Archive for April, 2008

“Let Us Go Forth”

theophilus April 20th, 2008

Think about this passage as you go off to or return from Sunday Mass today.

“The spires of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral are dwarfed by the skyscrapers of the Manhattan skyline, yet in the heart of this busy metropolis, they are a vivid reminder of the constant yearning of the human spirit to rise to God. As we celebrate this Eucharist, let us thank the Lord for allowing us to know him in the communion of the Church, to cooperate in building up his Mystical Body, and in bringing his saving word as good news to the men and women of our time. And when we leave this great church, let us go forth as heralds of hope in the midst of this city, and all those places where God’s grace has placed us. In this way, the Church in America will know a new springtime in the Spirit, and point the way to that other, greater city, the new Jerusalem, whose light is the Lamb (Rev 21:23). For there God is even now preparing for all people a banquet of unending joy and life. Amen.”

This passage is the end of the Holy Father’s homily at yesterday’s Mass for the Clergy and Religious at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the Big Apple. 

We may be the laity and our church may not even have spires, but nevetheless the Holy Father was also speaking to us.  This call is our call – this hope is our hope.  We are in the “springtime of the Spirit” and there is a great deal of work to be done.  It is also up to us to “point the way.”

Let us be unified – let us not be caught up in unproductive squabbles – let us put to rest those sins that have given reason to others to give up the fight – let us stay true from the pews to the truths of the Catholic faith – let us inspire ourselves and each other to “rise to God” – let us be an inspiration to those coming to the faith and to those who have strayed.

It is our yearning – it is our call – it is our hope.

“Let us go forth . . . “

How Far Can We Go?

theophilus April 19th, 2008

This morning, I am pondering two great questions.

The first great question is - how could I have totally missed any sensation from the “Great Midwest Earthquake of 2008?” I was awake and felt nothing.  Others in Cincinnati at least felt something. 

The second great question I have this morning is - how far can a nation go to defend itself and others from homicidal idiots?  It’s this question I’m left with after reviewing the Holy Father’s U.N. Address.

I get that the best recource is that nations should act together, as discussed by the Holy Father in this passage -

“The United Nations embodies the aspiration for a “greater degree of international ordering” (John Paul II, Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 43), inspired and governed by the principle of subsidiarity, and therefore capable of responding to the demands of the human family through binding international rules and through structures capable of harmonizing the day-to-day unfolding of the lives of peoples. This is all the more necessary at a time when we experience the obvious paradox of a multilateral consensus that continues to be in crisis because it is still subordinated to the decisions of a few, whereas the world’s problems call for interventions in the form of collective action by the international community.”

And I get that the international community must intervene in some circumstances as discussed in this passage - 

“Every State has the primary duty to protect its own population from grave and sustained violations of human rights, as well as from the consequences of humanitarian crises, whether natural or man-made. If States are unable to guarantee such protection, the international community must intervene with the juridical means provided in the United Nations Charter and in other international instruments.” 

But the great unanswered question is what happens if the international community doesn’t intervene when it is supposed to?  The list is long of the crises where the international community failed to intervene or did so only belately – including Eastern Europe, the “Killing Fields” of Southeast Asia, the Horn of Africa (e.g. Ethiopia and Somalia), West Africa (e.g. Liberia), East Africa (e.g. Uganda and Rwanda), Bosnia, Darfur, Afghanistan, and, yes, even Iraq.  

So I have to ask – is the logical extension of the Holy Father’s teachings that it is incumbent upon the nations who are most impacted, care the most, and are most at risk, to do something on their own when the international community won’t or can’t get it done?

To what extent under natural and moral law are nations permitted to defend themselves and help other peoples acheive the human aspirations of freedom, liberty and basic human dignity – especially when the international community refuses to act?

Points to ponder for this weekend.

