Ash Wednesday: Lent

Greetings,

Since I have been unable to maintain this site, I want to offer a link to Loyola Press' Ignatian Spirituality Website, a great online Lent Retreat. Give it a try!

http://ignatianspirituality.com/lent/seven-weeks-for-the-soul-ash-wednesday/

The Kingdom of God

In the Gospel of the day, Jesus begins his public ministry proclaiming that the Kingdom of God is near at hand...

Mk 1:14-20
After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God:
“This is the time of fulfillment.
The Kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;
they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Then they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along a little farther
and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.


They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then he called them.
So they left their father Zebedee in the boat

along with the hired men and followed him.


If I am not mistaken, there is a profound connection between Jesus' experience at his baptism, where he is claimed by the Father as the beloved son, and the meaning of what he calls the Kingdom of God. Imagine the way you feel when you are told that you are loved by someone for whom you have deep regard, respect, and affection. There is a sense of feeling like all is right with the world, that you want to live worthily and be generous in response to that love-- not only in the relationship with that one person, but with everyone. Isn't there a sense when we are in touch with that kind of love that everything else in our lives becomes relative, so that our lives are no longer driven so much by our desire for material security, success, or prestige, but rather, we desire to live in the service of that love.

Perhaps I am pushing this a bit and may sound overly idealistic, however, I hope that when you take deep stock of the importance of the love relationships in your life, and the impact that loves makes on you, that you know what I am talking about. I believe that for Jesus, the experience of his Father's love is all this and more, and that he wants to invite all of us to experience the same love in a direct manner.

This is where the call to repentance comes in...because so long as we live our lives in a pursuit of anything else, we will miss the entrance to the Kingdom that lies before us. We need to let go of the attachments that we base our sense of identity and value upon, and rediscover the true identity of Christ within ourselves-- as God's beloveds.

The Baptism of the Lord

First things first: it has been far too long since I offered a reflection here, and for the better part of Advent, I wondered whether I would be able to sustain this blog as a regular commitment. Sadly, just as the church calendar calls us into a more quiet, reflective stance as we prepare for Christmas, the academic year goes into overdrive making December very, very hectic. But I missed this as a spiritual practice in that the work of crystalizing and expressing reflections based on the liturgical readings, or other seasonal texts, is a sort of soul sustenance for me. It also helps me to stay honest about my prayer, and remain rooted in the liturgical cycle, as well as the wider world of the church. So, apologies to you if by any chance you count on such things for your spiritual life too! While I do intend to occasionally include postings on other topics, especially leadership, I am going to make a concerted effort to keep up with the spiritual themes.

Today as you may know is the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and unlike the rest of the secular materialist world, which was ready for the end of the Christmas on the 26th of December, whereupon it began to focus on New Year's Eve, for the Church today is the actually the official conclusion of the Christmas season.

Our gospel reading from Luke struck me today. I enclose it below and will offer a brief reflection...

Lk 3:15-16, 21-22

The people were filled with expectation,
and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying,
“I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

After all the people had been baptized
and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying,
heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him
in bodily form like a dove.
And a voice came from heaven,
“You are my beloved Son;
with you I am well pleased.”

There are really a number of things that struck me today as I meditated on this reading. First, I don't know that I ever noticed that in Luke's version, it is after Jesus has been baptized by John and while he is in prayer that he has the experience of the Holy Spirit coming upon him, and that he hears this profound, divine affirmation that he is God's beloved one. In Luke's gospel, Jesus is portrayed praying at key moments, usually by himself in a quiet and remote place. Here, he must have been on the bank of the river Jordan, perhaps near the crowd of people that gathered to hear John's preaching and to be baptized. I can only speculate, but this event must have had unique and momentous importance in the life of Jesus. It is described as occurring on the threshold of his "hidden life," the period of time between his birth and his late twenties or early thirties, and his "public life" of itinerant preaching, miracle work, and teaching. While other people came to John for a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of their sins and as a way of beginning to reform their lives in anticipation of the messiah, for Jesus, whatever his intentions might have been, he experienced the baptism as "theophany," a revelation of God, and specifically, as an experience of being chosen, blessed, and soon, being sent by his Father. And perhaps, most importantly, the chief quality of his experience of his Father is not fear, but of being loved... literally, that he is beloved by the Father.

