I always enjoy hearing the line from this Gospel, Luke chapter 4, about Jesus’ fast of forty days in the desert: “He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry”. Um, yes, after forty days of eating nothing, I think he would be hungry! (If I go forty minutes of eating nothing, I am hungry). Now, about Jesus’ fast of 40 days: our fast during Lent is patterned after the Lord’s fast. That is, it is 40 days. 40 days. I say this to settle a dispute that Catholics have every Lent about whether or not we can enjoy the things we gave up for Lent on Sundays. Let’s do the math to find out. It’s 46 days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday (the Lenten Season). If you minus out the 6 Sundays in Lent, you get 40 days of fasting and penance. Sundays are feast days; every Sunday is the feast of the Resurrection, so there is no fasting. So, have fun enjoying what you gave up the rest of the day today. We love our feast days!
Fasting does a body good! It is a real source of strength and grace for us. Fasting gives our bodies strength in the midst of temptation. Jesus fasted for forty days in order to resist the strong temptations of the devil. He was like an athlete who was in peak condition to take on his biggest opponent. This is true for us, too. We need to stay strong and healthy to win against temptation. If we are weighed down by overeating or overdrinking, we are weakest and most vulnerable to lose. We always need to do fasting in moderation, but even a small fast can bring great strength. Just as prayer gives strength to the soul, so fasting gives strength to the body.
Fasting is also a source of grace for us. We saw this on Ash Wednesday which is a day of fasting for the whole Church. There was tremendous grace at work at our GW Masses. Hundreds of students came out for Mass, of course (people love their ashes!). But, many students went to Confession which we offered during and after the Masses. The students seemed to have a very positive experience on Wednesday. As one of our students said, “it was a day of grace”.
We need strength and grace to fight temptation. Temptation is one of the three types of demonic activity in the world. Every person faces temptation, even Jesus. It is all around us. The second type is oppression. This is when someone’s spirit is oppressed by an evil force. It leads to a spirit of sadness or despair. This happens to many people. The third type is possession. This is when an evil spirit possesses a person. The key point about demonic possession is that it only happens to people who invite the evil spirits in. If you saw the movie from years ago, “The Exorcist”, you might have noticed what brought on the demonic possession for the little girl: she was playing with a ouija board with her Mom. We have to be very careful not to invite evil spirits in these types of ways. Even talking about them can invite them in!
We should respect the power of our opponent, but not be afraid of him. We hear in this Gospel and know in our hearts that Jesus has power over the devil. If we stay close to Christ and his grace, we have nothing to worry about! If we remain in close friendship with Christ in a state of Grace, then we have nothing to fear. Primarily for us during Lent, this means staying close to the Eucharist and Confession. If we are coming weekly to the Eucharist at Mass (even daily if we can) and go to Confession regularly (once a month), then we have the strength and grace to resist temptation and all the weapons of our opponent. If we are imploring the powerful intercession of the Blessed Mother, the saints, and our guardian angel, then we are employing the full arsenal of Grace that God avails to us. There’s a great bumper sticker that speaks to this: “Need a weapon? Pray the rosary”.
Finally, may each one of us remain close to our Lord and His Grace , especially during Lent. Through God’s Grace, may we live out what St. James writes in his letter, “Resist the devil and the devil will flee” (James 4:7).
Monday, February 22, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Can you donate $25 for a GW service trip?
Cardinal McCarrick is coming to GW! The former Archbishop of Washington will be celebrating the 7:30 pm student Mass at St Stephen's (25th & Penn.) this Sunday, Feb. 21. Papa John's pizza after Mass in the Parish Hall!
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A group of GW students, Meg (our campus minister), and I will go on a service trip to South Carolina over Spring Break, March 13-20. It's called "Alternative Spring Break". We will be building and renovating homes for low-income families.
The students have to raise $10,000 in order to go on the trip. This covers their transportation, housing, project fees, tools, food, gas, etc. They have raised a little over $7,000 so far. Can you help them meet their goal?
You can help send these students on the trip by clicking on the PayPal "donate" button on the right of your screen. Your donation will go to the GW Newman Center which will put it toward the Alternative Spring Break trip.
A donation of $25 will pay for a student's housing for a night.
A donation of $50 will pay for a student's tools and equipment for the week.
A donation of $75 will pay for a student's project fee for the week.
A donation of $100 will pay for a student's transportation for the week.
On behalf of the students, thank you very much for your generosity!
--------------------
A group of GW students, Meg (our campus minister), and I will go on a service trip to South Carolina over Spring Break, March 13-20. It's called "Alternative Spring Break". We will be building and renovating homes for low-income families.
The students have to raise $10,000 in order to go on the trip. This covers their transportation, housing, project fees, tools, food, gas, etc. They have raised a little over $7,000 so far. Can you help them meet their goal?
You can help send these students on the trip by clicking on the PayPal "donate" button on the right of your screen. Your donation will go to the GW Newman Center which will put it toward the Alternative Spring Break trip.
A donation of $25 will pay for a student's housing for a night.
A donation of $50 will pay for a student's tools and equipment for the week.
A donation of $75 will pay for a student's project fee for the week.
A donation of $100 will pay for a student's transportation for the week.
On behalf of the students, thank you very much for your generosity!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
"Top Ten Ideas for Making a Good Lent '10"
We are giving out cards today at all the Masses that include ideas on how to make a good Lent as well as what we're offering at the Newman Center during Lent. Here is the info on the cards:
GW Catholics
Top Ten Ideas for Making a Good Lent ‘10
1. Attend Mass every Sunday
2. Attend a weekday Mass (in addition to Sunday)
3. Go to Confession
4. Attend Adoration at Newman Center
5. Pray the Rosary
6. Attend Stations of the Cross every Friday at Newman Center
7. Read a chapter of the Gospel every night
8. Fast (Ash Wed, Good Fri.) + Abstain from meat (Ash Wed, Fridays)
9. Tithe: Give 10% of spending money (food, drink, etc.) to Church/poor
10. Serve the poor*
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GW Newman Center - Lent '10
Sunday Mass: 7:30 pm, 10 pm
- St Stephen’s Church, 25th & Penn. Ave.
Weekday Mass: 12 noon (M-F), 5:30 pm (Tues.)
Confessions: Wed, 8-9:30 pm (Newman Center), after Sunday Masses, and by appt.
Adoration: Wednesdays, 12:30 pm – 10 pm
Fridays during Lent, 6-7 pm
Stations of the Cross: Fridays during Lent, 5:30 pm
GW Catholics
Top Ten Ideas for Making a Good Lent ‘10
1. Attend Mass every Sunday
2. Attend a weekday Mass (in addition to Sunday)
3. Go to Confession
4. Attend Adoration at Newman Center
5. Pray the Rosary
6. Attend Stations of the Cross every Friday at Newman Center
7. Read a chapter of the Gospel every night
8. Fast (Ash Wed, Good Fri.) + Abstain from meat (Ash Wed, Fridays)
9. Tithe: Give 10% of spending money (food, drink, etc.) to Church/poor
10. Serve the poor*
------------------------------------------------------------------
GW Newman Center - Lent '10
Sunday Mass: 7:30 pm, 10 pm
- St Stephen’s Church, 25th & Penn. Ave.
Weekday Mass: 12 noon (M-F), 5:30 pm (Tues.)
Confessions: Wed, 8-9:30 pm (Newman Center), after Sunday Masses, and by appt.
Adoration: Wednesdays, 12:30 pm – 10 pm
Fridays during Lent, 6-7 pm
Stations of the Cross: Fridays during Lent, 5:30 pm
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
"There's a little black spot on your head today"
Check out a youtube video which has some pretty funny satire about Catholics and Lent. Based on a cool song, too! To view the video, please click on today's title.
Lent begins tomorrow!
Lent begins tomorrow!
Monday, February 15, 2010
6th Sunday - homily
I would like to begin with a demonstration and need three volunteers to help me. I ask two of you to take hold of each end of this long cord (that stretches across the width of the church). Please raise it up as high as you can. Now, third volunteer, please stand near me. I ask all of you to imagine that this line represents our lives. Here at one end to the left is when each of us was brought into the world…when we were conceived. The rest of the line represents our lives on earth and our lives for all eternity. The line goes off to the right, past the volunteer for infinity…
Now, where on the line would we have the third volunteer put his (or her) finger if we were measuring our life on earth in relation to eternity? He would put it right next to where we came into this world! We think our lives are so long here, maybe eighty or ninety years. That is a long time, but in relation to eternity, it is a mere fraction only. It is a very small amount! Now, how we spend this small amount of time determines how we will spend all of eternity…! Whoa. Thank you, volunteers, you may return to your seats.
So, how do we spend this small amount of time? How do we live our lives in order to determine a good eternity? Jesus lays out a blueprint in today’s Gospel: the Beatitudes according to St. Luke. These beatitudes are a little different than we’re used to hearing: “blessed are those who are poor”…and are hungry…and are hated by people. This doesn’t sound like the most attractive blueprint on how to live. It reminds me of the quote from St. Theresa of Avila: “Lord, seeing the way you treat your friends, it’s no wonder you have so few of them!” It’s a tough way to live in order to have a good eternity…to have eternal life. What these beatitudes are really describing is the life of Jesus Christ. He was poor…he was hungry…people hated him.
How do we live in this life? We live like Christ. We live in imitation of Him. With Lent beginning this Wednesday, we have an opportunity to see if we are living in union with Christ. . That’s what Lent is all about: being more like Christ. If we look at our lives and see that we aren’t living like Jesus, we make changes. For example, if we are so focused on being rich, then we try to be more poor. If we trust only in human beings, then we try to trust more in God. The little sacrifices we make should be for us to be more like Christ. We make little sacrifices in order to imitate Christ’s big sacrifice.
There is one event which determines how we live. It is the event about which St. Paul writes in our second reading: the Resurrection. The most fundamental question for any Christian is, ‘do you believe in the Resurrection?’ When people (either here or in the parish) have come to me saying that they don’t know if they believe anymore, the first question I ask them is, ‘do you believe in the Resurrection?’ St Paul makes it very clear that if Christ isn’t raised from the dead, our faith is pointless…it’s like, ‘Go home now. We are still waiting for the Christ’. But, if He is risen, then He has power over all things. The man was dead! He was dead. And, He came back to life…He rose from the dead. No one else has ever risen from the dead. This shows us that He is the Christ…He is the Son of God. Everything He said is true and He has power over all things. He has power over everything you’re struggling with in your life right now, especially sin. He has power over addiction, depression, anger, laziness…even doubt.
The Resurrection is the cause for our hope. It gives us true hope in this life and for the next. Keep in mind that before Christ, there was no real hope for a good eternity. It’s only through His death and resurrection that we have the hope of eternal life. It is the event that gives us hope and joy. We don’t walk around saying, “yeah, He’s risen from the dead (with our heads down)”. We say joyfully, “He is risen!” The Resurrection gives us joy that marks us as Christians. Mother Teresa (Blessed Teresa of Calcutta) once said, “we should never be so sad that we lose sight of the Resurrection”. How do we live our lives? We live them in imitation of Jesus Christ filled with hope and joy.
Finally, when we come to the Eucharist, we have the same bold point as with the Resurrection because the Eucharist is the risen Body and Blood of Christ. If the Eucharist is not the risen Body and Blood of Christ, then you should go home now. The Mass would be a sham and your Catholic faith would be pointless. But, Christ is risen from the dead and is truly present in the Eucharist. The Mass, then, is the greatest event in the world! We not only see our Risen Lord, we get to receive Him in Holy Communion.
May the Eucharist give you strength to make a good Lent. May you be filled with courage and generosity in growing closer to Christ. May you all live lives filled with hope and joy that will lead to an eternity of happiness and peace.
Now, where on the line would we have the third volunteer put his (or her) finger if we were measuring our life on earth in relation to eternity? He would put it right next to where we came into this world! We think our lives are so long here, maybe eighty or ninety years. That is a long time, but in relation to eternity, it is a mere fraction only. It is a very small amount! Now, how we spend this small amount of time determines how we will spend all of eternity…! Whoa. Thank you, volunteers, you may return to your seats.
So, how do we spend this small amount of time? How do we live our lives in order to determine a good eternity? Jesus lays out a blueprint in today’s Gospel: the Beatitudes according to St. Luke. These beatitudes are a little different than we’re used to hearing: “blessed are those who are poor”…and are hungry…and are hated by people. This doesn’t sound like the most attractive blueprint on how to live. It reminds me of the quote from St. Theresa of Avila: “Lord, seeing the way you treat your friends, it’s no wonder you have so few of them!” It’s a tough way to live in order to have a good eternity…to have eternal life. What these beatitudes are really describing is the life of Jesus Christ. He was poor…he was hungry…people hated him.
How do we live in this life? We live like Christ. We live in imitation of Him. With Lent beginning this Wednesday, we have an opportunity to see if we are living in union with Christ. . That’s what Lent is all about: being more like Christ. If we look at our lives and see that we aren’t living like Jesus, we make changes. For example, if we are so focused on being rich, then we try to be more poor. If we trust only in human beings, then we try to trust more in God. The little sacrifices we make should be for us to be more like Christ. We make little sacrifices in order to imitate Christ’s big sacrifice.
There is one event which determines how we live. It is the event about which St. Paul writes in our second reading: the Resurrection. The most fundamental question for any Christian is, ‘do you believe in the Resurrection?’ When people (either here or in the parish) have come to me saying that they don’t know if they believe anymore, the first question I ask them is, ‘do you believe in the Resurrection?’ St Paul makes it very clear that if Christ isn’t raised from the dead, our faith is pointless…it’s like, ‘Go home now. We are still waiting for the Christ’. But, if He is risen, then He has power over all things. The man was dead! He was dead. And, He came back to life…He rose from the dead. No one else has ever risen from the dead. This shows us that He is the Christ…He is the Son of God. Everything He said is true and He has power over all things. He has power over everything you’re struggling with in your life right now, especially sin. He has power over addiction, depression, anger, laziness…even doubt.
The Resurrection is the cause for our hope. It gives us true hope in this life and for the next. Keep in mind that before Christ, there was no real hope for a good eternity. It’s only through His death and resurrection that we have the hope of eternal life. It is the event that gives us hope and joy. We don’t walk around saying, “yeah, He’s risen from the dead (with our heads down)”. We say joyfully, “He is risen!” The Resurrection gives us joy that marks us as Christians. Mother Teresa (Blessed Teresa of Calcutta) once said, “we should never be so sad that we lose sight of the Resurrection”. How do we live our lives? We live them in imitation of Jesus Christ filled with hope and joy.
Finally, when we come to the Eucharist, we have the same bold point as with the Resurrection because the Eucharist is the risen Body and Blood of Christ. If the Eucharist is not the risen Body and Blood of Christ, then you should go home now. The Mass would be a sham and your Catholic faith would be pointless. But, Christ is risen from the dead and is truly present in the Eucharist. The Mass, then, is the greatest event in the world! We not only see our Risen Lord, we get to receive Him in Holy Communion.
May the Eucharist give you strength to make a good Lent. May you be filled with courage and generosity in growing closer to Christ. May you all live lives filled with hope and joy that will lead to an eternity of happiness and peace.
