Quick Quotes:
"God will not spurn a humble and contrite heart"
"Happy the man whose offense is forgiven, whose sin is remitted, in whose spirit is no guile. I kept it secret and my frame was wasted. I groaned all day long for God's hand was heavy upon me. But now I have acknowledged my sins, I confessed my sins to the Lord, and was forgiven. Let every good man pray to God in the time of need."
"Though I say to the wicked man that he shall surely die, if he turns away from his sin and does what is right and just, giving back debts, restoring stolen goods, living by the statutes that bring life, and doing no wrong, he shall surely live. None of the sins he committed shall be held against him."
Are you feeling spiritual pain? Take an honest look at your own behavior. Acknowlege to God everything that you have done wrong. Examine your conscience. Know that God loves you, and is calling you to be healed with the pain in your heart. Repent. Make things right. Strengthen your resolve to choose good every time. Go to confession, make it right.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Ash Wednesday
"Dust Thou art, and to dust thou shall return"
"...ask the beasts to teach you...which does not know that the hand of God has done this? In His hand is the soul of every living thing, and the life breath of all mankind." (Job)
Have you ever noticed how the liturgical calendar follows the seasons? Today the "Christmas season" is over and Lent begins. Out here on the prarie the Christmas season has been one of ice storms and snow storms. We have had to chop ice and carry extra feed to the cattle daily. Wildlife becomes scarce (except for the giant herd of deer eating all the crops I planted for the cattle). The spring calving cows are growing their babies in utero, and the fall calvers are raising their very young calves in spite of the challenging weather. Now lent begins, and brings the spring babies. The fall calves are putting a huge drain on their mamas, who must make the milk in larger quantities at the same time that the grass has its lowest nutritional content of the year. All the cows will lose weight from now until Easter in spite of how much we feed them. A time of fasting has begun. All of creation waits in hopeful expectation for the rebirth of God's blessings that come with the new growth of spring. Meanwhile, back at the Church, all of the the faithful are called to fast and pray and focus on how our very beings would surely be lost if not for the rebirth of God's blessings that come with the risen Christ.
"...ask the beasts to teach you...which does not know that the hand of God has done this? In His hand is the soul of every living thing, and the life breath of all mankind." (Job)
Have you ever noticed how the liturgical calendar follows the seasons? Today the "Christmas season" is over and Lent begins. Out here on the prarie the Christmas season has been one of ice storms and snow storms. We have had to chop ice and carry extra feed to the cattle daily. Wildlife becomes scarce (except for the giant herd of deer eating all the crops I planted for the cattle). The spring calving cows are growing their babies in utero, and the fall calvers are raising their very young calves in spite of the challenging weather. Now lent begins, and brings the spring babies. The fall calves are putting a huge drain on their mamas, who must make the milk in larger quantities at the same time that the grass has its lowest nutritional content of the year. All the cows will lose weight from now until Easter in spite of how much we feed them. A time of fasting has begun. All of creation waits in hopeful expectation for the rebirth of God's blessings that come with the new growth of spring. Meanwhile, back at the Church, all of the the faithful are called to fast and pray and focus on how our very beings would surely be lost if not for the rebirth of God's blessings that come with the risen Christ.
Monday, February 19, 2007
By Their Fruits Shall You Know Them
If that tree in the yard produces apples, it is safe to call it an apple tree. There is a popular song that goes "and they'll know we are Christians by our love...". Perhaps Christ foresaw that Constantine would make Christianity the official religion of the empire? Perhaps he could envision the Church becoming financially and politically powerful. Whenever that happens in a human institution the potential for corruption exists. It doesn't matter what they say from the pulpit (although God still works through His Word, even when uttered by a sinful human). When choosing your friends, the people you can trust, you need to look more at the "fruits" they produce and less at the words they spout. Are the acts that they have performed loving acts? It is not up to us to judge their souls. We can get an insight into their reliability by witnessing whether their acts are loving.
An example from my own experience: The difference between the first and second Headmaster at Cistercian. The first, Damian, looked for the spark of intellect within each of the students, praised it, challenged it, fanned it as much as he could. He coined the motto "enkindle and enlighten", and that was precisely what he did. In spite of being in charge of the entire first ski camp (30 or so 4th and 5th graders for a week of skiing), he stayed up with me all night when I broke my leg, carrying me to the toilet, and comforting me in my suffering. He still had to run the camp the rest of the week. Then came the second, who dug up dirt on every one who may have been an obstacle to his grab for power. I witnessed his public abuse of some of the finest human beings I have ever known. The damage that he did was unnecessary and unloving. He did it to gain power without thought of the bodies he left in his wake.
Try to find people who have a track record of choosing good. You will know they are Godly by their love.
An example from my own experience: The difference between the first and second Headmaster at Cistercian. The first, Damian, looked for the spark of intellect within each of the students, praised it, challenged it, fanned it as much as he could. He coined the motto "enkindle and enlighten", and that was precisely what he did. In spite of being in charge of the entire first ski camp (30 or so 4th and 5th graders for a week of skiing), he stayed up with me all night when I broke my leg, carrying me to the toilet, and comforting me in my suffering. He still had to run the camp the rest of the week. Then came the second, who dug up dirt on every one who may have been an obstacle to his grab for power. I witnessed his public abuse of some of the finest human beings I have ever known. The damage that he did was unnecessary and unloving. He did it to gain power without thought of the bodies he left in his wake.
