As for you, Capernaum... it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."
Matthew 11:23,24
This passage reflects two essential truths: 1) there will be a judgment, and 2) it will be largely based on what we have had the opportunity to know about God. Every week we proclaim in the Creed our faith in Jesus Christ who "will come in glory to judge the living and the dead." We know judgment is a reality, but we often do our best to try to ignore it. But it is better to reflect often on this coming Day so that we will be ready when it comes.
Here in America we have been abundantly blessed with a wealth of knowledge about our Lord and His Gospel. I am very thankful for that. But with such knowledge comes the responsibility to live by it. The more we know, the more we are accountable for. "To whom much is given, much is required."
The uncomfortable truth is that most of us know much more than we live out. And here's the subtle deception: many of us think that if we know a truth it is the same as living it. But it's not. How many of us know that we are not only to love our neighbor, but our enemy as well? Does that get lived out at the office, or even driving to the office? We know that we are called to love people and use things, but it often gets reversed. We continue to buy things we really don't need and neglect the poor who really do need. Remember that in one of the key passages where we are actually given a criteria for the day of judgment we find that it is based on how we treated the poor- the least of our Lord's brothers (see Mt. 25).
The Lord is willing to bear with our weaknesses. That is, He sees our efforts at living out the Faith and, even though we often fail, He extends His everlasting mercy and grace. But what we must also remember is that when we choose to ignore parts of the Faith and intentionally indulge our sins, that is a different story. The person who lives in such a way is sinning the great sin of presumption and should not count on mercy, but judgment in the last day. Thus, our Lord continually calls out to us in love to repent.
I know much more than I am living out. Today, I want to search for one thing that has been a blind spot and ask God's help to begin living that part of the faith out in accordance with what I know. I can't allow for any excuses. It must be God's way. Because when it's all said and done, I don't want to finish worse than Sodom.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Death By Degrees
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10:39
We find or lose our lives by degrees. It typically happens in installments.
We find our lives by daily choosing our own will over that of God. It is important to realize that it is indeed an either/or decision. It cannot be both. Sin has turned our heart away from God. We do not naturally desire the things He commands. Without a conscious effort to choose His will, we can be pretty sure we are pursuing our own- contrary to His. This is what our Lord means when He refers to finding our life.
To lose our life means just the opposite. We choose to follow God's will contrary to our own. Again, this takes place by degrees. It comes in installments. We do not choose once to follow the Lord and that settles it for a lifetime. Rather, we must choose daily, even moment by moment, that we will obey God. As we do, we are losing our life. Incidentally, we may be persuaded to see in this verse the call to martyrdom. We may think that Jesus is telling us that if it comes down to it, and we must give our lives for our faith, then we must be willing to do so. Certainly, that is a part of it. But we will never choose martyrdom if we have not chosen the smaller "deaths" on a daily basis. This call of our Lord is something that must be lived out every day.
So how will I live this out? Well, it's Monday, and Mondays are crazy, as they are for many of us. There will be many demands made on my time. Numerous people will be asking for my help. It can all get pretty crazy sometimes. Thanks be to God! For He has provided the perfect setting for me to learn to die daily. I will have multiple opportunities today to choose the cross rather than my own comfort. I pray I will be up to the challenge, and, if I fail, that by God's grace I will keep trying.
What about the smaller "deaths"? There are so many. Will I choose the cross in my meals? In slight conveniences? In comfort? With my leisure time? In my family? The list goes on and on. The truth is that we are faced with this decision countless times throughout a day.
Must we fulfill this command perfectly or risk damnation? I doubt it. One would have to be perfected. Yet, there is no mistaking that this is the road the Lord calls us to travel. By His grace we will succeed.
Matthew 10:39
We find or lose our lives by degrees. It typically happens in installments.
We find our lives by daily choosing our own will over that of God. It is important to realize that it is indeed an either/or decision. It cannot be both. Sin has turned our heart away from God. We do not naturally desire the things He commands. Without a conscious effort to choose His will, we can be pretty sure we are pursuing our own- contrary to His. This is what our Lord means when He refers to finding our life.
To lose our life means just the opposite. We choose to follow God's will contrary to our own. Again, this takes place by degrees. It comes in installments. We do not choose once to follow the Lord and that settles it for a lifetime. Rather, we must choose daily, even moment by moment, that we will obey God. As we do, we are losing our life. Incidentally, we may be persuaded to see in this verse the call to martyrdom. We may think that Jesus is telling us that if it comes down to it, and we must give our lives for our faith, then we must be willing to do so. Certainly, that is a part of it. But we will never choose martyrdom if we have not chosen the smaller "deaths" on a daily basis. This call of our Lord is something that must be lived out every day.
