The vacation and the time spent away from the parish was absolutely wonderful! It was a good time to get away. The biggest blessing of the whole vacation was spending it with two of my seminary classmates, and enjoying times present and past together.
This week, however, is not one that eases me back into the midst of life. Wednesday will see our parish's celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, which means a slight adjustment in the schedule - which is basically switching my day off. Nothing too big, but it will help because the end of the week is a bit crazy for me: meetings, Masses, a high school retreat, and, hopefully, some time of P&W at the end of the week. (By that point, I'll need it!)
But, for now, I'm enjoying the end of the day. Even coming back into the parish Friday night brought some excitement - including some Laser Tag with the youth ministry Saturday evening. Good times, but it's most definitely time for just a few moments of R&R.
Enjoy the journey . . .
20 February 2011
12 February 2011
God's "Kick-Me-In-The-Pants" Playlist
I meant to post this earlier in the week . . .
***********************
The other evening, as I was in prayer, I began feeling a bit stupid for my sinfulness, for my lack of charity, and even for my lack of trust in God. This is nothing new to me - I don't often dwell on these to the point of frustration, but, every so often, my eyes are open a little more to my faults and failings. (Although, I am quite aware of them on a day-to-day basis.) And so, I felt moved to search my soul, see where I was, and to place that before the Cross.
"Well," I thought to myself, "if I'm going to contemplate, maybe some music will help open me up." And this is where God kicked me in the pants.
As I started the music program, the first song that popped up was Hillsong United's "From the Inside Out". This song has always had a special place in my heart, more so following the most recent Fall Retreat where this was the theme song. The song hit me rather hard at that point, beginning with the first words: "A thousand times I failed, still Your mercy remains . . ." And that's how I was feeling at that moment, and prayerfully entering that song was very easy, and I was chuckling to myself throughout the song . . . it was what I needed to pray at that moment. "From the inside out, Lord, my soul cries out . . ." I was crying out to God that He would hear me at that moment of frustration.
The next song that began to play was Matt Maher's "Alive Again". "Ugh! God, what are You doing?" I love this song, and it's hit me on a number of levels a number of times. "I was looking outside / As if love would ever want to hide / I'm finding I was wrong." Love doesn't hide; Love always makes itself known. Love always makes HIMSELF known. "You called and You shouted / Broke through my deafness . . . You shattered my darkness / Washed away my blindness . . ." To be alive, and yet alive AGAIN is to allow one's self to be completely opened to Christ and the love which He bestows upon us through His Spirit. We're not simply alive once, but alive again and again each time that we are able to let Love be present in our lives: to us and through us to others. It doesn't matter how many we've messed up in our relationship with God or with others, His Love, primarily through the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist, allow us to become alive once again through the graces He chooses to bestow upon us.
The third song was, once again, the exact prayer I needed at that moment. It was MercyMe's "Word of God Speak". "Word of God speak / Would You pour down like rain / Washing my eyes to see / Your majesty / To be still and know / That You're in this place / Please let me stay and rest / In Your holiness / Word of God speak." I needed to be reminded to be still and to quiet. I needed to be more aware of the quiet whisper of Love spoken in the solitude of silence. I needed to be reminded that sometimes the best prayer is to simply rest in the Divine Presence.
And that's what I chose to do.
I shut off the music. I simply allowed myself to be quiet, to be still. I simply rested in His Presence.
God kicked me in the pants during that prayer session. I needed it. I needed to move beyond myself once again to realize that the vocation, that the assignments, that all the busy-ness, that all of it was and is, though important, not the most important thing that I should have been doing at that point or should be doing at any point. God's kicking me in the pants that night reminded me that in all things my life is a continuous prayer. Sometimes I forget that - and those are the moments in which I find frustration and aggravation in my life. The more open I am to the Spirit, the more that I allow the Spirit to work in and through me, the more apt I am to recognize the quiet whispers of Love speaking to me, knowing that Love never hides, and knowing that our soul continuously cries out to God from the inside of our very being to the outside of the lives we live.
