the ground and you have to walk around everything. Looking at that room just makes you feel bad. Once you decide to clean the room, you can either shove stuff in drawers, categorizing your mess by function, color, shape, or smell. Your other option is to actually clean, deciphering what should be properly put away where, clearing out the closet and drawers, and taking out the cleaning supplies and scrubbing.
Taking time to sit and sort through the mess that can be our souls and our consciences is a lifetime of work. It's never 100% clean. There are always new things to sift through and old things to throw out. This week, Holy Week, is a wonderful opportunity to do that sifting and sorting. It is when we actively allow God to work through us and change our hearts and minds that we find freedom, little by little. Rarely does a conversion happen overnight; rarely is freedom realized in an instant. But slowly, gradually, as we come to know the Truth, come to base our lives on that Truth, we come to know freedom, the authentic freedom that allows us to be true selves and to live out of the core of our being, from our heart.
----
Reflection Questions:
Where do you need to clean?
Is there a major item in your room that you need to throw out?
Are you free?
How is your relationship with Truth?
----
Jars of Clay - This Road
----
Blessings,
Isaac
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Where do you need new life?
Where do you need new life?
Maybe you’ve recently been in a fight with a friend or a family member. Things got heated and you said things you didn’t mean to say – or texted things you didn’t mean to text.
Maybe you are struggling with the pressures of school or work, trying to balance expectations that are laid on you by others – or yourself. You feel that this week is going to be so impossible that you don’t know how you’re going to face it.
Maybe you feel constantly misunderstood and taken for granted. “No one understands me!”, you say. “No one knows the pain that I’m going through or the difficulties I face!”
Maybe you are in unbearable pain – physical pain, emotional pain, mental pain. It’s a struggle just to go forward, just to keep going. You feel weak and lonely.
Agony; despair; loneliness; being misunderstood; abandoned; in pain; or under unbelievable pressure.
During Holy Week, which is this week, we remember Jesus as he undergoes some of these very same feelings:
Bring those feelings and those sufferings to the Cross this week and unite them with Jesus’ sufferings. We have a God who knows how you feel because God went through those feelings. We have a Savior who understands because he was there. And all because God loves us!
What does this suffering and pain stuff have to do with new life? Jesus’ story doesn’t end with pain and death, but with resurrection with new life! As Jesus went through suffering and pain to find new life, so must we. Of course we don’t seek put pain and we don’t seek out the Passion, but it will come to us. When we feel accepted and when our friends are with us, when we feel like we are really known; when we feel loved and are loved and love others, that’s when we have life.
Where do you need new life?
Think about it. Where do you need new life? Go to God this week and go to other people who love you. Allow God and others to come to you. Open your heart about half a crack, and God will come in and make all things new.
God brings us to new life and when we have new life we will feel called to go to God to give thanks and praise.
Maybe you’ve recently been in a fight with a friend or a family member. Things got heated and you said things you didn’t mean to say – or texted things you didn’t mean to text.
Maybe you are struggling with the pressures of school or work, trying to balance expectations that are laid on you by others – or yourself. You feel that this week is going to be so impossible that you don’t know how you’re going to face it.
Maybe you feel constantly misunderstood and taken for granted. “No one understands me!”, you say. “No one knows the pain that I’m going through or the difficulties I face!”
Maybe you are in unbearable pain – physical pain, emotional pain, mental pain. It’s a struggle just to go forward, just to keep going. You feel weak and lonely.
Agony; despair; loneliness; being misunderstood; abandoned; in pain; or under unbelievable pressure.
During Holy Week, which is this week, we remember Jesus as he undergoes some of these very same feelings:
- Broken relationships: Yup. All of Jesus’ best friends left him. One sold him to his death for a few coins. Another betrayed him by not admitting that he was a follower.
- Dealing with pressure: Check. Jesus prays for this cup, for his future, to pass from him if it were possible. Angels even came to strengthen Jesus.
- Misunderstood: Yep. The disciples don’t understand Jesus’ words and Jesus is tired of it. Then of course he is judged and put to death wrongly.
