Archive for the 'Role Models' Category

The Berlin Wall & the Freedom of Spirit

theophilus November 9th, 2009

In the early nineties, I toured Berlin and stood at what was left of the Berlin Wall.  I was actually kind of amazed because it was just a wall – a man made edifice that we use to hold up structures and tame hillsides.  But, this wall was something more – it was a wall that personified evil.  It was used to crush the human spirit and deny our brothers and sisters on the other side the very basic of the rights given to us by God as his children.

When President Reagan spoke at the Brandenburg Gate in 1987, history remembers his call of “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”  Unfortunately, other parts of his speech are left without remark.  And, it’s a shame because he gave such an exhilarating embrace of freedom – an embrace that we need in this day and age.

President Reagan was unapologetic about freedom -

“[T]here stands before the entire world one great and inescapable conclusion: Freedom leads to prosperity. Freedom replaces the ancient hatreds among the nations with comity and peace. Freedom is the victor.”

How is truth and prosperity tied to freedom? -

“[T]ruth can flourish only when the journalist is given freedom of speech, so prosperity can come about only when the farmer and businessman enjoy economic freedom.”

Do you want peace – real and lasting peace? -

“[W]e believe that freedom and security go together, that the advance of human liberty can only strengthen the cause of world peace.”

President Reagan then hit his stride -

“[W]e must remember a crucial fact: East and West do not mistrust each other because we are armed; we are armed because we mistrust each other. And our differences are not about weapons but about liberty. When President Kennedy spoke at the City Hall those twenty-four years ago, freedom was encircled, Berlin was under siege. And today, despite all the pressures upon this city, Berlin stands secure in its liberty. And freedom itself is transforming the globe.”

And then came the call for self-reflection for the people of Berlin – the call for self-reflection for us all -

“[W]hat keeps you here? Certainly, there’s a great deal to be said for your fortitude, for your defiant courage. But I believe there’s something deeper, something that involves Berlin’s whole look and feel and way of life – not mere sentiment. No one could live long in Berlin without being completely disabused of illusions. Something instead, that has seen the difficulties of life in Berlin but chose to accept them, that continues to build this good and proud city in contrast to a surrounding totalitarian presence that refuses to release human energies or aspirations. Something that speaks with a powerful voice of affirmation, that says yes to this city, yes to the future, yes to freedom. In a word, I would submit that what keeps you in Berlin is love – love both profound and abiding.

President Reagan then gave the unassailable difference between liberty and oppression -

“Perhaps this gets to the root of the matter, to the most fundamental distinction of all between East and West. The totalitarian world produces backwardness because it does such violence to the spirit, thwarting the human impulse to create, to enjoy, to worship. The totalitarian world finds even symbols of love and our worship an affront.”

And then President Reagan finished with a story that brings us back to the source of our freedom and liberty – back to God.

He told how the East Germans built a huge television tower on Alexander Platz as a grandiose secular monument. Unfortunately for the authorities, the top of the tower turned into a Cross whenever the sun shined. President Reagan used this symbol to emphatically exclaim that “this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.”

God gives us freedom as his children; Christ gives us freedom through his Cross.  Let us never ever forget that this freedom is given to us as a divine gift, as a birthright. It is up to us to decide how we will use it and whether we will strengthen it or squander it.

And it’s up to us to pray for those of our brothers and sisters that live under political oppression – that someday their walls will fall as well.

I believe God has a sense of humor, or he just finds innovative ways to get our attention. One way was through the Opening Prayer for this Sunday’s Mass.

“God of power and mercy, protect us from all harm. Give us freedom of spirit and health in mind and body to do your work on earth. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”

“Freedom of spirit!”  Freedom to do God’s work on earth. On this anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, let’s renew our commitment to freedom, liberty and peace. Let us gratefully acknowledge and embrace this most divine and precious of gifts, and cast off the illusions that will separate us from this freedom and separate us from God’s plan for us.

Three Movies to See

theophilus September 21st, 2009

I had an incredibly grace filled weekend of movies.

