Why "me and Jesus" isn't enough!

            In our culture today, many people will say that they are spiritual and not religious.  That attending church is outdated and unnecessary.  “I have my relationship with Jesus and that is enough”, is a common mantra.

The importance of belonging to a parish community is most evident when you go through tough times.  Five years ago, my mother was dying of lung cancer that had moved to the brain.  In the five short months between diagnosis and her time to move on, there were so many days of anguish.  Especially hard was the fact that my mom was bitter and angry with God. 

At times, I could not quiet myself enough to pray; yet I felt as if I was floating on the prayers of others.  There were days when a peaceful calm came over me. I attribute the calm to the prayers being said for my mom, for me and for my family.  Without the support of my parish prayer warriors, I would have been lost many of those days.

Recently, the evidence of the importance of belonging to a faith community was in play at my parish.  A 24 years old, who graduated from the parish grade school and Catholic high school, died a sudden and tragic death.  When the news of his passing quietly emanated throughout the community, hundreds of people came to Adoration to pray for his soul, for his wife, his daughter and his parents.

At his wake, the line was long to pray at his casket and greet his parents.  The church was packed for the burial mass.  And throughout the time from his death to burial, hundreds of people prayed Rosaries, Our Father’s, Hail Mary’s, countless of other prayers. Some have fasted for his soul, others provided meals for his family and others participated in a crowd funding effort to help pay for the funeral expenses.

When tragedy strikes, there isn’t a better place to be but in a faith community.  This is true when the tragedy affects you, but also when you can be the instrument of prayer and provider of needed assistance for those affected. 

Being a member of a faith community is more than attending church.  It means getting involved at some level in a ministry, helping the poor, volunteering to read at mass, teaching religious education, participating in a Bible study and on and on.  Becoming more involved will help you and your family feel that coming to your church/parish is not just coming to Church, but is coming home.  And that is why  “just Jesus and me” is not enough.

Who Belongs in Our Guest Room?

               My husband, son and I live in a four bedroom, five bathroom house.  When we purchased the house, my husband and I knew it was very large for our small family, but the price was terrific in an area close to Metro and retail shopping and our church.  For many years, we had two “guest” rooms.  One was more of a sitting room and occasional visits from family and friends would fill one or both rooms.

               Four years ago, my in-laws moved in with us, filling one of those rooms.   As I listen to our Holy Father, I am compelled to make some changes in my life and the life of my family to reach out to those in need. A yearning has been bubbling up in my mind to discover who belongs in our guest room. I hear Pope Francis’ call not to do heroic deeds, but to share what we have with others.  To me, filling that guest room is one way of sharing our excess with someone else.  This desire feels like it comes from the nudging of the Holy Spirit.

               In September, I thought I had an answer.  An acquaintance asked if she could stay with us for a few days.  She was in crisis and needed a place to stay in the DC area.  Via email she was so appreciative.  Little did she know that I was hoping to have someone fill that room.  She rescheduled her visit a number of times, indicating how much her life was in flux. Eventually, she decided to move back to her home city for a few months.  And our guest room remained empty.

               I saw on Facebook that a friend who is living in the mid-west became a friend of a page called Catholics looking for roommates in DC.  So I sent her a message, offering the room to her if she was moving back to the area.  But she said she is happy where she is and thinks that is where God wants her to live for some time.

               A couple of weeks ago, my brother called and the business he was working for closed.  For an instant, I was hopeful that he might be our new resident.  But he is headed back to Michigan, where we grew up.  He might be visiting for a few days, but not anytime soon.

               And so I’m back to square one, thinking that that room is meant for someone.  It occurs to me that God must be pleased with the desire to share the excess that we have with others.  And it is time to take this to prayer and understand if this desire is the prodding of the Holy Spirit.

My Catholic Lens

            Today, I want to explore a concept that I stumbled upon while speaking with the reporter.  It is my Catholic lens and how it changes the way that I view the world.  About five years ago, just a few months into my renewed relationship with Jesus and the Catholic Church, I read Brideshead Revisited.  It is a classic book about a Catholic family set in England during World War II, written by Evelyn Waugh in 1945. Early in the book, the main female character notes that being Catholic means being different.

