Hey guys, so I missed last week due to a short mission trip in the Big Apple, but I am back at it today with a little bit of a rant. As you may or may not know, today is the day that the Same-Sex Marriage cases are going to court. There are a bunch of details that are being discussed and looked over but the basic idea that is being combed over is whether or not same-sex marriages should be legal. (By the way, I won't use the word "gay" in this post because that is a term that I feel defines a person, and nobody should be labeled based on their sexuality).
I woke up today and checked Facebook like most people do, and one of the first things that I, and probably most of you noticed were the insane number of red equal signs plastered all over my news feed is support of same-sex marriage. OK great, you support same-sex marriage. You're wrong and you don't really get it, but if you want to show that you support it, that's fine. But the thing that really bugged me the most was the lack of red crosses and Facebook posts about standing up for what is true and beautiful, and that my friends is traditional marriage. One mom. One dad. The way God intended it to be.
Now, you may be thinking to yourself, what's the big deal? Why get so upset about someone not changing their profile picture to a red cross? And you're right, it's not something to get all worked up about, but it paints a bigger picture of the status of our faith right now. I think the Catholic church and the Christian faith as a whole does a pretty good job of speaking for our beliefs on our behalf and doing really BIG things, but the problem does not lie within the big institutions. The problem lies within each one of us. "But Josh I went to the March for Life. I went to World Youth Day. I did something. I stood up for truth!" Yes, yes you did and thank you for that, but at the same time, at these events you can be protected by the church and have the ability to hide yourself away from the public that wants to tear you down at your inner most core. The real heroes are the ones that expose themselves to the individual people that want to rip them apart.
I think so often individuals are afraid of what other people think of them that when it comes down to issues like same-sex marriage and abortion, we find it so easy to just go with the flow. It is just so easy to just be quiet instead of ruffling some feathers. NEWSFLASH! We are not here to just be nice people. We are not here to be politically correct and just do whatever the mainstream does. We are here to be beacons of light for Christ, and by hiding the truth from someone that has a different opinion than you, truly you are not being that beacon and are doing a disservice to that other person. If you have a friend that thinks 2+2 equals 5 you surely wouldn't let them go on thinking that until they get embarrassed by someone greater telling them otherwise. It's the same thing in this situation. By letting our brothers and sisters walk around with a false idea of what is true, we let them walk around being totally wrong about how the world works. But by telling them the truth, we give them an opportunity to accept or reject it. And if they reject it, well...God have mercy on their souls. But at least you tried, and that is all that matters.
So basically what I am trying to get through is the fact that we have to stop being quiet. We have to stop sitting back while our brothers and sisters continue to spread the wrong message. We cannot wait for the church or some other group to speak up for us, but we have to take ownership and do it ourselves. Jesus didn't call us to be tolerant of our neighbor, but to love our neighbor. And by keeping the truth to yourself, you are certainly not loving your neighbor. Pope Francis can't speak to your friend across the hall but you can. So stop being politically correct and start speaking the truth. (Mic Drop)
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Our Day
Simply put, March 13, 2013 was our day. It was a day in which the eyes of the entire world were fixated upon a tiny balcony in a tiny square in the middle of Rome. It was a day in which media outlets from all over the world had but one thing to talk about...Pope Francis. Talk of the sequester and other economical difficulties were on the back page. I couldn't tell you who won a single basketball game, and when I went into my favorite hipster coffee shop today (which probably hasn't seen a prayer in years) sitting right on the counter was the local paper with our Holy Father's face plastered right on top. March 13th was our day.
It started out like any other Wednesday. We had our team meeting in the morning, which was followed by mass and time on campus. But I remember myself being very distraught and sort of upset. About what, I could not tell you, but there was a feeling of discontent hanging over me. So, like any good missionary, I prayed about and asked Jesus to take it away. Little did I know that he was going to make this a day that will never be forgotten. March 13th was our day.
I was watching the live feed on EWTN and all of the sudden, the smoke starts pouring out of the chimney. Yes, I was watching video of a stationary chimney. But the smoke started turning white and at that moment, this became no ordinary day. We were about to have a new Papa, a new leader of our church. My own mindset and the mindsets of billions were instantly changed because the largest charitable organization in the world was about to have a new face. So, I ran over to the student center to catch the coverage on the television. And joined with about a dozen other people, we watched Pope Francis take his first steps as the new pope. March 13th was our day.