We all have frustrations in our lives from time-to-time. In the end, it's about recognizing the movement of God in those moments. It's about finding the peace in the quiet solitude of life - those whispers of Love - which allows us to "live and move and have our being" (Preface for Sundays in Ordinary Time VI). We are all seeking happiness in our lives. A life lived in Christ, a life lived for others is ultimately what will help us to become happy. Sometimes we need to reach out in our prayer to obtain this goal. "Ask Christ to help you to become happy," are some wise words from Saint Paul Miki, the Sixteenth Century Japanese saint. And Jesus did promise that whatever was asked for in His Name would be granted. Sometimes we need to ask to be happy. Sometimes we need to ask to be at peace.
Sometimes it's taking that leap of faith to reach out to the Love that created us, to move ourselves from the inside out, to allow our deafness to be shattered and our blindness washed away, to be still to allow the Word to speak to us and to dwell within us.
Sometimes God needs to kick us in the pants to recognize how deep His Love dwells. Sometimes God needs to kick us in the pants to move us beyond ourselves. Sometimes God needs to kick us in the pants so that we can be quiet, so that we can be still.
It is truly "From the Inside Out" that we are "Alive Again", allowing the "Word of God [to] Speak" to us in our lives so that the journey of faith may be one lived completely by the promptings of the Spirit.
Enjoy the journey . . .
***********************
The other evening, as I was in prayer, I began feeling a bit stupid for my sinfulness, for my lack of charity, and even for my lack of trust in God. This is nothing new to me - I don't often dwell on these to the point of frustration, but, every so often, my eyes are open a little more to my faults and failings. (Although, I am quite aware of them on a day-to-day basis.) And so, I felt moved to search my soul, see where I was, and to place that before the Cross.
"Well," I thought to myself, "if I'm going to contemplate, maybe some music will help open me up." And this is where God kicked me in the pants.
As I started the music program, the first song that popped up was Hillsong United's "From the Inside Out". This song has always had a special place in my heart, more so following the most recent Fall Retreat where this was the theme song. The song hit me rather hard at that point, beginning with the first words: "A thousand times I failed, still Your mercy remains . . ." And that's how I was feeling at that moment, and prayerfully entering that song was very easy, and I was chuckling to myself throughout the song . . . it was what I needed to pray at that moment. "From the inside out, Lord, my soul cries out . . ." I was crying out to God that He would hear me at that moment of frustration.
The next song that began to play was Matt Maher's "Alive Again". "Ugh! God, what are You doing?" I love this song, and it's hit me on a number of levels a number of times. "I was looking outside / As if love would ever want to hide / I'm finding I was wrong." Love doesn't hide; Love always makes itself known. Love always makes HIMSELF known. "You called and You shouted / Broke through my deafness . . . You shattered my darkness / Washed away my blindness . . ." To be alive, and yet alive AGAIN is to allow one's self to be completely opened to Christ and the love which He bestows upon us through His Spirit. We're not simply alive once, but alive again and again each time that we are able to let Love be present in our lives: to us and through us to others. It doesn't matter how many we've messed up in our relationship with God or with others, His Love, primarily through the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist, allow us to become alive once again through the graces He chooses to bestow upon us.
The third song was, once again, the exact prayer I needed at that moment. It was MercyMe's "Word of God Speak". "Word of God speak / Would You pour down like rain / Washing my eyes to see / Your majesty / To be still and know / That You're in this place / Please let me stay and rest / In Your holiness / Word of God speak." I needed to be reminded to be still and to quiet. I needed to be more aware of the quiet whisper of Love spoken in the solitude of silence. I needed to be reminded that sometimes the best prayer is to simply rest in the Divine Presence.
And that's what I chose to do.
I shut off the music. I simply allowed myself to be quiet, to be still. I simply rested in His Presence.
