A Knight's Walk in the Kingdom

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.

• Catholic Men , Culture , Faith , God's Call , Mercy & Forgiveness , Pope , Role Models
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theophilus September 11th, 2009

In 2004, the Knights of Columbus resolved that September 11th be observed each year as a World Day of Prayer for Peace.

The Knights’ prayer is from Pope Benedict XVI’s prayer at the Prayer Service at Ground Zero on April 20, 2008.  Everyone is encouraged to pray this prayer throughout today and to dedicate your Rosary in remembrance of the events of 9/11/2001 and the struggle for peace throughout the world.

God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world:
peace in the hearts of all men and women
and peace among the nations of the earth.
Turn to your way of love
those whose hearts and minds
are consumed with hatred.

God of understanding,
overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy,
we seek your light and guidance
as we confront such terrible events.
Grant that those whose lives were spared
may live so that the lives lost
may not have been lost in vain.
Comfort and console us,
strengthen us in hope,
and give us the wisdom and courage
to work tirelessly for a world
where truce peace and love reign
among nations and in the hearts of all.

We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Pope Benedict XVI
Prayer Service at Ground Zero
April 20, 2008

• Pope , Prayer , The Battle , U.S.A.
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theophilus September 7th, 2009

I am a Catholic and a runner, and I”m starting to see some similarities between the two.

I was six months into my forties when I issued myself a challenge – to run a half-marathon.  It didn’t matter that I had never run more than a mile at a time, ever.  I was struggling with being 40 and I decided I needed something to help me forget how fast my life was accelerating.

That was a couple of years ago.  It didn’t take long for me to catch the running bug (or addiction, as my wife calls it).

Now, after a handful of half-marathons, I’ve decided to step it up and try a full marathon this November.

In the past, I’ve always trained alone.  Unfortunately, it’s too often the way I undertake the challenges in my life, alone.  But this attempt at a full is going to be the third time I’ve committed to one, and the other two times I backed out.

So, to help with my training this time, I’ve joined a running group put together by a local running store.  Twice a week, 20-40 runners each time, all ages, all levels of ability.

And I’ve noticed that my mileage for each run has increased, my pace has improved dramatically, and my body is starting to look better than it did in my twenties.  I’m pushing myself harder and harder.  I’m not skimping on my runs.  There are no more excuses.  I’m persevering through more adversity because there is no give up when you’re running with others.

The best part of running groups is that there is always someone to chase, always someone to push you from behind.  Even on long runs (the other day was 16 miles), when I may lose contact with other runners, I know there is someone ahead of me and someone behind me, somewhere.  And that thought keeps me running.  There’s an accountability, a comradeship, a commonality, a connection, a universality . . .

a catholicism.

There is really only one way to run, putting one foot down and then the other.  There is really only one goal in running, to finish the run you’re on.  Whether you’re going it alone or in a running group, I have finally realized that there are hundreds of thousands of runners throughout the world, hitting the pavement or the treadmill at that moment in time, doing exactly what you are doing, putting one foot down and then the other, pushing to finish the run.

You know that the world-class athletes are out, and so are the plodders.  Every Saturday, there is a race somewhere with runners pushing themselves to their best, connecting to something deep inside of them.

Runners each run for their own reasons.  Some are running to something; some are running away from something.  Some are running because that is just what they have always done.

But for whatever reason you run, you eventually figure out that you do not run alone.  Even in the darkest hours of the dawn, you know there is someone else out, heart rate up, mind clearing out the sleep, ears listening to the wonderful sounds of the cadence of their footfall.

Sitting in Mass yesterday, I realized that our parish and Church are a lot like running.  Every Sunday, we know there are millions of Catholics throughout the world who are celebrating pretty much the exact Mass with the same readings and prayers.  While there are variations, the Mass is essentially the same throughout the world.  Christ is present in the consecration in every Mass, in every tabernacle, in the world.

We also know that no matter when we pray our traditional prayers, we know there is someone else somewhere in the world praying those prayers – the Hail Mary, the Our Father, the Glory Be.  When we profess the Creed, it is the same Creed, the same profession of our faith everywhere in the world.  Whether it’s the modest St. Joseph’s in rural Ohio or the Notre Dame, two strangers from the farthest reaches of the world can pull out their Rosaries and begin to pray together.

No matter our wealth, intelligence, job status, or achievements, we are all equal in the eyes of Christ and have a rightful place in front of his altar.  No matter our failings and sins, his home is our home and we are invited into it, wherever we are in the world.  Redemption, salvation, grace, consolation, healing, subsistence are available to each of us in the fullest of measure.

