Back Cause I'm Pissed

This past weekend I was back home and excited to head to my favorite restaurants, see friends and family, and at the very least attempt to take a break from the stress of grad school (there simply isn't enough alcohol in the world for this last bit). I was also excited to return to my old stomping ground for mass. I will not mention the church or the priest by name... cause I'm pissed and this is going to be somewhat critical (the "somewhat" made me lol too).

This past weekend we had readings from Wisdom, Philemon, and Luke. All good readings, yet sadly the priest I listened to only talked about the reading from Luke. Priests do this often, focusing on one of the three readings that is particularly moving for them, or highlights a particular topic that the local community or society at large needs to spend more time focusing on. With this in mind I must at this moment own my own bias and say that while Fr. Blank (as if Blank is the man's actual last name haha) focused only on the Gospel I may very well have only focused on the second reading, the letter from St. Paul that itself is only one chapter, 23 versus.

In the second reading we hear a portion of Paul's letter to Philemon, a slave holder to whom Paul has returned a run away slave.

Philemon is the master of a slave that has run away. Paul obeying the current societal norms sends the slave back and writes a letter, a letter that I would like to call a great failure at Catholic Guilt. Again, a slave ran away from their master. Paul sent them back. The reading began

"I, Paul, an old man, 

and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus,

urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus,

whose father I have become in my imprisonment;

I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you." 

How is that not the focus of every homily whenever any verse from Philemon is read at mass? He was a slave, and Paul sent him back. Am I the only one thinking (Screaming often times out loud) that this is a massive problem?

At what point do we stop and say, 'this is WRONG!'? At what point do we look at the slave master and say, 'what you are doing is WRONG!'? At what point to we allow ourselves to step up and speak out?

The same day that we saw these readings in the missal and heard them read aloud at mass we also witnessed the canonization of Mother Teresa, now officially St. Teresa. This woman, this St. is a prime example of standing up to the societal and cultural norms and enacting real change for the least of those around you. She lived her life speaking out for those who were voiceless. Those enslaved by poverty felt her love and experienced her mercy. 

In Luke's Gospel we hear the often-troubling lines,

“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother,

wife and children, brothers and sisters,

and even his own life,

he cannot be my disciple.

Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me

cannot be my disciple." 

In this we should not hear the words of Jesus telling us to hate our families. We should not leave mass thinking, 'Oh God why must I hate in order to follow you?' Rather we should leave mass realizing that we should not let anything get in our way of following Christ. We should not allow our family, a religious order, our friends, or the societal/social norms get in our way. We should pick up our crosses, as St. Teresa did, as Paul could have and boldly follow in the footsteps of Christ never being too timid to flip a couple of tables or look in the face of an oppressor and say what you are doing is wrong! 

He was a slave. Paul sent him back. This is wrong. This is a problem. How can we, moving forward, free ourselves and our society from the present day slavery that often surrounds us? 

*Written while listening to the score from Schindler's list 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTs83Ej5nS8&index=1&list=PLABB56F4F645F1786

"My God, my God, why have You abandoned me?"

How often have we cried out asking God this question, "My God, my God, why have You abandoned me?" from the lips of crucified Christ according to Matthews Gospel we hear Jesus quoting Psalm 22. But let us reflect a moment how often have we asked this of God? Is it ok that we are asking this of God? What does this say about our relationship with God? All good questions, otherwise I wouldn't waste yours/my time in asking them (I am unable to ask a question without first attempting to answer it myself). However I feel that there may be a more important follow up question to ask, "How many times has God asked my children my children why have you abandoned me?" Are there moments in life when we have completely abandoned God?

Yesterday marked the start of Holy Week. With a name like Holy Week it would seem that it goes without saying that it is an important week. However I would like to reemphasis the importance of this week, far too often it is easy to jump right to Easter, however if we do that we miss out on the beauty of Holy Thursday and Good Friday, we also miss out on an opportunity to journey with Christ to the Cross.

Thursday masses around the world the presiding priest will wash feet (Pope Francis has officially stated that women are to be included in this practice, and will himself be washing the feet of refugees). Several parishes will do this differently than others. Some will have 12 men (and only men) having their feet washed, others will have 12 adults (and only adults, men and women), and still others will have 12 parishioners (men, women, adults and children/young adults), or in the a rare experience the parish will have communal foot washing where anyone is welcome to come and have their feet washed, and even wash the feet of others. If you are given the opportunity to participate please do (it is worth it!). Even if you are unable to participate actively in this practice, attend the service and I invite you to think of whose feet you would be willing to wash.

