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Pentecost

On Pentecost (from a Greek word meaning “fiftieth”) we commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles (Acts 2:1-41) fifty days after Easter.

Before the Christian experience of the descent of the Holy Spirit, the Jews celebrated Pentecost as the Festival of Weeks, an agricultural festival of giving first fruits to the Lord celebrated seven weeks after Passover (Ex 34:22; Deut 16:10). The feast of Pentecost is referred to in the Old Testament books of Tobit (2:1) and 2 Maccabees (12:32). The apostles were in Jerusalem for the Festival of Weeks when the Holy Spirit came upon them.

Pentecost is popularly regarded as the birthday of the Church because from that point on the apostles carried the message of Christ out into the world. It is a celebration of the Holy Spirit, who the apostles experienced in a profound way.

As they were “all together in one place” (Acts 2:1), the apostles heard “a sound like the rush of a violent wind. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them” (Acts 2:2-3). Wind and fire are familiar symbols of the Holy Spirit. Just as we cannot see the wind, but we can see the effects of the wind on trees and bushes, we cannot see the Holy Spirit, but we can see the effects of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the lives of people around us. Fire is a powerful element. It warms us and cooks our food, but it also consumes that which it touches. The Holy Spirit fills us with the warmth of God’s love and joy, nourishes us with the presence of Christ, and if we allow, consumes our lives with power and inspiration.

They “were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability” (Acts 2:4). After being filled with the Holy Spirit, the apostles spoke in the languages of the people gathered in Jerusalem. They were able to share the Good News of Christ with everyone they encountered in the ways that the people would understand. So to, if we allow the Holy Spirit to fill us, will we be able to share the Good News with the people we meet in the ways that they will understand, allowing and inviting them to come to know Christ.

As we celebrate Pentecost this week, I invite you to consider your understanding of and relationship with the Holy Spirit. How would you describe the Holy Spirit? How have you experienced the Spirit in your life? How have you been open to the gifts of the Holy Spirit and allowed those gifts to inspire your life?

The Immaculate Conception

In 1854, Pope Pius IX, speaking ex cathedra (i.e., infallibly) proclaimed 

The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin. (Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus, 1854)

Catholics believe that Mary was, by the grace of God, preserved from sin from the first moment of conception. The Church as believed this from its very earliest beginnings.

The Church celebrates the Immaculate Conception each year on December 8.

Heaven, Hell and Purgatory

The second reading for the fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C, proclaims John’s vision of “a new heaven and a new earth.” (Revelation 21:1) Through Jesus’ Resurrection and ascension into heaven, we have hope for eternal life with God. We have the opportunity to experience the fulfillment of the new heaven and the new earth.

In the final episode of the Catholicism series, Fr Robert Barron addresses the Catholic teachings on heaven, hell and purgatory. He states that “the Church’s teachings about hell, purgatory, and heaven are both fascinating and objectionable to many people.” It is fascinating to wonder about life after death and to dream about living in the perfection of heaven. It is objectionable that “an all-good and all-loving God would send anyone to eternal torture and torment.” (Catholicism episode 10)

The Church teaches that “we cannot be united with God unless we freely choose to love God. But we cannot love God if we sin gravely against God, against our neighbor or against ourselves…To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God’s merciful love means remaining separated from God for ever by our own free choice. This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called ‘hell.’” (CCC 1033) It doesn’t make sense that God, who created everything out of great love, including each human being, would choose to send his creatures away from him. If God is Love, then it’s more likely that God would want to gather his creatures close to him. So it is our own choice to turn away from God, to separate ourselves from God. We choose hell of our own free will.

If hell is eternal separation from God, then heaven is eternal union with God. If we have desire on earth to be close to God, we pray, participate in Eucharistic liturgy and worship, and do good works in the name of Jesus Christ. If we have this desire on earth, it’s likely that we’ll retain that desire to be close to God for eternity. Just as we choose hell of our own free will, we choose heaven freely. Choosing heaven means succumbing to God’s great love and falling into God’s welcoming arms.

So what about purgatory? The Church teaches that “all who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.” (CCC 1030) Let me offer a speculative analogy. On a sunny day, we can look up and admire the azure sky and the white puffy cloud, but if we gaze at the sun, it hurts our eyes, blinding us so that we have to shut our eyes. When we die and go to the heavenly gates and meet Christ, Christ’s brilliant love and goodness will be so overwhelming to our imperfect souls that we will close our eyes, fall to our knees, and weep that we cannot gaze upon the beauty of Christ’s face because of our sinfulness. We need to go through a process of purification, of being purged of our sinfulness, so that we might be able to gaze on the brilliance of Christ’s face. This is purgatory; it is a process of being purified of our sinfulness so that we may stand in the presence of God.

