Understanding Heart

I cannot believe school is just about ready to start.  I am looking forward to another great year and hope you are as well.  The school building is shaping up and we are almost ready for the PTO Blessing of the Backpacks events, this Saturday and the Kindergarten Social on Sunday. 

I am ready to get back into the swing of things, and that includes my weekly note.  I must say, I have missed writing this column and am probably a little bit rusty, so bear with me as I try to get back into things.  That being said, I must say, this past weekend’s Mass readings gave me the perfect idea to write about today.

In the first reading King Solomon was given, by God, anything he wanted.  Before we get into his response, I must say, my thoughts if God would have asked me this question would be countless, and pretty selfish.  I would have thought about endless riches, world power, and more.  But what Solomon asked for was something I think we need more now than ever, an understanding heart.  Here, a man, a leader, a King, who could have had anything he wanted, and he asked for an understanding heart.  Do you know of anyone who would ask for something that benefited anyone other than them? 

We live in a pretty hostile world right now.  We have talk shows that put two people from opposite sides of a topic together and let them argue and fight, usually ending in a shouting match, and portraying a total dislike for the person.  This occurs across the field of sports, politics, relationships, blogs, etc.  Two people pitted against each other and our human nature to win at all cost, means that someone has to win and the other has to lose.  What I find most disturbing about this thought process is, it has led to the idea that if you and I disagree on one topic, then we must have to dislike each other forever, for we could not possible agree on any other topic.  How could you and I be friends if you do not believe the same way I do?(written with a little sarcasm)

I try my best to not let myself get trapped into these baited situations, but sometimes it is not very easy.  If I find myself not agreeing with someone, I try my best to get my point across, and often do not understand why they won’t believe my way.  That is usually followed with a bit of sarcasm or a sentence or two involving name calling.  It is not so easy to see my human nature taking over, before it is too late.  I wonder how these conversations would go if everyone entered with an understanding heart.

Can you imagine how an understanding heart could change conversations or decisions?  Lately, watching two people screaming, yelling, protesting, etc. has created nothing but more frustration and hatred.  How about going into a situation with an understanding heart?  It is my goal to have a more understanding heart, so when I get into these situations, that they can be handled without screaming or yelling.  Going into a situation with an understanding heart does not mean I will change my opinion, nor will I expect it to change your opinion.  But, when both sides understand each other, I would hope then the Win/Win situations would be endless, allowing us all to work together.  Surely, understanding hearts would get more done than name calling and hatred.

Let’s all seek understanding, before making any decisions.  What better place to start, than to take King Solomon’s wish of an understanding heart, and applying it to our own hearts.  Let’s get together and share opinions seeking first to understand, then work on the solutions, together. 

My prayer for this year is that God gives us all an understanding heart to help us better work together.

Never A Doubt

This week, in the Gospel, we heard the story of Doubting Thomas.  Thomas was not going to believe that Jesus was risen from the dead “until he sees the holes in His hands and can put his hand in His side.”  After doing just that, Thomas says, “My Lord and My God.”  After seeing Thomas, Jesus says, “You have faith because you have seen, blessed are those that have faith and have not seen.”

This example of Thomas, can make the believers feel pretty good.  See, we believe without seeing, so we are blessed.  However, I want to take a look at this Gospel from a different point of view.  One question, do you know a doubting Thomas or two?  Do you know someone that says they believe, but do not believe in coming to church?  Do we know someone that is maybe on the edge of believing but need that extra help to go all the way?  What are we doing to help those we know who doubt?

I used to be the doubting Thomas, until my friend Bob came into my life.  Bob and I were playing golf on one of those sixty degree Sundays, in January, yes January.  As you can imagine, knowing any golfer, stealing a day in January, for golf, in Indiana, is like getting an extra Christmas Gift.  Bob and I were on the 12^th hole, of a very busy, and slow golf game.  Looking at his watch, Bob decides he has to leave the golf course so he can make the Sunday evening Mass.  At this time in my life, I was away from the church, because I was doubting, like Thomas. 