Try to find people who have a track record of choosing good. You will know they are Godly by their love.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Decisions
Quick Quotes:
"What is man, of what worth? ...the good, the evil in him, what are these?"
"we are created to glorify God"
(ask if you want source references)
When I received my first Holy Communion, I felt so pure of heart, close to God , comfortable, redeemed. Again, at Confirmation, especially the moment just before the bishop touched me, the remarkable sense of anticipation, spiritual openness, human dignity springing from a divine relationship. Then after much of the noise of life there was the moment of infilling of the Spirit associated with the Charismatic renewal. Glimpses of God being with me. Then came the reality bite of realising that I still had sin within me. The disappointment of knowing that in spite of being saved I was still wrestling with sin and evil, even right down inside where everything had been purified! Bummer!
My will was to be one in Spirit with God all the time, forever. But I still find sin popping up in me in spite of being saved. The word used for moving toward a sinless existence is sanctification. You see other people who appear to be holy, who you can presume to be sanctified. But then comes a scandal. It seems to me that sanctification is never attained in this wordly existence, but is constantly strived for. It is only the process of trying to know what is right or wrong and then wanting to choose what is right. Todays thought is to celebrate the fact that you do have within you the desire to do right. Life is full of decisions, good and evil are placed before us, but it is up to us to decide which we will grasp. Consider these words when you make your decisions today. Hooray for that small voice with us that says "we want to do good" in those moments of decision. Hooray for God!
Back to the pasture (previous posts): the sheep looks up and sees the herd moving, yet notices one not following. He is at his moment of decision. He cannot understand the consequences, but he has a choice that he will make. God's ways are beyond our intellects. Hooray for God!
"What is man, of what worth? ...the good, the evil in him, what are these?"
"we are created to glorify God"
(ask if you want source references)
When I received my first Holy Communion, I felt so pure of heart, close to God , comfortable, redeemed. Again, at Confirmation, especially the moment just before the bishop touched me, the remarkable sense of anticipation, spiritual openness, human dignity springing from a divine relationship. Then after much of the noise of life there was the moment of infilling of the Spirit associated with the Charismatic renewal. Glimpses of God being with me. Then came the reality bite of realising that I still had sin within me. The disappointment of knowing that in spite of being saved I was still wrestling with sin and evil, even right down inside where everything had been purified! Bummer!
My will was to be one in Spirit with God all the time, forever. But I still find sin popping up in me in spite of being saved. The word used for moving toward a sinless existence is sanctification. You see other people who appear to be holy, who you can presume to be sanctified. But then comes a scandal. It seems to me that sanctification is never attained in this wordly existence, but is constantly strived for. It is only the process of trying to know what is right or wrong and then wanting to choose what is right. Todays thought is to celebrate the fact that you do have within you the desire to do right. Life is full of decisions, good and evil are placed before us, but it is up to us to decide which we will grasp. Consider these words when you make your decisions today. Hooray for that small voice with us that says "we want to do good" in those moments of decision. Hooray for God!
Back to the pasture (previous posts): the sheep looks up and sees the herd moving, yet notices one not following. He is at his moment of decision. He cannot understand the consequences, but he has a choice that he will make. God's ways are beyond our intellects. Hooray for God!
Friday, February 16, 2007
Discipline, Discouragement, Faith and Hope
The Lord says: My son, when I correct you, do not treat it lightly; but do not get discouraged. I train the ones I love, and punish those I acknowledge as sons.
Paul emphasizes that suffering is part of our training, and reasons that it will bear fruit in peace and goodness. Ig says that discouragement is never from God because it clouds faith and hope. He contends that God's love does not deal in punishment as human vengence does. Rather God is inflicting the pain (or at least allowing it to be inflicted) in order to bless us.
We sheep know that that Rod can really HURT! If we see it coming we are SO outta there! The wilder ones in our band of brothers eventually notice that there is a lead sheep who seems to understand more about that Rod than we do, and if we follow that lead sheep the dreaded Rod seems to not be whacking us as much. Eventually we are seeing the Rod, and if we move away it thankfully doesn't whack us at all. And YUM! today's forage sure hits the spot, and this flowing fresh water is exquisite! Lookey there, bro', that lead sheep is moving again! Sure enough, there is the Rod. And now the whole herd is moving! Well, almost the whole herd. That one over there is hiding so he can stay here, what are you going to do?
Paul emphasizes that suffering is part of our training, and reasons that it will bear fruit in peace and goodness. Ig says that discouragement is never from God because it clouds faith and hope. He contends that God's love does not deal in punishment as human vengence does. Rather God is inflicting the pain (or at least allowing it to be inflicted) in order to bless us.
