Tag: lent

Dynamic of Faith, Faith as a journey

Today the privilege of spending time with friends who share with me the journey of faith. Lent is a particular time to step back to be rejuvenated in the joyfulness of loving. It seems to me that Lent and for that matter, the whole of Christian life, is a journey in loving joyfully. The cynics among us are critical of this line of thinking because it sounds wishy-washy. On the contrary, it is serious path to deepen not only the relationship with the Lord, but also living with others.

What is faith? How is faith understood? Today’s retreat director, Fr. Luis, made a key point: Faith is a relationship with an alive presence—that of Jesus. It is a dynamic of Faith; we know deeply that faith is a journey. So, I can say with conviction that my relationship with Jesus Christ (and the Church and community) 5 years ago is vastly different from what it is today.

What faith is not is one that is not a creed that I can have or lose. A barometer or something that can be bought or sold. Faith is not a thing one can lose. We often hear that people lose their faith, or that faith has dried up, or that faith has been ruined by another (think of those victims of abuse). What is true that one can experience a lessening of the awareness of the life of faith informing our person and how we live. Faith is, rather, a way of seeing, a way of knowing, and a way of living. Once Jesus Christ has entered my life he is always with me. The covenant will never be altered; no matter what our behavior may or may not be. We belong to Jesus who never walks away. Belonging is what revealed in Scripture and in tradition; it is way of being in relation even if we don’t feel like being in relationship with the Lord.

The journey of faith is shown in the Scriptures in powerful ways. Think of how the apostles first met the Lord. Think of the Samaritan woman at the well. Think of the parable of the mustard seed which contains hope because it contains the germ of life.

What’s the journey about? Some notes.

1. Faith as loving recognition. (Generating Traces, p. 22)

Recognition is more than intellectual assent. Recognizing moves me. It’s a loving approach. It comes as a surprise, unscripted. There’s a correspondence or a convergence with the heart. This correspondence happens with Jesus in seeing & being with him. It’s a loving recognition, it’s an affection.

Faith isn’t about rules. The emphasis on a  rule based Christian faith follows a false premise. First one needs to be converted and conversion is less about following the “rules” than it is entering into friendship with the God who is certain. Otherwise it’s empty and pretentious. We try to give people what they don’t need by insisting on a  rule based faith. This is certainly not what is revealed in Scripture. A conversation about canon law, the moral life, theological data is another conversation. At this moment I know that the God I know and love is a God who makes exceptions for me; he is the God of the perpetual second chance (think of sacrament of Confession and of the Eucharist).

Love can be manifested things like, Be kind to yourself.

I know I have a desire to be loved. Having a claim on the love of others is a true desire and event. We who have encountered Christ have written the religious sense. What we often hear, however, is “Don’t get involved.” Not quite the Christian way. This person has the same desire to be loved but they put a brake on receiving love.

2. Lenten is an Experience as a surprise. To be human to exist with recognition of an absence to be fulfilled. Prayer, fasting, works of charity are tools for the Lord to fill the absence that these tools create. We need something that will fulfill us.

St Paul’s letter to the Colossians tells us that Christ is the image of the invisible God.

The infinite love of God shapes our life because our humanity is taken seriously. God gives me someone to love and to be loved by that person. This is how God reveals himself. But more importantly we come to ask what it means to be open to the Other.

Prayer allows Christ to enter our lives. Allow him to grow in us.

Now we come to getting a handle on what the liturgical season of lent is for the Catholic. So many preachers and teachers make Lent out to be drudgery: a 40-day period difficult time of renunciation and penance. Don’t get me wrong. Lent is a serious time of changing the ugliness of sin in my experience by Grace into something new. But it is not my work.  Lent is the time in which we ask Christ to work in me.

Lent’s work is keeping memory active.

Lent as a time of memory. Our personal experience of salvation. Memory keeps us focused in the essential movements of Grace. It is  how recognize, how we remember how God actually works here and now. How do you recall daily the events of God you in your life? How do you remember? What are the steps? Silence. Daily Silence makes sense of this life. It helps me to be present to the moment and not to be frivolous with that which is in front of me. Silence allows me to account for my heart. Silence brings awareness to life. It also allows Christ to enter into my heart.