Friday, February 12, 2010
"Dividends of a Catholic Education"
1) Ash Wednesday Masses at GW: 12 noon, 5 pm, 7:30 pm
Marvin Center, 3rd Floor, Continental Ballroom
800 21st St., NW DC
2) This week, the Dominican Sisters of Mary appeared on the "Oprah Winfrey Show". Good for Oprah for inviting the Sisters!! My hunch is that the Sisters did this primarily to evangelize on behalf of the Church; they don't need to recruit for more Sisters. I regularly receive letters from them saying that they have a different vocations crisis: too many Sisters! To view clips from the show, please click on today's title.
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Good friends from my last parish sent me the following essay which their 7th grade daughter wrote about the "Dividends of a Catholic Education". It's pretty incredible! I invite all bloggers to write a few dividends of their Catholic education whether it's been in a Catholic school, parish, Newman Center, blog site, etc.
I would echo the beautiful sentiments below by saying that the greatest dividend of a Catholic education is learning about the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. After 12+ years in Catholic schools, my Catholic education really started when a priest simply said, "'this is my body' means this is my body".
Christ’s Wonderful Gifts
Dividends of a Catholic Education
To me, the most important benefit that I receive from Catholic education is that every Sunday I witness an extraordinary miracle: the changing of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ. It really opens my eyes, and makes me realize the amazing power of God. If you see this action, it can change your life. The phenomenal power of this deed gives me the chance of eternal life. It reminds me that God loves me so much that he gives up his body for my well-being.
Another benefit is that when I pray, I remember that every time I receive grace from Him. Also, in the sacraments, we tighten the strand of our friendship with God, and he loves us ever more. Any time we even give God thanks, he smiles, and the jagged nail is loosened.
So keep in mind that the littlest acts, whether it be praise to God or prayer, is pleasing in His eyes. He looks down on us with extreme care and love. With all of His great gifts, such as eternal life, we are given the chance to be with Him in Heaven. The Eucharist and grace are His presents to us, and are one of the greatest acts of love I know. So take time to just take time to thank Him for all of the benefits of being Catholic.
Marvin Center, 3rd Floor, Continental Ballroom
800 21st St., NW DC
2) This week, the Dominican Sisters of Mary appeared on the "Oprah Winfrey Show". Good for Oprah for inviting the Sisters!! My hunch is that the Sisters did this primarily to evangelize on behalf of the Church; they don't need to recruit for more Sisters. I regularly receive letters from them saying that they have a different vocations crisis: too many Sisters! To view clips from the show, please click on today's title.
--------------------------------
Good friends from my last parish sent me the following essay which their 7th grade daughter wrote about the "Dividends of a Catholic Education". It's pretty incredible! I invite all bloggers to write a few dividends of their Catholic education whether it's been in a Catholic school, parish, Newman Center, blog site, etc.
I would echo the beautiful sentiments below by saying that the greatest dividend of a Catholic education is learning about the sacraments, especially the Eucharist. After 12+ years in Catholic schools, my Catholic education really started when a priest simply said, "'this is my body' means this is my body".
Christ’s Wonderful Gifts
Dividends of a Catholic Education
To me, the most important benefit that I receive from Catholic education is that every Sunday I witness an extraordinary miracle: the changing of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ. It really opens my eyes, and makes me realize the amazing power of God. If you see this action, it can change your life. The phenomenal power of this deed gives me the chance of eternal life. It reminds me that God loves me so much that he gives up his body for my well-being.
Another benefit is that when I pray, I remember that every time I receive grace from Him. Also, in the sacraments, we tighten the strand of our friendship with God, and he loves us ever more. Any time we even give God thanks, he smiles, and the jagged nail is loosened.
So keep in mind that the littlest acts, whether it be praise to God or prayer, is pleasing in His eyes. He looks down on us with extreme care and love. With all of His great gifts, such as eternal life, we are given the chance to be with Him in Heaven. The Eucharist and grace are His presents to us, and are one of the greatest acts of love I know. So take time to just take time to thank Him for all of the benefits of being Catholic.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
"Good news about sex"
Weather.com has issued a blizzard warning for today in DC. Please take this seriously and be safe today!
A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE OCCURRING. DO NOT VENTURE OUTSIDE. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION FOR ANYONE WHO BECOMES STRANDED.
FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS WILL CREATE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS... MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL... HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED... STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.
----------------------
Here are my notes from last night's discussion, "Good News About Sex":
Intro:
How can a celibate priest give a talk about sex?
Same question as, ‘How could Jesus talk about sex?’
-I and any priest re-present Christ’s teaching (God’s revelation about sex)
What did Jesus teach about sex?
- reaffirmed what was taught in the beginning, for one
- Matt 19: 5 (sex within the context of marriage)
- “in the beginning”…what does that mean?
I. Sex is beautiful
One of the first things God reveals to us is the beautiful gift of sex:
Gen 1: 28 – “Be fertile and multiply”
Gen 2: 24 – husband and wife “become one body (flesh)”
- Yahweh is speaking about marriage in Genesis, and to the first married couple(Adam and Eve)
-it is God’s command for them to have sex so that they will become oneflesh (union) and multiply (procreate)
-if it is from God it must be good, true, beautiful, glorious, wonderful (these are all qualities of God)
- The gift of sex is meant for us to understand what love is: the love between spouses + God’s love
- (example of engaged couple)
- “Good news about sex and marriage” ("Good News about Sex and Marriage", West, p.20): Sex expresses marital love
- So, God has given us sex for these two reasons: union and procreation
- where is pleasure in all of this? not there
- God has made the sexual act very pleasurable so that married persons
will do it!
- so they multiply (we need sex to survive as a race)
- those things we need to survive are pleasurable: eating, drinking, sleeping, e.g.
- but need to do it in right context and with moderation
- pleasure is not to be the focus
- any reason outside of union and procreation is not what God intends for sex
-unmarried persons can’t enter into one-flesh union; haven’t promised themselves to the other
-couples not open to life can’t be fertile and multiply; artificial contraception is from man, not God
-‘for pleasure only’ is an abuse of the gift of sex; selfish; focuses on what I get, not what I give
II. Sex is holy
- first of all, what is holiness?
- not just praying or being in Church
- holiness = otherness (living for God and others)
- second, how can sex be holy?
- within the marital act
1) husband and wife imitate God the Creator
Union:“the union of man and woman in marriage is a way of imitating in the flesh the Creator’s generosity and fecundity” (CCC, #2335)... fecundity = fruitfulness
Procreation:Continuing God’s work of creation
- they are co-creators with God!
2) husband and wife imitate the life of the Holy Trinity
- (example of married couple)
- West, pp. 19-20
- when the couple gives themselves completely to the other in the sexual
act, they are acting in love
- love = gift of self
- God is love, and He gives himself completely
- so, sex is a way to imitate God in a very deep and powerful way
- worshiping God through our bodies
- holiness through our bodies
- marital act = sacramental
- bedroom of a married couple is analogous to a Church
sanctuary just like marital love is analogous to the Eucharist
- Eucharist = union b/w God and man
- marital love = union b/w spouses
III. Sex is pure
All are called to live sexuality as God intends – in a pure way
All (married, religious, single) are called to live chastity
What is chastity and how do we live it?
- chastity is sexual purity
5 ways to live it
1) Pray
2) Sacraments
3) Custody of the eyes
4) Use reason to control sexual desires
5) Read lives of saints / examples of living virtues
How important is chastity?
St Maria Goretti - martyred at age 11 for her commitment to chastity
Christ: Mk 7 (unchastity is among the most serious sins)
St Paul: Eph 5:22 (chastity is 1 of 12 fruits of Holy Spirit)
Vs.
Eph 5:21 (those who live impurity…”will not inherit the kingdom of God”)
IV. Sex is good
a) Living sexuality the way God intends leads to:
Joy, happiness, peace, freedom
b) Impure thoughts and actions: “slavery” to sin
c) example of someone who is living chastity after many years of unchastity
Freedom v. slavery
Happiness v. sadness
Peace v. anxiety
d) I am a priest largely b/c of freedom of chastity:
-fervent prayer to the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary for chastity
-daily prayer as priest
e) All should pray and fast for chastity
Fasting – great way to control desires (small matters---> big matters)
- practices / disciplines of saints
Pray:
Priests: at Mass, especially
Married – for self and spouse
Single – pray for self (at Mass, etc.)
- and for future spouse to be living chastity
A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE OCCURRING. DO NOT VENTURE OUTSIDE. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION FOR ANYONE WHO BECOMES STRANDED.
FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS WILL CREATE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS... MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL... HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED... STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.
----------------------
Here are my notes from last night's discussion, "Good News About Sex":
Intro:
How can a celibate priest give a talk about sex?
Same question as, ‘How could Jesus talk about sex?’
-I and any priest re-present Christ’s teaching (God’s revelation about sex)
What did Jesus teach about sex?
- reaffirmed what was taught in the beginning, for one
- Matt 19: 5 (sex within the context of marriage)
- “in the beginning”…what does that mean?
I. Sex is beautiful
One of the first things God reveals to us is the beautiful gift of sex:
Gen 1: 28 – “Be fertile and multiply”
Gen 2: 24 – husband and wife “become one body (flesh)”
- Yahweh is speaking about marriage in Genesis, and to the first married couple(Adam and Eve)
-it is God’s command for them to have sex so that they will become oneflesh (union) and multiply (procreate)
-if it is from God it must be good, true, beautiful, glorious, wonderful (these are all qualities of God)
- The gift of sex is meant for us to understand what love is: the love between spouses + God’s love
- (example of engaged couple)
- “Good news about sex and marriage” ("Good News about Sex and Marriage", West, p.20): Sex expresses marital love
- So, God has given us sex for these two reasons: union and procreation
- where is pleasure in all of this? not there
- God has made the sexual act very pleasurable so that married persons
will do it!
- so they multiply (we need sex to survive as a race)
- those things we need to survive are pleasurable: eating, drinking, sleeping, e.g.
- but need to do it in right context and with moderation
- pleasure is not to be the focus
- any reason outside of union and procreation is not what God intends for sex
-unmarried persons can’t enter into one-flesh union; haven’t promised themselves to the other
-couples not open to life can’t be fertile and multiply; artificial contraception is from man, not God
-‘for pleasure only’ is an abuse of the gift of sex; selfish; focuses on what I get, not what I give
II. Sex is holy
- first of all, what is holiness?
- not just praying or being in Church
- holiness = otherness (living for God and others)
- second, how can sex be holy?
- within the marital act
1) husband and wife imitate God the Creator
Union:“the union of man and woman in marriage is a way of imitating in the flesh the Creator’s generosity and fecundity” (CCC, #2335)... fecundity = fruitfulness
Procreation:Continuing God’s work of creation
- they are co-creators with God!
2) husband and wife imitate the life of the Holy Trinity
- (example of married couple)
- West, pp. 19-20
- when the couple gives themselves completely to the other in the sexual
act, they are acting in love
- love = gift of self
- God is love, and He gives himself completely
- so, sex is a way to imitate God in a very deep and powerful way
- worshiping God through our bodies
- holiness through our bodies
- marital act = sacramental
- bedroom of a married couple is analogous to a Church
sanctuary just like marital love is analogous to the Eucharist
- Eucharist = union b/w God and man
- marital love = union b/w spouses
III. Sex is pure
All are called to live sexuality as God intends – in a pure way
All (married, religious, single) are called to live chastity
What is chastity and how do we live it?
- chastity is sexual purity
5 ways to live it
1) Pray
2) Sacraments
3) Custody of the eyes
4) Use reason to control sexual desires
5) Read lives of saints / examples of living virtues
How important is chastity?
St Maria Goretti - martyred at age 11 for her commitment to chastity
Christ: Mk 7 (unchastity is among the most serious sins)
St Paul: Eph 5:22 (chastity is 1 of 12 fruits of Holy Spirit)
Vs.
Eph 5:21 (those who live impurity…”will not inherit the kingdom of God”)
IV. Sex is good
a) Living sexuality the way God intends leads to:
Joy, happiness, peace, freedom
b) Impure thoughts and actions: “slavery” to sin
c) example of someone who is living chastity after many years of unchastity
Freedom v. slavery
Happiness v. sadness
Peace v. anxiety
d) I am a priest largely b/c of freedom of chastity:
-fervent prayer to the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary for chastity
-daily prayer as priest
e) All should pray and fast for chastity
Fasting – great way to control desires (small matters---> big matters)
- practices / disciplines of saints
Pray:
Priests: at Mass, especially
Married – for self and spouse
Single – pray for self (at Mass, etc.)
- and for future spouse to be living chastity
Monday, February 08, 2010
5th Sunday - homily
Celebrating Mass on Super Bowl Sunday reminds me of an episode from “The Simpsons” years ago. It was Super Bowl Sunday and they show the scene at the Church as the service begins. There is one person in the congregation. The pastor seems a bit upset and says, “well, thank God at least one person came to Church and isn’t watching the big game”. Then, the one man who is there says, “oh my gosh, the big game!” , and goes running out of Church!
This year in the Church is the “year of the priest”. It began last June and will end this June. It is a year to celebrate priests and thank them for their service to us. In Washington, we have had a campaign in which people have been sending letters and cards to priests to express their appreciation, love, and support. It’s been overwhelming for us priests, but we appreciate it very much. So many people who we will never meet have been offering so many prayers and sacrifices for us all year. You all should send a note to your priests back home before June, thanking them for their service to you and your family. They have given up everything for you.
It’s important for us to realize that priests have given up everything for us. They haven’t always been priests! We think this, don’t we…that priests have always been priests…that they popped out of their mother’s wombs… as priests! Priests are normal people who live ordinary lives until they realize they have been called to live extraordinary lives. Today’s Gospel from St. Luke helps to clarify that. Some of the first priests – the Apostles – were fisherman. Again, ordinary guys trying to make a living. Then, something extraordinary happened.
They had closed up shop for the night. They hadn’t caught any fish and were cleaning up, going home. Then, our Lord comes over to them and asks them to cast the nets again. At his word, they did and then caught a huge amount of fish. Extraordinary! Incredible! Something happened to them in this scene that changed them forever. The focus here is on Christ – as it is with every vocation. But, their response is very powerful, too: “they left everything and followed him”.
They left everything and followed him. Catholic priests have been doing that for the past 2000 years. They have left family, career, hopes, dreams…everything. They have left it all to follow Jesus in serving us as priests. They have give up everything so that we might know Christ through the preaching of the Gospel…that we might receive Christ in the sacraments…that we might be saved. They have really left everything for the salvation of souls. They have given up their lives so that we might go to Heaven. Of course, this is all in imitation of Christ, the High Priest.
I remember helping out on a Confirmation retreat years ago in my parish. My pastor who was middle-aged was leading the day-long retreat for 8th graders. Here he was in his fifties talking to a bunch of thirteen year-olds. I started thinking, ‘what is this all about?’ Then it hit me, this is his life. He had given up his life to do this: to talk to these kids and adults about Jesus…to bring Jesus to others and to bring others to Jesus.
