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.”
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
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?
“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?
Sunday, August 28, 2011
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.
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.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
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.
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.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
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.
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.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
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.
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.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
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.
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.
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