All I Can Say is “Wow”

theophilus April 18th, 2008

I’m sitting down this morning trying to digest what the Holy Father has shared with us over the past two days.  The more I read, the more amazed I am at the depth and clarity of what he has to say.  This guy gets us – he understands us – there is enough in his words over the past two days to revive us and sustain us for generations.  And we still have another four days to go.

Don’t make the mistake of just reading the mainstream media accounts of what the Holy Father has to say.  They are cherry-picking some comments that fit in with their secular view of the Church and ignoring others that should make them feel uncomfortable.  You have to read the speeches/homilies yourself.  It will be time well-spent.

In his Opening Remarks at the White House, he expressed a sense of freedom and American hope that shows he understands our nation’s purpose better than many of us do.

In his Address to the Bishops, he gives an incredible overview of the current challenges facing the American Catholic Church - those coming from the secular world and those coming from within our own Church.  He gives a call to action that should energize all bishops and each member of their flocks.  He takes on the child abuse scandal and encourages the bishops to just to the right thing.

In his Homily at the Nationals Park Mass, he addresses us directly as laity.  He lets us know he understands our challenges.  The growing distance between faith and society, the falling away of too many Catholics, the pain caused by the child abuse scandal, our dire need for true education in the catechesis.  He not only encourages us, but he basically reminds us that we are Americans and need to keep moving forward.

And then he summed up the day with his Address to the Catholic Educators.  He spoke about the need for a true Catholic education in today’s world and the responsibility Catholic educators have in building the faith of the students entrusted to their care.  Most importantly, he  hopefully made some uncomfortable by reminding them that the Catholic faith cannot be discarded for the sake of “academic freedom.”

It’s been a great two days.  Let’s make sure to digest what the Holy Father has to tell us – the charge he is giving us.

And what is that charge?  It is summed up in two passages of his Nationals Park Homily -

“Today let us pray fervently that the Church in America will be renewed in that same Spirit, and sustained in her mission of proclaiming the Gospel to a world that longs for genuine freedom (cf. Jn 8:32), authentic happiness, and the fulfillment of its deepest aspirations!”  

“By your prayers, by the witness of your faith, by the fruitfulness of your charity, may you point the way towards that vast horizon of hope which God is even now opening up to his Church, and indeed to all humanity: the vision of a world reconciled and renewed in Christ Jesus, our Savior.”

It’s a new day – time for us to get to work.

Loss of Hope

theophilus April 16th, 2008

A while back, I wrote about an incredibly tragic story.  

Michel Veillette was an affluent father of four who lived in a northern suburb of Cincinnati.  He was on the road most of the year and was pretty much an absent father and husband.  To make matters worse, he had an affair – his wife confronted him about it - both of them lost it.  Depending upon whom you believe, she attacked him or he attacked her.  She set their home on fire or he did it.  Whatever is the truth, the reality is that she and their four children died that day.  Veillette was brought up on capital murder charges and sent off to the county jail to await the trial that would probably convict him. 

Yesterday morning, he hung himself.

Quite frankly, I take the prosecutor’s version of the events that led to the death of Veillette’s family.  At some point in time, this man lost his way and the reason for his existence.  And it resulted in a tragedy of biblical proportions.

But, I had hope – that he could still make something of his life – that Christ could still use him for good.

But Veillette had lost this hope – even assuming he ever had it.  He gave up.  And his defeat just adds to what is already a sad and disheartening tale.

The Cincinnati Enquirer interviewed someone yesterday who said over and over again something to the effect of ”I bet he’s having a conversation with the devil right now.”  I hope not.  For some reason, I believe in his redemption and I don’t know why.  I believe Christ took him aside yesterday and read him two books - the first is the one of the life he lived – the other is the one of his life as it could have been.

There is really no lesson to be learned here.  I hope very few of us are screwing up to the extent that this guy did.  But, I still think that at some point he could have turned it around – before he started on the road – before he had the affair – before he “allegedly” killed his wife and kids – before he strung that sheet around his neck in a cold prison cell.

