Behold Your Mother

Bulletin Article 1/1/12

There are a few “hot button” issues that clearly divide Catholics from the rest of the Christian world. Next to the Eucharist, Mary sits at the top of the list. There has been much confusion and misguided information about Our Mother which has caused many to question and doubt the Catholic Church all together (this is called generalization, by the way). From the idea that Catholics “worship” Mary or the argument over her Immaculate Conception to her perpetual virginity, people seem to have a hard time understanding and believing what the Church teaches about the Blessed Virgin. In light of it being her feast day today, let us look at the most common prayer we have to Our Mother, The Hail Mary. This prominent prayer of the rosary is rooted in Scripture. Obviously the first half can be found in Luke’s account of Mary visiting Elizabeth, while the second half may need a bit more digging into Scripture to find its roots.

Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee
This is taken directly from Luke 1. We echo the archangel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary, “Hail Favored One,” we simply include her name.
Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Continuing the words of Elizabeth’s joyful greeting, we include the name of Jesus.

Holy Mary,
Many times in the New Testament Christians are referred to as “holy ones” (Eph 1:1, Phil 1:1, Col 1:2) Mary, in fact, was the first Christian who accepted Christ into her womb through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is also clear from the accounts of Mary in the Gospels that she was a holy woman as she recited many Psalms and Jewish prayer during the Annunciation and Visitation. Her Magnificat is an Old Testament prayer. (check out 1 Samuel 2:1-10 and then read Luke 1:46-55). It is only fitting that we call her “Holy.”

Mother of God
Not all Christians will call Mary the Mother of God as we do. In fact, many heresies arose in the early church of the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ. We uphold that Jesus was fully God and fully man and therefore Mary as the mother of Jesus is the mother of God (the feast we celebrate today). In Greek she is called theotokos (God bearer).

Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
Many non-Catholics will argue that there is only one mediator between God and man—Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). This is correct, however if we were to read before that verse, we find,
First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim 2:1-4)
It is important to note that we do not pray to Mary or the saints for help through any of their own power, but we ask them to offer prayers and intercede for us to the Father. We trust that through living a holy life, they have been accepted into the Heavenly Kingdom where they offer prayers to the Father (Revelation 5:8). Mary has proven to be a powerful intercessor due to many miracles and apparitions over the centuries. Not to mention the fact that Jesus listened to his mother when he lived at home until he was 30, he listened to her when he began his miracles (John 2) and he listens to her still.

Where You At?

Bulletin Article 12/18/11

“Where you at?” Over the past few years, this phrase has been used in TV commercials, advertisements, song titles and, in some cases, every day conversation. Instead of “Where are you,” this phrase has become pretty popular. Personally, as someone who has written lengthy theses for both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, if I were to construct a sentence in that way, my advisors and professors would rip the paper into pieces. Of course, they would then lovingly instruct me on the correct way to form a sentence.

How quick we are to criticize or judge others based on what they say or do. How many of us place expectations on everyone else in the world based on our personal life experiences? We constantly talk about the way people are supposed to be. “Why doesn’t my son like to play sports?” “Why is my daughter failing math and nothing else? She must not be working hard enough.” “That man only comes to Mass on Christmas and Easter, where is he the rest of the year?” When we place expectations on our family, friends, and neighbors, we try to place them where we want them instead of meeting them “where they’re at.” To meet them where they are would mean that we would have to understand their motivation or lack thereof in instances such as these. Not all boys like sports. Students can easily put a subject they don’t like on the back burner if they are involved with so many other activities they enjoy. Perhaps the man coming to Mass only once or twice a year has to work two or three jobs to support his family or he only comes to this particular parish for holidays. Things aren’t always the way they seem to be on the surface.

One thing we can learn from the incarnation, Christ becoming like us, is that God meets us where we are. Our God humbled himself into the form of a little baby so he could truly empathize with us and understand our human condition. As he matured as a man and began his public ministry, he always displayed great understanding of all people—even those who would put him to death. He never condemned a person for having little faith or not understanding the law; he loved them and was moved with pity for them. He didn’t condemn those who were condemned by the world. His overwhelming love for them coupled with his understanding of their individual conditions moved him to invite them into a deeper, more profound existence. We are called to be imitators of Christ. However, we need to remind ourselves that we are not Him. We are not the judge. We are not the master of the universe. We do not understand everyone else’s hearts. Rather than ripping people apart, let’s lead them towards healing. Let us meet people where they are so that Christ can enter into their hearts and transform their lives. Yes, brothers and sisters, Christ will come again. He knows where you’re at. Do you?

Master Procrastination

Bulletin Article 12/11/11

Finals? What the…! So you had all semester to read those books, but instead they were used to keep your desk from wobbling. You had 10 weeks to write that paper or prepare that presentation, but you decided to build an unbeatable fantasy football team or wait in line for hours to see Harry Potter (not to mention attending all the wonderful events Newman and FOCUS held all semester – up until now we have held 37 events, not including Mass and weekly Bible Studies). And now, as luck would have it, the semester is coming to a close. It’s time to dust off those books, disconnect the wifi and keep your focus on Microsoft Word as the cursor blinks on that blank page.

It’s amazing how we so often live in the present as if the future is so far away. For instance, what are your plans for February 22? That seems so far away, yet it will be here before you know it (by the way, that is Ash Wednesday so mark your calendars!) The final two weeks of Advent call to mind Christ’s second coming. This is something that many of us have placed aside in our faith lives because it seems like it is so far away. Many Christians put their Bible on their night stand or bookcase and let it collect dust. Many of us do not frequent the Sacraments or proclaim our faith by the way we live. We put it off-why? Christ reminds us that He is coming and we do not know when but we must be ready. We have had 2000 years to read that book. We have had 2000 years to prepare the world for Christ’s second coming. We have had most of our lives to prepare room in our hearts for Him through the sacrament of reconciliation. We don’t know when the semester of our lives will end. Spiritual Finals are coming…are you ready?

Preparation

Bulletin Article 12/4/11

Last week the readings spoke of being prepared. This week we turn the attention from ourselves to our neighbors (as Jesus so often does). We hear, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” In this line, we can sum up our responsibility as followers of Christ. One thing we can learn from the earliest Christians (see Acts of the Apostles) is that they knew the responsibility given to them to let the world know that Christ was coming. Although Christ himself told His disciples that they would know neither the day nor the hour of His second coming, they had a hunch that it was going to be fairly soon. Over the centuries the anticipation for Christ’s second coming seems to have lessened and, in some instances, been mocked. This is why the season of Advent is so special. We take four weeks, not just a day or few moments, to awake within us that unique anticipation and longing.

