In the Presence of God, Who Am I? by Colleen O’Sullivan

 In the Presence of God, Who Am I? by Colleen O’Sullivan

Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Job and His Friends, Ilya Repin, 1869, Russian Museum, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

Job answered his friends and said:  I know well that it is so, but how can a man be justified before God? Should one wish to contend with him, he could not answer him once in a thousand times.  God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has withstood him and remained unscathed?  (Job 9:1-4)

 

As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go…”  Jesus answered him, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.”   (Luke 9:57, 62) 

Piety

O Lord, we ask for forgiveness for the times we have forgotten who You are and who we are.  Help us, we pray, to acknowledge You as our God, and to embrace our role as creatures.  Please give us the grace to see clearly and to put following your Son above all else.

Study

There’s much about getting older I could do without.  As I take care of my three-year-old great-nephew, I notice it’s harder to get down on the floor (worse to get up again) and crawl around with him, moving over the course of his day from his trains to his dinosaurs, then his kitchen, and on to his food truck.  I have finally convinced him that it’s okay if I sit in a chair while he “drives me around” in that food truck!  

As time flies by, I also sometimes feel like the forest I’ve lived in for 67 years is now thinning out.  The trees, family members and friends, are going home to the Lord at a faster rate and leaving bare spots here and there.  When I was a young person, I protested that some deaths just didn’t seem fair.  I demanded to know why.  Now I just grieve when I lose someone I care about.  I find myself more able to let go of the desire for answers.  God knows the answers, and God is good.  Maybe that is all I will ever know, and that’s, more often than not, enough for me today.

Not everything about aging is negative.  As I get older, I’m more explicit about God’s identity vs. my own.  I’m not in control of much in life, and that’s okay.  When I was young, I thought the Book of Job was just awful, especially God’s non-empathetic response out of the whirlwind, but now I see it as merely a story that illustrates a truth.  None of us will ever be God.  We will never be able to lay claim to the ability to create a world from nothing.  We may never understand some of the things that go on in our lives, the good and the not-so-good.  As the years go by, I find myself less likely to get bent out of shape about that.  When I look back over my life, God has been good to me.  Yes, I wish some things had been different, but it’s okay.  God loves me and has always been there for me. 

Aging is a time for letting go.  In today’s Gospel, Jesus is essentially asking each of us if we can let go of the things of this life and, instead, put our all into following Him.  When we’re young, that’s more difficult.  We’re busy building up our identities.  We’re acquiring an education, a job or career, a place to call home, maybe a spouse and children as well as friends.  Jesus is asking us if all that can now play a secondary role in our lives if He can be first in our hearts.  As I grow older, it’s easier to see what’s important, which isn’t me or what I claim as mine.  None of us would be here or have anything if it weren’t for the Lord.

Action

As you’re praying or pondering or reflecting today, ask yourself how you would react if you were in Job’s shoes.  Do you find yourself at a place in your faith journey where you could calmly explain to your friends the futility of fighting with God, no matter what suffering you may be undergoing?   

Or look deep into your heart and ask yourself if there’s anything you wouldn’t want to part with even when Jesus asks you to leave it and come with Him? 

If what you discover disturbs you, maybe you could discuss it with a trusted friend or seek a spiritual director.  On the website for Cursillo in our diocese, this might be a helpful page:  https://arlingtoncursillo.org/?s=spiritual+direction

 

Image credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Job_and_his_friends.jpg

“His Kingship Shall Not Be Destroyed” by Melanie Rigney

 

 

“His Kingship Shall Not Be Destroyed” by Melanie Rigney

Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels

His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away; his kingship shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:14)

In the sight of the angels, I will sing your praises, Lord. (Psalm 138:1)

“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” (John 1:51)

Piety

Saint Michael the Archangel defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen. (Pray to St. Michael the archangel)

Study

I’m reading The Romanovs: 1613-1918 (by Simon Sebag Montefiore, who also wrote the Stalin book I read last summer). I’ve long been fascinated by the tragic story of the last tsar of Russia and his family (and, truth be told, took the confirmation name Anastasia for his youngest daughter rather than the fourth-century Serbian martyr remembered in Canon of the Mass).

Here’s the thing about the Romanovs, from Michael, the teen and unwilling first tsar, to Nicholas II: They were always about getting power—and, having gained it, not losing it. Do not kid yourselves that any of them had a deep-seated desire to improve the lot of the serfs (possession of whom they awarded like so many pennies) or the peasants. It was about power.

This obsession, I do not think, is uniquely Russian.

