Friday, October 30, 2009
Sayings of St. Ignatius of Loyola
"Charity and kindness unwedded to truth are not charity and kindness, but deceit and vanity."
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Playing the Prophet
In today's Gospel, of all people, the religious authorities are trying to convince Jesus to take to the hills in order to protect himself from King Herod, a petty tyrant who is colluding with the Roman occupation. Jesus doesn't mince words, calling Herod a fox, and then going on to reflect out loud about the risks he faces as he takes up the role of the prophet calling for conversion.
A few thoughts... when we describe Jesus as a prophet, it is not to say so much that he his prognosticating about the future, but rather, that he is speaking in God's name about the need for people to turn away from the way of the world and back to faithfulness to God's ways. This means more specifically that he is calling them to liberation from an enslaved pursuit of riches, honors, and pride, back into a wholesome love of God, self, and neighbor. In that call, he is taking up the prophetic mantle as so many before him had, speaking up on behalf of the widow, the orphan, the marginalized...
And so, the question comes around to each of us as to how circumstances in our lives call us to play the prophet as well?
Gospel
Lk 13:31-35
Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said,
“Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.”
He replied, “Go and tell that fox,
‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow,
and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.
Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day,
for it is impossible that a prophet should die
outside of Jerusalem.’
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,
how many times I yearned to gather your children together
as a hen gathers her brood under her wings,
but you were unwilling!
Behold, your house will be abandoned.
But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say,
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
A few thoughts... when we describe Jesus as a prophet, it is not to say so much that he his prognosticating about the future, but rather, that he is speaking in God's name about the need for people to turn away from the way of the world and back to faithfulness to God's ways. This means more specifically that he is calling them to liberation from an enslaved pursuit of riches, honors, and pride, back into a wholesome love of God, self, and neighbor. In that call, he is taking up the prophetic mantle as so many before him had, speaking up on behalf of the widow, the orphan, the marginalized...
And so, the question comes around to each of us as to how circumstances in our lives call us to play the prophet as well?
Gospel
Lk 13:31-35
Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said,
“Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.”
He replied, “Go and tell that fox,
‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow,
and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.
Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day,
for it is impossible that a prophet should die
outside of Jerusalem.’
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,
how many times I yearned to gather your children together
as a hen gathers her brood under her wings,
but you were unwilling!
Behold, your house will be abandoned.
But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say,
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Saints Simon and Jude, and the importance of diversity on teams
Today is the feast of Saints Simon and Jude. As is the case with many of the disciples, we just don't know all that much about these men. Jude is so named by Luke and Acts. Matthew and Mark call him Thaddeus. He is not mentioned elsewhere in the Gospels, except, of course, where all the apostles are mentioned. Scholars hold that he is not the author of the Letter of Jude. Actually, Jude had the same name as Judas Iscariot. Evidently because of the disgrace of that name, it was shortened to "Jude" in English.
Simon is mentioned on all four lists of the apostles. On two of them he is called "the Zealot." The Zealots were a Jewish sect that represented an extreme of Jewish nationalism. For them, the messianic promise of the Old Testament meant that the Jews were to be a free and independent nation. God alone was their king, and any payment of taxes to the Romans—the very domination of the Romans—was a blasphemy against God. No doubt some of the Zealots were the spiritual heirs of the Maccabees, carrying on their ideals of religion and independence. But many were the counterparts of modern terrorists. They raided and killed, attacking both foreigners and "collaborating" Jews. They were chiefly responsible for the rebellion against Rome which ended in the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
From my perspective doing leadership development and team-building, what is so amazing is the diversity of the team that Jesus gathers to help him advance his purpose, the Kingdom of God. In addition to people like Simon, the Zealot, he also chooses Matthew, the tax collector-- a man who the zealots would have despised for his collusion with the Roman occupation. Further, Jesus chooses James and John, who have the nickname, "the sons of thunder." We can only guess why, but I would imagine that they were somewhat impetuous, maybe a bit boisterous. And then there is Simon Peter, a most unlikely foundation stone for the future church.
In all this, Jesus opts for diversity of personality and background, and seems to choose people more for their growth potential than for their professional competence, their intellectual brilliance, or expertise. In fact, from the numerous accounts in the Gospels, these men often acted like a bunch of competitive adolescents, each in their own way torn between the way of the world and the WAY that Jesus was modeling them: a way of humble, self-abnegating service.
So, if you happen to find yourself on a diverse and seemingly motley team, perhaps it is an opportunity to see that your way may not be the only way, and that God indeed can work wonders through the most unlikely people.
Gospel
Lk 6:12-16
Jesus went up to the mountain to pray,
and he spent the night in prayer to God.