God kicked me in the pants during that prayer session. I needed it. I needed to move beyond myself once again to realize that the vocation, that the assignments, that all the busy-ness, that all of it was and is, though important, not the most important thing that I should have been doing at that point or should be doing at any point. God's kicking me in the pants that night reminded me that in all things my life is a continuous prayer. Sometimes I forget that - and those are the moments in which I find frustration and aggravation in my life. The more open I am to the Spirit, the more that I allow the Spirit to work in and through me, the more apt I am to recognize the quiet whispers of Love speaking to me, knowing that Love never hides, and knowing that our soul continuously cries out to God from the inside of our very being to the outside of the lives we live.
We all have frustrations in our lives from time-to-time. In the end, it's about recognizing the movement of God in those moments. It's about finding the peace in the quiet solitude of life - those whispers of Love - which allows us to "live and move and have our being" (Preface for Sundays in Ordinary Time VI). We are all seeking happiness in our lives. A life lived in Christ, a life lived for others is ultimately what will help us to become happy. Sometimes we need to reach out in our prayer to obtain this goal. "Ask Christ to help you to become happy," are some wise words from Saint Paul Miki, the Sixteenth Century Japanese saint. And Jesus did promise that whatever was asked for in His Name would be granted. Sometimes we need to ask to be happy. Sometimes we need to ask to be at peace.
Sometimes it's taking that leap of faith to reach out to the Love that created us, to move ourselves from the inside out, to allow our deafness to be shattered and our blindness washed away, to be still to allow the Word to speak to us and to dwell within us.
Sometimes God needs to kick us in the pants to recognize how deep His Love dwells. Sometimes God needs to kick us in the pants to move us beyond ourselves. Sometimes God needs to kick us in the pants so that we can be quiet, so that we can be still.
It is truly "From the Inside Out" that we are "Alive Again", allowing the "Word of God [to] Speak" to us in our lives so that the journey of faith may be one lived completely by the promptings of the Spirit.
Enjoy the journey . . .
VACATION . . .
. . . all I ever wanted.
I'll be leaving for a vacation on Monday with a classmate from the Diocese of Erie to visit one of our classmates in Kansas. I think that it will be a wonderful time. And while I've seen both classmates since our graduation from SVS in May, this will be the first time which the three of us will be together. Like I said, it should be a wonderful time.
Today marks my seven-month anniversary in the parish. It's hard to believe it's (only) been that long. Yes, some days it doesn't feel like seven months; some days it feels like seven years. (But that is normal in anything that we do.) It's wonderful - in some ways - to see the passage of time in one's life, and also notice how we're shaped by time's passage.
And so I look forward to Monday, to vacation, and to spending some good time with good friends. I just hope the weather cooperates, and, from what I've been seeing, it should. Heck, even now the sun is shining!
Enjoy the journey . . .
I'll be leaving for a vacation on Monday with a classmate from the Diocese of Erie to visit one of our classmates in Kansas. I think that it will be a wonderful time. And while I've seen both classmates since our graduation from SVS in May, this will be the first time which the three of us will be together. Like I said, it should be a wonderful time.
Today marks my seven-month anniversary in the parish. It's hard to believe it's (only) been that long. Yes, some days it doesn't feel like seven months; some days it feels like seven years. (But that is normal in anything that we do.) It's wonderful - in some ways - to see the passage of time in one's life, and also notice how we're shaped by time's passage.
And so I look forward to Monday, to vacation, and to spending some good time with good friends. I just hope the weather cooperates, and, from what I've been seeing, it should. Heck, even now the sun is shining!
Enjoy the journey . . .
31 December 2010
End-of-the-Year Reflection
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision
but of God.
And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only-begotten Son,
full of grace and truth.
John testified to him and cried out, saying,
“This was he of whom I said,
‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’”
From his fullness we have all received,
grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,
has revealed him.
