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)

Christopher Hitchens-Famous Unbeliever

I read an article about Christopher Hitchens in the New York Times titled, "A Voice, Still Vibrant Reflects on Mortality," by Charles McGrath. Mr. Hitchens is the "famous" atheist and writer, who recently received an award-"The Freethinker of the Year Award." Though flattered by the award, his response was interesting, "I think being an atheist is something you are, not something you do, I'm not sure we need to be honored. We don't need positive reinforcement. On the other hand we do need to stick up for ourselves especially in a place like Texas, where they have laws, I think, that if you don't believe in Jesus Christ you can't run for sheriff."

Christopher Hitchens has been discussed and blogged about frequently not only because he's a famous atheist but also because he is the author of a controversial book (the title I can't even write) and also he is suffering from esophageal cancer. Having lost a mother to cancer, I know what a dreadful disease it is, so I feel sad for his condition.

I have a few thoughts for Mr. Hitchens, though I doubt he'll ever read them. Just as he can't understand belief in God and the mystery of God's existence, I will never understand atheists. I haven't read Mr. Hitchens book, I'm too busy reading books on spirituality, belief, and Scripture. What puzzles me and disturbs me is the following: I think (it's just my opinion of course) that if Mr. Hitchens had faith and could pray to God, it would make his journey at this time of his life easier and more comforting. That's one of the benefits of belief but atheists choose to reject God and God's invitation. As I have experienced it, faith is a big help when a crisis develops, illness strikes, or life's challenges hit. Prayer helps people deal with the big problems in life, God's presence is comforting in situations such as the one Mr. Hitchens is going through and yet he chooses to hold fast to his unbelief, even when it's hurting him on some level. But, of course, atheists don't see it that way. But the studies support what I'm writing and what I have experienced firsthand: prayer heals and helps, God's presence is nurturing and soothing and building a relationship with God through prayer and rituals is calming for human beings and helps our salvation as well. I have received inner strength and courage for the journey of life, which is filled with disappointments and challenges because of prayer, because of the support I've received from a faith community, at different times in my life. God is real and miraculously willing to be in relationship with those who accept his invitation to love.

I believe that God is reaching out to Mr. Hitchens, (though I don't know why I think that). I believe that God who is merciful and persistant wants to comfort him during these difficult days, God wants to give him the support he needs and the certainty of belief in eternal life. He will face his Creator someday, as we all will and then he will know, what he doesn't know now.

There are some mysteries that we just have to accept as mysteries. We can't fit God or the thought of God or God's ways into our minds, God is much more that that. God is a Supreme Being, hidden, mysterious and more complex than the human mind can handle or figure out. That's why God is God and we are creatures. We don't know everything and that's how it should be. God chooses to remain hidden, that's the way it should be and the older I get, I realize just how much of a genius God is and how hiddeness is most appropriate for a Supreme Being.

NJA

Just as I am, without one plea,

But that thy blood was shed for me.

And that thou bidd'st me come to thee

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve,

Because thy promise I believe

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

(Charlotte Elliott-19th century)

Earthquakes, Hurricanes and Other Uncertainties

I called my cousin, who lives in Virginia with her family, the day the earthquake struck to see how they were doing. I didn't feel a thing in New York but of course many New Yorkers did and were shaken from the experience. My cousin said that when the earthquake struck her area, it felt and sounded like a truck was going into her house. She screamed for her two teenage children to jump into the bathtub and that's what they all did. It was an unnerving experience for them and understandably so. The ground was literally shaking beneath them and what could be more unsettling than that.

Now in the most recent news reports, there is another rare event happening on the East Coast. A powerful and damaging hurricane named Irene is menacing the East Coast of the United States and worrying everyone in its path. Since I tend to worry and my house is surrounded by huge trees, being at home is really not that safe but what choice do I have. I can only wait and pray for the best as many others are doing. Everyday is a gift to be enjoyed and savored, if only I could remember that all the time.

When it says in the Bible to be spiritually ready at all times, since no one knows the day or hour of the end of the world or the end of our own fragile life, it's good to be spiritually prepared for anything, at all times. We so often forget that when things are going well.

Life can "throw" anything at us, at any time. We're seeing that unfold this week. The obvious ways to be prepared spiritually by saying our prayers, being attentive to one's relationship with God, being a good Christian and following Jesus' advice for living rightly and justly with others are good ways to sail through any "storm" in life.

My cousins from Virginia are good, caring people, who are active in their Church. My cousin's husband is a convert to Catholicism and he joined the Knights of Columbus as soon as he converted. They try to live rightly and justly and they were ready for anything. Thank God nothing happened to them, but in my opinion, spiritually they were ready.

