Time to follow my own advice

Blast from the past

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On May 19th, I made a post about my faith, and its direction. I entitled it "He must increase, I must decrease." For a while I felt like I was living that verse. Then recently, due to the fact that I have been striking out in the job search, and with a still yet uncertain future in terms of where we will be living and working in a month, I have foolishly grabbed the "reins" back from God, and started focusing on how I can figure this situation out. How I can do more "stuff" to help secure my direction, and find my path. What I can do to find a job, create opportunities, and determine my future. What I haven't done is listen to my own advice.

One follows from the other

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I thought that if I just increased the God part in my life, that I wouldn't really have to do the whole decrease thing. I figured that I could tag-team the piloting of my life with God, that way, I could grab the controls incase He let go. Foolish. 

What I didn't realize until tonight is that opportunities can only come when nothing is blocking their path. A friend of mine has been searching for his "career" path since graduation. This person is way more qualified for jobs than I am, and he has been waiting faithfully for a year. He has filled his time and efforts with smaller projects here and there, just to survive, and here I am panicking because I haven't secured anything in the few months since I have been actively looking.

We know how this ends 

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Saints, true followers of the above-mentioned Bible verse, end up in positions they wouldn't have picked for themselves... but their lives, and deaths, are vital to the advancement of the Heavenly Kingdom and the strength of the Ecclesia Militans. Their courage, their acceptance of God's will, their Marian fiat of: "Yes" gives them strength over death... and despair. They acceptance of earthly defeat is simultaneously they acceptance of victory:

God-Centered Heart

Yesterday, I posted about kneeling. When I have enough time to research the theology associated with kneeling, I will try and do a "Part II" post. Until then, a question is rumbling in my heart, which needs no research only the courage to discuss it.

A lot of comments I have received since starting this blog have been written in a context that somehow insinuates or assumes that I am speaking from some authoritative position. I want to state for the record that is not the case. I did not start this blog as some sort of teaching "platform", nor do I want it to be some attempt to CONVINCE people into thinking about the faith the way that I do, or that my view is the best, or even correct, nor do I want people to read my blog thinking that I have spent hours and years pondering and researching these issues. I started it, because I wanted to further my faith, ask questions that spin in my mind, and to hopefully help others in their quest for the truth as well.

This gets back to my post from yesterday. I was talking about "what" we do at a certain part of the Mass, and I touched on the "Why" as well. I am a big believer in the "WHY." The answer to "WHY?" anything in the faith should have one answer: God. If it doesn't, we are more than likely answering the question incorrectly. (Please no reductio ad absurdum). So then, we should ask ourselves WHY do we do... WHAT we do, at Mass, in our prayer life, and also ask that same question on all things we do in life. If the answer isn't God, we are most likely off course, or better have a REALLY, REALLY good reason why the answer is not: GOD.

There is a contemporary Christian song, by the group Plumb that is called "God-Shaped Hole" that seems to really fit this feeling I have inside of me. The lyrics are:

Every point of view has another angle

And every angle has its merit

But it all comes down to faith

Thats the way I see it

You can say that love is not divine and

You can say that life is not eternal

"All we have is now"

But I don't believe it

There's a God-shaped hole in all of us

And the restless soul is searching

There's a God-shaped hole in all of us

And it's a void only he can fill

Does the world seem gray with empty longing

Wearing every shade of cynical

And do you ever feel that

There is something missing?

That's my point of view...

It seems that this is the case. St. Augustine once said: "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you." If this is the case, then all of what we do should rest in God and be in-step with him. That means that if we are kneeling at Mass, kneeling for Communion, and kneeling at the side of our bed at night for prayer it should be for God, directed at God, and must resonate in our hearts that it is from God. If not... is our heart truly centered on God? Seems like an easy and honest pursuit though right? Focus on God, center on Him, do HIS will - Rinse, Repeat.

Well, here comes the twist...

What if this pursuit was done in a way where it brought the SPOTLIGHT on you? What if it meant in your heart that you  kneeled for communion, wore a chapel veil, prayed before every meal, said the Rosary EVERY night at 7:00pm, or some other facet of the faith that brought attention to YOU? Not that your goal was this attention, but what if it was a by-product of your God Centered Heart? Now what? As it has been said, many times before, it takes outstanding courage to be a faithful Catholic.