In the Church, we are never alone.  In Christ, we are united to our brothers and sisters, living and dead, in the faith.  We pray for them, knowing they are praying for us.  We may worship with them in community, or worship in the silence of our hearts and homes, but we are still worshiping together.  Our voice is a common, united, Catholic voice carrying itself to the eternal reaches of heaven.

In running, you are never alone, even though it may be the most solitary of sports.  In the Church, we are never alone, even in the deepest solitude of our worship, devotion and prayer.

That is one of the majestic mysteries of our faith; that is one of the enduring truths of  the Catholic Church.

In the Church, we are never alone.  There are a billion others in this with us, putting one foot down and then the other, trying to finish their run.

• Church , Eucharist , Faith
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theophilus August 26th, 2009

I have my fantasy football draft coming up.  I’ve got my depth charts, ranking lists, latest news ready to go.  I’ve figured out my keepers and the rookie running backs I want to target.  I’ve renewed my vow to stay away from any Bengals, Raiders & Chiefs.

And I’ve realized that I really can’t put as much focus and attention into my fantasy football league as I used to do in the past.  It’s fun and I enjoy the league.  It’s a way to stay connected with some of my close friends.  But, I tend to spend so much time on it so I can win, yet I’ve never had a winning season to show for it.  And maybe that’s by God’s design.

I’m constantly amazed how much time I waste during the course of a day.  Fantasy football ranks right up there in things that tend to take my time and attention away from the things God wants me to be doing.  Not that fantasy football isn’t a good diversion for me, it is.  But it needs to be put in its proper place in my life.

I make a morning offering every morning to Christ.  I offer him “all my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day.”  I also say a traditional prayer that I found in a prayer book – “Direct, we beseech you oh Lord, our actions by your inspirations and further them by your assistance, so that every word and work of ours may begin from you and by you be likewise ended.”

The morning offering refers to “all” and the prayer refers to “every.”  Not “some,” but “all” and “every.”  In other words, everything that we do should be for Christ.  We are allowed to have fun and enjoy hobbies and pursuits, but even these must be for Christ.  If we spend too much time on our hobbies, pursuits, and diversions at the expense of work that makes an impact on our families, jobs and communities, then we are not doing everything for Christ.

I turned another year older this month.  My kids are starting another year of school.  Sooner rather than later, another year is going to be in the books.  And when I’m rocking away at the retirement home, it’s really not going to matter who I picked as my 3rd running back or my 4th wide receiver in this year’s league.

I’m keeping my fantasy football in perspective this year.  I’m going to have some fun, but I’m going to focus on what God wants me to be doing.   I’m going to keep in mind that while my backup kicker may be a really great guy, I really don’t think he’s going to help me build Christ’s kingdom.

And that goes for all of our hobbies, pursuits and diversions.  Take a look at how you spend your day and figure out whether every moment is spent the way God intended for you, especially in this day and age of technology when a quick five minutes checking sports scores turns into an hour or so of surfing.  Or a quick game on our kids’ game systems turns into an hour trying to get to the next level.

Christ needs all of what we have to offer.  We need to offer him all we do, including all that we do for fun.

• Catholic Men , Culture , God's Call , Relationships
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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.

• Catholic Men , Culture , Mercy & Forgiveness , Role Models
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theophilus July 15th, 2009

Due to the Swine Flu, the Anglican Bishop of Chelmsford, the Right Reverend John Gladwin, has banned the use of holy water and seems to be on the path towards doing the same for “the wine in the chalice” (his quote).

I don’t know much about the Anglican Church, except for some studies on King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I, but I gather they tie themselves into some theological knots.

But, with all of the stories of the Swine Flu, we have some good questions to ask of ourselves in the Catholic Church.  Do we really believe that Holy Water is a divine reminder of our baptism and a sacramental that can heal the spiritually and physically sick, and do we believe that the “wine in the chalice” is the Precious Blood of Christ?  And, do we decline these gifts out of fear or indifference?

If someone is sick, it is probably prudent for everyone’s state of mind if they go to the priest for other arrangements in receiving the cup and holy water.  But, if we are not sick, are we still denying ourselves the Blood of Christ and Holy Water because we are afraid of what we might catch or because we just don’t care?

It’s a tough call in this age of pandemic alerts, but do we really believe what the Church teaches about Holy Water and the Precious Blood?

