Trading Places

Ash Wednesday Lent 2009

Joel 2:12-18 / Psalm 51:3-4,5-6ab,12-13, 14, 17 / 2Corinthians 5:20–6:2 / Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Trading Places

Have you ever wanted to trade places with someone? What was it about that other person that made you want to be in their shoes? Did he have the money, the car, the house, the job, the marriage or family you wanted? Had she earned the esteem and respect of others you desired? Did he have the intelligence or opportunity you longed for? Did she have the talent or health you felt you lacked? Perhaps that person’s life was less complicated than your own, while you felt overwhelmed by everything going on in yours. Surely envy is a bad thing, but the desire to trade places with someone else, the desire for something new, something more, something different can help us steer our way through Lent. 

As a season of repentance, Lent aims at change — even changing places. The reading from 2 Corinthians says, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” At times it may feel like the goal of Lent is receiving a seal of approval for fasting on the right days, making enough sacrifices, or doing something extra. But the true goal of Lent is to become more like Christ who became like us in all things but sin.

With a false sense of humility we might ask, “Who am I to presume I could be like Christ?” But our becoming like him is the very reason he became like us and shared in our suffering. So ask yourself instead: In what ways do I most need and most desire to become like Christ? If the list is long, you may want to narrow it down to just a couple and make those things the focus of your Lenten penance.

Having narrowed down your list to these few, ask yourself, “What can I do each day or each week to allow Christ to change me in this area?” Don’t look for the most difficult thing. Keeping it simple may help sustain the practice throughout the season.

This Lent let Christ live in you!

·        Describe your relationship with God as it is now. Describe your relationship with God as you would like it to be. Does your description match the relationship Jesus had with his Father?

·        What attribute of Christ do you most want to imitate in your life? Ask Christ to help you grow in this quality.

Lent: A Season to Deepen Our Relationship with Christ

Introduction

Lent: A Season to Deepen Our Relationship with Christ

Good news! Lent is not really about sin – at least not primarily. It’s not about beating ourselves up for continuing Adam and Eve’s fallen ways. It’s about returning to the font of life. It’s about cleaning out the clutter that has compromised our relationships. It’s about purifying our seeing, tasting, touching, smelling, hearing, and the desires of our souls, so we can better strive for the cross and resurrection of this season and everyday life.

During Lent we are called to turn away from sin and live the gospel. To do so we need to examine what tempts us. In the process we can get lost in self-pity or self-condemnation. We might take on penances without any connection to our relationship with Christ and neighbor. We can sometimes forget why we’re giving things up, or doing something extra.

As we begin Lent we would do well to consider what penances we will choose and how they are connected to our relationships with Christ and others. If our penances are not connected to the state of our relationships we may find that Lent bears little fruit, and after these 40 days our relationships are in need of the same renovation as before the ashes were imposed.

This Lent I invite you to ask, “What is my relationship with Christ is meant to be like? What is it like now? Don’t focus primarily on your failure, but on learning what kind of response the grace of Christ requires, and how we can build the strong relationship with Christ that he wills us to have. To bear fruit we must focus our first glance not on ourselves – which might become a pity party or a dance of self-deception – but on Christ. What does it take to reach him? What impedes our progress toward him? What is in the way rather than on the way?

Our souls get stuffed with many things that become distractions and deterrents to our progress. The fasting of Lent is meant to empty us of the clutter that has accrued; perhaps the excess has been gathered because of inattention, or disordered priorities. Lenten repentance is a call to attention and prioritizing. Fasting, prayer and almsgiving might mean taking a break from the ordinary consumer and entertainment culture that drives our society to madness. Lent is a time to step away from those dynamics and observe the frenzied tugs and attractions they generate in us, and the effect they have on our spiritual life. Lent is a time to step closer to Christ and immerse ourselves in his culture.