- Pain: Yes. The Cross Jesus carries creates unbearable physical pain, but the pain felt by the absence of his best friends was also awful. In all this pain, someone had to help him.
Bring those feelings and those sufferings to the Cross this week and unite them with Jesus’ sufferings. We have a God who knows how you feel because God went through those feelings. We have a Savior who understands because he was there. And all because God loves us!
What does this suffering and pain stuff have to do with new life? Jesus’ story doesn’t end with pain and death, but with resurrection with new life! As Jesus went through suffering and pain to find new life, so must we. Of course we don’t seek put pain and we don’t seek out the Passion, but it will come to us. When we feel accepted and when our friends are with us, when we feel like we are really known; when we feel loved and are loved and love others, that’s when we have life.
Where do you need new life?
Think about it. Where do you need new life? Go to God this week and go to other people who love you. Allow God and others to come to you. Open your heart about half a crack, and God will come in and make all things new.
God brings us to new life and when we have new life we will feel called to go to God to give thanks and praise.
Friday, March 19, 2010
O Jesus, where art thou?
Jesus has gone missing -- where is he?
That's the story line in today's Gospel (or at least one of the two options for today, the FEAST DAY OF ST. JOSEPH!). On the way home from a festive visit to Jerusalem, Mary and Joseph somehow lose track of their only son. I imagine a mother and father with broken hearts, asking everyone they know and don't know to help them look for Jesus. God kinda dropped him on their lap, so they don't want to lose him for good.
Their vocation to parenthood in question (how can you lose a child for three days?) and in tears, they finally head back to the temple only after three days and find Jesus. Seeing Jesus, they run to him and embrace. Questions come and confessions too: "Jesus, you've caused us great anxiety." But Jesus says "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know I must be in my Father's house?" Mary and Joseph don't understand. And the fifth mystery of the joyful mysteries of the rosary is born.
What are we to take from this happening? That Joseph and Mary were poor parents? No, I don't think that's it. That Jesus is a Jewish ninja, able to slip away from a caravan of friends and family? Probably not. Jesus' response is telling. "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know I must be in my Father's house?"
Where do we look for fulfillment? As Christians, we believe that our ultimate fulfillment can only be found in God, in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Looking elsewhere will do us no good, we will only be let down. Even the most beautiful of situations and circumstances here on earth will set us up for a let down. There could be world peace, no violence, and a no poverty and we would still not find what we're looking for. The anxiety of the heart would still pull on us. We are a people in constant need of a Savior; a people journeying in the wilderness, waiting for the Promised Land.
We look for fulfillment and satisfaction where there is none. 1 John 2:15-16 gives three categories where we seek fulfillment: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Or, more easily understood, physical pleasure (sexual, gastronomical, through drugs or alcohol), inordinate desire for material goods ("retail therapy", hoarding, intense attachment to X,Y,Z), and the desire for power or social standing.
After we spend our three days, three weeks, three months, three years, or thirty years searching with great anxiety for our chief fulfillment, we can still enter into the temple and find the life of Christ waiting for us in a way we don't understand. No, for now we can just rejoicing in the presence of God. We'll grow in understanding, and in love, but also in union with Christ. And that's what it's all about.
----
Reflection Questions:
Have I lost Jesus?
Where am I looking for fulfillment?
Which of the threefold desires from 1 John 2:15-16 do I struggle with?
----
Danielle Rose - The Finding
----
Blessings,
Isaac
That's the story line in today's Gospel (or at least one of the two options for today, the FEAST DAY OF ST. JOSEPH!). On the way home from a festive visit to Jerusalem, Mary and Joseph somehow lose track of their only son. I imagine a mother and father with broken hearts, asking everyone they know and don't know to help them look for Jesus. God kinda dropped him on their lap, so they don't want to lose him for good.
Their vocation to parenthood in question (how can you lose a child for three days?) and in tears, they finally head back to the temple only after three days and find Jesus. Seeing Jesus, they run to him and embrace. Questions come and confessions too: "Jesus, you've caused us great anxiety." But Jesus says "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know I must be in my Father's house?" Mary and Joseph don't understand. And the fifth mystery of the joyful mysteries of the rosary is born.