When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,
James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon who was called a Zealot,
and Judas the son of James,
and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Simon is mentioned on all four lists of the apostles. On two of them he is called "the Zealot." The Zealots were a Jewish sect that represented an extreme of Jewish nationalism. For them, the messianic promise of the Old Testament meant that the Jews were to be a free and independent nation. God alone was their king, and any payment of taxes to the Romans—the very domination of the Romans—was a blasphemy against God. No doubt some of the Zealots were the spiritual heirs of the Maccabees, carrying on their ideals of religion and independence. But many were the counterparts of modern terrorists. They raided and killed, attacking both foreigners and "collaborating" Jews. They were chiefly responsible for the rebellion against Rome which ended in the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.
From my perspective doing leadership development and team-building, what is so amazing is the diversity of the team that Jesus gathers to help him advance his purpose, the Kingdom of God. In addition to people like Simon, the Zealot, he also chooses Matthew, the tax collector-- a man who the zealots would have despised for his collusion with the Roman occupation. Further, Jesus chooses James and John, who have the nickname, "the sons of thunder." We can only guess why, but I would imagine that they were somewhat impetuous, maybe a bit boisterous. And then there is Simon Peter, a most unlikely foundation stone for the future church.
In all this, Jesus opts for diversity of personality and background, and seems to choose people more for their growth potential than for their professional competence, their intellectual brilliance, or expertise. In fact, from the numerous accounts in the Gospels, these men often acted like a bunch of competitive adolescents, each in their own way torn between the way of the world and the WAY that Jesus was modeling them: a way of humble, self-abnegating service.
So, if you happen to find yourself on a diverse and seemingly motley team, perhaps it is an opportunity to see that your way may not be the only way, and that God indeed can work wonders through the most unlikely people.
Gospel
Lk 6:12-16
Jesus went up to the mountain to pray,
and he spent the night in prayer to God.
When day came, he called his disciples to himself,
and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles:
Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew,
James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew,
Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus,
Simon who was called a Zealot,
and Judas the son of James,
and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?
When we hear the expression, "the purpose driven life," I wonder what it stirs up for people? Perhaps it connotes a sense of living from the inside out, rather than being a victim of circumstances, or of constantly being in a reactive rather than proactive posture. It might suggest that a person is capable of setting their own agenda, articulating their own self-formulated values, or of someone who is self-possessed rather than being subject to the whims of the world.
When it comes to Jesus, it is fairly safe to say that he was a purpose driven person, and that the purpose he served was that of proclaiming and revealing the Kingdom of God. At the same time, even though the Kingdom seems to have been his animating purpose, when he describes it to others, he always explains it by use of analogy. What do you think he means?
Gospel
Lk 13:18-21
Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like?
To what can I compare it?
It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.
When it was fully grown, it became a large bush
and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”
Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?
It is like yeast that a woman took
and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”
When it comes to Jesus, it is fairly safe to say that he was a purpose driven person, and that the purpose he served was that of proclaiming and revealing the Kingdom of God. At the same time, even though the Kingdom seems to have been his animating purpose, when he describes it to others, he always explains it by use of analogy. What do you think he means?
Gospel
Lk 13:18-21
Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like?
To what can I compare it?
It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.
When it was fully grown, it became a large bush
and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”
Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?
It is like yeast that a woman took
and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”
Monday, October 26, 2009
Woman Unbent
The gospel today strikes me as a powerful contrast with the Church's patriarchal position on the role of women. Jesus defies religious conventions by healing on the Sabbath, and beyond this, it is hard not to see the symbolic meaning of this gesture as he heals the bent woman.
Gospel
Lk 13:10-17
Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath.
And a woman was there who for eighteen years
had been crippled by a spirit;
she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.
When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said,
“Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.”
He laid his hands on her,
and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.
But the leader of the synagogue,
indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath,
said to the crowd in reply,
“There are six days when work should be done.
Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.”
The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites!
Does not each one of you on the sabbath
untie his ox or his ass from the manger
and lead it out for watering?
This daughter of Abraham,
whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now,
ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day
from this bondage?”
When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated;
and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.
Irene Zimmerman, OFM writes a lovely and powerful poem inspired by this liberating and healing encounter:
Woman Un-Bent
That Sabbath day as always
she went to the synagogue
and took the place assigned her
right behind the grill where,
the elders had concurred,
she would block no one's view,
she would lean her heavy head,
and (though this was not said)
she'd give a good example to those who stood behind her.
That day, intent as always
on the Word (for eighteen years
she'd listened thus), she heard
Authority when Jesus spoke.
Though long stripped
of forwardness,
she came forward, nonetheless,
when Jesus summoned her.