Bob, to this day, probably has no idea what leaving the golf course, that day, meant to me.  He set the example for me, a guy in my twenties, that profoundly changed my life.  I did not know a bunch of guys my age that would give us a golf game for church.  His simple gesture, planted a seed in me, that grew quickly, for it was about two weeks later that I started attending church again, and am glad to say, that I have not missed a Sunday since.  I do not say that to brag, I share this because I am afraid if I miss a Mass, I will quickly turn back to my doubting ways.

Take some time this week and think about someone that has maybe gone by the wayside from their faith.  Take some time to share your experience with someone that is thinking about coming back into the church.  It does not have to be preaching, but that would not hurt.  It could be as simple as sharing your faith experience, or telling someone the story about what brought you back to the faith.  It could be as simple as turning down an invitation to a Sunday experience, like going to a ball game, or giving up a golf game, and attending Mass, like Bob did for me.  It could be a simple invitation to the doubting Thomas in your life, to join you at Mass. 

If you know a doubting Thomas, talk with them and encourage them to get back to their faith.  If you are like my friend Bob, who did not know I was like Thomas, do not take your for granted the example you are setting by just simply putting God first in your life, and the example you are setting for others. 

Lighten the Load

Two weeks ago was the school presentation of the Living Stations of the Cross.  The 7^th and 8^th grade students did such a wonderful job representing each station and really bringing home the season of Lent.  During both presentations, I could not help but think of the crosses we bear.

If you haven’t figured it out by now, we all have crosses to bear.  Some crosses are very public and are shared all over the news, and other crosses are very personal and private.  As I think about my own crosses, and yes we all have more than one, I often have to wonder why I have the cross that I have.  I am sure that makes no sense, so I will do my best to explain…

There are two types of crosses, the ones we create ourselves, and the ones given to us by God.  Yes, God does give us a cross to carry, just like He did his Son.  Do you overschedule your time?  Do you wonder when your family is ever going to sit down and have dinner as a family?  Are we constantly on the go and do not know how to relax and just let the world turn?  Is the burden of taking children from one practice to another, and picking the other, getting to be too much?  These are just a few examples of the crosses we created for ourselves.

What about the crosses God has given us?  Could it be taking care of an aging loved one?  Or dealing with the death of a friend or family member?  Again, God does give us crosses.

So now that you have thought about your crosses, my question is what are you going to do about them?  What are you going to do to remove the cross, or at the least lighten its load?  During this time of Lent, we all have made our Lenten promises.  We have made an attempt to lighten the cross that we are carrying.  How is that going?  Have you looked at your Facebook account, or given in to that tempting piece of chocolate?

The season of Lent is often considered a time of sadness, for the Lord God is about to sacrifice His only Son.  However, let’s look at the positive light that God shines on this season.  God gave his only Son for the sins of all.  While the death of Jesus is a seriously sad thing, look at what happened because of this selfless act.  I challenge you to remember this when you want to complain about the cross you are caring.  Picture in your mind Jesus carrying the cross or falling, or seeing his mother, then remember Jesus is our friend and someone we can count on, when our cross gets too heavy.  We can count on Him, when we turn to Him and ask his help.

So, as we finish this third Sunday in Lent, and your cross is getting heavy, the temptations are getting harder and harder to push away, take some time and spend it with God.  Go to that quiet place, sit in silence, invite Him into your thoughts and prayers.  Ask Him for the strength and courage to continue to carry the cross He has given you.  God is there and ready to have that conversation and help you. 

Relationship with God

Last week we celebrated St. Valentine’s Day.  While many think this is just another Hallmark Holiday, it is a time for us to think about our relationships.  It is a time for us to do a little something special for our spouse, parents, children, and all those we love.  A simple card, a sweet treat, a small bouquet of flowers, is just a few things that might put a smile on your special someone’s face. 

At the school Mass, Fr. Hunter talked to the students about relationships.  He asked them to ponder how their relationships are with their parents, siblings, and friends.  He shared with us his relationships with his family and friends.  Finally he asked us to ponder our relationship with God.  So with that in mind, I did some pondering.