Another thing I value very highly besides prayer and living according to Jesus' words is common sense. Using common sense can provide safety in this uncertain world we live in. I've written this before and I'll write it again because I think it's important and I think it's only common sense. I hope and pray that someday, in the near future, the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant which is so close to NYC and it's suburbs will be closed and other energy sources will be found to supply our needs. Why? The answer is just plain, old common sense. The unusual earthquake that struck Virginia measured 5.8 in intensity. Indian Point can only withstand a 6.1 earthquake and one or more of its reactors was built on fault line. (Hello, who builds a nuclear power plant close to NYC on a fault line??) And though this was a rare seismic event, a geologist on CNN the other evening said, "We could see another earthquake, a large one on the East Coast of the United States, in the future. I can't rule it out." (I'm paraphrasing but he said something like that.)

Using prayer and common sense would tell me, tell anyone who is thinking straight that Indian Point has to close at sometime in the future. Find alternative energy sources and put those people who presently work at Indian Pt. to work on other sources, but let's be realistic about the future and the safety of over 12 million people.

NJA

Don't Give Up Praying

On Sunday in his homily, Pope Benedict said some important things about prayer. I'm always interested in reading about what others have to say about prayer. I give workshops and retreats on prayer, it's one of my favorite topics. Prayer has always come natural to me. What a blessing! I love all forms of prayer and I'm never at a loss for words in prayer. I hope I don't sound like I'm boasting, it is what it is.

I read at zenit.org that the Pope made the following reflections about prayer during a homily at Mass in St. Peter's on Sunday, October 17th. He canonized six new saints at the Mass including the first male Canadian born saint-Andre Bessette and the first Australian saint, Mary of the Cross MacKillop. He began his homily with stressing "the necesssity to pray always, without tiring."

He said, "Sometimes we grow tired of prayer, we have the impression that prayer is not very useful for life, that it is not very effective. We are tempted to dedicate ourselves to activity, to employ every human method to accomplish our goals, and we do not approach God. But Jesus says that we must pray always and he does this through a specific parable."

The parable which we heard yesterday at Mass about the persistent widow is reason to hope. As the Pope said, "We must not give up hope, but always insist in prayer."

He went on to say that we must believe in the goodness of God and of course, faith is essential to prayer.

I certainly believe in the goodness of God and I also believe that God answers prayers in God's time and not our own. As it says in Scripture, "My ways are not your ways and my thoughts are not your thoughts......" We have to pray and leave the rest to God. In God's time, all prayers are answered, in one way or another. Hope is a wonderful thing.

Prayer is so much a part of who I am, I can't imagine life without it. Depending on the mercy, love and goodness of God, in all situations, is such a gift and a grace. Those of us who believe in God and can pray have an enormous advantage in life, in my opinion. I've written that a lot because I believe that's the truth. It's certainly true for me and my faith life.

NJA

Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (St. Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians- 5:17)

Prayer and Exercise Work Together

I read the details about a promising new study linking the positive benefits of uniting prayer and exercise. According to the AOL article by Katie Drummond titled, Jogging with Jesus: Exercise Gets a Boost from the Man Upstairs, adding Scripture reading and prayer to workout programs encouraged women (who took part in the study) to walk an extra three miles a week. The study done at UCLA involved African-American women over the age of 60. Interestingly, more than 95 percent of African-Americans pray on a daily basis, so the researchers were trying to take advantage of existing community strengths (such as their strong belief in God and prayer) to promote health benefits. 

What a great idea and it's working, which doesn't surprise me.  For the study participants were divided into two groups. The more successful group, who had more positive outcomes, "engaged in Scripture readings and faith-based discussions" after the workout sessions. The other group spent time listening to talks on topics which were unrelated to faith. "Monthly meetings persisted for another six months. In a follow-up four months later, those who'd participated in the faith-based interventions were walking an extra 9,883 steps a week, compared with an increase of 2,426 steps among control group members. The first group also saw a larger decrease in resting blood pressure." 

Researchers think there are probably other benefits as well such as improving mood and better digestion. Adding a spiritual, religious element to exercise programs for believers, could prove to be a successful formula for weight loss and improving overall health. It's certainly worth a try. 

So even though I read Scripture everyday and pray, I'm going to try to combine them, at certain parts of the day, in the hope of seeing positive results in my ongoing struggle to lower my blood pressure and improve my health. I'll put this research to the test...myself and see how it works.

There are already Christian Churches who combine exercise and prayer/Scripture reading programs for their parishioners. These programs could be expanded to help people deepen their prayer life and understanding of Scripture while helping them to improve their health. Seems like a good combination to me. 

NJA