This brings us to today’s reading from Daniel. The prophet’s dream includes four beasts, each perhaps more frightening than the one before. Ultimately, however, they are slain, or their power is taken away, which “one like a son of man” appearing and receiving an everlasting dominion.

That’s the thing about Jesus: He always had and always will have power. He knows that. He’s not focusing on losing it or gaining still more power if that could even happen. What He concerns himself with is helping us learn that being part of His everlasting dominion is there for the asking if we follow Him, rather than those who see us as pawns in their futile power grab. They can’t win—but we can lose.

Action

Contemplate where evil is making a power play in your life. Pray the St. Michael the archangel prayer.

https://pixabay.com/photos/archon-michael-angel-archangel-2086750/,  Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay.

 

 

 

Suffer for Doing Good

 Suffer for Doing Good

 Memorial of Saint Wenceslaus, martyr

 But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Do not be afraid or terrified with fear of them, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to explain to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame. It is better to suffer for doing good if that be the will of God than for doing evil. 1 Peter 3:14-17

"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; whoever does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:37-39 

Piety

Lyrics from the Christmas Carol “Good King Wenceslas”

By John Mason Neale (1853)

"Sire, the night is darker now

And the wind blows stronger

Fails my heart, I know not how

I can go no longer"

"Mark my footsteps, my good page

Tread thou in them boldly

Thou shalt find the winter's rage

Freeze thy blood less coldly" 

In his master's steps he trod

Where the snow lay dinted

Heat was in the very sod

Which the Saint had printed

Therefore, Christians, be sure

Wealth or rank possessing

Ye who now will bless the poor

Shall yourselves find blessing 

Study

Yes, Sisters and Brothers of Cursillo!  That piety section is a selection of the lyrics of the popular Christmas carol.  If you check the calendar, yes, it is still 87 days until December 25. However, if you look into the Lectionary or Universalis, today, the church celebrates the (optional) Memorial for Saint “Good King” Wenceslaus.  And perhaps the Irish Rovers will take your minds off the Pandemic, the elimination of the ‘Nationals AND Capitals from their playoffs, and the slow 1-2 start of the Washington football team.

The carol “Good King Wenceslaus” is a song for the Feast of St. Stephen (the first martyr) on December 26, the very day after Christmas. Right after the joy of the Nativity, the readings make an abrupt turn to the trials we may face when we commit to following Jesus.    

Wenceslaus was a 10th-century Catholic and was the Duke of Bohemia.   People also knew his as Vaclav the Good, but we can consider him the first famous Bohemian.  His brother and a band of disgruntled subjects disagreed with the king.  They assassinated Vaclav on the way to join in the consecration of a church.

In the heart of Prague, stands a statue of the now revered worldwide Duke of Bohemia. People who know this story look upon St. Wenceslaus as a caring Christian ruler and patron Saint, representing kindhearted generosity and selfless giving. Because these qualities are supposed to be at the heart of Christmas, it’s not surprising that good King Wenceslas is also the subject of a 167-year old, beloved Christmas carol. 

The song we know takes place on the feast day after Christmas. However, the King Wenceslas is not feasting; instead, he looks out the window onto the wintry landscape and discovers a poor man gathering whatever meager firewood he can find in the deep snow. Filled with compassion, Wenceslas calls his page and tells him to bring food and wood for the needy man. Then, instead of sending his page on the errand alone, Wenceslas leaves his comfortable home and goes with the page into the cold night to deliver the gifts personally.

At one point, the snow becomes so deep, and the wind so fierce that the page wonders if he can carry on. However, the page continues to suffer while doing good. Wenceslas invites the page to walk in the king’s footsteps, and as he does, the page finds the strength to endure. Together they brave the storm and fill the poor man’s humble home with generous gifts. 

Action

Aren’t we all somewhat like Wenceslas’s page? We joyfully accept the invitation to generous giving that comes with the Christmas season. It won’t be long until we fill baskets with food for Thanksgiving families and buy gifts for children in the county's foster care system and sell Christmas trees with the Knight of Columbus.

But sometimes meaningful giving, which makes a difference, requires sacrifice, which can be difficult. When this happens, we can find strength as we walk in the steps of the Master-Giver. 

“Good King Wenceslaus” was able to incarnate his Christianity in a world filled with political unrest. While we are often victims of violence of a different sort, we can quickly identify with his struggle to bring harmony to society.

These days, Christians everywhere heed the call to become involved in social change and political activity to spread the values of the gospel today.