As I have pondered my relationship with God, I decided there are three ways in which we can have a relationship with God.  First, there is the “all in” relationship.  When we are “all in,” we have a relationship that follows Gods word in action, thoughts, and relationships.  We put God first in every thought, before every decision, before every action.  We depend on Him to lead us and guide us throughout our life. 

The second type of relationship with God is the relationship of convenience.  This is a relationship in which we might pray to God when things are not going well, or when we want a desired outcome to a certain event.  We only want God in our lives, when it is only beneficial. 

The third type of relationship with God is no relationship at all.  This relationship usually has the mind set of “I can do it all by myself, I do not need anyone’s help.”  This relationship has God nowhere in the picture.  It might even go as far as to deny God’s existence completely. 

 

I am here to say, that I have been in all three types of relationships with God, at certain times of my life.  Having no relationship with God was really easy.  It had no accountability and allowed me to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted to do it.  I was easy to justify my actions regardless if they were right or wrong, because it was all about me, and had no regards for others.

Having a relationship of convenience was just that, convenient.   I had this happy go lucky idea that God is always with me and I could depend on Him to get me out of any situation that I might find myself in.  I could depend on Him to be there but only when I needed Him.

Then there is having a relationship with God, letting Him guide me.  This is particularly hard for me and I imagine most people.  It is often hard to set aside ego or the earthly ways.  I often feel that the achievements I have reached, I reached because of me and the things that I have done, when in reality, anything I do only happens because I allow Him into my life. 

So, while we spent time this week nurturing our relationships with our families, loved ones, and friends, celebrating Valentine’s Day, it was because of Fr. Hunter’s homily, that I now realize that I also need to nurture my relationship with God.  Sometimes I struggle to let Him lead me, and sometimes, it is easy to see that He is leading my path.  No matter where your relationship with God may be, know that He is there waiting for you to allow Him to lead your path.

As we approach the Lenten season, take some time and consider doing something for the 40 days of Lent that will strengthen your relationship with God.  Make a decision to invite God into your life through daily prayer, service, practicing forgiveness, reading a daily reflection, whatever works for you.  Commit to starting the day with prayer, or say a daily Rosary.  Allow Him to guide you even when our world makes it seem that having God in your life is wrong.  Will it be difficult, probably, but like anything else the more you do it the better you get.  And when you get good at it, it is then that you know that God is taking control and guiding the relationship.

 

Me, A Fisherman?

This weekend’s Gospel has my favorite passage and is the scariest Gospel for me.  Imagine that, two extremes in one Gospel.  If you recall, Jesus is walking along the shores of Galilee and he sees two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew.  Jesus said to them, “Come after Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  I love this gospel passage.   As stated, it is my favorite passage.  I cannot imagine how these brothers felt, leaving their father, their livelihood, and their families behind, to follow Jesus, and share the Good News to complete strangers. 

I love this passage because it challenges me to go WAY outside my comfort zone.  While I like the idea of becoming a “fisher of men,” and leading and teaching people the Truth, the Light, and the Way, something about this screams EVANGELIZATION, which is definitely not something that I am often comfortable with. 

In today’s world, being a Christian can be hard.  It is so much easier for me to sit back and know that I have Jesus in my heart and keep it to myself.  I say this because I do not want to get into a confrontation.  I often say something along the line of “so long as they believe, it is okay with me.”  Instead of standing up and evangelizing about my beliefs, the way of Christ.  Maybe it is because, in today’s society, different beliefs can become polarizing very quickly.

So, how do I overcome my fear of Evangelizing to others?  Until I really thought about it, I evangelize more than I really knew.  I am lucky to have the medium of this weekly note to share with all of you my thoughts and beliefs.  I usually copy this into my blog, which has a small but faithful following.  Every time I meet a potential new family, I am lucky enough to share all the wonderful things our school does from academics to faith.  I get to be an example to my wife and children, in words, deeds, and actions, as we share our faith journey.  So when I truly think about it, I evangelize more than I thought, but I still have work to do.

How do you “make fishers of men?”  How do you share your faith with others?  Do you stand firm when faith conversations come up?  Do you share your stories about our school with other families or invite them to be part of our faith community?  While I am still afraid to stand on the street corner and shout at the top of my lungs, the Good News, my actions/reactions to the concerns of the world might just be an example for others.  I challenge you to assess the way you are already “fishers of men,” and look for ways to go outside your comfort zone and share the Good News with those in your life.

