God Bless America Song

 

The closing hymn after mass this morning was God Bless America, and as usual it brought tears to my eyes.  It is so rarely sung.  I went up to thank the choir members, who told me that someone had requested it.  They had looked in the hymnal for it but it was not there, but they knew the music and words.  I was not surprised the hymnal did not include that song; most don’t anymore, for whatever reason, and the song is not sung at public gatherings anymore as it always used to be.  People used to kneel down in prayer; now they kneel down in protest of the national anthem, and Democrats don’t include the words “under God” when they recite the Pledge of Allegiance in public gatherings. 

It was good to hear the whole church singing God Bless America with enthusiasm --- all except the young children, who were never taught the words.

 

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The morning prayers on Saturday included this reflection by Saint Augustine.  I liked it and decided to note it here, so I can reflect on it more in the future.  You may also find wisdom in his words:

 

From a treatise on John by Saint Augustine, bishop
Two kinds of life

The Church recognizes two kinds of life as having been commended to her by God. One is a life of faith, the other a life of vision; one is a life passed on pilgrimage in time, the other in a dwelling place in eternity; one is a life of toil, the other of repose; one is spent on the road, the other in our homeland; one is active, involving labor, the other contemplative, the reward of labor.

The first kind of life is symbolized by the apostle Peter, the second by John. All of the first life is lived in this world, and it will come to an end with this world. The second life will be imperfect till the end of this world, but it will have no end in the next world. And so Christ says to Peter: Follow me; but of John he says: If I wish him to remain until I come, what is that to you? Your duty is to follow me.

You are to follow me by imitating my endurance of transient evils; John is to remain until my coming, when I will bring eternal blessings. A way of saying this more clearly might be: Your active life will be perfect if you follow the example of my passion, but to attain its full perfection John’s life of contemplation must wait until I come.

Perfect patience is to follow Christ faithfully, even to death, but for perfect knowledge we must await his coming. Here, in the land of the dying, the sufferings of the world must be endured; there, in the land of the living, shall be seen the good things of the Lord.

Christ’s words, I wish him to remain until I come, should not be taken to imply that John was to remain on earth until Christ’s coming, but rather that he was to wait because it is not now but only when Christ comes that the life he symbolizes will find fulfillment. On the other hand, Christ says to Peter: Your duty is to follow me, because the life Peter symbolizes can attain its goal only by action here and now.

Yet we should make no mental separation between these great apostles. Both lived the life symbolized by Peter; both were to attain the life symbolized by John. Symbolically, one followed, the other remained, but living by faith they both endured the sufferings of this present life of sorrow and they both longed for the joys of the future life of happiness.

Nor were they alone in this. They were one with the whole Church, the bride of Christ, which will in time be delivered from the trials of this life and live for ever in the joy of the next. These two kinds of life were represented respectively by Peter and John, yet both apostles lived by faith in this present, passing life and in eternal life both have the joy of vision.

And so for the sake of all the saints inseparably united to the body of Christ, to bide them through the storms of this life, Peter, the chief of the apostles, received the keys of the kingdom of heaven with the power to bind and loose sins; and for the sake of those same saints, to plumb the depths of that other, hidden life, John the evangelist reclined on the breast of Christ.

For it is not only Peter but the whole Church that binds and looses from sin; and as for the sublime teaching of John about the Word, who in the beginning was God with God, and everything else he told us about Christ’s divinity, and about the trinity and unity of the Godhead, which now, until the Lord comes, is all like a faint reflection in a mirror, but which will be seen face to face in the kingdom of heaven—it was not only John who drank in this teaching that came forth from the Lord’s breast as from a fountain. All who belong to the Lord are to drink it in, each according to his capacity, and this is why the Lord himself has spread John’s gospel throughout the world.

Who Will Want Those Babies?

 

I once had a conversation with a friend many years ago on the subjects of contraception and abortion.  At one point they said: “Well, if they don’t do something to stop them, who will take care of those unwanted inner-city babies?”  And I instinctively responded: “I will.”  And in frustration they walked away.

That conversation and question came to me tonight.  The culture’s focus on wanton sexual behavior has only grown much since that conversation, and those sexual actions will not change overnight, even if Roe vs Wade were eliminated.  The activity that resulted in aborted babies will not just stop overnight, nor will the pregnancies.  “And who will want all those unwanted babies?”

I recall the stories of the spread of AIDS in Africa, and the many deaths there, and what happened then.  Parentless children abounded, but “or course” they were taken in and raised by neighbors or friends in the village.  The children knew a new family who loved them.  There was no mass increase of children on the streets, starvation, opening of orphanages, or government care programs.  The villagers took care of them (and this still happens today).  The commandment to Love Your Neighbor is lived out, as an “of course”.

One of the criticisms of Catholics is that we don’t live what we preach.  Love your neighbor?  What would our churches, our parishes do if there were suddenly a mass of unwanted children in our community?  Would our priests and bishops take to the pulpit to demand government programs?  But no government program can do what we are commanded to do: “Love your neighbor, as I do”.  And the Bible often tells how much Jesus loved children, and we should too.