What are we to take from this happening? That Joseph and Mary were poor parents? No, I don't think that's it. That Jesus is a Jewish ninja, able to slip away from a caravan of friends and family? Probably not. Jesus' response is telling. "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know I must be in my Father's house?"
Where do we look for fulfillment? As Christians, we believe that our ultimate fulfillment can only be found in God, in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Looking elsewhere will do us no good, we will only be let down. Even the most beautiful of situations and circumstances here on earth will set us up for a let down. There could be world peace, no violence, and a no poverty and we would still not find what we're looking for. The anxiety of the heart would still pull on us. We are a people in constant need of a Savior; a people journeying in the wilderness, waiting for the Promised Land.
We look for fulfillment and satisfaction where there is none. 1 John 2:15-16 gives three categories where we seek fulfillment: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Or, more easily understood, physical pleasure (sexual, gastronomical, through drugs or alcohol), inordinate desire for material goods ("retail therapy", hoarding, intense attachment to X,Y,Z), and the desire for power or social standing.
After we spend our three days, three weeks, three months, three years, or thirty years searching with great anxiety for our chief fulfillment, we can still enter into the temple and find the life of Christ waiting for us in a way we don't understand. No, for now we can just rejoicing in the presence of God. We'll grow in understanding, and in love, but also in union with Christ. And that's what it's all about.
----
Reflection Questions:
Have I lost Jesus?
Where am I looking for fulfillment?
Which of the threefold desires from 1 John 2:15-16 do I struggle with?
----
Danielle Rose - The Finding
----
Blessings,
Isaac
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Dry land, trickle, walking, wading, or swimming
There are five approaches to God. We can either stand on the shore, on dry land where there is no water; go to the temple and find a trickle of water, enough to know there is more than what's presented at the temple; walk in ankle deep water, enough to get our feet wet but not enough to make it difficult to walk; wade in waist high, half way in but still able to breath safely; or we swim, treading water, on the verge of drowning.
Today's reading from the Old Testament may be one of my favorites, as it describes Ezekiel moving from the temple, where there is a trickle of water, to the source of the water, the stream. An angel guides him as he continues to move east where the water becomes more and more difficult to approach.
Thus it is with our God. If we fail to approach to temple, we will never find the living water but will be left to our own devices. If we only stay at the temple, we will get a trickle of the living water, but will be missing out on so much more. The temple is important because we know for sure that we can find the living water at the temple. When we lose our way it's important to know that we have a sure bet.
Traveling further, we find ourselves walking in the water, ankle deep. Our toes enjoy the coolness and our feet are glad they no longer have to stand on the hot sand. But what about our legs, our arms, our head? They too desire protection, desire coolness, desire refreshment.
Further still we start finding it difficult. Wading through waist deep water is treacherous,
which is why people do water aerobics and do water therapy, because there is a certain amount of resistance that helps build muscle and get the heart rate up.
Finally, we have our ultimately destiny, swimming and treading water. When we don't know how to swim, we're amazed that any individual could do so. Treading water takes so much energy. The entire prospect is dangerous, danger lurking around every splash. What if we sink? What if we get tired? What if we die?
God doesn't want any sort of action from us. Yes, we need to love each other and we do that through actions. But God wants us. He desires creates us and unleashes us into the world that we might freely return. That means going to the temple, following the trickle, walking in the water, wading deeper and deeper until we find the very source of Living Water. We are to dive into that water head first, without trying to save ourselves. If we try to save our life, we will lose it, but if we lose our life, we gain it.
Life comes from death. Truly living comes from truly dying. In all our daily circumstances, in the larger picture issues, in our prayer, with our pocket book, with everything that pulls at us, we must die. As much as we're hidden in Christ, as much as we die with Christ, is as much as we will appear before God as pure, as much as we will resurrect. Graces pours forth from our wounds.
We follow a Savior who knows his way out of the tomb. Do not be afraid. Dive into the living water head first and don't try to save yourself. Have no fear of drowing, but know that it's the breathing that takes all the work.