"Woman, you are free
of your infirmity," he said.
The leader of the synagogue
worked himself into a sweat
as he tried to bend the Sabbath
and the woman back in place.
But she stood up straight and let
God's glory touch her face.
Gospel
Lk 13:10-17
Jesus was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath.
And a woman was there who for eighteen years
had been crippled by a spirit;
she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.
When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said,
“Woman, you are set free of your infirmity.”
He laid his hands on her,
and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.
But the leader of the synagogue,
indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath,
said to the crowd in reply,
“There are six days when work should be done.
Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day.”
The Lord said to him in reply, “Hypocrites!
Does not each one of you on the sabbath
untie his ox or his ass from the manger
and lead it out for watering?
This daughter of Abraham,
whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now,
ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day
from this bondage?”
When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated;
and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.
Irene Zimmerman, OFM writes a lovely and powerful poem inspired by this liberating and healing encounter:
Woman Un-Bent
That Sabbath day as always
she went to the synagogue
and took the place assigned her
right behind the grill where,
the elders had concurred,
she would block no one's view,
she would lean her heavy head,
and (though this was not said)
she'd give a good example to those who stood behind her.
That day, intent as always
on the Word (for eighteen years
she'd listened thus), she heard
Authority when Jesus spoke.
Though long stripped
of forwardness,
she came forward, nonetheless,
when Jesus summoned her.
"Woman, you are free
of your infirmity," he said.
The leader of the synagogue
worked himself into a sweat
as he tried to bend the Sabbath
and the woman back in place.
But she stood up straight and let
God's glory touch her face.
Sayings of St. Ignatius of Loyola
"The one who sets about making others better is wasting his/her time unless that person begins with his/herself."
Sunday, October 25, 2009
A new way of seeing...
I've been reflecting the whole day on the Gospel from today's liturgy...
Gospel
Mk 10:46-52
As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd,
Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus,
sat by the roadside begging.
On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth,
he began to cry out and say,
"Jesus, son of David, have pity on me."
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.
But he kept calling out all the more,
"Son of David, have pity on me."
Jesus stopped and said, "Call him."
So they called the blind man, saying to him,
"Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you."
He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?"
The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see."
Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you."
Immediately he received his sight
and followed him on the way.
------
As with every Gospel passage, there are so many ways to interpret a given passage, and when we pray over a certain text, there is often a way that our current lived reality affects what we see and how we see it. This morning, I was meditating on the theme of sight... What is it that I need to see more clearly? Where are my blind-spots? Do I feel the same irrepressible desire to be healed and to follow Jesus? Do I have to faith that the blind man had?
In truth, my prayer foundered a bit in abstraction. Focused on myself, these questions didn't get much traction or yield much insight. But later in the day, I was driving back from an art exhibit downtown and saw a man by the side of the road, holding a sign saying that he was homeless and needed help. Hmmm... I could not help but make the association with Bartimaeus sitting on the curb calling for help.
Now, you might be thinking that because I made that connection, or simply because I have an empathetic concern as a Christian, or as a fellow human being, that I pulled over and went to this man's aid. But instead, I passed him, rationalizing that if I did stop to give the man money, that he would use it for drugs or alcohol. And indeed, for all the years I lived in New York City, I always made a point to offer people food, not cash, even if it meant that I spent much more than I would have if I had given a handout. It was a sort of principle I held on to, and as a result, many people declined the offer because they seemed uninterested in food. Others took me up on it and at times, this led to ongoing relationship with homeless men and women, such that we knew each others' names and basic story lines, and occasionally we shared a meal together.
But today, I realized that principle was based on an assumption about people and their motivations. It was based on a sort of cynical blanket judgment, that while it might have applied in certain situations, was by no means universally accurate. Assumptions have a way of affecting what and how we see... and today, I had my blinders taken off (at least that particular set!). Maybe principles work in a general way by definition, but if I am not mistaken, Jesus decided on a case by case basis how he would respond to each person... because he truly saw each person. I hope I might do the same.
Gospel
Mk 10:46-52
As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd,
Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus,
sat by the roadside begging.
On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth,
he began to cry out and say,
"Jesus, son of David, have pity on me."
And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.
But he kept calling out all the more,
"Son of David, have pity on me."
Jesus stopped and said, "Call him."
So they called the blind man, saying to him,
"Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you."
He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus.
Jesus said to him in reply, "What do you want me to do for you?"
The blind man replied to him, "Master, I want to see."
Jesus told him, "Go your way; your faith has saved you."
Immediately he received his sight
and followed him on the way.
