As you can see, I have not posted anything since Easter. I have decided to rethink the purpose and content of this blog and am thus suspending “On the Way to Church” for the time being. When it is clear how best to proceed, be sure that you will be hearing from me!
Best wishes. Remember, what is most important in living the faith happens “On the Way to (and From) Church!” Keep your eyes open to the connections.
How about this one?
May Easter joy and peace be yours in abundance as we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead— our hope of glory!
The Easter story is totally unexpected; everyone is afraid! They don’t know what to say or do. Fear turns the soldiers, sent to guard the stone over the tomb, into stone themselves — petrified by their fear. The women who came to the tomb encounter an angel whose first words to them are “Do not be afraid!” (Matthew 28:5). And when they leave to bring the good news to the disciples, they meet Jesus along the way who urges them, “Do not be afraid” (28:10). After the worst had happened, they could not imagine a happy ending to the story; they were stuck in their fear. So, often, are we.
Fear is our first reaction when life gets turned upside down and nothing makes sense. (And how many ways can this occur?) We so easily lose our familiar points of reference. It is with God’s grace and the gift of faith that we manage to find our bearings and gradually come to see things in an entirely new way.
In Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, love and healing are now available to all. This is greater security than our finances and material possessions — which are easily jeopardized. In Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, forgiveness and compassion are now available to all. Jesus’ resurrection, preceded by his total self sacrifice on Good Friday, gives us a new say of interpreting the meaning love’s sacrifices in every season of life. Love is stronger than suffering and death!
Our lives have been turned upside down! No wonder we are disoriented and afraid. Old fears fall away once we come to the empty tomb! Jesus is not dead and buried; He is raised from the dead and alive among us! Our fears are now transformed into trust in God’s power to save us. Jesus’ resurrection is the guarantee of our own ! Alleluia!
J. Peter Nixon in Commonweal’s blog today quotes this meditation of Fr. Romano Guardini on the meaning of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples and his command to them that they wash one another’s feet. It is appropriate for Holy Thursday:
Every Christian one day reaches the point where he too must be willing to accompany the Master into destruction and oblivion: into that which the world considers folly, that which for his own understanding is incomprehensible. Whatever it is to be: suffering, dishonor, the loss of loved ones or the shattering of a lifetime oeuvre, this is the decisive test of his Christianity. Will he shrink back before the ultimate depths, or will he be able to go all the way and thus win his share of the life of Christ? What is it we fear in Christianity if not precisely this demand? That is why we try to water it down to a less disturbing system of “ethics” or “Weltanschauung” or what have you. But to be a Christian means to participate in the life of Christ–all of it; only the whole brings peace. The Lord once said: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid” (Jn 14:27). Peace comes only from living this through to the end. One way or another we must brush the depths Christ divinely plummeted, taste the dregs he drained to the last drop: “It is consummated” (Jn 19:30). From this unreserved realization of the Father’s will comes the illimitable peace of Christ, also for us.
One of the great prophetic figures of our time is Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel. Check out his interview with Sally Quinn on having been victimized and lost everything a second time in his life… the first perpetrator was Hitler; the second, more recently, was Bernard Madoff.
A poignant and reflective interview….
Many today are concerned about how to sell their homes due to the dire economic conditions these days. This may be time to revive devotion to St. Joseph who is often called upon to help sell people’s homes. This item in yesterday’s
If I may suggest an intention or two for your prayers on this Feast of St. Joseph: there are a lot of people out there trying to sell their homes without losing too much in the process (I wonder whether sales of St. Joe statues have increased)? There are many others trying to hold on to their homes. And — as always — there are so many who have no homes to lose.
We don’t know very much about Joseph, but we know he took Mary into his home, and we know he talked his way into somebody’s stable in Bethlehem. He was good with tools, and he’s rumored to be a very powerful intercessor (just ask his fans). So today I’m praying St. Joseph will put in a good word for everyone who can’t take housing and shelter for granted.
I recently spoke at a Theology on Tap gathering in the Mt. Lebanon section of Pittsburgh. I could not believe that 75 young adults in ther 20’s and 30’s packed the upstairs of a restaurant for the event. They ran out of tables and chairs. (It was a vivid experience of this week’s gospel of the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time where they had to let down the paralytic from the roof!)
The topic I was given was “Why should I bother to remain a Catholic?” Now there’s a topic with an edge.
I invited the group to take a few moments and to make a list of their top 2 or 3 issues/questions about the Catholic faith. A long list emerged which would take a long time to address. A few thought-provoking questions remain in my memory:
1. If Mary remained a virgin throughout her life, how can we say that she was married to Joseph? (After all, isn’t an unconsummated marriage invalid?)