The media coverage of the event was done, in my opinion, very well. As a conservative Catholic, I am always weary of how the media, especially the liberal media, would cover an event such as this. But, I will say that I was impressed. Social media was a different story. Yeah, my news feed was filled with "Habemus Papem" and other quotes from our new pope, but there was a small sliver that wanted nothing more than to put a damper on this day. I was not going to let that happen. I have a friend, let's call him Ben, and Ben is a confirmed atheist and constantly is posting things in regard to equal marriage and "gay rights," whatever that means. And twice yesterday, he posted comments taking shots at the new Vicar of Christ. And each time, there I was commenting right back defending our faith. Most days, I leave those things alone because Facebook is certainly not the place for a theological discussion. But March 13th was not most days. March 13th was our day.
There were joyous celebrations, tears, and an all around feeling of joy throughout the Catholic world. We received our first Jesuit pope, our first Latin American pope, our first pope with the name Francis, but above all we received a holy man that will guide this church with only one thing in mind...the will of God. For some, Wednesday was just another day. The sun rose and it set. But for 1.2 billion people it was day that will always be remembered. March 13th was our day.
It started out like any other Wednesday. We had our team meeting in the morning, which was followed by mass and time on campus. But I remember myself being very distraught and sort of upset. About what, I could not tell you, but there was a feeling of discontent hanging over me. So, like any good missionary, I prayed about and asked Jesus to take it away. Little did I know that he was going to make this a day that will never be forgotten. March 13th was our day.
I was watching the live feed on EWTN and all of the sudden, the smoke starts pouring out of the chimney. Yes, I was watching video of a stationary chimney. But the smoke started turning white and at that moment, this became no ordinary day. We were about to have a new Papa, a new leader of our church. My own mindset and the mindsets of billions were instantly changed because the largest charitable organization in the world was about to have a new face. So, I ran over to the student center to catch the coverage on the television. And joined with about a dozen other people, we watched Pope Francis take his first steps as the new pope. March 13th was our day.
The media coverage of the event was done, in my opinion, very well. As a conservative Catholic, I am always weary of how the media, especially the liberal media, would cover an event such as this. But, I will say that I was impressed. Social media was a different story. Yeah, my news feed was filled with "Habemus Papem" and other quotes from our new pope, but there was a small sliver that wanted nothing more than to put a damper on this day. I was not going to let that happen. I have a friend, let's call him Ben, and Ben is a confirmed atheist and constantly is posting things in regard to equal marriage and "gay rights," whatever that means. And twice yesterday, he posted comments taking shots at the new Vicar of Christ. And each time, there I was commenting right back defending our faith. Most days, I leave those things alone because Facebook is certainly not the place for a theological discussion. But March 13th was not most days. March 13th was our day.
There were joyous celebrations, tears, and an all around feeling of joy throughout the Catholic world. We received our first Jesuit pope, our first Latin American pope, our first pope with the name Francis, but above all we received a holy man that will guide this church with only one thing in mind...the will of God. For some, Wednesday was just another day. The sun rose and it set. But for 1.2 billion people it was day that will always be remembered. March 13th was our day.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
The Purgatory that is the Confession Line
So a couple things got me thinking about the confessional today, the first of those being my continued reading of St. Augustine's "Confessions." I also had the opportunity to listen to a talk on forgiveness and reconciliation this morning, and I was able to pray with the story of the sinful woman in chapter 7 of Luke's Gospel. Naturally, with all the talk of confession and forgiveness, I had to write about this special gift, and thanks be to God for basically throwing this week's blog in my lap!
The story of the sinful woman is incredible. In essence, Jesus is sitting down with one of the Pharisees for a meal, and this woman, who is "a sinful woman" comes behind Jesus and starts washing his feet. But the awesome thing is not only that she washes his feet but that she is washing them with her tears! "...and standing behind him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume" (Luke 7:38). This is amazing! I can't even imagine how many tears it would take to wash someone's feet and then to wipe them with her own hair? Incredible!
But why is this so incredible? Yeah she is crying a lot and probably didn't have a towel so she used what she had. But it's not that. It's the incredible faith, love, and humility she had for Jesus that should floor you. This woman, again incredibly sinful (although the sins she committed are unclear), heard that Jesus was going to be somewhere so she goes up to him and starts to wash his feet. And not only does she start washing them, this woman is not going to stop until her sins are forgiven. And as the story goes, Jesus releases her from those sins and allows her to go free and now clean.