               At that point in time, I did not understand her perspective.  I thought, millions of people are Catholic, so why is being Catholic different.  I have come to believe that this character was right!  As the months have passed, and my relationship with the great Triune God has deepened, I am coming to realize what it truly means to be Catholic. So much so, that I now view the world from the Catholic perspective. Scripture study of both the Old and New Testament, reading the works of early writers and learning about the history of the church  and the lives of its Saints have all contributed to my current Catholic lens.

               In today’s day and age, we need to see and feel and touch everything. It is the Catholic faithful who believe that every time they receive communion, they are truly receiving the Body and Blood of Christ.  It is the Catholic faithful who understand that each time they go to confession, that it is the priest who is mediating for Christ and that what happens in the confessional is supernatural.  It gives a dimension to life that cannot be understood by those who do not believe the tenants of the Catholic Church.

               As I am drawn to spend time in prayer and to frequent the sacraments, the lens comes more into focus and I see the world far different than most of the world.  At times, I have pictured that my faith journey has created a huge abyss between me and much of the world.  A few months ago, at a “Girl’s Night Out”, I had little to contribute to discussions about face lifts, celebrity gossip and the hottest male actor.  As I drove home that night, I understood how the desire to follow Christ has changed my life.

               My lens has me focused on the next world, not this one.  So when speaking with the reporter about Pope Francis, I had to comment that my lens, or world view is much different than the average America.  I am listening to him as if he is speaking directly to me, not an audience on the left or an audience on the right.  His words are focusing my Catholic lens, and for that I am thankful.

Washington Post Article

Since I am writing a blog series on my thoughts about Pope Francis that stimulated by an interview with a report from the Washington Post, I thought I would post the article that was published on 10/15.

It can be found here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/conservative-catholics-question-pope-franciss-approach/2013/10/12/21d7f484-2cf4-11e3-8ade-a1f23cda135e_story.html?hpid=z3

Who is Pope Francis?

               Recently, I was invited to speak with a reporter of a major newspaper about Pope Francis.  It gave me the opportunity to think about my thoughts of Pope Francis and his papacy.  Initially, I must say that thinking about Pope Francis makes me miss Pope Benedict.  I miss his writings and his German accent and his very logical and thoughtful way of teaching me about why I believe what I believe. 

               Because of where I am in my faith journey, I am paying much more attention to the early homilies, writings and talks of Pope Francis than in the early days of Pope Benedict XVI’s papacy.  I didn’t really have a sense of who Pope Benedict was until he visited Washington DC in 2008.

               The reference of Pope Francis in Mass no longer jars and I recognize his face.  I find many important similarities between our 265^th and 266^th Popes.  They both have a great love and dedication to Mary, the Mother of God, seeing her as the perfect creature.  They try to imitate her humility and ask for her protection.  They have deep, intimate relationships with Jesus and pray often, perhaps almost constantly to the Holy Spirit for guidance in all that they do.  And they have a deep desire for all souls to be saved, and for all to know and understand the peace that comes with putting God first.

               Of course there are many differences.  Pope Francis is a man who has been working in the trenches who has now been called to lead the Roman Catholic Church.  I can only admire the way his has decided to continue to live simply even within the Vatican walls.  Unlike Pope Benedict, who was a professor and a writer, I see Pope Francis as a man who is more comfortable with conversation and intent on conversion of those with whom he comes into contact. 

               He sees each individual, not with a label, but as a person created uniquely by God for a specific purpose. My sense is that there is urgency in his life to bring each person with whom he has contact closer to God.  He has that burning desire for salvation of souls and that is what is driving his Pontificate, not protocol or procedure.

               Because of his work in the trenches, he understands the corporeal works of mercy as being essential to the spread of the Gospel.  He recognizes that reaching out to the poor, elderly, disabled, homeless and “getting our hands dirty”[i] is an essential part of our salvation. (“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”)[ii]   

               It has only been six months since he began this journey as Pontiff and I am inclined to watch and learn, not jump to conclusions or judge.  Who is Pope Francis?  I don’t yet know, but he is challenging me on this journey.  Look for more thoughts from the interview in future blogs.