Finally, without priests, we would not have the sacraments – the sacraments of salvation – especially the Eucharist. There is a powerful and inspiring video about the priesthood called “Fishers of Men”. It’s fast-moving and hard-hitting. There are at least two great quotes from the video. One is “who will give the sacraments to the next generation?” We do need young men to become priests and give the sacraments to the next generation. God is calling men, especially here at GW to do this. Will they hear the Call and answer it? The other great quote is, “without priests, we wouldn’t have the Eucharist”. As we receive the Eucharist tonight, let us thank God for the gift of Himself in this sacrament and also the gift of the priesthood. Let us thank God for priests who have given up everything for the salvation of souls…who have left everything to bring Jesus to us and us to Jesus.
This year in the Church is the “year of the priest”. It began last June and will end this June. It is a year to celebrate priests and thank them for their service to us. In Washington, we have had a campaign in which people have been sending letters and cards to priests to express their appreciation, love, and support. It’s been overwhelming for us priests, but we appreciate it very much. So many people who we will never meet have been offering so many prayers and sacrifices for us all year. You all should send a note to your priests back home before June, thanking them for their service to you and your family. They have given up everything for you.
It’s important for us to realize that priests have given up everything for us. They haven’t always been priests! We think this, don’t we…that priests have always been priests…that they popped out of their mother’s wombs… as priests! Priests are normal people who live ordinary lives until they realize they have been called to live extraordinary lives. Today’s Gospel from St. Luke helps to clarify that. Some of the first priests – the Apostles – were fisherman. Again, ordinary guys trying to make a living. Then, something extraordinary happened.
They had closed up shop for the night. They hadn’t caught any fish and were cleaning up, going home. Then, our Lord comes over to them and asks them to cast the nets again. At his word, they did and then caught a huge amount of fish. Extraordinary! Incredible! Something happened to them in this scene that changed them forever. The focus here is on Christ – as it is with every vocation. But, their response is very powerful, too: “they left everything and followed him”.
They left everything and followed him. Catholic priests have been doing that for the past 2000 years. They have left family, career, hopes, dreams…everything. They have left it all to follow Jesus in serving us as priests. They have give up everything so that we might know Christ through the preaching of the Gospel…that we might receive Christ in the sacraments…that we might be saved. They have really left everything for the salvation of souls. They have given up their lives so that we might go to Heaven. Of course, this is all in imitation of Christ, the High Priest.
I remember helping out on a Confirmation retreat years ago in my parish. My pastor who was middle-aged was leading the day-long retreat for 8th graders. Here he was in his fifties talking to a bunch of thirteen year-olds. I started thinking, ‘what is this all about?’ Then it hit me, this is his life. He had given up his life to do this: to talk to these kids and adults about Jesus…to bring Jesus to others and to bring others to Jesus.
Finally, without priests, we would not have the sacraments – the sacraments of salvation – especially the Eucharist. There is a powerful and inspiring video about the priesthood called “Fishers of Men”. It’s fast-moving and hard-hitting. There are at least two great quotes from the video. One is “who will give the sacraments to the next generation?” We do need young men to become priests and give the sacraments to the next generation. God is calling men, especially here at GW to do this. Will they hear the Call and answer it? The other great quote is, “without priests, we wouldn’t have the Eucharist”. As we receive the Eucharist tonight, let us thank God for the gift of Himself in this sacrament and also the gift of the priesthood. Let us thank God for priests who have given up everything for the salvation of souls…who have left everything to bring Jesus to us and us to Jesus.
Friday, February 05, 2010
"Tebow's Super Bowl ad isn't intolerant; its critics are"
1)”Jesus and Burritos” is still on for tonight. Adoration at 6 pm, Chipotle burritos at 7 pm.
2) A few spots left for next weekend’s retreat, “No Greater Love”. Please sign up asap by emailing Meg (meg@gwcatholic.com).
------------------------------------------
The following is an encouraging, sharp, and courageous article by a columnist of the Washington Post, Sally Jenkins, regarding Tim Tebow’s pro-life Super Bowl ad. Obviously, we don’t agree with Jenkins’ position on abortion; the main point of disagreement is that babies in the womb are not just potential lives, they are actual lives…actual human beings. Overall, though, the following is a very well-written article; it’s refreshing to see a secular journalist set the record straight that pro-choice means pro-abortion. Hopefully, Jenkins will see that the crowd (NOW, et al.) that she condemns are the same ones who have fought so hard for the “pro-choice” legalization that she supports. It’s not pro-choice legislation, it’s pro-abortion. Please pray for Sally Jenkins who is most likely under heavy attack from those who are viciously pro-abortion.
Tebow's Super Bowl ad isn't intolerant; its critics are
I'll spit this out quick, before the armies of feminism try to gag me and strap electrodes to my forehead: Tim Tebow is one of the better things to happen to young women in some time. I realize this stance won't endear me to the "Dwindling Organizations of Ladies in Lockstep," otherwise known as DOLL, but I'll try to pick up the shards of my shattered feminist credentials and go on.
As statements at Super Bowls go, I prefer the idea of Tebow's pro-life ad to, say, Jim McMahon dropping his pants, as the former Chicago Bears quarterback once did in response to a question. We're always harping on athletes to be more responsible and engaged in the issues of their day, and less concerned with just cashing checks. It therefore seems more than a little hypocritical to insist on it only if it means criticizing sneaker companies, and to stifle them when they take a stance that might make us uncomfortable.
I'm pro-choice, and Tebow clearly is not. But based on what I've heard in the past week, I'll take his side against the group-think, elitism and condescension of the "National Organization of Fewer and Fewer Women All The Time." For one thing, Tebow seems smarter than they do.
Tebow's 30-second ad hasn't even run yet, but it already has provoked "The National Organization for Women Who Only Think Like Us" to reveal something important about themselves: They aren't actually "pro-choice" so much as they are pro-abortion. Pam Tebow has a genuine pro-choice story to tell. She got pregnant in 1987, post-Roe v. Wade, and while on a Christian mission in the Philippines, she contracted a tropical ailment. Doctors advised her the pregnancy could be dangerous, but she exercised her freedom of choice and now, 20-some years later, the outcome of that choice is her beauteous Heisman Trophy winner son, a chaste, proselytizing evangelical.
Pam Tebow and her son feel good enough about that choice to want to tell people about it. Only, NOW says they shouldn't be allowed to. Apparently NOW feels this commercial is an inappropriate message for America to see for 30 seconds, but women in bikinis selling beer is the right one. I would like to meet the genius at NOW who made that decision. On second thought, no, I wouldn't.
There's not enough space in the sports pages for the serious weighing of values that constitutes this debate, but surely everyone in both camps, pro-choice or pro-life, wishes the "need" for abortions wasn't so great. Which is precisely why NOW is so wrong to take aim at Tebow's ad.
Here's what we do need a lot more of: Tebows. Collegians who are selfless enough to choose not to spend summers poolside, but travel to impoverished countries to dispense medical care to children, as Tebow has every summer of his career. Athletes who believe in something other than themselves, and are willing to put their backbone where their mouth is. Celebrities who are self-possessed and self-controlled enough to use their wattage to advertise commitment over decadence.
You know what we really need more of? Famous guys who aren't embarrassed to practice sexual restraint, and to say it out loud. If we had more of those, women might have fewer abortions. See, the best way to deal with unwanted pregnancy is to not get the sperm in the egg and the egg implanted to begin with, and that is an issue for men, too -- and they should step up to that.
"Are you saving yourself for marriage?" Tebow was asked last summer during an SEC media day.
"Yes, I am," he replied.
The room fell into a hush, followed by tittering: The best college football player in the country had just announced he was a virgin. As Tebow gauged the reaction from the reporters in the room, he burst out laughing. They were a lot more embarrassed than he was.
"I think y'all are stunned right now!" he said. "You can't even ask a question!"
That's how far we've come from any kind of sane viewpoint about star athletes and sex. Promiscuity is so the norm that if a stud isn't shagging everything in sight, we feel faintly ashamed for him.
Obviously Tebow can make people uncomfortable, whether it's for advertising his chastity, or for wearing his faith on his face via biblical citations painted in his eye-black. Hebrews 12:12, his cheekbones read during the Florida State game: "Therefore strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees." His critics find this intrusive, and say the Super Bowl is no place for an argument of this nature. "Pull the ad," NOW President Terry O'Neill said. "Let's focus on the game."
Trouble is, you can't focus on the game without focusing on the individuals who play it -- and that is the genius of Tebow's ad. The Super Bowl is not some reality-free escape zone. Tebow himself is an inescapable fact: Abortion doesn't just involve serious issues of life, but of potential lives, Heisman trophy winners, scientists, doctors, artists, inventors, Little Leaguers -- who would never come to be if their birth mothers had not wrestled with the stakes and chosen to carry those lives to term. And their stories are every bit as real and valid as the stories preferred by NOW.
Let me be clear again: I couldn't disagree with Tebow more. It's my own belief that the state has no business putting its hand under skirts. But I don't care that we differ. Some people will care that the ad is paid for by Focus on the Family, a group whose former spokesman, James Dobson, says loathsome things about gays. Some will care that Tebow is a creationist. Some will care that CBS has rejected a gay dating service ad. None of this is the point. CBS owns its broadcast and can run whatever advertising it wants, and Tebow has a right to express his beliefs publicly. Just as I have the right to reject or accept them after listening -- or think a little more deeply about the issues. If the pro-choice stance is so precarious that a story about someone who chose to carry a risky pregnancy to term undermines it, then CBS is not the problem.
Tebow's ad, by the way, never mentions abortion; like the player himself, it's apparently soft-spoken. It simply has the theme "Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life." This is what NOW has labeled "extraordinarily offensive and demeaning." But if there is any demeaning here, it's coming from NOW, via the suggestion that these aren't real questions, and that we as a Super Bowl audience are too stupid or too disinterested to handle them on game day.
2) A few spots left for next weekend’s retreat, “No Greater Love”. Please sign up asap by emailing Meg (meg@gwcatholic.com).
------------------------------------------
The following is an encouraging, sharp, and courageous article by a columnist of the Washington Post, Sally Jenkins, regarding Tim Tebow’s pro-life Super Bowl ad. Obviously, we don’t agree with Jenkins’ position on abortion; the main point of disagreement is that babies in the womb are not just potential lives, they are actual lives…actual human beings. Overall, though, the following is a very well-written article; it’s refreshing to see a secular journalist set the record straight that pro-choice means pro-abortion. Hopefully, Jenkins will see that the crowd (NOW, et al.) that she condemns are the same ones who have fought so hard for the “pro-choice” legalization that she supports. It’s not pro-choice legislation, it’s pro-abortion. Please pray for Sally Jenkins who is most likely under heavy attack from those who are viciously pro-abortion.
Tebow's Super Bowl ad isn't intolerant; its critics are
I'll spit this out quick, before the armies of feminism try to gag me and strap electrodes to my forehead: Tim Tebow is one of the better things to happen to young women in some time. I realize this stance won't endear me to the "Dwindling Organizations of Ladies in Lockstep," otherwise known as DOLL, but I'll try to pick up the shards of my shattered feminist credentials and go on.
As statements at Super Bowls go, I prefer the idea of Tebow's pro-life ad to, say, Jim McMahon dropping his pants, as the former Chicago Bears quarterback once did in response to a question. We're always harping on athletes to be more responsible and engaged in the issues of their day, and less concerned with just cashing checks. It therefore seems more than a little hypocritical to insist on it only if it means criticizing sneaker companies, and to stifle them when they take a stance that might make us uncomfortable.
I'm pro-choice, and Tebow clearly is not. But based on what I've heard in the past week, I'll take his side against the group-think, elitism and condescension of the "National Organization of Fewer and Fewer Women All The Time." For one thing, Tebow seems smarter than they do.
Tebow's 30-second ad hasn't even run yet, but it already has provoked "The National Organization for Women Who Only Think Like Us" to reveal something important about themselves: They aren't actually "pro-choice" so much as they are pro-abortion. Pam Tebow has a genuine pro-choice story to tell. She got pregnant in 1987, post-Roe v. Wade, and while on a Christian mission in the Philippines, she contracted a tropical ailment. Doctors advised her the pregnancy could be dangerous, but she exercised her freedom of choice and now, 20-some years later, the outcome of that choice is her beauteous Heisman Trophy winner son, a chaste, proselytizing evangelical.
Pam Tebow and her son feel good enough about that choice to want to tell people about it. Only, NOW says they shouldn't be allowed to. Apparently NOW feels this commercial is an inappropriate message for America to see for 30 seconds, but women in bikinis selling beer is the right one. I would like to meet the genius at NOW who made that decision. On second thought, no, I wouldn't.
There's not enough space in the sports pages for the serious weighing of values that constitutes this debate, but surely everyone in both camps, pro-choice or pro-life, wishes the "need" for abortions wasn't so great. Which is precisely why NOW is so wrong to take aim at Tebow's ad.
Here's what we do need a lot more of: Tebows. Collegians who are selfless enough to choose not to spend summers poolside, but travel to impoverished countries to dispense medical care to children, as Tebow has every summer of his career. Athletes who believe in something other than themselves, and are willing to put their backbone where their mouth is. Celebrities who are self-possessed and self-controlled enough to use their wattage to advertise commitment over decadence.
You know what we really need more of? Famous guys who aren't embarrassed to practice sexual restraint, and to say it out loud. If we had more of those, women might have fewer abortions. See, the best way to deal with unwanted pregnancy is to not get the sperm in the egg and the egg implanted to begin with, and that is an issue for men, too -- and they should step up to that.
"Are you saving yourself for marriage?" Tebow was asked last summer during an SEC media day.
"Yes, I am," he replied.
The room fell into a hush, followed by tittering: The best college football player in the country had just announced he was a virgin. As Tebow gauged the reaction from the reporters in the room, he burst out laughing. They were a lot more embarrassed than he was.
"I think y'all are stunned right now!" he said. "You can't even ask a question!"
That's how far we've come from any kind of sane viewpoint about star athletes and sex. Promiscuity is so the norm that if a stud isn't shagging everything in sight, we feel faintly ashamed for him.
Obviously Tebow can make people uncomfortable, whether it's for advertising his chastity, or for wearing his faith on his face via biblical citations painted in his eye-black. Hebrews 12:12, his cheekbones read during the Florida State game: "Therefore strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees." His critics find this intrusive, and say the Super Bowl is no place for an argument of this nature. "Pull the ad," NOW President Terry O'Neill said. "Let's focus on the game."
Trouble is, you can't focus on the game without focusing on the individuals who play it -- and that is the genius of Tebow's ad. The Super Bowl is not some reality-free escape zone. Tebow himself is an inescapable fact: Abortion doesn't just involve serious issues of life, but of potential lives, Heisman trophy winners, scientists, doctors, artists, inventors, Little Leaguers -- who would never come to be if their birth mothers had not wrestled with the stakes and chosen to carry those lives to term. And their stories are every bit as real and valid as the stories preferred by NOW.
