One again, the ignorance of our Most Reverend Bishop has inspired me to blog. In his April 23 writing in the "Rhode Island Catholic, Bishop Tobin mounted his attack on Gay Marrige. Suprisingly he actually understood that gays do not want to march down an isle in a cathedral and exchange vows at the altar. Not suprisingly, however, he managed to push the limit as he always does, and turn into a rude, ignorant, bigot.
He speaks of "the Gay agenda", and how it is seeping into the rest of society: "The gay culture continues to seep into our popular culture, cleverly claiming credibility. Did you see that President Obama issued special invitations to gay families to participate in this year’s Easter Egg Hunt at the White House? Just another not-too-subtle attempt to ignore the objective immorality of the situation and present gay couples as normal and happy as every other couple."
First of all, until I am picking easter eggs out of your bushes, what do you care? Second of all there is no objective immorality of a homosexual couple picking easter eggs on the front lawn of the white house. I didnt see any headlines announcing that a gay couple was doing the nasty in the rose garden. I understand the Church's teachings, but I fail to understand why the Bishop chooses his rude, ignorant method to address moral issues. His ignorant assault of the President in his article about abortion, and now this claim that "the gay agenda" is slowly destroying America.
He goes on to say, "Proponents of gay marriage say that the Church won’t be forced to witness such marriages. Don’t believe it. And other related problems will inevitably arise. Will the Church be required to admit gay couples as sponsors for baptisms; to rent its facilities for gay wedding receptions; to hire employees despite their immoral gay lifestyles; to grant family benefits to gay couples? For simply maintaining its teachings in these and many other possible scenarios, the Church will be accused of bigotry and unlawful discrimination. The threat to our religious freedom is real, and imminent."
What cracks me up about this passage is that if the Church were to terminate all her Gay employees, I doubt it would be able to stand anymore. I personally know more gay catholic staff then I can count. So I ask you Bishop Tobin, what is more of a sin...to hire a fag to play the organ in a Church, or to torture a seminarian because he needs to loose weight, and somehow fanangal it as a "moral issue". I know Ive never gotten a cheak returned or a donation denied because it came from a gay hand, and was earned at a gay bar...interesting.
Or perhaps the Church is scared because the Gay community (at least in Rhode Island) does more to raise money for local charities then the Church does. The third Sunday of every month at DownCity men put on dresses and put on entertaining shows that go to benefit counless local non profit agencies and charitable organizations....while in the Cathedral the Bishop puts on his dress, and puts on a show and raises money for...more dresses??
I realize this blog may skirt the lines of immaturity, but so does the Bishops weekly column, but this time it hits close to home. "The threat to our religious freedom is real, and imminent." Statements like that only solidify the opinion of the bigots in the world. Articles like this only drive homosexuals away from their faith, and deepen the void between gays and the God who created them. Articles like this only solidify the opinion of people like my mother and sister whose piety does not allow them to love their gay son/brother. Is that what is going to stop the "gay agenda"? Pious heterosexuals can hate their relatives because of what they do in the bedroom? Isnt there any objective moral laws about loving your children and siblings?
The Bishop says, "Here let me explain the “champagne principle.” Not every wine is champagne. Champagne has certain very specific, universally recognized characteristics. If someone were to take a bottle of Chianti, label and sell it as champagne, they’d be arrested for fraud. In the same way, those who seek to redefine marriage – with its specific characteristics – and to usurp the title “marriage” for their morally bankrupt relationships, are committing an act of fraud. It’s insulting to those who have entered the authentic, sacred and time-honored institution of marriage over the years. "
The Church does not extend the sacrament of marriage to homosexuals because simply, we don't need it. I agree with that. My boyfriend and I are never going to create a life...together. However, if I were to adopt a baby with my partner, and approach the Church to have him baptised, Im sure the Bishop would say absolutely not, since no child should be raised by two people in a "Morally Bankrupt" relationship...And Im sure the Church has never married a morally bankrupt straight couple. Im sure the Church has no Morally Bankrupt priests for that matter...give me a break. Half the reason I left Seminary was because while in the system I saw more priests who cared more about themselves and their advancement then the people whom they had given their lives to serve. The selflessness of a drag queen on a Sunday morning at drag brunch is far more impressive to me then the selfishness of watching a Catholic priest basterdize the sacraments as he puts on his dog and pony show at the altar.
