Ever wonder what role Mary plays in our relationship with God? Take a listen! Post by Nancy Bechel
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Post by Nancy Bechel “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." I think when we hear this passage from Scripture, we often skip to the end - the exciting part, the part where we get to take action. We like to hear that we have the power to go out and change the world, and even secular culture is fond of the image of "letting our light shine." We are a nation of "do-ers", go-getters, movers and shakers. It is something on which we pride ourselves as Americans. But it was the second sentence that struck me as I read this passage today: "A city built on a hill cannot be hid." A few things occurred to me as I reflected on that verse. The city did not make itself. It it dawned on me as I reflected, that the city did not choose to be on the hill. It did not drag itself, brick by brick, to a place where it would be a beacon to the world. No. It was only on that hill because it was put there under someone else's power. It was someone else that gave the city its influence, its significance, and the chance to "shine before others." There is a pervasive attitude in our world today that says we have to "make something of ourselves". That is what the world means by "letting your light shine." But that's not what God means. Though it is true that we do have a responsibility for what we do with our lives and the gifts we've been given (Jesus was clear about that), the city did not have to make itself, and neither do we. At the moment of your Baptism, you received a light that cannot be extinguished. The Holy Spirit is in you, whether you know it or not. Your soul was changed in that moment in a way that can never be undone. The fancy term for that is "indelible mark". In other words, your soul has been marked, claimed for God with a stamp that cannot be removed or "deleted." It is the Holy Spirit living and moving and breathing in you that will "make something of you". All you have to do is cooperate. You are the city on a hill. You and I, from the moment of our Baptisms, became those cities on a hill. We were placed there by God, with the help of our parents and God-parents. You may not have chosen it when it happened (if you were Baptized as an infant), but you are there nonetheless. Whether or not you will be on that hill is no longer up to you. You have been built. You have been planted. You have been placed there with great dignity, with divine purpose, and people see you - whether you want them to or not. Does that scare you? It scared me a bit when I first thought of it. If you're anything like me, you spend a lot of time trying to put your best face forward. The reality of being human, though, is that we can't keep our flaws to ourselves forever. Sooner or later our imperfections out themselves, and the idea of "hiding under a bushel basket" suddenly becomes very appealing. But you can't hide a city. Something is always going to give it away. You decide what people see. The home I grew up in sits on the side of a bluff in rural Wisconsin. If you have ever been in the country at night, far from the city, you know how still and complete the darkness can be. In it, everything seems close, intimate. Everything except the stars, which leap brightly from the blackened sky with intensity that you can never see in the city. During the day, people can see our family home from miles away if they know where to look, but at night it almost completely disappears. When no one is there and all of the lights are off, you can barely spot the faint speck of light that is our doorbell. It's nearly impossible, and you can never be quite sure that that is what you are actually seeing, but if you look hard enough it can be found. Sadly, this is the way that many of us live our lives. Instead of shining brightly to the glory of God, we shut the blinds and turn off everything that comes with a light switch. If we turned on all of the lights and opened the blinds, everyone would be able to see inside! They could see our messy rooms, the dishes we didn't wash, the laundry we didn't put away, the light bulbs we haven't gotten around to replacing, and the little figurine that our aunt gave us that is totally uncool (but we secretly really love it). We couldn't hide anymore. But that's just it - the idea that hiding is an option is an illusion. Remember? You are a "city on a hill", which "cannot be hid." People see you. And they either see you living brightly and joyfully, or they see your boarded-up windows and "No Trespassing" signs. What kind of city are you? So, are you a city full of light? Or one that has been closed up? I think most of us are a little of both. There are areas that we leave open - the safe areas that we're not ashamed of or where we want affirmation - and there are others that are always closed. The challenge is allowing Christ in to all of those places, both "safe" and "unsafe", so that He can make them all bearers of light. You don't have to shine on your own. See, God didn't place you up on that hill and then abandon you. He gave you the Holy Spirit, so you could become something greater by His power than you could ever be on your own.
