Showing posts with label conversion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label conversion. Show all posts

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Lent, Faith, and Ashes


(From U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brian May, via Wikimedia Commons, used w/o permission.)
(Ash Wednesday celebration aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp.)

Ash Wednesday comes this week, so I'll get ashes on my forehead and start doing my Lenten routines — along with folks around the world.

That won't include the usual fasting: I'm past the 18-to-59 age requirement for Catholics in my region, and diabetic to boot. We're called to holiness, not stupidity; common sense applies, or should; and I'm putting a 'resources' link list at the end of this post.1

Fasting, Prayer, and Almsgiving


Lent is a time for penance; which involves fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. Actually, any sort of penance involves those three items. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1434-1439)

That doesn't sound like much fun, so why do it? I'm a Christian, I've been baptized, so my sins are washed away and I'm good to go, right?

Not quite. It's a bit more complicated.

First of all, I do not think sin a handful of activities I either don't enjoy, can't participate in, or actively dislike.

Sin: Original and Otherwise



(From NASA, via astrobio.net, used w/o permission.)

Sin is what happens when I decide not to do something I should; or decide to do something I know is bad for myself or others, and do it anyway. It's an offense against reason and truth: and God. (Catechism, 1849-1864)
"SIN: An offense against God as well as a fault against reason, truth, and right conscience. Sin is a deliberate thought, word, deed, or omission contrary to the eternal law of God. In judging the gravity of sin, it is customary to distinguish between mortal and venial sins (1849, 1853, 1854)."
(Catechism, Glossary, S)
What I should do is Love God and love my neighbor, and see everyone as my neighbor. (Matthew 5:43-44; 22:36-40, Mark 12:28-31; Luke 10:25-27, 29-37; Catechism, 1825)

It's simple, anything but easy, and I've said that before. Often (September 27, 2015; April 12, 2015; October 12, 2014)

I think I'm a sinner and live in a fallen world — again, that doesn't mean what some folks assume it does.

The universe is basically good, and so are we — basically. (Genesis 1:26-27, 31; Catechism, 31, 299,)

What went wrong is that the first of us listened to Satan, ignoring what God had said. Then Adam tried blaming his wife, and God, which did not end well. (Genesis 3:5-13)

That was a very, very long time ago — and we've been living with the disastrous consequences of their wrong choice ever since. (Catechism, 396-412)

Humanity is still made "in the divine image," but the harmony we had with ourselves and with the universe is broken: so loving ourselves, others, and God is a struggle. (Genesis 1:27; Catechism, 355-361, 374-379, 398, 400, 1701-1707)
"ORIGINAL SIN: The sin by which the first human beings disobeyed the commandment of God, choosing to follow their own will rather than God's will. As a consequence they lost the grace of original holiness, and became subject to the law of death; sin became universally present in the world. Besides the personal sin of Adam and Eve, original sin describes the fallen state of human nature which affects every person born into the world, and from which Christ, the 'new Adam,' came to redeem us (396-412)."
(Catechism, Glossary, O)

Baptism



(From Thomas Cole, via the National Gallery of Art and Wikimedia Commons, used w/o permission.)

I received the Holy Spirit at baptism, entering the life of the Church, and starting my trek to God's kingdom. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 782, 1213-1284)

Baptism cleaned the slate, removing original sin and whatever personal sins I'd accumulated to date; making me "a new creature." It didn't, however, shield me from consequences of living in a world that's seriously out of harmony. (Catechism, 1262-1266)

It certainly won't keep me from dying, at which point I get a very serious interview with our Lord: my particular judgment, a final performance review. (Catechism, 1021-1022, 1051, 1814-1816)

After that — I have no idea how long, which is fine by me — there's the closing ceremony we call the Final Judgment, we see what Creation 2.0 is like, and I've been over that before. (November 29, 2015; November 23, 2014; April 19, 2015)

Working Out My Salvation

"10 11 So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 12

"For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work."
(Philppians 2:12-13)
If I'd never faltered in loving others, always loved God with all my heart and mind, and unfailingly walked the path of righteousness: I'd be a character on some none-too-believable story.

We've had two people like that so far, I worship one of them, and the other is the woman who volunteered for a high-risk mission, two millennia back. (December 21, 2014; April 3, 2011)

Some Saints were mostly 'saintly' throughout their lives, and some weren't. They're Saints because they exhibited "heroic virtue" to the end. (Catechism, 828)

On their way to Sainthood, some of them were — well, a lot were like me, sort of. St. Augustine of Hippo comes to mind. Not that I'm in his league, and that's another topic.

I can't 'work my way into Heaven.' I rely on our Lord for salvation. I can't 'believe my way into Heaven' either. I must act as if God matters. (Catechism, 430-451, 1814-1816)
"Indeed someone might say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.

"You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble."

"For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."
(James 2:18-19, 26)
About that Philippians quote, like I've said before:2 fear of the Lord is not being scared silly of God. It's more like respect. (Catechism, 2144)

Ashes and Adoration


The ashes on my forehead are a good reminder that it's the start of Lent, and an outward sign of repentance.

But the real work happens inside: a "conversion of the heart, interior conversion." (Catechism, 1430-1431)

That's where fasting, prayer, and almsgiving come in. They're ways to fix my relationship with myself, God, and others. (Catechism, 1434-1439)

Like I said, conventional fasting isn't an option for me: apart from the micro-fast, which isn't an official term, before receiving the Eucharist. (Catechism, 1387)

For the last several years I've added something to my daily routines during Lent. It's not quite 'fasting,' but the change in schedule does mean I give up time that I'd use for activities I enjoy more. It's a sort of "voluntary self-denial." (Catechism, 1438)

This time around, I'm adding three hours a week to exercising and another two at the Adoration chapel down the street. It's hardly the sort of "sackcloth and ashes" thing Daniel 9:3 talks about, but it's a start.

