I saw this movie at work a couple weeks ago. I know, my job is chill. But moving on.
I remember that as I was watching it, I thought to myself, "Self," (because that is how I refer myself in my head) "you should blog about this." I don't think I ever did. I read through some previous posts and didn't see anything about it, but I totally thought I'd gotten off my lazy bum (or just relocated it to the computer chair) and blogged what I saw in this movie. I guess not.
I hadn't heard much about it before I saw it. Nothing good or bad. It was one of those days right before spring break when classes were winding down and the teacher threw in a feel good movie to pass the time. The princess was pretty, the music was whimsical and catchy, and the story was cute. In a lot of ways it was a typical disney movie.
But there were a few scenes that apparently parents felt were potentially too scary for some kids. They were right -I think they should even be too scary for an adult. Before you ask, this isn't a movie review of the Princess and the Frog. I thought that a good point was made when the "princess" found out that the prince had used voodoo, and she thought he was a fool. It was a good point that she rejected the glamour of evil at the end (uh...spoiler alert?) and smashed the talisman. She wasn't going to give in to the promises of the witch doctor, or make a deal with the devil.
I highly doubt Disney set out to create a movie about the danger of voodoo and spiritual warfare. To them this is all fantasy. It's a made up story that just happens to actually walk the line of some kind of theological idea. They don't outright recognize it, but any Catholic with some most remote understanding of Satan could probably draw their own conclusion here.
There it is in the mainstream entertainment industry, folks: Satan is real. Evil exists. And maybe a lot of voodoo practicers aren't happy with Disney's portrayal of life on the bayou and dealings with witch doctors, but we as Christians need to realize the danger in consulting mediums and objects of superstition. Disney animated an extreme idea, and threw in snazzy colors and jazzy tunes. Getting involved with voodoo, seances, satanism, whatever it is, probably won't (usually?) lead to a musical number with the room filling with neon demons, at least not in a way we can perceive. But actually, Disney wasn't SUPER far off in showing the affects of getting involved with evil -looking to anyone but God for help in this life.
Evil works the same way in our lives. The ways Satan "helps" us (whether you even recognize his influence and involvement or not) is similar to what happens in the movie. The promises are false. They aren't lasting the way God's are. They leave us dependent on evil. Dealing with Satan. We become pawns in his game.
So watch the movie. Think about it. Maybe you'll see what I mean. I had more clearer thoughts, but these allergies are kinda clouding up my head.
One last piece of advice to everyone. Pray the rosary. Mary is the one human that has every existed who wasn't fully divine (referring to Jesus there) who Satan is afraid of. She is the co-redemtrix -she played an irreplaceable role in salvation, her fiat was the answer God needed to execute His plan to save us. With her son, she crushed the head of Satan. A meek humble virgin defeated the Devil, and she will protect you from him.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Highway to the Danger Zone
Kenny Loggins said it best...
Actually, I'm sure he didn't. Sorry, Kenny. It was just the first thing that popped into my head when I thought "danger!" So let's move on.
It's been on my mind so much recently, and I've been meaning to write about it somewhere. Maybe I already have, I don't really remember. But here goes.
I think Satan's greatest weapon in his arsenal is the trick he plays to make us believe that things that are dangerous for our spirituality are completely harmless.
Think about it -in a war, the enemy doesn't necessarily want to be standing in plain sight waiting for their target, they hide and make us think we're alone when we're actually surrounded. They plant mines in the middle of the desert, for unsuspecting soldiers to drive through. They may even hide bombs in the toys of children like the Soviets did in Afghanistan.
I remember speaking to a Confirmation class about spiritual warfare, and mentioning the dangers of the Ouiji board. A girl asked how a Ouiji board could pose any threat to us when Target sells them in the game section -and they are pink!
That's how we're most vulnerable. Leading exorcists will tell you that the greatest misconception in the Catholic Church today is that evil isn't real. That Satan is just a symbol. That the demons of scripture don't exist anymore, and couldn't possibly effect a Cristian in modern times.
In fact, many well meaning Christians look at a belief in demons as an archaic superstition -when in fact, not acknowledging the existence of true evil is not only theologically incorrect, but dangerous. It leaves us truly exposed, defenses down...and isn't that exactly where the adversary wants us?
I guess since my time at Franciscan University, joining my household and pledging to fight the good fight of faith, I have become a lot more aware of how unaware others are. They forget or choose not to believe that demons are fallen angel; they are like the angels that protect us and guide us, only inverted and perverse. They have the same hierarchy and power, they have more knowledge than we do, while our guardian angels intervene in our daily lives in a positive and holy way, we cannot be blissfully ignorant of the fact that demons too can affect us. And if we give them even an inch, they'll become a ruler... (bam! i saw than pun on a marquee once)
We can't just choose to ignore evil influences in our world. More so, we cannot let the lies of the world convince us that spiritual dangers are mere entertainment and games. That's the trap set for us. Satan hates those who love Christ, but he finds an easy target in those who don't know or recognize his power. Palm readers, wizards, Ouiji boards...it may sound strange to some readers when I refer to them as dangerous, but others know too well the threat they pose to our spiritual well being.
This is a topic I'll probably write about a lot. Just to let you know.
Ephesians 6:10-20
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Actually, I'm sure he didn't. Sorry, Kenny. It was just the first thing that popped into my head when I thought "danger!" So let's move on.
It's been on my mind so much recently, and I've been meaning to write about it somewhere. Maybe I already have, I don't really remember. But here goes.
I think Satan's greatest weapon in his arsenal is the trick he plays to make us believe that things that are dangerous for our spirituality are completely harmless.
Think about it -in a war, the enemy doesn't necessarily want to be standing in plain sight waiting for their target, they hide and make us think we're alone when we're actually surrounded. They plant mines in the middle of the desert, for unsuspecting soldiers to drive through. They may even hide bombs in the toys of children like the Soviets did in Afghanistan.
I remember speaking to a Confirmation class about spiritual warfare, and mentioning the dangers of the Ouiji board. A girl asked how a Ouiji board could pose any threat to us when Target sells them in the game section -and they are pink!
That's how we're most vulnerable. Leading exorcists will tell you that the greatest misconception in the Catholic Church today is that evil isn't real. That Satan is just a symbol. That the demons of scripture don't exist anymore, and couldn't possibly effect a Cristian in modern times.
In fact, many well meaning Christians look at a belief in demons as an archaic superstition -when in fact, not acknowledging the existence of true evil is not only theologically incorrect, but dangerous. It leaves us truly exposed, defenses down...and isn't that exactly where the adversary wants us?