Do we deny ourselves the blessing of saying -

“By this Holy Water and your Precious Blood, wash away my sins, O Lord.”

As Catholic Online.org tells us -

St. Theresa of Avila on holy water: “From long experience I have learned that there is nothing like holy water to put devils to flight and prevent them from coming back again. They also flee from the cross, but return; so holy water must have great value.”

Holy water is a means of spiritual wealth — a sacramental that remits venial sin. The Church strongly urges its use, especially when dangers threaten. The devil hates holy water because of its power over him. He cannot long abide in a place or near a person that is often sprinkled with this blessed water.

I’m not sure if Bishop Gladwin was too reactionary, but I can’t help but think that similar actions on the part of our bishops would call into question basic tenets of our faith.  In any case, we must remember that Holy Water and the Precious Blood are gifts from God; we should not decline them lightly.

• Church , Culture , Eucharist , Faith , Liturgy
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theophilus July 13th, 2009

Today is the feast day of St. Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor at the turn of the first millenium.  He was a ruler who lived and ruled according to the will of God, realizing that the true ruler of his realm was Christ the King.

This morning I read part of a biography of St. Henry (from the Office of Readings) and was struck by a couple of passages.  In St. Henry’s remarks upon the establishment of the Archdiocese of Bamburg (kings got to set up dioceses, with the consent of Rome, back then), he said some things that apply to all of us, regardless of whether we rule a nation, our company or our cubicle.

“We are taught and advised to abandon temporal riches, to lay aside earthly goods, and to strive to reach the eternal and everlasting dwelling-place in heaven.”

“For present glory is fleeting and meaningless, while it is possessed, unless in it we can glimpse something of heaven’s eternity.”

“But God’s mercy toward the human race provided a useful remedy when he made the reward for earthly existence a share in our heavenly existence.”

“Not unmindful of this clemency and aware that by the gratuitous consideration of divine mercy we were raised up to a position of regal dignity . . . not turning a deaf ear to the Lord’s commandments and obediently following divine urgings, we desire to take the treasures of divine generosity bestowed on us by his bounty and store them in heaven, where thieves cannot dig them up or steal them and rust or moth may not destroy them.”

“When we reflect upon all that we have now stored up, our heart will be often drawn with longing and love.”

From these passages, we know that St. Henry got it – he realized that he did not get to be king all by himself and he wasn’t king by happenstance.  He also realized that his successes were not his alone.  And most importantly, he realized that the worth of his life wasn’t dependent upon his successes as king, but what he did to get to heaven.

It doesn’t matter what you do for a living, you need to do what God has called you to do, and you must do it knowing that God put you in this place in this time to do it.  And your successes?  They belong to God and they should be getting you closer to heaven.

Our lives need to be lived for Christ; they need to be lived so as to serve Christ.  Even in this time of economic distress, God is in control and we must live and work in a way that is consistent with God’s will for us.  We must live and work as if our eternal lives depend upon it.

• Catholic Men , God's Call , Saints , Workplace Faith
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theophilus July 12th, 2009

How many of us have just gone through life doing our own thing; until, BAM, we get the powerful tugging of our soul that tells us we are supposed to do something else?

Today’s gospel (Mark 6) tells the story of the Apostles being sent out two-by-two to proclaim the Kingdom.  At some point, whether they were fishermen, tax collectors, or hangers-on, they were hit square between the eyes by the calling of Christ and they followed our Lord.

And then today’s first reading (Amos 7) has the prophet Amos telling the priest Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor have I belonged to a company of prophets; I was a shepherd and a dresser of sycamores.  The LORD took me from following the flock, and said to me, Go, prophesy to my people Israel.”  Amos was a simple shepherd and arborist, yet God called him and he followed.

Like the Apostles and Amos, we are called!

We cannot think that we are just an accountant, machinist, carpenter, lawyer, assistant, sales person, first-responder, soldier, account executive or however we choose to define what we do for a living.  No, we are disciples of Christ, children of God, given life to bear fruit in the building of Christ’s kingdom here on earth.

No part of our lives can be separate from Christ.  Nothing we do, say or think can be considered distinct from our place in Christ’s universal Church.