Ultimately, hell, heaven and purgatory are not places, but rather are states of being. God has given us the free will to choose to be separated from him in a state of hell or to exist in union with him in the state of heaven. As for me, I will choose God.

Holy Week & Triduum

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion begins the Holiest Week of our Church year. Our Catholic faith is completely expressed in this one week of Scripture, prayer and liturgy. If you’re going to be Catholic just one week out of the year, this is the week to be Catholic. It’s even better than Christmas.

We begin Holy Week with the Palm Sunday procession. We hold palm branches and join our voices with those who lined the streets of Jerusalem welcoming our King, the Blessed One who comes in the name of the Lord. We sing out “Hosanna in the highest!” Our King is not one who holds his head above ours, nor does he rule with the power of an iron fist. Our King rides a short, barrel-bellied donkey and surrounds us with the power of his merciful love and tender care.

Lent officially ends with the celebration of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. On this night, just as we do with every Eucharistic liturgy, we return to the upper room with Jesus and his disciples. We join him at table as he breaks bread and pours wine and offers it to us as his own Body and Blood. Whenever we eat of the Bread of Life and drink from the Cup of Salvation, we welcome Christ into our bodies, hearts, and souls. In essence, we become what we eat; we become Christ present in the world. To live as Christ in the world, we need to imitate his example, being servants to and welcoming all as we would serve and welcome Christ himself.

On Good Friday, we remember God’s sacrifice to restore humanity, and all of creation, to covenant relationship with God. We have sinned and turned away from God, but God spreads his arms on the cross to welcome us back into God’s love. Through the sacrifice of God’s very Self, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit dramatically change the essence of creation, restoring our relationship with God and providing hope for new and eternal life in the midst of suffering and death.

After three days, Jesus is Resurrected. The Incarnate One, who suffered, died, and was buried, is raised to new life. We rejoice and exclaim “Alleluia!” as we welcome Christ into our hearts and lives. As we acknowledge Christ Resurrected and affirm that he continues to dwell with us, our joy can be contagious. As we share the joy and love of Christ with our families and friends, they may be inspired to want that same experience of love and joy. So it is through our way of being joyful and loving that we share the Good News in the world and bring others to Christ.

This is the Holiest Week of our Catholic tradition. May we share in the celebration with open hearts and grateful spirits.

Living in the Light of Christ

We are nearing the end of our Lenten journey. Next week is Holy Week. It is about this time every year that I tend to evaluate my success with keeping my Lenten fasting, prayer, and giving. Typically, I note some successes and some failures. What's important, however, is not my actions as much as how has my relationship with Jesus grown and deepened.

One image I am going to take away from this Lenten season is an image from St John of the Cross. Our parish has been watching the Catholicism video series written and produced by Fr Robert Barron and Word on Fire. Fr Barron mentions this image from St John of the Cross a couple of times in the series. St John compares our lives to a pane of glass. When the light shines on the glass, we notice all of the smudges and specks on the glass. When it’s dark, we don’t see the smudges and specks. In the same way, when we grow closer to Jesus Christ, Christ’s Light illuminates our lives, and so we see all of our smudges and specks of sin. When we live in darkness, outside the Light of Christ, we aren’t as aware of our smudges and specks of sin.

Like John of the Cross, the Saints thought that they were terrible sinners. As they directed their lives to Christ, they were illuminated by the Light of Christ, and were able to see their smallest specks of sin. They grew in humility as they allowed the Light and Love of Christ to move in and through them.

Spring begins this week! The spring equinox happens on March 20. As with most Michigan residents, I’m hoping that we’ll see more and more sunny days. Sunshine warms us and just makes us feel good. Christ’s Light shining in our lives also makes us warm and feel good…even better than sunshine.

It is interesting that at the same time as Christ's Light brings into focus our sins, it also makes us feel so much better.

As we near Holy Week, the Triduum, and Easter, I want to bask in Christ’s Light. I know that the smudges and specks of my sin will be illuminated, but I need to acknowledge my sins and open myself to the renewing power of God’s merciful love through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I want to make the glass pane of my life clean and shiny so that I can feel the rays of Christ’s Light warming me and filling me up with peace and joy.

Why Be Catholic?

I have lately been reflecting on why people, why I, participate in the Catholic Church. Why go to Mass? Why attend faith formation sessions? Why pray with Catholic devotions such as the Rosary or Stations of the Cross? What does it matter?

For me, it matters because I want to taste and see the goodness of the Lord. I am a sinner. I have made some really stupid choices in my life out of selfishness and fear. I have repented, though. I have acknowledged my sins and have asked for forgiveness both from God and those against whom I’ve sinned. Through my repentance, I have felt the mercy of God’s love, which is overwhelmingly beyond my greatest expectations. Because I have experienced the sweetness of God’s love and mercy, I want to continue to be open to that love and mercy, and so I participate in the traditions of my Catholic faith because they open me to and draw me closer to the love of God.

