Gold

The saying is a bit dated, a little too simplified, and a smidgeon trite, but doggone it, it’s also absolutely true: God doesn’t make junk. When the Word tells us that we – human beings – are made in the image and likeness of God, it’s an indisputable fact! As God is rational, loving, and capable of incredible self-giving – so are we. And as God is beautiful – we are too.

But we sure do struggle to believe we are beautiful.

I’m always amazed, and not a small amount saddened, when beautiful-on-the-inside-and-out people – especially teenagers – genuinely think they are unattractive. When boys feel this way, they may be hesitant to admit it. The number of girls who look at themselves in such a negative manner is probably large. In the field of healthcare we would refer to this as an epidemic. In the realm of spiritual well-being we can call it a tragedy.

What’s the cause of all this? Why do we think we lack beauty or why do we think we are unworthy of being loved? Certainly we can blame the culture, materialism, the media, secularism, and our winners-versus-losers society. But blaming doesn’t solve the problem. Radical love and unshakeable trust in God are helpful remedies. And a little well-done music doesn’t hurt either. Christian musician Brit Nicole, in her single – Gold – sings this:

“This is for all the girls,
boys all over the world,
whatever you’ve been told,
you’re worth more than gold.

So don’t let anybody tell you that you’re not loved,
and don’t let anybody tell you that you’re not enough,
yeah there are days when we all feel like we’re messed up,
but the truth is that we’re all diamonds in the rough.”

Maybe the words are too simplified and maybe they are a smidgeon trite. But they are true. And I love them.

Remember – you are loved! Remember – you are beautiful!

Be assured of my prayers,

Fr. Steve

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For God and others

There is no such person as a selfish saint. Every saint, by necessity and by grace, is a mortified and detached person, who to a great degree, has deadened self-love. The saint, like the Lord who enlivens them, is a person who lives and loves for others.

I recently saw a great example of such unselfishness love. During a Sunday retreat in his parish, I ran across the pastor collapsed in a pew before the Blessed Sacrament. He had the look of a man who was thoroughly worn out. He had already celebrated two Sunday Masses in his church. He had stopped by between them to welcome me to the retreat and say a few words to the kids. Who knows what other tasks, worries, and responsibilities were weighing upon his shoulders. This priest’s fatigue was clearly that kind which comes from the inside out. And there before Christ in the tabernacle, he was seeking the strength to do just a little more. “Are you getting ready for Mass?” he wearily asked me. “Yes,” I replied, referring to the Mass with the kids which would mark the end of our retreat day. “I’d like to join you,” was his response.

And join us he did. Helping the servers to prepare. Reading the Gospel. Leading the song. Encouraging the youth with his example and with his prayer. These were his kids after all. He was their pastor. Of course – and despite his fatigue – he needed to join us.

As you and me approach the holy season of Lent, the penitential practices we have to choose from our countless. We can go to daily Mass. We can offer extra prayers. We can deny ourselves food or technology or other simple pleasures. We can strive with particular fervor to overcome a sinful inclination. At the heart of these all, though, is a desire and a will to deaden our self-love. Lent is a powerful reminder of the ordering of the universe: God first, others next, ourselves last. The penances of these 40 days are an attempt to recalibrate that order.

Are you or I living more for ourselves than is right and just? Almost without exception, the answer is a definite yes! Sure we are tired, sure we are burdened, sure we are asked to do much, but like that pastor at the retreat, let’s turn to Jesus for strength. And then, like my priest brother who joined his kids for Mass, we too will be living not for ourselves, but for Almighty God and for others.

Be assured of my prayers,

Fr. Steve

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Advent

If you are not familiar with the writings and mystical vision of Caryll Houselander, may I recommend that you become familiar. Her experience of Christ strikes a chord in the human heart. Houselander sees and finds Christ, not by looking beyond the personal and everyday, but by looking deeply within her own soul and her own world. She invites me and you to do the same.

Advent, with its darkness and waiting and call to silence, provides a ready opportunity for such deep looking and finding. Writing of Advent, Houselander observes:

It is a time of darkness, of faith.
We shall not see Christ’s radiance in our lives yet;
it is still hidden in our darkness; nevertheless, we must believe
that he is growing in our lives; we must believe it so firmly
that we cannot help relating everything, literally everything,
to this almost incredible reality.
(The Reed of God)

Maybe, if we’ve been seeking Christ in the brightness and cacophony of busyness and hurry, we’ve been missing him. Possibly, as Advent reminds us, we must become small and still, as Life itself became small and still in the manger of Bethlehem. Darkness does not mean emptiness. Treasures untold may be lying in wait within the darkened chambers of our own souls. God dwells there, does he not? Light from within shines brightly when tinged with the divine.