Lent is not primarily about sin; it’s about our relationship with Christ. It’s about getting ready for resurrection and glory. The reason for us to go into the desert of Lent is not to deprive ourselves for deprivation’s sake, but in order to meet Christ. Anything else misses the point. I hope these Lenten Meditations help you deepen your relationship with Christ. Before you begin, take a moment to consider the following questions:

·        Do you want a deeper relationship with Christ?

·        What will be most helpful to you in developing a deeper relationship with Christ?

·        Are you willing to cultivate this during the days of Lent?

·        What special preparations do you need to make in order to bear fruit?

God bless your desire to return to him and be saved in Christ!

A World Where Everyone Is Searching for Jesus

Wednesday of the First Week of the Year

Hebrews 2:14-18 / Ps 105:1-4, 6-9 Mk 1:29-39

A World Where Everyone Is Searching for Jesus

I dream of a world where everyone is searching for Jesus. But that is not the world we live in. Mention of the name of Jesus turns many people off. Placing faith in Jesus is considered to be one among many options. For many people it holds no special appeal. For some it is even a matter of disdain.

Why do I dream of world where everyone is searching for Jesus? Because I am searching for him, but my search often waxes and wanes. I am not as consistent as I would like to be. I start looking for him, get sidetracked, get discouraged, get confused, get interested and start again. I want a world where everyone is looking for Jesus because I want accountability partners, cheerleaders, and someone to both help me, and for me to help.

And I know that this searching for Jesus is not like anything or anyone else I search for. Jesus is not one among many things to seek. Jesus is the one to seek in everything and everyone, and above all else.

I want to go to Jesus and say, “Everyone is searching for you.” But since I left religious life and priesthood where I daily dealt with people who were looking for Jesus (or at least thought they should look for Jesus), I have not found too many people searching for him. Many don’t want to be bothered by him. This saddens me. I think he is THE person to get to know. But many people consider him to be a party pooper, no fun, a moralizer.

I think it is trite to argue that Jesus was a party animal by quoting his critics’ objection that he was a glutton and a drunkard. No doubt Jesus enjoyed food, drink and friends. Today in the Gospel of Mark we read that Jesus was a healer, a miracle worker. People heard and saw what he did and wanted to find him. Perhaps it wasn’t for the most altruistic of reasons. Perhaps they were selfish. Or maybe they were just looking for their burden of pain to be lifted. But we all have to start somewhere.

Karl Rahner, SJ wrote that all who seek the truth are indeed searching for Jesus – even if they name that truth another way (Rahner in dialogue with a rabbi, once accepted that term anonymous Jew as a compliment). What is more, he said that we all seek God, and we are created in such a way that we are capable of finding God.

Perhaps we are all searching for Jesus. Sometimes we just settle for far less than we are capable of, far less than Jesus.

The disciples found Jesus and told him “Everyone is searching for you.” Are you interested in what “everyone” was searching for?

·         What are you searching for?

·         What have you found so far?

I Do Will It

January 7 - Friday after Epiphany

1 John 5:5-13 / Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20 / Luke 5:12-16

“I Do Will It”

What a strange thing to say to Jesus: “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Is the leper’s prayer, “If you wish…” holy resignation? Is it a mere formality? Does he already believe that Jesus wills his healing? Is it a hope? Is it a desperate plea? Is it some combination of these?

When we pray, “…if it is in accord with your will,” how often do we get the response, “I do will it?” What do we believe God wills for us? What do we expect from God in answer to our prayers? 

The classical answer for what God wills is that we love and serve God while being reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy in the next. We know that God wills that we love one another; that we have eternal life; that we believe in his Son.

But what about our “lesser” prayers – the prayers that do not deal with the “ultimate things”?  Prayers that we or someone we know be made clean of some habit, addiction or illness: perhaps the healing would free us or our loved one for some kind of service to humanity and God; perhaps our suffering could unite us to the Lord’s passion. Prayer for the success of the work of our hands: perhaps our achievement could bring God glory; perhaps our failure could make us turn to him more ardently and re-evaluate where we direct our efforts.

“Lord, if you wish you can…”

What do I want? What does God will?