Let me be clear again: I couldn't disagree with Tebow more. It's my own belief that the state has no business putting its hand under skirts. But I don't care that we differ. Some people will care that the ad is paid for by Focus on the Family, a group whose former spokesman, James Dobson, says loathsome things about gays. Some will care that Tebow is a creationist. Some will care that CBS has rejected a gay dating service ad. None of this is the point. CBS owns its broadcast and can run whatever advertising it wants, and Tebow has a right to express his beliefs publicly. Just as I have the right to reject or accept them after listening -- or think a little more deeply about the issues. If the pro-choice stance is so precarious that a story about someone who chose to carry a risky pregnancy to term undermines it, then CBS is not the problem.
Tebow's ad, by the way, never mentions abortion; like the player himself, it's apparently soft-spoken. It simply has the theme "Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life." This is what NOW has labeled "extraordinarily offensive and demeaning." But if there is any demeaning here, it's coming from NOW, via the suggestion that these aren't real questions, and that we as a Super Bowl audience are too stupid or too disinterested to handle them on game day.
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
"Dating and relationships"
Ash Wednesday Masses at GW
Wed., Feb 17, 2010
12 noon, 5 pm, 7:30 pm
Marvin Center, Continental Ballroom, 3rd Floor
---------------------------------------------
Last night we had another good discussion after Tuesday dinner. It was on dating and relationships. Here are the notes from my talk that started the discussion:
Dating and Relationships
I. “Don’t date anyone you wouldn’t marry”
II. Two models for dating
-From FG’s homily / 4th Sunday, 2nd reading (1 Cor 12)
1. World’s model: rush thru friendship into romance/sex
“Dating habits of teens are perfect preparation for divorce, not marriage”
-“Christian Courtship”, p.128, about Connie Marshner
If rushed, not love (lust??)
-FG in hs, pressured by friends to have sex with g-friend after 3 mos.
2.Christian model: love is patient / love waits
-Patient in every stage of dating (friendship/courtship)
If patient, love (agape…a share in it…preparing for it)
III. Stories
World’s model – AM
Christian model – KW
IV. Friendship dating
-friends 1st
- 1-2 months, at least
- if desire, friendship date more than one person at a time
- patient, communicate “friends only” / set boundaries (prudence)
- low-key, no pressure (pressure w/world’s model - locked in, engaged)
- testing period without emotional attachment
-see what the other is like and how you two get along
-free to remain as friends only if not going as you thought
-helps to avoid big-time hurt feelings
-STORY of the girl who could have used this model in college
For girls especially:
- able to screen out jerks /guys who are not for you
- if guy isn’t up for being friends first and waiting / sacrificing for you, then he’s not for you
- chaste hugs, no kissing or holding hands
- get to know souls, not bodies (what makes a relationship/marriage last)
- foundation for courtship
- contact: talk 2x/wk, see 1x/wk STORY of MH + JP
- Prayer: pray for other and for God’s Will to be done
V. Exclusive dating / courtship
-Communicate / decide to exclusively date the other (call off other friend-dating)
-Be patient…..“ short courtships often make for short marriages” – Morrow
-Hold hands, gentle kissing, chaste hugs
YG: video – incl. couple that wouldn’t kiss until marriage
-a bit extreme but got conversation started with teens
-at least one teen made a chastity pact that night at YG
-Contact: talk 2-3x/wk, see 2-3x/wk
-Pray for other and for God’s Will to be done
-Chastity: NOT JUST ABSTINENCE; sexual purity
-sexual habits you build when young stay with you when old
- “ in courtship stay with you in marriage
- if unchaste habits, then marriage in trouble
- STORY: TR
-God’s Grace and person’s will can change habits, but takes a lot of Grace and a lot of work
-if chaste habits now, then marriage will be much more fruitful
How to live chastity? (for another discussion)
Benefits of chastity and modesty
-Freedom- free to love the whole person: body and soul
- unchastity brings slavery; chastity brings freedom
-Mutual respect
-Mutual, sacrificial love (agape)
-Attraction–seeing the beauty of the other’s soul makes them more attractive
-Modesty – makes women more attractive; helps guys out
VI. What if you’re not dating?
-pray for future spouse
-prepare for future spouse: prayer + chastity, esp.
-trust that God will provide future spouse + be ready when He does
-wife / husband (marriage); Church (religious); Church (single)
Story of DP + TP
Wed., Feb 17, 2010
12 noon, 5 pm, 7:30 pm
Marvin Center, Continental Ballroom, 3rd Floor
---------------------------------------------
Last night we had another good discussion after Tuesday dinner. It was on dating and relationships. Here are the notes from my talk that started the discussion:
Dating and Relationships
I. “Don’t date anyone you wouldn’t marry”
II. Two models for dating
-From FG’s homily / 4th Sunday, 2nd reading (1 Cor 12)
1. World’s model: rush thru friendship into romance/sex
“Dating habits of teens are perfect preparation for divorce, not marriage”
-“Christian Courtship”, p.128, about Connie Marshner
If rushed, not love (lust??)
-FG in hs, pressured by friends to have sex with g-friend after 3 mos.
2.Christian model: love is patient / love waits
-Patient in every stage of dating (friendship/courtship)
If patient, love (agape…a share in it…preparing for it)
III. Stories
World’s model – AM
Christian model – KW
IV. Friendship dating
-friends 1st
- 1-2 months, at least
- if desire, friendship date more than one person at a time
- patient, communicate “friends only” / set boundaries (prudence)
- low-key, no pressure (pressure w/world’s model - locked in, engaged)
- testing period without emotional attachment
-see what the other is like and how you two get along
-free to remain as friends only if not going as you thought
-helps to avoid big-time hurt feelings
-STORY of the girl who could have used this model in college
For girls especially:
- able to screen out jerks /guys who are not for you
- if guy isn’t up for being friends first and waiting / sacrificing for you, then he’s not for you
- chaste hugs, no kissing or holding hands
- get to know souls, not bodies (what makes a relationship/marriage last)
- foundation for courtship
- contact: talk 2x/wk, see 1x/wk STORY of MH + JP
- Prayer: pray for other and for God’s Will to be done
V. Exclusive dating / courtship
-Communicate / decide to exclusively date the other (call off other friend-dating)
-Be patient…..“ short courtships often make for short marriages” – Morrow
-Hold hands, gentle kissing, chaste hugs
YG: video – incl. couple that wouldn’t kiss until marriage
-a bit extreme but got conversation started with teens
-at least one teen made a chastity pact that night at YG
-Contact: talk 2-3x/wk, see 2-3x/wk
-Pray for other and for God’s Will to be done
-Chastity: NOT JUST ABSTINENCE; sexual purity
-sexual habits you build when young stay with you when old
- “ in courtship stay with you in marriage
- if unchaste habits, then marriage in trouble
- STORY: TR
-God’s Grace and person’s will can change habits, but takes a lot of Grace and a lot of work
-if chaste habits now, then marriage will be much more fruitful
How to live chastity? (for another discussion)
Benefits of chastity and modesty
-Freedom- free to love the whole person: body and soul
- unchastity brings slavery; chastity brings freedom
-Mutual respect
-Mutual, sacrificial love (agape)
-Attraction–seeing the beauty of the other’s soul makes them more attractive
-Modesty – makes women more attractive; helps guys out
VI. What if you’re not dating?
-pray for future spouse
-prepare for future spouse: prayer + chastity, esp.
-trust that God will provide future spouse + be ready when He does
-wife / husband (marriage); Church (religious); Church (single)
Story of DP + TP
Monday, February 01, 2010
4th Sunday - homily
You might have seen the story on the internet this week about the professional baseball player who is quitting baseball to become a priest. Totally cool! Grant Desme is a 23 year old up-and-coming star with the Oakland Athletics who believes that God is calling him to be a priest, so he is acting on it immediately. It’s an incredible story and one that has caught many people off guard. But, it’s not a new story. A couple of years ago, there was a professional soccer player who retired in the prime of his career to enter the seminary. I know of a woman in the ‘90s who was a great college basketball player at a major university who entered the convent right after college; she is now a cloistered nun. Cloistered, whoa! A friend of mine was an all-American basketball player in college. She could have gone to the WNBA but chose to get married and raise children. These are great and heroic examples of people who had everything at their fingertips – money, fame, and success. They chose to follow their calling, their vocation instead. They chose love over all of those things. We have examples in our own community, too. There have been eight men and women who have entered seminary or a religious community after GW. They, too, chose their vocation over careers in politics, government, law, medicine, etc. They chose love. What examples they are to all of us!
Every one of you has a vocation, a calling from God. Every person in this Church, at this university, in this country, in this world has a vocation. It’s either to the married life, the religious life, or the single life. Your job is to figure out to which one God is calling you. Most of you are called to marriage, but some of you are called to be religious and some of you are called to be single. As we heard in the first reading, God gave you your vocation before you were born! He has put you on this earth for a reason. He has a plan for you that involves living out love in a particular vocation. What is the best way to find your vocation? I will reveal that in a few moments.
You are preparing for your vocation right now. You are preparing for love. So, you should be asking yourselves, “how do I prepare? What is love?” St Paul offers you a lot of help in today’s second reading. If you’ve been to Catholic weddings, you’ve probably heard this reading (1 Cor 12) before: “love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous…love never fails”. This is the Christian model for love. You can compare this model to your lives right now. For example, if you’re in a dating relationship, is it patient? Have you been patient in every stage of the relationship? If so, it is love. But, if you’ve rushed through the stages and been impatient, then it’s not love. This is the model of the world that comes to us mainly from movies and television. It’s the model that says to rush through friendship into romance…into sex. It’s the model that so many young people follow and that experts say is preparation not for marriage, but for divorce. It’s the model that has led to a 50% divorce rate in our country. Please…don’t follow this model. Follow the model of love. Love is patient. Love waits. Please wait and be patient… for the sake of love and for the sake of your relationship.
The Church also goes deeper in looking at love. Mainly with the help of Pope John Paul II, it has defined love as “gift of self”. Love means giving yourself to another. Love means sacrifice. If you really love someone, you are willing to sacrifice for them in big and small ways. Jesus says there is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends (Jn 15). This will be the focus of our retreat next month, “No Greater Love”. We will focus on what it means to sacrifice…what it means to love. It will be a great weekend to help you prepare for your vocation. We will have student leaders who will tell their stories about how they have already entered into sacrifice for others…how they already entered into the greatest love. It will be powerful! You will hear from one of these leaders at the end of Mass.
Finally, the best way to find your vocation is through the Eucharist. I am utterly convinced of this because I’ve seen it happen with so many people. If you stay close to the Eucharist, I promise you will find your vocation. This means coming to Mass regularly and receiving the Eucharist regularly, coming to Adoration, making chapel visits…having a relationship with Christ in the Eucharist. It leads to us saying, “Jesus, you gave me your life, how can I give you my life?” He is the example for us in living out a vocation. He lived out the Father’s Plan even though it meant sacrifice; we hear of the beginnings of this sacrifice in today’s Gospel. He is the example and the source of our vocations. He has given you a vocation. He is calling you to something great! To whatever He is calling you, there is your happiness. God doesn’t want you to be miserable, so to whatever He is calling you will make you happy.
Through the help of Jesus in the Eucharist, may you find your vocation…may you find the reason God has put you on this earth…may you find the love to which He is calling you. And, in the process, may you find true happiness that God has desired for you since He formed you in the womb.
Every one of you has a vocation, a calling from God. Every person in this Church, at this university, in this country, in this world has a vocation. It’s either to the married life, the religious life, or the single life. Your job is to figure out to which one God is calling you. Most of you are called to marriage, but some of you are called to be religious and some of you are called to be single. As we heard in the first reading, God gave you your vocation before you were born! He has put you on this earth for a reason. He has a plan for you that involves living out love in a particular vocation. What is the best way to find your vocation? I will reveal that in a few moments.
You are preparing for your vocation right now. You are preparing for love. So, you should be asking yourselves, “how do I prepare? What is love?” St Paul offers you a lot of help in today’s second reading. If you’ve been to Catholic weddings, you’ve probably heard this reading (1 Cor 12) before: “love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous…love never fails”. This is the Christian model for love. You can compare this model to your lives right now. For example, if you’re in a dating relationship, is it patient? Have you been patient in every stage of the relationship? If so, it is love. But, if you’ve rushed through the stages and been impatient, then it’s not love. This is the model of the world that comes to us mainly from movies and television. It’s the model that says to rush through friendship into romance…into sex. It’s the model that so many young people follow and that experts say is preparation not for marriage, but for divorce. It’s the model that has led to a 50% divorce rate in our country. Please…don’t follow this model. Follow the model of love. Love is patient. Love waits. Please wait and be patient… for the sake of love and for the sake of your relationship.
The Church also goes deeper in looking at love. Mainly with the help of Pope John Paul II, it has defined love as “gift of self”. Love means giving yourself to another. Love means sacrifice. If you really love someone, you are willing to sacrifice for them in big and small ways. Jesus says there is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends (Jn 15). This will be the focus of our retreat next month, “No Greater Love”. We will focus on what it means to sacrifice…what it means to love. It will be a great weekend to help you prepare for your vocation. We will have student leaders who will tell their stories about how they have already entered into sacrifice for others…how they already entered into the greatest love. It will be powerful! You will hear from one of these leaders at the end of Mass.
Finally, the best way to find your vocation is through the Eucharist. I am utterly convinced of this because I’ve seen it happen with so many people. If you stay close to the Eucharist, I promise you will find your vocation. This means coming to Mass regularly and receiving the Eucharist regularly, coming to Adoration, making chapel visits…having a relationship with Christ in the Eucharist. It leads to us saying, “Jesus, you gave me your life, how can I give you my life?” He is the example for us in living out a vocation. He lived out the Father’s Plan even though it meant sacrifice; we hear of the beginnings of this sacrifice in today’s Gospel. He is the example and the source of our vocations. He has given you a vocation. He is calling you to something great! To whatever He is calling you, there is your happiness. God doesn’t want you to be miserable, so to whatever He is calling you will make you happy.
Through the help of Jesus in the Eucharist, may you find your vocation…may you find the reason God has put you on this earth…may you find the love to which He is calling you. And, in the process, may you find true happiness that God has desired for you since He formed you in the womb.
Friday, January 29, 2010
"A's prospect leaving baseball for call of the priesthood"
DC 'Hood vs. St. John the Baptist, tonight, 7:30 pm, at SJB gym. Go 'Hood!!
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Several friends sent me the following story about a young man who is leaving a promising career as a professional baseball player in order to pursue the priesthood. My man! The story below comes from Yahoo! Sports and reminds us of the story on our blog a little while ago about the professional soccer player who retired to enter the seminary. There have been other stories like this in the past involving both men and women leaving fame and fortune in sports to enter religious life. What heroes they are!!
"A's prospect leaving baseball for call of the priesthood"
Well, here's a story you don't see every day.
Grant Desme, a 23-year-old minor league outfielder in Oakland's system, is retiring from baseball to follow a calling into the Catholic priesthood.
The story was first reported by Fox Sports' Jon Paul Morosi — perhaps appropriately with that first name of his — and this isn't a case of a struggling player going through an early-life crisis. Desme was ranked the A's eighth-best prospect by Baseball America after hitting .288 with 31 home runs and 89 RBIs in A ball in 2009 and he was just named MVP of the Arizona Fall League.