So how will I live this out? Well, it's Monday, and Mondays are crazy, as they are for many of us. There will be many demands made on my time. Numerous people will be asking for my help. It can all get pretty crazy sometimes. Thanks be to God! For He has provided the perfect setting for me to learn to die daily. I will have multiple opportunities today to choose the cross rather than my own comfort. I pray I will be up to the challenge, and, if I fail, that by God's grace I will keep trying.
What about the smaller "deaths"? There are so many. Will I choose the cross in my meals? In slight conveniences? In comfort? With my leisure time? In my family? The list goes on and on. The truth is that we are faced with this decision countless times throughout a day.
Must we fulfill this command perfectly or risk damnation? I doubt it. One would have to be perfected. Yet, there is no mistaking that this is the road the Lord calls us to travel. By His grace we will succeed.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Faith Or Finances?
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey
Mark 6:8
This verse shows a contradiction to an idea very prevalent in the Church- that God's work requires money. Don't take this the wrong way; I am not trying to discourage giving. Neither am I denying the practical realities of ministry in a modern context. But in the final analysis ministry can be done without a dime. This is so because ministry is based on God's power and not our resources.
In today's Gospel we read of our Lord sending out the Twelve on their first evangelistic campaign. They were given authority to cast out demons and sent to preach repentance. Word and power combined in that the disciples did indeed call people to repent as well as cast out demons and heal the sick. They did all of this without an ounce of material resource at their disposal. Jesus specifically forbids them to take bread, bag, or money. Rather, they were to rely on the hospitality of those they would encounter. In truth, they were to rely on God alone.
It is not completely true that faith and finances are polar opposites. One may have a great amount of faith and resources as well. But often it is the case that the more material things we have, the less we tend to rely on God. We begin to think that we can handle it on our own.
At the risk of appearing to indict the Church, I wonder how closely we're listening to this message. The spate of fund-raising plaguing the Church right now is in direct proportion to a lack of faith- lack of faith on the part of the Church as a whole, many individuals notwithstanding. If we prayed like we only had God and nothing else, I believe we would see more of the power that is referenced in this passage. I believe the Church would be much more effective in Her mission to bring the Gospel to the nations.
Here in America we have plenty of money. That may sound ridiculous given the current economic climate. But by the world's standards, we still have a lot of money. We tend to see the biggest issues as financial ones. We also tend to think that the answer to most problems is to raise more money. However, the truth is that the biggest issues are spiritual, and that the answer to them is faith-filled prayer. A praying Church will accomplish so much more than one that is highly organized and financed.
Again, I am not trying to say that money has no place. A person's checkbook is a great indicator of his spiritual condition. The more one loves and worships God, the more he will find himself giving. Nevertheless, we have to free ourselves from our relying on money- our faith in it, if you will. Our ultimate trust can only be in one place. As long as it is our money, it cannot possibly be in God.
I invite all who read this to join with me in committing ourselves to prayer. In this let us petition our Lord for a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit that those oppressed by unclean spirits will be delivered, the sick will be healed, and those lost in sin may find their eternal salvation through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us pray that our nation will be consumed by a spirit of repentance so that the healing power of God may flow through our land.
Mark 6:8
This verse shows a contradiction to an idea very prevalent in the Church- that God's work requires money. Don't take this the wrong way; I am not trying to discourage giving. Neither am I denying the practical realities of ministry in a modern context. But in the final analysis ministry can be done without a dime. This is so because ministry is based on God's power and not our resources.
In today's Gospel we read of our Lord sending out the Twelve on their first evangelistic campaign. They were given authority to cast out demons and sent to preach repentance. Word and power combined in that the disciples did indeed call people to repent as well as cast out demons and heal the sick. They did all of this without an ounce of material resource at their disposal. Jesus specifically forbids them to take bread, bag, or money. Rather, they were to rely on the hospitality of those they would encounter. In truth, they were to rely on God alone.
It is not completely true that faith and finances are polar opposites. One may have a great amount of faith and resources as well. But often it is the case that the more material things we have, the less we tend to rely on God. We begin to think that we can handle it on our own.