----
Reflection Questions:
Where do I need new life?
Where do I need to die so I can experience that new life?
Am I on dry land, in the temple, walking in the water, wading, or swimming?
----
Jars of Clay - Work
The music video is perfect for the imagery of the dry land, trickle, walking, wading, or swimming.
----
Blessings,
Isaac
Today's reading from the Old Testament may be one of my favorites, as it describes Ezekiel moving from the temple, where there is a trickle of water, to the source of the water, the stream. An angel guides him as he continues to move east where the water becomes more and more difficult to approach.
Thus it is with our God. If we fail to approach to temple, we will never find the living water but will be left to our own devices. If we only stay at the temple, we will get a trickle of the living water, but will be missing out on so much more. The temple is important because we know for sure that we can find the living water at the temple. When we lose our way it's important to know that we have a sure bet.
Traveling further, we find ourselves walking in the water, ankle deep. Our toes enjoy the coolness and our feet are glad they no longer have to stand on the hot sand. But what about our legs, our arms, our head? They too desire protection, desire coolness, desire refreshment.
Further still we start finding it difficult. Wading through waist deep water is treacherous,
which is why people do water aerobics and do water therapy, because there is a certain amount of resistance that helps build muscle and get the heart rate up.
Finally, we have our ultimately destiny, swimming and treading water. When we don't know how to swim, we're amazed that any individual could do so. Treading water takes so much energy. The entire prospect is dangerous, danger lurking around every splash. What if we sink? What if we get tired? What if we die?
God doesn't want any sort of action from us. Yes, we need to love each other and we do that through actions. But God wants us. He desires creates us and unleashes us into the world that we might freely return. That means going to the temple, following the trickle, walking in the water, wading deeper and deeper until we find the very source of Living Water. We are to dive into that water head first, without trying to save ourselves. If we try to save our life, we will lose it, but if we lose our life, we gain it.
Life comes from death. Truly living comes from truly dying. In all our daily circumstances, in the larger picture issues, in our prayer, with our pocket book, with everything that pulls at us, we must die. As much as we're hidden in Christ, as much as we die with Christ, is as much as we will appear before God as pure, as much as we will resurrect. Graces pours forth from our wounds.
We follow a Savior who knows his way out of the tomb. Do not be afraid. Dive into the living water head first and don't try to save yourself. Have no fear of drowing, but know that it's the breathing that takes all the work.
----
Reflection Questions:
Where do I need new life?
Where do I need to die so I can experience that new life?
Am I on dry land, in the temple, walking in the water, wading, or swimming?
----
Jars of Clay - Work
The music video is perfect for the imagery of the dry land, trickle, walking, wading, or swimming.
----
Blessings,
Isaac
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Lent Reflection: Third Wednesday of Lent
Christianity in the 21st century is about remembering. All aspects of our faith, whether creed, moral code, relationships, or ministry, comes down to remembering. Today's reading from the Hebrew Scriptures suggests the same.
In the Silver Chair, in the Chronicles of Narnia [plot spoiler alert], Aslan tells Jill and Eustace to recite four signs every day, for these are the signs that will help them out along their journey. Slowly they come to forget to recite these signs and eventually find themselves in a dark situation -- being cast under an enchantment by a witch in a cave deep inside the world. It takes a third character, a rugged soul, to break this spell by remembering that there is a better place elsewhere, that there is such a place as Narnia, and there is such a person as Aslan. As it turns out, had Jill and Eustace remembered these signs all along, they wouldn't have come so close to almost being enchanted by a witch.
Christianity is about remembering. Remembering that Jesus is our Lord and Savior in and through everything in life. Remembering that there is a heaven so that this life on earth isn't meant to be perfect. Remembering that we are sinners, so we need to reconcile ourselves with each other. Remembering that there are people in need and so we need to help them. Remembering that our faith is about love so we should love all we come in contact with. Remembering that Jesus didn't die just for me but for us, so in community we can find God. Remembering that everyone else in life is also struggling with something, so love one another.
What do you need to remember?
----
Reflection Questions:
What do I need to remember?