I am not one to throw big protests, and to support rallys and marches, usually becuse the whole issue of gay "marriage" gets muddled in all the vocabulary, between legal and church terms. This time however, Bishop Tobin has gone too far.
Well Bishop Tobin, rest assured, you will not see another gay dollar from my wallet. You wouldn't want those since they were earned at a gay bar, from gay customers. Fear not. I realize my attack on the emptiness of some priests is not true for all priests. There are many priests I know who give their lives each and every day in service to God and His church, and they would never tell me that my life was morally bankrupt. They would never do that because they know that I am a good person, and don't judge me based on what I may or may not do in my bedroom.
Gays are picking Easter Eggs on the front lawn of the White House, what's next...they'll be allowed to own property? Give me a break. Bishop, I suggest you open your eyes. Gays are alot like people you know, and they can cleverly disguise themselves as employees of the Church, personal friends, relatives, and colleauges.
"The supporters of gay marriage in Rhode Island are well-organized and well-funded. They’re fiercely determined to impose their politically correct agenda on all the citizens of the state – human history, culture and moral principles not-withstanding. Anyone who opposes them is quickly labeled a bigot." You are a bigot. Thats a judgement Ive built based on more then this one article. Its no wonder the Bishop doesnt shake hands with the people after a function in the Cathedral, he must be scared there might be a homo in the crowd who wont want to shake his hand, but rather ring his neck.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The Light
The readings of today's Mass include the famous "John 3:16" quote, which refers to Jesus as "the light";
"the light came into the world,but people preferred darkness to light,because their works were evil.For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light,so that his works might not be exposed.But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God. "
Recently I had an experience which made this verse strike a chord. There was an attempted attack on this blog which many of you have come to be regular followers of. If you have noticed, there is a place at the end of each post where you can leave a comment. Luckily, I have the "approve comment" option turned on, in the event that immaturity gets the better of someone and they attempt to leave a nasty comment. I enjoy the potential that blog comments allow for debate, an educated, and mature forum for intillectual exchange. However, I do not tolerate direct, and immature slanderous things about me personally, which is what was anonymously left earlier in the week...of course this comment was not approved.
An anonymous comment is all well and good, but had this person identified themselves perhaps I would have allowed the post. Since they were in fact so proud to slander me with nonsense, maybe they would be just as proud for the world to know who the immature individual was.
It's funny how we sometimes can be as people. When we have a gripe against someone, why is it that we sometimes find it so much more neccessary to drag that gripe out in drama and endless subtle references to it. Why not just say what we have to say, and move on with life...and say it directly to that person. Or worse yet, once everything that needs to be said has been said, why is it neccessary to continue to draw it out. All that does is reflect on us, as being the one who won't let it go.
That's because affairs of the heart are not so easily forgotten. Sometimes when we feel we have been wronged, we do not forget it. We buy into lies, we submit to gossip, we submit to random acts of immaturity, we slip into the darkness . . . because in the darkness these immaturities are not illuminated and it's so much easier then dealing with the truth.
I remember in Seminary there was a guy in my class who could never let anything go. He would be hurt by someone, or something, and would make constant references to that hurt as time would go on. His own personal life had inflicted some pretty deep wounds, and it wasn't until we started to get to know him better that we started to figure out a little bit more about him. We started to learn about his past, and some of the serious wrongs he had experienced. It seemed as though he had such difficulty expressing the pain he experienced from those life changing experiences he had gone through, that it was easier to express the anger he had pent up inside by harping on these other percieved wrongs. One day while outside smoking a cigarette, a fellow seminarian said to him, "you are going to be a bitter old man by 30, if you dont learn how to let things go."
How true that is for all of us. It's tough in life to deal with a gripe and let it go, but thats what we have to do. It must be done however in the proper light. An issue with a co-woorker should be handled not in the midst of the office, but one on one. A dissapproval of a legal matter may be more appropriate in a public light as we see in things like rallys and protests.