Not knowing the day or the hour of His coming should not scare us if we are living our lives in anticipation for it. If we believe that Jesus was incarnate of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit, He cured the sick, healed lepers, suffered death, rose again in accordance with the scriptures, then we must believe that He is coming again. And so my challenge this week, my brothers and sisters, is to awaken within ourselves the longing and joyful anticipation of Christ coming again. Let’s start by allowing Him to enter into our hearts and helping others to do the same. Are you prepared?

Happy New Year

Happy New Year? That’s right. The Church begins its new Liturgical Year on the First Sunday of Advent (not Jan. 1). Each year, the Church celebrates this 4-week preparatory season in order to focus our minds and hearts on the upcoming celebration of the Incarnation, God becoming like us. With the end of the semester looming, we as Catholics are celebrating a beginning. There will not be a giant ball dropping on the Salameno Center to celebrate this, but there are new changes happening within the Church. As we begin this new liturgical year and welcome the New Roman Missal, we look forward to what the Lord has in store for us—it is far better than anything we could have in mind!

An Advent Poem from Bl. John Henry NewmanThey watch for Christ
who have a sensitive, eager, apprehensive mind,
who are awake, alive, quick-sighted,
zealous in seeking and honoring Him,
who look out for Him in all that happens, and
who would not be surprised,
who would not be over-agitated or overwhelmed,
if they found that he was coming at once . . .

This then is to watch:
to be detached from what is present, and
to live in the thought of Christ as He came once,
and as He will come again;
to desire His second coming, from our affectionate
and grateful remembrance of His first.

The Duty of Delight - A Book Review

First and foremost I have to admit my ignorance of Dorothy Day up until this point. I have heard people mention her in talks about social justice and service. I have heard people argue for and against her canonization. However, I never took the time to truly look into the life of this wonderful person. After doing some research (I recommend catholicworker.org) and, of course, reading The Duty of Delight, I have come to appreciate the life work of this woman. Whether or not she will ever be canonized a Saint is not up to me, nor do I feel that a simple book review would be cause for such.

Getting past the debate of sainthood for Dorothy Day, from these 752 pages, one cannot escape knowing that she truly believed that she was doing God’s will in a very unique way. Many people can read her diaries and most recently, The Duty of Delight and become confused as to her political stance and whether or not she was in line with the Church during the time she was alive. However, I believe that is irrelevant in learning who this woman truly is.

Day took time to write every day, often after long and testing hours, as she puts it, “I have been working from seven [in the morning] until twelve at night, or traveling fifteen hours by bus…” Day also described the long days that we can most relate to when the bills pile up and the deadlines approach. Through her writing, both for The Catholic Worker and her diaries one can truly enter into her day to day grind and appreciate the struggles, heartaches, sorrows, and joys. Yet she had a great self awareness that she often omitted prayers or spiritual readings after these long days. In her New Year’s Eve entry of 1935, Day writes of the importance of having “a rule” for her workers. She then writes the rule down to hold herself and her workers accountable. The rule included the Liturgy of the Hours, daily rosary and Mass, and claimed that her motto for 1936 would be “Could you not watch with me one hour,” echoing Christ during his agony in the garden.

Day was extremely learned in various subjects to due the time she spent reading and writing. Just as one can improve their knowledge of a subject such as political science by reading and writing so too can one expand upon their knowledge and love for Christ and His Church by meditating on Scripture and other spiritual works. Throughout her diary entries, Day mentions the different works she reads including, but not limited to: Vatican II documents, Papal encyclicals, Thomas Merton, and Augustine. Not only did I find it impressive that she found time to read spiritual giants, I was also struck by her devotion to time in prayer and visiting the sacraments, praying the Liturgy of the Hours and reading Magisterial writings. She did not do these things simply because of her rule, but because without them her work would be meaningless; this rule transformed her “duty” into her “Duty of Delight.” Day was always trying to better herself to ensure she could work towards the betterment of a confused society.

While some entries are a few sentences (especially towards the end of her life) others can become quite lengthy, yet one thing remains constant. This woman is relatable. While reading her words, one can enter into her thoughts and emotions. As you turn the pages, you can see her spiritual ups and downs. Her explanations of the people she encountered, her feelings towards others (most notably Peter Maurin, one of Day’s colleagues and closest friends), her relationship with her family, her abandonment to God’s will and her constant STRIVING to put other’s needs before her own can make one read this book and become inspired. Dorothy Day was real. Regardless of what poor decisions she may have made or if you think she should be canonized or not, the pages of this book offer a poetic glimpse into the life of someone who lived a life of love and service.

Purchase The Duty of Delight

Check out other great books from IMAGE Catholic Books

With great anticipation

Bulletin 11/6/11
Each year I find myself getting more and more excited for Advent. While most people are focusing on Halloween and Thanksgiving preparations, I am anticipating a season of anticipation. As children, we love the excitement of anticipating Christmas and, for many, Christmas is celebrated one day. One of the things I love about the Catholic Church is that we know how to celebrate! First we celebrate in anticipation the celebration of Christ’s birth, the Incarnation! For four weeks we prepare our hearts for this joyous occasion and the celebration continues long past the single day of December 25th.

Looking at the Responsorial Psalm from today, I am reminded of the Christmas hymn, O Holy Night. A line that always sticks out to me is “Long lay the world in sin and error pining.” If we look at the Psalm of today, we read “O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts…” This idea of longing and desiring is not foreign to us. Each of us has desires and longings and for some reason many keep these things to ourselves. We suppress them with school work, careers, paying the bills, and other things that “need to be done.” If there is one thing the Lord has taught us through his incarnation, it is that God has desires and longings for us and they are not meant to be hidden. God became man to show us his loving plan for each of our lives. Yet we push our God given desires and dreams aside to be a mediocre citizen of this world rather than an extraordinary citizen of the Kingdom of God.