Caryll Houselander’s, A Child in Winter, makes for excellent Advent reading. Her words also make for excellent Advent meditation and prayer. But wherever your heart may lead you this Advent season, do not forsake the stillness and shadows of the season. Winter is not wholly death, but the stirrings of new life. And as Christ once leapt from heaven to bathe the shepherds of Israel with his light, so still does he come to you and me, in the mundane of today, and in the dark corners of our souls.

Be assured of my prayers,

Fr. Steve

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Loving Mary

You have to love the Virgin Mary!

Well, um, yes – literally – we have to love the Virgin Mary. She is God’s mother after all! But that’s not what I mean here. What I mean here is this: isn’t the Blessed Virgin Mary simply, incredibly amazing!? Can we ever grow weary of contemplating her virtues!? Is it possible to go to her and not come away a better Christian!? Consider a case in point.

During the moment in history we call the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38), God sent the archangel, Gabriel, to tell Mary, an unsophisticated teenager, that she would miraculously bear a son. More than that, this son would actually be the Son, God’s Son! “He will be great . . . and his reign will have no end (Luke 1:32-33),” and it is the very power of God that will do all this! Talk about a moment where one might be tempted to pride and a little self-congratulation. Me or you would probably change our Facebook status to “the King’s mom!” or maybe tweet a little mocking tweet such as, “so you getting followed by #angels?” At the very least, we’d probably slip into a conversation or two that God had chosen us over everyone else (meaning, of course, that I got picked and you didn’t . . . ha!). But not Mary. What did this simple, poor, uneducated teenager do? She immediately – “in haste” – went to serve her pregnant cousin. The King’s mother humbly went to serve.

I guess we should not be surprised by Mary’s humility and her heart for service, for already this chosen woman was reflecting the grace of her unborn Son. Years later, Jesus would remind his friends and enemies alike, “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve (Mark 10:45).” Jesus served others – even to the point of giving his life. Mary too served others, and most especially in seemingly small, hidden ways. Just picture her preparing lunch for Jesus. Imagine Mary doing the Lord’s laundry. These were simple but important moments of service. Therefore, we too can be confident that it is a beautiful thing to serve others in seemingly small, hidden ways. Here are some examples.

When the popular kid at school sits with the quite unpopular kid at lunch – and does it without any fanfare whatsoever – that’s service. When a religious sister patiently teaches the catechism to a not-so-interested student – that’s service. When dad quietly cleans up the kids’ mess at home because he knows that mom is simply worn out – that’s service. When the parish pastor, without announcing his intention, quietly spends the day in prayer and fasting for his parishioners – that’s service. When the dying, elderly woman offers her pain and fear to the Lord for the conversion of sinners – that’s service. Jesus served in just such ways. The Blessed Mother served in just such ways. Hopefully, me and you too, are serving in just such ways.

And remember, you have to love the Virgin Mary!

Be assured of my prayers,

Fr. Steve

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Peace be with you

Thankfully, you and I don’t have to deal with any stress in our lives . . . . . . (long, confused pause) . . . . . . ha ha . . . ok . . . just kidding! Of course we are stressed; we have a thousand things going on all at once; we are perfectionists who cannot handle failure; people expect the impossible of us; life isn’t fair; there are not enough hours in the day; the sky is falling; lions and tigers and bears are chasing us . . . . . . Ahhhhhh! . . . . . . . kind of scary, isn’t it?

Unfortunately, we aren’t making this up. Many of us are indeed stressed in a very real way. Academics, family life, relationships, work, sports, Church stuff, homework, practice, chores, rehearsal, college visits, decisions, illness, appointments and the like add up and weigh down. We live in a world that moves fast. We live in a world that demands much. We live in a world in which production is valued more than compassion. It’s sad.

But let’s come on back to the center.

In the midst of our struggles and in the midst of our stress, even when we are locked away in some upper room for fear of what may come next, the Risen Jesus passes through the walls we’ve erected, stands in our presence, looks us lovingly in the eyes, and says: “Peace be with you.” He really does. And remember, the peace that Christ offers is a peace that the world simply cannot give. It’s a deep and bountiful peace. It’s a peace that doesn’t necessarily remove the causes of our stress, but it’s a peace that allows us to meet our responsibilities and duties in a placid, purposeful, prepared way. It’s a peace that is filled with the very person of Christ.

How do we attain that peace? Prayer. The Sacraments. Scripture. Christ is waiting for us, arms open, gifts wrapped, warm cinnamon buns in hand. He wishes us to slow down, laugh at ourselves, appreciate the beauty around us, and most of all, accept his gift of self. “I love you, I am with you, and together we can do this,” he tells us reassuringly.

Let’s come on back to the center. Let’s come on back to Christ.