Who do I need to remember?
What signs do I need to repeat?
Am I losing sight of the reality of Narnia (a heavenly place where God acts)?
----
Switchfoot - This is Home
----
Blessings,
Isaac
"However, take care and be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children’s children.""Remember. Remember these laws, these gifts from God. Not only remember them on a personal level, but remember them communally by passing them down to your children and your children's children."
In the Silver Chair, in the Chronicles of Narnia [plot spoiler alert], Aslan tells Jill and Eustace to recite four signs every day, for these are the signs that will help them out along their journey. Slowly they come to forget to recite these signs and eventually find themselves in a dark situation -- being cast under an enchantment by a witch in a cave deep inside the world. It takes a third character, a rugged soul, to break this spell by remembering that there is a better place elsewhere, that there is such a place as Narnia, and there is such a person as Aslan. As it turns out, had Jill and Eustace remembered these signs all along, they wouldn't have come so close to almost being enchanted by a witch.
Christianity is about remembering. Remembering that Jesus is our Lord and Savior in and through everything in life. Remembering that there is a heaven so that this life on earth isn't meant to be perfect. Remembering that we are sinners, so we need to reconcile ourselves with each other. Remembering that there are people in need and so we need to help them. Remembering that our faith is about love so we should love all we come in contact with. Remembering that Jesus didn't die just for me but for us, so in community we can find God. Remembering that everyone else in life is also struggling with something, so love one another.
What do you need to remember?
----
Reflection Questions:
What do I need to remember?
Who do I need to remember?
What signs do I need to repeat?
Am I losing sight of the reality of Narnia (a heavenly place where God acts)?
----
Switchfoot - This is Home
----
Blessings,
Isaac
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Lots of mail
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Friday, March 05, 2010
Lent Reflection: Second Friday of Lent
The responsorial psalm for today was written in response to the story of Joseph from Genesis. It talks, in wonder and awe, of the majesty of God's plan, how God sustained the peoples of the world through this one man; how even out of the most terrible time in the life of Joseph God was there directing his life. "Remember the marvels the Lord has done".
Sometimes things just line up perfectly. Like clockwork, you lose interest in a job, hear about an opening and a few weeks later are in a place better suited for your gifts. You decide to hang out with some friends even though you would rather be asleep and meet the most perfect person for you. By chance, you hear about a conference at a college campus, fall in love with it, and eventually decide to go to school there. "Remember the marvels the Lord has done."
Our faith calls us to reflect on our past and notice the hand of God at work in it. Through this thoughtful reflection, we can see how God works in our life and perhaps notice a pattern. As we live and grow we can start to notice that pattern in real time and see God at work in any given moment. When we know that at any particular moment we are within one of these patterns we can better thank God and be better prepared to meet whatever is coming with open hearts and a joyful disposition.
----
Reflection Questions:
How has God worked in your life?
Do you notice a pattern?
Are you in one of those patterns right now?
----
Switchfoot - This is your Life
----
Blessings,
Isaac
Sometimes things just line up perfectly. Like clockwork, you lose interest in a job, hear about an opening and a few weeks later are in a place better suited for your gifts. You decide to hang out with some friends even though you would rather be asleep and meet the most perfect person for you. By chance, you hear about a conference at a college campus, fall in love with it, and eventually decide to go to school there. "Remember the marvels the Lord has done."
Our faith calls us to reflect on our past and notice the hand of God at work in it. Through this thoughtful reflection, we can see how God works in our life and perhaps notice a pattern. As we live and grow we can start to notice that pattern in real time and see God at work in any given moment. When we know that at any particular moment we are within one of these patterns we can better thank God and be better prepared to meet whatever is coming with open hearts and a joyful disposition.
----
Reflection Questions:
How has God worked in your life?
Do you notice a pattern?
Are you in one of those patterns right now?
----
Switchfoot - This is your Life
----
Blessings,
Isaac
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Lent Reflection: Second Thursday of Lent
The story of Lazarus is today's Gospel. You know, the one where the guy who eats well and drinks well, who throws away food enough for other people to eat, and who wears fancy clothes. He fails to help Lazarus, the poor man who is at his door who he knows well enough to know his name but nothing else. Passing him everyday of his life, he ignores Lazarus who is in need of some serious medical care and the necessities of life.