More of my take on:
1 Lenten resources:
2Fear of God, Catholic style:
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Sunday, March 22, 2015

Scrutinies, Options, and "a Great Multitude"

Someone called my father-in-law, asking which set of Bible readings we were using this week.

It's a reasonable question. One set for this fifth Sunday in Lent is Ezekiel 37:12-14; Romans 8:8-11; and John 11:1-45. The other, labeled "Fifth Sunday of Lent - Year A Scrutinies," is Jeremiah 31:31-33; Hebrews 5:7-9; and John 12:20-33.

Having options isn't odd: readings for some Sundays include an abbreviated version — I'm not a big fan of those, since I like hearing Sacred Scripture, and my attention span doesn't time out quite that fast.

Two completely different options isn't usual, though: and "Year A Scrutinies" wasn't a familiar phrase. Turns out, it's part of RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.

You'd think I'd know about that, since I'm an adult convert to Catholicism.

I was a bit surprised, back when I talked to a priest about signing up, he mentioned a bit of paperwork he'd have to do: and that was it.

My guess is that he knew about me. It's a small town, I married one of the deacon's daughters, and might have had a reputation for being gung-ho about our faith. Also a tad obsessive about research.

Priests, the ones I've been around, don't seem eager to rack up 'covert' numbers, and that's another topic. (June 15, 2011)

Anyway, I bypassed RCIA: which means I occasionally run into something unfamiliar connected with it. For that matter, I run into other new-to-me wrinkles of my faith now and then, too: hardly surprising, since we've been accumulating traditions (lower case "t") for about two millennia.

RCIA is a second Vatican Council thing, sort of. It's not a new idea, of course. We've been fine-tuning how to handle adult converts ever since our Lord picked out the original 12. ("Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy - Sacrosanctum Concilium," 64-66, Pope Paul VI (December 4, 1963); Catechism, 1232)

I'm pretty sure that some parishes had wacky variations on RCIA committed 'in the spirit of Vatican II:' which let tightly-wound Catholics assume that their little circle of friends was the only 'real' Catholic Church in the whole world. And that's yet another topic.

Or maybe not so much.

The Great Commission, Two Millennia and Counting


Our standing orders, outlined in Matthew 28:19-20, haven't changed in two millennia. What keeps changing is how we carry them out.

At this moment, we're living in the 21st century.

It's not like the first, or 11th, centuries.

We'd be daft, trying to proclaim the Gospel the way we did when Bi Sheng1 invented movable type: or during the year of five emperors. I'm convinced that American elections aren't the best possible way to select leaders: but it could be worse, and that's yet again another topic.

Like I've said before: change happens, and it's often not comfortable.

Folks who got used to rites introduced somewhere between the fall of the Sur Empire and whatever we cobble together to replace the United Nations may be upset about reforms a millennia or so from now.

What got me thinking about that? Change. Porcelain. the Song Dynasty. Got it.

I ran into someone who hadn't gotten over the Council of Trent, when we got a new Catechism and missal. Pope Pius V signed off on that, about five centuries back now.

Getting back to "scrutinies."

"The Elect," Catholic Style

"...The RCIA describes them as 'rites for self-searching and repentance and above all a spiritual purpose. The scrutinies are meant to uncover, then heal all that is weak, defective, or sinful in the hearts of the elect; to bring out, then strengthen all that is upright, strong and good. For the scrutinies are celebrated in order to deliver the elect from the power of sin and Satan, to protect them against temptation, and to give them strength in Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life.'(#141)..."
("Bulletin Article 1," USCCB)
"The elect?!"

I've talked about spiritual snobbery and Holy Willie before. Bottom line, it's a bad idea and we shouldn't do it — Holy Willie is a terrible role model. (July 27, 2014)

In this context, "elect" means "singled out from a number or group as more to one's liking (this elect body of students represents the best that the nation's high schools have to offer)" (Merriam-Webster.com)

I hope I'm one of the folks who are the "elect" — someone who, at the end, has the good sense to choose God's will.

God knows which choice I'll make, but I don't. Not yet. I've talked about time, knowledge, free will, and getting a grip, before. (July 27, 2014)

More to the point, the Catechism has a bit to say about it. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 31, 355-361, 373-379, 386-390, 396-409, 1730-1738, 1778, 2402)

Where was I? "The elect," Holy Willie, free will. Right.

Faith, Works, and Very Bad Ideas


Pop-theology versions of predestination can be comforting — or depressing — both of which are bad ideas. Very bad ideas.

Focus on the notion that we're "predestined" for Heaven, no matter what damned stupid stunts we pull, and we're skidding into presumption.

That's the notion that I can work my way into Heaven: or that God is such a sucker that I'll get in, no matter what. (Catechism, 2092)

"Faith without works is dead" and all that. What I do matters, but I'm entirely dependent on my Lord for forgiveness and salvation. (James 2:14-26; Catechism, 2006-2011)

Going the other direction, assuming that there's no way I could avoid Hell, is daft.