(John 1:1-18, NAB - Gospel for the Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas, 31 December)
Holy Mother Church gives us this wonderful Gospel pericope on this final day of the calendar year as a way for us to remember what we have been celebrating this week: Eternity stepping into time.
God lives in eternity; we live within the confines of time. What God did for us was to step out of the vast infiniteness of eternity and enter into the finiteness of time. This is the beginning of the selfless act of love which ended upon Calvary's hill, with God giving His very life for the life of the world. Yet, it had to begin with this act of love - this beginning of the unconfined God entering into the confines of time and space - entering into the confines of our human weaknesses.
The very Word who spoke us and all of creation into being has Himself become one of us out of love for us. LOVE CAME DOWN! THE Word of Life, Light and Love became incarnate - donned our flesh - and entered into the confines of time and space so that we, who believe in His Name, could one day share eternity with Him. The Incarnation had to happen so that we could have the opportunity to share in the joy of the Resurrection, God willing we are found worthy to do so.
We are given this Gospel pericope at the end of the calendar year to remind ourselves that while time fleeting - as is our time on this earth - our end is not. We were not created to simply live in this world, where everything is finite, where everything is confined to time and space. Rather, we have been created to share eternity with the Word who spoke us into being, with His Father who loved us into being, and with the Holy Spirit who continues to guide all of creation back to the love of the Father.
We are given this Gospel pericope because we must remember that while we have the ability to be called "children of God" for simply believing in His Name, it is that personal relationship that we have with Love Himself that enables us who live in this world while at the same time to not be a part of this world. We have been called to something greater! We have been called to live outside of time while we continue to live within time. We have been called to live in Love for it is in that Love that we will leave time to enter into eternity.
We celebrate the fact that "Love came down" at this end of the year for, in the end, we are not called to live in time, but in eternity. Yet in all things, we are called to live in Love.
-------------------------------------
As I was getting to celebrate Mass this morning, I was listening to 106.7 FM (WAOB - Pittsburgh / Greensburg). They were broadcasting the Mass from Hopedale, Ohio, from the Order of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Father Francis, who was a year ahead of me at the seminary, was celebrating the Mass. During his homily, I caught him saying:
2010 - Never Again
2011 - A taste of Heaven
Okay, I rolled my eyes a little. But as I thought about it, we will never see 2010 once the new year is ushered in. Yet, we come to recognize that in 2011, there will be a little "taste of heaven" if we keep in mind that amidst all the joys and sorrows this coming year, we cannot limit the power of the Holy Spirit, especially if we are always open to the workings of the Spirit.
Happy and Blessed New Year 2011!
Enjoy the journey . . .
23 December 2010
My First Christmas
That does seem a bit odd to say, but, as a priest, this is my "first Christmas".
I'm getting excited about it: From choosing the readings (We do have options!), to preparing the homily, to getting all the "other" stuff done (i.e., wrapping presents), it's been proving to be a fruitful time for me, not just emotionally, but spiritually, as well.
Though I was excited for Advent to begin (and it is a most wonderful and blessed season), I had a somewhat difficult time entering into the season as much as I would have liked to. But I don't see that as a negative; rather, it's been a positive thought for me to be able to be a little more deliberate in my final preparations for the Christmas season. Advent has always been a wonderful opportunity for me to grow - and this Advent hasn't disappointed me in that regard. I feel that I have grown this season, though, in all honesty, probably not as much as I would have liked. But that's okay with me; I'm not disappointed in the progress or lack-there-of that I have made in this last month. And while I haven't progressed as much as I would have liked, where I am now is not where I was a month ago, and so I really can't complain.
And so this all leads me into celebrating my first Christmas as a priest of Jesus Christ. I'm looking forward to celebrating the Mystery of the Incarnation in this fashion for the first time.
A Blessed Christmas to you all!
Enjoy the journey . . .