------
As with every Gospel passage, there are so many ways to interpret a given passage, and when we pray over a certain text, there is often a way that our current lived reality affects what we see and how we see it. This morning, I was meditating on the theme of sight... What is it that I need to see more clearly? Where are my blind-spots? Do I feel the same irrepressible desire to be healed and to follow Jesus? Do I have to faith that the blind man had?
In truth, my prayer foundered a bit in abstraction. Focused on myself, these questions didn't get much traction or yield much insight. But later in the day, I was driving back from an art exhibit downtown and saw a man by the side of the road, holding a sign saying that he was homeless and needed help. Hmmm... I could not help but make the association with Bartimaeus sitting on the curb calling for help.
Now, you might be thinking that because I made that connection, or simply because I have an empathetic concern as a Christian, or as a fellow human being, that I pulled over and went to this man's aid. But instead, I passed him, rationalizing that if I did stop to give the man money, that he would use it for drugs or alcohol. And indeed, for all the years I lived in New York City, I always made a point to offer people food, not cash, even if it meant that I spent much more than I would have if I had given a handout. It was a sort of principle I held on to, and as a result, many people declined the offer because they seemed uninterested in food. Others took me up on it and at times, this led to ongoing relationship with homeless men and women, such that we knew each others' names and basic story lines, and occasionally we shared a meal together.
But today, I realized that principle was based on an assumption about people and their motivations. It was based on a sort of cynical blanket judgment, that while it might have applied in certain situations, was by no means universally accurate. Assumptions have a way of affecting what and how we see... and today, I had my blinders taken off (at least that particular set!). Maybe principles work in a general way by definition, but if I am not mistaken, Jesus decided on a case by case basis how he would respond to each person... because he truly saw each person. I hope I might do the same.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Sayings from St. Ignatius of Loyola
"To the just man even the strokes of adverse fortune are of profit: while hurting they advantage him, like a dew of precious stones depriving the vine of its leaves to bestow on it a better treasure"
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Sayings from Ignatius of Loyola
"Let your first rule of action be to trust God as if success depended entirely on yourself and not on him; but use all your efforts as if God alone did everything, and yourself nothing."
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
What does it mean to awaken?
In the Gospel from today's mass, Jesus tells the disciples to stay awake:
Gospel
Lk 12:35-38
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.”
We might ask ourselves what he means? It seems to go without saying that Jesus is talking about more than being literally awake. He does not expect us to become insomniacs, but rather, to be awake and aware to his presence in all the ways that he becomes manifest to us, in particular, in the person who is poor, hungry, lonely, grieving, imprisoned, marginalized, etc. While we might have the sensitivity to perceive Jesus' presence in the other on a good day, the difficulty is when we are figuratively "asleep"-- consumed with our own agendas, in an impatient rush, fragmented by our anxieties. It takes practice to be be awake and pay attention despite all these tendencies, and this is how practices like the Ignatian Examen of Consciousness can be a help. By paying attention to our experience and reflecting on our day, we can gradually become more reflective IN ACTION... less prone to getting caught asleep.
IGNATIAN EXAMEN OF CONSCIOUSNESS
In this brief prayer period, I have an opportunity to take stock of my experience in relation to my relationships and my work. I am looking for signs of God’s presence, and a sense of where I need to focus some attention for the sake of my personal growth and my greater responsiveness to those in need. In order to do this, I set aside 15 minutes once or twice a day for this reflective prayer.
Grace to pray for: I seek to have the grace of praising God for the things I am grateful for, and I ask God for freedom from any fears and attachments that are obstacles to my growth in love and availability to others.
First, I spend some time quietly coming into awareness of God’s presence with me. I do this by becoming aware of the sensations in my body, of my breathing, and of the feelings I have at this moment. God is here with me and I continue with a humble confidence in God’s loving care for me.
Lights: What are the “lights” of my experience for which I feel gratitude to God? Where have I experienced consolation… growth in faith, hope, and love? Where was I charged up with energy, excitement, and life? When did I feel the quiet but unmistakable peace and joy of being in harmony with God? Is there someone who has helped me to experience Christ today? Am I aware of embodying the Spirit of Christ through my being, knowing, and doing?
Pray for the wisdom of the Holy Spirit: I know that God calls me into the fullness of life. In the light of God’s love for me, I can become more aware of my shadows and the ways that I might continue to grow in freedom from fear. I notice these shadows without judgment, but only that I might grow in self-knowledge and in compassion for others.
Shadows: Where have I experienced desolation, a sense of diminished faith, hope, or love? Where have I experienced discouragement or a sense of paralyzing sadness? Have there been times when I felt out of step with Jesus, in disharmony with God? Have there been times when I have felt resistance to serving the people who present their needs to me? Where have I experienced emotions like ingratitude, envy, or a tendency to judge? Am I aware of habits or patterns that call for transformation through some personal attention and the work of grace?