This should get us thinking. When was the last time you ran to Jesus like that while in the state of mortal sin? When was the last time that you wept over the brokenness of your own failures? I know looking at myself, it certainly has been awhile. But this is the kind of attitude we must have when we come to confession. When we sin, the FIRST thing we should do is run straight to Jesus. He won't be offended. He won't turn you away. I promise. I have talked to many priests and a lot of them tell me that their favorite thing to do is hear confessions, and that they will ALWAYS make time to bring someone back into that state of grace. But yet so many of us wait days, weeks, and sadly, even years to lay it all out there. Suck up your pride and go see Jesus. As St. Josemaria Escriva says, "he has been waiting for you for twenty centuries". Our sin is the disease, and Jesus is the doctor. And when you leave that confessional and Jesus has forgiven you for all of your iniquities, the worst thing you can do is beat yourself up over it. I mean, seriously, who are you to not forgive yourself when Jesus forgives you?
This also got me thinking about that first confession when I came back into the church. It was the fall of 2010 and it was the first time that I had been in that line in 7 years. I'm standing there with two very distinct feelings. One of nervousness, the other of excitement. The nervousness was expected. I hadn't been in the box in nearly a decade and I had a lot of sins to confess. I was about to tell some guy that I do not know about my drinking, my partying, my impurities, and my general lack of love for God, and on top of that, I had no idea how to go about doing it! But remember, I also had a feeling of excitement. And that excitement came from the fact that even though this was going to be a difficult challenge to get through, there was a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. When I left that confessional, every single sin from the past 7 years was wiped away. All the pain, all the self hate, all the feelings of being unloved were gone in an instant. And I swear when I walked out of there it was like everything was pointing in my direction. The lights were brighter. The birds that are nearly non-existant in the late fall of Nebraska were singing, and the people waiting in line behind me were clapping and applauding my efforts. OK the last one isn't true but boy, things finally had turned around.
So, I guess what I'm saying in all of this is to not be afraid of the confessional. Is it scary at times? Yeah. Can it be difficult to confess your deepest, darkest sins to someone that you don't know? Of course. But none of that matters. All that matters is that Jesus wants you to be there. He wants to enter into those dark places so he can shine his light on the places where you hurt the most. He is the ultimate healer and if you let him...he will change your life.
In Christ,
Josh
The story of the sinful woman is incredible. In essence, Jesus is sitting down with one of the Pharisees for a meal, and this woman, who is "a sinful woman" comes behind Jesus and starts washing his feet. But the awesome thing is not only that she washes his feet but that she is washing them with her tears! "...and standing behind him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume" (Luke 7:38). This is amazing! I can't even imagine how many tears it would take to wash someone's feet and then to wipe them with her own hair? Incredible!
But why is this so incredible? Yeah she is crying a lot and probably didn't have a towel so she used what she had. But it's not that. It's the incredible faith, love, and humility she had for Jesus that should floor you. This woman, again incredibly sinful (although the sins she committed are unclear), heard that Jesus was going to be somewhere so she goes up to him and starts to wash his feet. And not only does she start washing them, this woman is not going to stop until her sins are forgiven. And as the story goes, Jesus releases her from those sins and allows her to go free and now clean.
This should get us thinking. When was the last time you ran to Jesus like that while in the state of mortal sin? When was the last time that you wept over the brokenness of your own failures? I know looking at myself, it certainly has been awhile. But this is the kind of attitude we must have when we come to confession. When we sin, the FIRST thing we should do is run straight to Jesus. He won't be offended. He won't turn you away. I promise. I have talked to many priests and a lot of them tell me that their favorite thing to do is hear confessions, and that they will ALWAYS make time to bring someone back into that state of grace. But yet so many of us wait days, weeks, and sadly, even years to lay it all out there. Suck up your pride and go see Jesus. As St. Josemaria Escriva says, "he has been waiting for you for twenty centuries". Our sin is the disease, and Jesus is the doctor. And when you leave that confessional and Jesus has forgiven you for all of your iniquities, the worst thing you can do is beat yourself up over it. I mean, seriously, who are you to not forgive yourself when Jesus forgives you?