Be assured of my prayers,

Fr. Steve

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The Goal of Lenten Observance

The foundations of Lenten observance are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. But keep in mind, they are not an end to themselves. We pray, we fast, and we give to fulfill the great commandments, love of God and love of neighbor. We pray, we fast, and we give to open our own hearts to the presence of God and to be that presence for others in need. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving as end to themselves leads us to the sin of pride. But as we were reminded on Ash Wednesday, it’s our turning away from sin that is at the real core of Lenten observance.

Imagine fasting on bread and water for an entire week, kneeling on broken glass for three hours of prayer per day, giving our entire savings to the homeless man on the corner … but then on Saturday night … after this wonderful week of Lenten devotion … getting drunk at the local tavern, disparaging everyone from the pope to our mother-in-law during the barstool conversation, beating up an immigrant in the parking lot because we don’t approve of “those kind of people,” and then ending our night of debauchery by having a fling with the waitress or waiter who served us our shots and beers. Seems pretty ridiculous, doesn’t it? But maybe it’s closer to the truth than we’d care to admit.

If we pray, fast and give alms, but then miss Mass on Sunday or gossip or practice unchaste behavior or hold on to prejudicial attitudes or tell “white lies” or view pornography or steal from storeroom at work or fail to give time to our spouse or children – and a million other sinful activities – then our prayer and our fasting and our almsgiving are pointless. Remember, the primary goal of Lenten observance is to grow in love of God, but we cannot do that if we are disobeying his commands. Remember, the secondary goal of Lenten observance is to grow in love of neighbor, but we fail to do that when we fail to treat our neighbor with kindness, patience and self-sacrifice.

Do you think God is more concerned that we give up chocolate or that we cease making nasty comments about our rival at school or work? Do you think God is more pleased with us when we say an extra Rosary or when we say no to another hour on Facebook with friends and yes to reading a story to our little sister (despite the fact that she is sooo annoying)?

This Lent, let’s do it all. Let’s continue to pray and fast and care for the poor, but let’s also make sure that those devotions lead us to less sin and more love of God and neighbor. After all, that is the goal.

Be assured of my prayers,

Fr. Steve

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More

That piece of pecan pie on our plate is never quite large enough. The weekends – even the holiday ones – are never quite long enough. The time spent with family and friends is always too short. Summer evenings – even with all their extended sunlight – still grow dark too quickly. And as my fellow coffee-a-holics understand, that last sip of a rich brew leaves us already wishing for more.

Satisfaction is hard to come by, isn’t it? Generally, we desire more success, more adventure, more winning, more accomplishment, more friends, more love and more acclaim. We want the good times to last forever, those “I’m on a roll” days to just keep rolling, and the cookie jar to never run empty. Enough is not enough. We want bigger, better and bolder. We want more. We want it all.

Admittedly, this world does indeed offer some wonderful pleasures and pastimes. From the simple delights of a soft pillow or an open highway, to the more sublime joys of a newborn baby or a “thank you” warmly given, the “good stuff” is out there. Hopefully, we are grateful to share in the earth’s abundance and in the fellowship of those whose names we know. But even in the best, most wonderful, most blissful moments . . . something inside us asks the unsettling question . . . isn’t there more? And there is.

We know the truth. This world, despite its many good things, can never satisfy us. We are made for more. We are made for God. In the end – and even in the beginning – only God can satisfy. That is the truth.

To realize that only God can ultimately satisfy is to save ourselves a lot of unnecessary heartache, discouragement and pain. To long for satisfaction here on earth is to long for the impossible. It can’t happen. We are immortal beings living in a world that will someday pass away. Yes, we should live each moment of our life with everything that is within us, but not with the expectation that we will find fulfillment here and now. Only life without end can satisfy us: and that is God’s promise. Only a love without limit can assuage our deepest desires: and God has made us that offer.

This very day, so many people are depressed, disappointed and disillusioned. They’ve won, they’ve earned, they’ve owned, they’ve accumulated, they’ve achieved and they’ve succeeded . . . and yet they do not know satisfaction. But God stands at the door of their hearts. If they grant him entrance, if they listen receptively to his words, if they accept his love . . . it won’t matter if or what they’ve won, accumulated or achieved. In God, enough is truly enough, and more is an unending proposition.

We know the truth. God is our all in all.

Be assured of my prayers,

Fr. Steve

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Wall of Fire

The late, great Johnny Cash – and if you are too young to remember his music, it’s worth a trip to the iTunes store – hit musical heights with his stirring , drawling version of “Ring of Fire.” Sure the song has been covered many times since (most notably by Tubbs and Mathew during an unforgettable TEC skit), but no one sings it with the passion of Cash. To help young and old alike remember, the words go something like this:

I fell into a burnin’ ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher,
And it burns, burn, burns
The ring of fire, the ring of fire.