What if our "point of view" was that everything was about our Faith and our God? (This is not an argument for relativism). What if we truly believed that everything that we do is for God and therefore he should be our number one? This would mean that much of what we do, would be very different from what most people do. What if we took a weekly Calendar and the first thing we filled in was our faith obligations and necessities? What if we started every day with prayer at our desk, prayer at lunch, and before we "clocked out" for the night we said a prayer? Then work would become about God.

What if every time we got in or on our vehicles we said a prayer, for safe travel and for the fact that whatever our destination that it would be for the greater glory of God? It would turn almost everything we "do" and "endeavour" into something FOR GOD. What if every time we turned on the radio, TV, or got on our computers we said a quick prayer, that all that we spent our time on would bring us closer to God? Not in a passive, "Dear God, please work your Trinitarian MAGIC on me, and while I watch this episode of Bikini Fashion Models on Location in the Seychelles that you would some how bring me closer to your heart" way either. What if we really took the time and effort to focus our entire day on God? 

We long for this... we really do. The reason the devil is so seductive is not because of what he promises in the end, but what he promises today. You see, our end, if it be with Satan, is not pretty... in fact it is the most horrible existence possible. So how then does he have an allure over us? He does it with the present. He does it with the here and now. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. You see, he tricks us into believing that one nibble here, one sin there, a lie over here, and eventually the denial of God's will seem like no big deal to us. Think about infidelity... what do we hear people say, "It was a one time thing... it was never meant to get that far." Of course not... how many people go into marriage saying, "I can't wait to the day when I am so selfish, hurt, neglected, ignored, abused that I feel the need to deny the person I swore to love forever and crush their heart, my heart, and God's heart all in one lust-filled action." I would say the number is pretty low.

So just like any puzzle or project, we must start building this heart and filling in this God-Centered heart, one piece at a time. We must focus on the end result and realize that the work that it takes to get us there is worth it. It is hard for us as humans to realize that Heaven and God are worth the "effort." Let's not lie to ourselves... sin is appealing. The devil makes it that way, but it deforms our heart. So we must keep the pieces in place, so that the deformity doesn't occur and so that the God-centered hole in our heart can be properly filled by God.

Don't misread this... I am no champion of this cause, in fact just in writing it I came up with a lot of this during the production of this post. This is more aspirational than experiential ... meaning, it is more theory than practice. I do hope to implement some of this in my life... but as I said, it is quite courageous to be authentically Catholic in our world... and unfortunately, I often fall short.

Late Night Adoration

I supervised a youth lock-in this past weekend. Here are a few snapshots of our 2:30-3:30 Adoration:

Posted by: Brian

Our Future

Yesterday, I had a really great idea for a post, but then I had to do other stuff and I forgot what I wanted to blog about. So now you get to read about something likely just as important.

I recently got involved in my parishes youth group. It is one of the better "organized" ones that I have seen. (although, I do admit that I have not seen that many) The parish is very willing to get kids involved, and has many monetary and property resources to do so. For example, the kids have access to a nice gym, a "game room" as well as class rooms, computer labs, and social halls. That's not to mention the fact that they can have access to the church when they want for prayer.

Despite all that, there are still things holding the youth group back from what it really could be.(phenomenally great) A lot of that has to do with the fact that there just aren't that many Catholics that want to be involved in youth group. Compounding the issue is the fact that for some of the well-meaning adults that get involved don't know much more (if anything) than the kids.

These problems stem from way back (the long-time Bishop in my diocese was nationally outspoken for things like women priests, protestant-esque churches and the like). So many people that grew up here never had the faith formation that they really deserved. Now with people living such busy lives, they don't have the time to go to classes to learn how to minister properly to our youth. Now, with two great Bishops in a row (maybe we are making up for other "deficiencies"?) the diocese has put together all sorts of opportunities for the faithful to properly learn their faith and spread that faith to our youth.

My role so far has been limited in the youth group. I have more or less simply been an adult figure that has a little more knowledge than what these kids are used to. However, with the opportunity (that is, as long as the parish priest decides that is the capacity he would like me to undertake) to obtain a deeper understanding of the faith, and more young adults that want to be involved in these kids' lives and faith formation, I feel that the youth group could become something more than just a better atmosphere for kids to get together, but a solid foundation to shape their lives and carry out the faith.