Last Sunday, our homily was on William Wilberforce, a British legislator, who combatted the slave trade at the turn of the 19th Century.  I had read Amazing Grace, a book about his life and efforts, but I had never seen the movie.  So, I stopped into Blockbuster on Tuesday and found it.  While I walked out, I noticed the recent movie about Pope John Paul II, starring Jon Voight and Cary Elwes, so I picked that one up as well.  While watching Amazing Grace on Friday night, we saw a preview for The Ultimate Gift, which looked promising.  So on Saturday, I picked this movie up.  We watched The Ultimate Gift on Saturday night; and I finished up my movie weekend by watching Pope John Paul II on Sunday.

So, in one weekend, I saw a movie (Amazing Grace) about a man who started an effort almost single-handedly that ended up transforming the world.  It took him 20 years to do it but he succeeded in ending the slave trade and ultimately slavery in the British Empire – without a shot being fired.

Then I watched a surprisingly humorous movie (The Ultimate Gift) highlighting the gifts we are all given, most important of which may be forgiveness, redemption, and mercy.  But we all know that the Ultimate Gift is love and this movie reminds us how multi-layered this gift is in our lives and how often we reject it.  Watch the movie and find out for yourself.

Finally, I ended the weekend watching a movie (Pope John Paul II) about a man who recognized God’s hand in his life at every step and followed his will.   He was courageous and steadfast; approachable and full of Christ’s light which he shown to the world.  He was always one of the brightest minds in the room, but could reach everyone with Christ’s message.  And all the while, he underwent immense suffering, both physical and emotional.  The totality of his life is epic.

I am inspired and ready to go kick some serious butt for the Lord this week.  Get these movies and I guarantee you will feel the same.

Coach Pitino & Being a Devout Catholic

theophilus August 19th, 2009

I was trying not to read about Rick Pitino and the story surrounding his one-night stand and his paying $3,000 for the woman to get insurance/have an abortion.  I just didn’t want to read about another celebritized fallen man.  It’s just too sad and spirit-draining, especially considering he’s married and a father to five kids.

But, I broke down the other day and read some of the articles.  It didn’t help that my hometown Cincinnati Enquirer devoted a great deal of attention to the story (Louisville is right down the road/river from us).

Other than some details that made it clear that Coach Pitino operates in a different world than most of us (come on, how many of us are handed the keys to a swanky restaurant by the owner at closing time and told to lock up when we are ready to leave?), what struck me most from the AP article was this paragraph -

“Pitino is a devout Roman Catholic who does little to hide his faith. Longtime friend and adviser Father Edward Bradley is a fixture near the Louisville bench and often leads the team in pregame prayer.”

He is “devout”; he does “little to hide his faith”; he is close to a priest.

And yet he, this married father of five, this “devout” Catholic, this apostolic promoter of our faith, had random sex with a woman he didn’t know and then paid for her to either get an abortion or get insurance knowing full well that she was going to get an abortion.

And yet, my point here is not to pontificate on the quality of Coach Pitino as a person. father or husband, or even as a Catholic.

My point is that by his actions he has damaged the Church; he has made it more difficult to bring others to Christ; he has laid the seeds for others to be weakened or turned away in their faith.  He may be sincere in trying to live his faith devoutly; and he may use his leadership, charisma and zeal to spread the Gospel to his players and those who he influences.  But his words have been emptied by his actions; they have been rendered meaningless.  And he makes our job that much harder because he is so high-profile.

If you truly live your faith, it becomes a lifestyle and other people notice.  They may not understand it or agree with it, but they notice it.  Eventually, they may even try to model it.  And that is how we bring others to Christ.  We don’t have to use words; we just need to make our faith a part of every aspect of our lives.

But if we do, we must always be aware that not only is Christ watching us, but others are watching us as well.  And they may very well turn their back on Christ if their model is a hypocrite.

I’ve been praying for Coach Pitino because the well-being of too many lives are at stake because of his actions; he influences too many, most notably his own children and the young men under his tutelage.  I’ve been praying because he can be a great apostle for Christ.  But he can’t compartmentalize his faith; he cannot segregate his actions.  His whole life must be lived for Christ, as must our’s.