I guess since my time at Franciscan University, joining my household and pledging to fight the good fight of faith, I have become a lot more aware of how unaware others are. They forget or choose not to believe that demons are fallen angel; they are like the angels that protect us and guide us, only inverted and perverse. They have the same hierarchy and power, they have more knowledge than we do, while our guardian angels intervene in our daily lives in a positive and holy way, we cannot be blissfully ignorant of the fact that demons too can affect us. And if we give them even an inch, they'll become a ruler... (bam! i saw than pun on a marquee once)
We can't just choose to ignore evil influences in our world. More so, we cannot let the lies of the world convince us that spiritual dangers are mere entertainment and games. That's the trap set for us. Satan hates those who love Christ, but he finds an easy target in those who don't know or recognize his power. Palm readers, wizards, Ouiji boards...it may sound strange to some readers when I refer to them as dangerous, but others know too well the threat they pose to our spiritual well being.
This is a topic I'll probably write about a lot. Just to let you know.
Ephesians 6:10-20
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
What's That Scripture Saying?
Romans 8:28
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him..."
Yeah. He does.
I pouted for a while about things not going my way in life. I should have known better.
A friend recently asked me to pray for her, via text message. I responded that I would, and than quickly realized how lame I had been. I then thanked her for the reminder she was to me. She needed prayers because for the first time in a while she was totally putting her trust in God. What had I been doing this whole time??? Well, not totally trusting Him, that's for sure. Thank you April, for that humbling reminder.
I probably couldn't have planned my life any better than it is beginning to tun out. But I guess God knew that, didn't He? It doesn't matter what our plans and disappointments, or how much things change around us. Sometimes our expectations don't seem like they could possibly be met, and in the end they are truly exceeded. It's just so funny to me how God does work. And yet I wonder, why is it that I am always surprised? I should know better by now.
I guess the apostle Paul was right...
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him..."
Yeah. He does.
I pouted for a while about things not going my way in life. I should have known better.
A friend recently asked me to pray for her, via text message. I responded that I would, and than quickly realized how lame I had been. I then thanked her for the reminder she was to me. She needed prayers because for the first time in a while she was totally putting her trust in God. What had I been doing this whole time??? Well, not totally trusting Him, that's for sure. Thank you April, for that humbling reminder.
I probably couldn't have planned my life any better than it is beginning to tun out. But I guess God knew that, didn't He? It doesn't matter what our plans and disappointments, or how much things change around us. Sometimes our expectations don't seem like they could possibly be met, and in the end they are truly exceeded. It's just so funny to me how God does work. And yet I wonder, why is it that I am always surprised? I should know better by now.
I guess the apostle Paul was right...
Monday, March 22, 2010
GAH!
It's been a while since my last post.
I didn't really have anything to blog about, or so I thought. Then i figured I should throw something up here -and the first thing that came to mind was the frustration of the last two weeks.
The only way I could possibly describe it was just, GAH!! Everything seemed to be falling apart around me. I had escaped to that pitiful place in my mind where I am the victim of such injustices -did anyone ever watch that Nickelodeon show "Doug?" He had a sister named Judy, and in one episode I remember her reciting poetry or something and the line she repeated was, "Oh cruel, cruel world, with such people in it!!!" That has been me. For the past twelve days. Pretty obnoxious.
Life is full of little (and BIG) frustrations. Road blocks and challenges. I don't know if or when anything really changed between that perspective and a new one. It all seemed to come tumbling down around me of late.
Once I centered myself -which took days, it seems- things all came together. I was done with the pity party, feelings of worthlessness and unimportance, and frustrations.
Those mentalities are just lies. Straight from the mouth of the king of lies. Our Lord is so much bigger than our adversary. And we can't ever forget it.
But there is a line from a Mike Doughty song. "Let me know your enormity and my tininess. Help me see your infinity and my finiteness." God is infinite. He is bigger than anything. And he sees me through these challenges. And He sends me angels -my guardian angel, the amazing women in my life that are truly angels to me...He gives us the body of Christ.
It doesn't make it easy. Actually, sometimes things do genuinely suck. And they are hard. And we get lost in it. But we are totally equipped to get through, and when we keep the faith, and we hold onto hope, we make it. Against all odds, we survive.
No matter what challenges may come, no matter how out of control the world around us is...we are given all the tools we need to persevere. Just look to the cross.
I didn't really have anything to blog about, or so I thought. Then i figured I should throw something up here -and the first thing that came to mind was the frustration of the last two weeks.
The only way I could possibly describe it was just, GAH!! Everything seemed to be falling apart around me. I had escaped to that pitiful place in my mind where I am the victim of such injustices -did anyone ever watch that Nickelodeon show "Doug?" He had a sister named Judy, and in one episode I remember her reciting poetry or something and the line she repeated was, "Oh cruel, cruel world, with such people in it!!!" That has been me. For the past twelve days. Pretty obnoxious.
Life is full of little (and BIG) frustrations. Road blocks and challenges. I don't know if or when anything really changed between that perspective and a new one. It all seemed to come tumbling down around me of late.
Once I centered myself -which took days, it seems- things all came together. I was done with the pity party, feelings of worthlessness and unimportance, and frustrations.
Those mentalities are just lies. Straight from the mouth of the king of lies. Our Lord is so much bigger than our adversary. And we can't ever forget it.
But there is a line from a Mike Doughty song. "Let me know your enormity and my tininess. Help me see your infinity and my finiteness." God is infinite. He is bigger than anything. And he sees me through these challenges. And He sends me angels -my guardian angel, the amazing women in my life that are truly angels to me...He gives us the body of Christ.
It doesn't make it easy. Actually, sometimes things do genuinely suck. And they are hard. And we get lost in it. But we are totally equipped to get through, and when we keep the faith, and we hold onto hope, we make it. Against all odds, we survive.
No matter what challenges may come, no matter how out of control the world around us is...we are given all the tools we need to persevere. Just look to the cross.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Tweet tweet!
I've had some grimmer thoughts lately. Lent is an amazing time for penance, a time for repairing and strengthening our relationship with Christ. Maybe it's the act of reconciliation that's got me on this line of thought. Especially during this liturgical season, we recognize our sinfulness. We try to make reparation to the beautiful heart of Our Lady that is pierced by the sins we commit against her Son. Our God longs for us to make our way back to Him -our Shepard waits, with his arms open wide.
It's somehow lead me to the topic of abortion. God knows us intimately in the womb, he formed us all individually in His image and with all the love he has within Him. Let's refer to Psalm 139:
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
After spending some time really reflecting on the tragedy of abortion, I feel like it must just break Our Lady's heart -the mother of all people- to see the slaughter of her little ones. Our God must constantly ache over the disregard we have for the gift of life, and our failure to protect the most defenseless and innocent among us.