Resolution: Where do I need to grow in grace? What can I do, practically speaking, to cooperate with God in this area of growth?
Conclusion: Spend a few moments conversing with Jesus as you would a close friend, sharing your experience of the prayer time. Be careful to listen to his response before closing with the Our Father.
Adapted from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola by David McCallum, S.J.
Gospel
Lk 12:35-38
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.”
We might ask ourselves what he means? It seems to go without saying that Jesus is talking about more than being literally awake. He does not expect us to become insomniacs, but rather, to be awake and aware to his presence in all the ways that he becomes manifest to us, in particular, in the person who is poor, hungry, lonely, grieving, imprisoned, marginalized, etc. While we might have the sensitivity to perceive Jesus' presence in the other on a good day, the difficulty is when we are figuratively "asleep"-- consumed with our own agendas, in an impatient rush, fragmented by our anxieties. It takes practice to be be awake and pay attention despite all these tendencies, and this is how practices like the Ignatian Examen of Consciousness can be a help. By paying attention to our experience and reflecting on our day, we can gradually become more reflective IN ACTION... less prone to getting caught asleep.
IGNATIAN EXAMEN OF CONSCIOUSNESS
In this brief prayer period, I have an opportunity to take stock of my experience in relation to my relationships and my work. I am looking for signs of God’s presence, and a sense of where I need to focus some attention for the sake of my personal growth and my greater responsiveness to those in need. In order to do this, I set aside 15 minutes once or twice a day for this reflective prayer.
Grace to pray for: I seek to have the grace of praising God for the things I am grateful for, and I ask God for freedom from any fears and attachments that are obstacles to my growth in love and availability to others.
First, I spend some time quietly coming into awareness of God’s presence with me. I do this by becoming aware of the sensations in my body, of my breathing, and of the feelings I have at this moment. God is here with me and I continue with a humble confidence in God’s loving care for me.
Lights: What are the “lights” of my experience for which I feel gratitude to God? Where have I experienced consolation… growth in faith, hope, and love? Where was I charged up with energy, excitement, and life? When did I feel the quiet but unmistakable peace and joy of being in harmony with God? Is there someone who has helped me to experience Christ today? Am I aware of embodying the Spirit of Christ through my being, knowing, and doing?
Pray for the wisdom of the Holy Spirit: I know that God calls me into the fullness of life. In the light of God’s love for me, I can become more aware of my shadows and the ways that I might continue to grow in freedom from fear. I notice these shadows without judgment, but only that I might grow in self-knowledge and in compassion for others.
Shadows: Where have I experienced desolation, a sense of diminished faith, hope, or love? Where have I experienced discouragement or a sense of paralyzing sadness? Have there been times when I felt out of step with Jesus, in disharmony with God? Have there been times when I have felt resistance to serving the people who present their needs to me? Where have I experienced emotions like ingratitude, envy, or a tendency to judge? Am I aware of habits or patterns that call for transformation through some personal attention and the work of grace?
Resolution: Where do I need to grow in grace? What can I do, practically speaking, to cooperate with God in this area of growth?
Conclusion: Spend a few moments conversing with Jesus as you would a close friend, sharing your experience of the prayer time. Be careful to listen to his response before closing with the Our Father.
Adapted from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola by David McCallum, S.J.
Monday, October 19, 2009
The North American Martyrs and Jesus' Teaching Against Greed
Today, October 19th, the Church in the U.S. celebrates the witness and sacrifice offered by Jesuits and their companions in their mission to the Hurons and neighboring tribes in the North East of what would become the U.S. and Canada.
From Wikipedia:
The North American Martyrs, also known as the Canadian Martyrs, were eight Jesuit missionaries from Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, who were martyred in the 17th century in Canada and Upstate New York. The Martyrs are St. Jean de Brébeuf (1649),[1] St. Noël Chabanel (1649),[2] St. Antoine Daniel (1648),[3] St. Charles Garnier (1649),[2] St. René Goupil (1642),[4] St. Isaac Jogues (1646),[5] St. Jean de Lalande (1646),[6] and St. Gabriel Lalemant (1649).[1]
The readings for today turn our attention to Jesus' teaching about the dangers of greed:
Gospel
Lk 12:13-21
Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,
“Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”
He replied to him,
“Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”
Then he said to the crowd,
“Take care to guard against all greed,
for though one may be rich,
one’s life does not consist of possessions.”
Then he told them a parable.
“There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.
He asked himself, ‘What shall I do,
for I do not have space to store my harvest?’
And he said, ‘This is what I shall do:
I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones.