Johnny Cash sang passionately of a RING of fire; the Lord God of Host spoke passionately of a WALL of fire. Listen to God’s word as spoken through the prophet, Zechariah:

For I – Yahweh declares – shall be a wall of fire all round (Jerusalem) and I shall     be the glory within her [Zechariah 2:9].

Cash’s “ring” of fire symbolized human love. God’s “wall” of fire describes an even greater love, an infinite love, an all-purifying and all-consuming love, a love that can never be extinguished, a love that makes pure and makes strong, a love offered freely to all, a love within which the human soul can never be destroyed.

I want to be within that wall. I want to live within the Jerusalem of God surrounded in safety by his divine fire. I want to be protected from the sin and vile and horror which lies outside that wall of fiery love. I want to know the God whose glory brings light and warmth and truth to all who live within. I want that same fire to burn, burn , burn within my own heart and the hearts of all. I want the flames to go higher and higher and higher. I want to experience the love of God for all eternity.

I want to start today.

Be assured of my prayers,

Fr. Steve

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Treasure

For most of us, going to the dentist isn’t the most traumatic thing we ever experience, but neither is it a recreational activity we eagerly await. Going to the dentist is . . . well . . . going to the dentist. We know that we have to do it and we do it. My dentist as a kid was Dr. Black. He was a nice guy. His wife, who served as the hygienist, was nice too. Still, the best part about a trip to Dr. Black’s office was the “treasure chest.” The treasure chest was a pirate-ship looking thing that was filled with kid toys. When your time in the chair was finished, Mrs. Black made a big production of taking you to the chest and inviting you to choose a treasure. It was great. Of course, I always chose the best looking, most colorful and most fascinating toy. Why in the world would you want something broken or dull?

But as the years have gone by, I’ve come to realize that in the treasure chest of life – God’s treasure chest – sometimes the most meaningful gifts are not the most golden and glittery. Sometimes, maybe most of the time, the greatest treasures are those that come in broken and unattractive packaging. The greatest treasures often are disguised as the greatest trials. And the greatest treasures leave us not with a toy to be played with for a few days and then discarded, but with lessons and heart-scars that strengthen our humanity and deepen our love.

Remember that as Christians we are constantly being conformed to Christ himself. St. Paul describes it as “always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus (2Cor4:10).” But why do we carry about his dying? “So that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh (2Cor4:11).” In other words, those events and struggles that at first glance may seem to be undesirable burdens, are in fact treasures offered to us from the very hand of God. The cross of Christ is the greatest example of this. An instrument of punishment and death was transformed by the power of God’s love into a means of redemption and new life. That is what God does. He transforms our darkness and difficulty into light and love. With God, there is always hope.

Are you struggling today? Are the difficulties of life making you question God’s providence or concern? Maybe, your brokenness is an opportunity for needed change. Maybe, your trial is being transformed into triumph. Of course, carrying the cross is never easy. Sometimes it’s weight seems unbearable. But we never carry the cross alone. Christ himself is always with us. And there is no greater treasure than the nearness of the Lord and his love.

Be assured of my prayers,

Fr. Steve

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Holy Week

“I do not know the man!”

Oh, Peter, how soon you regretted those words. From where in your heart had they come? For at Caesarea Philippi you had correctly identified Jesus as the Christ, the Savior of the world. In the upper room you had boldly professed your willingness to die for Jesus. And even in the garden you were ready to use the sword in his defense. But standing by the fire’s warmth, accused by a simple servant girl, your courage abandoned you. Peter, where was your love? You did know the man, Peter, you did know the man.

And so do we know him, and so do we deny him. Not just three times, as Peter, but many times, too many to be counted. But just as Jesus looked at Peter with love – despite his betrayal – so Jesus looks at us with love – despite our betrayal. Always Christ offers us love; always he awaits our return.

Now, with Holy Week upon us, Christ asks us: Will you watch with me in the garden and console me in my agony? Will you join me on the royal road to Calvary? Will you stand by me at the foot of my cross? Will you carry my lifeless body in your arms? Will you weep, as did the women, while keeping vigil outside my tomb?

Maybe we do not really know the man. Maybe we do not truly love the man.

During these days of his Passover, may we humble ourselves before the Lord. Scripture indicates that “When Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to him (Gen 17:3).” To prostrate oneself is to lie face down in submission. We too, if we prostrate ourselves in humble submission, will hear the voice of the Lord. Yes, his voice is mysterious and often difficult to discern. Yes, like Peter, we may be afraid. But to know Christ is to know ourselves. To know Christ is to know love. To “know the man” is to inherit eternal life.

Peter wept at his denial, but then he turned, strengthened his brothers, took the Church upon his shoulders, and offered his life for God.

Holy Week is upon us again. Do we know the man?

Be assured of my prayers,

Fr. Steve

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