On Friday there are a couple of differing options for services as well. Good Friday is the one day of the year where a mass is not celebrated. By this I mean that on Good Friday the Eucharist used at any service was consecrated on Thursday night. While certain services will offer an opportunity to partake in the Eucharist do not be surprised if your Parish does a passion service or stations of the cross instead. Most places will also have an opportunity for veneration of the cross. Again I strongly encourage you to participate in this (it is worth it!). With most people having to work it is understandable if you cannot make it to your typical service or that life gets in the way and you simply cant make it anywhere. If this is the case I invite you to listen to the following reflecting in your own way on the beauty of the cross. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsBiaBTFADI

Saturday is your opportunity to partake in the Easter Vigil, yes this means you went to mass three days in a row, and yes the vigil is typically 2.5-3 hours (it is worth it!). At this mass the liturgy of the word takes us through the entirety of salvation history, it is also at this mass that we welcome the newly baptized and confirmed into the church (do you know how many people in your parish are joining the Catholic community you call home? The parish I go to here in Ohio has 17 baptisms and 27 confirmations).

I understand that this sounds like a lot of mass, a lot of church, a waste of time and maybe it is. However when I am asked what it is every year that keeps me where I am when it comes be being Catholic or not no matter how much I disagree with some of my fellow Catholics or some Church teachings I find the beauty and truth of my faith again this week.


If you have never participated in the Triduum (Holy Thursday Good Friday and Easter Vigil) let this year be the first time you do so. If you have never participated because you don't know how or want to do so alone then please join me. I can walk through it all with you! I will be at the Cathedral Holy Thursday 7:00 PM, Good Friday 8:00PM and EasterVigil 8:30PM. Don't let another year go by where you only celebrate in the resurrected Christ. Let this be the first year that you journey towards the resurrection with him and with all those around you. Let the beauty of the faith fill your Holy Week, and fill your life.

Peace and Blessings Always
~M

Stupid Bells

Why do the bells ring?

A seemingly simple question. With an even simpler answer. 

With the renovated chapel at UD officially open for business the bells are ringing on the hour. 

With this "new development" my boss asked her class the simple question why do the bells ring. The question in one sense stumped them. 

The very practical answer is well they ring every hour. Which of course is now true. But that doesn't answer the why in its fullest sense. Sure church bell towers helped to establish the modern system of time that we have. Most specifically the bells were used as a call to prayer. Conveniently enough the times for prayer were also great times to break from work and eat. 

However the reality is that the bells ring not only to call us to prayer, but most fully to call our attention toward God. Let us build a tower and fill it with bells and when the bells ring out the people will naturally look up and behold the beauty of the sky and all that is around them. They will this find the beauty of God in all things and the sweet music that the bells make will again draw our attention towards God. 

This question has become something I know ask myself one regular basis. Why do the bells rings. Obviously I know the answer so why do I keep asking? Why do the bells ring? 

In a sense (one of my new favorite noncommittal phrases) in asking myself this question even when the bells aren't ringing I am asking myself to reflect on the that which deserves the greatest importance! A call to reflect on God. To direct my attention towards that which is far superior, to call my attention towards God! 

Peace and Blessings Always 

~M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OL6gLm7vgM0

Disclaimer: this was typed out on my phone. 

Wow...

Last night in my scripture class we talked about a lot of different things mostly having to do with how we read scripture. However one thing in particular stuck with me.

We were looking at how the texts have been translated. In particular looking at the reality that the original Hebrew does not contain vowels, or punctuation. This allows for a beautiful fluidity in the text. It can also lead to complicated my translation is different than yours... but why should that be complicated? Is what is permanently on the page more important than what is meant? Perhaps another post will address this idea in more depth.

For this post I want to focus on 3 translations of a single genesis verse. Genesis 4:13

"Cain said to the Lord, my punishment is more than I can bear." 

"Cain said to the Lord, my sin is more than I can bear." 

"Cain said to the Lord, my guilt is more than I can bear."

Just one word, has all it takes. Which is correct... according to my professor all of them are. But they do bring to us a different meaning.

As if this wasn't mind blowing enough, we went further. My prof recounted to us the idea of Adam seeing Cain after all this has transpired, and Adam is astonished, for Cain is a radiant light, Adam cannot understand how this is so, he asks Cain are you not my son who killed his brother? How is it that I see you like this? A radiant light, like that of an angel. Cain's response was simple. I pictured it as a feeble whisper.

"I said I'm sorry" 

Forgivness, Cain having guilt that was too much to bear, asked for God's forgiveness. In his love and mercy God offered it. Because even though he had murdered his brother, in a moment of pure Godlessness, he returned. Thus did Cain begin to shine, and radiate light. 

I said I'm sorry, I asked for forgiveness. 

How Profound. 

Peace and Blessings Always 

~M

Short and Sweet.

It looks like I've fallen behind a bit again, however I am happy to say I'm behind this time, because while I am behind, I did post two reflections last week.

Also the simple reality is that there is only one section I want to talk about in the readings from the 22 Sunday of Ordinary time (August 30) and that is a piece from the Gospel, however it is also from the Old Testament, for it is Christ quoting Isaiah. "This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts."

We cannot have hearts that are far from God. We cannot have hearts that are far from each other. From the beautiful Les Miserables we hear, "to love another person is to see the face of God" we must not have hearts that are far from each other.

