Category Archives: Spiritual Living

The peace and presence of God

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O'CollinsExperiencing Jesus by Gerald O’Collins, SJ; Chapter 6 – “In your will is our peace”

As we continue our prayers and reflections through Lent, listening to the Scripture readings of Lent and selected works of our own choosing, we become aware of the very human struggle between the desires of this world and the desire to incline our hearts toward God. O’Collins’ sixth chapter reflects on this struggle, describing our personal choice of freedom: “We were born to be free. We were baptized into freedom. Yet freedom is never an assured possession. We still experience so much slavery in our lives. Sin, evil, and many false standards can enslave us. We put ourselves back into bondage and return to the house of slavery.” (p. 67) We return to slavery because the temptations that surround the “house of slavery” seem so appealing, much as the regular rations given to the slaves of Egypt seemed better than the manna of the wilderness to the Ancient Israelites – “If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into the wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” (Exodus 16:3) These temptations are part of our misunderstanding that the food of this world leads to anxiety for the next thing, whether that next thing be more of the same or something bigger and better. The nourishment of God leads to peace and a faithful presence, and this is the lesson of O’Collins’ chapter “In your will is our peace.”

To turn toward the peace of God requires us to summon the courage to break with the traditions of the many voices of our culture. O’Collins mentions a few revolutionary moments in history and comments that we too must usher in our own revolution if we are to break free. “Jesus looks for that kind of revolution; he invites us to live the truth that it is God who stands at the center and not ourselves…God’s rule over our lives is never at our expense but only for our real happiness. God wants us to enjoy full and lasting peace as our whole being unfolds in its deliverance from sin and evil.” (p. 69) A very good friend of mine gave me the gift of a small plaque with the following words: “PEACE: it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart (author unknown).” This is the peace and presence of God – not to be apart from the world, but to be in the world and to know God’s presence in one’s life. This is true freedom and a peaceful presence that creates the revolution of Christ’s work and witness in the world.

Go into all the world and proclaim God’s love

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O'CollinsExperiencing Jesus by Gerald O’Collins, SJ; Chapter 5 – “Loving, praying, and forgiving”

We are approximately halfway through our journey of this holy season of Lent. This season calls us to prayer and reflection, a time for us to hear God among us and discover where it is that God is calling us. In the midst of this quiet time of prayer and reflection Gerald O’Collins provides us a chapter that is focused on “action.” I am a fan of all types of communications and social media is only one of the forms that invite us to speak and listen with others, but social media is one way that we have an opportunity to communicate with those who are beyond arm’s length. I was very happy to see that a favorite musician of mine, Harry Connick, Jr., has joined the bite-sized verse world of Twitter. I bring this up because Harry “tweeted” a short thought the other day that stands closely with O’Collins chapter of active discipleship: “March 4th…the only day of the year that means ‘go forward’…so let’s do it.” (You can follow Harry also: @HarryConnickJR).

O’Collins provides a thoughtful overview of God’s abundant love and forgiveness and how prayer pulls everything together. All three of these elements of our relationship with God and others is important, but I would like to reflect especially on the thought of “active” love. The chapter begins, “Many Christians and others have found it attractive to take approval as the primary aspect of love. To love people is, in a most radical way, to approve of, joyfully wonder at, and assent to their existence. The lover rejoices over the object of his or her love and in effect says: ‘It is beautiful that you exist, that you are there in the world’…Unquestionably one can appeal to the Bible in support of this kind of love…Nevertheless, the New Testament relentlessly preaches love as active rather than simply approving. To love is to be engaged selflessly for the good of others and work for their welfare and real happiness.” (pp. 54-55) O’Collins points to the heart of Christian discipleship, the deep well of love that fuels the passion for and the commitment to service in the world…not for the good of the one performing the service, but for the good of God’s created world. The Christian disciple, the one that is connected to the vine, finds love from the fruit of the vine, the real fruit that gives love and life. A life lived in this manner is not always easy, which is why O’Collins rightfully places this conversation within a chapter describing the three elements of discipleship: love, prayer and forgiveness. Finally, O’Collins quotes an insightful statement from G.K. Chesterton: “Christianity hasn’t been tried and found wanting. It has been found hard and not tried.” (p. 59) During this season of Lent, in prayer and reflection, we ask God for the grace to commit ourselves and persevere in the midst of all the joys and challenges that we will face in our daily lives…and then, move forward in love because yesterday was March 4th!

Discovering ourselves as we discover Christ

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O'CollinsExperiencing Jesus by Gerald O’Collins, SJ; Chapter 4 – “You leave Jesus out of this!”