So my question is: what do you feel makes a youth group great? Is it deep discussions about the faith? Or maybe trips to see seminaries? Time for prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament? Let me know how you think our future needs to be shaped.

Posted by: Brian

"For My yoke is easy..."

Matthew 11:28-30

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

Life sure can be a roller-coaster sometimes. Just when you think that life can't get any lower, you are on your way back up. My life will be changing in many ways here in the next few days. More than likely there will be both utter happiness and heart-wrenching sadness. Even as I write this, my mind and heart cannot fathom the depths and heights of emotion and spirit that I will achieve. I do have a quiet comfort in knowing that our God is just, and my faith gives me the tools and know-how to tackle these moments.  We know we are not made for this world, and we know that in the end we all have the option of ascending into utter joy... but that decision is one of free will and one that we all must individually make. Yet... once we make the decision God promises that if we choose Him, our journey will be much easier than without. It doesn't mean that it will be simple and easy, it just means that it will be easier.

-Posted by: Joe

Fr. Solanus Casey - Ora Pro Nobis

For my dad:

Father, I adore You.  I give myself to You.
May I be the person You want me to be
and may Your will be done in my life today.

Thank You for the gifts You gave to Father Solanus.
If it is Your will, glorify him on earth
So that others will carry on his work
For the poor, lonely, and suffering of our world.

In order that others will joyfully accept Your divine plan,
I ask You to hear this prayer for the miraculous recovery in health of my father and his spiritual salvation through the forgiveness of sins,
through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.

Amen.

-Posted by: Joe

Acting, Baseball, Hockey and Our Youth...

Today, I went with my parishes Youth Group to a hockey game. Unfortunately it wasn't the Red Wings, but it was fun to at least get out to a hockey game.

Anyway, before the game there was a youth rally the Diocese sponsored. The Bishop - a really great guy from Philadelphia - came to speak to the kids and told us about something he noticed while watching baseball games. Acting.

You see, if you watch closely, you will see many baseball players go through a little routine before stepping to the plate, and even in between pitches. Now, although every player has a different routine that they do, be it checking their distance from the plate, adjusting their batting gloves, spitting, kicking dirt, or checking their bat for cracks there is one little routine a lot of players have in common. The sign of the cross.

What's interesting about (some of) those players, is that they like to make sure that people see them bless themselves. They then step up to the plate, maybe swing a few times, let a few balls go by, then hit the ball. They run down to first base as the ball is picked up and hurled over to the bag; it's a close play; and the batter is out. Well, what's the first thing that that player usually does? Goes over to the umpire, gets in his face, and argues. Using some...chioce words. And of course you can see exactly what they are saying. All this after they just got done letting the world know they "believe and follow Christ." So now we have to wonder what the point of blessing themselves was? Was it a true act of faith, or some sort of act that benefits them professionally?

The point of the story was that far too many of our youth (and adults!) act like Christians when it may benefit them. Now, you have to remember (and this was part of the Bishops point) that it isn't necessarily that people are hypocrites, or bad people, just not perfect. Like those baseball players (indeed, not just baseball, but many sports players) we as Catholic adults need to make sure that we are setting a good example for our youth by living out our faith in all that we do, and not "follow the crowd."

We need to make sure that our faith is not something that we show only when it is convenient, or beneficial to us, but rather the opposite. We must show our faith when it is difficult and non-conforming to the norm. Luckily, it isn't hard to see some of the fruits of good Catholics, and the way they live out their faith.

This weekend, my parish is sending over 40(!) youth to Washington, D.C. to walk in the March For Life. Certainly, in today's Culture of Death, standing up in front of your nation for the unborn is very uncomfortable and hard. I know that our youth face ridicule even in their circle of friends for taking a stand for life. So I just want to acknowledge all youth who, unlike many athletes, live their faith when it is difficult and hard to do. Please keep all those traveling to D.C. this weekend, and the unborn in your prayers that they may inspire a Nation to heed the call of Christ and do what is not easy, but what is necessary.

-Posted by: Brian