I know that all this might seem very obvious, but I think that the emphasis on God's love as the foundation of who Jesus is and everything he does is essential. Whereas John the Baptist's preaching is foreboding, even angry, and suggests that God is waiting with fiery judgment for those who stray from the law, this is not Jesus' experience. In fact, though he does condemn recalcitrant sinners who refuse to change, Jesus goes out of his way to demonstrate that God's love is overflowing and abundant, available to all who turn their hearts to God's ways. Strangely though, I think that many church's, the Catholic Church included, tend at times to embrace John the Baptist's God, rather than the the Loving Father of Jesus. For some reason, people are drawn to a God who thinks and judges in black and white terms, rather than the Father who lovingly cherishes sinners even before they repent.

May we all come to know the Loving Father of Jesus and ourselves as his Beloved Ones.

A New Year's Blessing from a Fellow Jesuit

A New Year Blessing

During our Advent preparation for Christmas we sought God’s aid that we grow in the hope that God’s promises to us would be fulfilled. Now in the flush of enthusiasm for this New Year, 2010, we seek God’s assistance to be close to us on the road of these fresh adventures in faith:

Lord God, help us now to realize more deeply that you are not far off, but near, that you speak to us in our own tongue, that you touch us through the hand of men and women like ourselves.

You have called us your own, your chosen ones, and we place our trust in your word.

Stay with us and give us your peace. May we never be afraid.

We pray for people of all ages, for all who young and old belong to each other and go through life together, that we may care for and respect each other.

We pray for all children, for all among us who are defenseless and small--that nothing may harm them,that we may lead them to know the truth.

We pray for our young people whose lives lie ahead of them, that we may go forward with open and receptive minds to meet their future, that they may learn to accept themselves and not lose heart, that they may respect the past, be faithful to their friends and unselfish in love, ready to make this world a better place to live in.

We pray for those in the prime of life, that their lives may be fruitful and seek the welfare of others.

We pray for the elderly, that they may stay young in heart and put their experience to good use in the service of others.

We pray for ourselves that young or old we may constantly be made new by your grace, Lord our God.

We place these requests before you knowing that you will hear us.

We pray for peace and truth, that your will be done at all times in us, from day to day through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Fr. David Casey, S.J., Chaplain to the Alumni

On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Eph 1:3-6, 11-12

Brothers and sisters:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace
that he granted us in the beloved.

In him we were also chosen,
destined in accord with the purpose of the One
who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
we who first hoped in Christ.

Advent: an Invitation to Slow Down, Be Still, and Pay Attention

Today I have been waiting for news from an old friend who expected to give birth today... I had performed her wedding to her husband, Tom and baptized their first baby, Ciaran. She went into labor this afternoon!

For me, the fact that Deirdre is giving birth today helps me to focus my thoughts on Advent, this season of spiritual preparation for Christmas. While it is my favorite liturgical season, these four weeks of expectation, with themes of God's promises, of the call to awaken and be watchful, of focus on the role of ordinary people called to play extraordinary roles in the history of salvation, it also is such an incongruous time as well. Incongruous because the circumstances of our lives and of the commercial holiday season seem to militate against the core themes and meaning of Christmas. I don't know about you, but it is hard to settle down into those deep things, the mystery and meaning of it all, when we are rushing headlong into the stress and anxiety of exams, of upcoming holidays, of sometimes stressful times with family... Do you know what I am talking about?

This is why I love Lessons and Carols, because it opens up a window for us to breath in some of that mystery, to help draw us into the mood and meaning of this season. To gather as Christians have gathered for hundreds, even thousands of years to sing ancient hymns and recall this story.

The fact that Deirdre is giving birth today somehow brings this season into perspective... that what we prepare to celebrate is new life, new hope, even the future itself. And I think about the way that Deirdre and her husband, Tom have been preparing themselves... how Deirdre became not just a physical vessel for this new life to take shape over these nine months, but how their relationship, their love, and their openness to the future was also a spiritual vessel in which this baby is being born today.

Maybe that physical and spiritual preparation to give birth and welcome new life is a good analogy for what each of us is invited to do in Advent. And maybe it would help to get specific.

A few weeks ago when I was talking to Deirdre on the phone, she was sharing how in these last few weeks, feeling really heavy and uncomfortable, she was sometimes not have energy to do much more than slow down, become still, and pay attention to what was going on within her. Slowing down, becoming still, and paying attention.

I imagine that Mary of Nazareth did the same, and that at times when she did slow down, become still, and paid attention, what she became aware of was the life of God within her, the tiny movements and kicking feet and elbows, the heartbeat of Christ within her.