Desme might have even been a late-season callup to the big league club in 2010. Our Y! Sports 2010 fantasy guide has him ranked the 40th-best minor-league prospect for near-term fantasy purpose. However, ESPN's Rob Neyer disagrees, saying that he didn't see Desme as a future star by the Bay.
Susan Slusser has more on Desme's decision to leave playing against the Padres and Cardinals so he can start praying with other padres and cardinals at a Catholic seminary in Orange County. He said the news came as bit of a shock to Billy Beane, but that the Oakland GM and entire A's system have been supportive of his decision.
Said Desme on a Friday afternoon conference call:
"I'm doing well in baseball. But I had to get down to the bottom of things, to what was good in my life, what I wanted to do with my life. Baseball is a good thing, but that felt selfish of me when I felt that God was calling me more. It took awhile to trust that and open up to it and aim full steam toward him ... I love the game, but I'm going to aspire to higher things."
Desme spoke with Baseball America last year about baseball being only "a game" and we wish him success on his spiritual path. In a selfish age when churches struggle to recruit young male Americans, his sacrifice of possible riches is a very admirable thing.
---------------------------
Several friends sent me the following story about a young man who is leaving a promising career as a professional baseball player in order to pursue the priesthood. My man! The story below comes from Yahoo! Sports and reminds us of the story on our blog a little while ago about the professional soccer player who retired to enter the seminary. There have been other stories like this in the past involving both men and women leaving fame and fortune in sports to enter religious life. What heroes they are!!
"A's prospect leaving baseball for call of the priesthood"
Well, here's a story you don't see every day.
Grant Desme, a 23-year-old minor league outfielder in Oakland's system, is retiring from baseball to follow a calling into the Catholic priesthood.
The story was first reported by Fox Sports' Jon Paul Morosi — perhaps appropriately with that first name of his — and this isn't a case of a struggling player going through an early-life crisis. Desme was ranked the A's eighth-best prospect by Baseball America after hitting .288 with 31 home runs and 89 RBIs in A ball in 2009 and he was just named MVP of the Arizona Fall League.
Desme might have even been a late-season callup to the big league club in 2010. Our Y! Sports 2010 fantasy guide has him ranked the 40th-best minor-league prospect for near-term fantasy purpose. However, ESPN's Rob Neyer disagrees, saying that he didn't see Desme as a future star by the Bay.
Susan Slusser has more on Desme's decision to leave playing against the Padres and Cardinals so he can start praying with other padres and cardinals at a Catholic seminary in Orange County. He said the news came as bit of a shock to Billy Beane, but that the Oakland GM and entire A's system have been supportive of his decision.
Said Desme on a Friday afternoon conference call:
"I'm doing well in baseball. But I had to get down to the bottom of things, to what was good in my life, what I wanted to do with my life. Baseball is a good thing, but that felt selfish of me when I felt that God was calling me more. It took awhile to trust that and open up to it and aim full steam toward him ... I love the game, but I'm going to aspire to higher things."
Desme spoke with Baseball America last year about baseball being only "a game" and we wish him success on his spiritual path. In a selfish age when churches struggle to recruit young male Americans, his sacrifice of possible riches is a very admirable thing.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
"How Do I Pray?"
Here are notes from my talk that started the discussion on prayer last night at the Newman Center.
“How Do I Pray?”
I.General question / points about prayer
What is prayer?
-“the rising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God” – St John Damascene
-many forms of prayer: liturgical, private, communal, prayer in action
- the Mass is the greatest prayer
-focus tonight is on private, mental prayer
- Conversation with God
How do I pray (in general)
=how do I talk to a friend
=how do I listen to a friend
=how do I spend time with a friend
“I have called you friends” – Jn 15:15
II. Specific questions about prayer
-Like a friendship / relationship
-w/ stages
FG in 1st part of college: prayed only when I needed something; not a friendship with Christ
How do I pray?
A.As a beginner / beginning stage
1) Get to know God
-Go to where He’s revealed Himself to us:
Sacred Scripture (written word about God) – Bible
Sacred Tradition (oral word about God) – Catechism
-this is like when someone friend’s you on Facebook, you check out their profile (what they’ve revealed about them) to get to know them initially
2) make time to talk with God
-formal prayers (Our Father, e.g.)
-informal prayers (“Jesus, help me”…”Lord, I love you”)
3) make time to listen to God
-“speak, Lord, your servant is listening” (Samuel)
..not “listen, Lord, your servant is speaking” (!)
Q’s
What if I get distracted?
-focus on the person of Christ
-friendship
-don’t get discouraged (greatest tool of the Devil is discouragement)
Where do I pray?
-ANYWHERE!
-Nature / creation: “the first book God wrote” – Groeschel
- rosary walks, rosary in car, walk on beach talking to God, e.g.
-In our homes / “prayer corners”
-w/ Sacred Scriptures, icons, e.g.
“when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret” (Mt 6:6)
-Church – best place to pray
-“privileged place of Adoration” (Catechism of Catholic Church, #2691)
-reserved + exposed adoration: be in the presence of Christ
STORY – Woman at the well
-first time in presence of Christ
-encounter that changed her heart / changed her life
B.As Intermediate
-stay with it; make habit
-even with distractions in prayer / at Mass
-person, friendship
-“watchfulness” (=’vigilance’ in U.S. w/terrorism)
-“in prayer, the disciple keeps watch” – CCC, #2612
-in specific prayer time and in habit of prayer
-“vigilance”
-“when Jesus insists on vigilance, he always relates it to himself, to his coming on the last day and every day: today. The bridegroom comes in the middle of the night” (CCC, #2730)
STORY – Mother Teresa
-ties in w/ quesrions:
What if I don’t ever feel God’s presence when I pray?
What if I feel that I’m all alone, and that God isn’t there with me?
-spiritual dryness (more common among advanced pray-ers)
MT
-Recent book (how true?): her letters of past 60 years which show that for most of her life she did not feel the presence of God and even doubted the existence of God and heaven
-continued to pray constantly, keep watch daily
-even amid great spiritual agony, her friendship w/ Christ was rock-solid (faith was rock-solid)
-faith is key; faith-fulness
-in spiritual life / prayer life, there will be ups and downs, highs and lows, dry times and wet times…key is to be faith-ful
-“prayer…is a cry of gratitude and of love, in the midst of trials as well as amidst joys” – St Therese of Lisieux
C. As advanced
Meditation + contemplation (on handout)
-Theresa of Avila, John of the Cross (FG took class on them taught by Fr Dubay)
-meditation: put self into God’s presence
-contemplation: God infuses His spirit in us
STORY – FG w/ vocation
-ties in w/ question:
How do I hear God?
- thru prayer, Scripture, people, experiences
III. How do I pray (for something specific)?
1) Pray for “thy will be done”
-best / most prudent way to pray
-“what we are ultimately praying for in this third petition of the Our Father is that we come closer and closer to (God)” – PB XVI, “Jesus of Nazareth”, p.150
-constant prayer / intercession
-changes heart, see thing as God sees it
-what’s best for us, others = what we need
2) pray for what we need
-“we have the right and the duty to ask for what we need” – PB XVI, p.151
STORY: Conv. w/ friend who asked “why pray when God’s will is already set?”
1) Know God’s Will / needs
2) God’s Will can include our intercessory prayers (it’s complicated)
-Moses / Ex 32
-the Lord threatened wrath against the Israelites
-Moses implored the Lord – “let your blazing wrath die down; relent in punishing your people”
-“the Lord relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people”
-Moses’ prayer led to Lord relenting
-God’s Will was to relent in wrath / punishment
-God’s Will included Moses’ prayer
-God’s Will can include our petitions; be generous in praying for others!
What if my prayer isn’t answered?
Fr Byrne: one of three answers from God
1) Yes
2) Not now
3) Something better in mind
CCC (#2735-36)
-“we ought to be astonished by this fact: when we praise God or give him thanks for his benefits in general, we are not particularly concerned whether or not our prayer is acceptable to him. On the other hand, we demand to see the results of our petitions”
-“are we convinced that ‘we pray as we ought’?”
-the Spirit intercedes for us (cf. Rom 8:25-27) to help us to know how to pray (God’s Will)
How do I pray at Adoration?
STORY of Frenchman / Vianney
“I look at him and he looks at me”
-personal encounter (friendship)
“How Do I Pray?”
I.General question / points about prayer
What is prayer?
-“the rising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God” – St John Damascene
-many forms of prayer: liturgical, private, communal, prayer in action
- the Mass is the greatest prayer
-focus tonight is on private, mental prayer
- Conversation with God
How do I pray (in general)
=how do I talk to a friend
=how do I listen to a friend
=how do I spend time with a friend
“I have called you friends” – Jn 15:15
II. Specific questions about prayer
-Like a friendship / relationship
-w/ stages
FG in 1st part of college: prayed only when I needed something; not a friendship with Christ
How do I pray?
A.As a beginner / beginning stage
1) Get to know God
-Go to where He’s revealed Himself to us:
Sacred Scripture (written word about God) – Bible
Sacred Tradition (oral word about God) – Catechism
-this is like when someone friend’s you on Facebook, you check out their profile (what they’ve revealed about them) to get to know them initially
2) make time to talk with God
-formal prayers (Our Father, e.g.)
-informal prayers (“Jesus, help me”…”Lord, I love you”)
3) make time to listen to God
-“speak, Lord, your servant is listening” (Samuel)
..not “listen, Lord, your servant is speaking” (!)
Q’s
What if I get distracted?
-focus on the person of Christ
-friendship
-don’t get discouraged (greatest tool of the Devil is discouragement)
Where do I pray?
-ANYWHERE!
-Nature / creation: “the first book God wrote” – Groeschel
- rosary walks, rosary in car, walk on beach talking to God, e.g.
-In our homes / “prayer corners”
-w/ Sacred Scriptures, icons, e.g.
“when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret” (Mt 6:6)
-Church – best place to pray
-“privileged place of Adoration” (Catechism of Catholic Church, #2691)
-reserved + exposed adoration: be in the presence of Christ
STORY – Woman at the well
-first time in presence of Christ
-encounter that changed her heart / changed her life
B.As Intermediate
-stay with it; make habit
-even with distractions in prayer / at Mass
-person, friendship
-“watchfulness” (=’vigilance’ in U.S. w/terrorism)
-“in prayer, the disciple keeps watch” – CCC, #2612
-in specific prayer time and in habit of prayer
-“vigilance”
-“when Jesus insists on vigilance, he always relates it to himself, to his coming on the last day and every day: today. The bridegroom comes in the middle of the night” (CCC, #2730)
STORY – Mother Teresa
-ties in w/ quesrions:
What if I don’t ever feel God’s presence when I pray?
What if I feel that I’m all alone, and that God isn’t there with me?
-spiritual dryness (more common among advanced pray-ers)
MT
-Recent book (how true?): her letters of past 60 years which show that for most of her life she did not feel the presence of God and even doubted the existence of God and heaven
-continued to pray constantly, keep watch daily
-even amid great spiritual agony, her friendship w/ Christ was rock-solid (faith was rock-solid)
-faith is key; faith-fulness
-in spiritual life / prayer life, there will be ups and downs, highs and lows, dry times and wet times…key is to be faith-ful
-“prayer…is a cry of gratitude and of love, in the midst of trials as well as amidst joys” – St Therese of Lisieux
C. As advanced
Meditation + contemplation (on handout)
-Theresa of Avila, John of the Cross (FG took class on them taught by Fr Dubay)
-meditation: put self into God’s presence
-contemplation: God infuses His spirit in us
STORY – FG w/ vocation
-ties in w/ question:
How do I hear God?
- thru prayer, Scripture, people, experiences
III. How do I pray (for something specific)?
1) Pray for “thy will be done”
-best / most prudent way to pray
-“what we are ultimately praying for in this third petition of the Our Father is that we come closer and closer to (God)” – PB XVI, “Jesus of Nazareth”, p.150
-constant prayer / intercession
-changes heart, see thing as God sees it
-what’s best for us, others = what we need
2) pray for what we need
-“we have the right and the duty to ask for what we need” – PB XVI, p.151
STORY: Conv. w/ friend who asked “why pray when God’s will is already set?”
1) Know God’s Will / needs
2) God’s Will can include our intercessory prayers (it’s complicated)
-Moses / Ex 32
-the Lord threatened wrath against the Israelites
-Moses implored the Lord – “let your blazing wrath die down; relent in punishing your people”
-“the Lord relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people”
-Moses’ prayer led to Lord relenting
-God’s Will was to relent in wrath / punishment
-God’s Will included Moses’ prayer
-God’s Will can include our petitions; be generous in praying for others!
What if my prayer isn’t answered?
Fr Byrne: one of three answers from God
1) Yes
2) Not now
3) Something better in mind
CCC (#2735-36)
-“we ought to be astonished by this fact: when we praise God or give him thanks for his benefits in general, we are not particularly concerned whether or not our prayer is acceptable to him. On the other hand, we demand to see the results of our petitions”
-“are we convinced that ‘we pray as we ought’?”
-the Spirit intercedes for us (cf. Rom 8:25-27) to help us to know how to pray (God’s Will)
How do I pray at Adoration?
STORY of Frenchman / Vianney
“I look at him and he looks at me”
-personal encounter (friendship)
Monday, January 25, 2010
3rd Sunday - homily
One of the most common complaints that I’ve heard from young Catholics over the years is that Mass is too boring. Granted, Mass isn’t the funnest event in the world, but it is the best and most beautiful event. Mass blows away any sporting event or movie or any kind of entertainment. It is amazing what happens here. We hear God speaking to us in the readings and then through the eyes of faith witness Him present on the altar in the Eucharist. What we are really witnessing is Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross; we are witnesses to Calvary. Can you imagine being present at Mount Calvary, walking by the Crucifixion, and thinking to yourself, “geez, how boring”. I don’t think so. People who say the Mass is boring don’t know what happens at Mass and how amazing it is.
We can make it more lively here, though. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard a priest do this in a homily, but it’s pretty cool. After making a strong point, he says to the congregation, “Can I get an Amen?” So, let’s try that now. Can I get an Amen? Can I get an Amen? Also, if you’ve ever been to a youth conference or rally like the one at Verizon Center on Friday before the March for Life, you’ve probably heard this one. When I say, “God is good”, you say, ”All the time”. When I say, “All the time”, you say, ”God is good”. Let’s try it. God is good, all the time!! All the time, God is good! Can I get an Amen?
Now, the point of this is not just to make the Mass more fun, but it is about doing a little R&R. It’s about being R&R Catholics when we come to Mass. I don’t mean rest and relaxation, I mean respect and response. We should come here with respect and leave with a response. We hear of people like this in the first reading. The people in the Jewish assembly were definitely R&R Jews. They totally respected the Word of God. When the priest read the Word to them, they all listened attentively and tried to understand it. They were completely into it. After hearing the Word, they responded with an “Amen! Amen!” Wouldn’t that be great if that was the experience at the Catholic Mass? Wouldn’t it be great if everyone listened attentively, tried to understand the readings, and responded enthusiastically with “Amen!” I don’t mean just to the readings, but to the prayers. It would be powerful to hear a loud “Amen!” whenever the priest closed each prayer of the Mass…”through Christ our Lord. Amen!”