2. Why doesn’t the Catholic Church promote and extend itself to young people like other churches do?
3. Why can’t we get more homilies that make sense and help us deal with our lives today? We’re tired of explanations of the scriptures that are technical and passe.
4. Why are priests too “politically correct” in not taking on the moral issues of today? (This may have been a reference to the anti-abortion perspective.)
5. When will celibacy become optional and women priests be able to be ordained?
6. Isn’t it hypocritical to preach “Judge not, lest you be judged” and then teach in such a biased and judgmental way about gay people?
These were just a smattering of issues discussed in the 1 1/2 hour session over pizza and beer. I was truly edified by these young people’s candor, their desire to go deeper into their faith, to enter into meaningful conversation, and in their unabashed openness in identifying themselves as Catholic despite their questions and concerns.
Needless to say, a great time was had by all. We need more Theology on Tap gatherings in the Church!!!
Well, now that the “Sixburgh Steelers” have won their sixth Super Bowl, where are we to direct our energies next? It is a quandary. Reflecting on the terrific press given not only to the victorious Steelers, but The Steeler Nation around the world, I have been looking for a religious connection.
It seems to me that what the Steelers have provided is not only a winning team, but a cause for bringing people together who might not otherwise have such a cause. The unity, good feeling, support, enthusiasm and community spirit generated are much needed now as always when so much news is dark and depressing.
The Feast of Pentecost, which is a long way off right now, describes the earliest Christian Community in some ways similar to what we experienced last weekend following that Steeler victory. We read in the Acts of the Apostles:
“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim…but they were confused because each one heard (Jews from every nation under heaven) speaking in his own language…Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asis, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome…Yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.” (Acts 2:4-11)
The human spirit longs for this kind of euphoria. There is a language beyond words! The presence of God in our midst, especially when we gather at the Sunday liturgy, is a communal experience of the Risen Christ present among us. It is cause for joy, hope, peace and zeal to share this mystery with others.
As we gather regularly to celebrate the Holy Eucharist come together on other occasions as a parish family, we may not always have the mountain top experience and hype of Super Bowl weekend. However, faith tells us that what we do at the liturgy is a preview of the joy and excitement to be revealed in the Kingdom of Heaven at the end. It is beyond our imagination and will be our final victory celebration, will not be over in a day or two, but will last forever. We don’t want to miss it! The towels will not be terrible, but wonderful!
Almighty and eternal God,
you have revealed your glory to all nations.
God of power and might, wisdom and justice,
through you authority is rightly administered,
laws are enacted, and judgment is decreed.
Assist with your spirit of counsel and fortitude
the President of these United States, Barack Obama,
that his administration may be conducted in righteousness,
and be eminently useful to your people over whom he presides.
May he encourage due respect for virtue and religion.
May he execute the laws with justice and mercy.
May he seek to restrain crime, vice, and immorality.
Let the light of your divine wisdom
direct the deliberations of Congress,
and shine forth in all the proceedings
and laws framed for our rule and government.
May they seek to preserve peace, promote national happiness, and continue to bring us the blessings of liberty and equality.
We likewise commend to your unbounded mercy
all citizens of the United States,
that we may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified
in the observance of your holy law.
May we be preserved in union and that peace which the world
cannot give; and, after enjoying the blessings of this life,
be admitted to those which are eternal.
We pray to you, who are Lord for ever and ever. Amen
(From the Book of Blessings)
The visit of the Magi to the Christ Child presents us with a wealth of material to ponder as we begin the new year. Fr. Jude Siciliano, OP, shares some interesting thoughts in this excerpt from his weekly reflections on the Sunday scripture readings entitled First Impressions:
The Magi did not unload their camels, dismiss their porters and settle down in Bethlehem to continue their homage to the Christ child. Matthew makes it sound as if they did homage to the child, quickly got up off their knees and then moved on. Maybe they went home to tell their families and friends about their journey and how the star guided them through the nights – you can’t see stars when there is plenty of light. Maybe we shouldn’t be terrified by the darkness in our world and our lives because, if God is true to form, a light will appear in the dark and keep us on track as we travel together.
Time Magazine’s “Top 10″ religion stories for this past year are here. I think No. 5 [”America’s Unfaithful Faith”] may be the one that most suggests where people in the pews may be, including in Catholic pews! If the research is anywhere near accurate, pastors and religious leaders have to become more inventive in helping people correlate religious “dogma” or “right thinking” (orthodoxy) with religious “morality” or “right acting” (orthopraxis). I don’t think we are near achieving this pastoral goal…