This also got me thinking about that first confession when I came back into the church. It was the fall of 2010 and it was the first time that I had been in that line in 7 years. I'm standing there with two very distinct feelings. One of nervousness, the other of excitement. The nervousness was expected. I hadn't been in the box in nearly a decade and I had a lot of sins to confess. I was about to tell some guy that I do not know about my drinking, my partying, my impurities, and my general lack of love for God, and on top of that, I had no idea how to go about doing it! But remember, I also had a feeling of excitement. And that excitement came from the fact that even though this was going to be a difficult challenge to get through, there was a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. When I left that confessional, every single sin from the past 7 years was wiped away. All the pain, all the self hate, all the feelings of being unloved were gone in an instant. And I swear when I walked out of there it was like everything was pointing in my direction. The lights were brighter. The birds that are nearly non-existant in the late fall of Nebraska were singing, and the people waiting in line behind me were clapping and applauding my efforts. OK the last one isn't true but boy, things finally had turned around.
So, I guess what I'm saying in all of this is to not be afraid of the confessional. Is it scary at times? Yeah. Can it be difficult to confess your deepest, darkest sins to someone that you don't know? Of course. But none of that matters. All that matters is that Jesus wants you to be there. He wants to enter into those dark places so he can shine his light on the places where you hurt the most. He is the ultimate healer and if you let him...he will change your life.
In Christ,
Josh
Thursday, February 28, 2013
The 3rd Brother
So, if you ask Catholics to turn to Luke 15:11-32, most would probably know exactly what story you would be talking about. Just kidding. We're Catholic. We don't know Scripture. It's the story of the Prodigal Son (oh yeah, NOW I know what you're talking about!). This particular passage is the perfect measuring stick to see where you are in your own relationship with the Heavenly Father.
I can remember praying over this passage when I first came back to the church. At this time, I had never even heard of the concept of praying with the Gospels so you can imagine that I was blown away by this new revelation. As I read through it, I could easily see that yep, I'm the first son. I was lost but now found, blind but now I can see. And just as the Father threw a party for his son, I was in the middle of my own party.
I also remember praying with this passage this summer. It's probably good to know that this was at my summer training when I had already accepted a job with FOCUS, and things (for the most part) were going well. I read through and could not really place myself with either brother. I had already come back to the Church. I was trying my best to obedient to the Father and His will, but unlike the second son, I was doing it all out of love. I realized that my party was over, and now it was time to go to work. It kind of took the wind out of my sails, but it was certainly what I needed to hear 2 months before I hit campus.
Then I prayed with the Gospel story one more time, not more than 3 weeks ago. I was skeptical to pray over it again, since I had looked at it so many times over the last year and a half, but I figured, there has got to be a reason it's on the list of passages for my WRAP schedule, so I better give it a shot and listen. And man, what I heard from God was certainly was not expected. Again, much like the summer, I did not place myself in the proverbial sandals of either brother. I was not the Father. And I certainly was not the servant who spoke to the older brother. So where do I fit? How is God speaking to me through this? After racking my brain for a couple minutes, I finally got it. I am the 3rd brother!
Hold on a second...there are only 2 brothers...right? Yeah there are. I'm not trying to pull a fast one over you here. But when you really think about it, should there not be a 3rd brother? We have one son who has continually sinned and distrusted the Father in that way, and we have another son that does the work but distrusts the Father in the fact that he doesn't do any of it out of love. He is just playing the role of the "the good son." So where is the son that is following the rules, but doing it out of love and trust in the Father? And that was when I realized that that son is me...and at times I can be hidden from view as well (based on the few posts of this new blog, you can really tell that God has been extremely generous to me in prayer). I need to be the guy that is giving a swift kick in the tail to both brothers, telling them to wake up. But I don't. It is so easy to sit on the sideline and just be comfortable. I say to myself, "I can't say anything to him because he might get mad at me," or "I should probably keep all this to myself for fear hurting someone's feelings." NEWSFLASH! We aren't here to make someone's feelings okay. We are not in the business of keeping people happy. We are in the business of turning boys into men! That's the job I signed up for!
So I guess what I'm saying is that maybe you're the first son and maybe you're the second son. And when you find yourself there, you know that you need to work hard to make sure that everything you do, you do it out of love and trust in the Father so He can get you out of that hole. But eventually, you will find yourself in the position of the 3rd brother. God will call you to lend a helping hand to your brothers and sisters in need, and when that time comes...will you step up to the plate and answer that call? Will you be the one that God can count on to save the soul of another just as He saved yours?
In Christ,
Josh
I can remember praying over this passage when I first came back to the church. At this time, I had never even heard of the concept of praying with the Gospels so you can imagine that I was blown away by this new revelation. As I read through it, I could easily see that yep, I'm the first son. I was lost but now found, blind but now I can see. And just as the Father threw a party for his son, I was in the middle of my own party.