We sheep know that that Rod can really HURT! If we see it coming we are SO outta there! The wilder ones in our band of brothers eventually notice that there is a lead sheep who seems to understand more about that Rod than we do, and if we follow that lead sheep the dreaded Rod seems to not be whacking us as much. Eventually we are seeing the Rod, and if we move away it thankfully doesn't whack us at all. And YUM! today's forage sure hits the spot, and this flowing fresh water is exquisite! Lookey there, bro', that lead sheep is moving again! Sure enough, there is the Rod. And now the whole herd is moving! Well, almost the whole herd. That one over there is hiding so he can stay here, what are you going to do?
Monday, February 12, 2007
Muzzleing the Kitchen Madonna?
"Who is trying to?" she asks. She made an offer, provided I refrain from posting about her. I agreed, provided she refrain from posting about me. She agreed, but reneged at closing. Apparently it is too much to be asked to refrain from making disparaging or defamatory communications. A reasonable person would expect more honorable behavior from a godless pagan. This is the woman I gave my heart to, that I trusted to take care of my children in the event of my death? The prayers we prayed, the scripture we studied, was all that just an act? I am at a complete loss at understanding how she could do the things she has done. Or say the things she has said. No remorse. No honor. No affection. Amazing. I expect it will get uglier still. It hurts enough to be unfairly defamed and disparaged. How much more to see someone you love so willfully betraying her faith and shredding her own soul!
If at all possible, let this cup pass me by. But not my will, but Thine be done.
If at all possible, let this cup pass me by. But not my will, but Thine be done.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Blessings and Suffering
Out in nature it is easy for me to see the Hand of God at work. The miracle of life being represented in a new baby calf. How the cow, without education, understanding, or Le Maz classes, brings the baby into this world and instinctively comes to nurture it and protect it. The beauty of a frosty morning or a splendid sunset. The burst of renewed life in the Spring. So many signs all around us, all the time. Yet any creature unavoidably comes to know sufferring. The baby is hungry, which causes it to cry. The human body ages, which brings pain and dimenished capacity. Suffering is an inevitable part of life. Why does God allow it? The oldest book in the Bible (JOB) is about that question. The answer there seems to be: because. JOB suffers greatly, and complains and argues, but in the end accepts.
The Church says "offer suffering up". It unites us to Christ in a way that can be powerful and effective when combined with prayer. That old saying, that tradition, was largely glossed over in the euphoria of the Charismatic Renewal. But it comes crashing home when we get that chronic pain, or lose our vision, or are betrayed by those we love. St. Paul goes even further and tells us to rejoice over our sufferings. And I can see his point when we are made to suffer for Christ's sake. But do we often see our suffering as being in any way related to the Salvation saga?
Bad things do happen to good people. The answer seems to be: because. My response is that I rejoice over the goodness of God, I ask for something good to come from my sufferings, and I trust that all will be well in the grand scheme of things. Pain still hurts, and that is to be avoided at all costs. Reality is that suffering comes inevitably. It is only our response to it that we can control. Blessed be the Lord!
The Church says "offer suffering up". It unites us to Christ in a way that can be powerful and effective when combined with prayer. That old saying, that tradition, was largely glossed over in the euphoria of the Charismatic Renewal. But it comes crashing home when we get that chronic pain, or lose our vision, or are betrayed by those we love. St. Paul goes even further and tells us to rejoice over our sufferings. And I can see his point when we are made to suffer for Christ's sake. But do we often see our suffering as being in any way related to the Salvation saga?
Bad things do happen to good people. The answer seems to be: because. My response is that I rejoice over the goodness of God, I ask for something good to come from my sufferings, and I trust that all will be well in the grand scheme of things. Pain still hurts, and that is to be avoided at all costs. Reality is that suffering comes inevitably. It is only our response to it that we can control. Blessed be the Lord!
Friday, February 9, 2007
Thy Rod and Thy Staff they comfort me
From the 23rd Psalm, the word "comfort" in this context is worth a remark. As a herdsman I can relate to the analogy of being God's sheep in His flock. Everyday the herdsman takes the flock to the pasture and the the water that they need to thrive. He keeps the predators away. Still, the rod is what the sheep fear. It is what he drives them with. Pokes them with to get their attention, whacks them across the back with to make them behave. The sheep don't know where they are going. The rod is the sign from the Shepard that a sheep needs to change his/her direction for their own good. An animal first introduced to the herd first learns that the rod must be respected or it will cause problems. Before a sheep could be comforted by such an instrument it has to come to realize that the Shepard knows what He is doing and must be obeyed, especially when sheep's own opinion is to go in a different direction.
Do you recognize the rod of the good Shepard in your life? Does it comfort you?
Do you recognize the rod of the good Shepard in your life? Does it comfort you?
Thursday, February 8, 2007
I Wonder
I wonder about a lot of things, and don't know if there will ever be definite answers. Certainty is certainly elusive. I do know that we only have so much time to play around with it, and then we are out of time. Life seems to be a series of revelations from God, each unexpected but each profound. I do know that Love is my highest calling, but also the one that carries the highest potential for devastation. Is there really any purpose for suffering? Why can't we just enjoy life?
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