Dealing with our pains, and complaints, and percieved wrongs is a constant battle. Unfortunately life seems to take no rest from the challanges it chooses to deal us, so its best we master this ability, as we will be making use of it often.
"the light came into the world,but people preferred darkness to light,because their works were evil.For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light,so that his works might not be exposed.But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God. "
Recently I had an experience which made this verse strike a chord. There was an attempted attack on this blog which many of you have come to be regular followers of. If you have noticed, there is a place at the end of each post where you can leave a comment. Luckily, I have the "approve comment" option turned on, in the event that immaturity gets the better of someone and they attempt to leave a nasty comment. I enjoy the potential that blog comments allow for debate, an educated, and mature forum for intillectual exchange. However, I do not tolerate direct, and immature slanderous things about me personally, which is what was anonymously left earlier in the week...of course this comment was not approved.
An anonymous comment is all well and good, but had this person identified themselves perhaps I would have allowed the post. Since they were in fact so proud to slander me with nonsense, maybe they would be just as proud for the world to know who the immature individual was.
It's funny how we sometimes can be as people. When we have a gripe against someone, why is it that we sometimes find it so much more neccessary to drag that gripe out in drama and endless subtle references to it. Why not just say what we have to say, and move on with life...and say it directly to that person. Or worse yet, once everything that needs to be said has been said, why is it neccessary to continue to draw it out. All that does is reflect on us, as being the one who won't let it go.
That's because affairs of the heart are not so easily forgotten. Sometimes when we feel we have been wronged, we do not forget it. We buy into lies, we submit to gossip, we submit to random acts of immaturity, we slip into the darkness . . . because in the darkness these immaturities are not illuminated and it's so much easier then dealing with the truth.
I remember in Seminary there was a guy in my class who could never let anything go. He would be hurt by someone, or something, and would make constant references to that hurt as time would go on. His own personal life had inflicted some pretty deep wounds, and it wasn't until we started to get to know him better that we started to figure out a little bit more about him. We started to learn about his past, and some of the serious wrongs he had experienced. It seemed as though he had such difficulty expressing the pain he experienced from those life changing experiences he had gone through, that it was easier to express the anger he had pent up inside by harping on these other percieved wrongs. One day while outside smoking a cigarette, a fellow seminarian said to him, "you are going to be a bitter old man by 30, if you dont learn how to let things go."
How true that is for all of us. It's tough in life to deal with a gripe and let it go, but thats what we have to do. It must be done however in the proper light. An issue with a co-woorker should be handled not in the midst of the office, but one on one. A dissapproval of a legal matter may be more appropriate in a public light as we see in things like rallys and protests.
Dealing with our pains, and complaints, and percieved wrongs is a constant battle. Unfortunately life seems to take no rest from the challanges it chooses to deal us, so its best we master this ability, as we will be making use of it often.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Peace
The readings at Mass this weekend include the story of Thomas. Thomas was one of Jesus' followers. When Jesus rose from the dead and went to visit His followers Thomas was not present the first time He appeared. When the other Apostles told Him about the appearance, and that Jesus had risen, Thomas said he would not believe it until he himself could touch the wounds of Jesus' crucifixtion. The second time Jesus comes to them, He calls Thomas out on his doubt, and invites him to touch the wounds. When Thomas realizes that the story of Jesus' rising from the dead was true, he is moved with joy. Jesus responds with the phrase, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."
Thats what faith is. I have faith in the Ressurection and I have not seen it. Nor have the countless Christians throughout the world who today celebrate the Risen Lord, and their hope for the afterlife. If you think about it, its not all that crazy to have faith in something you cannot see. After all, how many things in life do we put faith in that is just as absurd? We have faith that our loved ones will never hurt us. We have faith that our lovers will always be faithful, that our employers will always be fair, that our car will start in the morning when we turn the key. If you think about it, almost every aspect of our day to day life is based on faith, because anything could change in an instant.