Today’s Gospel is also a scene involving R&R Jews. Jesus was a R&R Jew and is surrounded by others like him in the synagogue. They hand him the scroll that contained the Scripture from the prophet Isaiah. Jesus was a great teacher of the Scripture, so they were hoping that he would illuminate the prophecy for them. Boy, did he! He said, ”today, this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing”. The Jews believe that Isaiah and all the prophets prophesied about the Messiah, the Christ. Jesus is basically saying that Isaiah is prophesying about Him! For these R&R Jews who completely respected the Scripture, this provoked a strong response, and I don’t think it was, “Amen!”. Many of them didn’t believe Jesus and took great offense at him. They would ultimately call him a liar and a blasphemer and kill him. There was another strong response to Christ’s huge claim…and it was Amen! It probably wasn’t an Amen in the synagogue that day, but it was in their lives. Many people believed in him, followed him, suffered for him, and died for him.
We are called to have a strong response, too. We are called to say, “Amen!” to the claim that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament….that He is the Christ. He is the fulfillment of the Old Covenant and the Old Law. The Old Testament points to Christ. It is so powerful when we hear parts of the Old Testament speak specifically to the person of Christ (indirectly) and to the events of his life…written hundreds of years before they happen. When we come to Mass, it is our job to listen attentively and learn about Christ in the Old Testament as well as the New. We are called to respect the Word of God and then, with the help of the Eucharist, to respond to it. Basically, we leave here and live lives that say “Amen” to what we have heard. This is what it means to be a R&R Catholic.
Finally, there are some here tonight who are preparing to become R&R Catholics. They respect the Word of God and are attentive to what He is saying to them. They are now responding by preparing for the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Eucharist, and Confirmation in becoming full members of the Church which is the Body of Christ on Earth, as St Paul tells us in the second reading. It is so impressive and inspiring to see college students actively choose to be R&R Catholics. May all of you here tonight take courage and not be afraid to respect and respond to the Word of God, which is Christ. May you be attentive to Christ and respond to Him with lives that say, “Amen! I believe!”
We can make it more lively here, though. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard a priest do this in a homily, but it’s pretty cool. After making a strong point, he says to the congregation, “Can I get an Amen?” So, let’s try that now. Can I get an Amen? Can I get an Amen? Also, if you’ve ever been to a youth conference or rally like the one at Verizon Center on Friday before the March for Life, you’ve probably heard this one. When I say, “God is good”, you say, ”All the time”. When I say, “All the time”, you say, ”God is good”. Let’s try it. God is good, all the time!! All the time, God is good! Can I get an Amen?
Now, the point of this is not just to make the Mass more fun, but it is about doing a little R&R. It’s about being R&R Catholics when we come to Mass. I don’t mean rest and relaxation, I mean respect and response. We should come here with respect and leave with a response. We hear of people like this in the first reading. The people in the Jewish assembly were definitely R&R Jews. They totally respected the Word of God. When the priest read the Word to them, they all listened attentively and tried to understand it. They were completely into it. After hearing the Word, they responded with an “Amen! Amen!” Wouldn’t that be great if that was the experience at the Catholic Mass? Wouldn’t it be great if everyone listened attentively, tried to understand the readings, and responded enthusiastically with “Amen!” I don’t mean just to the readings, but to the prayers. It would be powerful to hear a loud “Amen!” whenever the priest closed each prayer of the Mass…”through Christ our Lord. Amen!”
Today’s Gospel is also a scene involving R&R Jews. Jesus was a R&R Jew and is surrounded by others like him in the synagogue. They hand him the scroll that contained the Scripture from the prophet Isaiah. Jesus was a great teacher of the Scripture, so they were hoping that he would illuminate the prophecy for them. Boy, did he! He said, ”today, this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing”. The Jews believe that Isaiah and all the prophets prophesied about the Messiah, the Christ. Jesus is basically saying that Isaiah is prophesying about Him! For these R&R Jews who completely respected the Scripture, this provoked a strong response, and I don’t think it was, “Amen!”. Many of them didn’t believe Jesus and took great offense at him. They would ultimately call him a liar and a blasphemer and kill him. There was another strong response to Christ’s huge claim…and it was Amen! It probably wasn’t an Amen in the synagogue that day, but it was in their lives. Many people believed in him, followed him, suffered for him, and died for him.
We are called to have a strong response, too. We are called to say, “Amen!” to the claim that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament….that He is the Christ. He is the fulfillment of the Old Covenant and the Old Law. The Old Testament points to Christ. It is so powerful when we hear parts of the Old Testament speak specifically to the person of Christ (indirectly) and to the events of his life…written hundreds of years before they happen. When we come to Mass, it is our job to listen attentively and learn about Christ in the Old Testament as well as the New. We are called to respect the Word of God and then, with the help of the Eucharist, to respond to it. Basically, we leave here and live lives that say “Amen” to what we have heard. This is what it means to be a R&R Catholic.
Finally, there are some here tonight who are preparing to become R&R Catholics. They respect the Word of God and are attentive to what He is saying to them. They are now responding by preparing for the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Eucharist, and Confirmation in becoming full members of the Church which is the Body of Christ on Earth, as St Paul tells us in the second reading. It is so impressive and inspiring to see college students actively choose to be R&R Catholics. May all of you here tonight take courage and not be afraid to respect and respond to the Word of God, which is Christ. May you be attentive to Christ and respond to Him with lives that say, “Amen! I believe!”
Friday, January 22, 2010
March for Life now a "World Event"
This morning almost 20 of our students went to the Rally and Mass for Life at the Verizon Center. For almost all of them, it is their first time going. Hope they enjoy it! Several other students are coming to Mass here at the Newman Center at 12:45, and then we will head down to the March together. Praise God that many of our students are responding to His Call to be involved in this great day for life!
For those who cannot go, please pray and offer a sacrifice for life today. Also, you can participate in a "virtual March for Life" by clicking on today's title.
The following comes from zenit.org:
D.C. Pro-Life March Now a World Event
Filipinos, Africans Tell Obama: "Stop Paying to Kill Our Children"
WASHINGTON, D.C., JAN. 18, 2010 (Zenit.org).- International pro-life leaders are arriving to the United States to join in this Friday's march to protest the legalization of abortion.
"America’s March for Life is now the world's March for Life," according to Joseph Meaney, director of International Coordination for Human Life International.
Each year since the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States, marchers have taken to the streets in the nation's capital in protest.
Meaney said that now the world is joining in: "It has become the world’s pro-life protest because of the aggressive promotion of abortion and population control that is now official policy of the United States, thanks to the administration of President Barack Obama."
"This is not only the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, which has led to the destruction of almost 50 million American children," Ligaya Acosta, Human Life International regional coordinator for Asia and Oceania, explained. "This is now the anniversary of President Obama’s allowing Americans' taxpayer funds to be used to promote abortion and other assaults on life in my own country of the Philippines, in Africa, in China … all over the world where 40 million babies are killed every year.
"It is wrong and we are here to tell him and Congress to stop paying to kill our children!"
Obama reversed the Mexico City Policy on Jan. 23, 2009. That policy kept federal funds from supporting organizations that promote abortion outside the United States.
"We are tired of the arrogant American government trying to tell us how many children we should have," said Emil Hagamu, Human Life International regional coordinator for English-speaking Africa. "President Obama is of Kenyan descent. How can he do this to his own people?"
For those who cannot go, please pray and offer a sacrifice for life today. Also, you can participate in a "virtual March for Life" by clicking on today's title.
The following comes from zenit.org:
D.C. Pro-Life March Now a World Event
Filipinos, Africans Tell Obama: "Stop Paying to Kill Our Children"
WASHINGTON, D.C., JAN. 18, 2010 (Zenit.org).- International pro-life leaders are arriving to the United States to join in this Friday's march to protest the legalization of abortion.
"America’s March for Life is now the world's March for Life," according to Joseph Meaney, director of International Coordination for Human Life International.
Each year since the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the United States, marchers have taken to the streets in the nation's capital in protest.
Meaney said that now the world is joining in: "It has become the world’s pro-life protest because of the aggressive promotion of abortion and population control that is now official policy of the United States, thanks to the administration of President Barack Obama."
"This is not only the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, which has led to the destruction of almost 50 million American children," Ligaya Acosta, Human Life International regional coordinator for Asia and Oceania, explained. "This is now the anniversary of President Obama’s allowing Americans' taxpayer funds to be used to promote abortion and other assaults on life in my own country of the Philippines, in Africa, in China … all over the world where 40 million babies are killed every year.
"It is wrong and we are here to tell him and Congress to stop paying to kill our children!"
Obama reversed the Mexico City Policy on Jan. 23, 2009. That policy kept federal funds from supporting organizations that promote abortion outside the United States.
"We are tired of the arrogant American government trying to tell us how many children we should have," said Emil Hagamu, Human Life International regional coordinator for English-speaking Africa. "President Obama is of Kenyan descent. How can he do this to his own people?"
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
"Why Forgive?"
1) 12:45 Mass for Life this Friday, Jan. 22, at the Newman center chapel. All are welcome. GW students who haven't signed up to join us for lunch and to go to the March need to sign up today!
2) Ski Trip to Whitetail Ski Resort for night skiing: Sat, Jan 30, 3:00-11:00pm. $50without equipment/$30 with equipment, food not provided). RSVP by today!
3) Retreat - Feb 12-14. Sign-ups have begun for our retreat, "No Greater Love", which will be in Southern Maryland. Cost is $50. Open to all GW students. Please email Meg if interested.
----------------------
The past two nights I have led discussions on the topic of forgiveness; Monday night was in a residence hall and last night was at the Newman Center. I was very impressed with the respect, questions, and insights of the students who attended. Also, they had solid suggestions for topics in the coming weeks. Here are my notes from the talk, "Why Forgive?" Additional comments and questions are welcome here.
Why Forgive?
I. Time Magazine cover in early 1980s of Pope John Paul II forgiving man who tried to kill him with headline: “Why Forgive?”
II. Why should God forgive?
- Original Sin
- Sins that followed against 10 commandments
“after that first sin, the world is virtually inundated by sin. There is Cain’s
murder of his brother Abel and the universal corruption which follows in
the wake of sin. Likewise, sin frequently manifests itself in the history of
Israel, especially as infidelity to the God of the Covenant and as
transgression of the Law of Moses” (CCC, #401)
- Persecution against prophets God sends
- Why send Christ to forgive us??
- God’s essence: mercy/ love (God is Mercy; God is Love)
- God cannot NOT forgive; God cannot NOT love
- He is Father Almighty with “infinite mercy, for he displays his power at
its height by freely forgiving sins” (CCC, # 270)
- Father of Prodigal Son, e.g.
- God is Love; “the first effect of the gift of love is the forgiveness of sins”
(CCC, #734)
- infinite wisdom / providence
When He created us, He knew that we would sin / reject Him
- His Plan from all eternity was to forgive us
- not caught off guard by our sin / need for forgiveness
- God forgives us because of our dignity
- created in his own image and likeness
- we are the only creatures made in his image
- “ “ who receive the fullness of His mercy
(course, we are only ones who sin so offensively against Him)
- STORY OF GOD’S FORGIVENESS: Christ on Cross
- greatest sign of God’s mercy in the world
- even within that, “Father, forgive them, …”
III. Why should we forgive? (to live God’s mercy)
a. others
Story of the family of a murdered priest offering friendship and forgiveness to the family of the murderer at the trial
- to be forgiven by God – Our Father
- we’re not perfect…why hold others to perfection
- God doesn’t hold grudges against us if we’re sorry
- we shouldn’t hold grudges
- to be God-like (most Christ-like when forgive)
- what it means to be a Christian
BE JESUS
- “defining moments” – people / families / counseling
- dignity / respect of human person
- Jesus says so
- forgive not seven times, but “seventy times seven times” (Mt 18:22)
- forgive always; limitless mercy
- radical forgiveness
- live God’s (radical, unlimited) mercy
- FG’s stories / examples – forgiving murder (seventy times seven)
- our own healing
VA TECH massacre, e.g.
b. ourselves
- Healing
CONFESSION
-confessing sin from past confessions: LET IT GO!
- God forgives us, others have forgiven us, need to forgive
ourselves (hardest part of process)
MAJOR PAST SINS FROM RELATIONSHIPS, PARTYING, e.g.
- Healing of wounds
- lighter burdens
- peace
IV. Why should the Church forgive?
- to extend God’s (radical, unlimited mercy)
- “there is no offense, however serious, that the Church cannot forgive” (CCC, #982)
- JP II
- “the Church is the sacrament, that is to say, the sign and means of reconciliation in different ways…which all come together to obtain what the divine initiative of mercy desires to grant to humanity” (JP II document: Reconciliation and Penance, #11)
- “means of the divine initiative of mercy”
- i.e., God forgives through the Church
- Power of forgiveness to Church; Mt 16 + Jn 20
- w/out Church, wouldn’t have God’s forgiveness, wouldn't know Christ, wouldn’t know about God / have sacraments
- God has given the Church the “ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:18)
- continues Christ’s ministry
- begun with Christ
- done in Christ
- through the Church, we are reconciled to God and each other
ST. STEPHEN / CHRIST’S FORGIVENESS THRU CHURCH
- “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (very similar to Christ’s prayer at Crucifixion, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”)
- Church and Christ are one
2) Ski Trip to Whitetail Ski Resort for night skiing: Sat, Jan 30, 3:00-11:00pm. $50without equipment/$30 with equipment, food not provided). RSVP by today!
3) Retreat - Feb 12-14. Sign-ups have begun for our retreat, "No Greater Love", which will be in Southern Maryland. Cost is $50. Open to all GW students. Please email Meg if interested.
----------------------
The past two nights I have led discussions on the topic of forgiveness; Monday night was in a residence hall and last night was at the Newman Center. I was very impressed with the respect, questions, and insights of the students who attended. Also, they had solid suggestions for topics in the coming weeks. Here are my notes from the talk, "Why Forgive?" Additional comments and questions are welcome here.
Why Forgive?
I. Time Magazine cover in early 1980s of Pope John Paul II forgiving man who tried to kill him with headline: “Why Forgive?”
II. Why should God forgive?
- Original Sin
- Sins that followed against 10 commandments
“after that first sin, the world is virtually inundated by sin. There is Cain’s
murder of his brother Abel and the universal corruption which follows in
the wake of sin. Likewise, sin frequently manifests itself in the history of
Israel, especially as infidelity to the God of the Covenant and as
transgression of the Law of Moses” (CCC, #401)
- Persecution against prophets God sends
- Why send Christ to forgive us??
- God’s essence: mercy/ love (God is Mercy; God is Love)
- God cannot NOT forgive; God cannot NOT love
- He is Father Almighty with “infinite mercy, for he displays his power at
its height by freely forgiving sins” (CCC, # 270)
- Father of Prodigal Son, e.g.