“Obedient” by Phil Russell

“Obedient” by Phil Russell

+Feast of Saint Vincent de Paul +

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Piety

[He] humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2: 8-11

Study

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “What is your opinion?” Matthew 21:28-32

“Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?” Ezekiel 18:25-28

Action

“…and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:11

+ + +

Here is Jesus, the obedient one, yet again, asking the questions.

We are not too many weeks out from his question, “Who do you say that I am?”

Jesus, the same, yesterday, today, and forever. And he is still asking the questions of us.

Are we any closer to having the right answers for him?

But, alas, we are not so very different from our predecessors.

But today, it is our turn!

The Psalmist in today’s Psalm states, what should be our response to Jesus.

“Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God, my savior.” Psalm 25:4-5

Over and over, generation after generation, Jesus is still asking us the questions.

As I read and reread (Lectio Divina) and ponder this Sunday’s Scriptures the word, OBEDIENT, jumps out at me.

Today is the Feast of Saint Vincent de Paul, a humble, spirited, and faith-filled reformer of the Priesthood. One of his mentions is to that of obedience. By virtue of our Baptism, the Church and the Lord anoint us Prophet, Priest, and King.

For added Study, please take a look at Saint Vincent and his writings.

Saint Paul was another who came to know and understand obedience to God, to Jesus, through the Holy Spirit working in and with him.

Let’s “humbly regard others as more important than ourselves, each looking out not for his iinterests, but also those of others.” Saint Paul to the Philippians. (and to Us!)

“See with the Eyes of Your Heart That God Is Present” by Beth DeCristofaro

“See with the Eyes of Your Heart That God Is Present” by Beth DeCristofaro

 

Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

 

One generation passes and another comes, but the world forever stays.
The sun rises, and the sun goes down; then, it presses on to the place where it rises. Blowing now toward the south, then toward the north, the wind turns, again and again, resuming its rounds. All rivers go to the sea, yet never does the sea become full. To the place where they go, the rivers keep on going. (Ecclesiastes 1:4-7)

 

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed … “John I beheaded. Who, then, is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him.  (Luke 9:7, 9)

 

Piety

Lord, I let go of the worries, resentments, and fears that I can sometimes hold on to so tightly.  Let me open my hands and my heart to receive freely all the gifts that I need at this time.

        (sacredspace.ie)

 

Study

A recent TV show conversation came to mind as I wrote this reflection.  The series is about time travel, apocalyptic world-ending, aliens, and sibling rivalries.  The chuckle-producing discussion went something like this:

 

(She) “I’m scared; I’m seeing things.  I’m afraid I’m losing it and don’t understand.”

(He) “Well, we take for granted lots of things we don’t understand.  You like yogurt, right?”

She) Nods, yes

(He) “Well, take yogurt:  How the heck does milk become yogurt?  Huh?  What the heck!  But it’s good for you, and you like it, right?”
(She) Smiles, Comforted, says, “Yes, I do.  Ok!”

 

Did Herod feel he was losing it when confronted with stories about Jesus?  Did he seek to understand? Did he fear a ghost?  Or did Herod have some sense of the mystery he says he sought? The Gospels portray Herod as seeking out John the Baptist, yet he killed him.  He does not honestly want to “understand” and accept.  Not knowing how milk becomes yogurt is a menial and inadequate comparison for our not understanding how God acts, how God calls us to follow, and how to glorify God with our lives. Yet once we make the leap, we can be fruitful in accepting the mystery of God and all God’s gifts.

 

If Herod had a friend who explained, however naively, that mystery must sometimes be accepted rather than explained away, would he have “seen” Jesus?  Did he want to see? After all, he was Herod!  He could have had Jesus brought before him, but he did not.  Perhaps Herod did understand more than he protested.  Perhaps Herod feared the man who would talk to him of God would challenge his life. Maybe he was too entangled within his guilt, desire for adoration, and love of power to see, hear, and accept.

 

 The Entrance Antiphon of today’s Mass says I am the salvation of the people, says the Lord. / Should they cry to me in any distress, / I will hear them, and I will be their Lord forever. Herod was not willing to give up his anguish and his control over what he thought he deserved. Herod was not ready to cry to God in his distress. It is much more than a leap into accepting the health advantages of yogurt.  A jump to God is a leap to the unknowable eternity our faith promises us within God.

 

Action

What keeps us from profoundly leaping into the mystery of God?  Day after day, we are pulled and pushed to the enticements of sin and stagnation.  If we accept the authority of mystery, allowing God to gather our hearts, then our lives can be filled with divine presence and marvels.