When Jesus appears to His apostles in the reading He only greets them with the phrase, "Peace be with you." The apostles, scared of being found out by the Roman athourities, and worried they would face the same fate as Jesus had, were comforted by these words. The presence of Jesus in their midst shatters any doubt they had in His message, and settles their fear.
We can relate to this too. We all seek peace in our lives. That's what that feeling is when we wake up in the morning with a smile. When everything is right in our life. We have a job we enjoy, and are successful in. The bills are paid. Our relationships are all the way we want them to be...its "peace". When that peace is disrupted, by some kind of change...we become restless.
The comfort that we feel in our everyday lives can become very casual. Its very easy to take our lives for granted, because at any moment we could loose it all. That faith that we put in what we cannot see can easily fall apart. Maybe once in a while we need to stop and be grateful for those things that we hold as so common place. Our friends, our jobs, our housing, and everything else.
This morning there is a funeral for a gentleman well known in the local Gay community. He died unexpectedly. I personally did not know him, but many of my friends did. His sudden death has shattered the peace that those around him enjoyed. He know enjoys the peace of heaven, but his famly and friends are left to mourn.
Every morning our feet hit the floor is a gift. We never think of it, but once in a while its good to take stock. To be grateful for another day, and for all of the blessings we have in our lives. We will always have parts of our lives that we arent happy with, and I speak to myself when I say this...we need to look past those parts, and find the peace that does exist. In an instant it can all change, it can all be taken away, it can all be shattered.
Peace be with you.
Thats what faith is. I have faith in the Ressurection and I have not seen it. Nor have the countless Christians throughout the world who today celebrate the Risen Lord, and their hope for the afterlife. If you think about it, its not all that crazy to have faith in something you cannot see. After all, how many things in life do we put faith in that is just as absurd? We have faith that our loved ones will never hurt us. We have faith that our lovers will always be faithful, that our employers will always be fair, that our car will start in the morning when we turn the key. If you think about it, almost every aspect of our day to day life is based on faith, because anything could change in an instant.
When Jesus appears to His apostles in the reading He only greets them with the phrase, "Peace be with you." The apostles, scared of being found out by the Roman athourities, and worried they would face the same fate as Jesus had, were comforted by these words. The presence of Jesus in their midst shatters any doubt they had in His message, and settles their fear.
We can relate to this too. We all seek peace in our lives. That's what that feeling is when we wake up in the morning with a smile. When everything is right in our life. We have a job we enjoy, and are successful in. The bills are paid. Our relationships are all the way we want them to be...its "peace". When that peace is disrupted, by some kind of change...we become restless.
The comfort that we feel in our everyday lives can become very casual. Its very easy to take our lives for granted, because at any moment we could loose it all. That faith that we put in what we cannot see can easily fall apart. Maybe once in a while we need to stop and be grateful for those things that we hold as so common place. Our friends, our jobs, our housing, and everything else.
This morning there is a funeral for a gentleman well known in the local Gay community. He died unexpectedly. I personally did not know him, but many of my friends did. His sudden death has shattered the peace that those around him enjoyed. He know enjoys the peace of heaven, but his famly and friends are left to mourn.
Every morning our feet hit the floor is a gift. We never think of it, but once in a while its good to take stock. To be grateful for another day, and for all of the blessings we have in our lives. We will always have parts of our lives that we arent happy with, and I speak to myself when I say this...we need to look past those parts, and find the peace that does exist. In an instant it can all change, it can all be taken away, it can all be shattered.
Peace be with you.
Friday, April 17, 2009
SEX
So I was watching Oprah yesterday (that may be the gayest thing I have ever said in these blogs), and her episode was about sex. Dr. Laura Berman was on once again answering questions from parents regarding the topic of their children, and sex. A few weeks ago she was on, and discussed the topic of the importance of women talking about masturbation with their daughters. Evidently, according to surveys and what not, mothers feel uncomfortable talking to their daughters about this topic, and the response to this episode was that it is inappropriate to talk about this topic with daughters.