A Message for All Times

theophilus January 19th, 2009

I am a huge fan of Martin Luther King, Jr.  His strength, courage, and wisdom; his Christ-centric focus in living his life; his ability to inspire and lead; his hopeful and generous spirit in times of great trial; his ability to change the world; his commitment to doing God’s will; his drive for justice and a “positive peace.”  He is a man from whom all men, no matter their race, should draw inspiration.

Every Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I read one of his speeches or writings.  Today, I decided to read his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” (h/t to Michigan State University).  There is just so much incredible wisdom in these words that I need to share some of my personally favorite passages.  These words are just as useful to us today as they were to the Civil Rights Movement in 1963.  Emphasis is mine.

“I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial “outside agitator” idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.

“I must confess that I am not afraid of the word “tension.” I have earnestly opposed violent tension, but there is a type of constructive, nonviolent tension which is necessary for growth. Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and halftruths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal, so must we see the need for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood.

“We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly, I have yet to engage in a direct-action campaign that was “well timed” in view of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation. For years now I have heard the word “wait!” It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This “Wait” has almost always meant “Never.” We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that “justice too long delayed is justice denied.”

“How does one determine whether a law is just or unjust? A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of Harmony with the moral law. To put it in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas: An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust. All segregation statutes are unjust because segregation distorts the soul and damages the personality. It gives the segregator a false sense of superiority and the segregated a false sense of inferiority.

“We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was “legal” and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was “illegal.”

“I must make two honest confessions to you, my Christian and Jewish brothers. First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Councilor or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says, “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action”; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another mans freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro the wait for a “more convenient season.” Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating that absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.

“I had hoped that the white moderate would understand that law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and that when they fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress. I had hoped that the white moderate would understand that the present tension in the South is a necessary phase of the transition from an obnoxious negative peace, in which the Negro passively accepted his unjust plight, to a substantive and positive peace, in which all men will respect the dignity and worth of human personality. Actually, we who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive. We bring it out in the open, where it can be seen and dealt with. Like a boil that can never be cured so long as it is covered up but must be opened with all it ugliness to the natural medicines of air and light injustice must be exposed with all the tension its exposure creates, to the light of human conscience and the air of national opinion, before it can be cured.

“[T}ime itself is neutral; it can be used either destructively or constructively. More and more I feel that the people of ill will have used time much more effectively than have the people of good will. We will have to repent in the generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people. Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of men willing to be co-workers with God, and without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of stagnation. We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right. Now is the time to make real the promise of democracy and transform our pending national elegy into a creative psalm of brotherhood. Now is the time to lift our national policy from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of human dignity.

“I have watched white churchmen stand on the sideline and mouth pious irrelevancies and sanctimonious trivialities. In the midst of a mighty struggle to rid our nation of racial and economic injustice, I have heard many ministers say: “Those are social issues, with which the gospel has no real concern.” And I have watched many churches commit themselves to a completely otherworldly religion which makes a strange, un-Biblical distinction between body and soul, between the sacred and the secular.

“In deep disappointment I have wept over the laxity of the church. But be assured that my tears have been tears of love. Yes, I love the church. How could I do otherwise? I am in the rather unique position of being the son, the grandson, and the great-grandson of preachers. Yes, I see the church as the body of Christ. But, oh! How we have blemished and scarred that body through social neglect and through fear of being nonconformists.

“There was a time when the church was very powerful — in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Whenever the early Christians entered a town, the people in power became disturbed and immediately sought to convict the Christians for being “disturbers of the peace” and “outside agitators.” But the Christians pressed on, in the conviction that they were “a colony of heaven,” called to obey Gad rather than man. Small in number, they were big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be “astronomically intimidated.” By their effort and example they brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contests.

“Things are different now. So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an archdefender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church’s silent — and often even vocal — sanction of things as they are. But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today’s church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust”

I encourage you to read and re-read the whole thing.  Do so not only in light of our past and modern race relations, but also in light of our present time, especially if you are concerned with the civil rights of the unborn.

And tomorrow, no matter where you fall politically or how you feel about the future, recognize that it is an incredible day for America as one great injustice has finally been redeemed.  And just as Catholics marched hand in hand with Reverend King, now we must work hand in hand to redeem another injustice and do so for the little ones who cannot speak for themselves.