- God is Love; “the first effect of the gift of love is the forgiveness of sins”
(CCC, #734)
- infinite wisdom / providence
When He created us, He knew that we would sin / reject Him
- His Plan from all eternity was to forgive us
- not caught off guard by our sin / need for forgiveness
- God forgives us because of our dignity
- created in his own image and likeness
- we are the only creatures made in his image
- “ “ who receive the fullness of His mercy
(course, we are only ones who sin so offensively against Him)
- STORY OF GOD’S FORGIVENESS: Christ on Cross
- greatest sign of God’s mercy in the world
- even within that, “Father, forgive them, …”
III. Why should we forgive? (to live God’s mercy)
a. others
Story of the family of a murdered priest offering friendship and forgiveness to the family of the murderer at the trial
- to be forgiven by God – Our Father
- we’re not perfect…why hold others to perfection
- God doesn’t hold grudges against us if we’re sorry
- we shouldn’t hold grudges
- to be God-like (most Christ-like when forgive)
- what it means to be a Christian
BE JESUS
- “defining moments” – people / families / counseling
- dignity / respect of human person
- Jesus says so
- forgive not seven times, but “seventy times seven times” (Mt 18:22)
- forgive always; limitless mercy
- radical forgiveness
- live God’s (radical, unlimited) mercy
- FG’s stories / examples – forgiving murder (seventy times seven)
- our own healing
VA TECH massacre, e.g.
b. ourselves
- Healing
CONFESSION
-confessing sin from past confessions: LET IT GO!
- God forgives us, others have forgiven us, need to forgive
ourselves (hardest part of process)
MAJOR PAST SINS FROM RELATIONSHIPS, PARTYING, e.g.
- Healing of wounds
- lighter burdens
- peace
IV. Why should the Church forgive?
- to extend God’s (radical, unlimited mercy)
- “there is no offense, however serious, that the Church cannot forgive” (CCC, #982)
- JP II
- “the Church is the sacrament, that is to say, the sign and means of reconciliation in different ways…which all come together to obtain what the divine initiative of mercy desires to grant to humanity” (JP II document: Reconciliation and Penance, #11)
- “means of the divine initiative of mercy”
- i.e., God forgives through the Church
- Power of forgiveness to Church; Mt 16 + Jn 20
- w/out Church, wouldn’t have God’s forgiveness, wouldn't know Christ, wouldn’t know about God / have sacraments
- God has given the Church the “ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:18)
- continues Christ’s ministry
- begun with Christ
- done in Christ
- through the Church, we are reconciled to God and each other
ST. STEPHEN / CHRIST’S FORGIVENESS THRU CHURCH
- “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (very similar to Christ’s prayer at Crucifixion, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”)
- Church and Christ are one
Monday, January 18, 2010
2nd Sunday - homily
We have several big events coming up in the next month; I want to tell you about them and ask you to sign up for them after Mass. First, we have the March for Life this Friday. I’ll talk about that in a minute. Second, we are going on a ski trip on Saturday, January 30. It will be night skiing at Whitetail in Pennsylvania (about an hour and a half away) and should be a lot of fun. The cost is $50 which covers ski rentals, lift ticket, and transportation. Third, tonight is the last chance to sign up for Alternative Spring Break. We’ll work on homes for low-income families in South Carolina. From what I’ve heard, this is a really cool week. Last, we are having a retreat from February 12-14 which is open to all GW students. It is also $50. We’ll go down to Southern Maryland for the weekend. The theme is “No Greater Love”. Some of you have asked when you can sign-up for the retreat, so it begins now. Please email Meg if you are interested. We have information about all of these events in our bulletin which you can pick up after Mass.
Last week, I told you that we are asking you to take this Friday off and skip classes. This is not a joke! Thousands of college students across the country are taking Friday off for a good cause: the annual March for Life. For those of you who have been to the March, you know it’s a great day. It’s one of my favorite days of the year. There will be hundreds of thousands of people coming to DC from around the country, many of whom are college students. Many of these students will travel hundreds of miles, sleep on floors, and go without showers for a few days. It’s incredible. There will be about 50 students from Hillsdale College crashing at the Newman Center on Thursday night, sleeping on the floor, all crammed in. This is the spirit and sacrifice that so many young people bring to the March.
Our events for the March begin Thursday night with a Holy Hour for Life from 8:30 to 9:30 at the Newman Center chapel. Then, on Friday, we’ll offer you two options for Mass. You can go with Meg who will be taking a group of you to the Verizon Center for a rally and Mass for life. There will be about 25,000 young people there. It rocks! It’s a really spectacular experience. After Mass, that group will come back to the Newman Center for lunch. You can either do that or join me for Mass at the Newman Center at 12:45. After Mass, we will all have lunch together and then walk down to the March on the Mall. So, we have two sign-ups tonight – one is for the Verizon Center Rally and Mass and the other is for the Newman Center Mass. Either way, you’ll get lunch and it’s all free of charge. We need you to sign up so that we know how much food to get for lunch.
What’s this all about? Why do we march for life? We march because we believe very firmly in the sanctity of life. We believe that every human life is sacred, created by God in His image and likeness. We believe that what we hear in the first reading applies to every person: that every one of us, especially young people, is God’s “delight”. God has infinite love and places infinite value on every person. And, this begins in the womb. We hear it mentioned several times in Scripture that God knows us, forms us, and loves us in the womb. We believe that life begins in the womb, specifically at conception. This has been confirmed by science and modern technology. Science has made it irrefutable that life begins at conception and technology helps us to see that the little baby in the womb is a person with hands, feet, brain waves, heartbeat, etc. The baby in the womb is a person…a person with rights. The most basic human right is the right to life.
When this right is taken away, we “will not be silent”, we “will not be quiet” as the prophet Isaiah says in the first reading. We speak up for those who have no voice. We defend those who are defenseless…i.e., those in the womb. We will do this on Friday, basically saying “enough!” There are almost 4,000 abortions in the United States every day and about 50 million since 1973 when abortion became legal in our country. Enough!
Two of the most impressive groups at the March are young people and women who have had abortions. These are repentant mothers who regret the choice they made and are now atoning for their sin by being very active in the pro-life movement. If you all know of anyone (especially at GW) who has participated in an abortion, please tell them that the Catholic Church offers mercy and healing. The Church offers more post-abortive healing than any other private institution in the world. Please tell them to come see me. I will offer them mercy, healing, and counseling. I can refer them to Project Rachel which does so much good in our area for women who have had abortions. I have their brochures in the back of Church tonight. It’s so important that people know that forgiveness and healing are available to them. No sin is greater than God’s infinite mercy.
Why should you all go to the March? Quite simply, God is calling you to go. First, because it’s right here! It’s right down the street from where you go to college. One of the reasons you go to GW is for events like the March for Life. More importantly, God is calling young people to join the movement. And, not just to join, but to lead the movement. You will see on Friday how many college students (your peers) are leading the cause. It’s unbelievable! So many people of your generation get it. They get it! They get it that abortion is the greatest injustice of our time, that they could have been aborted (thank God their mothers and your mothers chose life), and that there is a battle going on all around them. There is a conflict going on all around you - the conflict between good and evil, God and the world, between what is said in here and what is said out there. Jesus says, “you’re either with us or you’re against us”. You’re either pro-life or you’re not. He is calling you to be with Him for life on Friday and beyond. He is calling you not to be silent, not to be quiet, not to be paralyzed with fear, and not to be “pro-life, but…” He is calling you to be pro-life period and to be active and passionate for life. He will give you the strength and courage to stand up for what’s right. He will give the grace to do what He is calling you to do.
Finally, as we prepare to receive the Grace of the Eucharist, there is a challenge for you all for Friday from this Gospel : “do whatever he tells you”. You might talk to people about going to the March and they might tell you not to go. It might be friends, classmates, or maybe even family. They are telling you what the world tells you. Don’t do whatever they tell you. Do whatever Jesus tells you. He is telling you to stand up for what’s right, to speak for those who have no voice, and to defend those who can’t defend themselves. He knows it’s hard to be pro-life in college but He will give you courage and strength. He has great confidence that you will rise to the challenge. I have great confidence that you will rise to the challenge. We have great confidence that for Friday and for the rest of your lives you will not be afraid and will do whatever He tells you.
Last week, I told you that we are asking you to take this Friday off and skip classes. This is not a joke! Thousands of college students across the country are taking Friday off for a good cause: the annual March for Life. For those of you who have been to the March, you know it’s a great day. It’s one of my favorite days of the year. There will be hundreds of thousands of people coming to DC from around the country, many of whom are college students. Many of these students will travel hundreds of miles, sleep on floors, and go without showers for a few days. It’s incredible. There will be about 50 students from Hillsdale College crashing at the Newman Center on Thursday night, sleeping on the floor, all crammed in. This is the spirit and sacrifice that so many young people bring to the March.
Our events for the March begin Thursday night with a Holy Hour for Life from 8:30 to 9:30 at the Newman Center chapel. Then, on Friday, we’ll offer you two options for Mass. You can go with Meg who will be taking a group of you to the Verizon Center for a rally and Mass for life. There will be about 25,000 young people there. It rocks! It’s a really spectacular experience. After Mass, that group will come back to the Newman Center for lunch. You can either do that or join me for Mass at the Newman Center at 12:45. After Mass, we will all have lunch together and then walk down to the March on the Mall. So, we have two sign-ups tonight – one is for the Verizon Center Rally and Mass and the other is for the Newman Center Mass. Either way, you’ll get lunch and it’s all free of charge. We need you to sign up so that we know how much food to get for lunch.
What’s this all about? Why do we march for life? We march because we believe very firmly in the sanctity of life. We believe that every human life is sacred, created by God in His image and likeness. We believe that what we hear in the first reading applies to every person: that every one of us, especially young people, is God’s “delight”. God has infinite love and places infinite value on every person. And, this begins in the womb. We hear it mentioned several times in Scripture that God knows us, forms us, and loves us in the womb. We believe that life begins in the womb, specifically at conception. This has been confirmed by science and modern technology. Science has made it irrefutable that life begins at conception and technology helps us to see that the little baby in the womb is a person with hands, feet, brain waves, heartbeat, etc. The baby in the womb is a person…a person with rights. The most basic human right is the right to life.
When this right is taken away, we “will not be silent”, we “will not be quiet” as the prophet Isaiah says in the first reading. We speak up for those who have no voice. We defend those who are defenseless…i.e., those in the womb. We will do this on Friday, basically saying “enough!” There are almost 4,000 abortions in the United States every day and about 50 million since 1973 when abortion became legal in our country. Enough!
Two of the most impressive groups at the March are young people and women who have had abortions. These are repentant mothers who regret the choice they made and are now atoning for their sin by being very active in the pro-life movement. If you all know of anyone (especially at GW) who has participated in an abortion, please tell them that the Catholic Church offers mercy and healing. The Church offers more post-abortive healing than any other private institution in the world. Please tell them to come see me. I will offer them mercy, healing, and counseling. I can refer them to Project Rachel which does so much good in our area for women who have had abortions. I have their brochures in the back of Church tonight. It’s so important that people know that forgiveness and healing are available to them. No sin is greater than God’s infinite mercy.
Why should you all go to the March? Quite simply, God is calling you to go. First, because it’s right here! It’s right down the street from where you go to college. One of the reasons you go to GW is for events like the March for Life. More importantly, God is calling young people to join the movement. And, not just to join, but to lead the movement. You will see on Friday how many college students (your peers) are leading the cause. It’s unbelievable! So many people of your generation get it. They get it! They get it that abortion is the greatest injustice of our time, that they could have been aborted (thank God their mothers and your mothers chose life), and that there is a battle going on all around them. There is a conflict going on all around you - the conflict between good and evil, God and the world, between what is said in here and what is said out there. Jesus says, “you’re either with us or you’re against us”. You’re either pro-life or you’re not. He is calling you to be with Him for life on Friday and beyond. He is calling you not to be silent, not to be quiet, not to be paralyzed with fear, and not to be “pro-life, but…” He is calling you to be pro-life period and to be active and passionate for life. He will give you the strength and courage to stand up for what’s right. He will give the grace to do what He is calling you to do.
Finally, as we prepare to receive the Grace of the Eucharist, there is a challenge for you all for Friday from this Gospel : “do whatever he tells you”. You might talk to people about going to the March and they might tell you not to go. It might be friends, classmates, or maybe even family. They are telling you what the world tells you. Don’t do whatever they tell you. Do whatever Jesus tells you. He is telling you to stand up for what’s right, to speak for those who have no voice, and to defend those who can’t defend themselves. He knows it’s hard to be pro-life in college but He will give you courage and strength. He has great confidence that you will rise to the challenge. I have great confidence that you will rise to the challenge. We have great confidence that for Friday and for the rest of your lives you will not be afraid and will do whatever He tells you.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Exorcism, dessert, and prayer - powerful stuff!
1) DC ‘Hood at St John the Baptist, Silver Spring – Fri, Jan 29, 7 pm. Go ‘Hood!!
2) Please donate to the Newman Center by using PayPal! Click on the “donate” button on the right side of this page. No donation is too small. The students and I would be grateful!
----------------------------
This week at Mass we have been hearing some stories from Mark’s Gospel from when Jesus performed exorcisms. Tuesday’s Gospel (Mk 1:21-28) included the following exorcism that “amazed” all who were there:
“In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;
he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are–the Holy One of God!’
Jesus rebuked him and said, ‘Quiet! Come out of him!’
The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him”.
At both the noon Mass and the 5:30 Mass, I told the story of an exorcism I attempted to perform right after I was ordained in 2006. It occurred at a house-warming party for friends of mine. I met one of their friends who engaged me in a conversation about faith. He is probably a few years younger than me and might have been raised Catholic, I don’t remember. We began talking about faith and he made some disturbing comments. The more we talked, the more he went on the offensive. He seemed to have no problem at all offending our Lord and one of His priests.
As offensive as he was being, he was even more confusing. He was really all over the place in his attacks on God, faith, and believers. It was very hard to follow his logic. We spoke for a while and he wasn’t drinking that much, so he wasn’t drunk. He was very confused. When I pinned him down on one illogical point, he would make another outrageous statement. This went on for a while. It’s very hard to talk with someone whose philosophical or theological views are so chaotic! I’ve had many of these types of conversations over the years, and they have confirmed for me a theological truth: order (and Truth) is from God, chaos is from the Devil.
My new friend then made an unimaginable comment. He said, “I would rather go to Hell than go to Church and live a life of faith”. I couldn’t believe what I just heard, but then again, I could. The spirit of his contempt for God and all things that are good grew while we spoke, and so this was simply the apex of it. It was the culmination of about an hour’s worth of confusing, evil statements from him. When I heard this come from his mouth, something inside me (I hope it was the Holy Spirit) told me to perform a minor exorcism. So, I raised my hand toward his head, and said, “Evil spirit of chaos, come out of him. In the name of Jesus Christ, come out of him”.
This was in the kitchen of my friends’ home in the middle of a party..! As I was doing this, I bet he was thinking, ‘what are you doing?’ Part of me was thinking, ‘what am I doing?’ It wasn’t long after I finished my dramatic display of supernatural power (!) that he took a couple of steps back and walked away. With the power having gone out, I had to collect myself for a few minutes before hitting the dessert table.