I don't have much more to say about abortion in general in this post, but today i was reminded of AN interview by Bryan Kemper of the pro-life ministry Stan True. It was with Angie the Anti-theist. If you don't know about her, She tweeted her abortion.
You can read the interview here:
http://bryankemper.com/2010/02/24/my-interview-with-angie-the-girl-who-live-tweeted-her-abortion
For whatever reason that interview came to mind while looking at Little-Disciples.com (super cute christian baby clothes). To look at these adorable onesies, the cute and punny sayings, and think about what a blessing babies are. But to remember that so many of those bundles of joy don't even survive to the world God made them for.
So Angie states that her goal in doing this was to"demystify" abortion or "reduce stigma." To explain what's going on, I guess. Maybe to make it less taboo? But so taking her train of thought, a light went on in my head.
This was just an idea, here -what if one of us Catholics "live tweeted" our confession?
I mean, I'm not volunteering to do it. I don't know if that takes away from the nature of the sacrament in anyway. I'm pretty sure the priest wouldn't care for you typing away on your iphone as you give your act of contrition, but it was just food for thought. I just thought it would be a pretty stark contrast -the "stigma" of an abortion vs the "stigma" and mystery (and grace!!!) and Sacrament of Reconciliation being brought live to the world to see.
**Just a note to readers, please don't tweet and receive sacraments. Probably a very bad idea.**
I guess that's one thing I personally have to pray more about. The end to abortion. And I would encourage you all to get involved too. Here's a list of some web sites to visit:
www.Rockforlife.org
www.Standtrue.org
www.AbortionNO.org
Financial contribute if you can, spiritually support the movement with prayer, or think about representing the cause with an awesome t-shirt (everyone loves awesome t-shirts right!?).
You can read a lot more from Bryan Kemper's awesome blog at www.Bryankemper.com.
Ok, hopefully we are all equipped to go out and fight the good fight! Remember what Mother Theresa said,"I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child, murder by the mother herself."
And for all you sister suffragettes, Susan B Anthony (one of the 1st feminists ladies!) once stated, ""Guilty? Yes. No matter what the motive, love of ease, or a desire to save from suffering the unborn innocent, the woman is awfully guilty who commits the deed. It will burden her conscience in life, it will burden her soul in death; But oh, thrice guilty is he who drove her to the desperation which impelled her to the crime!"
**** This blog does NOT recommend tweeting while receiving any of the sacraments.
It's somehow lead me to the topic of abortion. God knows us intimately in the womb, he formed us all individually in His image and with all the love he has within Him. Let's refer to Psalm 139:
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
After spending some time really reflecting on the tragedy of abortion, I feel like it must just break Our Lady's heart -the mother of all people- to see the slaughter of her little ones. Our God must constantly ache over the disregard we have for the gift of life, and our failure to protect the most defenseless and innocent among us.
I don't have much more to say about abortion in general in this post, but today i was reminded of AN interview by Bryan Kemper of the pro-life ministry Stan True. It was with Angie the Anti-theist. If you don't know about her, She tweeted her abortion.
You can read the interview here:
http://bryankemper.com/2010/02/24/my-interview-with-angie-the-girl-who-live-tweeted-her-abortion
For whatever reason that interview came to mind while looking at Little-Disciples.com (super cute christian baby clothes). To look at these adorable onesies, the cute and punny sayings, and think about what a blessing babies are. But to remember that so many of those bundles of joy don't even survive to the world God made them for.
So Angie states that her goal in doing this was to"demystify" abortion or "reduce stigma." To explain what's going on, I guess. Maybe to make it less taboo? But so taking her train of thought, a light went on in my head.
This was just an idea, here -what if one of us Catholics "live tweeted" our confession?
I mean, I'm not volunteering to do it. I don't know if that takes away from the nature of the sacrament in anyway. I'm pretty sure the priest wouldn't care for you typing away on your iphone as you give your act of contrition, but it was just food for thought. I just thought it would be a pretty stark contrast -the "stigma" of an abortion vs the "stigma" and mystery (and grace!!!) and Sacrament of Reconciliation being brought live to the world to see.
**Just a note to readers, please don't tweet and receive sacraments. Probably a very bad idea.**
I guess that's one thing I personally have to pray more about. The end to abortion. And I would encourage you all to get involved too. Here's a list of some web sites to visit:
www.Rockforlife.org
www.Standtrue.org
www.AbortionNO.org
Financial contribute if you can, spiritually support the movement with prayer, or think about representing the cause with an awesome t-shirt (everyone loves awesome t-shirts right!?).
You can read a lot more from Bryan Kemper's awesome blog at www.Bryankemper.com.
Ok, hopefully we are all equipped to go out and fight the good fight! Remember what Mother Theresa said,"I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child, murder by the mother herself."
And for all you sister suffragettes, Susan B Anthony (one of the 1st feminists ladies!) once stated, ""Guilty? Yes. No matter what the motive, love of ease, or a desire to save from suffering the unborn innocent, the woman is awfully guilty who commits the deed. It will burden her conscience in life, it will burden her soul in death; But oh, thrice guilty is he who drove her to the desperation which impelled her to the crime!"
**** This blog does NOT recommend tweeting while receiving any of the sacraments.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Sacrifice
So Lent is upon us.
No, it isn't a Catholic 40 day diet plan. It does, however, offer us a time to cleanse -not a physical detox, but spiritually (although, kudos to people who actually are detoxing physically for Lent. Jesus approves).
I've had some time to reflect on the idea of us as Church using these 40 days to fast and abstain, to sacrifice something for God. Our Lenten practices should be something that lead us to prayer and to Christ, something to prepare our souls for His death and Resurrection.
I think a lot of us struggle with that idea -that whatever we do, it should lead us to Christ. For years I gave up junk food because Lent was a convenient time to cut out the extra calories, and if it happened to lead me to prayer that would be great, but it seldom did.
In my experience I've learned that for myself, taking something on for Lent has been much more spiritually rewarding. Rather than using Lent for my selfish purposes, I find that taking on extra responsibilities helps me to make the effort to shed my sinful ways and seek Him more deeply.
Whichever way you roll this time of year, whether you abstain from something or take on new spiritual practices, the end result should always be the same. We work to bring ourselves to the same place on Good Friday -at the foot of the Cross, and on the same place Easter Sunday -rejoicing in the glory of the Risen Lord.