              

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[i] From Pope Francis’ Tweet on Sept 13 - #PopeFrancis: want to help the poor? don't be afraid to get your hands dirty

[ii] James 2:26

The Cord of Compemplation

In this month of the rosary, I was to share with you this beautiful poem by my Dominican Brother Peter Joseph Gautsch O.P.  It was originally published at dominicanablog.com.  You can subscribe to the blog to receive a daily essay - thought and occasional poem written by the men who are in formation to be the next generation of the Order of Preachers.  Enjoy!

The Cord of Contemplation

Barren beads in fumbling fingers of fools, fallen, absurd,
in crazed haze of word after empty word:
pitiful piety brings no aid,
naught but far-fetched fancies made
to deceive naïve nuns, whose prayers, never heard,
would be better, too, never prayed.

Can it be? Surely Truth tricks not, nor can disdain
pleas of hearts heavy, weak with pain
and sorrow—for well He knows
it, bore it, and for my sake chose.
Her heart, too, racked, rent with His, yet by the Cross remains—
ever full of grace, now on her children to flow.

O Mary, Mary, maiden yet Mother, most blessèd!
Faithful Virgin, and fruitful! when thy Fiat confessèd:
to thee, in haste, I fly,
under thy mantle to hide, to lie:
as Jesus—newborn babe, then mangled man—on thy breast rested,
dear Mother, so may I!

And how happy, having striven, failed, re-striven,
strength strainèd, sin-stainèd, am I, who live in
grace (and not the Law to bear),
in Habit, and on cincture wear
that cord, of Mystic Rose to Rose of Patience given,
that ever-efficacious prayer!

She, Queen of angels, heaven, and Preachers proclaimed,
New Eve, inviolate, of all women most famed,
Mater omnium, digna prædicari,
et Regina sacratissimi rosarii,
Life, Sweetness, Hope, is named:
Gratiam tuam, Mater mea, gaudeo contemplari!

O Mary, be a Mother to me now, protect and pray
for your poor child, exiled, to see dawn of eternal day:
thy sweet succor swiftly bring,
that I, life and light diminishing,
be found faithful—and then, lasting Life living, I may
the praises of thy Son with thee ever sing.

"Dressing up as Christ"

               I have been listening to C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity in my car.  Today, I listened to “Let’s Pretend”, Chapter 7 in Beyond Personality.  Mere Christianity is a compilation of a series of radio commentaries.  It actually encompasses four books that were published separately in the 1940’s.

               The topic of this chapter touches on something that I have recently thought about in relation to my Christian growth.  And it gives me some insight to why my list of sins has shifted over the years of frequent confession. 

               In “Let’s Pretend”, Lewis writes, “But there is the good kind (of pretending), where the pretense leads up to the real thing. When you are not feeling friendly but know you ought to be, the best thing you can do is to put on a friendly manner and behave as if you were a nicer person than you actually are. And in a few minutes, we have all noticed, you will really feel friendlier than you were.  Often the only way to get a quality in reality is to start behaving as if you had it already. . . .

               “Now, the moment you realize ‘here I am, dressing up as Christ,’ it is extremely likely that you will see at once some way in which that very moment of pretense could be made less of a pretense and more of a reality. . . . You see what is happening. The Christ Himself, the Son of God who is a man (just like you) and God (just like His Father) is actually at your side and is already at that moment beginning to turn your pretense into a reality.”

               As I confess my sins, often my list is similar from time to time.  I keep a list of the sins I confess and the confessor in the back of my journal.  Recently, I have thought that over time the list of sins had changed a great deal.  In looking back over that list, I knew I was onto something.  That indeed, something was changing inside me that allowed me to more introspective and honest.

               Then, hearing Lewis this week, I could only think, “That’s it!”  As I try to be a poor imitator of Christ, the Lord is working within me to help me become more Christ like.  I am more aware of my selfishness and pride, leading me to confess more and more specific sins and to realize that I am making some progress toward becoming a better person.

               I am grateful for the Lord’s work in me and will continue to play “Let’s Pretend”, trying to dress up as Christ.  If you have not read Mere Christianity recently, think about delving into the thoughts of this wise convert to Christianity. It time would be well spent.