Reality check. Hell is real, but nobody — nobody — is "predestined" to end up there. Hope is a virtue, and despair is strictly against the rules. (Catechism, 600, 1033-1037, 1817-1821, 2091)

Scaring folks silly with tales of hellfire and damnation is part of America's cultural history: which doesn't make it a good idea. (March 15, 2015)

Catholics have our equivalents of Jonathan Edwards' "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." One I've heard about is a nifty little story about Saint [whoever] visiting someone in a dream and saying either that only a handful of folks from [wherever] made it to Heaven — or that they're all damned.

As for the notion that Heaven is underpopulated — John described one contingent as:
"...a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue...."
(Revelation 7:9)
I'm savvy enough to realize that Revelation — an example of apocalyptic literature, full of symbolic language — wasn't written by an American. Small wonder that folks marketing 'end times Bible prophecies' have a field day with the book.

On the other hand, I have trouble believing that Revelation 7:9 tells us that God doesn't have enough folks in Heaven to play six-hand spades.

And that's still another topic.

More of my take on life, death, and the long view:
Background:
1 Gutenberg's big contribution was metal type: and mass-production techniques. (January 27, 2009)
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Saturday, September 13, 2014

Chain of Command and a Simple Choice

When I learned who currently held the authority my Lord gave Simon Peter, recorded in Matthew 16:13-19, I didn't have much choice: I had to join the Catholic Church.

In a sense, I 'knew too much.'

I could either claim to follow Jesus and acknowledge the Son of God's authority, passed along in unbroken succession through the rise and fall of kingdoms, empires, and civilizations — or not. As Simon Peter said, it's a simple choice:
"Jesus then said to the Twelve, 'Do you also want to leave?'

"Simon Peter answered him, 'Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

"We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.' "
(John 6:67-69)
That's "simple," not "easy." My Lord was quite clear about what we should expect if we follow the Son of God. (Matthew 10:38; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; John 13:15, 36)

Like the song says:
"By the light of burning martyrs, Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track...."
(Once to Every Man and Nation; Lyrics by James R. Low­ell, in the Bos­ton Cour­i­er, De­cem­ber 11, 1845. Music by Thom­as J. Will­iams)
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Sunday, March 2, 2014

Addition, Subtraction, and Lent

Lent starts Ash Wednesday, a few days from now. It's a big deal:
"...By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 540)
That doesn't mean that I should go to the nearest desert.

I live in central Minnesota, where the nearest dunes are in the Sand Dunes State Forest. Like many of the state forests, 'Dunes' has an assortment of lakes, ponds, and wet ground. Minnesota is not a particularly dry state: even in drought years.

South Dakota Badlands and Lent


(From Wereldburger758, via Wikimedia Commons, used w/o permission.)
(Badlands National Park, South Dakota, United States)

The nearest place that's desert-like is the South Dakota badlands: only 500 miles west and a bit south. There's paved road all the way, so I could make the trip: in a bit under eight hours, weather and vehicle permitting.

Happily, I don't need to take "in the desert" quite that literally.

Lent is when I should re-live the great events of salvation, and practice "penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and fraternal sharing." (Catechism, 1095, 1438)

Penance? Self-denial? Fasting?? No wonder some folks think Christianity is all about being miserable. I'll grant that adopting an 'oh woe, all ye faithful' attitude is popular in some circles, and I've been over that before:

Lent: It's an Inside Job


(Me, Ash Wednesday 2011)

The 40 days of Lent is preparation for the Church's big day: Easter.

Sackcloth, ashes, fasting: they can be important, but they're what shows on the outside. The important work is inside me: a "conversion of the heart" that brings me closer to my Lord. (Catechism, 1430)

I've never seen sackcloth used as a penance, by the way. Sackcloth is the sort of cloth generally used for sacks: which is pretty obvious, from the name. We call hessian "burlap" where I live, I grew up calling burlap bags "gunny sacks:" and that's another topic.

You can use the stuff to make rugs, too. It would be distinctly uncomfortable for clothing: particularly undergarments. Which is the idea, of course.

We've been celebrating Lent for about two millennia now, and although the core of our practices hasn't changed, the cultures we work in aren't what they were in the first century.

For example, although the number of days for fasting within Lent has stayed right around 40, the total has varied from today's 46 days by up to three weeks. I suppose someone's upset that we're doing it the "wrong" way: but I think God's more interested in that "conversion of the heart," than in whose schedule we use.

Fasting and Common Sense

Fasting is important, and required for Catholics age 18 to 59: with some exceptions.
"Q. Are there exemptions other than for age from the requirement to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday?

"A. Those that are excused from fast and abstinence outside the age limits include the physically or mentally ill including individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Also excluded are pregnant or nursing women. In all cases, common sense should prevail, and ill persons should not further jeopardize their health by fasting."
("Questions and Answers about Lent and Lenten Practices," USCCB)
I'm in my 60s, and diabetic, so fasting isn't an option for me. I like to eat, so that might seem like good news. But since fasting is out, I need to find something to take its place.

Something Extra for Lent

"What are you giving up for Lent" is a common question: and the start of some jokes, like "I'm giving up skydiving for Lent."

Subtracting something from daily routines for Lent is an option, but I try to add something instead. Some years it's been praying a chaplet for the duration. I haven't made up my mind what this year's project will be.

I'd better decide soon, though: Whatever I do, it starts Wednesday.

More, from the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops):
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Background:
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Monday, July 1, 2013

"Waking Up Catholic," a Guide to Catholic Beliefs

Maybe 'you can't judge a book by its cover, but the subtitle of "Waking Up Catholic," "A Guide to Catholic Beliefs for Converts, Reverts, and Anyone Becoming Catholic" accurately sums up Chad R. Torgerson's book.