I've come to believe that this is what Advent is about for me... an invitation to slow down despite the fact that the rest of the world seems to speed up these next four weeks. An invitation to become still, like the stillness of snow falling in dark empty streets, stillness and silence that is somehow anything but empty. An invitation to pay attention, because in that stillness there is a fullness that is nothing less than the presence of the Divine One, the Christ, within me.

I know, it might seem some more familiar, maybe even safer to give into our nostalgia and to focus on a quaint little creche scene where the baby Jesus rests a hay-filled manger surrounded by warm golden light. And we can worship him, and maybe pause a moment to consider the awesome mystery of the Incarnation because it happened so very long ago, in fairy tale time, in way off distant place.

But much less safe, and maybe even terrifying and wonderful, like the birth of a child, there is the one we are called to bear into the world, the real living Christ, who desires to be borne into the consciousness of our minds and hearts so that we grow into his own image through the lives we live in this world.

Slowing down, becoming still, paying attention... to the Christ who waits to be borne within each of us.

And incidentally, as I checked my email just now, greetings and peace to baby Eamonn Ignatius Ryan, welcome to the human race!

A few thoughts on the Apocalypse... and Advent

That's an understated title, isn't it? You may be wondering what I'm doing focusing on the Apocalypse today, especially in the holiday season... I mean, Thanksgiving couldn't have been that traumatic, right? Right, I actually had a really good Thanksgiving with my family, not to mention a rather tasty turkey (I discovered brining!).

I am thinking of the Apocalypse for a few reasons. First, have you noticed some of the hysteria these days in anticipation of the end of the Mayan calendar in 2012? Consider Roland Emmerich's widely panned movie, the film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's bleak post apocalyptic novel, The Road , not to mention the threatening prophecies that Jesus utters in the last few chapters of Luke's gospel prior to his crucifixion in Jerusalem-- (the readings of the past week's liturgy)it's all a bit foreboding to say the least. A month or so ago, I had to take a taxi cab in NYC (talk about feeling like it was going to be the end of the world!) and when the driver saw that I was a priest, he became very serious and asked if I believed all the things written in the book of Revelation. It seems that there is something of the end-time anxiety in the air these days... and in fact, perhaps reassuringly, this has been the case at turning points throughout human history.

As a matter of human nature, individually and collectively, it easy to become overwhelmed by what appears to be the bad news... violence, poverty, hunger, the deterioration of civility let alone virtue. While there may be more than a proportional number of constructive, altruistic, and compassionate acts performed on a daily basis to offset the destructive ones, these will rarely grab the headlines. Thus, we will rarely have the benefit of such stories to inspire and edify us... indeed, we have to go out of our ways to hear and pass along such good news. Unless we have a natural, buoyant optimism, or perhaps more importantly, a deep store of faith, it is natural that we become preoccupied with the things that we fear... and thus we search for meaning and some compass for our uncharted lives in the unfolding of history. We long for someone or something to save us personally and collectively.

If I am not mistaken, this is the source of what we might call the apocalyptic imagination, the hope for all this deterioration and decline to be stopped and reversed by a Divine act that punishes evil doers and rewards the just. Implicitly, the apocalyptic imagination relies on dualistic, either/or thinking to create clarity and certainty out of very complex and ambiguous realities. While there is some evidence to suggest that Jesus himself employed some of these images, and there is a rich biblical tradition of such images in the apocalyptic literature of the scriptures I am going to suggest that we be very careful, discerning even, in what we do with such images.

It is true that the power of apocalyptic metaphors, for people of faith at least, is not that they inspire fear and trembling, but rather, that they reaffirm a profound confidence in God's providence, wisdom, and judgment. In essence, they affirm that as dark as things become, and however much we are suffering in the short term due to our acts of integrity and compassion, that God has the future in God's own Divine safekeeping. Thus, we persevere in faith, hope, and love despite the adversity we experience... we hold fast and stay steady in unsteady times. This is a very, very important and valuable message, and one worth respecting.

At the same time, in much of the apocalyptic clamor, whether in the popular media or in the sometimes reprehensible fear mongering in pulpits, there is not so much a call to faith and conversion as there is to infantalizing dependence on demagogic preachers and to a condemning judgment of others. This is simply not the work of the Holy Spirit. And what's more, it is subverting precisely the kind of transformation, personal and collective, that the apocalyptic literature is meant to inspire.

