Approaching Scripture

2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

At 10:00pm I opened my Bible to begin praying and brainstorming a presentation for the upcoming Peacebuilders Initiative retreat in November. Notice I said “opened” my Bible. I then set the Bible on my bed and went to my desk where I promptly became distracted. Between each stupid YouTube clip I noticed that the time was going by really fast... 10:30pm.... 11:15pm.... midnight.... 1:00am... now 2:00am... this is the fourth day that I have attempted to sit down and do this.

At 2:00am I had to man up and face the Scriptures. I couldn’t afford to hide from them anymore. First, the deadline of this retreat is fast approaching. Second, if you are being repelled by Scripture, it’s probably a good idea to ask why.

My task is to preach a message of Good News to a group of young people who radiate holiness. I am as intimidated by the Miracles that they are as I am of God’s Word. Who am I --awkward Turtle and eternal weirdo-- to say anything, let alone preach the Gospel, to them?

My fear of approaching the Scriptures was that they would just remind me of how inadequate to this task I am. The Gospels are full of “love your neighbor”-s, “leave all that you have”-s, “take up your cross”-s, and a hundred other things that I struggle to do on a daily basis.

But at 2:00am I finally did approach the Scripture. I read the story of Peter’s  call in Luke 5 (it’s actually the story of Simon’s call... but you get it). A summary: Jesus approached the shore and called out to them... the fishermen threw their nets out on the other side of the boat per Jesus’ instruction... the boats almost sink with fish... and Peter is completely intimidated. Peter says “Depart from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” Peter feels like I do, inadequate for the task at hand.

Jesus doesn’t just soothe Peter but he also raises the stakes: “Be not afraid, from now on you will be catching men.” Typical Jesus: say something nice and then say something terrifying!!!!

But the point of the story is that Peter listens. The story ends with the fishermen leaving everything they have behind and following Jesus. And 2,000 years later we know what Peter-- the self-proclaimed sinful man-- was able to do with Jesus’ help. Now I have to trust in what I can do with Jesus’ help.

And now it’s 3:00am. I’ve overcome my fear and tackled the Scriptures; I even feel pretty ridiculous for thinking Jesus wasn’t powerful enough to help me preach... 

But I still have no idea what I am going to do for this presentation.... pray for me!

Peace turtles!!! (Peacebuilders: if you are reading this... don’t worry... Jesus has got this... retreat is going to be amazing ;)

Catholics at the Conventions

Cardinal Dolan's prayer at the end of the Democratic National Convention is a powerful statement of our values as a nation and a way forward for us as a people of faith (he also gave the benediction at the RNC). Catholics are shaping the debate on both sides of the aisle this election. Congressman Ryan, Rick Santorum, Joe Biden, Julian Castro, Simone Campbell, Cardinal Dolan, and many other Catholics were convention speakers this year.

Catholics can't afford to sit out this election or the important debates that surround the problems facing this nation. So if you haven't been paying attention to the election cycle this far, it's time to engage! This election is 60 days away and we have a nation to build, people to protect, and values to define and strengthen. Don't sit this one out!

Watch below, and enjoy the transcript of the prayer, provided by Fr. Michael at Patheos.

With a “firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence,”  let us close this convention by praying for this land that we so cherish and love:

Let us Pray.

Almighty God, father of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, revealed to us so powerfully in your Son, Jesus Christ, we thank you for showering your blessings upon this our beloved nation.  Bless all here present, and all across this great land, who work hard for the day when a greater portion of your justice, and a more ample measure of your care for the poor and suffering, may prevail in these United States.  Help us to see that a society’s greatness is found above all in the respect it shows for the weakest and neediest among us.

We beseech you, almighty God to shed your grace on this noble experiment in ordered liberty, which began with the confident assertion of inalienable rights bestowed upon us by you:  life, liberty, and the pursuitofhappiness.

Thus do we praise you for the gift of life.  Grant us the courage to defend it, life, without which no other rights are secure.  We ask your benediction on those waiting to be born, that they may be welcomed and protected.  Strengthen our sick and our elders waiting to see your holy face at life’s end, that they may be accompanied by true compassion and cherished with the dignity due those who are infirm and fragile.

We praise and thank you for the gift of liberty.  May this land of the free never lack those brave enough to defend our basic freedoms.  Renew in all our people a profound respect for religious liberty:  the first, most cherished freedom bequeathed upon us at our Founding. May our liberty be in harmony with truth; freedom ordered in goodness and justice.  Help us live our freedom in faith, hope, and love.  Make us ever-grateful for those who, for over two centuries, have given their lives in freedom’s defense; we commend their noble souls to your eternal care, as even now we beg the protection of your mighty arm upon our men and women in uniform.

We praise and thank you for granting us the life and the liberty by which we can pursue happiness.  Show us anew that happiness is found only in respecting the laws of nature and of nature’s God.  Empower us with your grace so that we might resist the temptation to replace the moral law with idols of our own making, or to remake those institutions you have given us for the nurturing of life and community.  May we welcome those who yearn to breathe free and to pursue happiness in this land of freedom, adding their gifts to those whose families have lived here for centuries.