At the risk of appearing to indict the Church, I wonder how closely we're listening to this message. The spate of fund-raising plaguing the Church right now is in direct proportion to a lack of faith- lack of faith on the part of the Church as a whole, many individuals notwithstanding. If we prayed like we only had God and nothing else, I believe we would see more of the power that is referenced in this passage. I believe the Church would be much more effective in Her mission to bring the Gospel to the nations.
Here in America we have plenty of money. That may sound ridiculous given the current economic climate. But by the world's standards, we still have a lot of money. We tend to see the biggest issues as financial ones. We also tend to think that the answer to most problems is to raise more money. However, the truth is that the biggest issues are spiritual, and that the answer to them is faith-filled prayer. A praying Church will accomplish so much more than one that is highly organized and financed.
Again, I am not trying to say that money has no place. A person's checkbook is a great indicator of his spiritual condition. The more one loves and worships God, the more he will find himself giving. Nevertheless, we have to free ourselves from our relying on money- our faith in it, if you will. Our ultimate trust can only be in one place. As long as it is our money, it cannot possibly be in God.
I invite all who read this to join with me in committing ourselves to prayer. In this let us petition our Lord for a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit that those oppressed by unclean spirits will be delivered, the sick will be healed, and those lost in sin may find their eternal salvation through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us pray that our nation will be consumed by a spirit of repentance so that the healing power of God may flow through our land.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Living Above My Station
"No disciple is above his teacher,"
Matthew 10:24
When our Lord said this He was referring to the fact that we as His disciples must expect persecution of one sort or another. But I see in that simple statement a challenge to just about everything in my life.
For instance, if our Lord was born in poverty, how is it that we as His disciples seem to assume we should live in prosperity? He embraced simplicity, we clamor for more and more. There are more examples. But the point here is to allow the statement to be the criteria for evaluating numerous things in our lives.
I am on the poorer side of the scale by modern American standards. Still, I live at a much more affluent level than our Lord, or virtually anyone else living in His time. How can I simplify my life? How do I learn to be content with much less? How do I truly imitate my Lord?
Another example would be how easy or hard life is. Our Lord lived a typical life as far as we know. That would mean long hours of manual labor with necessary food (but not much more than that) and none of the conveniences that we take for granted (like indoor plumbing for example). In light of this, why do I complain about my job in my air-conditioned (or heated in the winter) office with my computer, microwave, email, telephone, etc.? I think you get the point.
I am asking myself today how I can come closer to imitating my Lord in His life. How do I live simpler? How do I become more content? How can I patiently endure adversity? How do I carry a cross?
No one is greater than his master. Certainly I am not greater than my Lord. God grant me the forgiveness for arrogantly living above my station and the grace to embrace the standard He has set before me!
Matthew 10:24
When our Lord said this He was referring to the fact that we as His disciples must expect persecution of one sort or another. But I see in that simple statement a challenge to just about everything in my life.
For instance, if our Lord was born in poverty, how is it that we as His disciples seem to assume we should live in prosperity? He embraced simplicity, we clamor for more and more. There are more examples. But the point here is to allow the statement to be the criteria for evaluating numerous things in our lives.
I am on the poorer side of the scale by modern American standards. Still, I live at a much more affluent level than our Lord, or virtually anyone else living in His time. How can I simplify my life? How do I learn to be content with much less? How do I truly imitate my Lord?
Another example would be how easy or hard life is. Our Lord lived a typical life as far as we know. That would mean long hours of manual labor with necessary food (but not much more than that) and none of the conveniences that we take for granted (like indoor plumbing for example). In light of this, why do I complain about my job in my air-conditioned (or heated in the winter) office with my computer, microwave, email, telephone, etc.? I think you get the point.
I am asking myself today how I can come closer to imitating my Lord in His life. How do I live simpler? How do I become more content? How can I patiently endure adversity? How do I carry a cross?
No one is greater than his master. Certainly I am not greater than my Lord. God grant me the forgiveness for arrogantly living above my station and the grace to embrace the standard He has set before me!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Led By The Lord
"I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt,
Genesis 46:3
Egypt stands in as a symbol of the world. It represents our former lives of sin. It is what God delivers us from. So why is it that God is leading Jacob to go there?
This story occurs after Jacob has found out that Joseph is alive and a leader in Egypt. Going there will mean blessing for him and his family. It will mean the preservation of God's chosen people of Israel. But Egypt is big and scary. It is an idolatrous place. It is full of sin. Why would anyone go there who intends to follow the Lord? Very simply- because God said to do it.