There is absolutely grace in fully immersing ourselves in whatever we have given to the Lord anytime of year, but Lent offers those of us who have not been as feverishly devout all year to come back in some way.
The main two thoughts that have been on my mind this first week of Lent are simple: Lent is an opportunity for those who have strayed to find their roots in the Church -and even if the simplest offering is made during this season, it is an opportunity for Christ to open the door to ones heart and deepen their faith a bit more. The second thought is that for all of us -Sunday catholics, daily massers, or CEA's (Christmas, Easter, Ash Wednesday Catholics) there is real and abundant grace in every sacrifice we make for the Lord -actual grace that stays with us and moves our hearts in the direction of Christ.
Some people bash the Catholics who abstain from meat on Fridays of Lent and give up candy bars for 40 days. For some of the Christians who daily receive Eucharist, they see this sacrifice as too little. For those who do not know Christ, they see these practices as meaningless and unimportant -just something we do for tradition's sake. But I maintain that however one chooses to make an offering to God -no matter how small, it is still beautiful in the eyes of our Lord.
More so, even IF it is a sacrifice that is made because out of tradition's sake, it is still an opportunity for one of the flock to find their way home. So what if they were binge drinking on Bourbon Street for Mardi Gras, and woke up Wednesday morning to the blurry realization that Lent had begun? Maybe it was a thought that was second nature and almost overlooked, and on the spur of the moment one thought, "I guess I'll give up cookies this year." Maybe they don't even know what Lent is really about, they just know that Catholics do it, and by golly, they are Catholic. So what? It doesn't matter how we come to Christ or how we choose to show Him our devotion, even in the littlest ways we can come to better know our Savior. When we least expect or realize it, Jesus takes hold of our hearts and brings us into deeper communion with Him. He reawakens that longing for Him. Lent is the perfect opportunity.
I am seeing more and more clearly that whatever we give to Christ brings grace and blessings into every aspect of our lives. As much as sacrificing can be inconvenient, when we put God first, all other things fall into place.
I have gradually noticed this effect in the past few years that I have really given myself over to the idea of a hearty Lenten practice. For example, this year I have taken on going to daily mass for Lent. I am a youth minister -I LIKE sleeping in. So to get up early for MASS of all things is about as big a sacrifice as I could have thought to make. I can get up to do the selfish things I need to do, but I have never really taken advantage of the gift of daily mass, and I thought this would be a great opportunity.
Getting up for mass has, in many secular ways, done me a lot of good. It gets me going for the day -it gets my running shoes on my feet ON TIME, it gets me to work early, it even gave me the chance to realize my tire pressure was low so that I could allow time to go to Tire Pros before work.
But spiritually, the grace and closeness to Christ I experience is worth so much more than the sacrifices I had to make to get to mass. More so, the conveniences of getting out of bed earlier than I would like to is NOTHING compared to the amazing feeling of partaking in Communion and hearing the word of God every morning before the day gets started. Eucharist strengthens us spiritually, and what better way to prepare for the day? I even think it makes me RUN better in the morning!
Long story short, Lent is awesome. It is an incredible gift from our Lord, and no matter what we do to during this liturgical season, the more important part of Lent is keeping an open heart, and our minds and spirits focused on that Cross.
No, it isn't a Catholic 40 day diet plan. It does, however, offer us a time to cleanse -not a physical detox, but spiritually (although, kudos to people who actually are detoxing physically for Lent. Jesus approves).
I've had some time to reflect on the idea of us as Church using these 40 days to fast and abstain, to sacrifice something for God. Our Lenten practices should be something that lead us to prayer and to Christ, something to prepare our souls for His death and Resurrection.
I think a lot of us struggle with that idea -that whatever we do, it should lead us to Christ. For years I gave up junk food because Lent was a convenient time to cut out the extra calories, and if it happened to lead me to prayer that would be great, but it seldom did.
In my experience I've learned that for myself, taking something on for Lent has been much more spiritually rewarding. Rather than using Lent for my selfish purposes, I find that taking on extra responsibilities helps me to make the effort to shed my sinful ways and seek Him more deeply.
Whichever way you roll this time of year, whether you abstain from something or take on new spiritual practices, the end result should always be the same. We work to bring ourselves to the same place on Good Friday -at the foot of the Cross, and on the same place Easter Sunday -rejoicing in the glory of the Risen Lord.
There is absolutely grace in fully immersing ourselves in whatever we have given to the Lord anytime of year, but Lent offers those of us who have not been as feverishly devout all year to come back in some way.
The main two thoughts that have been on my mind this first week of Lent are simple: Lent is an opportunity for those who have strayed to find their roots in the Church -and even if the simplest offering is made during this season, it is an opportunity for Christ to open the door to ones heart and deepen their faith a bit more. The second thought is that for all of us -Sunday catholics, daily massers, or CEA's (Christmas, Easter, Ash Wednesday Catholics) there is real and abundant grace in every sacrifice we make for the Lord -actual grace that stays with us and moves our hearts in the direction of Christ.
Some people bash the Catholics who abstain from meat on Fridays of Lent and give up candy bars for 40 days. For some of the Christians who daily receive Eucharist, they see this sacrifice as too little. For those who do not know Christ, they see these practices as meaningless and unimportant -just something we do for tradition's sake. But I maintain that however one chooses to make an offering to God -no matter how small, it is still beautiful in the eyes of our Lord.
More so, even IF it is a sacrifice that is made because out of tradition's sake, it is still an opportunity for one of the flock to find their way home. So what if they were binge drinking on Bourbon Street for Mardi Gras, and woke up Wednesday morning to the blurry realization that Lent had begun? Maybe it was a thought that was second nature and almost overlooked, and on the spur of the moment one thought, "I guess I'll give up cookies this year." Maybe they don't even know what Lent is really about, they just know that Catholics do it, and by golly, they are Catholic. So what? It doesn't matter how we come to Christ or how we choose to show Him our devotion, even in the littlest ways we can come to better know our Savior. When we least expect or realize it, Jesus takes hold of our hearts and brings us into deeper communion with Him. He reawakens that longing for Him. Lent is the perfect opportunity.
I am seeing more and more clearly that whatever we give to Christ brings grace and blessings into every aspect of our lives. As much as sacrificing can be inconvenient, when we put God first, all other things fall into place.
I have gradually noticed this effect in the past few years that I have really given myself over to the idea of a hearty Lenten practice. For example, this year I have taken on going to daily mass for Lent. I am a youth minister -I LIKE sleeping in. So to get up early for MASS of all things is about as big a sacrifice as I could have thought to make. I can get up to do the selfish things I need to do, but I have never really taken advantage of the gift of daily mass, and I thought this would be a great opportunity.