As I anticipate the anticipatory season with great anticipation, (say that 5 times fast) I challenge each of us to sit quietly each day. In that quiet, discover your God-given desires to serve his Kingdom. As the Psalmist continues, “I will remember you upon my couch, and through the night-watches I will meditate on you” Once we have discovered our hopes, dreams, and desires to serve God and His Church, we must bring them about so that we may “bless [the Lord] while I live.” By truly preparing ourselves for this wonderful season, I guarantee that your Christmas season will be filled with Peace on Earth and Good will to all…

Too busy to get to Mass?

Philip Rivers, quarterback of the San Diego Chargers, always makes time for Mass even while on the road. In an interview with “Lifeteen,” a Catholic website that offers resources for Catholic Youth programs, Rivers discusses his Catholic faith and how it is a part of his life and pro-football career. As we prepare for our annual “Montapo” retreat, the talk of our Montclair-Ramapo football rivalry is in the air (Ramapo is looking for their first win this year). As our loving trash-talk between campuses is in full swing, we know that come game time our faith puts both schools on the same team. Below are some of the interview questions with Rivers. For the full interview, go to lifeteen.com.

Question: So you grew up in a Catholic home, and you took that into your adulthood as a football player. That’s pretty rare for professional athletes, how did you do that?
Answer: I was fortunate to grow up in the faith; my mom taught me the faith. In North Alabama there were only like 15 of us in my county in my confirmation class. We were quite the minority in Alabama. But one thing I remember is when I went to college at North Carolina State, the biggest thing that stuck in my head from my mom was never miss Mass. That was the thing that she definitely got across. When you go to college that’s when the faith becomes your own. Your mom and dad aren’t waking you up and reminding you “Hey this is a good day to go to confession.” It’s up to you.
So that really stayed with me and I made sure I never missed Mass and continued to grow in the faith. My wife had a lot to do with it, she’s a convert and she actually became Catholic the day before we got married. There’s so many gifts from the faith to appreciate and it strikes people differently, but the one-ness of the church wherever you are, Raleigh, San Diego, Alabama. Every place we were was home because the Catholic Church is the same everywhere. When we went to Mass that first Sunday after moving to a new place, that was where we felt at home and were able to say “well, home is anywhere, it doesn’t matter where we live because we have the faith.”

Question: How are you able to make the sacraments a priority in the midst of your football schedule, especially on Sundays?
Answer: They have Mass available for us; there’s a team priest who travels with us. Obviously at home I have the opportunity to go at our parish, either earlier Sunday morning or Saturday mass. But I’ve recently starting visiting the churches in the cities we go to, and it’s that same thing – you feel at home. You’re in the opposing teams city and yet you found Mass there. That’s really special playing on Sunday and being able to go to Mass the day of the game – to play and do something you’re passionate about…

Why Stay in the Boat When You Can Walk on Water?

Bulletin Article 8/7

Last week I wrote about trust. Trust can be rewarding, but it almost always comes with a challenge. The Lord constantly calls us outside of ourselves. He calls us to do more today than we did yesterday. The Lord knows what we are capable of and calls us to see it for ourselves. Peter learns this first hand in this week’s Gospel.

Immediately after the miracle of Jesus multiplying the bread and fish, He tests the Disciples’ trust. In the midst of a storm, He walks toward the boar on the water. They have seen Jesus cure the sick, cast out demons, multiply loaves, and calm a storm, yet they still are afraid and lack trust. Peter, being the leader of the 12, calls out to Jesus and tests Him. Could you imagine testing the Lord? It shouldn’t be too hard considering how often we do it on a daily basis! Just like Peter and the Disciples, we are quick to test the Lord and doubt Him even though he has already proven Himself as our Lord.

Peter steps out of the boat and walks on water. I often tell this story about Peter when I give talks or teach lessons on Christianity. Peter, our first Pope, was one of the biggest screw ups of all time. There are many times where Peter failed—just open the New Testament and you will find examples. However his failures show that he TRIED. He took leaps of faith and stepped out of the boat literally and metaphorically. Can you imagine standing at the edge of the boat? Peter was a fisherman by trade, so he grew up in boats. He was comfortable in them and knew how to deal with everything the water threw at him. Yet Jesus called Him to more. Imagine standing on the edge of the boat watching the waves crash around you. Holding on for dear life, you take one foot and put it over the edge but quickly pull it back in. You put your foot back over and then you follow with the other one. You are now sitting on the edge of the boat with your feet on the surface of the water. You stand up and let go of the side of the boat and you take your first step toward Jesus. That is trust defined.

Last week I wrote that Trust is hard to define but easy to understand. That moment where we let go of what we are comfortable and take a step into the unthinkable or the uncertain—that moment is complete and utter trust. What boats are you in in your life? Have we grown too comfortable in our jobs, our commitments, or our lives? Is Jesus calling us to step out of that which is comfortable into a world where He will make us do the unthinkable? What are you waiting for? Jesus already has proven Himself as our Lord. He conquered death and holds us in the palm of His hand. What are you doing in the boat? I think it’s time you and I walked on water. We can do it—one trusting step at a time.

Prayer

The second reading this week is rather short, but extremely profound. Something I have noticed going through the different stages in my life is that prayer changes with you as you mature. Prayer is not something that is done “right” or “wrong” per se. In fact, there are many different forms of prayer that fit a range of lifestyles. As a young adult in your 20s or 30s, you are probably busy. As a young adult we have a lot going on: weddings, careers, schooling, children, volunteering, etc. The best thing about our Lord is that he is available 24-7.

Prayer is a relationship. It isn’t simply stating our needs before God like a shopping list. In any relationship, communication is one of the most important factors. For example, if I am with a friend and all I am doing is talking about my wants and needs, I do not give my friend any time to respond or tell me about his wants or needs. I am being pretty selfish in the conversation and even worse, I am being a bad friend. Obviously it feels a lot different when we sit down to pray because we can’t always hear God or we feel like He isn’t listening. Nevertheless, God is always available and always willing to sit and listen to us.

Prayer can be compared to a cell phone service. The major difference is that we have the best network you could possibly imagine. We have the ultimate 3G (3 persons, 1 God) – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There are no limits on messaging, minutes, or long distance. God is always available. He has us penciled in; it is up to us to keep the appointments.

You may be thinking that there is way too much going on for me to sit down and pray. Well not everyone needs to take hours out of their day to pray in solitude. However, you and I can pray throughout the day. We can say a rosary on the way to or from work. We can do daily readings of Scripture when we wake up and think about them throughout our work day. We can offer hours of work or school up for someone who needs it. Before we go to bed, we can recount our actions during the day—recognizing the times we failed and ask for the grace and strength we need to get through tomorrow. There are multiple forms of prayer that we can do at different times in the day.

