Fire!

 

The recent Eucharistic Congress has lit a fire in most attendees.  They want to evangelize, spread the belief in the truth that God is here, present in the Eucharist. They are like fires looking for kindling.  A local parish will begin study and discussions of the Wild Goose videos on The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.  They are extremely well-done explanations of Christ’s life which will create a kindling of hearts, and more people will, I’m sure, want to pray and live out their faith, to witness.  But at my men’s group meeting this morning, we were discussing a book on the Eucharist, and the table leader spoke of how he believes what the Church teaches, but he never really “felt” any presence of Jesus in that host.  And he looked around the table for assurance from the other men.  He had no consolations, so he has a weak faith.

Thoughts immediately poured into my heart, and I spoke.  Love, forgiveness and faith are things we WILL TO do.  No senses trigger them, nor result from them.  That person we commit to love, we may not “like”, and that thing we have faith in we may never have seen “proof” of, we love and have faith anyway.  That is how Jesus taught us to live --- as He did.  St. Teresa of Calcutta willed to love the smelly people she cared for and to do many other difficult things, and she had no consolations from God for over 30 years, but she continued to do as He taught.  Her life was no parties, no happy meals of great food and music --- but she did have one thing:  joy.  Her committed actions made her become what they represented, another Christ, as she continued to grow in love, and forgiveness, and in faith.  And with her growth came a joy which others say she “just radiated.”  THAT was not something she willed; It was a gift.

I enjoyed the Gloria Purvis speech at the Eucharistic Congress on Saturday.  She spoke of a focus on unity, as children of God, which is a form of loving our neighbor --- all of them, but she never spoke the word love, nor witness, which is how we best evangelize.  “Hey, look at them!  See how they love one another!” is how the Romans identified Christians for persecution, even as their witness of faith triggered others to become Christian.

I think the rosary study groups at the local parish will deepen the faith --- and commitment to love --- in many lukewarm Catholics, which is good.  But a broader, more noticeable witness is needed, like that of the apostles who fell on their faces in awe of God at the Transfiguration of Jesus.  As my men’s group gave witness, many Catholics are far from in awe of the Real Presence they commit to believe.  A real question to be pondered is how we can witness in such a way that others will say “Hey.  Look at them! …”

They need to look at us and yell: Fire!

If You Say It, Mean It

 

The Surrender Novena is a prayer for our troubled times.  The novena has, for nine days, a short reflection in which Jesus speaks to you, telling you to not worry, to not be anxious.  He is here for us.  Each day’s prayer then ends with us responding to Jesus: “O Jesus, I surrender myself to You, take care of everything!”

Last Tuesday I received a call from the repair company telling me the part I needed was in, and asking if could they come next week (today) to install it.  My calendar was clear, so I said yes.  But then some things needed purchase, and by Sunday my checking account was low.  Should I skip my Sunday donation this week, so I had enough money for the repair man?  I finally decided no, it’s Gods money not mine, so I made my usual church donation.  This morning, as the repairman visited, I looked at the checking book balance.  What now?

Does the repair man accept credit cards?  If my check to his company bounced, what would be the penalty from my bank, from his company?  Should I just re-schedule the appointment and try and synchronize our schedules again?  Tomorrow my monthly Social Security check is due; maybe any check I wrote today won’t clear until then?

I decided to just wait and ask the repairman, if he knew, or could suggest action.  I’m sure he likely ran into this situation in the past.  So, he came over this morning and made the repairs.  And when he was done, he came over to me and said:  The amount due is $165.00 dollars.  I looked in my checkbook.  The balance I showed?  $167.54. 

Now, I rarely balance my checkbook, so the actual amount was probably more or less, still, in my heart I heard that small still voice saying: “Didn’t I say not to worry?  Didn’t you tell me: ‘O Jesus, I surrender myself to You, take care of everything?” 

I could only smile.  If you PRAY it, mean it. 

While We're Still Here

 

I never had a “bucket list,” although I did have some thoughts on post-retirement.  But God had other plans, and I found myself using my post-retirement years to take care of mom.  God’s plans, though, were better than any I might have mused about.

In recent conversations with some friends, they spoke of what they are now trying to find the time (or money) to do in their old age.  They are good people.  Those are good things they are planning or doing.  The thought came to me, however, is that many of their plans are kind of like acting out a bucket list.  They are doing some things they view as important, while they are still here alive on earth.

But, an end to that time will come for all of us.

The things my friends are happily doing are trying to make the best use of the time they have left.  But they believe, as I do, that the life here is not the end of their time.  So, what IS the best use of our time while still here?

When we die, it’ll kind of be like we’ll moving to a new place and never coming back.  Yes, it is good to relish what we have and had now, spending time with loved ones, maybe even cleaning house, because someone will follow in our footsteps.  Those things my friends speak of doing, if not done selfishly, are just what Jesus called “loving your neighbor.” But is that all you should do before you leave here?

What about your plans for where you are going?  You do make a plan, whenever you go on a long trip, don’t you?  Don’t you research the place you are going to, to make sure it is where you want to be?  Or do you just go where someone told you to go, and not worry about it?  Unlike them, though, we do have a large impact, the total impact, on where we will be going.  No one here on earth is going to decide for us that place, our final destination.  At a minimum, shouldn’t we get a map and study how to get there, so we don’t get lost on the way?  While we might not be able to converse with someone who has already been there, we can have an idea of that place by reading about many people who have gone there.  We call them saints.  While still alive here on earth, we can read the records of how THEY prepared for that final move.  We can learn from them.

I look to these examples and read of their lives.  And I look to the Bible, and the life of Jesus, who came to open the gates to heaven, where we can go, if we choose to be with Him.  As God, He was in heaven before He came to earth.  He told us many things about it, and simple ways to get there, and be with Him where He now is forever.  And we can be, too. 

After lots of study, I know it is where I’ll choose to go, and from the Words He gave to us, how I’ll choose to live in the meantime.  I don’t want to be unprepared to leave.  That will be my major priority, while I’m still here.