Getting up for mass has, in many secular ways, done me a lot of good. It gets me going for the day -it gets my running shoes on my feet ON TIME, it gets me to work early, it even gave me the chance to realize my tire pressure was low so that I could allow time to go to Tire Pros before work.
But spiritually, the grace and closeness to Christ I experience is worth so much more than the sacrifices I had to make to get to mass. More so, the conveniences of getting out of bed earlier than I would like to is NOTHING compared to the amazing feeling of partaking in Communion and hearing the word of God every morning before the day gets started. Eucharist strengthens us spiritually, and what better way to prepare for the day? I even think it makes me RUN better in the morning!
Long story short, Lent is awesome. It is an incredible gift from our Lord, and no matter what we do to during this liturgical season, the more important part of Lent is keeping an open heart, and our minds and spirits focused on that Cross.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Are you there God? It's me...
God speaks.
A lot of us, myself included, wish God would just come down on a big white cloud and say the things we want Him to say. To give us a yes or a no, to enlighten us on His plan for us, to explain what's going on in our lives and why the stuff is hitting the fan, or whether or not we're on the right path.
We all have those moments, right? The times when we look up to the heavens and yell, "Hellooooo? Is anybody up there? Is anybody listening?"
And usually no one responds. There's no booming voice from the sky like the prophets received. God doesn't always "give us a sign." There ARE times when He does, but sometimes you just have to wonder. How is God speaking to me? Or...is He?
As a youth minister I often feel like I am supposed to have the answers. There are times that I feel like out of all the people in this world, all us really "devout" or spiritual Catholics are supposed to recognize the most how God speaks and what he wants for us. We are supposed to "discern" His will. We're supposed to get it right, and somehow just know. But too often, I fail. I have no idea what God wants. I have a sort of spiritual verdigo -like I'm drowning and can't figure out the way up. All too often I just want clarity.
This weekend I had an amazing opportunity to really "discern" God's will for me. I was on retreat down in Orange county, and hoping that God would give me a big "yes!" or a booming "no, no, no, get the heck outta here!" to some of the directions I am trying to take my life in.
I wasn't doubting, I wasn't worried that I was making the wrong decision. But I did want a little assurance. A sign, if you will, that this was the right thing. And in His quite whisper, in the subtle move of His spirit, in His gentle presence residing in my own heart, I received my resounding ...ask again later...from Him. It takes more than a weekend away to get there.
Listening to God and discerning His will is about more than retreats. It's an ongoing process -something that requires patience and openness. God works on His own time. And He never forces Himself on us.
If our hearts are open to what God has in store for us, we will know how to follow Him. God's grace will never lead us astray, and even when we fail to follow the path as closely as God would like, He continually opens new paths for us to continue moving closer to Him.
The key to hearing God is prayer. Prayer is talking to God, and it isn't a one way street. I was once told that we as His people talk to God, and if He talks back that makes us crazy. But we are told to pray without ceasing, and it can be exhausting and frustrating to feel like our prayers aren't going anywhere. Being open to God's will means opening that line of communication -that prayer street- and letting the road blocks that stop God's response fall away.
God doesn't always speak the way we want Him to, but as Christians we have faith that God never abandons Us. He speaks -just not always in the most traditional of ways. Sometimes we do get HUGE signs from above, but that isn't what we can count on. Our faith allows us to rest in God's presence, and trust that He will reveal His will to us in the way that we are mean to know it.
A lot of us, myself included, wish God would just come down on a big white cloud and say the things we want Him to say. To give us a yes or a no, to enlighten us on His plan for us, to explain what's going on in our lives and why the stuff is hitting the fan, or whether or not we're on the right path.
We all have those moments, right? The times when we look up to the heavens and yell, "Hellooooo? Is anybody up there? Is anybody listening?"
And usually no one responds. There's no booming voice from the sky like the prophets received. God doesn't always "give us a sign." There ARE times when He does, but sometimes you just have to wonder. How is God speaking to me? Or...is He?
As a youth minister I often feel like I am supposed to have the answers. There are times that I feel like out of all the people in this world, all us really "devout" or spiritual Catholics are supposed to recognize the most how God speaks and what he wants for us. We are supposed to "discern" His will. We're supposed to get it right, and somehow just know. But too often, I fail. I have no idea what God wants. I have a sort of spiritual verdigo -like I'm drowning and can't figure out the way up. All too often I just want clarity.
This weekend I had an amazing opportunity to really "discern" God's will for me. I was on retreat down in Orange county, and hoping that God would give me a big "yes!" or a booming "no, no, no, get the heck outta here!" to some of the directions I am trying to take my life in.
I wasn't doubting, I wasn't worried that I was making the wrong decision. But I did want a little assurance. A sign, if you will, that this was the right thing. And in His quite whisper, in the subtle move of His spirit, in His gentle presence residing in my own heart, I received my resounding ...ask again later...from Him. It takes more than a weekend away to get there.
Listening to God and discerning His will is about more than retreats. It's an ongoing process -something that requires patience and openness. God works on His own time. And He never forces Himself on us.
If our hearts are open to what God has in store for us, we will know how to follow Him. God's grace will never lead us astray, and even when we fail to follow the path as closely as God would like, He continually opens new paths for us to continue moving closer to Him.
The key to hearing God is prayer. Prayer is talking to God, and it isn't a one way street. I was once told that we as His people talk to God, and if He talks back that makes us crazy. But we are told to pray without ceasing, and it can be exhausting and frustrating to feel like our prayers aren't going anywhere. Being open to God's will means opening that line of communication -that prayer street- and letting the road blocks that stop God's response fall away.
God doesn't always speak the way we want Him to, but as Christians we have faith that God never abandons Us. He speaks -just not always in the most traditional of ways. Sometimes we do get HUGE signs from above, but that isn't what we can count on. Our faith allows us to rest in God's presence, and trust that He will reveal His will to us in the way that we are mean to know it.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
The Little Things
"The rosary is the book of the blind, where souls see and there enact the greatest drama of love the world has ever known; it is the book of the simple, which initiates them into mysteries and knowledge more satisfying than the education of other men; it is the book of the aged, whose eyes close upon the shadow of this world, and open on the substance of the next. The power of the rosary is beyond description."