Although the book is aimed at Catholics who want to learn more about our faith, it's not 'for Catholics only.' It should help someone who just wants to learn more about the Catholic Church, too.

More accurately, it will be. It's "coming soon in ebook and paperback" from Assisi Media. I got a pre-publication copy.
"...You do not have to worry about learning complex theological ideas; we are going to work our way from the ground up. We will start with a strong foundation and build from there. By the end of the book, you still may not be a theological scholar, but you will know what it truly means to be Catholic...."
("Waking Up Catholic," Chad R. Torgerson)
After reading the book's 115 pages, I think Torgerson makes good on that promise.

Learning the Basics, Thirsting for More

Torgerson weaves an account of his search for a faith that matters into discussions of Catholic beliefs.
"... My Protestant faith meant everything to me, so there is one thing I never dreamt of: waking up Catholic. I never thought that my life would lead me to the Catholic Church...."
"... Theology is a matter of the mind, but faith is a matter of the heart. With that in mind, my goal is to teach the basics of the faith in a way that is easy to understand - yet still pulls at your heart strings. Your mind will grasp the information, and your heart will thirst for more...."
("Waking Up Catholic," Chad R. Torgerson)
Despite saying that he wants to pull at your heart strings, Torgerson focuses on what being Catholic means: not sentimental excursions.

Considering how much material Torgerson covers, that's a good idea.

Why We Believe What We Believe

Chad R. Torgerson explains why the Catholic Church is important, and has been for two thousand years. "Waking Up Catholic" walks the reader through explanations of Church teachings, showing where we get our beliefs about:
  • Tradition, with a capital T
  • The Trinity
  • Mary
  • Saints
  • The Eucharist
  • Confession
  • Prayer
  • Being Catholic
Torgerson quotes from documents like "New American Bible," "Catechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America," "United States Catholic Catechism for Adults," and "The Roman Missal."

"...Lovingly Sharing..."

In the last chapter, Chad R. Torgerson points out that apologetics, defending the faith, is not evangelizing. When we evangelize we should be "lovingly sharing it with others,"

A key word there is "lovingly." It's not enough to just understand the reasons we believe. That's important, but Torgerson says we need "...to take our faith outside of the parish walls and into the world...."
"...We are not Catholic by birth or because our parents and family are Catholic. We are Catholic because we live out our beautiful faith in our everyday lives. We understand why we have a pope, venerate Mary, love the saints, and pray the Rosary. We do not simply follow rituals; we actively participate in the greatest religion in the world. ..."
("Waking Up Catholic," Chad R. Torgerson)

Notes From a Recovering English Teacher

Some students were struggling with spelling and grammar, some were learning how to organize ideas, and some were already writing clear, concise, and coherent papers. I hope they looked at the papers I returned, read my notes, and kept improving their skills after the courses ended.

Some well-intentioned authors write books that are anything but clear, concise, and coherent. I've reverted to 'English teacher' a few times, marking books as if I was reading someone's classwork.

I didn't know what to expect when I started reading Chad R. Torgerson's "Waking Up Catholic."

Happily, "Waking Up Catholic" is a well-written book.

Torgerson didn't include a glossary or index in the pre-publication copy I read. On the other hand, he tells what 'Catholic' terms mean as they come up: the Sacrament of Penance, and deadly sins, for example. And yes, both are 'Biblical.' (John 20:22-23; James 5:16; 1 John 5:16-17)
"Waking Up Catholic"
A Guide to Catholic Beliefs for Converts, Reverts, and Anyone Becoming Catholic
Chad R. Torgerson (2013)
115 pages
Paperback (ISBN: 978-0-9895319-0-0)
eBook (eISBN: 978-0-9895319-1-7)

Published by Assisi Media
530 Devonshire Lane, Unit 4
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
www.AssisiMedia.com
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Sunday, June 30, 2013

Not Yet, Lord!

Readings for June 30, 2013, 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time:

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
June 30, 2013

Maybe a good title for this homily is 'not yet, Lord!'

A lady was taking her time browsing through everything at a yard sale. In a conversation with the homeowners she said, "my husband is going to be very angry when he finds out I stopped at this yard sale." "I'm sure he'll understand when you tell him about all the bargains," the owner replied. "Normally, yes," the lady said. "But he just broke his leg, and he's waiting for me to take him to the hospital to get it set."

Some things in life cannot be delayed. But we do delay them. Not for any sinister reason, but because we don't attach any real urgency to them.

The first reflection in today's commentary is concerned about doing the laundry. Which brings up a happening. As I was getting ready to go to retreat last weekend I found myself having to do laundry before I could go on retreat. As I was taking the washed out of the wash machine and putting it in the dryer I said, honey, here your enjoying yourself in heaven and I'm stuck with the wash. Some of you ladies are saying, that's not a big deal, but it seems like it was at the moment.

"Hurry up kids we are going to be late for Mass, mom!" "I have to find my shoes first." Or as sure as can be we are all entering the car to go to church or to wherever and someone will say, "I got to go to the bathroom." Of course all of us, who are parents, well know that all these things are important but why at this moment and most often as we should be ready for church and late already.

I think the gospel reading for today would assure us that this type of thing goes on all the time. We see Jesus walking along the road, and he encounters three men. The first man said to him. "I will follow you wherever you go." We've all probably felt like that at sometime or another: "I will follow you wherever you go."