It is no accident that as the ordinary time of the church year comes to a close, we recall Jesus' final journey to Jerusalem prior to his death, and come face to face with predictions of cataclysm that reflect our deepest fears and concerns for the future. On this threshold of Advent, the season of spiritual preparation for the celebration of Christmas, the urgency and foreboding of the apocalyptic literature are not meant to scare us straight so much as inspire us to hold fast in faith that God is a God of Love, that our desire to grow more free from fear, from attachments, and from disorder within our hearts are all a response to that Love.

As we begin the Advent journey again this year, let us do so carrying the flame of faith with us, be steadfast in doing good despite the ways of the world, and stay awake to every opportunity to grow into Christ's own image and likeness, that this Christmas is as much a celebration of Christ's renewing birth within our own consciousness in the present as it is a recollection of God's becoming human long ago.

Link to my old blog, Katabasis

For many postings on the theme of thanksgiving and gratitude, consider searching my blog from the past year, katabasis- going downunder.

http://katabasis-downunder.blogspot.com/

Servant Leadership

I know that it's Thanksgiving and you might expect me to be writing about the importance of gratitude and appreciation-- fair enough! But I have written on these themes many times in earlier blogs and you can find them by doing a search with those key words, especially from my previous blog, Katabasis. As I mentioned earlier this week, I just want to offer a thought or two on the theme of Servant Leadership, the form of leadership that Jesus embodied, and which has been imitated by countless women and men since then.

In Jesus' time and in our own, a prevailing notion of leadership is that it is about power and authority, often exercised over others for the achievement of some goal. Even dictionaries describe authority, the right to do the work of leadership, in terms of command, control, power, sway, rule, supremacy, domination, dominion, strength, & might. While some of these nouns are neutral in their own right, or may have a positive value in the right context, I would describe them as characteristics of an egocentric model of authority. By contrast, Robert Greenleaf describes leadership in terms of moral authority. He writes in Servant Leadership(1977),

A new moral authority is emerging which holds that the authority deserving one's allegiance is that which is freely and knowingly granted by the led to the leader in response to and in proportion to the clearly evident stature of the leader. Those who choose to follow this principle will not casually accept the authority of existing institutions. Rather, they will freely respond only to individual who are chosen as leaders because they are proven and trusted as servants. To the extent that this principle prevails in the future, the only truly viable institutions will be those that are predominantly servant led.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thinking Back on Christ the King: Servant Leadership

Very briefly as this has been a very long day already... Yesterday, the Church celebrated the feast of Christ the King, and I intend to reflect on the theme of Servant Leadership as the week goes on. I think of this week as a kind of liminal or transitional space between the end of Ordinary Time and the beginning of Advent this upcoming Sunday. By servant leadership, I am referring to a notion developed by Robert Greenleaf in his book by the same title: that the essence of leadership is about a deeply principled service of one's followers

The theme of servant leadership as a way of thinking about Christ's kingship and our own is both inspiring and challenging to me.

Leading Change

I wasn't thinking of these reflections on Integrity under Duress and Leadership for Change as a series, but it just so happens that the Gospel for today is the scene in Luke where Jesus upsets the applecart in the Temple by driving the merchants out. For those of us who tend to reduce the Son of God to a nice guy from Nazareth, a gentle wisdom teacher and healer, this depiction of Jesus' anger and vehement, if not violent action is a bit jarring. What was going on that Jesus was moved to take a whip up and drive people and their profits out of the temple?

We know from historical research that the Temple was at the heart of the economy in Jerusalem, whereby the practices of slaughtering and sacrificing animals as ritual offerings consumed huge resources and was burdensome to observant Jews, especially the poor. There was also a Temple tax that helped to support the priests, scribes, and other functionaries. Within the Temple, there was a large precinct where people bought and sold livestock and birds for their ritual offerings, and which was no doubt a very lively place within the Temple boundaries. The Temple itself was a huge and very grand complex, awe inspiring for its grandeur and opulence.

Given what we know, it must have grieved Jesus to witness all this when his deepest desire was to bring Israel into right relationship with the Father, to restore and deepen his people's intimate relationship and dependence on the One. When three years of itinerant ministry, teaching and healing huge crowds, failed to bring about the revolutionary/evolutionary change that he was leading them toward, it seems that he went up to Jerusalem one last time for Passover with some intention to turn the heat up a notch. There is some conjecture that his dramatic action in the Temple was an event staged to bring the conflict with the religious and political authorities out into the open. While many have portrayed Jesus as a passive victim of the Roman and High Priestly officials plot to safeguard their control in Israel, this may be only a part of the puzzle.