• Make a quick response to this question:
• What is your “If you wish you can…” statement? 
• What do you believe God wills for you? Are you willing to ask for it now?
• What have you asked for in prayer that you do not believe has been granted to you? Speak to God about this, and ask God to bring you to faith with or without the answer that you desire.

Leaving Disturbed

January 6 - Thursday after Epiphany

1 John 4:19-5:4 / Psalm 72:1-2, 14 and 15bc, 17 / Luke 4:14-22a

                                                                             

Leaving Disturbed

On the Sabbath when Jesus read from the Isaiah scroll, I wonder what his long-time neighbors expected to happen. Probably nothing extraordinary, probably nothing that would lead them to back one of their own to the edge of a cliff.

Did any of them expect that God’s word would be fulfilled in their hearing that very day? It seems that, regardless of their expectations, they were not able to recognize the word being fulfilled in their midst.

What about us? When we gather at liturgy for Word and Sacrament, do we expect that God’s word will be fulfilled in our hearing, in our gathering? Do we expect that the word proclaimed and preached will throw light on our daily living? Do we expect that our lives will be changed because of what we do on Sunday morning? Is that a living expectation?

Are we too familiar with the man from Nazareth to recognize him for the prophetic figure that he is? Do we expect to be surprised and challenged, or do we expect that “what goes on at liturgy, stays at liturgy?” That whatever happens at Mass will simply reinforce what we already believe, rather than become a corrective lens and a call to conversion?

• Last time you went to Church what did you expect? Next time you go to Church what do you expect?

All the Difference in the World

January 5 - Wednesday after Epiphany

1 John 4:11-18 / Psalm 72:1-2, 10, 12-13 / Mark 6:45-52

All the Difference in the World

I think King Solomon had it wrong. When God said in his dream, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you," (1 Kings 3:5) Solomon asked for discernment of heart (wisdom) so that he could judge rightly and rule justly.

If God were to offer me the chance to ask for anything I wanted, I would ask for love: the gift to love God with all that I am, to love my neighbor generously, and to let myself be loved with no agenda. I know my efforts to love are sometimes muted and half-hearted. I need God’s help to love as I ought. Yes, I would ask for love.

In today’s first reading we have the best explanation of God: God is love (1 John 4:16). While love does not exhaust who God is — for God is also wisdom, knowledge, peace, power, truth, life, etc. — love informs all God’s other characteristics. Love gives wisdom and knowledge their purpose, placing them at the service of human freedom. Love makes peace far more than the absence of conflict; love makes peace harmony. Love makes power the servant rather than the master. Love makes truth the revelation, not simply of what is, but of what is meant to be. Love makes justice a matter of healing and reconciliation rather than punishment and revenge. And love makes life worth living.

In the opening lines of the Encyclical, Deus Caritas Est Pope Benedict XVI makes an overarching claim for 1 John 4:16: “We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.”

“…in these words the Christian can express the fundamental decision of his life. Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.”

In this Christmas Season we celebrate that loving encounter with God: Jesus Christ born for us. As the pope says, Christian love is not a lofty idea, it is God loving us, and it is the only adequate response we can give to God’s love for us: to love God in return – however disproportionately - and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

If God is love, it makes all the difference in the world.

• Reflect on the words, “God is love.”  What does this mean to you?  How has this truth changed your life?

Amazed by Grace

January 4 - Tuesday after Epiphany or January

1 John 4:7-10 / Psalm 72:1-2, 3-4, 7-8 / Mark 6:34-44

Amazed by Grace

What amazes me most about this miraculous feeding is not that we begin with five loaves and two fish and satisfy a crowd of 5000 men plus who knows how many women and children. What amazes me most is that there are twelve baskets of leftovers. In other words, they did not merely have enough. They were satisfied. The reading doesn’t say that they managed to throw a meal together by making do with what they had. The passage indicates there was an excess of supply – more at the end than what they started with. 

I assume his disciples were as amazed at this as I am.

·        When has Jesus Christ amazed you?