-Archbishop Fulton Sheen
Sometimes therapists have patients meditate as part of their treatment. There is something about meditation that soothes the soul. Slowing your mind and your words, relaxing your body, the entire meditative process is really beneficial to one's health. Have you ever noticed the healing power of the rosary? No matter how busy a day, no matter how much pain is in our heart, stopping to pray the rosary almost stops time in our souls. It draws us into the most intense drama of salvation history and puts us right there beside Christ. The world around us seems to cease to be, and we are experiencing Christ's love moving in our hearts. One can feel Mary's mantle wrapped around them, enveloping them in her comfort and peace. It takes 15 minutes, we can say it anywhere at any time of the day, it is a simple prayer, yet it is one of the most intense experiences we can have in our prayer lives.
That is the beauty and the genius of the rosary. While many Christians today look at the rosary as "wrote prayer," the truth is that it is deeply meditative and probably one of the most profound prayers we as Catholics have. The power of the rosary truly is beyond description. It is a string of 59 beads, it can fit in your pocket, it is a small reminder of our faith that we can dangle over the rear view mirror, yet it yields more power than we could ever know.
One thing I have noticed about Catholicism is that the little things seem to have the most power. Maybe that's why St. Therese is a Doctor of the Church. The little way, the little things, create the most change in our lives. They are the things that, in my opinion, aggravate Satan the most.
The rosary is probably one of the most powerful tools we have against Satan. When we think about it, who is the one woman who terrifies him the most? Mary was the most powerful woman in history -her yes changed the entire world as we know it- yet she was a young, meek, humble, virgin girl. And Satan hates her for it.
A lot of this world glorifies the idea that real power and strength is held by the big guys. But the comfort of the faith is that while our battle is epic, and our fight against evil is real and exhausting, we can be any size to fight it. We can have the weakest faith in the world, but with the support of our Lady, and with a look to her and her Son, we are untouchable.
What does it say about Satan that he is so threatened by our Lady? That every conversion, every "hail Mary," every celebration of the Mass, has him trembling? That's the image that I get. I think that in the little ways we say yes to God every day, we show Satan that he has no power over us.
Moving forward can seem overwhelming when we have so far to go. Trying to make progress in leaps and bounds can oftentimes lead to disappointment. It is in small steps and increments that we make the most fruitful progress -whether it be financially, our spiritual lives, or in our relationships with each other, focusing on the little things and using them to better ourselves can take a bunch of tiny steps and turn them into the long journey toward peace in Christ.
-Archbishop Fulton Sheen
Sometimes therapists have patients meditate as part of their treatment. There is something about meditation that soothes the soul. Slowing your mind and your words, relaxing your body, the entire meditative process is really beneficial to one's health. Have you ever noticed the healing power of the rosary? No matter how busy a day, no matter how much pain is in our heart, stopping to pray the rosary almost stops time in our souls. It draws us into the most intense drama of salvation history and puts us right there beside Christ. The world around us seems to cease to be, and we are experiencing Christ's love moving in our hearts. One can feel Mary's mantle wrapped around them, enveloping them in her comfort and peace. It takes 15 minutes, we can say it anywhere at any time of the day, it is a simple prayer, yet it is one of the most intense experiences we can have in our prayer lives.
That is the beauty and the genius of the rosary. While many Christians today look at the rosary as "wrote prayer," the truth is that it is deeply meditative and probably one of the most profound prayers we as Catholics have. The power of the rosary truly is beyond description. It is a string of 59 beads, it can fit in your pocket, it is a small reminder of our faith that we can dangle over the rear view mirror, yet it yields more power than we could ever know.
One thing I have noticed about Catholicism is that the little things seem to have the most power. Maybe that's why St. Therese is a Doctor of the Church. The little way, the little things, create the most change in our lives. They are the things that, in my opinion, aggravate Satan the most.
The rosary is probably one of the most powerful tools we have against Satan. When we think about it, who is the one woman who terrifies him the most? Mary was the most powerful woman in history -her yes changed the entire world as we know it- yet she was a young, meek, humble, virgin girl. And Satan hates her for it.
A lot of this world glorifies the idea that real power and strength is held by the big guys. But the comfort of the faith is that while our battle is epic, and our fight against evil is real and exhausting, we can be any size to fight it. We can have the weakest faith in the world, but with the support of our Lady, and with a look to her and her Son, we are untouchable.
What does it say about Satan that he is so threatened by our Lady? That every conversion, every "hail Mary," every celebration of the Mass, has him trembling? That's the image that I get. I think that in the little ways we say yes to God every day, we show Satan that he has no power over us.
Moving forward can seem overwhelming when we have so far to go. Trying to make progress in leaps and bounds can oftentimes lead to disappointment. It is in small steps and increments that we make the most fruitful progress -whether it be financially, our spiritual lives, or in our relationships with each other, focusing on the little things and using them to better ourselves can take a bunch of tiny steps and turn them into the long journey toward peace in Christ.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Why does God answer some prayers and not others?
I copied this post from my facebook. I had an exciting post for tonight but after 3 hours of driving was too tired to think.
I googled it. "Why does God answer some prayers and not Others?
Yahoo's top answer said that we can't understand the reasons because our perspective is too limited. I could see that. Another answer was that He does answer our prayers, but just not always in the ways we would expect. And I definitely see that too.
In the beginning of December my mom asked me to pray for someone I don't know. Never met this person, and I never will. She asked me to pray for a situation that seemed really bleak, and terribly sad. My mom always comes to me with prayer requests. She asks me to send them to people, because she believes in the power of prayer. It's like that line from Saved, when they get the Christian band to play, and Mandy Moore is like, "Prayer works!"
So anyway, I log onto facebook at work and see another person has posted a blog -a blog about this couple, the woman I was praying for, and all the progress that has taken place in the past month. It wasn't just my mom calling to say that prayers were answered. I think it was one of those little ways God reassures us, by showing me pictures of a person I had prayed for but never met and showing me how God has miraculously turned things around.
I pray for a lot of things. A whole long laundry list of things. Stupid things, silly things, seemingly impossible things. But God gives me something. Always some answer, some sign. Good or bad, what I want or not, there's always something. Maybe it's his way of reassuring me. Then my mom joked about how funny it is that God always answered my prayers.
But ya know, it's not like every prayer I've ever uttered was 'answered' -wrapped up and served on a silver platter. A LOT of my prayers in that past 9 years that I can recalled have seemed to go completely unanswered, or fallen on deaf ears, or so it would appear.
Yet when I think about it, the things that seem to have not been answered really have in one way or another. Because in then end, I think we all end up where we need to be when we are open to what's in store.
Maybe it all depends on what we are asking for. I bet it would sound like a cop out answer to people who don't believe in anything. If I said that every prayer that I ever prefaced with "Lord, let your will be done" was answered. But think that's really the truth.