All this to say that leading change can, at times, involve dramatic action, confrontation, and creative conflict to unfreeze the status quo and to provoke people into action.

Gospel
Lk 19:45-48

Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out
those who were selling things, saying to them,
“It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer,
but you have made it a den of thieves.”
And every day he was teaching in the temple area.
The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile,
were seeking to put him to death,
but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

Integrity Under Duress #2

As a person attempting to exercise leadership, this issue of integrity even adverse conditions is so important to me. If you think about it, leadership often entails mobilizing resources and people to make changes, move in a new direction, or do a new thing. What happens when you try to effect change? You guessed it, resistance. Think about the last time someone tried to change your mind, or get you to do what they wanted you to do. Isn't it sometimes the case that even if you know the change would be beneficial, you resist it anyway? Think about the last time that your doctor said you should lose a few pounds, or stop eating high cholestrol foods, or sugar. You know what I'm talking about. These is this natural tendency in living systems to seek and maintain a sort of homeostasis, so it is not too far a stretch to see how it is not only our bodies that tend toward the status quo. It is also the way we maintain habits of mind, routines of behavior.

When leaders try to effect change, it would be naive to think that even the most reasonable and potentially beneficial changes will not be met with resistance, even hostility. So, leaders have to learn how to read resistance as a form of communication, not as a personal attack. Rather, underneath, people might be saying, "we're afraid," "this is hard," "I'm worried that something precious will be lost if we change," etc. In a sense, leaders need to have a sort of resiliency to criticism and hostility, remembering that its not personal-- that anyone trying to rock the boat will get the same reaction.

Leaders need to develop the ability to hold steady, maintaining their integrity even under duress, and balancing the pressure they place on others with an authentic communication of care. If this sounds resonant with you, you might be interested in the books of Ron Heifetz from the Kennedy School of Government, in particular, Leadership on the Line.

Integrity under Duress

The commemoration of the El Salvadoran martyrs yesterday, especially the reminder of the way the Jesuits and their colleagues continued their work for social justice on behalf of the poor in the face of death threats, inspired me to think about the meaning of integrity. While some might think of integrity as sort of consistency between one's intentions and values and the way that that person manifests those intentions and values in action, I think there is more to it than that. It is one thing to be able to be a virtuous, upstanding, and skillful person under the best conditions, and another to be virtuous, upstanding, and skillful when the conditions don't support that kind of character at all.

I think of the way the Jesuits at the UCA in El Salvador were not supermen, but rather very human, humble men, committed to living with and serving the poor. It was not their own courage or heroism that sustained them in the face of danger, but rather a sense of purpose and commitment to something/someone beyond themselves. They lived to be in solidarity with the poor and to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus in such a way that this proclamation was not in word only. The Jesuits believed that in order for poor people to believe in a good and loving God, they themselves had to express their faith in action that promoted justice and ended exploitation and violence. Their stance was a vivid confrontation with the powers the be, and the worldly values that under-gird unjust orders.

It is easy, and maybe a bit vain, to live in the comfort of my current surroundings and imagine that I would have been as steadfast and unwavering in my commitment at they were, but I wonder.

In our first reading from the mass of the day, Eleazar demonstrates the kind of integrity under duress that confronts the values of his enemies and inspires and encourages all those of his own community.


2 Maccabbees 6:18-31

Eleazar, one of the foremost scribes,
a man of advanced age and noble appearance,
was being forced to open his mouth to eat pork.
But preferring a glorious death to a life of defilement,
he spat out the meat,
and went forward of his own accord to the instrument of torture,
as people ought to do who have the courage to reject the food
which it is unlawful to taste even for love of life.
Those in charge of that unlawful ritual meal took the man aside privately,
because of their long acquaintance with him,
and urged him to bring meat of his own providing,
such as he could legitimately eat,
and to pretend to be eating some of the meat of the sacrifice
prescribed by the king;
in this way he would escape the death penalty,
and be treated kindly because of their old friendship with him.
But Eleazar made up his mind in a noble manner,
worthy of his years, the dignity of his advanced age,
the merited distinction of his gray hair,
and of the admirable life he had lived from childhood;
and so he declared that above all
he would be loyal to the holy laws given by God.