So as the 2nd reading states, “The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.” Let the Spirit help you pray. Allow Him to guide you into making your day prayerful. Let Him guide your conversations, your thoughts and your actions.
Saints for Young Adults
Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925) was dedicated to works of social action, charity, prayer and community. He enjoyed the outdoors and constantly would climb mountains with friends. He was involved with Catholic youth and student groups, the Apostleship of Prayer, Catholic Action, and was a third order Dominican. He would often say, "Charity is not enough; we need social reform." He helped establish a newspaper entitled Momento, whose principles were based on Pope Leo XIII's encyclical: Rerum Novarum. (source: Catholic Online) Blessed Pier Giorgio Frasatti was a young “normal” guy who dedicated his life in service of others. He loved to care for the poor and those less fortunate.

Evangelization

A bulletin article written by Angela Amore, FOCUS Team Director, Ramapo College
For more information about FOCUS (the Fellowship of Catholic University Students)
click here.

It’s a scary word to Catholics, but Pope Paul VI tells us that the Church’s very identity is mission. So, what is our Identity, our mission as Catholics? We only need to turn to the last words Christ gave us on this earth, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always to the close of the age.” (Mt 28:19-20) The last command that Jesus gave us before ascending into Heaven, clearly tells us that we need to bring others to know, “the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He has] sent.” (Jn 17:3). The apostles took this seriously, hit the ground running, brought people the Gospel, and died for this believe.

Not too many of us our going to preach to the multitudes, but we are still called to fulfill this mission. It can seem like a daunting task with 7.6 billion people on this Earth. As in all things, we need only to look to the example of Christ. Jesus took 12 guys camping for 3 years. Jesus invested His very self into three of these men specifically; Peter, James and John. They were with Him at the Transfiguration and in the Garden before His death. He entrusted
everything He knew to these faithful men who would be able to teach others also. (cf 2 Tim 2:2) And that is all we need to do. Think about 3 people. Just three people in whom you can invest yourself and be ready to give witness for the reason of your hope. (cf 1 Pt 3:15) If these three people meet the person of Jesus Christ and then each find three people to invest in and bring to the Lord, who then find three more, and so on, we can reach the entirety of the 7.6 billion people on this planet for Christ in 33 years (same number Jesus was on this Earth, FYI)

It is as simple as grabbing coffee and over time start bringing up questions of the faith. Or playing basketball and talking after the game. It is not being afraid to ask the person at the desk next to you to come back to Mass. For me, it was seeing the constant joy of my lacrosse teammates day in and day out for three years to question where that kind of peace could come from. Start on the most natural of levels and do not be afraid to go deeper with people. It takes time. It takes patience. It takes trust in the Lord to go outside of our comfort zone and bring Him up to those around us. The battle has already been won and failure is not an option, so we have no reason to fear evangelization. Remember and trust in Christ’s promise as He gave us this mission; “lo, I am with you always until the close of the age.”
~Angela Amore, FOCUS Team Director

Saying "I Do" to God

Getting married as a young adult is changing very much these days. I said to my fiancé the other day, “I am getting married at 24. It’s crazy how that is considered YOUNG.” My reasoning behind this was preempted by my parents who were married at 22 and 20. When my grandparents got married it was not uncommon to be married at 17 or 18, yet nowadays 24 is considered young for marriage. What has changed? What is the “right time” to get married?

In recent years, most people have been focusing on solidifying a career before settling down to get married. Who can blame them? With unemployment still at a very uncomfortable rate and what seems like no job security, coupled with an unprecedented high cost of living, I believe that most people struggle to get by and therefore do not want to subject their spouse and children to that. There is something missing in that equation—trust in God.

I know of a few couples who are called to marry one another, they know it, but they do not take the next step because of financial uncertainty. To clarify, none of these couples are by any means near the poverty line. Yet, for some reason in this country the American Dream is pushing us to strive for ideals, forgo sacrifice, and place control into our own hands rather than relying on God’s mercy. So the thought process becomes: I need to have ‘x’ amount of money in the bank before I get engaged and plan my wedding; I need to have worked my way to middle management before I have a child; I need, I need, I need. Since when do we really know what we need and when we need it? The right time to get married is in God’s time. Instead of thinking about what we want when we want it, let’s try thinking about what God wants when God wants it.

When I decided to get engaged last June, I was making next to nothing. I was a Graduate Assistant at Seton Hall, which paid a monthly stipend that barely paid my expenses. I had no clue what I would do in terms of a career. I had a little bit of money in the bank saved from when I was young (I had jobs since I was 13 years old), but I knew that God was calling me to do this. I knew he wanted me to trust in Him because I knew He would provide me with what I needed. I didn’t need a six-figure salary and a house. What I needed to do was trust in God’s plan for my life—I trusted in HIS DREAM for me, not the American Dream.

As you are reading this article this Sunday, July 10, I am saying my vows at Sacred Heart R.C. Church in Clifton. I will be marrying my high school sweetheart of over eight years. Olivia and I wish for our marriage to become a witness to others that worldly prosperity is not a necessary component to following God’s will. In fact, this week’s gospel speaks of having the word of God literally in your face, yet you cannot see nor hear it. Take these words to heart as you discern God’s calling in your own life. Perhaps God is calling you to take the next step in your relationship. Maybe He is calling you to serve Him as a priest, deacon, or in the religious life. He may want you to live a single life. Regardless of your calling, do not turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to it. Answer it. When? Now. Take the step, and watch what beauty God will unfold in your life. Allow His words fall on the rich soil of your hearts so that it can “produce fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

No Fair!

Bulletin Article 9/18

“God isn’t fair!” a student called out in class one day. I looked at the 11 year old with a smile and said, “What do you mean?” The student replied innocently, “Everything I want, God says I can’t have.” “EVERYTHING? So you don’t want happiness, love, and eternal life?” I said jokingly. I continued by saying, “Suppose I came into class the first day and gave you all of the money I have in my bank account, all of the clothes that I own, all of the food I have, and all of my other possessions. Would you like that?” “OH YEAH!” the student replied. “And then let’s say I told you that in order to pass the class you needed to come just one hour a week, would that sound like a good idea? Is that fair?” His hesitated for a moment and then said, “No..yes..no? Well it seems unfair to you. You gave me all you had and I just have to show up. I don’t need to do any work or read or participate!” I simply said, “Exactly.”

