Riccardo to Me

 

I just listened to Episode 151, Fr. John Riccardo’s Ash Wednesday podcast (Thoughts from the Trailer with Fr. John Riccardo).  He said Lent is a time for refining who we are, to grow to in the image of Jesus.  He spoke that he once heard that a goldsmith knows it is time to take the iron our of the fire when all he sees is gold, “all the dross is removed”.  “Ouch,” Fr. John said, “I know I have a lot of dross.”

 These last few days, I’ve been visiting my doctor, initially to help remove a wax buildup in my ears.  But after treatment, he noted that a spot of wax remained on my right eardrum.  So, he did the treatment again (Ouch that hurt).  He noted that a little bleeding began in my ear, and put a treatment on it and said all would be okay.  It was simple.

Only it wasn’t.  That last treatment didn’t stop the bleeding, and so the next day I went to him again, noting I could not hear in that ear.  A further treatment, and he assured me all was well, but my ear remained totally blocked (who knows why: wax or blood or treatment stuff or ---).

Did you know that suddenly hearing from only one ear confuses your brain?  My phone rang and, hearing it in my good left ear, I reached to answer it, but to my surprise it wasn’t there on my left.  I looked and saw it there to my right.  At mass this morning the music seemed way too loud, and yet I could hear the woman in front of me make a little sniffle.

Back to the doctor again. He saw some of the last “fix” had dried and was on the eardrum, so he removed that noting “well now there’s a tiny bit of blood, but we’ll fix that.”  And three hours later, I still don’t hear in that ear.  The doctor’s office just called and said that they’d sent a prescription for me to the local pharmacy.  When I was in the doctor’s office this last visit, I had told him and his admin that this was the last time this week, no matter what.  I’d let my ear heal for a few days --- and perhaps get used to hearing in only one ear.

A bible study friend of mine is totally blind, as is Andrea Bocelli.  My friend is seeking to start a ministry for the homeless, and Bocelli is probably the best tenor singer in the whole world.  I just listened to a Bocelli DVD last week.  He sang so beautifully and movingly, as Pope John Paul II’s life and death and burial filled the screen. The ending made me cry with its beauty.

That’s what Fr. Riccardo was also reminding us with his Lenten meditation.  Now is a time to focus on our dross, to make ourselves better, even if it is painful, and to live our lives as best we can, as are my blind friend and Bocelli --- and perhaps me with only one good ear.  And the reason for our accepting that imperfect reality?  Look ahead; the Resurrection, Easter and a new glorious life are coming our way.  Fr. Riccardo’s talk was a great reminder of why we accept and even welcome pain. And if we have been avoiding it, Lent is a good time to start the hard journey, whether it is accepting pain, or accepting the painful circumstances of our family, friends, church or the world.

As a priest said at mass, give up complaining, give up worry or gloom and discouragement.  Resolve this Lent to change our hearts, to focus on gratitude, blessings, and the beauty of creation all around us.  That’s accepting our pains, with a grateful eye to our coming Easter Resurrection, and joy forevermore.  

And outside my kitchen, I just heard thunder.  Rain is coming instead of the heavy snow and ice we’d been having.  Only I’m about to go out in that rain to deliver groceries.  Thank you God for all your creation, even the rain and cold, as I go out to serve You.

How I Love Thee

 

 

O Deus Ego Amo Te

O God, I love Thee, I love Thee ---
Not out of hope of heaven for me
Nor fearing not to love,
 and be In the everlasting burning.

Thou, Thou, my Jesus, after me
Didst reach Thine arms out dying,
For my sake sufferedst nails and lance,
Mocked and marred countenance,

Sorrows passing number,
Sweat and care and cumber,
Yea and death, and this for ME
And Thou couldst see me sinning !!!

Then I, why should not I love Thee,
Jesu, so much in love with me?
Not for heaven’s sake; not to be
Out of hell by loving Thee;

Not for any gain I see;
But just the way that Thou didst me
I do love and I WILL love Thee;
What must I love Thee, Lord, for then?
For being my King and God.  Amen.

 

--- Gerard Manley Hopkins

 

 

It’s amazing how you can read things 1000 times, and then suddenly you read it again and it hits you with new meaning.  The Bible is like that, but the above prayer in my breviary, which I glanced at, at least 100 times over the years, suddenly hit me yesterday, and I underlined some of the words as above.  I guess Lent and reflections on the Passion will do that.  I’ve been reading some deep reflections on the Passion this Lent.