The holy season of Lent is a time of prayer and reflection; a time of thoughtful preparation for the events of Holy Week, the events of the Passion of Jesus Christ. If we are to enter in to the mystery and grace of Easter morning, the time of preparation during Lent is a time for us to meet Jesus in an intimate and deeply personal way. However, in the rush of daily life, we can be tempted to simply move through the busyness and leave the prayerful reflections of Jesus behind…this is what Gerald O’Collins is pointing toward in his chapter titled, “You leave Jesus out of this!” Leaving Jesus out of our lives, in some ways, simplifies things…we don’t need to hear the challenging lessons of the Gospel and we don’t need to face the brokenness of our lives, but in this “simplified” approach we are impoverished from the grace and love of Christ, a healing balm much needed in this world of ours. Welcoming Jesus in to our lives is something that may feel overwhelming and complicated at times; admittedly, the images, descriptions, and teachings of Jesus cannot be represented in some simple linear fashion. But we should not expect one image, one lesson, or one thought from the self-revelation of God through his Incarnate Word – there is much to say, much to learn, much to discover as we welcome God in to our lives.

O’Collins includes a wonderful story that highlights his thought that our discovery of God leads to some insightful discoveries of self:

“Some years ago a deacon, who belongs to an Eastern rather than to the Western, Latin rite, was taking a course with me on Christ’s being and doing. Instead of writing a paper, he chose to paint an icon and present it to the class. When he unveiled the icon, stood alongside it and began to speak, my eyes flicked from him to the face of Christ he had depicted. ‘That’s also Joe’s face shining forth from the icon,’ I thought. The face of the artist blended intricately with that of Christ. Far from being surprised at this story, we should expect our efforts to parallel what deacon Joseph did. Searching for Jesus means searching for ourselves. Truly finding him, or rather being found by him, means finding our true selves. Strangers to him, we remain strangers to ourselves.” (p.47)

Considering your blessings – some silent homework with God

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“For God alone my soul in silence waits; from him comes my salvation.” Psalm 62:1

snow webThe Christmas holidays had just ended, the New Year was past, and we all survived the end of the last Mayan epoch to live another day. As I made my way to my Spiritual Director’s office in late January and considered what we might discuss to guide and nurture my spiritual well-being, I became very aware of just how disconnected I felt with the deeply internal presence of God that dwells within all of us. The outcome of my spiritual direction meeting revealed my intuitions were true, and my Spiritual Director gave me some “homework:” spend some quiet time in the presence of God; some quiet prayerful time that allows your spirit to connect with the deepest feelings of your heart, the very presence of the Holy. I have been practicing silent meditation and prayer for years, in fact, during March I am scheduled to participate in a silent retreat at a monastery in New York. But some of the best lessons we learn are simply the rediscovery of what we thought we already knew…and continuously try to practice. Excuses always seem to be endless, but I felt the busyness of the Advent and Christmas holidays and the subsequent celebration of the New Year pulled me away from my silent practice of prayer. Much as the practice of following a good diet or regular exercise can slip away, the practice of quiet and intentional prayer can slowly take a back seat to other seemingly more important matters.

Yesterday was my first day of volunteering as a tutor at a local school. I was assigned to help a wonderful young man with his math homework. This eager young man appeared to know his math quite well, but he was in a rush to finish his work. I found my challenge was more focused on getting him to slow down and thoughtfully apply his knowledge rather than concentrate on helping him learn new concepts. I saw a lot of myself in his eager desire to accomplish what was set before him. My hour with him was wonderful: I hope I was helpful to him, and I know that my experience was uplifting and nourishing to my personal “homework” of spiritual presence. As these winter days slowly make their way toward spring, the vision of the careful work of a spider working out her web continues to come to my mind. The web, while delicate and intricate in its composition, is strong enough to hold its own against the buffeting forces of nature. The delicate and silent work of prayer nourishes our souls as we face the buffeting challenges of this world. As we move through these days of March toward the glorious day of Easter, I pray that we can do more than simply “count our blessings.” I hope we can make the time to quietly sit in the presence of God and intentionally “consider our blessings” and discover that our souls are truly nourished by the deep and abiding presence of the Holy.

“Jesus has come – will you welcome him?”