This week’s Gospel can seem unfair. If you are a senior in college, think of it this way. You spend four years studying for exams, writing papers, working (unpaid) internships, and reading countless articles for that one day where you get to walk through the Ramapo Arch, pass your tassel from the right to the left, and get your degree. You turn to the person to your left and notice that they just began last year—they studied for one year and earned the same degree as you! NOT FAIR! What’s amazing about this passage is that God continues to challenge those of us who think that we are owed something. It challenges us to realize that our lives are about what we owe HIM.

I am amazed as I encounter new people from different areas and age groups. I find an overwhelming sense of entitlement among most people these days. Whether it is someone who has been working for 40 years or someone right out of college, we as a society seem to think that because we have done a certain act or duty or achieved a certain status that we are owed something. I fall into this thought process as well. After receiving my Master’s degree, I thought that I deserved a premier spot within the Church. I applied to numerous PhD programs both in the United States and Rome with hopes that I would earn my doctorate and become a young, vibrant Theology professor that would ignite a fire in the hearts of the youth of our Church. God had other plans. His plan was to have me coordinate a Junior High Faith Formation program and teach middle school students and then come here to ICC and Ramapo to serve the Young Adults in our Parish Community. I could simply say, “God that isn’t fair; it’s not what I want.” (Which I did for a little while) but I don’t want to be the complaining vineyard worker. I want to give everything I have while I am working in that field so that I may truly earn that wage. I find myself coming to the same conclusion my student came to-I owe something to God, since He gave everything for me.

Fortunately, I have heard God’s call at a young age and I have, God willing, roughly 60 years of working in his vineyard before I receive my “wages.” But knowing that these wages equal eternal life is what keeps me working as hard as I can. I am not looking to earn over time or time and a half, because my wages equal everything I could possibly ever need or want-eternally being united to the God who created me. I know there will be people who start working in the vineyard long after me. I know there will be those who come in at the last minute and get paid just the same. That’s ok because Jesus gave everything he had for me. I owe him more than an hour-more than a day. I owe Him all that I have. I owe Him my life. Which worker are you? Are you satisfied with your wages?

Relativism

Bulletin 8/28

Growing up, my school assemblies would always talk about self-esteem. It seems that elementary schools in the late 80’s and 90’s (sorry for my older readers-I don’t mean to rub it in your face) had this one major issue on their minds. It would seem to be up to the teachers of that decade to instill within students like myself that we are “special.” We have a value and a purpose and we should see that. A common phrase used was, “Can’t we all just get along?” The push for such education can be justified—just as anti-bullying programs are justifiable today. What started as an attempt to boost self-confidence and love of oneself has, in a way, naturally transformed itself into what theologians and philosophers call relativism.

Relativism is the belief that all ideas, opinions, beliefs, etc. hold the same value. It implies that there is no universal truth. (If I’m ok, you’re ok, everything is ok) If I want to believe that 2+2=5, then who are you to tell me otherwise? Obviously that example is a bit extreme, but if we look at some of the issues we face as Catholics today, we can clearly see this philosophy at work. Issues such as the redefinition of marriage, abortion, artificial contraception, embryonic stem cell research, and other hot button topics can be linked to this idea that there is no natural or universal law or truth. The flip side of these issues places the Catholic Church in a position where it may “suffer greatly” (Matthew 16:21) when they stand up for a universal truth.

By constantly hearing “I love me for me” and “It’s ok to be me” led many of my generation to the next obvious question—Who is this “me” I am supposed to love, or more grammatically correct, “Who am I?” Finding who “me” is for many of my peers and others in my generation meant that they would or could redefine their identity. Even though I grew up in a fairly middle-class suburb in central New Jersey, many of my friends decided that they would fabricate this ideal that we lived in the ghetto. People in my middle and high school claimed to be from the School of Hard Knocks, when in reality they lived in a 5 bedroom house with a maid
and a landscaper. Other false identities quickly followed based on what we saw in movies, listened to in music, and what we saw others doing. Was this just typical adolescence? Perhaps—or perhaps because it was coupled with a “find yourself…love yourself...don’t let anyone try and change you” attitude, we are now faced with many other forms of redefinition today.

Through my school assemblies, I was taught that just because someone is different than I am does not give me the right to feel like I am more important or entitled to more than that person. It certainly doesn’t give me the right to hurt or make fun of that person either. This teaching is true and remains true to this day. In fact as Catholics, we believe in the dignity of all human beings regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, looks, wealth, or sinfulness. Yet when we stand up for what we believe in we are labeled, by some, as old fashioned, haters, bigots, and worse. So how do we as Catholics stand up for truth in a loving way?

Without putting this type of formation in the correct context, there is no wonder why we have allowed the world to form such a thought process which leads to relativism. The Church teaches the fact that we are all created by God with a dignity. We were created by God who is love (1 John 4:8). We were created out of love, for love, and we deserve nothing less than love. So yes we are supposed to respect and love all of God’s creations, including ourselves. Yet God calls us out of ourselves in this week’s Gospel saying to deny ourselves for the sake of His Kingdom. We are to deny the world and not conform to it (Romans 12:1-2). We must stand up for the universal truth, God’s truth and His law must govern our lives. We may suffer greatly for this in terms of the world. Yet if we do not, the world will suffer greatly. How do we do this? Love. Love till it hurts. Love when it feels like the Lord “duped you.” (Jeremiah 20:7) Love as God loved. Love to death.

World Youth Day Reflections

Bulletin Article 8/14
About 11 years ago, when I was only 13 years old, I embarked on my first pilgrimage. I was an active member of my home parish’s youth group, which focused mostly on community service, and the opportunity came for a group of us to go to World Youth Day in Rome. It was the year 2000, a Jubilee Year for the Church, and Pope John Paul II called for all the young people in the world to come “home” to Rome to celebrate their Catholic faith. I can trace my involvement in the Church back to this experience. Although I was still a kid, the trip to the Holy City had an enormous impact on me and my life. It was during the pilgrimage that I first heard God’s calling in my life.