3. Faith as missionary event.

If we allow Christ into our life, that we met him, we by nature to share the grace with others. We thus become a light in the world.

Witness to unity. Not to see how good they are but how Christ is operating in the person, in the world. To live communion.

John 17: as you sent me, I send them, that we are one.

Forgiveness Sunday

Today is called Forgiveness Sunday as it is the day before Great Lent –the Fast– begins. The day marks with a rather dramatic, beautiful spiritual exercise that is rather impactful. It is a time again for tears of repentance and forgiveness. How good it is that we can do this, wholeheartedly, as a custom, on a specific day to aid our maturing in Christian faith.

Croc tears would be a real problem for those serious about their salvation in Christ Jesus.

St Ambrose’s sermon on Lent

Whether you are an Eastern Christian or a Western Christian, it is said that we are at mid-lent. The intensity of prayer, fasting and almsgiving ramps up to discipline or body, mind and soul in preparation to receive the graces of Holy Week and then Easter. The following text from Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, will give us perspective thus helping us to reflect upon our spiritual journey thus far. Many of us will weaken in our lenten observance. But don’t that happen. There is much at stake.
St Ambrose’s preaching:

Give thanks, Brethren, to the Divine Mercy which has brought you safely halfway through the season of Lent. For this favor they give praise to God, thankfully and with devotion, who in these days have striven to live in the manner which they were instructed at the beginning of Lent; that is, those who, coming with eagerness to the Church, have sought with sighs and tears, in daily fasting and almsdeeds, to obtain the forgiveness of their sins.

They, however, who have neglected this duty, that is to say, those who have not fasted daily, or given alms, or those who were indifferent or unmoved in prayer, they have no reason to rejoice, but rather, unhappy that they are, for mourning. Yet let them not mourn as if they had no hope; for He Who could give back sight to the blind from birth (cf. Jn 9), can likewise change those who now are lukewarm and indifferent into souls fervent and zealous in His service, if with their whole heart they desire to be converted unto Him. Let such persons acknowledge their own blindness of heart, and let them draw near to the Divine Physician that they may be restored to sight.

Would that you might seek the medicine of the soul when you have sinned, as you seek that of the body when you are ill in the flesh. Who now in this so great assembly were he condemned, not to be put to death, but to be deprived of his sight only, would not give all he possessed to escape the danger? And if you so fear the death of the flesh, what do you not fear more than the death of the spirit, especially since the pains of death, that is, of the body, are but of an hour, whilst the death of the soul, that is, its punishment and its grieving, has no end? And if you love the eyes of your body, that you soon will lose in death, why do you not love those eyes of the soul by which you may see your Lord and your God forever?

Labor therefore, Beloved Children in the Lord, labor while it is yet day; for as Christ Our Lord says, The night cometh, when no man can work (Jn 4:4). Daytime is this present life; night is death, and the time that follows death. If after this life there is no more freedom to work, as the Truth tells us, why then does every man not labor while he yet lives in this world?

Be fearful, Brethren, of this death, of which the Savior says: The night cometh, when no man can work. All those who now work evil are without fear of this death, and because of this, when they depart from this life they shall encounter everlasting death. Labor while yet ye live, and particularly in these days; fasting from delicate fare, withholding yourselves at all time from evil works. For those that abstain from food, but do not withhold themselves from wickedness, are like to the devil, who while he eats not, yet never ceases from evildoing. And lastly, you must know that what you deny yourself in fasting, you must give to heaven in the poor.

Fulfill in work, Brethren, the lesson of this day… lest there come upon you the chastisement of the Jews. For they said to the blind man: Be thou his disciple (Jn 9:28). What does being a disciple of Christ mean if not to be an imitator of His compassion, and a follower of His truth and humility? But they said this meaning to curse the man. Instead it is a truly great blessing, to which you may also attain, by His grace Who liveth and reigneth unto ages of ages. Amen.
God invites us today to recommit ourselves to the disciplines of this holy season. Keep in mind, the end of our journey is in sight: the feast of the Holy Resurrection –Pascha – Easter.