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O'CollinsExperiencing Jesus by Gerald O’Collins, SJ; Chapter 3 – “Encountering Jesus”

O’Collins begins his third chapter, “Encountering Jesus,” with two vivid images taken from classic novels. The first image, taken from Boris Pasternak’s Doctor Zhivago, is of the depressed and dejected young Lara sitting in a church considering the complete emptiness of her life. The second image, taken from Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited, is of the powerful completion of Charles Ryder’s gradual conversion. Both images invite us to use our imaginations in our search for the presence of God in our world. Both images also share a journey of sorrow or questioning that is broken through by the gentle hand of God, reaching out in ways that are most needed at the time, most needed by the person searching for answers. O’Collins use of these images helps us to consider how it is that Jesus is present to us in our daily lives, and especially present to us during our Lenten journey.

O’Collins presents a scriptural example of the presence of Jesus in the life of Levi (Matthew) the tax collector. Despised in their time, tax collectors were agents of the Roman state that prospered through their exploitation of others and their abuse of the powerless. Yet, it is to one of these despised tax collectors that Jesus comes and calls to a new life of discipleship…and Levi responds to Jesus’ call. Simply said: Jesus has come, Levi has a new life in Christ. O’Collins presents a threefold theme of conversion by representing Jesus’ call in this way: “I have come to call Levi; I have come to share the divine presence; I have come to invite you all to a profound conversion of life.” (p. 35) Jesus has come, and as we open ourselves to the love of Christ in this holy season of Lent may we each be aware of the powerful images of God breaking into our daily lives.

“Spending some personal time with Christ”

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O'CollinsExperiencing Jesus by Gerald O’Collins, SJ; Chapter 2 – “Jesus the Meaning”

As we continue our journey through Lent, the second chapter of O’Collins’ book challenges us to consider our personal relationship with Jesus. O’Collins begins the chapter with a brief story of Augustine, a fourth century Christian of great renown, and his ill-conceived plan to wait for his teacher, Faustus, in order to learn all the secrets of life. Augustine was convinced that Faustus’ arrival would make all things known and his life’s plan would unfold clearly from the knowledge obtained from his insightful teacher. Faustus did arrive and impart his knowledge to Augustine, but everything in Augustine’s life was not neatly explained as he had thought. Life is a journey of unfolding truths, gained through experiences revealed to those with open minds and open hearts. The people of Nazareth struggled with this truth, as they rejected Jesus’ ministry among them as simply the works of the familiar carpenter. Although their actions may surprise us, we too can be guilty of trying to domesticate Jesus or suffer from over-familiarity with the powerful news of the Gospel…happily nodding to ourselves, “yes, I know that story and its lesson quite well.”

Lent is a season that particularly calls us to prayer and action in specific and personal ways. The lenten road is a journey that must be made with great intimacy and with personal intentions toward Jesus and all that Jesus invites us to be. O’Collins captures the intimacy and intentionality of Lent with the following words: “What ultimately matters is the ‘felt’ knowledge of our own experience…It is the same with our experience of Jesus. We experience him for ourselves or not at all. We pray to him ourselves or not at all. No one else, not even the dearest or closest person in our life, can take our place here. We do our praying to and our experiencing of Jesus personally…When Jesus knocks on our door, it is we who must open it to him. Here we cannot say to another person: ‘Please get up and see who is at the door of my heart.'” (p. 26) O’Collins’ insight is true for Lent and it is true for the days beyond Lent, when we continue to experience our ongoing and unfolding relationship with Jesus and with others. Throughout this holy season of Lent, let us renew and refresh our desire to seek Jesus in the grace given to us each day. The personal experiences that shape our lives and draw us into deeper relationships are forged through our desire and our commitment to our common life together.

“Beyond Ash Wednesday”

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O'CollinsExperiencing Jesus by Gerald O’Collins, SJ; Chapter 1 – “What’s it all about?”

Ash Wednesday marks the start of the holy season of Lent; a journey of 40 days (not counting Sundays) that ends with the glorious, powerful and life-saving resurrection of Christ. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, it’s still just the morning after Ash Wednesday and the brilliance of Easter Morning seems very far away. Gerald O’Collins begins his Lenten reflection book with a chapter titled “What’s it all about?” The “it” O’Collins refers to is the subject, and the exploration, of the chapter rather than a mysterious and confusing pronoun (I always tell my kids, “use a proper noun before using a pronoun!”); and the “it” is not simply Ash Wednesday, but all that Ash Wednesday hopes to point toward as we begin our journey of Lent. And the journey begins with a funny smear of ashes on your forehead, should you so choose. O’Collins’ first chapter makes a clear point, however; should you not choose to have the ashes smeared across your forehead, the meaning remains and envelops your journey as well. What is that meaning?