It made me start thinking. It seems to me, that it only makes sense to educate daughters about masturbation, and to explain to them that "That special part of the body" (to quote Dr. Berman) is in fact special, and that it should be reserved only for special people. By teaching them about this topic, it encourages young girls to take posession of their own body, and refrain from giving it up to the wrong person...and for the very young girls, it instills the importance of telling someone if the wrong person forces themselves on it. Dr. Berman came to the same conclusion.
Naturally the next topic led into sex itself. A couple of 14 years old, Courtney and Pierce, were featured next. They have been dating for 3 months, and have decieded that they are ready to have sex, because they are "in love". When I got to work I was talking about the episode with others who had seen it. One fellow homo said, "Why are we so upset about these two wanting to have sex because they claim they are in love? Are we in love at 2am when we leave Dark Lady and invite that special someone over?"
Naturally, there is a difference between a mature, grown adult to have sex and for two 14 year olds to call it an act of love. But it made me think about sex, and love, and my own life. God knows I have been no angel, but as I have said in past blogs, when we have sex...even if its just a "hook up" we are still giving someone a part of ourselves. We cant deny it. Thats why we get that little tug somewhere inside us when we see someone who we've slept with talking to someone else at a bar. That's why so much drama stirs up among friends when these lines are crossed...because no matter what we may say, its never "just sex". Above all, that's why it is such a mistake for two 14 year olds to enter this kind of relationship and declare it an act of love.
So then what is the ok age for sex? 16 to drive. 18 to smoke. 21 to drink...what, like 17 to bang? How do we put a mark on that? The parents of Courtney and Pierce are aware of their childrens relationship and desire to have sex. The two mothers are in communication and agreement that sex at this point is totally not acceptable. Pierce's mother, thinking she is being a realist, buys a box of condems and puts them in Pierce's underwear drawer.
"Making that purchase was probably the hardest thing I ever did, because I didn't want him to think that I was giving him [approval]. Like, 'Go for it, son.'" Well mom, it certainly isnt the most adament way of discouraging them not to! Yet at the same time it is very realistic. If these kids are going to do it, they are going to do it...plain and simple. Was the condem purchase a mistake? Is it almost like my previous blog about tolerance, where we say, "I dont agree with what you are doing, but I am 'tolerant' of it"?
So when is it ok to have sex? What age is it that we reach where we can say that we are "in love" and it doesnt have to be the topic of an Oprah episode? Im not siding with Courtney and Pierce, nor am I siding with the consensus...Im just saying, its worth thinking about isnt it? Who are we to say they are not in love? What if they were 16, then is it legitament? How old were you the first time you really fell in love?
Maybe in life we spend too much time being critical of other people's relaionships. I know I certainly have expressed my opinion before when it really wasn't my place to do so. We all fall in love with people at different paces, for different reasons, and at different ages. Again, I am not siding with either party, but I do think that this episode demonstrates a huge flaw in our human nature...that being that we all think we are right.
We have this instinct where we all think its ok for us to pontificate our opinion just because we think its right. None of us (myself certainly included) have any right to stand as judge over someone else...that includes Oprah and Dr. Berman. Relationships are something that can only be judged by the two people who are in it. Maybe Courtney and Pierce are really in love. Are they at the "Legal Banging Age"? Thats a question only they can answer, just like every decision regarding sex that any of us ever make. Who knows, maybe Pierce and Courtney having sex would be a more mature and loving expression then some of our sexual experiences in life. At some point in life people have to start making their own choices, and facing the consequences of those choices. The choices we have made in the past, the relationships that we've had, add to what makes up who we are today.
It is our job to educate the youth, to give them the tools they need to make those choices. In the Gay Community its no different, which is why organizations like YPI (Youth Pride) is so important. As we get older, its not our job to judge others, its our job to continue to use those tools to make choices in our own lives, to fall in love at our own pace, and to be happy with that person in the time to come.
It made me start thinking. It seems to me, that it only makes sense to educate daughters about masturbation, and to explain to them that "That special part of the body" (to quote Dr. Berman) is in fact special, and that it should be reserved only for special people. By teaching them about this topic, it encourages young girls to take posession of their own body, and refrain from giving it up to the wrong person...and for the very young girls, it instills the importance of telling someone if the wrong person forces themselves on it. Dr. Berman came to the same conclusion.