Sound familiar?
We all do it, pass that guy day in and day out, the one that begs for money or food or clothes. It's easy and it's painless. And I don't think the point of Jesus telling the story is to talk about the torments of this rich man but instead to show the need for authentic conversion of heart present in all of us. We shouldn't be so blind to the needs of others, whether its the guy we pass every day or our coworkers we talk to every day. Everyone's got some pain and everyone's in need of love. And as Christians who live in the post-resurrection world, the question we need to answer is will we listen if someone should rise from the dead? Or rather, how can we better listen to the Gospel message now that someone (Christ) was resurrected?
----
Reflection Questions:
Who is my Lazarus?
Do I ignore the needs of the poor?
Do I truly listen to the One who rose from the dead?
----
U2 - Crumbs from Your Table
----
Blessings,
Isaac
Sound familiar?
We all do it, pass that guy day in and day out, the one that begs for money or food or clothes. It's easy and it's painless. And I don't think the point of Jesus telling the story is to talk about the torments of this rich man but instead to show the need for authentic conversion of heart present in all of us. We shouldn't be so blind to the needs of others, whether its the guy we pass every day or our coworkers we talk to every day. Everyone's got some pain and everyone's in need of love. And as Christians who live in the post-resurrection world, the question we need to answer is will we listen if someone should rise from the dead? Or rather, how can we better listen to the Gospel message now that someone (Christ) was resurrected?
----
Reflection Questions:
Who is my Lazarus?
Do I ignore the needs of the poor?
Do I truly listen to the One who rose from the dead?
----
U2 - Crumbs from Your Table
----
Blessings,
Isaac
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Notre Dame to help Latino students graduate
I came across a video on the ND website that talks about Notre Dame's commitment to Latino education. It's so awesome and such an amazing initiative that ND is launching. I hope Americans everywhere will reap the benefits.
Blessings,
Isaac
Blessings,
Isaac
Lent Reflection: Second Wednesday of Lent
The disciple's in today's Gospel reading fail to see the gift that is in front of them. Jesus is busy predicting his passion while the Sons of Zebedee (James and John) are busy scheming. They want power so that when Jesus raises a new political power they may be there not merely as witness but in great position to accomplish their will.
James and John want to be set for life. That isn't such a bad thing. No one desires struggle, no one wants to fight for every scrap of food or not know where their next meal is going to come from. But the failure of the Sons of Zebedee is a failure to recognize He who is the way, the truth, and the life. In wanting to be set for life according to how they wish to live, James and John lose sight on the greater good, Life Himself. The apostles are blind to what is actually happening, a deeper reality they experience but that they can't see -- almost like oxygen. Instead of seeing Life, they see a way to the top.
James and John do what we do so often when we don't see someone for who they are but instead as a way to move up in the world, as a commodity, or as a means to an end. In Love and Responsibility, Karol Wojtyla (John Paul II) says that the opposite of love is not hatred but rather use. God is not some sort of clown that we call upon to entertain us, to take up our time. God is not a slot machine, we don't put in prayers, pull the arm and hope for the best. God is not a genie who grants us wishes. God is a person who is dying to enter into relationship with us. Our response should never be, "God, I'll do this or that for you, but please grant me a position in your Kingdom." God's love for us is complete and total and our response to that love should be the same. No strings attached, no deals, no gimmicks, just love.
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What has been my experience of being James and John?
Do I fail to see the dignity of all people? What about the annoying ones?
What are my Lenten practices directed toward this Lent? Building my relationship with God or something else?
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Jars of Clay - Sad Clown
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Blessings,
Isaac
James and John want to be set for life. That isn't such a bad thing. No one desires struggle, no one wants to fight for every scrap of food or not know where their next meal is going to come from. But the failure of the Sons of Zebedee is a failure to recognize He who is the way, the truth, and the life. In wanting to be set for life according to how they wish to live, James and John lose sight on the greater good, Life Himself. The apostles are blind to what is actually happening, a deeper reality they experience but that they can't see -- almost like oxygen. Instead of seeing Life, they see a way to the top.