Sanctifying Your Work – White Castle Style

theophilus October 10th, 2008

There is a fast food joint in the Midwest called “White Castle.”  The buildings are in the shape of a castle and the joint serves up burgers, chicken patties, and fish that are the size of your palm.  It is a tradition for college kids and late night party-goers.  The food is tasty and aromatic, but is best ingested with a knowing and strong stomach.

There is a loyalty to White Castle that transcends generations.  There is also a loyalty that permeates those who work there.

I read this week in my weekly neighborhood newspaper about Jim Mundt.

According to the Pulse Journal, he started at White Castle at the age of 17, looking for money for a car.  He worked 40 hour weeks and was quickly noticed by the higher-ups.  Increasing responsibility followed as he went from shift manager to general manager to district supervisor to area supervisor to assistant regional director.  He finally hit the White Castle jackpot when he was given responsibility over 48 stores in the Southwest Ohio region.

After 45 years, he was all set to retire on September 15th.  But, nature intervened and on September 14th, Tropical Storm Ike blew through and knocked out electricity to 90% of our region; most White Castles included.

On the morning that was supposed to be his last, Jim drove to his usual White Castle to get his morning coffee and saw that it was open for business.  And that is when he saw the lines everywhere, as this particular White Castle was one of the few area eateries open.

Jim did what he should have done.  He parked his car, went into the restaurant, rolled up his sleeves, and got to work.  45 years of experience meant nothing as he worked as if he was 17-years old again.

And this attitude is how we should approach our work and our life.  Jim saw a need and took care of it.  No responsibility was beneath his pay grade; no job beneath his station in life.

He served that day as the face of Christ.

Take my word for it, those in line were thankful for a hot cup of coffee and a hot meal.  The workers at White Castle, who were expecting a normal Monday morning crowd, were thankful that their “boss from regional” was in the trenches with them.

God calls us each to sanctify our work, no matter our work, no matter the day.  Each and every day, we have a job to do; and this job is God’s work that he chooses to do through us.  Our jobs should provide for our family needs; serve other people; create something of value.  We should approach each day as if the success of the kingdom of God depends upon our effort at work that day.  And if we cannot find the extrinsic worth of our jobs, then maybe we need to be talking to God about what he wants us to be doing.

Jim Mundt fed countless thousands through his White Castle years.  He provided memories and traditions.  He enabled jobs for the young and old.  And on this, his last day, despite his lofty position, he rolled up his sleeves and turned back the clock 45 years, so he could serve one last time, White Castle style.

Our Responsibility to Our Daughters

theophilus September 19th, 2008

I ended up lecturing my best friend today.  I didn’t mean to; it just came out that way.

The topic was daughters.

Mine is in first grade and growing up way too fast.  His is about to be born (his first child).

Somehow we had been on the subject of getting teenagers to wait to have sex.  He started talking about “THE TALK” he plans to have with his in utero little girl, twelve or thirteen or fourteen years from now. 

It was at this point that I jumped in.

I told him that his “talk” began as soon as his baby girl leaves the security of his wife’s womb.  His “talk” begins in how he treats his daughter; what kind of bond he builds with her; how he treats his wife; what kind of role model he exhibits.

I am fully aware that my little girl will base every relationship she has with other men/boys on her relationship with me and my relationship with her mother.  I am her role model on how a man treats a woman.

I want to get to a point with her where her self-esteem is sky-high when she is around other boys/men; that she knows enough to respect herself as a daughter of God and her body as a divine gift; that she is mindful enough to respect other boys/men as sons of God, even when they do not share the same respect for themselves; that she knows and has had fully demonstrated to her each and every day that the only true, mature, intimate, divine relationship between a man and a woman takes place within a marriage covenant blessed and called by God.

I have to answer to God at some point in time for my daughter.  If she turns out to be anything less than what God intends, I’m going to have some explaning to do.

I’ve given a lot of thought to my responsibility to my daughter.  I guess I wanted to let my friend in on what he is getting himself into.  He’s a good man; I know he’s going to do a good job.  But a good job isn’t good enough in today’s world.  It takes an effort worthy of the saints.  We are all up to it; but we have to want to do it, each and every day.