I'm getting excited about it: From choosing the readings (We do have options!), to preparing the homily, to getting all the "other" stuff done (i.e., wrapping presents), it's been proving to be a fruitful time for me, not just emotionally, but spiritually, as well.
Though I was excited for Advent to begin (and it is a most wonderful and blessed season), I had a somewhat difficult time entering into the season as much as I would have liked to. But I don't see that as a negative; rather, it's been a positive thought for me to be able to be a little more deliberate in my final preparations for the Christmas season. Advent has always been a wonderful opportunity for me to grow - and this Advent hasn't disappointed me in that regard. I feel that I have grown this season, though, in all honesty, probably not as much as I would have liked. But that's okay with me; I'm not disappointed in the progress or lack-there-of that I have made in this last month. And while I haven't progressed as much as I would have liked, where I am now is not where I was a month ago, and so I really can't complain.
And so this all leads me into celebrating my first Christmas as a priest of Jesus Christ. I'm looking forward to celebrating the Mystery of the Incarnation in this fashion for the first time.
A Blessed Christmas to you all!
Enjoy the journey . . .
19 December 2010
Just can't believe . . .
- that it's less than one week until Christmas. I'm looking forward to celebrating Christmas this year. Not that I don't generally, but more specifically this year since it will be my first Christmas as a priest.
- that I'll be celebrating my (and my classmates') six-month anniversary of ordination the day after Christmas (the feast of Saint Stephen). Time has truly flown by during these six months!
- that it's less than eight months away until World Youth Day 2011 is celebrated in Madrid, Spain. Everything for this pilgrimage is entering the time where the rubber meets the road.
- that winter will officially be here in less than two days. (Although, by what the weather has been around here [and elsewhere], one would think that winter came quite some time ago.)
- how many confessions I've heard in the last number of weeks . . . and it won't stop for a while. And, honestly, I'm not complaining - it has been a joyful and humbling experience.
- that this year of 2010 is just about over. Time has come and gone quickly. It doesn't stop, nor does it slow down. I think that I need to remember, however, to stop and slow down from time-to-time, so that I can appreciate the time that is presented to me.
- that there's more to come.
Enjoy the journey . . .
- that I'll be celebrating my (and my classmates') six-month anniversary of ordination the day after Christmas (the feast of Saint Stephen). Time has truly flown by during these six months!
- that it's less than eight months away until World Youth Day 2011 is celebrated in Madrid, Spain. Everything for this pilgrimage is entering the time where the rubber meets the road.
- that winter will officially be here in less than two days. (Although, by what the weather has been around here [and elsewhere], one would think that winter came quite some time ago.)
- how many confessions I've heard in the last number of weeks . . . and it won't stop for a while. And, honestly, I'm not complaining - it has been a joyful and humbling experience.
- that this year of 2010 is just about over. Time has come and gone quickly. It doesn't stop, nor does it slow down. I think that I need to remember, however, to stop and slow down from time-to-time, so that I can appreciate the time that is presented to me.
- that there's more to come.
Enjoy the journey . . .
08 December 2010
Mary was turned "InsideOut"
This past weekend, I had the (awesome) opportunity to be one of two priests at the annual Fall Retreat, which is put on by a number of the youth ministers of the Diocese. This year's theme was "InsideOut". It - as expected - was a WONDERFUL experience of faith. And I'm not just saying that for myself; I believe that the majority of the youth who were there also got a lot out of it.
One of the greatest moments of grace during the retreat was celebrating Saturday morning Mass for all on the retreat. I chose to celebrate one of the Marian Advent selections (from the Marian Sacramentary / Lectionary set), namely, the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth. I talked about how Mary's life was turned "inside out" by God's invitation to bear His Son. Elizabeth's life was turned "inside out", too, when asked to be the mother of the Lord's herald. The lives of Zechariah and Joseph were changed, as well, for their plans were changed by the announcement of God's working in the lives of these two women.