I also remember praying with this passage this summer. It's probably good to know that this was at my summer training when I had already accepted a job with FOCUS, and things (for the most part) were going well. I read through and could not really place myself with either brother. I had already come back to the Church. I was trying my best to obedient to the Father and His will, but unlike the second son, I was doing it all out of love. I realized that my party was over, and now it was time to go to work. It kind of took the wind out of my sails, but it was certainly what I needed to hear 2 months before I hit campus.
Then I prayed with the Gospel story one more time, not more than 3 weeks ago. I was skeptical to pray over it again, since I had looked at it so many times over the last year and a half, but I figured, there has got to be a reason it's on the list of passages for my WRAP schedule, so I better give it a shot and listen. And man, what I heard from God was certainly was not expected. Again, much like the summer, I did not place myself in the proverbial sandals of either brother. I was not the Father. And I certainly was not the servant who spoke to the older brother. So where do I fit? How is God speaking to me through this? After racking my brain for a couple minutes, I finally got it. I am the 3rd brother!
Hold on a second...there are only 2 brothers...right? Yeah there are. I'm not trying to pull a fast one over you here. But when you really think about it, should there not be a 3rd brother? We have one son who has continually sinned and distrusted the Father in that way, and we have another son that does the work but distrusts the Father in the fact that he doesn't do any of it out of love. He is just playing the role of the "the good son." So where is the son that is following the rules, but doing it out of love and trust in the Father? And that was when I realized that that son is me...and at times I can be hidden from view as well (based on the few posts of this new blog, you can really tell that God has been extremely generous to me in prayer). I need to be the guy that is giving a swift kick in the tail to both brothers, telling them to wake up. But I don't. It is so easy to sit on the sideline and just be comfortable. I say to myself, "I can't say anything to him because he might get mad at me," or "I should probably keep all this to myself for fear hurting someone's feelings." NEWSFLASH! We aren't here to make someone's feelings okay. We are not in the business of keeping people happy. We are in the business of turning boys into men! That's the job I signed up for!
So I guess what I'm saying is that maybe you're the first son and maybe you're the second son. And when you find yourself there, you know that you need to work hard to make sure that everything you do, you do it out of love and trust in the Father so He can get you out of that hole. But eventually, you will find yourself in the position of the 3rd brother. God will call you to lend a helping hand to your brothers and sisters in need, and when that time comes...will you step up to the plate and answer that call? Will you be the one that God can count on to save the soul of another just as He saved yours?
In Christ,
Josh
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Come
"Peter got out of the boat and he began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, 'Lord, save me!'" (Matthew 14: 29-30).
Verses 22-32 in the 14th chapter of Matthew have to be some of my favorite verses in all of Scripture. It is the ultimate measuring stick of faith. You get to place yourself in the shoes of Peter and ask yourself just how far you would get across the water. Would you make it all the way to Jesus? Would you get halfway? Would you even step out of the boat? OR would you sit back and be scared to even ask like the rest of the disciples?
These are valid questions to ask yourself when your faith is being tested, or if you just feel like your faith is absent. I know for me personally, being able to pray over this section from Matthew has enabled me the ability to really check where I am in my own faith. There are times for me where I am not only out of the boat, but sprinting towards Jesus and never looking down. "Yes, Jesus I'm coming. I'm exhausted from running this race, but I'm coming and I'm not stopping." However, there are other times when I am afraid to get out of the boat. "No Jesus, I can't. I'll drown."
What needs to be remembered and what must never be forgotten is that Jesus will never let you drown. Even if you feel like you're about to sink, don't take your eyes of Christ because He is never taking his eyes off of you. Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and he started to sink. "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Mathew 14:31) Sounds like a reprimand or a condemnation right? It's not. It's an invitation. It is an invitation to grow in your faith, to trust more in the saving power of God. Will it hurt? Yeah. Will it be uncomfortable? Yeah. But it doesn't matter! Because whenever you stick your neck out and trust God, all you have to do is go back to this story. In verse 31 before he asks Peter why he doubted, he saved him. "Immediately he stretched out his hand and caught him."
Peter took a chance and was saved. He may have gotten a little wet and possibly a little embarrassed, but he was saved. Now it's your turn. Take a chance. Step out of the boat and run towards Christ. But do not ever take your eyes off of him and his cross. Jesus will save you and protect you at all times. All you need to do is just have a little faith.