There I shall store all my grain and other goods
and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you,
you have so many good things stored up for many years,
rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’
But God said to him,
‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you;
and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’
Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself
but is not rich in what matters to God.”
From Wikipedia:
The North American Martyrs, also known as the Canadian Martyrs, were eight Jesuit missionaries from Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, who were martyred in the 17th century in Canada and Upstate New York. The Martyrs are St. Jean de Brébeuf (1649),[1] St. Noël Chabanel (1649),[2] St. Antoine Daniel (1648),[3] St. Charles Garnier (1649),[2] St. René Goupil (1642),[4] St. Isaac Jogues (1646),[5] St. Jean de Lalande (1646),[6] and St. Gabriel Lalemant (1649).[1]
The readings for today turn our attention to Jesus' teaching about the dangers of greed:
Gospel
Lk 12:13-21
Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,
“Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”
He replied to him,
“Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”
Then he said to the crowd,
“Take care to guard against all greed,
for though one may be rich,
one’s life does not consist of possessions.”
Then he told them a parable.
“There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.
He asked himself, ‘What shall I do,
for I do not have space to store my harvest?’
And he said, ‘This is what I shall do:
I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones.
There I shall store all my grain and other goods
and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you,
you have so many good things stored up for many years,
rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’
But God said to him,
‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you;
and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’
Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself
but is not rich in what matters to God.”
Friday, October 16, 2009
Jesus: the ideal "holding environment"
Today's gospel passage is jammed with a variety of Jesus' teachings. These were probably a collection of distinct sayings, each of which situated in a unique context with a particular audience. The overall feel of Jesus' tone is a balancing act of challenge and comfort, a balance that I think is ideal for both keeping us on our toes and at the same time, supporting us through trials. It leads me to think of how I often meet people who claim to have a very close relationship with Jesus, telling me that he is always offering them consolation and healing... sacred balm to soothe them. I must admit, this has not been my personal experience. Don't get me wrong, Jesus does provide strength, comfort, and encouragement when I turn to him in prayer and listen carefully, but not all the time. Sometimes, I find Jesus gently but firmly instigating me, poking my pride, trying to soften my ego and open me up further to loving and being loved. I wonder if it is possible to have a healthy, adult relationship with Jesus unless we are open to both dynamics in our prayer- consolation and challenge?
Years ago, D.W. Winnicott coined the term, the "holding environment" to describe the ideal context in which infants and small children grow. It entailed having a "good enough mother," who nurtures her baby, but not so much so that the child doesn't have to learn to negotiate his/her impulses and eventually develop a distinct sense of self. Developmentalists like Piaget and Kegan pick up on this notion and extend it to the way that adults will continue to grow and mature as long as there is a good balance of developmental supports and challenges in life... which leads me back to Jesus.
In a profound sense, our relationship with Jesus can serve as a sort of ultimate holding environment, so long as we are open to being both supported and challenged by his witness, his teaching, and his Divine Presence.
Luke 12:1-7
At that time:
So many people were crowding together
that they were trampling one another underfoot.
Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples,
“Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees.
“There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness
will be heard in the light,
and what you have whispered behind closed doors
will be proclaimed on the housetops.
I tell you, my friends,
do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but after that can do no more.
I shall show you whom to fear.
Be afraid of the one who after killing
has the power to cast into Gehenna;
yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.
Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?
Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows.”
Years ago, D.W. Winnicott coined the term, the "holding environment" to describe the ideal context in which infants and small children grow. It entailed having a "good enough mother," who nurtures her baby, but not so much so that the child doesn't have to learn to negotiate his/her impulses and eventually develop a distinct sense of self. Developmentalists like Piaget and Kegan pick up on this notion and extend it to the way that adults will continue to grow and mature as long as there is a good balance of developmental supports and challenges in life... which leads me back to Jesus.
In a profound sense, our relationship with Jesus can serve as a sort of ultimate holding environment, so long as we are open to being both supported and challenged by his witness, his teaching, and his Divine Presence.
Luke 12:1-7
At that time:
So many people were crowding together
that they were trampling one another underfoot.
Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples,
“Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees.
“There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness
will be heard in the light,
and what you have whispered behind closed doors
will be proclaimed on the housetops.
I tell you, my friends,
do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but after that can do no more.
I shall show you whom to fear.
Be afraid of the one who after killing
has the power to cast into Gehenna;
yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.
Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?
Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows.”
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Theresa of Avila and Blog Action Day
Today in the Church we remember St. Theresa of Avila, the great 16th century Spanish mystic, reformer, and founder of the Discalced Carmelites. It is also "Blog Action Day," when 7000 of us bloggers around the world are drawing attention to issues of climate change. How, you may wonder, might these two issues be connected? A very good question...