We've had some mountaintop experiences, maybe some instances with them in Billy Graham's crusade that I remember as a kid. We used to listen to his crusades all the time on the radio and what's interesting about that is that as many people as would come to hear him and sometimes as many as hundred thousand people in the stadium packed for Billy's sermons and thousands would go up for an altar call as it was called.

Recently it was said that only between two and four percent of those who went forward on this altar call are still actively observing the Christian life. That's not to say that the crusade didn't do any good for there are lives of people who are touched in a beautiful way with these crusades but for the most of those who went forward it really didn't last. Maybe the will of god was not most important, or maybe they were saying as did say Saint Augustine, "Lord make me a Saint, not yet."

The point is, in some situations, we must say, "yes, Lord, I'm yours," but Christ knows you're just caught up in the moment. This was obviously the way it was with this first man who said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."

Notice: that Jesus response to him, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Jesus seems to be saying to him in a gentle way: you don't know what you're asking, following me is not for the faint of heart. It's not for people who are concerned about material possessions or comfort.

It's for people who are ready to put it all on the line. It's not for people who get excited on one occasion, who respond for an hour to a nice, warm, spiritual feeling. It is for people who are ready to be Christ's men, Christ's women, regardless of the current circumstances or how they happen to be feeling at the moment. "Foxes have dens and birds have nests but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

Notice Jesus' encounter with second man. Jesus says to him, "Follow me." This man replies, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

Here's a man suffering from 'not yet Lord, syndrome.'

We might wonder what he was doing talking to Jesus if his father just died? In the first century, the Jews buried the dead almost immediately. So obviously this was not at the moment, dead, but maybe advanced in age! as in our day it is the obligation of the son to bury the Dad.

Jesus' answer is a little harsh it seems, for he said, "let the dead bury the dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." So what's this all about? We seem to be left hanging because there really is no good answer to that statement.

The third man makes a request that is just as responsible, "I will follow you, Lord: but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family." Hey, these are nice guys and they want to follow Jesus but they've got responsibilities. And so they would follow him, "yes, but first..." Jesus is just as short with this third man as he was with the others. Jesus says to him , "no one who puts their hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." Obviously Jesus regards the statement of the first man that he would follow him anywhere as superficial and replies to the second two as more excuses. He didn't really need any more halfhearted disciples. He wanted people who were ready to make a commitment.

Jesus wasn't looking for fans; he was looking for followers. Fans are easy to come by. Show the world that you are a winner, as the world defines a winner, and the world will regard you with adulation. Of course some of those fans will be fickle.

It is something like a few years ago when the Houston Astros were not enjoying the best baseball season, their fans got a little frustrated. We're told that a woman had left her season tickets on the dashboard of her car, forgetting to lock it, when she comes back she finds not only the two original tickets but two more so now she has four season tickets to the Astro baseball games.

Like the Astros Jesus doesn't want more fans. Fans are with you when you win or tie. Jesus has all the fans he needs. Jesus wants people who will walk in his footsteps daily regardless of the circumstances. Jesus wants people who will be with him whether he has ascended the throne or is crucified on a cross. Jesus wants people who mirror his compassion and his love, even when such love and compassion are unpopular.

Jesus doesn't want fans. He wants followers. Jesus wants people who will do more than simply sit in a pew and clap and cheer. He wants people who will take up the cross daily, the cross of service and love.

So you all be Good, Be Holy, and Preach the Gospel always! Use words only when necessary!
'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.
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Standing Orders and Spider-Man

I like being Catholic. It feels good to be part of an outfit that's rooted in eternity, marching through time toward a city that hasn't been built yet, and I've said that before. (April 1, 2012)

I'm a convert, a reluctant one. When I learned what the Catholic Church really is, my reaction was something like 'oh, crap, now I've got to become a Catholic.'

Not that I'm in his league, but I had about as much choice as Peter did, just after Jesus told folks that we had to gnaw His body to have eternal life. (John 5:53-68; and see footnote 19)

Forced to Decide

I've accepted the idea that God exists for as long as I can remember, and understood that Jesus is very important. By the time I was a young adult, folks slapping a 'Jesus' label on their own preferences and hatreds had encouraged a certain skepticism about religion.

Still, something that was part of the lives of almost everyone, in every culture, throughout recorded history, was probably important, so I kept studying. A keen interest in history, sparked by a professor during my first year in college, helped.

- - - and I'm getting off-topic.

I finally learned who currently held the authority Jesus gave Peter. (Matthew 16:18)

After that, I had options: of joining my Lord's outfit; ignoring what I'd learned; or deciding to walk away. The first option seemed most prudent.

Being Catholic

This post is a sort of followup to "God's Family," from two weeks ago. I'd run across a pastoral letter1 written by the archbishop of Washington, DC, where he talks about what being Catholic means. Using points the archbishop made as a starting point for posts seemed like a good idea: and still does.

Moving on.

Jesus in the World

The Church is the Body of Christ in the world. That's not my idea, the apostles said so. (Romans 12:4-5; Colossians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27)

We're not all alike. We're not supposed to be, any more than a body is made of just one organ.

Parthians, Medes, Americans - - -

We're certainly not a bunch of folks who share similar interests. We don't even have a common culture. Common beliefs, yes: but how we act on those beliefs depends on where we're born and what era we live in.

Once in a while we get an obviously miraculous assist:
"They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, "Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?

"Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

"Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome,

"both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God."
(Acts 2:7-11)
Most of the time, it's up to us to find ways of carrying out orders that haven't changed in two millennia.

"All Power in Heaven and Earth," and Spider-Man

Jesus left this standing order, just before leaving:
"11 Then Jesus approached and said to them, 'All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

"Go, therefore, 12 and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit,

"teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 13 And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age. '"
(Matthew 28:18-20)
Maybe it's easy to see what Jesus says about "all power in heaven and on earth," and miss the implications of "...making disciples of all nations ... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you...."

That's a huge job: and a crushing responsibility. No wonder Jesus assures us that "...I am with you always, until the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)

Small wonder that Catholics get a reputation for feeling 'responsible.' It's like the first Spider-Man story said:
"With great power there must also come —
great responsibility!"
(Stan Lee, in Amazing Fantasy #15 (August 1962) (the first Spider-Man story))
And that's another topic.

Related posts:
1 Cardinal Wuerl's letter:
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Sunday, December 4, 2011

A Prayer for Clouded Hearts

My third-oldest daughter wrote a prayer this week. When I asked, she said it was okay to share it:
I pray to You, O Gracious Shepherd
For the sheep who've gone astray.
Grant that through Your Wondrous Power
Their clouded hearts will stir today.

Let them know Your Constant Mercy
Let Their hearts and souls be blessed
Grant that this, my prayer, be answered
Bring them safely home to rest.

Jesus, I Trust in You

Amen
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Friday, September 30, 2011

Benedict XVI in Germany, My Take: Dissent, Conversion, and Knowledge

'Converting the converted'1 may sound redundant, but it's the way Catholics live. Or the way we should live. We're all 'works in progress' at this point, a handful of saints possibly notwithstanding: and they probably don't see it that way. Which is another topic.

Pope Benedict XVI talked about this sort of 'redundant' conversion while he was in Germany. He talked about other things too, but those are also other topics.

My take on what Pope Benedict XVI told folks in Germany would have been an overly-long post, even by my standards, which is why it's coming in installments. This is the fifth of seven posts:
  1. "Benedict XVI in Germany, My Take: Hope, Confidence, and Looking Forward"
    (September 27, 2011)
  2. "Benedict XVI in Germany, My Take: Liberation, Transformation, and Getting Personal"
    (September 27, 2011)
  3. "Benedict XVI in Germany, My Take: Scandal, Abuse, and the Cross"
    (September 28, 2011)
  4. "Benedict XVI in Germany, My Take: Harlots and Pharisees, Agnostics and Routine Believers"
    (September 29, 2011)
  5. "Benedict XVI in Germany, My Take: Dissent, Conversion, and Knowledge"
    (September 30, 2011)
  6. "Benedict XVI in Germany, My Take: We're Not About 'Joyless Saints' "
    (October 1, 2011)
  7. "Benedict XVI in Germany, My Take: 'Where God is, There is a Future' "
    (October 3, 2011)
Now, about the Pope, dissent, truth, and getting a grip:

Dissent, Conversion, and Knowledge

(If this excerpt looks familiar, it should. I quoted the last paragraph yesterday, under the Destination: Kingdom of God heading.)
"...Predicted anti-papal protests have largely failed to materialize during the four-day visit, but the Pope still seemed acutely aware of those Catholic voices in Germany who dissent from Church teaching.

" 'The Church in Germany will overcome the great challenges of the present and future, and it will remain a leaven in society, if the priests, consecrated men and women, and the lay faithful, in fidelity to their respective vocations, work together in unity,' he said. He added that 'the baptized and confirmed, in union with their bishop,' should 'lift high the torch of untarnished faith and allow it to enlighten their abundant knowledge and skills.'

"This renewal of the Church in Germany will 'only come about through openness to conversion and through renewed faith,' said Pope Benedict. Jesus Christ 'is always close to us, especially in times of danger and radical change, his heart aches for us and he reaches out to us,' he added...."
(CNA (September 25, 2011))

Dissent, 'Vox Populi,' and the Catholic Church

Dissent isn't anything new. Gnosticism, with a new name and added features, has been coming back for about 18 centuries now.2 It's one of the heresies, dissenting opinions, and assorted daft notions that folks occasionally prefer to what the Catholic Church got from my Lord. Like the idea that public opinion alters reality. And I've mentioned "vox populi, vox dei" before.3

The flip side of 'popularity reality' is thinking that if 'the Masses' like something, it can't be worthwhile. I'm on the same page as G. K. Chesterton there.4

The 'we're not like the Masses' mindset may be part of the reason that the expected "anti-papal protests" didn't happen. My guess is that the dedicated dissenters form a rather small group: who tend to be highly vocal. Or maybe a conspiracy is involved. And that's another topic.5

Then there's this set of quaint assumptions:
  1. Ideas that have outlasted civilizations
    • Are probably wrong
  2. An idea imagined by one person
    • If contrary to #1
      • Is probably true
Boiled down to essentials as I did, maybe that sounds daft. Padded with several thousand words of turgidly erudite blandishment? Maybe not so much.

A remarkable number of folks have bought into the notion that 'new' ideas are, necessarily, preferable to ones that have endured for thousands of years. That can be a problem:
"...The Magisterium has drawn attention several times to the serious harm done to the community of the Church by attitudes of general opposition to Church teaching which even come to expression in organized groups. In his apostolic exhortation Paterna cum benevolentia, Paul VI offered a diagnosis of this problem which is still apropos....