It is said that Joan of Arc, who, as she was being interrogated at her trial, proclaimed, “About Jesus Christ and the Church, I simply know they’re just one thing, and we shouldn’t complicate the matter.” I participate in the traditions of my Catholic faith because I know Jesus Christ more deeply through my participation. My connection with Jesus is strengthened by my participation in the Body of Christ.

I know that the Church, as a human institution, isn't perfect. The Church as the Body of Christ is perfect, but it is made up sinful people. Even the leaders of the Church are sinful, and, admittedly, have done sinful things in the name of the Church. Do I have a problem with sinfulness in the Church? Yes. But I also know that it is through our sinfulness that we experience God’s mercy. I am not condoning sins committed in the name of the Church. I am wondering, though, if because of its sins, the Church becomes the conduit, the vehicle, through which we can feel the fullness of God’s mercy.

I am choosing to actively participate in the life of the Church because I know that Christ is present in and through the Church.

Contemplating God

Have you ever had the experience of going about your daily routine and then encountering something extraordinary? This is what happens to Moses as he encounters God in the fire in the bush. As he tends his sheep, he sees a bush flaming with fire, but not being consumed by the fire. He’s curious, so he walks over to take a better look and encounters God.

We can encounter God in our daily experiences if we, like Moses, pay attention to what’s happening around us and curiously ask, “Where and what is God?” Let your prayer this week be curious contemplation of God. God is a mystery. The name God gives to Moses is “Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh (YHWH),” which basically translates “I Am That I Am.” In other words, God is simply and profoundly The One Who Is. Nothing can clearly define God. St Augustine, in contemplating the mystery of God, said, “If you understand it, it isn’t God.” St Anselm of Canterbury described God as “that than which nothing greater can be thought.” Contemplate the mystery of God this week. As you drive to work, fall asleep, stand in line at a store, or make dinner, think about who God is and reflect on how you have encountered God in your life.

In order to be curious, we need to have time to question and ponder. Fasting allows us the opportunity to remove the clutter that keeps us from being curious about God. If our hearts and minds are crammed too full, we won’t be open to God’s presence. Often it’s not so much our busy-ness, but rather it’s the “head talk” that clutters our minds that keeps us from recognizing God. Fast this week from that “head talk” of worry, grumbling and complaining. As these thoughts enter your mind, pray, “God help me to see you,” and let go of the thoughts. If the thoughts persist, begin counting your blessings. Replacing the negative “head talk” with thanksgiving can move our focus to God.

We open ourselves to recognizing God’s presence when we share our gifts and resources in building the Reign of God. “The Reign of God is present whenever and wherever God’s loving presence is manifested.” (Kenneth R Overberg SJ, “Finding the Heart of Jesus’ Life,” Catholic Update 1203) Let your giving this week be a sharing of God’s loving presence. Allow God’s love to shine through you in words of kindness and thoughtful actions.

Moses came to know God through his curiosity. May we be curious and contemplate the mystery of The One Who Is. May we fast from the clutter that keeps us from recognizing God with us. And may we share in building the Reign of God by sharing God’s love through our words and actions.

Examen of Consciousness through Lent

We continue our journey through the Period of Purification and Enlightenment with this second Sunday of Lent. How was your prayer, fasting, and almsgiving through the first week of Lent? Did you spend some quiet time with the Lord? Did you eat less than you normally eat? Did you share any Random Acts of Kindness with others? The beauty of the Sundays of Lent, and throughout the year, is that no matter what happened last week, we can begin anew today.

Abram had a vision of the Lord making a covenant with him. Peter, James, and John had a vision of Jesus transfigured and Elijah and Moses appearing with him. Their visions stemmed from their relationship with God, with Jesus. Because of their awareness of and openness to God’s presence in their lives, they were able to see amazing visions. Most of us don’t have visions, but we can recognize God in the events of our lives. Like Abram, Peter, James, and John, we need to be open to God’s presence with us.

Fast from those things that may distract you from God’s presence. Do your best not to be negative, complain or be pessimistic. Instead, be grateful. Be positive. Even in the midst of difficulties, God is present.

Be a presence of God for others by giving of yourself. Continue to do Random Acts of Kindness. As you share love with others, they, in turn, will become more open to God’s presence in their lives.

A practice that you can do to help you better recognize God’s presence in your life, to be grateful, and to be a presence of God for others is the Examen of Consciousness. The Examen is a spiritual practice developed by St Ignatius of Loyola. At the end of the day, ask God to help you look back over the activities of your day.