And all I can pray is that God will have mercy on this man’s soul and that this family’s loved ones and community will find the healing they need.  There is no other good to be found here.

Hear His Voice

theophilus April 15th, 2008

The Holy Father lands today in Washington.  Over the next six days, we will hear a great deal about him and a great deal from others about ourselves - about us as American Catholics.  

Too much of what we willl hear will be garbage.

Over the next few days, we need to only listen to two things – we must truly listen to the Holy Father and then truly listen from within to the Holy Spirit speaking to us.  This apostolic mission by the Holy Father should stir us - it should encourage us to reach for a deeper faith and respond to a call to action.

We must not be discouraged by the words of the naysayers, those who do not know better, and those who wish to tear down our Church.  We must not be disheartened by our own nagging weaknesses that will tell us that this hope that the Holy Father will speak of is just too hard, too distant to our own lives.

Today’s gospel (John 10) has Christ telling the people of Jerusalem,

“My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me.”

We are Christ’s sheep – we know his voice.  We hear his voice through the Holy Father.  We will hear his voice this week talking directly to us as a Church.  Let us turn our ear to him and truly listen.  And let us be transformed by what we hear.

“Christ Our Hope”

theophilus April 14th, 2008

Our Moment 

This week is a generation defining moment – when the Holy Father comes to America.  Papal visits occur less frequently than a Republican getting elected in Massachusetts.  So, let us embrace this moment – let it rejuvenate us, bring us to a greater faith, and give us that hope that can only be found in Christ, our Lord.

It shouldn’t be a great surprise that the Holy Father’s message for the week is “Christ Our Hope.”  And it is a most appropriate one. 

There are two incredible points that the Pope made in his “Advance Message’ issued last week.  The first is:

“I shall come . . .  to proclaim this great truth: Jesus Christ is hope for men and women of every language, race, culture, and social condition. Yes, Christ is the face of God present among us. Through him, our lives reach fullness, and together, both as individuals and peoples, we can become a family united by fraternal love, according to the eternal plan of God the Father.”

The other is:

“I know how deeply rooted this Gospel message is in your country. I am coming to share it with you . . ..  I shall also bring the message of Christian hope . . ..  Indeed, the world has greater need of hope than ever: hope for peace, for justice, and for freedom; but this hope can never be fulfilled without obedience to the law of God, which Christ brought to fulfillment in the commandment to love one another. Do to others as you would have them do to you, and avoid doing what you would not want them to do. This “golden rule” is given in the Bible, but it is valid for all people, including non-believers. It is the law written on the human heart . . ..”

And this message is just the preview of coming attractions.  We are going to hear a great deal about hope this week.  It’s a message everyone of us in this nation needs to hear – and believe.  But, we Catholics all need to remember that this hope cannot truly exist unless it is centered on Christ, his Church and the law of God – a hope that is based in faith and reason.

What He Will Find 

This week is going to be jaw-dropping – if we truly permit the Holy Spirit to reach us through this worthy apostolic successor of St. Peter.   It is going to be faith-defining and life-enhancing – if we truly allow his message to sink into our souls and lead us to a strengthening of our Church.

The Holy Father is going to find a Church here that is vibrant and transforming.  He is going to find a people faithful to the Eucharist and being personally transformed by the message of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.  He will find a people reawakening to the mysteries of the faith.  He will find a Church on the move.

But, he will also find a Church where too many of its people have turned away from these mysteries.  Many of whom are hurting, lost, finding themselves on the wrong path – all without a clear compass heading on where to go. 

And, hopefully, they will be listening as well to the Holy Father.  And maybe, just maybe, they will find the hope that has alluded them and find their way back to the healing power and light of Christ and his Church.

“Do You Also Want to Leave”

theophilus April 12th, 2008

The Challenge

Have you ever been in a situation where you just wanted out?  When it was obvious that whatever you ended up signing up for is just more than what you wanted?