We have free will, freedom to believe what we want and free to ask for what we want. But I think inevitably, God's will is GOING to be done. And prayer is an instrument through which God communicates with us. It's a two way street. So maybe when we pray for something, we just have to be open to HOW it is answered instead of looking for whether or not we get our way.
That sounds really callused, because I know there are times when we pray for something really important. It would seem absurd that God answered my prayer about having a little extra room on my flight from LAX to PIT or getting a good parking spot and not someone's prayer about a loved one not dying, or a family of 4 kids not losing their mother in childbirth. But then it goes back to what our intentions behind the prayer are.
If we pray for God's will, and the ability to recognize it, it's easier to make sense of some of the things that don't go our way in life. I think what is especially hard to cope with is when prayer doesn't go our way, and leads to REALLY intense suffering or grief.
If God hadn't "shown" me that this was the right pair of shoes or jeans while visiting the mall (and believe me, I would say he did), or any other material and unemotional thing that I'd selfishly prayed for, it wouldn't have shaken my faith to the core. It wouldn't have been the last straw, the final thread to break in the fraying rope of my faith. It's a trivial thing. But when the big prayers seem to go wrong, when we watch people we love pass away despite our prayers that they stay with us, that's when we start to wonder -is He even there? Is anyone listening? Have I been duped?
Even in things like break ups. I can recall running down the streets of a small New York town trying to hide the fact that I was weeping inconsolably, and fervently asking God to save a broken relationship and please let it be right. But it wasn't His will that it be so. In fact, it was His will that I wait for the right person. And in the time I've had to think about it, I'm SO GLAD to be out of that relationship (Hindsight's a biznatch, right?)
That was a hard time, but not nearly as tragic as what some people go through in their lifetimes. Heart break is hard, but I think a lot of people look for His answer in the most life changing and gut wrenching times of turmoil. Those moments of greatest lost can lead us to say, "That's it. If You loved me, You wouldn't have done this. You're not there, or You just don't give a damn."
I think that's when it really comes down to the intention behind a prayer. What are we REALLY praying for? You can't tell someone who is great mourning that they prayed incorrectly or for the wrong things, but the truth is that as Christians we know that suffering is an inevitable part of life. It's something our own LORD had to endure for our sake. We have these crosses to bear, and we must seek to understand that they UNITE us to Christ.
Maybe it's the revelation of a recent miracle that started this train of thought. Or the fact I've been watching Dead Like Me on Hulu that's brought me to thinking about it. But death is really only sad for the living. At least if we have a Christian understanding of death. If we have faith we know that what waits for us beyond this life is so much better. Just like a friend of mine posted recently on her facebook, "The very worst the world can do is kill us, and all that does is send us Home."
As living breathing people we have relationships and experiences, and we feel incredible indescribable pain and joy. We go through all kinds of things and witness both unbelievable miracles and see unspeakable horrors. And when we lose someone we love, it's the worst pain anyone can ever feel. And it is the saddest thing in the world for us. But just for us that go on living, because we are the ones still stuck here with the emptiness. Those who pass on, they go on to something more joyful and glorious than we can currently comprehend. Still somehow that doesn't always make us feel better. The idea of heaven really doesn't always seem to console those in grief, especially those without faith, or with weak or fragile faith.
Without that faith that God can work in the most painful situation, the suffering we endure seems meaningless and cruel. If we don't open ourselves the the desire to understand God's will, or to the possibility that there is a reason behind our sufferings, then it all seems pointless and without purpose.
It's not that I am some model of prayer and piety, but that's why whenever my mom asks me to pray for something, I don't just ask God for it. I ask Him that His will be done in a particular situation. Whoever I intercede for, I don't just ask God for favors. I don't just pray that God does what I want. In my experience, the most effective way to pray is just to ask God that He conform my will to His.
That way, when the people I want to live don't, and when anything important doesn't go my way, I can accept the pain and ask Christ to use it to bring me closer to Him. I think it's a pathway that He has made for us to be able to know Him better and to build that relationship. It makes it easier to accept the hardships that come with the painful things in life. And asking for understanding, or the grace to want what God wants, can help us to move on and rejoice in His love despite the tragic circumstances. It is what enables us to cope with death and loss, heartbreak and painful mistakes we make. All the problems of humanity become a method of growing closer to God when properly understood.
God answers all prayers in some way or another. I guess we either get a yes, a no, a "yes but not the way you think of it," or a 'yes but not in a way you can understand just yet'. Somehow, even when we hurt, God take's care of all our needs. Matthew 6:26 says, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" God takes care of the needs of the smallest of animals, so how much more will He take care of us?
And those prayers we don't see answered, the things we don't get, maybe they are the smalls things. The "wow" moments we experience when a superficial or small prayer is answered. Or maybe they are the huge life changing things, the moments when our worlds seem to fall apart and everything we thought we know -we don't.
But those moments, the most painful, are the times when we especially need to have faith and learn to pray. And to pray that God's will be done. And that He show us His love.
Hmm. I don't know. Just food for thought I guess.
I googled it. "Why does God answer some prayers and not Others?
Yahoo's top answer said that we can't understand the reasons because our perspective is too limited. I could see that. Another answer was that He does answer our prayers, but just not always in the ways we would expect. And I definitely see that too.
In the beginning of December my mom asked me to pray for someone I don't know. Never met this person, and I never will. She asked me to pray for a situation that seemed really bleak, and terribly sad. My mom always comes to me with prayer requests. She asks me to send them to people, because she believes in the power of prayer. It's like that line from Saved, when they get the Christian band to play, and Mandy Moore is like, "Prayer works!"
So anyway, I log onto facebook at work and see another person has posted a blog -a blog about this couple, the woman I was praying for, and all the progress that has taken place in the past month. It wasn't just my mom calling to say that prayers were answered. I think it was one of those little ways God reassures us, by showing me pictures of a person I had prayed for but never met and showing me how God has miraculously turned things around.
I pray for a lot of things. A whole long laundry list of things. Stupid things, silly things, seemingly impossible things. But God gives me something. Always some answer, some sign. Good or bad, what I want or not, there's always something. Maybe it's his way of reassuring me. Then my mom joked about how funny it is that God always answered my prayers.
But ya know, it's not like every prayer I've ever uttered was 'answered' -wrapped up and served on a silver platter. A LOT of my prayers in that past 9 years that I can recalled have seemed to go completely unanswered, or fallen on deaf ears, or so it would appear.
Yet when I think about it, the things that seem to have not been answered really have in one way or another. Because in then end, I think we all end up where we need to be when we are open to what's in store.
Maybe it all depends on what we are asking for. I bet it would sound like a cop out answer to people who don't believe in anything. If I said that every prayer that I ever prefaced with "Lord, let your will be done" was answered. But think that's really the truth.
