Are You Listening Church?

I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Cor 2:2)

At our baptism, every Christian is anointed "priest," prophet and king. This is a great and powerful anointing, one that unfortunately too few Catholics truly understand. But in any event, this morning I thought I would write something from a prophets point of view. I mean no disrespect, on the contrary I'm just thinking out loud. This is Lent, a sacrificial liturgical season when all Catholics are suppose to concentrate on self-forgetting and immerse themselves in some form of asceticism- giving up, sharing more, thinking and praying more about God than themselves.

I read last night at that famous blog, Whispers in the Loggia, that a number of formal announcements were made by the Vatican, concerning the appointments of new Bishops and Archbishops. I certainly wish all those worthy and illustrious men good will and God's blessings but I have to question the timing. Why were these announcements made during Lent? Why not wait for the Easter Season when the Church is rejoicing and celebrating the Risen Christ? I just think the timing is off to announce appointments to the episcopacy when the Church is in a period of self-forgetting and sacrifice. Timing is very important in life.

As St. Paul reminded us in Philippians (Phil 2:8), "Jesus humbled himself becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross." The cross of Christ, the humiliation that Christ suffered by being betrayed, rejected and ultimately succumbing to that horrific death on a cross is what should be on the minds of all striving for holiness during Lent. That's all. And that is my humble opinion.

NJA

May your love draw down upon you the mercy of the Lord, and may he let you see that within your soul a saint is sleeping. I shall ask him to make you so open and supple that you will be able to understand and do what he wants you to do. Your life is nothing; it is not even your own. Each time you say 'I'd like to do this or that,' you wound Christ, robbing him of what is his. You have to put to death everything within you except the desire to love God......" Jacques Fesch

Lent and the Pain of God-2012

Many people think that God is not affected by our sins, by our lack of compassion for others, our selfishness or our tendency towards pride. But I think God is affected and that our sins cause God great suffering and pain. I don't think God is removed.

When I read about our world, about how many people are still suffering from hunger, ("Hunger in Nigers threatens millions,") or the lack of good health care, education or even basic necessities so many suffer with, it makes me wonder why humankind has not evolved more. When I read how some animals are mistreated and even illegally killed through poaching (they can't protect themselves from greed or ignorance) it saddens me. Headlines such as this, "African elephants are being killed in great numbers" disturb me. I try to do my part, I write a check to the World Wildlife Fund with a letter of my concern, I'm sure it's not enough. I am a member of Bread for the World, an excellent organization, there are so many organizations, secular and religious doing good in the world and yet so many problems still exist. I imagine God is greatly saddened by the events that humans cause and the havoc our insensitivity and greed creates amongst humans and in the animal kingdom. Of course, there is all that goodness, conservation and help too........

We live in a fallen world and each day that you read the news that's obvious enough. But it is also a beautiful world filled with goodness, love, hope, kindness and beauty. People act heroically everyday, trying to do the right thing. People of faith do a great deal of good in the world.

Each one of us has to take a stand for good. Each one of us has to do all we can to end hunger on this planet, to take responsibility for the care of the earth and its resources and God's creations.

Lent is a good time to think about "the more" that each one of us can do. And we can all do more, myself included. We have to be the hands, heart and compassion of Jesus in the world.

May you have a holy, enriched experience this Lent. I will try to find more time for silence, reflection, Christian meditation, mindfulness, deep prayer and communion with God. (I also need some more sunshine!) I hope you will too.

NJA

(I'm taking a little break from blogging, be back soon)

Powerful Words From St. Teresa of Avila-

Christ has no body now but yours

No hands, no feet on earth but yours

Yours are the eyes through which Christ looks compassion into the world

Yours are the feet with which Christ walks to do good.

Yours are the hands with which Christ blesses the world.

It is love alone that gives worth to all things.

(St. Teresa of Avila-Doctor of the Church)