Today’s gospel is the end of Christ’s “Bread of Life” Discourse (John 6:60-69).  He makes it painfully clear to his disciples the depths of his expectations.

And many chose to leave and “returned to their former way of life.”

So, he asks Peter and the other Eleven – “do you also want to leave?”

It was a challenge to these twelve men – it’s a challenge to us today.  Do we want to leave?

Those Who Have Left

We continually hear about those have decided to leave – those who have found the path of Christ too hard to follow.

And, quite frankly, I don’t understand it.

It’s hard to live life without Christ – I’ve tried it.  No matter the circumstances, it’s easy to handle the worst of them when you know you are walking with Christ – I’ve tried that.

Yet, I know many who have turned away – some who are very close to me.  They are all good and decent people but somewhere along the way they decided that they couldn’t handle Christ’s challenge to them – to truly love him, bear his Cross and walk his path.

And, quite frankly, I feel sorry for them.

Do Not Leave!

Christ wants us to stay with him.  He does not want to lose us.  But, God gives us the freedom to choose Christ or to choose man - it is up to us to decide who we shall follow.

Christ asks each of us every day – “do we also want to leave?”  And, each day that we stay is another day when we grow closer to him.

Sometimes, it’s hard to walk with Christ and do God’s will.  But, we cannot give up the fight.  We may fail on a daily basis, but we cannot give in to defeat.  We must struggle each and every day to bring ourselves, our family, our friends, our colleagues closer to Christ.

We cannot leave Christ’s side.  He has our back in a way that no one else can.  And we must work to ensure our loved ones do not leave his side either – because Christ has their back as well, even if they are trying to leave him.

“Do you also want to leave?” Let our answer be a resounding “NO!”

Feeling Christ’s Presence in Holy Communion

theophilus April 11th, 2008

What’s the Big Deal? 

Think for a moment if this scene sounds familiar.

Communion used to be a relatively minor event for me.  I used to daydream before going up to Communion – take the Eucharist – nonchalantly make the Sign of the Cross – return to my pew – say a few quick prayers asking for something or another – enjoy the music – hope the announcements weren’t too long – and then prayed that the celebrant got through the rest of Mass in quick order.

And I thought I was so much better than all of those who had just left Mass at Communion.  But I failed to realize that, in reality, there really wasn’t much of a difference – we both treated Christ about the same – with a serious lack of appreciation, respect and understanding.

John 6:56 – The Big Deal

After reading today’s gospel (John 6:52-59), I understand what I was missing all of those years.

With today’s gospel, we are nearing the end of the “Bread of Life” Discourse.  For me, today’s key verse is John 6:56 -

“Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood
remains in me and I in him.”

Think about this passage as you ask the following questions – why is Holy Communion so vital to our faith and our very existence?  Why should it be something we should celebrate weekly, if not daily?  Why should we cherish and be devoted to the Eucharist?  Why should the ten minutes or so of Holy Communion be the most important part of our week?  Why should we ensure our children are treating Holy Communion with reverence and devotion?

The answer to all of these questions is – because Holy Communion is the single best way to spiritually connect ourselves to Christ.  When we take Holy Communion, Christ becomes a part of us and we become a part of him.  And as we leave to go forth in the world, he remains with us and we remain with him. 

But, we cannot make this connection unless we truly give ourselves over to Christ when receiving the Eucharist. 

Making the Connection

A little while back, I started to make this connection.  I found a prayer – the Anima Christi – and I started saying it when I got back to my pew after receiving Communion – slowly, thinking over each line, offering myself over to Christ.

And the more I did this simple little act of devotion, the more I felt myself really feel like something was happening to me after Communion.  I really started to feel a presence within me.  And the more I do this act after Communion, the more Communion has truly become a way for me to connect with Christ – and the more I’ve treated the time before Communion with reverence, including the fast an hour before Mass, the Penetential Rite at the beginning of Mass, the Eucharistic Prayer, and the procession to Communion.

