From the monthly archives:

July 2008

A Few Words

by on July 27, 2008

The Family Foundation School Catholic Community Bulletin

Pauca Verba (a few words)

Here is a little icon entitled Jesus Christ Extreme Humility. Maybe we have seen the most famous sculpture by Michelangelo, of Jesus taken down from the cross and placed in his Mother’s arms. It is called the Pieta.

But this icon has the extra dimension of the name, Extreme Humility. This title puts us into the deep waters of reflection or gospel pondering. Look at Jesus from the point of view of his humility – his life completely poured out, wasted, emptied. This is the gospel way.

We see Mary in the Annunciation. Gabriel is sent to a poor, powerless and humble girl of Nazareth. She empties herself before God in her surrender to God’s purposes.

In the cave of Bethlehem, the poor and outcast shepherds are the first witnesses. The wisemen followed the star, but only to find the poor family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Surely there was a shock – this is not the way kings come into the world.

And so it goes: a ministry to women and outcasts, temptations in the desert, eating with sinners, sick and the forgotten-poor. This wasn’t the Messiah the People of Israel hoped and longed for – a powerful leader who would destroy enemies – the Lion of Judah who would smash the enemies with an iron rod. What a realization- the enemy always was and still is SIN and the “iron rod” is the Cross!

Father William McNichols writes: This icon of Extreme Humility exposes and then begs us to convert our own lust for vengeance and power, our “culture of death” with the accompanying desire for wars and leaders of war. When we call out for the weapon-wielding Lion of Judah – God – in his unimaginable mercy and goodness gives us Jesus, the Lamb. Ponder these things!

In the film, Into Great Silence a very old blind monk is interviewed. He has lived the monastic life for sixty or seventy years. He knows a lot. He says, “What a pity there is no longer space in the world for God.” But how does he know this? He lives in a secluded monastery away from the world. Maybe he has conversations now and again with people from the outside who tell him about the things that are going on: the extinction of animals as we rip up the beaches and forests for resorts, the aborting of the children, the wars on top of wars on top of wars, the addiction that is ruining our country. But maybe the monk knows there’s no room for God in the world anymore because so few come to be monks!

But what about us? Is there really room for God in your world – in mine? Do I come to Mass begrudgingly? Do I pay little attention to God’s Word in the lessons read at Mass and the homily which opens up the message to us? Is my prayer selfish – without love for God? Do I think I don’t need to confess my sins? Does the idea of an hour of Adoration after Mass on Sunday evening bore me? The sadness of God – His waiting for us to respond in love!

A Few Words

by on July 13, 2008

The Family Foundation School Catholic Community Bulletin

Pauca Verba (a few words)

Here is a picture of our friend James Francis M. and his family. James was baptized at Saint Paul’s last weekend at the 10 A.M. Mass. Immediately following Baptism he was confirmed and received his First Eucharist.

All around us there are stories of America’s young generations dying: addiction, cutting, starving themselves, accidents. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” Jim has reached out to take Christ’s hand. What about you? Do you know you can renew the vows of your own Baptism and begin again – clean up your Baptism robe symbolically, re-light your own little candle? The bath of Christians is Confession!

You have become a new creation and have clothed yourself in Christ, see in your white garment the outward sign of your Christian dignity and with your family and friends to help you by word and example, keep that dignity unstained to the everlasting life of heaven. (Instruction to the newly baptized)

Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God

Queen of the Heavenly Host, Defender of our souls, we your servants offer to you songs of victory and thanksgiving, for you, O Mother of God, have delivered us from dangers. But as you have invincible power, free us from conflicts of all kinds that we may cry to you: Rejoice, unwedded Bride!”

Now this is interesting, “free us from conflicts of all kinds.” We might think of a conflict with the new kid who is so stubborn. Or a conflict with a staff member who “doesn’t like me.” But there is a whole other world of “conflict” and those are the inner places where we are conflicted. Those places where we have conversations with ourselves – sometimes violent – about our own procrastination and indecision.

We speak of the “conflicted” person. This is someone hung up on his/her own emotions, bad conscience, fears. Many people are afraid to make apologies – they’re conflicted. Many people are terrified to address the damage they’ve done by having too much to say, speaking inappropriately, harshly, dishonestly, secretively – they’re conflicted by fear and so they wind up justifying bad behavior or “stuffing it” – hoping it will go away.

But the prayer asks The Mother of God to “free us.” Americans use the word “freedom” a lot. But the understanding is a very superficial one: being free to cross state lines without showing papers, being free to say what’s on my mind (running my mouth), being free to go to the church of my choice or no church at all. Often we like to invoke the word, “free” as an excuse for terrible, even destructive behavior. “It a free country, I can do what I want to,” we sing. Lame.

But for the Christian, real freedom is an inner reality – and that’s where many people are all bound up – indeed slaves – slaves to regret, slaves to fear, slaves to anger, slaves to my own knowledge, slaves to eating, slaves to sadness. My conscience tells me I’m mistaken. My conscience tells me I’m out of control. My conscience tells me my behavior is even sinful. But pride, vanity, fear keep me from getting free – from going back to make things right. We’re conflicted. Let’s pray the prayer again – slowly. And then DO something about it all.

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We don’t watch television here and unless we’re online, can be out of the loop with the news. But this week Mr. Jesse Jackson spoke indiscreetly (nasty and dirty) about Barrack Obama, into a microphone that he thought was off. Indeed! We’d all blush now and again if a live microphone followed us around during the day. But there it is, and this is very common now. When high-profile people speak slanderously, inappropriately, nastily, and are heard they “make their apologies” sometimes even quickly. It goes something like this: “I’m sorry, IF I hurt anyone by saying what I said; I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.” I ask, why the “IF” disclaimer? Why don’t we go deeper still – into real human living and just learn to keep our mouths shut? Didn’t mother teach us, “If you don’t have anything good to say about someone, then don’t say anything at all.” Whatever happened to that wise counsel?

“Our Lady of Good Counsel, pray for us.”  – Our Lady of Good Advice.

A Few Words

July 6, 2008

The Family Foundation School Catholic Community Bulletin Pauca Verba (a few words) Here is wonderful picture of baby rabbits that were found hidden in an evergreen bush growing close to the ground.  Listen to verses 16-18 of Psalm 104. The trees of God drink their fill, The cedars of Lebanon which he planted; There the [...]

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