I and my friends have been praying for this man every day since. There wasn’t any news about him until recently. A few days ago, my friend who hosted the party emailed me and said that he has come back to Church! He is dating a young woman and they go to Church together. I don’t know how serious he is about faith, but just the fact that he is going to Church is a huge victory for Grace! One of the main points of my friend’s email was about the power of prayer. It’s more likely about that than about the exorcism. Btw, it was an exorcism, it just took some time to kick in!
God is soooooo good and prayer is soooooo powerful! I invite bloggers to post stories involving the power of prayer.
2) Please donate to the Newman Center by using PayPal! Click on the “donate” button on the right side of this page. No donation is too small. The students and I would be grateful!
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This week at Mass we have been hearing some stories from Mark’s Gospel from when Jesus performed exorcisms. Tuesday’s Gospel (Mk 1:21-28) included the following exorcism that “amazed” all who were there:
“In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;
he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are–the Holy One of God!’
Jesus rebuked him and said, ‘Quiet! Come out of him!’
The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him”.
At both the noon Mass and the 5:30 Mass, I told the story of an exorcism I attempted to perform right after I was ordained in 2006. It occurred at a house-warming party for friends of mine. I met one of their friends who engaged me in a conversation about faith. He is probably a few years younger than me and might have been raised Catholic, I don’t remember. We began talking about faith and he made some disturbing comments. The more we talked, the more he went on the offensive. He seemed to have no problem at all offending our Lord and one of His priests.
As offensive as he was being, he was even more confusing. He was really all over the place in his attacks on God, faith, and believers. It was very hard to follow his logic. We spoke for a while and he wasn’t drinking that much, so he wasn’t drunk. He was very confused. When I pinned him down on one illogical point, he would make another outrageous statement. This went on for a while. It’s very hard to talk with someone whose philosophical or theological views are so chaotic! I’ve had many of these types of conversations over the years, and they have confirmed for me a theological truth: order (and Truth) is from God, chaos is from the Devil.
My new friend then made an unimaginable comment. He said, “I would rather go to Hell than go to Church and live a life of faith”. I couldn’t believe what I just heard, but then again, I could. The spirit of his contempt for God and all things that are good grew while we spoke, and so this was simply the apex of it. It was the culmination of about an hour’s worth of confusing, evil statements from him. When I heard this come from his mouth, something inside me (I hope it was the Holy Spirit) told me to perform a minor exorcism. So, I raised my hand toward his head, and said, “Evil spirit of chaos, come out of him. In the name of Jesus Christ, come out of him”.
This was in the kitchen of my friends’ home in the middle of a party..! As I was doing this, I bet he was thinking, ‘what are you doing?’ Part of me was thinking, ‘what am I doing?’ It wasn’t long after I finished my dramatic display of supernatural power (!) that he took a couple of steps back and walked away. With the power having gone out, I had to collect myself for a few minutes before hitting the dessert table.
I and my friends have been praying for this man every day since. There wasn’t any news about him until recently. A few days ago, my friend who hosted the party emailed me and said that he has come back to Church! He is dating a young woman and they go to Church together. I don’t know how serious he is about faith, but just the fact that he is going to Church is a huge victory for Grace! One of the main points of my friend’s email was about the power of prayer. It’s more likely about that than about the exorcism. Btw, it was an exorcism, it just took some time to kick in!
God is soooooo good and prayer is soooooo powerful! I invite bloggers to post stories involving the power of prayer.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Catholic Trivia!
Last night, we played "Catholic Trivia" after the Tuesday dinner. The students here did very well, getting every question correct except for one (the first question of Round 2). These are not the most difficult questions in the Catholic trivia world, but they did get the students thinking. Some who participated said they actually learned some things (one of the main points of the game). Here are the questions and answers; see how you do!
Catholic Trivia
Round 1
1. All the following are sacraments of initiation except:
a. Baptism
b. Confession
c. Eucharist
d. Confirmation
2. Which pope issued Humanae Vitae:
a. JP II
b. Pope St. Pius X
c. Paul VI
d. John XXIII
3. The first five books of the bible are called the:
a. Pentecost
b. Pentathlon
c. Pentateuch
d. Pentagon
4. The book of prayers used at mass is called:
a. Missal
b. Missalette
c. Lectionary
d. Sacramentary
5. All the following were Apostles except:
a. Matthew
b. Paul
c. Luke
d. John
6. What year was Jerusalem destroyed:
a. 70 BC
b. 44 AD
c. 70 AD
d. 68 AD
7. Drunkenness is a sin against which commandment:
a. First
b. Fifth
c. Seventh
d. Eighth
8. Which saint translated the bible from Greek into Latin:
a. Augustine
b. John Chrysostom
c. Jerome
d. Hilary
9. In the Beatitudes, Jesus promises that this group of people will see the “beatific vision:”
a. Peacemakers
b. Merciful
c. Pure of heart
d. Meek
10. In which Marian Apparition did the Blessed Mother ask all Catholics to pray the rosary daily for the conversion of sinners:
a. Lourdes
b. Fatima
c. Madjugore
d. La Salette
Round 2
1. Who is the second longest reigning pope:
2. In the gospel of John what is Jesus’ first miracle:
3. The Summa Theologica was written by:
4. What is the name given to the series of 129 Wednesday Audiences delivered by JPII on the meaning of human embodiment:
5. Who administers the sacrament of holy matrimony:
6. How many books are there in the Catholic Bible:
7. The four cardinal virtues are justice, fortitude, prudence and
8. What was the name of the papal bull issued in response to Martin Luther’s criticisms of the Church:
9. What is the name of the 20th C Italian Saint who sacrificed her own life for that of her child and is now the patron St. of the pro-life movement:
10. The first Catholic Church in the United States was founded where:
Final Round
1. At Mass, when does the bread and wine actually become the Body and Blood of Christ?
2. What are the three conditions of a mortal sin?
3. What was the heresy that the Church fought against which said that Jesus was not truly God?
------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers
Round 1
1 b
2 c
3 c
4 d
5 c
6 c
7 b
8 c
9 c
10 b
Round 2
1 Pius IX
2 Changing water into wine (wedding feast at Cana)
3 Thomas Aquinas
4 Theology of the Body
5 The man and woman
6 73
7 Temperance
8 Exsurge Domine (Rise up Oh Lord)
9 St. Gianna Beretta Molla
10 St. Augustine
Final Rd
1 When the priest says the words, “This is my body”…”this is the cup of my blood”
2 Grave matter, full knowledge, full consent
3 Arianism
Catholic Trivia
Round 1
1. All the following are sacraments of initiation except:
a. Baptism
b. Confession
c. Eucharist
d. Confirmation
2. Which pope issued Humanae Vitae:
a. JP II
b. Pope St. Pius X
c. Paul VI
d. John XXIII
3. The first five books of the bible are called the:
a. Pentecost
b. Pentathlon
c. Pentateuch
d. Pentagon
4. The book of prayers used at mass is called:
a. Missal
b. Missalette
c. Lectionary
d. Sacramentary
5. All the following were Apostles except:
a. Matthew
b. Paul
c. Luke
d. John
6. What year was Jerusalem destroyed:
a. 70 BC
b. 44 AD
c. 70 AD
d. 68 AD
7. Drunkenness is a sin against which commandment:
a. First
b. Fifth
c. Seventh
d. Eighth
8. Which saint translated the bible from Greek into Latin:
a. Augustine
b. John Chrysostom
c. Jerome
d. Hilary
9. In the Beatitudes, Jesus promises that this group of people will see the “beatific vision:”
a. Peacemakers
b. Merciful
c. Pure of heart
d. Meek
10. In which Marian Apparition did the Blessed Mother ask all Catholics to pray the rosary daily for the conversion of sinners:
a. Lourdes
b. Fatima
c. Madjugore
d. La Salette
Round 2
1. Who is the second longest reigning pope:
2. In the gospel of John what is Jesus’ first miracle:
3. The Summa Theologica was written by:
4. What is the name given to the series of 129 Wednesday Audiences delivered by JPII on the meaning of human embodiment:
5. Who administers the sacrament of holy matrimony:
6. How many books are there in the Catholic Bible:
7. The four cardinal virtues are justice, fortitude, prudence and
8. What was the name of the papal bull issued in response to Martin Luther’s criticisms of the Church:
9. What is the name of the 20th C Italian Saint who sacrificed her own life for that of her child and is now the patron St. of the pro-life movement:
10. The first Catholic Church in the United States was founded where:
Final Round
1. At Mass, when does the bread and wine actually become the Body and Blood of Christ?
2. What are the three conditions of a mortal sin?
3. What was the heresy that the Church fought against which said that Jesus was not truly God?
------------------------------------------------------------------
Answers
Round 1
1 b
2 c
3 c
4 d
5 c
6 c
7 b
8 c
9 c
10 b
Round 2
1 Pius IX
2 Changing water into wine (wedding feast at Cana)
3 Thomas Aquinas
4 Theology of the Body
5 The man and woman
6 73
7 Temperance
8 Exsurge Domine (Rise up Oh Lord)
9 St. Gianna Beretta Molla
10 St. Augustine
Final Rd
1 When the priest says the words, “This is my body”…”this is the cup of my blood”
2 Grave matter, full knowledge, full consent
3 Arianism
Monday, January 11, 2010
Baptism of the Lord - homily
Have you ever noticed that whenever we look forward to something in a really big way, when we have high expectations for something, it often doesn’t meet our expectations? For example, let’s say you all had big expectations for your winter break; and I hope you all had a great break. Let’s say you were thinking it would be a great time seeing friends, hanging out with everyone home…that it would be an amazing three weeks. Well, you’re sitting here tonight looking back on it, thinking, ‘it was good but it wasn’t all that’. The opposite happens often too. Let’s say you weren’t setting the bar real high for the break and it turned out to be really good. It’s an interesting dynamic between our expectations of something and the way it actually happens.
We hear in today’s Gospel that the people were “filled with expectation”. They set the bar very high and were really excited. And, this is all for John the Baptist. People were thinking that John was the man. They thought he was the Christ because of the way he spoke – he spoke with great authority – and the way he acted. They thought he was a man sent by God to be the Christ. Now, the thing about John is that he was very humble. He immediately responded to all of this saying that he was not the Christ and that another was coming after him who was “mightier than I”.
A modern analogy for us – this would be like all the expectation and hype for Tiger Woods (before all the stuff starting at Thanksgiving). For so long, we’ve been setting the bar so high for Tiger, saying basically, ‘ you’re the man. You’re the greatest golfer in the world. You’re the greatest athlete in the world.’ Now, imagine if Tiger at one point said, “there is one coming after me who is better than I am”. We would be blown away with expectation, wondering ‘how good is the next guy going to be?’ We would set the bar so high for the next guy because we had already set the bar so high for Tiger.
We do this with people. We set the bar so high for them and set ourselves up for disappointment. Sadly, people (like Tiger Woods) often don’t fulfill our expectations. We have all learned the tough lesson of disappointment through athletes, celebrities, priests, family members, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, etc. We have learned to lower the bar with people because we realize they are not perfect. Regarding your expectations for a future spouse, you all would be wise to lower your expectations just a smidge. It’s wise to be realistic about him or her, not just idealistic.
There is one person for whom we can set the bar very high. There is one person from whom we can expect great things. There is one person about whom it’s realistic to be idealistic. That person is Jesus Christ. He has already met the very high expectations set for him. Remember: John the Baptist raised the already high bar for Jesus. And, looking at the body of work in the life of Jesus Christ, we see that Christ not only met expectations, he infinitely exceeded them. We see his miracles, healings, teachings, and the event that blows away all expectations: the Resurrection. Jesus Christ has the power and intention to do great things, not just for the people who lived 2000 years ago, but for us today.
As you begin a new calendar year and a new semester, Christ is asking each one of you to be filled with expectation…to be filled with faith…to be filled with great confidence in Him. He has great confidence in you and wants to do great things in your life. Expect Him to do great things. He is the one person in your life who will never disappoint you. He will never let you down. Set the bar very high for Christ. I promise you, He will do great things for you this semester, this year, and for the rest of your life.
Finally, whenever we come to Mass, we are filled with expectation that God will do
something great, primarily in the Eucharist. Jesus will be present on this altar under the signs of bread and wine. Where there is the Son, there is the Father and the Spirit. We will be in the presence of the Trinity, just like the crowd at the Baptism of Jesus was. But, it gets even better for us: we receive God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit in Holy Communion. This is the greatest thing that God will do for us this week and every week! May this Eucharist help us to be filled with expectation, to set the bar high, and to have confidence that God will do great things for us this semester, this year, and for the rest of our lives.
We hear in today’s Gospel that the people were “filled with expectation”. They set the bar very high and were really excited. And, this is all for John the Baptist. People were thinking that John was the man. They thought he was the Christ because of the way he spoke – he spoke with great authority – and the way he acted. They thought he was a man sent by God to be the Christ. Now, the thing about John is that he was very humble. He immediately responded to all of this saying that he was not the Christ and that another was coming after him who was “mightier than I”.
A modern analogy for us – this would be like all the expectation and hype for Tiger Woods (before all the stuff starting at Thanksgiving). For so long, we’ve been setting the bar so high for Tiger, saying basically, ‘ you’re the man. You’re the greatest golfer in the world. You’re the greatest athlete in the world.’ Now, imagine if Tiger at one point said, “there is one coming after me who is better than I am”. We would be blown away with expectation, wondering ‘how good is the next guy going to be?’ We would set the bar so high for the next guy because we had already set the bar so high for Tiger.
We do this with people. We set the bar so high for them and set ourselves up for disappointment. Sadly, people (like Tiger Woods) often don’t fulfill our expectations. We have all learned the tough lesson of disappointment through athletes, celebrities, priests, family members, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, etc. We have learned to lower the bar with people because we realize they are not perfect. Regarding your expectations for a future spouse, you all would be wise to lower your expectations just a smidge. It’s wise to be realistic about him or her, not just idealistic.
There is one person for whom we can set the bar very high. There is one person from whom we can expect great things. There is one person about whom it’s realistic to be idealistic. That person is Jesus Christ. He has already met the very high expectations set for him. Remember: John the Baptist raised the already high bar for Jesus. And, looking at the body of work in the life of Jesus Christ, we see that Christ not only met expectations, he infinitely exceeded them. We see his miracles, healings, teachings, and the event that blows away all expectations: the Resurrection. Jesus Christ has the power and intention to do great things, not just for the people who lived 2000 years ago, but for us today.
As you begin a new calendar year and a new semester, Christ is asking each one of you to be filled with expectation…to be filled with faith…to be filled with great confidence in Him. He has great confidence in you and wants to do great things in your life. Expect Him to do great things. He is the one person in your life who will never disappoint you. He will never let you down. Set the bar very high for Christ. I promise you, He will do great things for you this semester, this year, and for the rest of your life.
Finally, whenever we come to Mass, we are filled with expectation that God will do
something great, primarily in the Eucharist. Jesus will be present on this altar under the signs of bread and wine. Where there is the Son, there is the Father and the Spirit. We will be in the presence of the Trinity, just like the crowd at the Baptism of Jesus was. But, it gets even better for us: we receive God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit in Holy Communion. This is the greatest thing that God will do for us this week and every week! May this Eucharist help us to be filled with expectation, to set the bar high, and to have confidence that God will do great things for us this semester, this year, and for the rest of our lives.
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