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In His blessings, God has made me aware of a number of ministries around the world which focus on unwanted children.  They have two things in common:  they are not government programs, and they were started by one person.  And there is one other most crucial thing:  they bring love to those children.

-          The Lingap Center in the Philippines was started by a man from Jackson, Michigan.  Compelled by the Holy Spirit, he started the care center for unwanted street children.  It has cared for hundreds in a facility where they grow their own food, have mass every day, go to school, and many have gone on to college, some returning to help others.  And the children there often go out to the streets where they once lived, where some children still choose to stay, and they help feed them a good meal --- IF, they will sit and be educated for an hour.  The Lingap Center is now rated one of the top orphanages in the Philippines.

-          Mary’s Meals was started by a man who heard of a war-torn area where children were starving amidst the battles.  He loaded a truck with food, drove across Europe, and went through the battle lines and fed them.  Mary’s Meals now “helps” feed over a million children each day --- supplying the food IF the children go to school AND the parents cook the food.

-          There a number of wonderful, loving shelters for pregnant women that I am aware of, so they and their babies can get past the reason for which they felt required to consider an abortion.  Maggie’s Place is one I am fond of.

I’m sure you may know of other examples of how one person changed many lives, but regarding the question posed by this paper:  Who will want those babies which will no longer be aborted?  I expect there will be many new government or liberal company methods to end or avoid pregnancies (and not curtail “our sexual freedoms”), but that should not be the Catholic answer.  What Would Jesus Do is the question to pray and meditate over.  What if only 10 unwanted babies were placed on your church doorstep; what would you do?  Are you making plans for that opportunity to Love Your Neighbor?

Will You Be My Friend?

 

A few weeks ago, I began walking with someone I’ve known for years.  She walks 3 or 4 times a day.  She’s in her 80’s and has kids and grandkids.  This week after our walk she asked me: “Will you be my friend?”  I didn’t understand the question, because I felt I was doing a friendly thing walking with her.  But she explained she wanted more, specifically someone to play games with sometimes.  She had always played games growing up, with her husband, with her kids, and still does with her kids/grand-kids --- on their infrequent get-togethers.  She does not own nor desire to own a computer, so computer games are out, and her phone is only used for calls. She said her television is always on, but she doesn’t watch it, but likes the sound of voices in the house. I’ve boxed up all my old games from the closet and will take them to her house to play or for her to give to her kids/grandkids.  And perhaps will use my computer see if she might develop an interest in some computer games, and could then I could get her a computer.  I’ll also get her an application to the local PORCH charity I helped start (Providing Others Renewed Confidence and Hope).  She seems a prime candidate for this level of friendship, but I’ve been shown more.

Friends, who they are and what they are, seems to be a prime topic for me this week:

·         Mt 21:33 was about the wicked tenants of the vineyard, who eventually killed the owner’s son.  The Friday Bible Study group went in depth on why the owner chose them in the first place, as friends?  Why not forgive them seventy times seven?

·         Jn 6 was today’s Gospel about the Eucharist; “I am the bread of life; he who eats me will have life eternal.”  Many followers of Jesus then left; “This is a hard thing to accept.”  Then Jesus asked His apostles: “Are you going to leave me too?”  But Peter answered: “Lord, where would we go; You have the words of eternal life.”  It’s as if Jesus asked them: “Will you still be my friends?”  And this reminded me of months ago when I took a dying friend to the Adoration Chapel, and she came out crying: “I can’t believe how much He loves me.”  That’s about friends also.  Friends love, God IS Love.

·         I listened to a reflection on today’s First Reading at Mass, where a follower of The Way had died.  She was known for her almsgiving, and Peter went to her and said: “Tabitha, rise.”  The person explaining this passage noted that the almsgiving Tabitha was known for was her sewing --- like the woman I helped rescue from the wrecked trailer now sews for St. John Neumann parish charity works, and is said to be a great blessing.

·         The Bible in a Year passage today was on 2 Sam 9, where David sought out any heir of Saul, and found his friend Jonathan’s son, a cripple, who David brought to his house to always eat with him, and gave him all of Saul’s lands as his due inheritance.  Fr. Mike commented: “You don’t forget your friends --- even if they might become your natural enemies, like any heir of Saul could be/become to David.”  And Fr. Mike concluded his reflection as usual: “Please pray for me and all our listening family; we are praying for you.”  But this time he added: “People are praying for you; you are not alone.”

·         Finally, this morning I read a reflection from Divine Intimacy, #157, Aridity and Contemplation.  It quotes St. John of the Cross how as some grow closer to Jesus, they at times begin a “sense” of Him.  Many of the saints lost the consolations from God they treasured because God knew they didn’t need any proof of His love.  The closing prayer of that meditation talks to Jesus as a friend, asking Him: “Where are You?  Why do You not console me, since I have no friend but You? … Make me love You enough to suffer for you whatever You choose.   Many serve you, O Jesus, when You console them, but … who will serve You for Yourself?  O grant that it may be I.”         Friends are.