Theresa was not the most likely mystic, entering the convent because of the comfortable life it would afford her. Religious life at that time was rather lax and indulgent. But almost against her will, Theresa began to experience rather intense visions and physical sensations in her prayer-- experiences of God prompting her to simplify and purify her life and eventually to reform the Carmelite order through the embrace of an austere and deeply contemplative way of life. Eventually, John of the Cross, another 16th Century Spanish mystic follows in her footsteps.
While there is tremendous debate about climate change-- it is hard to argue with the idea that excessive materialism and over-consumption do have a destructive effect on both the planet and on our quality of life. When we take a step back and pay attention to our experience, it is the simple things of life that are most satisfying: time with people we love, the pleasure of nature, the experience of beauty, expressing ourselves creatively, putting ourselves in the service of causes and commitments bigger than ourselves. Perhaps Theresa's inspiration to reform her life and the life of her order through the embrace of greater simplicity could lead us to greater happiness, and support the well-being of the planet?
If you are interested in some of the major efforts regarding climate change or the debates going on, consider checking the out the U.N. site for the climate change conference coming up:
http://en.cop15.dk/
Theresa was not the most likely mystic, entering the convent because of the comfortable life it would afford her. Religious life at that time was rather lax and indulgent. But almost against her will, Theresa began to experience rather intense visions and physical sensations in her prayer-- experiences of God prompting her to simplify and purify her life and eventually to reform the Carmelite order through the embrace of an austere and deeply contemplative way of life. Eventually, John of the Cross, another 16th Century Spanish mystic follows in her footsteps.
While there is tremendous debate about climate change-- it is hard to argue with the idea that excessive materialism and over-consumption do have a destructive effect on both the planet and on our quality of life. When we take a step back and pay attention to our experience, it is the simple things of life that are most satisfying: time with people we love, the pleasure of nature, the experience of beauty, expressing ourselves creatively, putting ourselves in the service of causes and commitments bigger than ourselves. Perhaps Theresa's inspiration to reform her life and the life of her order through the embrace of greater simplicity could lead us to greater happiness, and support the well-being of the planet?
If you are interested in some of the major efforts regarding climate change or the debates going on, consider checking the out the U.N. site for the climate change conference coming up:
http://en.cop15.dk/
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Getting Going Again...
Our intention was to bring together the concepts and principles of Ken Wilber's Integral Theory, the insights and practices of contemplative Christianity, and notions of the emerging church. Richard Rohr is well known voice for a progressive Catholicism, rooted deeply in the Scriptures and inspired by the vision of Vatican II. His focus on the retreat was the importance of a non-dual way of seeing and making meaning of the world-- a way of knowing that grows out of contemplative experiences of prayer and self-transcending ways of living. My contribution was in introducing and guiding people in the practice of methods of Ignatian prayer, and in a form of spiritual exercise that is known as "shadow work," wherein we identify and re-integrate aspects of ourselves that have been split off over time.
Of course, all of these aspects of the retreat would take a long time to explain... longer than I have today. But I wanted to at least drop a line and get back into the habit of writing on a daily basis.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Away for a week...
Hello friends,
Will be away at Boulder Integral giving a retreat with friends Richard Rohr, OFM, Sr. Terri Monroe, RSCJ, and Rollie Stanich this week. Please keep us in your prayers! If I manage to find to blog, I will be surprised.
Blessings and peace,
David
Will be away at Boulder Integral giving a retreat with friends Richard Rohr, OFM, Sr. Terri Monroe, RSCJ, and Rollie Stanich this week. Please keep us in your prayers! If I manage to find to blog, I will be surprised.
Blessings and peace,
David
Living in the Present Moment: Abandonment to Divine Providence #4
This past weekend I had the pleasure of many deep and nourishing conversations. One of these chats over a meal of Chinese seafood centered on the topic at hand: the value of living in the present moment. One of the friends expressed concern that the current popularity of the notion of living in the now misses the essential quality of being in a conscious relationship with the Divine. He suggested that the difference between meditation in the style of Zen, for instance, does not pay attention to the Other, and thus is not really prayer.
There may be some truth to this, though I welcome any Zen practitioners to weigh in. While it is my understanding and experience that such meditative practices do not pay attention to the Divine other, I must admit, there are many types of theistic prayer that seem to forget that their is a Personal reality on the other end of the line, so to speak... that God is always more than we imagine.