Verses 22-32 in the 14th chapter of Matthew have to be some of my favorite verses in all of Scripture. It is the ultimate measuring stick of faith. You get to place yourself in the shoes of Peter and ask yourself just how far you would get across the water. Would you make it all the way to Jesus? Would you get halfway? Would you even step out of the boat? OR would you sit back and be scared to even ask like the rest of the disciples?
These are valid questions to ask yourself when your faith is being tested, or if you just feel like your faith is absent. I know for me personally, being able to pray over this section from Matthew has enabled me the ability to really check where I am in my own faith. There are times for me where I am not only out of the boat, but sprinting towards Jesus and never looking down. "Yes, Jesus I'm coming. I'm exhausted from running this race, but I'm coming and I'm not stopping." However, there are other times when I am afraid to get out of the boat. "No Jesus, I can't. I'll drown."
What needs to be remembered and what must never be forgotten is that Jesus will never let you drown. Even if you feel like you're about to sink, don't take your eyes of Christ because He is never taking his eyes off of you. Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and he started to sink. "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Mathew 14:31) Sounds like a reprimand or a condemnation right? It's not. It's an invitation. It is an invitation to grow in your faith, to trust more in the saving power of God. Will it hurt? Yeah. Will it be uncomfortable? Yeah. But it doesn't matter! Because whenever you stick your neck out and trust God, all you have to do is go back to this story. In verse 31 before he asks Peter why he doubted, he saved him. "Immediately he stretched out his hand and caught him."
Peter took a chance and was saved. He may have gotten a little wet and possibly a little embarrassed, but he was saved. Now it's your turn. Take a chance. Step out of the boat and run towards Christ. But do not ever take your eyes off of him and his cross. Jesus will save you and protect you at all times. All you need to do is just have a little faith.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Our German Shepherd
I think I would have been doing a disservice if I would have spent my time writing this week about anything other than the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI. When the announcement came out on Monday, I, like most of the Catholic Community was absolutely shocked. I instantly knew that this was my material for the week and I felt like I needed to write about it immediately. So I started thinking about what I would write about Papa Bene and his life and then I came to the realization that I really didn't have anything...
April 2, 2005. The day that Pope John Paul II passed on from this world. At the time I was a 15 year old kid who was starting to form his own identity, one certainly not centered in the church. However, I can tell you exactly where I was and what I was doing on that historic day, much like I can tell you where I was when the twin towers were struck or when the president was elected. That's the kind of impact that man had. His death made me take my mind off of a silly freshman baseball game in Bellevue, Nebraska and focus the rest of the day to man I had never met, or never even really knew.
One thing that I can't tell you is where I was when Pope Benedict was elected to the papacy. In fact, without looking it up, I can't even tell you the day. And I think about that, and I feel horrible. This is the pope we are talking about! The leader of our church, our Holy Father, and I can't remember a single thing about the day he was elected?! But wait a minute...don't you think that's the way he would have wanted it? A quiet man, he lived his life with his books, his window, and the birds that flew by it. That's how he liked it. But he was also a man that was incredibly obedient to God and the higher places within the church in which he was called.
Pope Benedict leaves his post on February 28 the same way he came into it, with an incredible sense of humility. When he took the job, many people questioned if he could fill the shoes that JPII left, but he didn't have to. They were two different people. John Paul II stuck out the papacy through failing health to show people how to suffer, to show people how to use that suffering for the greater good of the Kingdom. Pope Benedict leaves the seat of Peter with the humility of knowing that his health is in a place where he cannot handle the rigors of the job anymore. And don't fool yourself, he isn't retiring to some golf course to spend his days. Pope Benedict knows exactly what the church needs and that's why will be spending the rest of his days in a monastery in prayer, fasting, and penance.
So, I may not ever know when he was elected or I may forget that I was in my bed checking twitter that morning of February 11th when I read the news. But I will remember a man that gave everything he had to the church, and a man that had the humility to know that it was time to step down. His job is done and now the church looks to pass the torch to the next leader. Well done good and faithful servant.
April 2, 2005. The day that Pope John Paul II passed on from this world. At the time I was a 15 year old kid who was starting to form his own identity, one certainly not centered in the church. However, I can tell you exactly where I was and what I was doing on that historic day, much like I can tell you where I was when the twin towers were struck or when the president was elected. That's the kind of impact that man had. His death made me take my mind off of a silly freshman baseball game in Bellevue, Nebraska and focus the rest of the day to man I had never met, or never even really knew.