"...Here arises the tendency to regard a judgment as having all the more validity to the extent that it proceeds from the individual relying upon his own powers. In such a way freedom of thought comes to oppose the authority of tradition which is considered a cause of servitude. A teaching handed on and generally received is a priori suspect and its truth contested...."
("Instruction | Donum Veritatis | On the Ecclesial Vocation of the Theologian," Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (May 24, 1990))
What could possibly go wrong, just because folks start believing that something's true because they imagined it? This means that the Church is against freedom and wants to enslave everybody, right?

I'll get back to natural law and consequences. As for 'freedom:' I have to support freedom of religion, because I'm a practicing Catholic. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2104-2109) For everybody. (Catechism, 2106) It's in the rules.

'Freedom' is important. But I think truth is important, too:
"...Ultimately, freedom of judgment understood in this way is more important than the truth itself. We are dealing then here with something quite different from the legitimate demand for freedom in the sense of absence of constraint as a necessary condition for the loyal inquiry into truth. In virtue of this exigency, the Church has always held that 'nobody is to be forced to embrace the faith against his will' ...."
("Instruction | Donum Veritatis | On the Ecclesial Vocation of the Theologian," Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (May 24, 1990))
"Nobody is forced...?" Maybe you've heard of a Catholic who tried to ram Catholicism down someone's throat. Maybe you knew one. There are around 1,100,000,000 Catholics alive today, we've been around for two millennia, and some of us are jerks.

Natural law is the annoying way the universe has, of not conforming to the preferences of whoever's currently on top of the cultural heap. It's why laissez faire capitalism didn't work; and why Tea Party people enrage establishment types.6 Don't take my word for it, though:
"...The natural law expresses the original moral sense which enables man to discern by reason the good and the evil, the truth and the lie..."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1954)

"In Union With Their Bishop:" Like We Got a Choice

The Pope said that Catholics in Germany should stay "in union with their bishop," which I think is pretty good advice.

As I implied earlier, I don't think popular opinion alters reality. 'If three hundred million people really believe in a stupid idea, it's still a stupid idea.' The trick is knowing the difference between a stupid idea that's also unpopular: and an unpopular idea that's true. Getting prompted by God helps, I think.

Folks didn't always agree with what's true two millennia back, any more than they do today. For example, many of His disciples quit after Jesus said, in effect, 'eat me:'7
"'...Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him....'"
(John 6:56)
Then we read this exchange:
"Jesus then said to the Twelve, 'Do you also want to leave?' Simon Peter answered him, 'Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.' "
(John 6:67-69) [emphasis mine]
About two thousand years later, I learned that the authority Jesus had given Peter had been passed along in unbroken succession to the current Pope. That was when I somewhat grudgingly decided that, like it or not, I'd better sign up with the outfit that my Lord had established.

I'd already decided that Jesus:
The source of Papal authority explained why, through the rise and fall of empires, and occasionally-appalling management, the Catholic Church was still here. They had help. Or, now, we had help. I still think becoming a Catholic was possibly the smartest thing I've done.

In my case, conversion wasn't the sort of ethereal 'spiritual experience' I've heard about. It was a more matter-of-fact evaluation of what happened to the 'keys of the Kingdom' authority that Jesus gave Peter: and where I'd prefer spending eternity.

Keys of the Kingdom, and the 'Bark of Peter'


Coat of Arms of the Holy See and of the State of Vatican City, used w/o permission

That's Holy See's and Vatican City's coats of arms: distinctive, easily-recognized emblems. Sort of like the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals we started using recently. Since the late 1970s, which is "recent" for me. The Holy See's two crossed keys didn't become an official insignia until the 14th century. Which is "recent," too, on another time scale.

In common with most 'decoration' used by the Church, there's symbolism involved:
"...The symbolism is drawn from the Gospel and is represented by the keys given to the Apostle Peter by Christ...."
(Coat of Arms of the Holy See and of the State of Vatican City (March 15, 2006))
And that's almost another topic.

Here's where Jesus gave Peter a whacking great set of responsibilities called "the keys to the kingdom of heaven:"
"8 When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi 9 he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say that the Son of Man is?' They replied, 'Some say John the Baptist, 10 others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' 11 Simon Peter said in reply, 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.' Jesus said to him in reply, 'Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood 12 has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, 13 and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. 14 Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.' "
(Matthew 16:13-19) [emphasis mine]
The man who holds that authority now? Yeah: I'd say joining that fellow's outfit makes sense.

Another symbol - metaphor, actually, for the Catholic Church is "Bark of Peter," which doesn't have all that much to do with trees. Although trees were vital to the sort of "bark" involved.

The "Bark of Peter" refers to a three-masted sailing ship. (Princeton's WordNet) I like the imagery: the Bark of Peter sailing across time; destination, Kingdom of God.

And I'm definitely wandering off-topic.

Back to what the Pope said.

"Openness to Conversion and Through Renewed Faith?!"

I've already said that we're 'works in progress.' Conversion is an ongoing process.1 I'm a convert to Catholicism, so I experienced "conversion" as an adult. I've had quite a few more "conversions" since then: every time I participated in the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1422-1424) Americans, myself included, generally call it "confession." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1422-1424)

I'm not bothered by the idea that I need to keep working at my 'conversion.' Unlike the fellow in Robert Burns' "Holy Willie's Prayer," I'm all to aware of my imperfections. Which gets me into ideas like faith and works. That's and works, not "or."8 More topics.

