Wednesday, December 29, 2021

You Are Not Alone (2)

 

I heard an interview with Fr. Mike Schmitz for the first time yesterday.  His Bible in a Year podcasts have had over 170 million downloads year-to-date, and are one of the most popular podcasts in the world.  (The daily broadcasts will repeat starting January 1, and you can sign up anytime.)  Fr. Mike explained the logistics of the daily broadcasts, but I was struck --- as he was --- as to the reason why he began them.  He explained that through his own reading of the Bible, he developed an awareness of the big picture, the one constant throughout the Bible.  God opened his eyes.

Throughout the Old Testament, he noted, the Jewish people were often rescued by God from terrible disasters, for which they gave Him thanks and praise --- only to forget a few years later all that He had done for them.  So, the Jewish people then abandoned worship of God, only to be struck again with disaster for their sins.  Over and over again, flood, exile, slavery, and slaughter of the Jewish nation came about, until God heard their prayers and rescued them, until the cycle repeated again.  “But,” Fr. Mike noted, “I saw how despite their sins and abandoning of God, He never abandoned them.  In their worst tragedies, they could be certain God would hear their prayers, and answer:  You are not alone.”

Fr. Mike noted that the dark times we are in right now are not unlike the many dark times of the Bible.  He thought that listeners of the Bible in a Year podcasts might be having the Bible’s big picture sink in for them also, and that may be the reason for its popularity.  People yearn to hear:  In these dark times, you are not alone.

It seems to be a message the whole world is yearning to hear.

The podcasts will repeat starting January 1, 2022.

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

What's More Important: The World or Me?

 

The January 2, 2022 Issue of Our Sunday Visitor Catholic newspaper had a number of well-written articles, but I noticed they seemed to be asking a question:  What are your priorities, and should you consider a re-focusing this new year --- although none of the articles actually asked that question.

With the January 2nd’s Feast of the Epiphany, an article spoke to the Magi --- the three kings of the Orient, and their visit to another king, Jesus.  They saw Jesus as the Messiah, the long-awaited king of the Jews, and the world.  They longed to see and pay homage to Him, a greater king than themselves.  But there was also Herod, who also saw Jesus as a greater king than himself, and so tried to kill Him.  The Magi were concerned about God and the world, and Herod, himself.

The newspaper also had an article about families.  It quoted a survey which said 44% of adults 18-49 don’t intend to have children, and half of them cited “not interested” as the reason.  The article spoke to the many blessings of family, and the author gleefully noted: “I can’t imagine life without mine.”  She also wrote “we have had the privilege of co-creating with God.”  She notes that the world is a better place because of their family, although admits that sometimes family concerns are challenging.  But she sees that as a good purpose for her life, versus getting more things for herself.

And there is an article titled: You Don’t Have to Prove Yourself to God.  In effect, those first two articles were comparing our priorities, the world or self.  This third article brings in God as a major factor in our lives.  The first two articles said what do we prioritize, world or self, while this article asks:  What does God prioritize?  God looks at our lives as “beautiful in their existence.  It can be tempting to call our lives mundane.  We can slip into daydreams of how we wish life would happen (the author cites Walter Mitty’s daydreams), but it can take us away from encountering the people and opportunities that are right in front of us – seeing the graces already present in our lives.  Each moment is an opportunity to encounter God in the present…. I think we can all agree 2020 and 2021 didn’t go as anyone planned, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take a step back and recognize that every moment is a gift.  This upcoming year can be good, if only we would have the eyes to see it.”

God died on the cross for us, but that doesn’t mean He died for every whim of ours.  He wants us happy in eternal life with Him, not happy here on earth like some little puppy that He pets.  He came as a baby, and grew up, and lived for the really important things, love of God and love of neighbor.  As God, He could have done all kinds of things for love of Himself, but those are things like Herod did, or the people who don’t believe children or marriage important did.  Jesus lived humility, but He also lived love.  He didn’t become a man to try to act like a god.  That shouldn’t be our priority either.  Perhaps as we begin a new year we might consider priorities, as they are, and as they should be.  It’s never too late to change.

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Almost as an “Oh, by the way …” I just thought of how my priorities HAVE changed.  I once was the person who put self as my highest priority.  Oh, I did lots of things for other people, but behind everything, job, marriage, charity work, was a driving force that said “You’re supposed to do this; this will make you a better person; this will make you happy.”  I was doing many right things, often in the right way, but for the wrong reason.  I needed to change who I was, and I DID change my priorities.  It started with a little prayer, “Lord, let me live not as I want, but as You want.”  Nothing changed overnight, but I began to like myself more.  I was becoming who I was meant to be.  I didn’t perceive it most of my life, but I had a priority on what I thought, or the world (other people) thought, but I’ve gradually been growing in a concern for what God thinks.  And I’ve got a long way to go.  But I think I’m looking in the right direction.

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

It's His Birthday

I was just coming home from saying my night prayers, and the EWTN radio station I was listening to aired an old Mother Angelica program that obviously had been recorded near Christmas Day.  As always, she had many insightful words, but at one point she spoke of how she had to spend one Christmas in the hospital.  “And at midnight my sisters called me on the phone and left it off the hook, so I could listen to the midnight mass being celebrated there.  And afterwards the sisters sang to me.”  Mother Angelica said “It was quiet on the hospital floor, and no one came into my room, but it was just me and Jesus, celebrating his birthday.  In my whole life, that was the best Christmas I ever had.”

Later, she had a caller to the show who said her family had no tree or decorations, but her husband had built a large manger scene, which they lighted and displayed in their front yard.  “We wanted everyone passing by to know it’s His birthday we’re celebrating.  And on Christmas Day, my family buys a birthday cake and we put a candle on top, and our whole family sings “Happy Birthday.”  Mother Angelica laughed and strongly approved.

It was a wonderful program that I listened to on the way home, but that call touched a memory.  When I was a child, at St. Isidore’s parish, in Blue Island, Illinois, I recall that at Christmas Day mass we all stood and sang “Happy Birthday” to Jesus.  That was a most wonderful memory to have dredged up from the bottom of my mind this night.  So much is going on in the world right now.  It was wonderful to hear Mother Angelica’s sweet voice again tonight, and her sincere reminder: “It’s His Birthday!”

Happy Birthday, Jesus!