The way in which World Youth Day is set up allows for young people to participate in different catechetical workshops, concerts, sightseeing, and interaction with groups from all over the world. World Youth Day (which is actually a week in length) culminates with a pilgrimage or walk to a predetermined area where the pilgrims celebrate a vigil prayer service led by the Pope, then they camp outside and celebrate a final Mass in the morning. The final night is, by far, the climax of the WYD experience.

After walking for several miles in the summer heat, you finally arrive at the huge, open field—your home for the night. As a 13 year old walking for miles, sweating, and carrying my next 3 meals in a box, that rolling field was the most beautiful site I had ever seen. As the pilgrims flood in, music is playing, people are worshipping, talking, greeting you in other languages—it is truly a wonderful experience. Flags from all different nations are flying, people are trading knickknacks and prayer cards to remember each other by, all while you try and set up your small camp (no tents are allowed, just tarps and sleeping bags on the ground). Then as the sun sets the prayer vigil begins. You pull out a candle (which was given to you at the start of your journey), which you light along with the million other young people after the sun is down during prayer. I have seen some beautiful things in my life, but nothing compares to this. The combination of spiritual awareness, community, faith, and love of God along with darkness illuminated by hundreds of thousands, if not millions of candles simply takes your breath away.

Since that experience, I have participated in two other World Youth Days, once in Toronto (2002) and once in Germany (2005). Although I was given the opportunity to attend WYD Australia in 2008 and once again this year in Spain, I declined and stayed home. However, I am finding that more and more young adults are making the pilgrimage to World Youth Day. Each time I went I was blown away by the number of young people who gathered together simply to grow in love with the Lord. These pilgrimages helped me to fall in love and stay in love with the Lord at extremely pivotal times in my life.

This week (August 15-21) young people from all over the world will gather in Madrid, Spain, along with countless priests, bishops, religious, and the Pope himself, to celebrate their Catholic faith. I have several family members and friends who will be there. My prayer is that those participating in whatever shape or form will arrive at a deeper appreciation and love for God and His Church. Our local news stations might say a few passing words about WYD, but if you want to capture the real experience, you will have to register for the next one in 2014! If you want to keep up with how it is going, simply log on to the United States Catholic Bishops website (usccb.org) and click on the links for WYD or go to the WYD website (www.madrid11.com) for videos, articles, and podcasts (who ever said the Church needs to get with the times?! – we are very well up to date)! You could even sign up for a virtual pilgrimage on Facebook—follow along! May the Lord bless the Holy Father and all of our young pilgrims.

Trust-Take 2

Bulletin Article 8/7/11

Last week I wrote about trust. Trust can be rewarding, but it almost always comes with a challenge. The Lord constantly calls us outside of ourselves. He calls us to do more today than we did yesterday. The Lord knows what we are capable of and calls us to see it for ourselves. Peter learns this first hand in this week’s Gospel.

Immediately after the miracle of Jesus multiplying the bread and fish, He tests the Disciples’ trust. In the midst of a storm, He walks toward the boar on the water. They have seen Jesus cure the sick, cast out demons, multiply loaves, and calm a storm, yet they still are afraid and lack trust. Peter, being the leader of the 12, calls out to Jesus and tests Him. Could you imagine testing the Lord? It shouldn’t be too hard considering how often we do it on a daily basis! Just like Peter and the Disciples, we are quick to test the Lord and doubt Him even though he has already proven Himself as our Lord.

Peter steps out of the boat and walks on water. I often tell this story about Peter when I give talks or teach lessons on Christianity. Peter, our first Pope, was one of the biggest screw ups of all time. There are many times where Peter failed—just open the New Testament and you will find examples. However his failures show that he TRIED. He took leaps of faith and stepped out of the boat literally and metaphorically. Can you imagine standing at the edge of the boat? Peter was a fisherman by trade, so he grew up in boats. He was comfortable in them and knew how to deal with everything the water threw at him. Yet Jesus called Him to more. Imagine standing on the edge of the boat watching the waves crash around you. Holding on for dear life, you take one foot and put it over the edge but quickly pull it back in. You put your foot back over and then you follow with the other one. You are now sitting on the edge of the boat with your feet on the surface of the water. You stand up and let go of the side of the boat and you take your first step toward Jesus. That is trust defined.

Last week I wrote that Trust is hard to define but easy to understand. That moment where we let go of what we are comfortable and take a step into the unthinkable or the uncertain—that moment is complete and utter trust. What boats are you in in your life? Have we grown too comfortable in our jobs, our commitments, or our lives? Is Jesus calling us to step out of that which is comfortable into a world where He will make us do the unthinkable? What are you waiting for? Jesus already has proven Himself as our Lord. He conquered death and holds us in the palm of His hand. What are you doing in the boat? I think it’s time you and I walked on water. We can do it—one trusting step at a time.

Trust a reward in itself

Bulletin Article 7/31
If I were to ask you, “What is trust?” How would you respond? Trust, like love, is a word that is understood, but hard to describe. Trust can be paired with faith or belief in something. These words cannot be confused as synonyms. My trust in God is solidified because of my faith in Him. I believe that He is the creator of the universe; I believe that His son Jesus was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and that He suffered, died, and rose again. Due to the face that I believe this, I trust that God is who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do. These words are relatable, but not interchangeable.

The first instance of trust in our lives is when we are little babies. We are completely reliant on our parents. All a baby knows is “I cry and mommy or daddy brings me what I need.” As a baby, we have no inclination of the outside world or responsibility. Babies completely trust their parents. That trust develops as we grow. When we take our first steps or learn to ride a bike, we trust that our parents will be there if we fall down. As we get older, we learn that trust is something special because it can be broken.


The readings this week and next week are completely about trust. This week we hear about God being the ultimate provider. He asks that we give all that we have in order to feed His flock. How apprehensive are we when He asks us that? Look at the disciples. They are asked to give all the food they had to this large crowd. If I were Peter, James, or another disciple I would think, “No way. It’s been such a long day. I am hungry. If I give away my food I will have nothing.” But look at how Jesus rewards their trust. So many times we look at this passage as God providing for the crowd. However, what does He provide for His disciples who gave all they had? “they picked up the fragments left over—twelve wicker baskets full.”

Jesus rewards our trust beyond our wildest dreams. The Disciples went from having to share 5 loaves and two fish between the 12 of them. Now they each had an entire basket full of food. The Lord knows the longings of our hearts. He knows the simple desires we have—the small and the big. He asks us to trust Him with what He has given us. All we need to do is give it back to him and allow Him to multiply it.