And it is my belief that we will only see more of this mentality emerging in the year of Mercy starting in December, already we have seen Pope Francis splashed across the media, for talking about annulments and forgiveness of abortions. Perhaps if given the time this week I will post about these two things.

All I know for certain however, while I sit here on this dreary day, is that we need to fill our hearts with love for each other, and for God, but simply for God alone is not enough. After all sometimes the only thing we need to make it through the day, is knowing that someone believes you can.

Peace and Blessings Always 

~M

Lets Give Them a Hand!

This post again not my official message from this Sunday, and again not a thought that originated from my attendance at mass. Rather this is a post that has been welling up inside or some time now, and my attendance at mass simply unleashed it.

This post is about a very simple thing. Clapping during mass. Over the summer and these past couple of weeks I have seen this topic splash across my Facebook a number of times. Whether it was an request for the bishop of GR to place an official ban on all clapping at masses, or an article posted about how irreverent such an act is.

My simple, and impassioned response to these people. "What the hell is wrong with you?!?"

Now I will be the first to admit, there are times that I agree you should not be clapping at mass, during the eucharistic prayer perhaps, or maybe hold the applause until after the Gospel has finished being read.

But lets be real, a ban on applause makes it so that after a baptism, or confirmation, or a wedding, or any other occasion where applause can be most beautiful.

Now the number one criticism that my traditionalist, or conservative leaning friends will offer me is that its inappropriate, the purpose of the mass is the Eucharist. At this point their argument is already flawed, yes of course the Eucharist could be labeled the pinnacle of the mass, but it is not the sole purpose. If it were there would be no readings, there would be no sign of peace, there would be no community aspect. We would all sit there and mass would suddenly turn into a weekly adoration session.

Perhaps the number one instance where people are most opposed to applause is the not of recognition offered to musicians after a mass. People make the claims that this is horribly inappropriate how dare we be so self centered!?! I have even thought this, in part because I thought the music wasn't that great, and I was in a bad mood I'm sure.

However I have now come to a new conclusion, a less grumpy one, and a more loving one, and that is why I'm posting this. To loosely quote Blessed Mother Teresa, My God people if you can't find God in the people around you, how will you ever find him in the Eucharist?!?!


Here's the thing, when we celebrate each other, and out accomplishments, we are praising God in one of the best possible ways.

Find God in front of you, by truly loving another person, and give them a hand!

Peace and Blessings Always 

~M

GODISNOWHERE

This post has nothing, and yet everything to do with this past Sunday's readings. Nothing because it is is not my "official" reflection post on the readings, everything because what follows directly connects to my attendance at mass Sunday.

The title for this post came from my old high school religion teachers classroom. Now as much as I liked the man, I'm sure he got it from somewhere else, however it was the first time I saw it, and I guess it stuck with me.

There are two ways to read it, God is no where and God is now here. For me it always depends on the day, not that each day I'm having a crisis of faith, but each day can be a struggle, especially with what transpires in the world around us, and how we are constantly reminded of it.

Last week there was a shooting, sadly, I'm sure there were lots of shootings, I'm sure there were lots of tears, hospital visits and funerals. But the shooting from last week is the one that was televised, tweeted about, Facebooked about and went viral. After a long day of work and class living under the academic rock that I do, I had no idea that it happened. It wasn't until talking with my friend Ian that it came up. I cant remember specifically how it came up, but I do know that it was after I peppered something about God into our conversation, as I often do, and his response was "not feeling to faithful after today" I was confused, had I missed something, was this the anniversary of a tragedy? As it turned out I had missed something? I had missed it all, I probably would have continued to miss it if I hadn't asked follow questions, and that was where the conversation came to an end, we both acknowledge the tragedy and how truly terrific it was. Yet in the back of my mind something was nagging at me.

I didn't have a response to offer why we should still be faithful. I didn't have an authentic explanation as to why I was still faithful. Sure I could have googled some cute saying, I could have found a cliche quote and offered a canned response. But I didn't, that would have been cheap, that would have been easy, that would have been anything but authentic, and it would have been anything but helpful.

So I let the conversation end with out simple acknowledgment of how tragic the event was. Then I resumed my day, I returned to my dwelling under my rock of academia, I read about early Christianity, and finished the night by watching the Producers which was fantastic. Yet in the back of my mind there was a nagging reminder that I had left the conversation unfinished. The next day I spent sometime trying to come up with a response, trying to come up with something other than the canned cliche response. I had no luck, I was luckless until I went to mass.

It was at mass, where I found the response I could offer, and sitting in my car in the church parking lot I feverishly typed my reply: "There was no Godliness there. In that moment, that tragic, terrible, most awful moment, God was missing. That act was purely selfish. Fortunately, not every moment is Godless, Fortunately, there are selfless people in the world. That, those selfless moments, those selfless people, are most beautifully where we will find God.


We can either believe that God is no where, or that as we go so to with us we bring God, and that God is now here.

Peace and Blessings Always

~M