The complicated answer is that there are so many meanings it would take a lifetime to approach the truth of it, but that seems like a cop-out. So, let’s take up the matter of the ashes again and focus our attention there. O’Collins makes a blunt point of it: “Ash on our foreheads shows what we are: people of dust and destined to die.” (p. 12) He continues to make several points of mortal life, points we know all too well – life if fragile, life is transient, life happens in the midst of the mighty cosmos, but life is sacred and God given; and this last bit about life trumps all the others. We head into Lent knowing that life is not always a box of chocolates (yes, Forest Gump’s mother said that) but we have been given our lives through the grace and love of God, which means that our life, our fragile mortal life, has a depth that transcends the fragility that appears on the surface of it. Lent’s journey is about exploring the depth of life so that we might appreciate, maybe even understand a bit of the abundant love that we have been given from the One who gives everything through love.

“‘Let anyone with ears listen;’ proclaiming the truth – Eyal Press’ Beautiful Souls”

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BeautifulSoulsBeautiful Souls by Eyal Press, Chapter 4: The Price of Raising One’s Voice

Chapter 4 of Eyal Press’ Beautiful Souls turns our attention to the courageous proclamation of the truth; the dissenting voices of truth that break through the silence of the group. Press’ main character in this final chapter is Leyla Wydler, a tough and determined woman who has enjoyed a successful career as a financial adviser until she runs up against the challenges of the Stanford Group Company in Houston, TX. The chapter begins with an anonymous letter sent to various government financial authorities as well as a few media organizations, all in an effort to attract attention to suspected illegal activities at a well respected global financial firm. We quickly learn the suspicious mind behind the letter is Wydler and we also learn of the great courage and tenacity it took her to come to this point in her life…and the consequences her courage would bring upon her and her family. Proclaiming the truth in the midst of a group (or an entire society) that sees no wrong, perceives no harm, or believes no lies have been told is a difficult and often disorienting adventure. Press takes his readers on this adventure and allows us to see through the eyes of those who have proclaimed the truth and challenges us to hear and act. Continue reading →

“Personal conscience and moral imagination – Eyal Press’ Beautiful Souls”

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BeautifulSoulsBeautiful Souls by Eyal Press, Chapter 3: The Rules of Conscience

Press opens his third chapter with the story of Henry David Thoreau and Thoreau’s famous support for claims of personal conscienceness and actions of civil disobedience. Press quotes Thoreau: “I am not responsible for the successful working of the machinery of society. The only obligation which I have a right to assume, is to do at any time what I think right.” Press insightfully evaluates Thoreau’s starkly individualistic claim, “[Thoreau’s claim] is a bracingly uncomprimising worldview. But if this is all that saying no entails, what beyond salving one’s own conscience comes of it? If one person’s subjective values can be invoked to break the law and resist government, why can’t another, radically different set of personal convictions?” (p. 87) Press continues to pose questions, but his point has already been made – who gets to decide “right” and “wrong.” Differing sides could take up the argument for a long time and ideological trench warfare ensues…if you are sceptical, look at Washington, D.C. and the lack of progress that has come out of the recent political quagmire there. Press introduces us to his main character of chapter 3, Avner Wishnitzer, and takes us on a journey describing Avner’s experience in the Israeli Army, a journey that helps to answer the question of personal conscience. Continue reading →

“Courageously pursuing the Truth – Eyal Press’ Beautiful Souls”

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BeautifulSoulsBeautiful Souls by Eyal Press, Chapter 2: Defying the Group

While continuing to focus on the courageous acts of individuals, Eyal Press takes up the question of group dynamics in his second chapter, “Defying the Group.” The setting of the main story of interest is the Balkans in the early 1990’s and the tensions and eventual bloodshed between Serbs and Croats of the former Yugoslavia. Press’ main character, Aco Jevtic, is a Serb caught in the midst of the terrible battle that waged over the city of Vukovar. We learn of Jevtic’s struggles in Vukovar only later, but first Press wants us to center our attention on Jevtic’s courageous and, for many puzzling, act to save Croats from torture and possible death. Jevtic finds himself among a large group of men captured by Serbian forces; and eventually a Serbian officer who recognizes Jevtic asks him to identify fellow Serbs among the prisoners so they may be removed. Jevtic complies with the officer’s request but does not stop pointing out men after all the Serbs have been identified, instead pointing toward men he knows are Croats but giving them false names in order to save them. Jevtic’s courageous actions save countless Croats, while at the same time placing himself in great danger should his actions become discovered. Why would Jevtic boldly take this course of action during dangerous times of ethnic violence? Continue reading →