The Kingdom of Heaven is Like...

As a kid, did you ever think about what Heaven must be like? Has that image changed as you got older? For me, I always tried to envision what Heaven must look like. What does it smell like in Heaven; what are the restaurants like? I never could get a picture of it in my mind. I always thought of the journey from this life to Heaven as if I were reaching land on a ship. For instance, I thought that when I died, my soul would come ashore to a beautiful island. As I disembarked the ship, I would be greeted by all of my loved ones who have gone before me. In some way or another we all have similar visions of Heaven where we are finally reunited with those who have already died.

This week’s gospel has no mention of reunions. In fact, it can scare us a bit. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a net that collects fish of every kind…the good are kept and put in buckets…the bad are thrown away.” In today’s world, it is very difficult to know what is right. We have so many different voices telling us what to believe. When we were kids, we listened to what our parents and teachers told us. When we became young adults we listened to our professors, supervisors, and bosses. Who is right? What is the voice of truth? Who do we listen to if we want to be among the “good fish”?

The voice of truth is rarely heard because it is most often spoken in a whisper. God calls out to us but not over all the noise in our lives. We must take the time to silence the noise and listen only to Him. Whether it is 5 minutes in the morning, on the drive to work, or a half hour on our lunch break, we must strive to listen to the voice of truth. Rather than taking our prayer time to ask God for things we need, try asking for an understanding heart that can hear His words. (Like Solomon in the first reading today). Then and only then will we hear the voice of truth say, “Because you have asked for this—not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right—I do as you requested. I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you.” Then, I guarantee you, we will be among those good fish.

4th of July vs. Independence Day

Bulletin Article July 3

Independence Day is hardly used to describe the 4th day of July anymore. In fact, most people simply refer to it as “The 4th.” Most people associate this holiday with barbeques and vacations. Yet, there is something left to be desired when we ignore the true title of the day. Tomorrow we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which was an extremely gutsy move by the Second Continental Congress (the governing body of the 13 Colonies).

However, even these brave politicians realized that their power meant nothing compared to the power of Almighty God. In fact, in 1779, the holiday was celebrated on a Monday because the 4th of July fell on a Sunday—the Sabbath day. This Sunday’s First Reading speaks of the humble leader God would send His people. We know this leader to be Christ, who taught by example of what it meant to serve. The American colonists established a government based on serving its people. It claimed that we are born with natural rights and if a government restricted or impeded on these rights or the good of its people, they could break from it.

As a Catholic, who happens to hold a degree in American History, I am partial to Charles Carroll, a relative of the first bishop of the first diocese in the United States. He was the only Catholic to sign the Declaration (in fact, many Catholics were forbidden to hold political office in many states at the time) and the only signer to put the town he lived in. His signature reads, “Charles Carroll of Carrollton”. He believed in the cause so much that, with full knowledge of the consequences, he let the British know exactly who he was. We need more Catholics like that today.

In a country which is become so “PC” we cannot even say the Pledge of Allegiance in schools, it is time for Catholics to stop being on the defensive. Stop apologizing for your faith. We must recognize that we are dependent on God because we are independent from the world. Being Catholic is not a disease, it’s a blessing and an honor. Being Catholic is as much a part of your identity as your nationality. We are not just Americans, we are CATHOLIC Americans (notice that Catholic comes first). We are part of something much bigger than anything else in the world. We belong to a community that has given more aid to suffering people around the globe than anyone else. We support what people know to be self-evident truths but are too afraid to stand up for. We respect all life even though this gets little to no coverage in the media. We provide schools and hospitals all over the world. Our Church honors saints who have given their lives for what they believed in. Isn’t it time for you to do the same?

Eat This, Not That

Bulletin Article June 21, 2011

As a personal trainer, I have dealt with my fair share of complaining clients. “I don’t want to eat green vegetables…why do I need to eat 6 small meals…I don’t want to diet, I will just run more…” It’s sad that we think we can cheat our way around achieving goals and getting the outcome we want from life. This week’s gospel is one of my favorites. Jesus gives us a strict diet. Your ancestors ate manna in the desert and still died. Eat this not that. You want eternal life? Eat my body and drink my blood.

Fulton Sheen once said, “There are not a hundred people in America who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions of people who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church.” There are many people who claim they do not agree with the Church’s teaching on certain things. On the forefront of this misunderstanding is The Eucharist. We as Catholics believe that at every Mass, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the bread and wine are completely transformed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. We believe that it is NO LONGER bread or wine but completely the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. We believe that the sacrifice of the Cross is re-presented (made present again) on the altars of our churches. This is what the Church teaches; this is what we believe.

Of course it is hard to believe such a teaching. The question of the Pharisees echoes today, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Yet, there have been plenty of occurrences that point to that truth. To name a few…

Lanciano, Italy – 8th Century
A priest has doubts about the Real Presence; however, when he consecrates the Host it transforms into flesh and blood. This miracle has undergone extensive scientific examination and can only be explained as a miracle. The flesh is actually cardiac tissue, which contains arterioles, veins, and nerve fibers. The blood type as in all other approved Eucharistic miracles is type AB!

Blanot, France – March 31, 1331
The Eucharist fell out of a woman’s mouth onto the altar rail cloth. After the priest tried to recover the Host, nothing remained but a spot of blood the same size and dimensions as the Host.

Bolsena-Oryieta, Italy
A priest doubting Real Presence was consecrating the bread, as he raised the bread, blood began to drip from it.

Avignon, France – November of 1433
A great flood swept through the city. There was a chapel in the town where the Blessed Sacrament was exposed day and night. Two Franciscan brothers wanted to get to the Church to remove the Blessed Sacrament and move it to a chapel on dry land. When they rowed their boat to the chapel, they were amazed. From the door to the altar was completely dry. The floodwaters had been parted and the Eucharist remained on the altar unaffected.

You may think that these miracles happened to people with outstanding faith or nothing like that can happen to me. However, most of these miracles happened during periods of weakened faith or to someone who struggled with doubt in believing that The Eucharist truly is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Christ’s body and blood is so amazing and so powerful that it can perform miracles. Will you let it perform one in your life?

For more information on Eucharistic Miracles, visit TheRealPresence.org.

