Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof

Today is officially one year that the English-speaking Catholic Church began using the Third Revision of the Roman Missal. Since the announcement by Blessed Pope John Paul II in 2000, it has been the hope of the Church that the revised translation would be an opportunity for everyone to grow closer to the Lord through a more  "full, conscious, active participation" in the Mass.

One of my favorite revisions is

Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

Have you ever heard someone say. "I just don't get anything out of Mass."? Perhaps you have even said or thought this before? One of the beauties of the Catholic Mass is that it is true worship of God. Worship is directed toward God, not toward one's self. Why do we think there has to be "something in it for me" to go to Mass? Do we think we actually deserve some benefit or are "worthy" of such on our own accord?

Remember where those words come from. In Matthew 8:8, the centurion says to Jesus, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed." He doesn't think Jesus owes him anything. He sees himself as not being worthy of the presence of the Lord.

Jesus responds by saying, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.” Wow! Jesus recognizes that "the chosen people" have become dry, lacking in faith, and perhaps complacent. I think we can and have become like that too. Jesus rewards the centurion's faith by healing his servant.

Well, we also are not worthy, and we don't deserve anything. But here's the thing; God wants to give it all to us anyway. What all? Himself, His life, and all that that implies.

We say these words just before receiving Him in Holy Communion, the Eucharist, and having properly prepared ourselves to receive Him, we receive the Grace which He desires for our lives.

This is from the Commentary on the Order of Mass:

Nonetheless, despite these Biblical origins, speaking of “my roof” may seem strange before Holy Communion, since Christ is coming to us in the form of food – not literally entering into our houses. Certainly, the clear association with Matthew, chapter 8, has a figurative intent, but it may also be helpful to recall that Saint Paul says, “your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you” (1 Cor 6:19). 

We are therefore to make our bodies into fitting homes for God’s grace to dwell within our souls. The Eucharist is true food that provides spiritual nourishment, which is why we will refer more specifically to “my soul” in the last line. But this sacramental strength for our souls in turn informs both our mental and physical deeds (recall the Confiteor also incorporates both types of action – “in my thoughts and in my words”), such that the totality of our bodies, souls, and lives may become suitable instruments of the Lord.

The Biggest Sale Ever and FREE

Today is "Black Friday" and thousands of people are out shopping for great deals and big sales. Some lined up hours in advance to ensure they would be able to score things they found in ads that have been out for a week or more.

Meanwhile, many will overlook the biggest and best sale ever. Although the ads have been out for a much longer time, and although the great deal is a necessity not just a want, and even though it is absolutely free to people since the price has already been paid in full by someone else, many will choose not to take advantage of the offer.

Of course I am talking about the great deal God has offered to us, salvation. Jesus has paid for this bargain for all of us. But sadly, many believe that the ad is misleading. They misunderstand the meaning of "free" and so reject the offer all together or they make this "store" the last on their list of priorities, and ultimately just do a little "window shopping".

Well, maybe this year will be different. Maybe the people will line up at their churches hours in advance. Maybe they will respond to this great free gift of God with true Thanksgiving.

Maybe they will use this Advent season which starts December 2nd to prepare for Christ's Mass, the celebration of God, humbling Himself and becoming man in order to purchase this bargain for us.

Maybe.

So you think Santa Claus stole the election?

Soon after Barack Obama defeated Mitt Romney in the 2012 US Presidential race, I began to hear things like "You can't beat Santa Claus", referring of course to President Obama as the proverbial "Santa". We don't have to spend a lot of time on this, let's just cut to the chase. This statement insinuates that it was those "without" who, hoping to be given what they do not have, were the deciding factor in the election.

But as I looked at the map of "red" states and "blue" states, something really struck me. Man, it sure doesn't look like the poor were the ones going for Obama.

 

Lisa at Catholic Bandita has done some extensive research on this, and has a very interesting post. Even in the big swing state of Ohio which did go Obama, 74% of the counties living in poverty went Romney.

The other thing that really bugs me is how so many people began saying that the Republican Party should revisit its position on faith and morals. As I have posted over and over, this just goes to show that it's about winning elections and not true conviction. And, yes that speaks to both sides for the most part.

Anyway, the point of my post is stop blaming the poor for the results of this election.

A very small start: Do what you can

This morning, a friend of mine posted this on facebook:

Status Update
By George Gano

Do what you can
Mother Teresa used to say that she did not add; she subtracted—and she was not talking about arithmetic skills. You’ll never win at the game of measuring the success of service in numbers, she was pointing out. The total of those in need will always outrun your efforts to catch up with it. Though her Missionaries of Charity have helped hundreds of thousands—perhaps millions—of people, they cannot reach everyone. If, however, you see, as she did, every person to whom you give aid to be another person subtracted from the mass of suffering, the numbers game changes—especially if you consider each one of them to be a child of God. In trying to feed the world’s hungers, you don’t have to do everything, but you can do something.

This is exactly the direction I am being moved to. But to further explain:

If you have the job of cleaning a 3-story house and look at the task in front of you, it can be daunting. But if you can specialize in the kitchen and work together with many others who specialize in other rooms, the job seems much more manageable.

And even more important, if you can trust the others to do their part, and they can trust you to do your part, and you can resist the urge to tell each other how to do the others' jobs, you are much more likely to get the job done more efficiently and effectively.

Are you paying attention pro-lifers?

Pro-Life Problems

I think it's past time that we admit we have some serious pro-life problems. I often see references to the "pro-life movement", and here is where the problems begin. You see, there really isn't a pro-life movement, but rather many different movements with many different agendas.