God doesn't call us to understand the big picture. He doesn't need our approval of His plan. He calls us to walk by faith. It means there will be times- many times- when we won't know where we're going or anything else about it. But we must go. We must obey. This is faith.
The other thing that comes out of this story is that God's plans are bigger than we are. Jacob doesn't know or understand all the things that God will do as a result of his going to Egypt. He just obeys. But God's plan is bigger than Jacob, his family, or his immediate situation. God will allow Israel to be enslaved by the Egyptians for 400 years. Then He will deliver them by His power. It becomes such a key picture to foreshadow our Lord's work to deliver us from our sins.
Today I do not hear God telling me to go anywhere or do anything. I am tempted to think that perhaps I am missing Him and that I need to do something. But that misses the point of the story. The key is obedience whether that means I am on the move or staying put.
Regardless of what it means, I pray that I will be faithful to follow God's direction- always!
Genesis 46:3
Egypt stands in as a symbol of the world. It represents our former lives of sin. It is what God delivers us from. So why is it that God is leading Jacob to go there?
This story occurs after Jacob has found out that Joseph is alive and a leader in Egypt. Going there will mean blessing for him and his family. It will mean the preservation of God's chosen people of Israel. But Egypt is big and scary. It is an idolatrous place. It is full of sin. Why would anyone go there who intends to follow the Lord? Very simply- because God said to do it.
God doesn't call us to understand the big picture. He doesn't need our approval of His plan. He calls us to walk by faith. It means there will be times- many times- when we won't know where we're going or anything else about it. But we must go. We must obey. This is faith.
The other thing that comes out of this story is that God's plans are bigger than we are. Jacob doesn't know or understand all the things that God will do as a result of his going to Egypt. He just obeys. But God's plan is bigger than Jacob, his family, or his immediate situation. God will allow Israel to be enslaved by the Egyptians for 400 years. Then He will deliver them by His power. It becomes such a key picture to foreshadow our Lord's work to deliver us from our sins.
Today I do not hear God telling me to go anywhere or do anything. I am tempted to think that perhaps I am missing Him and that I need to do something. But that misses the point of the story. The key is obedience whether that means I am on the move or staying put.
Regardless of what it means, I pray that I will be faithful to follow God's direction- always!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
God is Good
I've spent the last week in Kansas visiting with family from my wife's side. We really had a great time.
I discovered that driving continuously for a number of hours can be really good for one's perspective. I had lots of time to think. What I discovered is that I really spend too much time being too uptight about too many things that really don't matter in the long run. There's a wonderful peace that comes with letting go of all the issues and just placing one's mind and heart in God. It's not an irresponsible, escapist attitude. From the way I read Scripture, it's faith.
Blogs tend to have the inherent weakness of making one feel that he either does have all the answers, or ought to. We are deceived into thinking we're an authority about something, even if it's just our own lives. But it's not really true in many cases, and especially not in mine. I am not an authority. I am a learner. In fact, I am only beginning to learn how much I have to learn.
So with this new found joy and peace, I am completely enjoying this day, which has actually been very hectic, but also loaded with many grace-filled moments.
Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift!
I discovered that driving continuously for a number of hours can be really good for one's perspective. I had lots of time to think. What I discovered is that I really spend too much time being too uptight about too many things that really don't matter in the long run. There's a wonderful peace that comes with letting go of all the issues and just placing one's mind and heart in God. It's not an irresponsible, escapist attitude. From the way I read Scripture, it's faith.
Blogs tend to have the inherent weakness of making one feel that he either does have all the answers, or ought to. We are deceived into thinking we're an authority about something, even if it's just our own lives. But it's not really true in many cases, and especially not in mine. I am not an authority. I am a learner. In fact, I am only beginning to learn how much I have to learn.
So with this new found joy and peace, I am completely enjoying this day, which has actually been very hectic, but also loaded with many grace-filled moments.
Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
The Vision of Vatican II
By now it must be obvious that I don't have much time to blog. I wish I had more. There's a discipline to blogging regularly and I think that the public aspect of that allows for an interchange of ideas that can be healthy.
It's been almost two months since my last post. At the time I wrote it, I was pretty bent with various elements that I find within the Church that I mistakenly ascribed to Vatican II. I am beginning to discover that Vatican II was largely hijacked in its implementation, especially here in the United States. So what I am fighting is not Vatican II, but the common misunderstandings of it. And worse, the perverse (read that, skewed, or crooked) implementations of it.