Beginning of the Season of Lent

The Latin Church begins the holy season of Lent with joy and sobriety today. Eastern Christians who follow the Gregorian calendar began their lenten observance on Monday past. The priest prays at the prayer after communion: “Pour out a spirit of compunction, O God, on those who bow before your majesty, and by your mercy may they merit the rewards you promise to those who do penance.” Thus, the season of repentance is for our purification of sin by God’s grace and specific acts of piety: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. This letter of Pope St Clement I to the Corinthians may be helpful to you.

“Let us fix our attention on the blood of Christ and recognize how precious it is to God his Father, since it was shed for our salvation and brought the grace of repentance to all the world.

If we review the various ages of history, we will see that in every generation the Lord has offered the opportunity of repentance to any who were willing to turn to him. When Noah preached God’s message of repentance, all who listened to him were saved. Jonah told the Ninevites they were going to be destroyed, but when they repented, their prayers gained God’s forgiveness for their sins, and they were saved, even though they were not of God’s people.

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the ministers of God’s grace have spoken of repentance; indeed, the Master of the whole universe himself spoke of repentance with an oath: “As I live”, says the Lord, “I do not wish the death of the sinner but his repentance.” He added this evidence of his goodness: “House of Israel, repent of your wickedness. Tell the sons of my people: If their sins should reach from earth to heaven, if they are brighter than scarlet and blacker than sackcloth, you need only turn to me with your whole heart and say, “Father, and I will listen to you as a holy people.”

In other words, God wanted all his beloved ones to have the opportunity to repent and he confirmed this desire by his own almighty will. That is why we should obey his sovereign and glorious will and prayerfully entreat his mercy and kindness. We should be suppliant before him and tum to his compassion, rejecting empty works and quarreling and jealousy which only lead to death.

Brothers, we should be humble in mind, putting aside all arrogance, pride and foolish anger. Rather, we should act in accordance with the Scriptures, as the Holy Spirit says: “The wise man must not glory in his wisdom nor the strong man in his strength nor the rich man in his riches. Rather, let him who glories glory in the Lord by seeking him and doing what is tight and just.” Recall especially what the Lord Jesus said when he taught gentleness and forbearance. “Be merciful,” he said, “so that you may have mercy shown to you. Forgive, so that you may be forgiven. As you treat others, so you will be treated. As you give, so you will receive. As you judge, so you will be judged. As you are kind to others, so you will be treated kindly. The measure of your giving will be the measure of your receiving.”

Let these commandments and precepts strengthen us to live in humble obedience to his sacred words. As Scripture asks: “Whom shall I look upon with favor except the humble, peaceful man who trembles at my words?”

Sharing then in the heritage of so many vast and glorious achievements, let us hasten toward the goal of peace, set before us from the beginning. Let us keep our eyes firmly fixed on the Father and Creator of the whole universe, and hold fast to his splendid and transcendent gifts of peace and all his blessings.”

Image: St Bernard of Clairvaux by Jerónimo Jacinto Espinosa

At the door on Palm Sunday

In the ancient form of the Holy Week rites (i.e., prior to the Holy Week reforms of Pius XII in the early 1950’s) there is a very brief yet beautiful ceremony that occurs on Palm Sunday when the procession goes outside the church, the doors to the church are closed. The door of the church is then knocked on three times with the shaft of the processional cross. Having served the Mass, I can say it is a powerful and moving rite of which Benedict XVI spoke:

“In the old liturgy for Palm Sunday, the priest, arriving in front of the church, would knock loudly with the shaft of the processional cross on the door that was still closed; thereupon, it would be opened. This was a beautiful image of the mystery of Jesus Christ himself who, with the wood of his Cross, with the power of his love that is given, knocked from the side of the world at God’s door; on the side of a world that was not able to find access to God. With his Cross, Jesus opened God’s door, the door between God and men. Now it is open.”

Homily of Pope Benedict XVI
Palm Sunday, 2007

Blessed Holy Week — a week of great and divine drama!

In Christ we overcame the devil

In this First Week of Lent St Augustine gives us something worthy for our reflection: In Christ we suffered temptation, and in him we overcame the devil.