We don’t have it easy in this regard.  Christ physically called the Apostles, so it would have been pretty hard for them to miss the point of what they were being called to do.  God got pretty personal with Amos, so it was rather hard for him to ignore his calling.   It would be easier if we were so divinely inspired, but most of us are not.  We must rely on our faith and the drive of the Holy Spirit that has led us to whatever it is that we do.  We must then do that job as if God himself gave us that job and Christ himself is our boss.  If you cannot feel that way about your jobs then it is time to look for something else.  And if you are unemployed, then it is time to look deep within your soul and figure out what it is that God expects of you at this moment of time.

God is in control; he has a plan for each of us.  We must listen and figure out what it is that he intends of us.

It may not be going out Noah’s Ark like (i.e. two-by-two) or prophesying to the head of your government, but God does call you to do something.  And that something is instrumental in building Christ’s kingdom.

This week, do your job, treat your family, contribute to your community, and live your life as if Christ’s kingdom hangs in the balance.  The way you live your life is that important.

• Catholic Men , Divine Filiation , God's Call , Jesus , Liturgy
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theophilus June 29th, 2009

I came across a prayer attributed to St. Ignatius a while back -

“Lord, teach me to be generous.  Teach me to serve you as you deserve.  To give and not count the cost.  To fight and not heed the wounds.  To toil and not seek for rest.  To labor and not ask for reward, save for knowing that I am doing your will.”

I know someone who is trying to live the last phrase of that prayer – “To labor and not ask for reward, save for knowing that I am doing your will.”

He is doing something that will result in others gain, yet he will probably not be rewarded for it.  He is doing something that will benefit many, yet his family questions his career path.  There is always the question left unsaid, but always hanging in the air, as to whether he should be doing something more distinguished or of greater monetary worth.

Yet, he has confided in me that he truly believes that he is doing God’s will.  He is exactly where God needs him.  He is laboring for Christ.

I told him about St. Ignatius’ prayer because I realized he is trying to live it.  He is trying so hard to keep from falling into the chasm of self-pity where he will crave reward for his labor.  He is trying to satisfy himself with the reward of knowing that he is doing God’s will; he is serving Christ.  I can tell that it is not easy.

And I reminded him that it doesn’t matter whether we measure up in someone else’s eyes; whether we are doing what others expect of us.  What matters if whether we are doing what God wants us to do; whether we measure up to what Christ expects of us.

The saints lived the prayer of St. Ignatius; each and every phrase.  We are called to do the same.

We all are called to be generous and serve and give and fight and toil and labor; but not to count the cost or heed the wounds or seek for rest or ask for reward.  We are all called to just serve Christ and do God’s will.  We are all called to be a saint.

• God's Call , Prayer , Sacrifice , Saints
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theophilus June 24th, 2009

It was only recently that I started to understand the difference between the different types of days on the Church calendar.  I couldn’t tell you the difference between solemnities, feasts, memorials, optional memorials and ferial days. I thought feast days were all the same.

So, as I began to learn about the Church calendar, I started to understand its structure and what the Church is trying to teach us as the year unfolds.  I also began to understand why solemnities are reserved for the most important days during the year.

Most solemnities are well-observed (Easter & Christmas) or fall on Sunday (Epiphany, Holy Trinity, Corpus Christi, Christ the King).  Holy Days of Obligation are also solemnities (Mary, Mother of God; Ascension; Assumption; All Saints; Immaculate Conception).

But there are a few solemnities that do not fall on Sunday and are not Holy Days of Obligation.  These are St. Joseph (March 19), the Annunciation (March 25), Sacred Heart (Friday after 2nd Sunday after Pentecost), Sts. Peter & Paul (June 29), and St. John the Baptist (today, June 24).

All of these days are important to us and allow us to spend time thinking and praying about great people in the life of Jesus and the Church, as well as great mysteries that form the foundation of our faith.

With today being one of these most important of remembrances, we should spend some time thinking about the life of St. John the Baptist, what he meant to Christ’s ministry, and what he means to us today.

He was the voice crying in the wilderness.  He prepared the way for the Lord.  He was the fulfillment of prophecy.  He taught repentance, conversion, salvation and forgiveness.

This is a great day to go to Mass, pray the Rosary, read the story of St. John in Luke 1.  It is also a great day to think about whether you are listening to God through the people he has sent into your life; whether you need to get to confession to ask for forgiveness; whether you need to change things in your life; whether you are accepting the gift of salvation from Christ and are serving him.

Are you doing God’s will as St. John did?

Today, place yourself on the banks of the Jordan River and listen to what St. John has to tell you; listen to what Christ has to tell you.

• Church , Jesus , Liturgy , Mercy & Forgiveness , Saints
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