He told them to send him at once
to the abode of the dead, explaining:
“At our age it would be unbecoming to make such a pretense;
many young people would think the ninety-year-old Eleazar
had gone over to an alien religion.
Should I thus pretend for the sake of a brief moment of life,
they would be led astray by me,
while I would bring shame and dishonor on my old age.
Even if, for the time being, I avoid the punishment of men,
I shall never, whether alive or dead,
escape the hands of the Almighty.
Therefore, by manfully giving up my life now,
I will prove myself worthy of my old age,
and I will leave to the young a noble example
of how to die willingly and generously
for the revered and holy laws.”

Eleazar spoke thus,
and went immediately to the instrument of torture.
Those who shortly before had been kindly disposed,
now became hostile toward him because what he had said
seemed to them utter madness.
When he was about to die under the blows,
he groaned and said:
“The Lord in his holy knowledge knows full well that,
although I could have escaped death,
I am not only enduring terrible pain in my body from this scourging,
but also suffering it with joy in my soul
because of my devotion to him.”
This is how he died,
leaving in his death a model of courage
and an unforgettable example of virtue
not only for the young but for the whole nation.

20th Anniversary of the Assassination of the Six Jesuits and their friends at the UCA in El Salvador

Remembering the Martyrs of the Universidad Centroamericana, José Simeón Cañas, El Salvador

Grewen Hall at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York
Monday November 16 2009, 5-6 p.m.
A vigil will be held at dusk in solidarity with the Society of Jesus and the UCA-JSC, to mark the 20th anniversary of the massacre in El Salvador and to commemorate all who give their lives in the long struggle for justice. All are welcome: Public invited.
Click here for directions to campus or go to this web page: http://www.lemoyne.edu/VISITLEMOYNE/tabid/473/Default.aspx

Sponsored by the Le Moyne College Center for Peace and Global Studies, in cooperation with Campus Ministry, the Office of Communications, the Le Moyne College Jesuit Community, Office of Mission and Identity, President's Office, and the Sanzone Center for Catholic Studies and Theological Reflection. In addition, a Mass of Remembrance will be held Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 7 p.m. in the Chapel of Madonna dell Strada, Panasci Family Chapel, Le Moyne College campus, Syracuse, New York. For more information, please call 315.445.4558.

Intellectuals for Justice
St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus, approached Pope Paul III and asked him to send the Jesuits to “wherever in the world the need is greatest.” The Jesuits understand that the greatest need is always among the poor. This transnational brotherhood is known for analytical brilliance, verbal prowess, and courage. They know that to educate the poor is the single most important action one can choose, in order to create a more just world. For speaking out against the abuse of power, Jesuits have been exiled and murdered. In the middle of the night on November 16, 1989, members of the Salvadoran army killed six Jesuits associated with the Universidad Centroamericana, their housekeeper, and her fifteen-year old daughter in a house in San Salvador during. Please join us in remembering the martyrs of UCA-JSC. For more information: http://www.lemoyne.edu/JESUITHERITAGE/tabid/482/Default.aspx.

Wisdom and Her Inspiration...

It is hard to deny that wisdom is a rare virtue... just think of a few people, family, friends, or public figures who would qualify as wise. And perhaps we should define terms first, right? What is wisdom in your eyes?

In the Old Testament Scriptures, there is a whole body of writing known as the Wisdom literature. It includes Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, Job, and the Wisdom of Solomon. In this literature, Wisdom is often personified in the figure of Lady Wisdom, a divine figure who originated with God, yet is also distinct and associated with Creation. What follows is a lovely, poetic description of Lady Wisdom and her attributes... may we all be inspired by her, that we grow not only in knowledge, but also insight, intuition, equanimity, sagacity, skillfulness, and compassion.

Wis 7:22b–8:1

In Wisdom is a spirit
intelligent, holy, unique,
Manifold, subtle, agile,
clear, unstained, certain,
Not baneful, loving the good, keen,
unhampered, beneficent, kindly,
Firm, secure, tranquil,
all-powerful, all-seeing,
And pervading all spirits,
though they be intelligent, pure and very subtle.
For Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion,
and she penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity.
For she is an aura of the might of God
and a pure effusion of the glory of the Almighty;
therefore nought that is sullied enters into her.
For she is the refulgence of eternal light,
the spotless mirror of the power of God,
the image of his goodness.
And she, who is one, can do all things,
and renews everything while herself perduring;
And passing into holy souls from age to age,
she produces friends of God and prophets.
For there is nought God loves, be it not one who dwells with Wisdom.
For she is fairer than the sun
and surpasses every constellation of the stars.
Compared to light, she takes precedence;
for that, indeed, night supplants,
but wickedness prevails not over Wisdom.