And today - the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - we reflect upon the role that Mary assumes by her fiat - her "yes" - to the Lord. And she, in her free will, was willing to submit to the will of God in her life because, from the beginning of time (or before!), God knew that she would be willing to become the Mother of His Son, Jesus Christ, who came to save all of humanity. But, as we were able to discover at the retreat, Mary had to learn what it was to be turned "inside out".
And so do we.
For us to be able and willing to submit our lives to the will of God, we have to be able and willing to be turned "inside out". The great quote from the weekend was: "The world works from the outside in. The Lord works from the inside out." And how true this statement is when we take the time to not only see how God is working in and through our lives, but when we allow Him to use us as the instruments of His will. For us to be turned "inside out" means that we have to allow God to be God, not to hold anything back, let go of everything that constricts us from running to God, and falling in love with God with reckless abandon.
Mary is our ultimate example of how to do this. Gabriel came to her, and asked Mary to be turned "inside out" so that the will of God may be fulfilled and our salvation may be accomplished through the Son. She was able to say "yes" to something that was beyond and above her, and yet she submitted to the will of the Father. She was confused about what was being said and what was happening around - and inside - her, but Mary was able to place all her hope and trust in God that everything would turn out as He had planned. Mary learned and later on saw first-hand how Elizabeth had been turned "inside out" (as had Zechariah), and this could have given her strength in her saying "yes" to God's invitation.
How do we encounter God? What is His invitation for us? Do we have the courage to say "yes" and place all our trust in Him? Do we still ponder God's plan for our lives? All these important questions are essential for us to ponder over and pray about. But the first question after looking at Mary's example is most important to begin with:
Are we willing to be turned "inside out"?
Enjoy the journey . . .
One of the greatest moments of grace during the retreat was celebrating Saturday morning Mass for all on the retreat. I chose to celebrate one of the Marian Advent selections (from the Marian Sacramentary / Lectionary set), namely, the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth. I talked about how Mary's life was turned "inside out" by God's invitation to bear His Son. Elizabeth's life was turned "inside out", too, when asked to be the mother of the Lord's herald. The lives of Zechariah and Joseph were changed, as well, for their plans were changed by the announcement of God's working in the lives of these two women.
And today - the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - we reflect upon the role that Mary assumes by her fiat - her "yes" - to the Lord. And she, in her free will, was willing to submit to the will of God in her life because, from the beginning of time (or before!), God knew that she would be willing to become the Mother of His Son, Jesus Christ, who came to save all of humanity. But, as we were able to discover at the retreat, Mary had to learn what it was to be turned "inside out".
And so do we.
For us to be able and willing to submit our lives to the will of God, we have to be able and willing to be turned "inside out". The great quote from the weekend was: "The world works from the outside in. The Lord works from the inside out." And how true this statement is when we take the time to not only see how God is working in and through our lives, but when we allow Him to use us as the instruments of His will. For us to be turned "inside out" means that we have to allow God to be God, not to hold anything back, let go of everything that constricts us from running to God, and falling in love with God with reckless abandon.
Mary is our ultimate example of how to do this. Gabriel came to her, and asked Mary to be turned "inside out" so that the will of God may be fulfilled and our salvation may be accomplished through the Son. She was able to say "yes" to something that was beyond and above her, and yet she submitted to the will of the Father. She was confused about what was being said and what was happening around - and inside - her, but Mary was able to place all her hope and trust in God that everything would turn out as He had planned. Mary learned and later on saw first-hand how Elizabeth had been turned "inside out" (as had Zechariah), and this could have given her strength in her saying "yes" to God's invitation.
How do we encounter God? What is His invitation for us? Do we have the courage to say "yes" and place all our trust in Him? Do we still ponder God's plan for our lives? All these important questions are essential for us to ponder over and pray about. But the first question after looking at Mary's example is most important to begin with:
Are we willing to be turned "inside out"?
Enjoy the journey . . .
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