We have free will, freedom to believe what we want and free to ask for what we want. But I think inevitably, God's will is GOING to be done. And prayer is an instrument through which God communicates with us. It's a two way street. So maybe when we pray for something, we just have to be open to HOW it is answered instead of looking for whether or not we get our way.
That sounds really callused, because I know there are times when we pray for something really important. It would seem absurd that God answered my prayer about having a little extra room on my flight from LAX to PIT or getting a good parking spot and not someone's prayer about a loved one not dying, or a family of 4 kids not losing their mother in childbirth. But then it goes back to what our intentions behind the prayer are.
If we pray for God's will, and the ability to recognize it, it's easier to make sense of some of the things that don't go our way in life. I think what is especially hard to cope with is when prayer doesn't go our way, and leads to REALLY intense suffering or grief.
If God hadn't "shown" me that this was the right pair of shoes or jeans while visiting the mall (and believe me, I would say he did), or any other material and unemotional thing that I'd selfishly prayed for, it wouldn't have shaken my faith to the core. It wouldn't have been the last straw, the final thread to break in the fraying rope of my faith. It's a trivial thing. But when the big prayers seem to go wrong, when we watch people we love pass away despite our prayers that they stay with us, that's when we start to wonder -is He even there? Is anyone listening? Have I been duped?
Even in things like break ups. I can recall running down the streets of a small New York town trying to hide the fact that I was weeping inconsolably, and fervently asking God to save a broken relationship and please let it be right. But it wasn't His will that it be so. In fact, it was His will that I wait for the right person. And in the time I've had to think about it, I'm SO GLAD to be out of that relationship (Hindsight's a biznatch, right?)
That was a hard time, but not nearly as tragic as what some people go through in their lifetimes. Heart break is hard, but I think a lot of people look for His answer in the most life changing and gut wrenching times of turmoil. Those moments of greatest lost can lead us to say, "That's it. If You loved me, You wouldn't have done this. You're not there, or You just don't give a damn."
I think that's when it really comes down to the intention behind a prayer. What are we REALLY praying for? You can't tell someone who is great mourning that they prayed incorrectly or for the wrong things, but the truth is that as Christians we know that suffering is an inevitable part of life. It's something our own LORD had to endure for our sake. We have these crosses to bear, and we must seek to understand that they UNITE us to Christ.
Maybe it's the revelation of a recent miracle that started this train of thought. Or the fact I've been watching Dead Like Me on Hulu that's brought me to thinking about it. But death is really only sad for the living. At least if we have a Christian understanding of death. If we have faith we know that what waits for us beyond this life is so much better. Just like a friend of mine posted recently on her facebook, "The very worst the world can do is kill us, and all that does is send us Home."
As living breathing people we have relationships and experiences, and we feel incredible indescribable pain and joy. We go through all kinds of things and witness both unbelievable miracles and see unspeakable horrors. And when we lose someone we love, it's the worst pain anyone can ever feel. And it is the saddest thing in the world for us. But just for us that go on living, because we are the ones still stuck here with the emptiness. Those who pass on, they go on to something more joyful and glorious than we can currently comprehend. Still somehow that doesn't always make us feel better. The idea of heaven really doesn't always seem to console those in grief, especially those without faith, or with weak or fragile faith.
Without that faith that God can work in the most painful situation, the suffering we endure seems meaningless and cruel. If we don't open ourselves the the desire to understand God's will, or to the possibility that there is a reason behind our sufferings, then it all seems pointless and without purpose.
It's not that I am some model of prayer and piety, but that's why whenever my mom asks me to pray for something, I don't just ask God for it. I ask Him that His will be done in a particular situation. Whoever I intercede for, I don't just ask God for favors. I don't just pray that God does what I want. In my experience, the most effective way to pray is just to ask God that He conform my will to His.
That way, when the people I want to live don't, and when anything important doesn't go my way, I can accept the pain and ask Christ to use it to bring me closer to Him. I think it's a pathway that He has made for us to be able to know Him better and to build that relationship. It makes it easier to accept the hardships that come with the painful things in life. And asking for understanding, or the grace to want what God wants, can help us to move on and rejoice in His love despite the tragic circumstances. It is what enables us to cope with death and loss, heartbreak and painful mistakes we make. All the problems of humanity become a method of growing closer to God when properly understood.
God answers all prayers in some way or another. I guess we either get a yes, a no, a "yes but not the way you think of it," or a 'yes but not in a way you can understand just yet'. Somehow, even when we hurt, God take's care of all our needs. Matthew 6:26 says, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" God takes care of the needs of the smallest of animals, so how much more will He take care of us?
And those prayers we don't see answered, the things we don't get, maybe they are the smalls things. The "wow" moments we experience when a superficial or small prayer is answered. Or maybe they are the huge life changing things, the moments when our worlds seem to fall apart and everything we thought we know -we don't.
But those moments, the most painful, are the times when we especially need to have faith and learn to pray. And to pray that God's will be done. And that He show us His love.
Hmm. I don't know. Just food for thought I guess.
Welcome
There IS something about Mary.
She is the Queen of Heaven and earth, and the most humble servant of Her dearly beloved Son. She wants no glory for herself, only to bring us to the foot of her Son's cross.
I would like me to introduce myself. I am a slave to the Queen of Angels, and a daughter of the Most High King. I have been praying about the best way to serve our Lord, and have decided to go with the blogging route.
My hope is that whoever may come across this blog may be open to the grace that Christ has in store for them. I will be posting my own personal reflections, as well as the prayers and quotes of the saints. I would also like to pray for you, so feel free to leave your own intentions in the comments.
Thank you for stopping by :)
"With your help, so long as there is strength within us, we will fight to the last breath. So help us O Queen, O Lady, O best and dearest Mother!" -St. Maximilian Kolbe
She is the Queen of Heaven and earth, and the most humble servant of Her dearly beloved Son. She wants no glory for herself, only to bring us to the foot of her Son's cross.
I would like me to introduce myself. I am a slave to the Queen of Angels, and a daughter of the Most High King. I have been praying about the best way to serve our Lord, and have decided to go with the blogging route.
My hope is that whoever may come across this blog may be open to the grace that Christ has in store for them. I will be posting my own personal reflections, as well as the prayers and quotes of the saints. I would also like to pray for you, so feel free to leave your own intentions in the comments.
Thank you for stopping by :)
"With your help, so long as there is strength within us, we will fight to the last breath. So help us O Queen, O Lady, O best and dearest Mother!" -St. Maximilian Kolbe
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