 

 

REJOICE, REJOICE!!!

The following is my submission to the St. Pius X Catholic School weekly note dated 12/12/16.

 

 

Every Christmas Season you are bound to hear the song, “O Come O Come Emanuel.”  Most churches play this song as the priests are processing into Mass.  Whenever I hear this song, it helps remind me of the two parts of Advent, the Anticipation of Christ’s Birth and Rejoicing.

For the last two weeks, we have heard about using this Advent season to prepare for the coming of Christ.  Let’s pray more, and prepare our hearts through the sacrament of Reconciliation.  We have been told to take things easy, don’t get caught up in the drama of the secular meaning of Christmas, but take time to prepare.  Well, now it is time….

Yesterday was Gaudete Sunday.  Gaudete means rejoice.  It is time to rejoice for the time is near.  We have shifted from somber readings to those of rejoicing.  Purple Vestments change to Pink, we lit the Pink candle this week.  The time is near, our Savior is close, it is time to rejoice.  Our preparations are complete, and now we get to rejoice in the Lord and for all the good things He has given us. 

Gaudete Sunday calls us to live as joyful Christians in all circumstances.  We have all spent the last two weeks preparing for Christ return, begging for his arrival, “O Come O Come Emanuel.”  Now, after all the hard work and preparation, it is time to REJOICE, REJOICE!!! 

I Hate Climbing Trees

Last week we heard the Gospel story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector.  If there is anything we all can agree on, the tax collectors of their time and the tax collectors of today are not liked by many people.  Zacchaeus was no different.  Back in his time, tax collectors got paid by collecting more taxes than what they had to give to the king.  Some people paid more than others, depending on how easily they were convinced of what they owed.  Not a very fair system back then, and all the more reason to be disliked.

Zacchaeus was a small man.  When in large crowds, he would not stick out in any way or be seen by others.  So he hears Jesus is coming and in his desperation to see Him, Zacchaeus climbs a sycamore tree.  That is not so easy to do, for it does not have any low hanging branches to get started.  So I imagine the word climb could be changed to shimmy.  It does not matter how he climbed the tree, it does matter that Jesus noticed him and they went off together, to the ire of the crowd, many asking, “How could He eat with a sinner?”

I find this story intriguing.  I can see myself in the role as a sinner, like Zacchaeus, as well as a member of the angered crowd.  I find myself in hypocritical situations and judging as the crowd did.  I am sure everyone in the crowd was a sinner, but they had no problem judging Zacchaeus.  I often find myself saying that my sins aren’t as bad as…(fill in the sin). 

This story had a really good ending though.  Zacchaeus realized that he was a sinner and offered to give back anything he took, unlawfully, and agreed to pay back those he cheated, in full, times four.  Now, being the wealthy man he was, Zacchaeus probably had no problem making that statement.  I, and many of us, do not have that luxury. 

Many might disagree with this next statement, but Zacchaeus is really a role model for us all.  While he was a tax collector and gained his wealth by cheating others, he realized his sin and sought out Jesus and His forgiveness.  I do not plan to climb a tree and wait for Jesus to pass by and invite Him to my home, for I would be there for a really long time.  However, we have a great opportunity, to seek forgiveness through the upcoming Penance services. 

Afraid of seeking Reconciliation?  Consider Zacchaeus was probably the “biggest” sinner of his time.  He lied, cheated, and stole to gain wealth and all that comes with it, and Jesus forgave him.  I have often felt unworthy of forgiveness, but as Pope Francis tweeted not too long ago, “God never tires of offering His forgiveness each time we ask for it.”  So, it is important that I seek forgiveness for my sins, and the more I ask forgiveness, the more forgiveness God will give me. 

With Advent right around the corner, there are three great opportunities to seek God’s forgiveness through Reconciliation.  Our North Deanery Penance services have been set.  I ask that you overcome your fears and busyness and mark your calendar for one of these dates.  Look on the bright side, at least you do not have to climb a tree.