Knowledge isn't a Four-Letter Word

It wasn't hard, at least in my part of the country, to get the impression that memorizing Bible verses was about as much knowledge as a Christian should have. I still run into folks who seem determined to prove that Christians live in a tiny, old-fashioned, and imaginary world: one in which the universe is a few thousand years old.

I think I understand why folks, Catholics included, feel that rejecting much of what's been learned since about 1850 is a virtue. But I'm not bothered by the idea that God thinks and acts on a scale that's vast - both in time and space. And I'm certainly not bothered by the thought that:
  • We still have a great deal to learn about God's creation
  • Much of what we thought we knew falls far short of the grandeur we're discovering
I've posted about assumptions, reality, and faith before. Bottom line? I do not think that God made a world that we weren't supposed to study.10 Refusing to learn about God's creation doesn't make sense to me.

Neglecting to learn about God seems even less advisable.

The Pope gave Catholics in Germany a goal, and outlined ways they could work at achieving it. I think we can all learn from what Benedict XVI said:
"...'We need to open ourselves to him so that the power of his mercy can touch our hearts. We have to be ready to abandon evil, to raise ourselves from indifference and make room for his word,' he said.
(CNA (September 25, 2011))
Come to think of it, I went over this yesterday.

"We Need Have No Fear. God is Good"

"...'As we pray the Angelus, we may join Mary in her 'yes,' we may adhere trustingly to the beauty of God's plan and to the providence that he has assigned to us in his grace,' said the Pope.

" 'Then God's love will also, as it were, take flesh in our lives, becoming ever more tangible. In all our cares we need have no fear. God is good.'"
(CNA (September 25, 2011))
Someone could be a 'good Catholic' and not get involved in a single Marian devotion. On the other hand, many of us involve the mother of our Lord in our lives. I think that's a good idea, because for the last two millennia she's been telling us pretty much what she told the servers at Cana: "Do whatever he tells you." (John 2:5)9

As for that last sentence in the CNA article?
"...In all our cares we need have no fear. God is good.'"
(CNA
I couldn't have put it better myself.

More posts in this series:Other related posts:
In the news:
1 Conversion is an ongoing process:
2 Gnosticism has a definite appeal: particularly for folks who want to be part of an 'in' crowd, and think biology is icky. More about this attractive heresy:
Bearing in mind that I've got the (limited) authority of "some guy with a blog," here's more about gnosticism, from the Catholic Church:
And see:
3 "Vox populi, vox dei," Latin phrase, and attributed to Thomas Hobbes: who seems to have argued against "voice of the people - voice of God." I've been over this before, very briefly:
4 Actually, I agree with Chesterton on quite a few points, including this observation:
"By a curious confusion, many modern critics have passed from the proposition that a masterpiece may be unpopular to the other proposition that unless it is unpopular it cannot be a masterpiece."
"On Detective Novels," Generally Speaking: a Book of Essays, London: Methuen (1928) via "Quotations of G. K. Chesterton," The American Chesterton Society
(and see National Library of Australia Catalog)
I've use that quotation before:
5 I've enjoyed stories about vast conspiracies: fictional stories. When 'conspiracy theory' assumptions get taken seriously, the results aren't so entertaining:
6 I think natural law sounds cooler when it's wrapped up in an engagingly non-Western term like karma: and is necessarily involved in any system of belief that lasts more than a few decades. Natural moral law often takes longer than, say, the law of gravity to deliver consequences: but it's just as real:
"Man participates in the wisdom and goodness of the Creator who gives him mastery over his acts and the ability to govern himself with a view to the true and the good. The natural law expresses the original moral sense which enables man to discern by reason the good and the evil, the truth and the lie:
The natural law is written and engraved in the soul of each and every man, because it is human reason ordaining him to do good and forbidding him to sin . . . But this command of human reason would not have the force of law if it were not the voice and interpreter of a higher reason to which our spirit and our freedom must be submitted.5"
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1954)
There's a whole lot more to say about natural law, including 1954-1960 in the Catechism.

I've given my opinion about natural law and the wisdom of jumping off reality without a parachute before:It's not just Americans who have trouble dealing with reality:7 Given what we know about the classical Greek verb used in this part of John 6, I've wondered why the NAB doesn't read "...Whoever gnaws my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life...." This footnote clears up why so many of my Lord's disciples walked away. Cannibalism was as distasteful for them, as it is for Americans today:
"[54-58] Eats: the verb used in these verses is not the classical Greek verb used of human eating, but that of animal eating: 'munch,' 'gnaw.' This may be part of John's emphasis on the reality of the flesh and blood of Jesus (cf ⇒ John 6:55), but the same verb eventually became the ordinary verb in Greek meaning "eat.""
(Footnote 19, John 6, New American Bible)
8 I'm a practicing Catholic, so I know I can't 'work my way into heaven.' I've been over this before:9 Even before my conversion, I had a soft spot in my heart for Mary. Partly, I think, because I understood the kind of guts it took to say 'yes.' And what she said at Cana:More, about:10 Religion, Reason, and Reality:
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Marian Apparition: Champion, Wisconsin

Background:Posts in this blog: In the news:

What's That Doing in a Nice Catholic Blog?

From time to time, a service that I use will display links to - odd - services and retailers.

I block a few of the more obvious dubious advertisers.

For example: psychic anything, numerology, mediums, and related practices are on the no-no list for Catholics. It has to do with the Church's stand on divination. I try to block those ads.

Sometime regrettable advertisements get through, anyway.

Bottom line? What that service displays reflects the local culture's norms, - not Catholic teaching.