Hear, O God, my petition, listen to my prayer. Who is speaking? An individual, it seems. See if it is an individual: I cried to you from the ends of the earth while my heart was in anguish. Now it is no longer one person; rather, it is one in the sense that Christ is one, and we are all his members. What single individual can cry from the ends of the earth? The one who cries from the ends of the earth is none other than the Son’s inheritance. It was said to him: Ask of me, and I shall give you the nations as your inheritance, and the ends of the earth as your possession. This possession of Christ, this inheritance of Christ, this body of Christ, this one Church of Christ, this unity that we are, cries from the ends of the earth. What does it cry? What I said before: Hear, O God, my petition, listen to my prayer; I cried out to you from the ends of the earth. That is, I made this cry to you from the ends of the earth; that is, on all sides.

Why did I make this cry? While my heart was in anguish. The speaker shows that he is present among all the nations of the earth in a condition, not of exalted glory but of severe trial.

Our pilgrimage on earth cannot be exempt from trial. We progress by means of trial. No one knows himself except through trial, or receives a crown except after victory, or strives except against an enemy or temptations.

The one who cries from the ends of the earth is in anguish, but is not left on his own. Christ chose to foreshadow us, who are his body, by means of his body, in which he has died, risen and ascended into heaven, so that the members of his body may hope to follow where their head has gone before.

He made us one with him when he chose to be tempted by Satan. We have heard in the gospel how the Lord Jesus Christ was tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Certainly Christ was tempted by the devil. In Christ you were tempted, for Christ received his flesh from your nature, but by his own power gained life for you; he suffered insults in your nature, but by his own power gained glory for you; therefore, he suffered temptation in your nature, but by his own power gained victory for you.

If in Christ we have been tempted, in him we overcame the devil. Do you think only of Christ’s temptations and fail to think of his victory? See yourself as tempted in him, and see yourself as victorious in him. He could have kept the devil from himself; but if he were not tempted he could not teach you how to triumph over temptation.

From a commentary on the psalms by Saint Augustine, bishop
(Ps. 60, 2-3: CCL 39, 766)

Mortification of the flesh for the good

As the body is to be chastised at the beginning so that sin may not reign in it and we may overcome temptations, so too when the temptations have been overcome we must persevere in the same practices not only for fear of falling back but also out of desire for progress.
 
Thus through the mortification of the flesh the spirit may thrive the better and, the lighter and more slender the fetters which attach it, the more freely it may rise to spiritual things.
 
Blessed Guerric of Igny
Liturgical Sermons

Spiritual Reading for Lent 2018

We are at the beginning the season of Great Lent. May I commend to you these titles for your spiritual reading and meditation (listed in no particular order):

Alexander Schmemann, Great Lent

Richard John Neuhaus, Death on a Friday Afternoon:  Meditations on the Last Words of  Jesus from the Cross 

Flannery O’Connor, A Prayer Journal 

John Behr, Becoming Human

Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God

Jean-Pierre de Caussade,  The Sacrament of the Present Moment

Frederica Mathewes-Green, The Illumined Heart

Frank Sheed, Theology for Beginners

Peter Kreeft, Your Questions, God’s Answers

C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

Pope Benedict XVI, Holy Days: Meditations on the Feasts, Fasts, and Other Solemnities of the Church 

Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week: From the Entrance Into Jerusalem To The Resurrection 

Which books would you recommend for Lent?

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Today in the Novus Ordo Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday) there is a distinct the of light. In contrast to the darkness of sin and death, light illumines the soul, wipes out the shadows, it is curative, and reveals that which is previously concealed. Theologically we follow what is revealed in sacred Scripture that Jesus is the Light of the Nations. Our enduring prayer ought to be the Father: send us the grace of Light, allow us to receive the Light of your Son, Jesus.

St. John Paul II once said: “The man born blind represents the man marked by sin, who wishes to know the truth about himself and his own destiny, but is impeded by a congenital malady. Only Jesus can cure him: He is “the light of the world” (John 9:5). By entrusting oneself to him, every human being, spiritually blind from birth, has the possibility of ‘coming to the light’ again, that is, to supernatural life.“