The Most Meaningful Eucharist

theophilus August 11th, 2008

Fr. Dan is the pastor at St. Susanna’s in Mason, Ohio.  I don’t belong to this parish but I go there occasionally for weekday Mass.   Last night, my family went there for Sunday night Mass.  And I was part of one of the most meaningful liturgies of my life.

Fr. Dan has ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease.  I see him about every other month, so I probably notice the differences in him more than those who may see him every week.  And the differences I witness are becoming more and more painful to watch.  I am watching this dreadful disease take hold of him and progress in him, function by function.

At yesterday’s Mass, he was totally confined to his motorized wheelchair.  His voice was audible only to those who focused with sonar intensity.  Every one of his movements were calculated, deliberate, slow.

But Fr. Dan preached a thoughtful homily, continued to be in his usual good cheer, and willed himself and his flock to celebrate the majesty of Christ’s life, death and resurrection.

And during the Eucharistic Prayer, I silently cried.   As Fr. Dan consecrated the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, I looked up at Christ crucified and fully understood the depth of his love in his bodily sacrifice for us all.  For the first time, I witnessed one of his chosen ones showing the same love and sacrifice for us, his flock.  Fr. Dan was showing us Christ through his own infirmity and perserverance.

Fr. Dan could be in a home, giving up.  But, he is fighting for his life and the sanctity of his flock with so much vigor and grace that he belongs in only one temporal place, and that is at the altar of St. Susanna’s.

His parish has invoked the intercession of Blessed (soon to be St.) Damian of Molokai for his healing.  I trust that it’s a good time to pray to Blessed Damian that Fr. Dan, this holy and faithful shepherd, be allowed to tend to his flock as long as God’s will be done.

Ryan Hall

theophilus August 3rd, 2008

The Olympics start on Friday, but the guy I’m most intrigued by won’t compete until the 24th when the Men’s Marathon is run.

Ryan Hall, is a 20’s-something long-distance runner who last year stepped up to half-marathons and marathons.  He made his marathon debut in London and ran a sub-2:10 (which is outstanding).  He blew away the competition at the Olympic Trials in November.  Just last April, he returned to London and took two minutes off of his time from the year before.  That’s three marathons in his life – three sub-2:10 finishes, one win, three incredible performances.  This guy obviously doesn’t understand how hard running a marathon is supposed to be.

He heads off to Bejing with expectations high.  But that’s not what intrigues me about him. 

He is a devout Christian who is running for the glory of God.  This month, Runner’s World has an in-depth article on him and his faith is the foundation of the story.  He seriously runs because he knows it is God’s call to him; the way he is to be an everyday evangelist.  And he doesn’t do it by bashing people over the head with his faith; he does it by succeeding with his running and using that success as a platform to let others know that his success is because of God.  Not a bad approach for us all.

Runners World also has a website chat with Hall that gives you a snapshot into the man.  At one point, he discusses how he plans on dealing with his nerves -  

“It is difficult to keep the right perspective. Part way through my buildup, I found that I was holding on too tight to my Olympic desire to get a medal. But God worked in my life in such a way that I have been able to surrender the race back over to Him and His will. My prayer going into the Olympics is the same of Christ’s before He went to Calvary, “not my will but your will be done.” I find that when I start thinking too much about medals, records, etc., it is important for me to get back to the basics. My sole focus is to follow hard after Christ during the race. I hope to pour myself out for Him in the same way He poured Himself out for me. If I run with this attitude then I will be happy with whatever result may come.”

This is an amazing young man.  He is not just walking with the Lord, he is running with him.  His race is on the 24th, the last day of the Games.  It should be exciting to watch.

St. Ignatius of Loyola

theophilus July 31st, 2008

I think many of us wonder whether we’ve just blown it.  Whether God has just given up on us and declared us a lost cause.  Yes, he may grant us mercy and redemption, but he has nevertheless decided that we have screwed up his plan for us so badly that he has us just playing out the string.

And then we read about St. Ignatius.  He was a soldier and a man worthy of his secular world.  He knew not Christ nor the God that protected him in battle.  His sole faith was in his sword and his only love was for the pleasures offered him throughout his world.