Indeed, she reaches from end to end mightily
and governs all things well.

Veteran's Day and the Prospect of Peace

I am reminded today of my brothers and sisters around the world who over the ages have been enlisted by their governments into acts of both aggression and of defense, and of the terrible bloodshed and cost of war on all sides. The scope and scale of war even now in the early 21st Century is still staggering, even after the two World Wars when national leaders swore that armed conflict was no longer seen as a viable, let alone morally justifiable means of guaranteeing freedom, land, rights...

Knowing so many remarkable men and women who have answered a call to the service and defense of their countries, and appreciative of their courage and commitment to their nations, I at the same time pray for an end to war, an end to the arms race and the military industrial complex that drives us into aggression for the sake of its own profits.

In the Gospel for the day today, Jesus shares foreboding words of prophecy regarding the impeding doom of Jerusalem, which was overtaken by Rome at the end of the First Century A.D. Jesus is not condemning Jerusalem so much as commenting on the blindness and collective egotism that leads to war. His question is just as salient to us today: Do we know what makes for peace?

Lk 19:41-44

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem,
he saw the city and wept over it, saying,
“If this day you only knew what makes for peace–
but now it is hidden from your eyes.
For the days are coming upon you
when your enemies will raise a palisade against you;
they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides.
They will smash you to the ground and your children within you,
and they will not leave one stone upon another within you
because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

Indifference, Entitlement, & Gratitude

In the gospel passage that follows, it might seem like Jesus is a bit harsh to his apostles, apparently reprimanding them for expecting thanks or reward for their discipleship and service. I believe that the essence of what he is teaching them is that if we desire to be happy in the work we do, we need to be motivated from within rather than without. By this I mean, we find joy when we act/serve/labor with inner purpose, passion, and commitment... and a sort of indifference to whether our service is recognized or rewarded by others. If by contrast, we act/serve/labor motivated by desire for praise, recognition or reward, or even more problematically, if we live with a sense of expectancy and entitlement, we set ourselves up for disappointment. The paradox of course is that for as helpful as it is to act/serve/labor with a sort of indifferent freedom from the need for recognition, it is at the same time a real virtue to be able to express gratitude and praise of others. Does this make sense?

Lk 17:7-10

Jesus said to the Apostles:
“Who among you would say to your servant
who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field,
‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’?
Would he not rather say to him,
‘Prepare something for me to eat.
Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink.
You may eat and drink when I am finished’?
Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?
So should it be with you.
When you have done all you have been commanded, say,
‘We are unprofitable servants;
we have done what we were obliged to do.’”

True Foundations

Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the cathedral of Rome. This is not St. Peter's, but it is the Pope's cathedral. Also called the Church of Holy Savior or the Church of St. John Baptist, it was the baptism church of ancient Rome. It was built in the time of Constantine and was consecrated by Pope Sylvester in 324. This feast became a universal celebration in honor of the basilica called "the mother and mistress of all churches of Rome and the world" (omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput) as a sign of love for and union with the See of Peter.

I found this feast a bit of a challenge when I settled into prayer this morning until I read the second reading from today's mass. I felt inspired to focus on the theme of foundations... the foundation of the Church on Jesus' life, words, and the witness of his followers, as well as the question of my foundation. What is it that I stake my life on? What do I know that I know that I know? What is it that I have learned through my own personal experience, such that even if the most well informed authority in the world were to challenge me, I could stand my ground and hold steady in a grounded conviction of my own truth. In a sense, I am wondering how Truth with a capital "T" makes room for the truth of individual experience...

1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17

Brothers and sisters:
You are God’s building.
According to the grace of God given to me,
like a wise master builder I laid a foundation,
and another is building upon it.
But each one must be careful how he builds upon it,
for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there,
namely, Jesus Christ.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If anyone destroys God’s temple,
God will destroy that person;
for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

Litany for the Feast of All the Saints and Blessed of the Society of Jesus

P.S. Today is the International Day of the promotion of vocations to the Jesuits. So please add this special intention to your prayer if you would, that God inspire good and talented young men to consider offering their lives in the service of others through the Society of Jesus.

Litany for the Feast of All the Saints and Blessed of the Society of Jesus

Friends, today is the feast of all the Saints and Blessed of the Society of Jesus. It's quite a cast and crew, I must say. None of were perfect, of course, but fully human with foibles, faults, and failings. At the same time, they were remarkable in the way that their lives manifested Christ's life in a distinct and active way in the circumstances of their own lives, especially in and through their loving service of others. Perhaps you might join me in praying that their inspiration and witness might invigorate our faith and commitment to laboring with Christ for the good of all.

Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy, Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.

Christ, hear us, Christ, graciously hear us.
God, our Father in heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the World, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Pray for us.
Holy Mary, Mother and Queen of our Society, Pray for us.
Holy Virgin of Montserrat, Pray for us.
Our Lady of the Way, Pray for us.

Holy Father Ignatius, Pray for us.
St. Francis Xavier, first companion and missionary, Pray for us.
St. Francis Borgia, model of renunciation, Pray for us.
St. Stanislaus Kostka, model and patron of novices, Pray for us.
Sts. Edmund Campion, Robert Southwell and companions,
martyrs of Christ in England, Pray for us.
St. Aloysius Gonzaga and St. John Berchmans,
models and patrons of our scholastics, Pray for us.
Sts. Paul Miki, James Kisai and John Soan de Goto, martyrs of Christ in Japan, Pray for us.
St. Peter Canisius and St. Robert Bellarmine, doctors of the church, Pray for us.
St. John Ogilvie, martyr of Christ in Scotland, Pray for us.
Sts. Bernardine Realino, John Francis Regis and Francis Jerome,
missioners to people in town and country, Pray for us.
St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, model and patron of our brothers, Pray for us.
Sts. Melchior Grodziecki and Stephen Pongrácz, martyrs of Christ in Košice, Pray for us.
Sts. Roch Gonzalez, Alphonsus Rodriguez and John del Castillo,
martyrs of Christ in Paraguay, Pray for us.
Sts. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues and companions,
martyrs of Christ in North America, Pray for us
St. Peter Claver, defender of the slaves in South America, Pray for us.
St. Andrew Bobola, martyr of Christ in Poland, Pray for us.
St. John de Brito, martyr of Christ in India, Pray for us.
St. Claude La Columbière, faithful friend and apostle of the Sacred Heart, Pray for us.
St. Joseph Pignatelli, hallowed link of the old and the restored Society, Pray for us.
Sts. Leo Mangin and companions, martyrs of Christ in China, Pray for us.
St. Joseph Rubio, apostle of Madrid, Pray for us.

All you Saints of the Society of Jesus Pray for us.

Blessed Peter Faber, first companion and apostle of the Spiritual Exercises, Pray for us.
Bl. Ignatius de Azevedo and companions, martyred while sailing for Brazil, Pray for us.
Bl. Thomas Woodhouse, Ralph Ashley and companions,
martyrs of Christ in England, Pray for us.
Bl. Rudolph Acquaviva, Francis Aranha and companions,
martyrs of Christ in India, Pray for us.
Bl. James Salès and William Saultemouche, martyrs of the Eucharist in France, Pray for us.
Bl. Joseph de Anchieta, apostle of Brazil, Pray for us.
Bl. Charles Spinola, Sebastian Kimura and companions,
martyrs of Christ in Japan Pray for us.
Bl. Dominic Collins, martyr of Christ in Ireland, Pray for us.
Bl. Diego Luis de San Vitores, martyr of Christ in Micronesia, Pray for us.
Bl. Julian Maunoir and Anthony Baldinucci, zealous preachers of God=s Word, Pray for us.
Bl. James Bonnaud and companions, martyrs of Christ in France, Pray for us.
Bl. James Berthieu, martyr of Christ in Madagascar, Pray for us.
Bl. John Beyzym, servant of Lepers in Madagascar, Pray for us.
Bl. Miguel Pro, martyr of Christ in Mexico, Pray for us.
Bl. Francis Garate, humble doorkeeper who found God in all things, Pray for us.
Bl. Rupert Mayer, apostle of Munich and fearless witness of truth, Pray for us.
Bl. Alberto Hurtado, agent of social change in Chile, Pray for us.
Bl. Tomás Sitjar Fortiá and companions, martyrs of Christ in Valencia Pray for us.

All you Blessed of the Society of Jesus, Pray for us.

Fathers and Brothers, Scholastics and Novices of the Society
who have preceded us in the service of the Lord, Pray for us.

Let us pray:

Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
though we are sinners, you have called us to be his companions
and to engage in the crucial struggle of our time, the struggle for faith, justice and love.
Bring to completion in us the work you began in Ignatius and so many of his followers.
Place us with your Son, as you placed them,
and take us under the banner of the Cross to serve him alone and his Church.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.