Communion isn’t meant to be a spectator sport.  It’s meant to be one of the most special parts of our lives.  We must find a way to connect ourselves to Christ after receiving Communion.  We need to find that special prayer or thought to truly make Communion a spiritual moment when we connect with Christ.

Christ invites us each Sunday and each day to connect with him – it’s up to us to decide whether we want to accept this invitation.  

And also keep in mind that it’s up to us to bring our children along so they will seek a connection of their own.  But, we have to have the connection first before we can help them make their’s.

The Essence of What We Believe

theophilus April 10th, 2008

The Real Thing 

When I read today’s gospel, I had an “aha” moment.  I’m not a theologian, but John 6 has a verse that I have to think may just be the essence of what we believe as Catholics. 

In John 6:51, Christ is continuing the Bread of Life Discourse when he explains something that his listeners that day could never had understood, but that us faithful two-thousand years later should hang our very lives.

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my Flesh for the life of the world.”

Christ is telling us very plainly and clearly – he is the living bread – he came down from heaven – whoever eats this bread will live forever  – the bread he gives is his flesh – and he gives himself for the life of the world.

Isn’t this verse the essence of our faith?  The essence of the Mass?  The essence of why we believe in the Real Presence of the Eucharist (it’s his flesh)?  The essence of our faith in Christ’s resurrection, and our hope for everlasting life (he and us will live forever)?  The essence of why we believe in the Holy Catholic Church (it’s the living bread that binds us together) and the forgiveness of sins (how can we have true life if we are overburdened with sin)?

Next Time at Mass 

We need to really think about John 6:51 the next time we are at Mass, especially as we are in the procession to Communion and back in our pew afterwards.  This bread isn’t just a piece of food, it’s not just a representation, it’s the real thing – it’s Christ – living today.  And if we believe and eat this bread, we will have true life on this world and we will live forever.

Heck, why wait for Sunday?  Find a weekday Mass or a Eucharistic Adoration somewhere – today.  Don’t let this day go by without being a part of something so wonderful, something so incredible. 

Christ offers himself to us each and every day – he offers us life.  It’s up to us to make him a part of us – truly a part of us.  The ball is in our court to truly believe John 6:51 and make Christ a real presence in our lives.  It’s up to us to make the Living Bread come to life in us. 

The Bread of Life Discourse

theophilus April 9th, 2008

“I am the Bread of Life” 

This week’s gospels are centered on Jesus’ Bread of Life Discourse in John 6.  “I am the Bread of Life” – Jesus reassures us over and over again.  This Bread of Life impacts us in so many different ways.  Each of these ways are described by Jesus during the discourse – we will never hunger; we will live forever; we will be raised up; he will give life to the world.  All powerful stuff.

In today’s gospel, there are two defining statements for us from this discourse that define our relationship with Christ.

The first is when Christ tells us point blank – “I will not reject anyone who comes to me.”  And not only will he not reject us, but that “everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life.”

No Rejection

Think about – we face so much rejection on a daily basis.  Our spouses, our kids, our bosses, our colleagues, society – there are so many times during the course of a day when we are just flat out rejected on things big and small.  We hit a brick wall, we are told “no,”  we are told we are wrong. 

But Christ reassures us that he will never reject us – never!  We just have to come to him.  Each and every day – through prayer, through devotion.  And if we come to him and believe in him, not only will we find acceptance from him, we will find eternal life. 

It doesn’t get much more reassuring than this – we may face rejection on a daily basis from the world, even from our loved ones, but we will never face rejection from him.  To the contrary, we will find eternal life.

We need to find a way to get comfortable talking to Jesus – man-to-man.  He will not put us on hold or tell us something else is more pressing.  He will not reject us.  We just need to come to him, believe in him, talk to him.  The rewards will last forever.

Just let this thought sink in throughout the rest of the week – if it doesn’t lighten our step, nothing will.

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