And then he was severely wounded and Christ started to act.  By the end of his long and lengthy rehabilitation, St. Ignatius was transformed into a zealous soldier of the Lord.  His battle transformed to one for souls; his passion switched to one for eternal life.

It is the conversion stories of the saints that most strike me.  Most saints appear to be the type who were pious from the womb; those whose destiny was sainthood.  And then there are those like St. Paul, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Augustine, and St. Ignatius, who got to sainthood through a passage through the secular world and all of the temptations it has to offer.

They came late to piety, holiness and sanctification; but they got there nonetheless.  Christ took his good sweet time with these souls, but he got them in the end.

And that is what gives hope to all of us.  No matter where we find ourselves in our lives; no matter what choices we have made; no matter how desperate our situation may be, Christ is calling each of us – and I do mean each of us – to sainthood. 

Each and every one of our saints share common qualities – trust, faith, hope, love, service, joy, contrition, and an overwhelming and all-consuming belief that they were doing God’s will; that they were helping build Christ’s kingdom in this temporal world.  They believed that they were following Christ’s path for them without reservation, without deviation.  They knew they were sinners but they also knew that they could accomplish anything as long as it was rooted in the will of God.

St. Ignatius slowly but definitively grew to understand all that it took to become a saint; and he put everything he had into doing God’s will.  As a result, millions throughout the world have been taught, converted, exhorted to change in the name of Christ, by the Jesuits, his children.

I came across this passage from Francis Fernandez last night that I think puts a great summation on St. Ignatius’ legacy for each of us -

“The greatest event of our life is our receiving the calling from our Lord, just as it was for those he called on the shores of the lake.  Yet to follow Christ wholeheartedly is never easy.  The person who enjoys a more or less steady job, who thinks that the pattern of his life is ’set’, should recognize the danger lurking in this false tranquillity, which may even be considered one’s rightful due.  Christ asks us to break with routine, to cast aside the mediocre, to go beyond a life of compromise.  With the divine vocation Christ challenges us to undergo a profound change in our daily conduct.  God asks for everything, including whatever we may have been reserving for ourselves.  He gives us light to see our failing, which we may have up till now looked upon as beyond reforming, but which turn out to be the price for securing the pearl of great value.  It is Christ himself who seeks us out, saying, You did not choose me, but I chose you.  And when Christ calls, He gives at the same time the graces we will need to follow him, from the beginning of the way and throughout the rest of our life.”

From the above passage, the line I love the most is – “He gives us light to see our failing, which we may have up till now looked upon as beyond reforming, but which turn out to be the price for securing the pearl of great value.”

St. Ignatius at some point had to see the light of his “failing” and he may have thought himself “beyond reforming,” but in the end, he found it was all ”the price for securing the pearl of great value.”

Let us look for our pearl, and let us rely on Christ to help us find it, regardless of our failings and where we are at in our lives. 

Saving a Child

theophilus July 26th, 2008

I usually leave the political talk to other blogs, but I heard about this story and it struck a chord in me. 

As many of you know, I was placed for adoption when I was born.  I had serious birth defects that I still live with to this day, including a cleft lip.  I went through several foster homes and orphanages before finally being blessed with a family.  I subsequently went through the many surgeries I needed to repair my face.  And because of the heroism of my Mom & Dad, I received the love, care and guidance I needed to succeed in all facets of my life.  My Mom & Dad saved my life.

So, when I finished reading the story about Senator John McCain’s daughter, Bridget, and how he and his wife not only saved this child but also saved another child, I couldn’t help but recognize two absolutely remarkable souls.  I recognized these souls because they exemplify a soul seen time and again, even if our culture doesn’t celebrate these heroes.  I recognized this soul because I have been the beneficiary of this soul since I was adopted. 

Again, I’ll leave the political blogging to others, but this story is one that needs to be told again and again.  It is just a damning indictment on our society that this story hasn’t been broadcasted from coast to coast in front-page new-stories, made-for-TV movies, and bestselling books.   This story has the potential to lift each of us up and require of us heroic action of our own; no matter our political leanings, no matter our background, no matter our current life-situation.

Regardless of your political leanings, you cannot dismiss the heroism of this story, and what it tells us about this man who wants to lead us.

h/t: The Anchoress and many others.

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