First of all, pro-life encompasses much more than ant-abortion efforts, but it is those efforts that I am most concerned with at the moment and the subject of this post.

Among those who wish to see an end to abortion are those who want to see it completely abolished and those who believe there should be exceptions. There are those who think that abortion should be illegal and those who say "You can't legislate such things, but rather have to change people's hearts and minds". There are those who reject any legislation that includes exceptions, those who desire "personhood" amendments, and those that will accept anything that will limit or lessen abortion to any degree. Some think we should focus locally, some nationally, and some globally.

There are those who will not work with anyone outside of their particular organization or Faith or even local church. There are those that will work with many others "but not them".

Of course there are many who are willing to put all differences aside, placing the babies first, and work together for them.

It is these that we need more of. That's not to say we  should not all find our niche or an organization we can work with, one that we feel we really fit in with or agree with, just that we should try to keep our eyes on the big picture.

I intend to greatly intensify my postings on this and related topics. Let's not let our individual ideas become differences that divide us.

More important than this election?

What could possibly be more important than this election?

And he hath on his garment, and on his thigh written: KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that did fly through the midst of heaven: Come, gather yourselves together to the great supper of God: That you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of tribunes, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all freemen and bondmen, and of little and of great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war with him that sat upon the horse, and with his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet, who wrought signs before him, wherewith he seduced them who received the character of the beast, and who adored his image. These two were cast alive into the pool of fire, burning with brimstone. And the rest were slain by the sword of him that sitteth upon the horse, which proceedeth out of his mouth; and all the birds were filled with their flesh. - (Revelation 19: 16-21)

Armed resistance to oppression by political authority

As Catholics, we have such a great resource in the Catechism.

Catechism means "teaching", and although the Catechism is pretty thorough about what the Church teaches, it is of course not all-inclusive.

Now, for those who might frown on a resource beyond the Bible, I suggest taking a look at the Catechism, and then seek out how that compares to your particular faith and the fullness of explanations provided.

I particularly like to view the searchable index to find out what the Church teaches regarding certain topics. This morning I decided to look up "politics". Well, I found "Political authority/community" with 10 sub-categories referencing 17 paragraphs. The first listed is "action of resisting oppression by political power".

Again, while not all-inclusive of even this particular sub-category (meaning there is room for particular circumstances and interpretation), I really love the thought that has gone into this. Here's what the Catechism (paragraph 2243) says:

Armed resistance to oppression by political authority is not legitimate, unless all the following conditions are met: 

• there is certain, grave, and prolonged violation of fundamental rights;  

• all other means of redress have been exhausted; 

• such resistance will not provoke worse disorders; 

• there is well-founded hope of success; and 

• it is impossible reasonably to foresee any better solution.

Disclaimer: This is merely a catechetical observation and not a suggestion that there is anything in the current political culture of the United States of America that warrants said action. Wackos stay away from my blog and Mr FBI man, you don't need to come visit me....again.

Church Militant or Church Lazy?

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints. So, why in the world am I talking about being militant or lazy? Well, in today's Office of Readings, St. Bernard reminds us that

"The saints have no need of honor from us; neither does our devotion add the slightest thing to what is theirs. Clearly, if we venerate their memory, it serves us, not them."

He continues

"Calling the saints to mind inspires, or rather arouses in us, above all else, a longing to enjoy their company, so desirable in itself. We long to share in the citizenship of heaven."

Ah, but do we really? Long for heaven I mean?

"O God, you are my God, I watch for you from the dawn. My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you." (Psalm 63)

We Christians can sometimes misunderstand the "turn the other cheek" and "love your enemies" exhortations by our Lord to mean that we have no part in a "fight" or a "battle". So it is hard for us to think about being militant as a good thing, right? I mean, one definition of militant is "a person engaged in aggressive verbal or physical combat". That can't be Christian, can it?

First of all, we need to remember that the "fight" and the "battle" is for our souls and the souls of the world. Second, although our own souls and those of whom we love are at stake, the "fight" and the "battle" are not our own, but God's.

We can be blinded to the spiritual warfare that is going on all around us. Even those that are aware that there is evil going on around us can become distracted by the effects of sin, losing sight of that which causes it. We can take up "causes" and join "ministries" and organizations which can all be very good, but if not part of the mission of the Church, "the salvation of souls", those efforts are fruitless.

Even rightly recognizing the "battle" and our calling to it by God is just a start.

In his reflection on today's solemnity, Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio writes

"But there’s the rub – many of us don’t want to exert ourselves. It can be uncomfortable. We stretch a bit to finish school, to excel at sports, to win the heart of the love of our lives. But when it comes to the things of the Spirit, we often settle with being couch potatoes."

He's right! I can be spiritually lazy much of the time. How about you?

Sure, there's a lot of work to do, but let's just start simple, ok? Remember that definition of "militant";  "a person engaged in aggressive verbal or physical combat"? Let's get aggressive verbally in our prayer life and physically by our participation in the Sacraments!

Pope Benedict in this, "A Year of Faith", calls us to an authentic and deeper conversion to Christ. Let's not be spiritual "couch potatoes"! Let's not be the Church Lazy! Let's be the Church Militant and keep another pope's words in our hearts and minds as we march onward, with Jesus as our Commander.

“We belong to the Church militant; and She is militant because on earth the powers of darkness are ever restless to encompass Her destruction.” - Pius XII; 1953