One thing that I can't tell you is where I was when Pope Benedict was elected to the papacy. In fact, without looking it up, I can't even tell you the day. And I think about that, and I feel horrible. This is the pope we are talking about! The leader of our church, our Holy Father, and I can't remember a single thing about the day he was elected?! But wait a minute...don't you think that's the way he would have wanted it? A quiet man, he lived his life with his books, his window, and the birds that flew by it. That's how he liked it. But he was also a man that was incredibly obedient to God and the higher places within the church in which he was called.
Pope Benedict leaves his post on February 28 the same way he came into it, with an incredible sense of humility. When he took the job, many people questioned if he could fill the shoes that JPII left, but he didn't have to. They were two different people. John Paul II stuck out the papacy through failing health to show people how to suffer, to show people how to use that suffering for the greater good of the Kingdom. Pope Benedict leaves the seat of Peter with the humility of knowing that his health is in a place where he cannot handle the rigors of the job anymore. And don't fool yourself, he isn't retiring to some golf course to spend his days. Pope Benedict knows exactly what the church needs and that's why will be spending the rest of his days in a monastery in prayer, fasting, and penance.
So, I may not ever know when he was elected or I may forget that I was in my bed checking twitter that morning of February 11th when I read the news. But I will remember a man that gave everything he had to the church, and a man that had the humility to know that it was time to step down. His job is done and now the church looks to pass the torch to the next leader. Well done good and faithful servant.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Mary and Her Yes
First post. Here we go!
I decided that the first real post of the blog should probably be about something really important. While, I could focus on the nativity, crucifixion, or resurrection, I thought that Mary's yes at the Annunciation would be a good place to start (especially since I've prayed on it 3 times in the last two weeks). These thirteen verses in chapter 1 of Luke's Gospel not only tell the story of how Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel, but truly gives in insight on how to discern God's will in our own lives. Mary goes through 5 stages that we all need to take into consideration when making a big decision.
STEP 1-HESITATION "Mary was greatly troubled at his words." (Luke 1:29)
Now, I know what you might be thinking. Mary didn't hesitate. She was rock solid in her yes. That she was. However, we are not as solid as our Blessed Mother and more than likely will feel hesitation when asked to do something that may not be in "our plan." It's okay to hesitate. There is a natural feeling to step back when we are approached with something that may seem crazy (like becoming a missionary or entering into a vocation). Even Mary was troubled at what the angel was telling her. Don't fret!
STEP 2-QUESTIONING "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" (Luke 1:34)
Gabriel has just explained to Mary that she will conceive a son and that his name will be Jesus (Luke 1:31), and "he will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High" (Luke 1:32). Naturally, Mary is going to wonder how this is possible since she has been kept pure and in the state of virginity. When we get into a situation where we feel we are being asked to do something by God, ask questions! It's just like the students I used to teach. If they did not understand something, I would hope that they would ask questions. Even more, God wants to answer your questions. If, as a man, you feel called to the priesthood and you have questions...ASK THEM! God wants nothing more than to go where you feel uncomfortable and unsure.
STEP 3-LISTENING (Luke 1:35-37)
Here, the angel Gabriel responds to her questions by telling her that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and that the power of the Most High will overshadow her. He also reveals to her that her cousin Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age. Mary took the time to listen to what the angel, a messenger from God, had to say. In our own lives, we cannot make the right decision, the decision that God wants to make without listening to him. But Josh, what if I keep questioning and waiting but get no response? Be patient. God will reveal His plan to you on His own time (Let me just take a sip of my own medicine here...yep that's good). Dive into scripture. Pray with the Psalms. There is no better way to hear the voice of God than to rest in the word of God. Eventually, the plan will make sense to you.
STEP 4-TRUST "I am the Lord's servant." (Luke 1:38)
We may be more familiar with Mary calling herself the handmaid of the Lord but the New International Version take on it works just as well. Mary had to put complete trust in God, which she does flawlessly. In this moment, she gives herself completely to the Father and trusts that whatever He has in store for her will lead her to greatness. This trust is what we need to be at peace with the decision we make. Yeah, we can make a choice without this step, but will we really be at peace with it? I know for me personally, I am not. The more we trust in the Lord and His plan, the easier it becomes to follow that plan and live it out in our daily lives.