He gave His only Son…

Bulletin Article 6/19

This week’s gospel is one of the most memorized scripture quotes among Christians. However the significance can get lost when it becomes “just a verse of scripture.” To think of what it means to love something or someone so much that we would offer up our most valued possession can sometimes baffle our minds. We have heard the events of the Crucifixion time and time again, yet perhaps a modern experience will put this sacrifice into perspective.

There was a young man in his mid thirties. He had been married for about 12 years to a lovely woman who worked at an elementary school in their mid-west town. They had one son who was nearly 7. Due to complications during the pregnancy, the wife was no longer capable of bearing children. This was their one and only child, so they cared for him and loved him all the more for it. The father loved to bring his son fishing, to baseball games, and coached his little league team. The boy had an intense love for trains. He had every toy, book and model known to man. His love of trains stemmed from his father’s job, working at the railroad switch station around the corner from his house. Everyday in the summer, his son would visit him for lunch. Sometimes he would let his son switch the track for a slow-moving freight train.

One day the man was having a very rough day. Many of the trains were backed up and he had to reroute a lot of them. There were trains full of passengers from all over – tourists from Europe, children on field trips, sports teams traveling to other cities, businessmen and women going to work, and many more. There were dozens of trains filled with people lined up at the local station. As lunchtime rolled around he saw his son coming down the road toward his switch station. As his son was crossing the tracks, he received an urgent call telling him to switch track A to track C immediately. A freight train carrying various military materials was out of control and unable to stop. Track C led to an uphill climb, which would slow the train down. Track A and B were jammed with passenger trains. If the man didn’t switch the tracks, the weapons train would certainly crash and explode killing hundreds, if not thousands of innocent people. As the man turned to his son, he was struck with horror. His son had fallen on track C and was stuck in one of the loose ties.

Turning back at the oncoming train, he was forced to make a decision – switch the track and sacrifice his one and only son, or save his son while allowing thousands to be killed. He looked at his son and said, “You know I love you very much.” With that he pulled the switch and diverted the train to Track C where it proceeded uphill, slowed down, and came to a stop. The passengers were saved, but his one and only son had to die for that to happen.

This story is hard to imagine; it is extremely sad, yet it is the story of God’s love for His people. For He so loved the world that He gave His only son. His son was sent to suffer and die so that we may be saved through His blood. The story of Christ’s death however is not sad but joyous. Through his death, we no longer have to suffer death, but are born to eternal life – that, my dear friends, is love.

The Good Old Days

Bulletin Article 6/12

If you ask your parents or your grandparents what the world was like when they were a “young adult” you may get a pretty shocking answer. If they are like my father (and grandfather) the response will be, “What do you mean WHEN I was a young adult…” Yet if we look back at history, we can see what they would have been facing in their 20s and 30s:

1920s/30s- The Great Depression, Prohibition
1940s- World War II
1950s/60s – The Space Race, Civil Rights
1960s/70s- Nixon, Vietnam War, Gas shortages
1980s/90s – Birth of computers, First Gulf War, War on Drugs
2000+ - 9/11, drastic recession, War on terror

If we look back on all of this, it seems that not much has changed. War, poverty, violence, unemployment, high gas prices/gas shortages, political corruption, etc. – it all sounds very familiar.

So often we hear about “the good old days,” in which the street lights let us know our curfews, we drank from a hose, never heard the words ‘sun tan lotion,’ and playing wasn’t something planned out-it just happened. The good old days can also refer to how our parents and grandparents had it “easier” than us. They didn’t have to worry about getting 3 college degrees just to get an entry level job, getting their credit checked from 3 different agencies when they bought a house, or wondering if the government would send them a social security check when they retired. Nowadays, these are simply common factors that we must calculate into our plans for life.

However, just because our parents and grandparents had it “easier” in some respects, they also had to face some serious hardships that we are blessed to be free of. For instance, imagine writing a thesis paper or business report on a typewriter (that’s the machine people used to type before computers…). Imagine not being able to do 95% of your research by GOOGLE or Bing and actually using the card catalogue in the library. Imagine sitting home wondering if your number would be selected to serve in a war where hundreds and thousands were killed daily. I guess the good old days weren’t always so good.

The one thing we can learn from the young adults of the past is that together we make it out on top. The wars will end. Technology changes. The economy has its ups and downs, but what keeps us going is not thinking about the good old days, but the good days to come. In light of the Easter Season, we are reminded of what John Paul II said, “We are an Easter people…” We are a people of hope, looking forward to the joys that await us in Heaven.

Slow Down and Go Fast

It always strikes me how many people “celebrate” Lent. Ash Wednesday Masses and services are always packed with people. Do that many people focus on the fact that they “are dust and to dust they shall return”? When we think about it, there is something special about this season that draws us away from ourselves for six weeks. It seems the human person is always attracted to goods such as being selfless or acting for other people. It is this good that the human person seeks which brings us away from ourselves and toward the ultimate good, God the Father.

When the word ‘Lent’ is spoken, people automatically have certain assumptions and associates to go along with it. For us Catholics, we immediately are reminded of abstaining from meat on Fridays and the ever popular “giving something up.” Lent should be more than the sacrifice itself, however. Lent is a season, not an action. It is a timeframe in which we can come to a greater appreciation for the things we are blessed with. It is a time when we can allow ourselves to take our focus off of our belly-buttons and turn it outward. Moreover, Lent is not just about fasting, but about slowing down.

Of the many types and forms of prayer we can experience, meditation and contemplation are vital to a relationship with Jesus Christ. These types of prayer allow us to slow down and they enlighten us about how we can fast. For someone who is constantly on the go, fasting can mean taking time away from their schedule to pray, go to Mass, or visit a family member. For others, fasting can take the form of going to confession weekly or giving up their favorite TV show. Whatever you sacrifice frees time for you to slow things down and meditate on what this season is all about.

For many, the season of Lent is a reminder of “sad” or “difficult” things. Many would argue that we should focus our attention of Easter Sunday and not Good Friday. However, there would be no Easter Sunday without a Good Friday. There is no resurrection without death. There is no eternal life without expiation for our sins. Therefore, it is important to reflect on the darkness so that we can come to a fuller appreciation and desire for the light. We must take this time to slow down, reflect on Christ’s temptation-our temptations, Christ’s passion-our passion, and then go and fast.