We praise and thank you for the American genius of government of the people, by the people and for the people.  Oh God of wisdom, justice, and might, we ask your guidance for those who govern us:  President Barack Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, Congress, the Supreme Court, and all those, including Governor Mitt Romney and Congressman Paul Ryan, who seek to serve the common good by seeking public office.  Make them all worthy to serve you by serving our country.  Help them remember that the only just government is the government that serves its citizens rather than itself. With your grace, may all Americans choose wisely as we consider the future course of public policy.

And finally Lord, we beseech your benediction on all of us who depart from here this evening, and on all those, in every land, who yearn to conduct their lives in freedom and justice.  We beg you to remember, as we pledge to remember, those who are not free; those who suffer for freedom’s cause; those who are poor, out of work, needy, sick, or alone; those who are persecuted for their religious convictions, those still ravaged by war.

And most of all, God Almighty, we thank you for the great gift of our beloved country.

For we are indeed “one nation under God,” and “in God we trust.”

So dear God, bless America.  You who live and reign forever and ever.

Amen!

"Jesus was not a 17 year old Latina Catholic living in the United States in 2012."

I spent last week as a mentor with the Peacebuilders Initiative (see this post for a description of the program). It was an amazing week of learning, prayer, and service. The greater-Chicago area has some incredible young leaders ready to minister us into the future.

One of the presenters really changed the way that I think about modeling our lives after Jesus. 

"Jesus wasn't a 17 year-old Latina Catholic living in the United States in 2012," the presenter said. And even if Jesus was in our present context, he still would not be us. Jesus, like us, would have his own unique gifts and talents. And Jesus would be the Messiah, something we are not.

Thus, the question is not "What would Jesus do?" but "What should I do, as a person informed by Jesus?" 

Turning the other cheek, writing in the sand, overturning the money changing tables, and driving herds of animals off cliffs worked for Jesus and the people he served. What will work for us? How will we liberate, forgive, and break down barriers in our own times, in our own communities?

Too often the life of Jesus becomes an impossible standard for me to live up to. Instead, Jesus's life should be an inspiration. 

Jesus wasn't afraid to overturn social norms, reach out to the rejected, and turn the world upside down so that it could know his Father… WHAT (how) to do this within our own context is up to us. And-- by leaving us to do it-- it appears that Jesus is confident in our abilities!

Peace turtles!

What does it mean to be Catholic today?

I encourage everyone to check out the video posted below!

This presentation was part of the "Sundays at CTU" series at Catholic Theological Union Chicago (disclaimer- I go to this school). Fr. Steve Bevans is a professor at CTU and a very pastoral and Spirit-filled man. He is a member of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) and has taught all over the world (listen to his introduction in the video). Fr. Steve is an expert on missiology and has written extensively on how to build relationships and preach the Gospel across cultures and contexts.

Many presentations on "What it means to be Catholic" end up being very polarizing and marginalizing. But this presentation is insightful, relevant, and Fr. Steve's message has the potential to be a healing force in our divided Church. Please take the time to watch the presentation, and post any comments or questions you have about it in the comments section!

Peace turtles!

Spiritual Fires

Let's talk about fire.

Any good Scout will tell you that keeping a fire burning takes as much effort as setting it. Truly, those who do not know how to start a campfire, often struggle to keep one going after it has been lit. Sometimes they add too much wood... causing the heat to rise and the wood to burn to fast. Often they "play" in the fire, adding lots of leaves and pinecones... and as they delight in the smoke patterns they simultaneously smother the fire.

Until recently, I thought that we did a similar thing in our spiritual lives. As a child of the charismatic renewal I resonate with the image of "spiritual fire" burning in our lives. And keeping my "fire burning" has been a consistent source of anxiety and burden as I have grown...

And as I have met people of faith all over the world these last few years I have heard a similar story. Most people struggle to keep their fires burning, and even though they are closer to God today than in the past, they ultimately worry about burning out. And over the years I've had any number of explanations for why this happens and given all kinds of advice about how to relight the fires...

But now, I've stumbled upon a quote by Brother Roger of Taize that has helped me to see that, for the most part, I have been dead wrong. Brother Roger writes:

"Sometimes you say to yourself: the fire in me is going out.  But you were not the one who lit that fire.  Your faith does not create God, and your doubts cannot banish Him to nothingness."

I believe this has an important message for us turtles. Our fires go out because as we start feeding them frantically, searching for anything to keep them alive, we limit and prevent God from tending them... we take our fires away from God and make them OURS.

So turtles, let's make it less about US, and more about GOD. Jesus doesn't say, "I have come so that tending your spiritual lives will be burdensome and stressful." Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." I bet if we let Jesus tend to our fires... he will carry through on this promise!

Peace turtles!

One flock, one shepherd.