STEP 5-YES "May your word to me be fulfilled." (Luke 1:38)
Mary says yes to angel. She says yes to the Holy Spirit. She says yes to the Son of God. She says yes to the Father. Because of her trust, she is able to say yes. And without her yes...I don't even want to start thinking about that. So for us, we have to be able to say yes as well. Now this doesn't mean that you say yes to every possibility that comes in your way. Missionary? YES! Priesthood? YES! Pope? YES! Okay maybe the last one is a little out there but if you have the opportunity to discern whether or not to become the pope, you are a much holier man than me. But the point is, sometimes the yes to God means a no to something else. Only God knows where you are called to be in life and if you say yes to Him everything becomes a little more clear.
5 steps. Hesitation, questioning, listening, trust, and the yes. The next time you're faced with a certain pull towards something remember Mary and her yes. Follow her lead and you won't go wrong. God bless!
In Christ,
Josh
I decided that the first real post of the blog should probably be about something really important. While, I could focus on the nativity, crucifixion, or resurrection, I thought that Mary's yes at the Annunciation would be a good place to start (especially since I've prayed on it 3 times in the last two weeks). These thirteen verses in chapter 1 of Luke's Gospel not only tell the story of how Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel, but truly gives in insight on how to discern God's will in our own lives. Mary goes through 5 stages that we all need to take into consideration when making a big decision.
STEP 1-HESITATION "Mary was greatly troubled at his words." (Luke 1:29)
Now, I know what you might be thinking. Mary didn't hesitate. She was rock solid in her yes. That she was. However, we are not as solid as our Blessed Mother and more than likely will feel hesitation when asked to do something that may not be in "our plan." It's okay to hesitate. There is a natural feeling to step back when we are approached with something that may seem crazy (like becoming a missionary or entering into a vocation). Even Mary was troubled at what the angel was telling her. Don't fret!
STEP 2-QUESTIONING "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" (Luke 1:34)
Gabriel has just explained to Mary that she will conceive a son and that his name will be Jesus (Luke 1:31), and "he will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High" (Luke 1:32). Naturally, Mary is going to wonder how this is possible since she has been kept pure and in the state of virginity. When we get into a situation where we feel we are being asked to do something by God, ask questions! It's just like the students I used to teach. If they did not understand something, I would hope that they would ask questions. Even more, God wants to answer your questions. If, as a man, you feel called to the priesthood and you have questions...ASK THEM! God wants nothing more than to go where you feel uncomfortable and unsure.
STEP 3-LISTENING (Luke 1:35-37)
Here, the angel Gabriel responds to her questions by telling her that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and that the power of the Most High will overshadow her. He also reveals to her that her cousin Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age. Mary took the time to listen to what the angel, a messenger from God, had to say. In our own lives, we cannot make the right decision, the decision that God wants to make without listening to him. But Josh, what if I keep questioning and waiting but get no response? Be patient. God will reveal His plan to you on His own time (Let me just take a sip of my own medicine here...yep that's good). Dive into scripture. Pray with the Psalms. There is no better way to hear the voice of God than to rest in the word of God. Eventually, the plan will make sense to you.
STEP 4-TRUST "I am the Lord's servant." (Luke 1:38)
We may be more familiar with Mary calling herself the handmaid of the Lord but the New International Version take on it works just as well. Mary had to put complete trust in God, which she does flawlessly. In this moment, she gives herself completely to the Father and trusts that whatever He has in store for her will lead her to greatness. This trust is what we need to be at peace with the decision we make. Yeah, we can make a choice without this step, but will we really be at peace with it? I know for me personally, I am not. The more we trust in the Lord and His plan, the easier it becomes to follow that plan and live it out in our daily lives.
STEP 5-YES "May your word to me be fulfilled." (Luke 1:38)
Mary says yes to angel. She says yes to the Holy Spirit. She says yes to the Son of God. She says yes to the Father. Because of her trust, she is able to say yes. And without her yes...I don't even want to start thinking about that. So for us, we have to be able to say yes as well. Now this doesn't mean that you say yes to every possibility that comes in your way. Missionary? YES! Priesthood? YES! Pope? YES! Okay maybe the last one is a little out there but if you have the opportunity to discern whether or not to become the pope, you are a much holier man than me. But the point is, sometimes the yes to God means a no to something else. Only God knows where you are called to be in life and if you say yes to Him everything becomes a little more clear.
5 steps. Hesitation, questioning, listening, trust, and the yes. The next time you're faced with a certain pull towards something remember Mary and her yes. Follow her lead and you won't go wrong. God bless!
In Christ,
Josh
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