Become Aware of God’s Presence. Turn your mind to God.

Be Grateful. Give thanks to God for the gift of the day, for your life, for all that you have.

Pray for Light. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to see as God sees you, as loved child of God.

Look for God in Your Life. Think back over your day and ask God to help you see where God was with you throughout the day. If you’ve set a goal for yourself, give yourself an accounting of your progress.

Face What’s Wrong. Accept responsibility for your sins; do not blame circumstances or others. Simply acknowledge your mistakes and ask the Holy Spirit to help you do better tomorrow.

Look Forward to Tomorrow. Ask God to share God’s love through you. Invite Jesus Christ to do good works through you. Turn to the Holy Spirit for continued guidance.

For more on the Examen, visit http://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen/.

The Period of Purification and Enlightenment

On this first Sunday of Lent, we enter the desert with Jesus. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults calls Lent a Period of Purification and Enlightenment. It is a time for us to reflect on our relationship with God, to repent and purify our lives, and to allow the Holy Spirit to enlighten our hearts so that we may better live according to the Way of Christ.

The three primary Catholic practices of Lent are Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving. Throughout the 40 days of Lent, we are called to spend more time with God in prayer, to give up our desires and become more self-less, and to give of our gifts and resources.

PRAYER
How do you connect with God? This week, spend at least 5 minutes each day being quiet. Turn off the radio in your car. Turn off the TV a little earlier before you go to bed. Spend those 5 (or more) minutes quieting your mind and opening your heart to God. If you have difficulty quieting your mind, try praying the Jesus Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

FASTING
Fasting is a form of prayer, as well. We Catholics fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by eating only one full meal and not snacking between meals. We abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and the Fridays of Lent. Our fasting helps us to stand in solidarity with all of the hungry in our world. As we are conscious of our stomachs growling during our fast, we can use that growl to remind us of all of those people who do not have any food on a daily basis. Practice fasting each day this week. Don’t eat between meals. Eat less than you might normally eat. Don’t eat according to the clock; wait until you physically feel and hear your stomach growl. As you feel that growl, say a prayer for someone you know or a cause that is dear to your heart.

ALMSGIVING
We also practice almsgiving during Lent by giving a little more than usual. Our Catholic faith is not simply about following doctrines and tenets of belief, it is about living according to the Way of Christ. We practice our faith when we share our money and resources with those who are hungry, suffering, or otherwise in need. We practice our faith when we reach out to others in kindness, expressing God’s unconditional love through our loving actions. Each day this week, do a Random Act of Kindness for a family member, friend, co-worker, neighbor, or even a stranger.

Lent is a season for us to redirect our focus from ourselves to God and others. We practice prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to help us purify our lives and open our hearts to the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.

Called by God

God calls each of us in different ways. Isaiah had a vision of the Lord seated on a throne and a seraphim touched an ember to his mouth to purge his sin. Isaiah was a sinful man, yet the Lord chose him to proclaim the Lord’s message to the people of Israel and Judah.  The Lord purified Isaiah’s lips so that he might speak God’s Word. Despite Isaiah’s sinfulness, the Lord inspired him with wisdom, understanding, and courage so that he could answer the Lord, “Here I am; send me!”

Paul was a Jewish Pharisee, devoted to the Law of God. He lived strictly according to the Law and persecuted those who were a threat to the Law. Then Paul encountered the Risen Christ on the road to Damascus, literally being knocked to the ground. All that he had known and lived by was pulled out from under him. His encounter with the Risen Christ changed his focus, as is presented in his blindness. He had to reorient his life to this new knowledge. Paul put the same passion he had for the Law into preaching the Good News of the Risen Christ. He allowed the grace of God to flow through him to proclaim the Good News throughout the Roman Empire.

Simon was a fisherman. I imagine Simon as a hard-working, muscled man of the sea. As a fisherman with his own boat, he likely had some business savvy to sell his fish to market vendors, or perhaps his family had their own market stall to sell the fish he caught. I think of him as being very devoted to his family and friends, working hard to meet their needs. Jesus recognized his persistence, hard work and devotion, and called Simon to follow him and become a catcher of men. As his friendship with Jesus developed, Simon became a devoted disciple of Jesus, to the point that Jesus called him, “Rock.” With the power of the Holy Spirit, Simon devoted his life to Jesus by leading the new Christian community.  

My point is that these men were not expecting to be called by God. They were regular people, but God saw their potential. They heard God’s call, and allowed the Holy Spirit to inspire them to proclaim God’s Word with their lives. We never know when or how God is going to call us, to inspire us, to action. We need to be open to the possibilities every moment of our lives. This week, we will come to church on Ash Wednesday to begin the season of Lent. How will you be open to God’s call in your life this Lent?