James and John do what we do so often when we don't see someone for who they are but instead as a way to move up in the world, as a commodity, or as a means to an end. In Love and Responsibility, Karol Wojtyla (John Paul II) says that the opposite of love is not hatred but rather use. God is not some sort of clown that we call upon to entertain us, to take up our time. God is not a slot machine, we don't put in prayers, pull the arm and hope for the best. God is not a genie who grants us wishes. God is a person who is dying to enter into relationship with us. Our response should never be, "God, I'll do this or that for you, but please grant me a position in your Kingdom." God's love for us is complete and total and our response to that love should be the same. No strings attached, no deals, no gimmicks, just love.
----
What has been my experience of being James and John?
Do I fail to see the dignity of all people? What about the annoying ones?
What are my Lenten practices directed toward this Lent? Building my relationship with God or something else?
----
Jars of Clay - Sad Clown
----
Blessings,
Isaac
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Lent Reflection: Second Tuesday of Lent
"Why do you recite my statutes,With these words the psalmist hits on one of the core issues for all humans, religious or otherwise: why do we profess something to be true only to not put it into practice? For some reasons, no matter who you are, we fall short of our expectations for who we should be. We hate discipline and throw aside those words that we don't like, words that challenge, words that bind, words that demand. Even the very language of demand and discipline many people are strongly opposed to using for these words are harsh and those sayings are difficult, how can anyone follow them?
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?"
Yet, self-proclaimed Christians are called to be disciples, that is, called to be disciplined in the ways of Christ. It takes hard work and Christ places heavy demands on us -- after all, Jesus wants us, not just some of our time. Being a Christian isn't a 9-5 job; being a Christian is being a daughter or a son of Abba, Our Father. It is this relationship that needs discipline. It is this relationship that places heavy demands on us, not unlike a newborn places heavy demands on new parents or forces families to be more disciplined ("Hey, you can't leave those small toys laying around, Jr. might be crawling around and could choke on that!").
As we continue Lent and approach its two week mark tomorrow, our Lenten promises require more vigilance. Right around now it's so easy to give up, to throw in the towel, to cast the words of the Lord behind us--words of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. By the grace of God, we can make it. We can keep watch with Jesus for just one hour, we can continue saying no to the lesser good so to say yes to the greater, and we can give and not count the cost. This Lent, let us put the discipline back into disciple.
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Reflection Questions:
Am I afraid of discipline?
Do I cast the words of the Lord behind?
How am I doing with my Lenten promises?
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Danielle Rose - Reason to Believe
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Blessings,
Isaac
Monday, March 01, 2010
Lent Reflection: Second Monday of Lent
Today's Gospel reading calls us to reflect on our relationship with others. Are we merciful or are we vengeful? Are we judgmental or are we loving? Do we condemn or do we accept? Do we forgive or do we hold grudges? Do we give and not count the cost or do we reserve ourselves and our gifts for "special" people? Are we ready to be judged based on our judgments of others -- from incomplete, inconclusive, and mixed data?
Don't be to quick to pass by this reading. Sit with it. You have time right now. You're reading these words I'm typing. Reread the Gospel. Where are you?
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Reflection questions:
How am I righteous?
When do I judge others unfairly?
Do I seek God first?
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Danielle Rose - Litany of Humility
The Litany of Humility prayer can help us as we try to be merciful, for from a proper understanding of ourselves, from humility, we can love others better.
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Blessings,
Isaac
Don't be to quick to pass by this reading. Sit with it. You have time right now. You're reading these words I'm typing. Reread the Gospel. Where are you?
----
Reflection questions:
How am I righteous?
When do I judge others unfairly?
Do I seek God first?
----
Danielle Rose - Litany of Humility
The Litany of Humility prayer can help us as we try to be merciful, for from a proper understanding of ourselves, from humility, we can love others better.
----
Blessings,
Isaac
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