I alluded to the Council's document on the Liturgy in my last post: Sacrosanctum Concilium. It really doesn't take very long to read and I encourage anyone reading this to do so. You may be surprised at what it says as opposed to what you may have been told it said.
Vatican II did not change everything. Rather it clarified a number of things in order to allow the Church to face many of the challenges of our modern era. so this raises the question in my mind: how many parishes are truly working to implement the vision of Vatican II according to this document?
As I alluded to in my last post, the document still holds that Latin be the primary language of the Mass. It also states that Gregorian Chant has pride of place as far as music goes, but it allows for other forms, most prominently hymns accompanied by organ.
I have actually been in a number of parishes in my short time in the Catholic Church. The only time I have heard any Latin is in my own home parish. And we only do it rarely. I have seen a lot of use of the organ, but I have never heard Gregorian Chant. Actually, a priest who has been saying Mass at our parish chants the "Lord Have Mercy" with us. But outside of that, I have never experienced chant during Mass.
What I have encountered are a lot of muscial variations. I have especially been exposed to hymns composed over the last 20 or 30 years that downplay the distinctives of our faith and emphasize feeling good about our relationship with God. I have also encountered a fair amount of "creative license" on the part of priests who think that the written texts of the Eucharistic Prayers need improvement to make it more meaningful to the people.
By the way, has anyone noticed that the modern version of the Confiteor (I confess to Almighty God and to you my brothers and sisters...") is a tremendously dumbed-down version of the original? Whereas we used to acknowledge our sins and unworthiness (if that's a word) before God, the angels, and the saints, and we asked for their prayers, now we throw our "brothers and sisters" into that mix as well. It's as if all the people attending Mass with us are just as worthy as the saints and angels to hear our confession and pray for us to be holy.
All of this to say that things are not generally being done according to the vision of Vatican II. But there is hope. Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI is continally working to bring us back to that proper balance that is the vision of Vatican II. There are many parishes that are working to bring us back to the same. It is my hope that the process will continue and that many more will join in.
It's been almost two months since my last post. At the time I wrote it, I was pretty bent with various elements that I find within the Church that I mistakenly ascribed to Vatican II. I am beginning to discover that Vatican II was largely hijacked in its implementation, especially here in the United States. So what I am fighting is not Vatican II, but the common misunderstandings of it. And worse, the perverse (read that, skewed, or crooked) implementations of it.
I alluded to the Council's document on the Liturgy in my last post: Sacrosanctum Concilium. It really doesn't take very long to read and I encourage anyone reading this to do so. You may be surprised at what it says as opposed to what you may have been told it said.
Vatican II did not change everything. Rather it clarified a number of things in order to allow the Church to face many of the challenges of our modern era. so this raises the question in my mind: how many parishes are truly working to implement the vision of Vatican II according to this document?
As I alluded to in my last post, the document still holds that Latin be the primary language of the Mass. It also states that Gregorian Chant has pride of place as far as music goes, but it allows for other forms, most prominently hymns accompanied by organ.
I have actually been in a number of parishes in my short time in the Catholic Church. The only time I have heard any Latin is in my own home parish. And we only do it rarely. I have seen a lot of use of the organ, but I have never heard Gregorian Chant. Actually, a priest who has been saying Mass at our parish chants the "Lord Have Mercy" with us. But outside of that, I have never experienced chant during Mass.
What I have encountered are a lot of muscial variations. I have especially been exposed to hymns composed over the last 20 or 30 years that downplay the distinctives of our faith and emphasize feeling good about our relationship with God. I have also encountered a fair amount of "creative license" on the part of priests who think that the written texts of the Eucharistic Prayers need improvement to make it more meaningful to the people.
By the way, has anyone noticed that the modern version of the Confiteor (I confess to Almighty God and to you my brothers and sisters...") is a tremendously dumbed-down version of the original? Whereas we used to acknowledge our sins and unworthiness (if that's a word) before God, the angels, and the saints, and we asked for their prayers, now we throw our "brothers and sisters" into that mix as well. It's as if all the people attending Mass with us are just as worthy as the saints and angels to hear our confession and pray for us to be holy.
All of this to say that things are not generally being done according to the vision of Vatican II. But there is hope. Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI is continally working to bring us back to that proper balance that is the vision of Vatican II. There are many parishes that are working to bring us back to the same. It is my hope that the process will continue and that many more will join in.
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