Some of the greatest Saints we've ever known have been some of the greatest sinners. Augustine, Patrick, Mary Magdalene, Matthew, Margaret of Cortona, and even St. Paul (just to name a few). The Church holds them up as examples of people who were imperfect - even seemingly hopeless - but still transformed by God because of His greatness, not theirs. These Saints lived as cities ablaze with the light of God. And because of their courage, we know Christ. Because of them, we can take heart in the assurance that no one is too far gone, no shadow is too dark, no city is beyond repair. After all, Jesus was a carpenter. As we continue to reflect on the mystery of Christ's resurrection in the First Reading for this upcoming Sunday (the 7th week of Easter), we hear of two different Saints - St. Stephen, and Saul (before we knew him as Paul). One we meet as he becomes a martyr, the other in the midst of his sin. In the video below, Jeff Cavins reflects on the witness of Stephen, and the impact that he must have had on Saul. "You never know who's watching..." he says, "Someone is watching you live." We never know how the way we live our lives will affect those around us. By the grace of God, may each of us have the courage to live boldly and joyfully in the glory of God, as shining cities on a hill. Unafraid. Unashamed. Unhidden. Looking for a new perspective on Holy Week? Fr. Mike Schmitz shares wisdom from the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist that can help us experience each day of Holy Week in a new way. Post by Nancy Bechel
Ever feel like Lent kind of got away from you? Never fear! Greg Willits has some great tips for how to make the most of your last sprint toward Easter. Post by Nancy Bechel
Post by Nancy Bechel (First, kudos to anyone who actually gets that movie reference... ;) ) Have you ever wondered whose idea it was to wear soot on our foreheads at the beginning of Lent? It's kind of strange, when you think about it... And our friends from other faith backgrounds might tell us so. To many of us, we have just always attended Ash Wednesday Mass. Lent doesn't feel like Lent without it. As a matter of fact, Ash Wednesday is one of the most widely celebrated days in the Christian community, next to Christmas and Easter. But WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT ASH WEDNESDAY? It may mean more than you think... Want to be a Ninja and know God more? Check out these slick ninja tricks from Br. Peter Francis! Post by Nancy Bechel
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Did you know that Christmas is more than just one day a year? Take a listen to Fr. Josh Johnson! Post by Nancy Bechel
Post by Nancy Bechel "And he said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.' For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat." - Mark 6:31 Come away to a lonely place..." Jesus spoke these words to His disciples after they had been out preaching and working and traveling from town to town. They had been so busy that they hadn't even eaten. His call was one of retreat, of rest. He wanted to spend time with them so that they could recharge from all the work they had been doing. If you continue to read the rest of the story in Mark chapter 6, you will find that the only rest they received was their boat ride from one shore to the other. The people they had been serving followed them, and out of compassion Jesus would not turn them away. In the midst of the disciples' need to rest, Jesus called them to give of themselves. Because they trusted Him, miraculous things happened. But what was the original intention? "Come away to a lonely place..." A lonely place. Most of us would rather be frantically busy than lonely. We can hardly bear to be in silence for more than a minute, let alone feel the pangs of loneliness. The only way we can think to avoid loneliness all the time is to is to drown ourselves in everything else. Even then, we find ourselves dissatisfied - or in a fetal position surrounded by empty containers of comfort food. You see, loneliness is a human condition. I still remember the interior cringe and near defiance I felt when I first heard that statement several years ago. A "human condition" isn't temporary. It is not something that goes away. It is part of who we are as human beings. We cannot ever really escape it. As many of us have, I had spent my whole life up to that point trying to find a "cure" for loneliness. The last thing I wanted to hear was that it does not go away even when I have "finally found" my vocation or the right job or whatever it was I was looking for - even when in the midst of a deep relationship with Christ. But wasn't Jesus supposed to take away the loneliness? If I am really living His will each day, shouldn't I be satisfied? Why wouldn't God fill the void? Isn't that kind of His whole purpose? But is that His whole purpose? Is God in existence simply to make me comfortable and make my life pleasant and suffering-free? I think I have something backwards. God didn't come into existence to make me happy, like a fairy godmother. As a matter of fact, HE existed FIRST and ALWAYS (something that we can sometimes forget in a culture that believes Christmas will disappear forever if we all stop believing in Santa). And my reason for being here is not to be comfortable and pain-free. God did not create me so that He could make all of my wishes come true in this life, but that I might be with Him forever in the next. And that's why, in truth, loneliness is a gift. "What?! Are you crazy?!"
Loneliness cuts to the heart of humanity. It makes our neediness impossible to ignore. To be lonely is to realize that I am not sufficient in and of myself. I cannot be my own savior, my own god. And the reality is...neither can anything else in this world. We will always, ALWAYS need God. But we cannot receive Him perfectly until our hearts have been purified and we stand face to face with Him in Heaven. That is why, though the love of family and friends and the joys of life might fill my lonely places for a while, loneliness will never completely go away. Loneliness is a human condition. And praise God that it is! It is a gift that can give our lives direction if we let it. It is capable of pointing us up and out of ourselves, and even up and out of this world if we let God meet us in the midst of it. Self pity can cripple us, and trying to fill the loneliness without Christ will only make our hearts sick. But if we invite the God who made us for Himself into the void, it can become a place of healing.
Have you ever been travelling and suddenly realized you had no idea where you were? This Advent take a deep breath, take a step back, and take look around. Like what you heard? Find more videos for Advent and more on http://redeemedonline.com/ Post by Nancy Bechel
Post by Nancy Bechel Have you ever thought about how odd some words are? If you repeat even the most common word long enough it will begin to sound strange, but some words kind of take the cake, so to speak. "Halloween" might be one of those words. We associate it with the creepiest day of the year, but what does the word actually mean? Halloween, October 31st, was formerly known as "All Hallows' Eve". If you say "hallow eve" really quickly, it sounds like "Halloween", which is where we get the name. "Hallowed" is actually another word for "holy". You've heard it before. In the Our Father we say, "Hallowed (or holy) be Thy Name." "So Halloween basically means 'holy eve'?" Yup. Or more accurately, "The Eve of the Holy Ones". Can you guess why? On Sunday, we celebrated the Solemnity of All Saints. The saints are those who are already with God in Heaven. They have been made holy, and in the Mass are referred to as "the holy ones". All Saints Day, as it's more commonly called, is always on November 1st - which of course, is why All Hallows Eve is on October 31st, Halloween. So "Hallows" = "Saints". Makes sense, doesn't it? So what's the big deal about Saints? Why do we have a feast day in the Church to celebrate them? Here to unravel some of the mystery is Fr. Mike Schmitz: |
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