This morning, however, I listened to Deacon Tom Lowe on Notes From Above, on the local Catholic Radio station.  In recent weeks his show, with Sr. Sarah, has had some wonderful music and reflections.  Dcn Tom spoke about Judas, and his betrayal, and looked at it deeply in a way I’m not sure I’ve reflected upon, or at least not recently.  He posited on what Judas was thinking when he betrayed Jesus.

He and the other apostles likely accepted that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, but their expectations on what the Messiah would do upon his arrival were not what Jesus was doing.  And after the triumphant arrival in Jerusalem and the large crowds singing hosannah they may have thought this was the time.  This was the time for the Messiah to take charge of his people and cast out the Romans.  He had spoken to them of suffering and dying for them, but they likely thought that was what a warrior leader would say, but it confused them somewhat.  Perhaps, Dcn Tom mused, it confused Judas more.  Why wasn’t Jesus leading the charge?  Perhaps Judas thought that Jesus was too humble, and he didn’t appreciate what the Messiah should do, to take charge and lead his people.  So perhaps the betrayal was just a nudge to get him to take action.  Judas had seen all the miracles, huge miracles, Jesus had done.  If the Romans came to arrest him, would THAT be the thing which finally triggered him to action?  Despite what Jesus said, perhaps Judas really didn’t have any idea what Jesus meant.  Maybe he betrayed Jesus to trigger him to start his kingship reign on earth.  “Surely,” he may have thought, “he will never allow himself to be arrested.  I’ve seen all his miracles.  And what a big one it will be when these Roman idiots try to arrest him.”  Maybe Judas thought his kiss of Jesus was that of a friend --- “I’m doing this for you, to trigger you to action.  You’ll thank me for doing this, just wait.” 

And maybe when Judas saw what was happening, what Jesus was letting happen ---- and Judas knew Jesus could stop it if he wanted to --- then, then finally, Judas got it.  And now he was more than embarrassed for having tried to trigger Jesus to action, action Judas thought He was meant to do.  Maybe that’s why Judas tossed the coins back at the Romans saying, in effect, this is not what I thought would happen.  And when he saw it carried out to the end, perhaps only then did he realize that it was HE who had betrayed the Messiah and the Jewish people he loved.  And then he committed Suicide.

That reflection on Judas’ motives were striking to me.  Maybe he thought he was just doing what was right??  And then I thought how many times I act that way. O Deus ego amo te.

Aiding and Abetting

 

We were discussing the evils of abortion, and that the Catholic Church needs to promote an awareness of what abortion really is, and an awareness of the many pregnancy counseling services available to help expecting mothers --- and fathers, too --- through the difficulties they are facing.  I suggested that they promote that the pregnancy counseling services they provide include a full discussion of what are a woman’s options, including --- if she decides on an abortion anyway --- nearby medically safe facilities.  My friend immediately said: “No.”  But I went on: “But I’m just referring to perhaps some scared 12-year-old who might drop in,” and my friend said louder: “NO! NO! NO!”  My friend went on to insist that no Catholic could in any way promote abortion nor suggest they agreed with it, even suggesting to someone which “medically safe” abortion facilities exist.  I disagreed, but ended the conversation.

That night, during prayer, the term “aiding and abetting” came to mind.  Under law, if you are guilty of aiding and abetting say, a robbery or murder, it is as if you yourself robbed the bank or pulled the trigger.  Aiding and abetting means that you in some way made the crime possible, even if you abhor that crime.  And I thought of the 12-year-old example I brought up to my friend.  If I told such a child of a “safe abortion facility” she would likely perceive that alternative as just another she could choose, and even perceive that it was the one recommended to her.  But, as my friend vehemently noted, no Catholic can leave anyone with that perception, that sometimes it is okay to kill a baby child, gifted by God with human life, and that by any form of “aiding or abetting” that killing, we also are guilty of rejecting God, as He offers us His most precious gift: life.

The term “crisis pregnancy” is often used to describe the condition of women considering abortion.  The words seem to put pregnancy on a level with cancer.  But pregnancy, a gift of life from God, isn’t the problem, “crisis” is.  There may be a serious reason why a person regards this a “crisis” pregnancy.  And that really IS where pregnancy counseling services come in handy.  They help alleviate crises.  They make people aware of solutions to their crisis, short of rejecting God’s gift.  Alternatives may include the place they need to stay, the job they need, speaking to friends or family, and even helping them to see things from God’s perspective, and how to thank Him.

Rejecting the life of a child is not like closing the door on a salesman, it is like closing the door on God.  Short of giving you eternal life, which He died on the cross to do, He can give you no greater gift than to entrust you to care for a child He loves.  Despite how or when the pregnancy came about and how troubling things may be for you, He trusts you.  He does not give the precious gift of life lightly.   He trusts you.  Deciding to reject abortion is your trusting Him.