It is also my experience that when open and attentive to the moment, a profound sense of Presence becomes manifest. This happened this weekend as I was driving. I began by listening to the radio, but losing stations in the mountains, I shut the radio off and continued in silence. As I paid attention to the moment-- the rain falling, the road unfolding before me, the sound of the wind, the colors of the trees-- I found a stillness open up inside me that was anything but empty. It felt indeed like a presence had become manifest, like the presence of an old friend. And the effect of this presence was a spontaneous feeling of gratitude, peacefulness, and desire to express this, which I did outloud in the form of prayer.
So, perhaps living fully attentive to the moment is in some ways and for some people a dimension of prayer, and opening up to the transcendence that is in, through, and beyond all things. This reminds me of a poem by Denise Levertov.
from the rainy nights
from the imagination finding
itself and more than itself
alone and more than alone
at the bottom of the well where the moon lives,
can you pull me
into December? a lowland
of space, perception of space
towering of shadows of clouds blown upon
clouds over
new ground, new made
under heavy December footsteps? the only
way to live?
The flawed moon
acts on the truth, and makes
an autumn of tentative
silences.
You lived, but somewhere else,
your presence touched others, ring upon ring,
and changed. Did you think
I would not change?
The black moon
turns away, its work done. A tenderness,
unspoken autumn.
We are faithful
only to the imagination. What the
imagination
seizes
as beauty must be truth. What holds you
to what you see of me is
that grasp alone.
Denise Levertov
There may be some truth to this, though I welcome any Zen practitioners to weigh in. While it is my understanding and experience that such meditative practices do not pay attention to the Divine other, I must admit, there are many types of theistic prayer that seem to forget that their is a Personal reality on the other end of the line, so to speak... that God is always more than we imagine.
It is also my experience that when open and attentive to the moment, a profound sense of Presence becomes manifest. This happened this weekend as I was driving. I began by listening to the radio, but losing stations in the mountains, I shut the radio off and continued in silence. As I paid attention to the moment-- the rain falling, the road unfolding before me, the sound of the wind, the colors of the trees-- I found a stillness open up inside me that was anything but empty. It felt indeed like a presence had become manifest, like the presence of an old friend. And the effect of this presence was a spontaneous feeling of gratitude, peacefulness, and desire to express this, which I did outloud in the form of prayer.
So, perhaps living fully attentive to the moment is in some ways and for some people a dimension of prayer, and opening up to the transcendence that is in, through, and beyond all things. This reminds me of a poem by Denise Levertov.
Everything That Acts Is Actual
From the tawny lightfrom the rainy nights
from the imagination finding
itself and more than itself
alone and more than alone
at the bottom of the well where the moon lives,
can you pull me
into December? a lowland
of space, perception of space
towering of shadows of clouds blown upon
clouds over
new ground, new made
under heavy December footsteps? the only
way to live?
The flawed moon
acts on the truth, and makes
an autumn of tentative
silences.
You lived, but somewhere else,
your presence touched others, ring upon ring,
and changed. Did you think
I would not change?
The black moon
turns away, its work done. A tenderness,
unspoken autumn.
We are faithful
only to the imagination. What the
imagination
seizes
as beauty must be truth. What holds you
to what you see of me is
that grasp alone.
Denise Levertov
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Living in the Now: Abandonent to Divine Providence #3
Today is the feast of Therese of Lisieux, the "little flower." As a cloistered Carmelite, her spirituality and her personal disposition fostered an instinct for living in the moment, for doing one thing well, and for appreciating how each creature in creation has its own unique part to play-- however humble. She was wrote once, "The splendor of the rose and the whitness of the lily do not rob the little violet of it’s scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness.”
Have we discovered the inner peace, passion, and groundedness that come from finding our own unique voice in the big scheme of things? Just as living in the present moment demands letting go of the past and surrendering control over the future, it also involves letting go of our grandiosity and/or our excessive modesty. By this I mean, am I able to accept the task or duty that the present moment is presenting to me, no matter how great or small that task may be? It may be as simple as pushing my chair in after I have finished eating, or as great as surrendering my life on behalf of another. More likely, it is somewhere in between. Therese' insight is that simple things done with great love, thoughtfulness, and self-forgetfulness are a path to holiness.
Could it be so simple? Yes!
Have we discovered the inner peace, passion, and groundedness that come from finding our own unique voice in the big scheme of things? Just as living in the present moment demands letting go of the past and surrendering control over the future, it also involves letting go of our grandiosity and/or our excessive modesty. By this I mean, am I able to accept the task or duty that the present moment is presenting to me, no matter how great or small that task may be? It may be as simple as pushing my chair in after I have finished eating, or as great as surrendering my life on behalf of another. More likely, it is somewhere in between. Therese' insight is that simple things done with great love, thoughtfulness, and self-forgetfulness are a path to holiness.
Could it be so simple? Yes!
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