I had the privilege of hearing His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama this week. He spoke at Loyola University on the topic of ecumenism. His very simple, yet hauntingly insightful, message can be summed us as follows: "In the past we believed we could not get along because of differences in doctrine. Later we convinced ourselves that we could not get along because of culture. Now, we have no excuse except for our own selfish arrogance." He said that international and inter-religious peace has to begin in our hearts and in our families.

The Dalai Lama is now a Loyola Rambler!

If we look around there is too much anger and violence between peoples of faith. Strangely, most of the Great Teachers of our peoples preached a message of peace and captivated our hearts with their messages of love. We have forgotten those messages because they challenge us to love people who are different than ourselves.

In tomorrow's Gospel reading Jesus tells us that he is the Good Shepherd. Interestingly, Jesus says "I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. There also I must lead, and they will here my voice and there will be one flock, one shepherd."

This passage serves as a humbling reminder that the voice of Jesus is spoken and heard in places that we don't know! We can be respectful and let others know how we hear God's voice, but we should be open to hearing them share how they hear it too. The Dalai Lama said, "You can have faith in only one religion, but you can learn from and respect them all."

In the Kingdom we are all brothers and sisters. You are as responsible for the growth and flourishing of a buddhist monk in Tibet right now as you are for the person who will be sitting next to you in Church tomorrow. Love both of them.... heck, love ALL of them.

Peace turtles!

Where I've Been

It's been a long time since I've written anything. I'll be honest, it's been hard for me to write lately. In June (days after my last post) I began working as a Clinical Pastoral Education Intern at Loyola University Medical Center. It was an amazing experience and I learned a lot about ministry, God, and myself. I am sure that as I continue to process the experience you will hear more about it. Immediately after my internship ended, I began another semester of classes at Catholic Theological Union and traveled on an immersion experience to the Lakota Sioux Indian Reservations in South Dakota. My short time there was very spiritual and moving, a journey that I wish everyone could take. Again, I am sure that I will write about this as I continue to process it.

But I continue after this hiatus with a confession to make... I awkwardly flipped over in my shell again, and it's taken me this long to get back on my feet.

My motto for the summer was "Word Hard, Play Hard" because I knew that after an intense day ministering to patients (I was a Chaplain for Women and Children) my temptation would be to go home, sleep, and stagnate. This was a great self-care strategy for my body and my mind, but in the future I will amend it to "Work Hard, Play Hard, PRAY Hard."

This summer I fell into the "ministers' trap". The spiritual activities that I did while "at work" and "for others" were not enough to sustain my own spirit. Compounding on my lack of personal spirit time (I even stopped going to Mass so that I could sleep through Sundays and fight off exhaustion) was the fact that I was ministering in the most intense environment I have yet been called to. I saw my first person die (and then countless others), I saw my first cesarian section birth, I witnessed numerous traumas, and heard countless stories of grief and despair (there was healing too). In summary, I needed Jesus more than I had ever needed him in my ministry... and I forgot to reach out to him. Surely, Jesus was with me but I pretty much forgot about our relationship for awhile there.

As the semester began, and I went to South Dakota and came back, I knew that something wasn't right but I couldn't put my finger on it. As a seminary student, I often intersect with prayer, liturgy, and people of faith, but nothing was speaking to me. I was "going through the motions" and deep down I knew it, but I didn't know why. Then I went to look for my Sacred Space book. As my long-time readers know, Sacred Space is my favorite way to pray. The new book comes out in November and it was February and I went to look for my copy... except that I never purchased one... which means that I had not prayed in my favorite way in at least four months. Not a huge deal, because I was sure I had prayed... so I went to get my Rosary... but then I remembered leaving it in a patient's room in the hospital... so I hadn't prayed the Rosary (another of my favorite prayers) in like half a year. Then I ran into Betty, one of the only women at my parish who would recognize if I was gone and she screamed, "CHRIS! I was so worried about you, where have you been?" and as I reflected I realized that I had never really started going back to Mass regularly since the summer, I had only gone about once or twice a month with friends.

I went home from seeing Betty determined to pray and reflect on what was going on. As I lit my prayer candle and listened to a Taize song on iTunes, the full picture of my spiritual health came into focus. I was confronted with a sobering reality... I was dead. This realization was a blessing because it is only in recognizing that we are dead that we can ask for new life. "Resurrect me, Lord. Resurrect me." I prayed.

And resurrection is happening. I pray the same for any of you who are or have experienced anything similar. I will keep you updated on this New Life. I would appreciate any prayers and blessings that you folks could send my way.

As for the blog, I plan to continue writing. However, my friend Mark (http://ephremhiphop.tumblr.com/) once told me that a blog should be more a life project than a hobby, so I can't promise any kind of frequency, but reflecting here is another way for me to keep my spirit alive. Thanks for being along on this journey.

I leave you with some song lyrics by Watermark that are really speaking to me lately:

Captivate us, Lord Jesus
Set our eyes on You
Devastate us with Your presence
Falling down
And rushing river, draw us nearer
Holy fountain consume us with You
Captivate us Lord Jesus, with You

Peace turtles!