Naturally the next topic led into sex itself. A couple of 14 years old, Courtney and Pierce, were featured next. They have been dating for 3 months, and have decieded that they are ready to have sex, because they are "in love". When I got to work I was talking about the episode with others who had seen it. One fellow homo said, "Why are we so upset about these two wanting to have sex because they claim they are in love? Are we in love at 2am when we leave Dark Lady and invite that special someone over?"
Naturally, there is a difference between a mature, grown adult to have sex and for two 14 year olds to call it an act of love. But it made me think about sex, and love, and my own life. God knows I have been no angel, but as I have said in past blogs, when we have sex...even if its just a "hook up" we are still giving someone a part of ourselves. We cant deny it. Thats why we get that little tug somewhere inside us when we see someone who we've slept with talking to someone else at a bar. That's why so much drama stirs up among friends when these lines are crossed...because no matter what we may say, its never "just sex". Above all, that's why it is such a mistake for two 14 year olds to enter this kind of relationship and declare it an act of love.
So then what is the ok age for sex? 16 to drive. 18 to smoke. 21 to drink...what, like 17 to bang? How do we put a mark on that? The parents of Courtney and Pierce are aware of their childrens relationship and desire to have sex. The two mothers are in communication and agreement that sex at this point is totally not acceptable. Pierce's mother, thinking she is being a realist, buys a box of condems and puts them in Pierce's underwear drawer.
"Making that purchase was probably the hardest thing I ever did, because I didn't want him to think that I was giving him [approval]. Like, 'Go for it, son.'" Well mom, it certainly isnt the most adament way of discouraging them not to! Yet at the same time it is very realistic. If these kids are going to do it, they are going to do it...plain and simple. Was the condem purchase a mistake? Is it almost like my previous blog about tolerance, where we say, "I dont agree with what you are doing, but I am 'tolerant' of it"?
So when is it ok to have sex? What age is it that we reach where we can say that we are "in love" and it doesnt have to be the topic of an Oprah episode? Im not siding with Courtney and Pierce, nor am I siding with the consensus...Im just saying, its worth thinking about isnt it? Who are we to say they are not in love? What if they were 16, then is it legitament? How old were you the first time you really fell in love?
Maybe in life we spend too much time being critical of other people's relaionships. I know I certainly have expressed my opinion before when it really wasn't my place to do so. We all fall in love with people at different paces, for different reasons, and at different ages. Again, I am not siding with either party, but I do think that this episode demonstrates a huge flaw in our human nature...that being that we all think we are right.
We have this instinct where we all think its ok for us to pontificate our opinion just because we think its right. None of us (myself certainly included) have any right to stand as judge over someone else...that includes Oprah and Dr. Berman. Relationships are something that can only be judged by the two people who are in it. Maybe Courtney and Pierce are really in love. Are they at the "Legal Banging Age"? Thats a question only they can answer, just like every decision regarding sex that any of us ever make. Who knows, maybe Pierce and Courtney having sex would be a more mature and loving expression then some of our sexual experiences in life. At some point in life people have to start making their own choices, and facing the consequences of those choices. The choices we have made in the past, the relationships that we've had, add to what makes up who we are today.
It is our job to educate the youth, to give them the tools they need to make those choices. In the Gay Community its no different, which is why organizations like YPI (Youth Pride) is so important. As we get older, its not our job to judge others, its our job to continue to use those tools to make choices in our own lives, to fall in love at our own pace, and to be happy with that person in the time to come.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Commemoration
It happens every year. When we are young, their arrival means gifts. When we are in our twenties it means a party. When we are old, we try to avoid them but they come eventually anyways...birthdays! Today is a friend of mine's "big one" and its made me strat to reflect on the topic a bit.
Its funny, when a mother has a child, and she cradles the baby who has just been alive for a week, she will silently acknowledge that its his one week birthday...until its a month, then she will start marking each month until its a year, then she starts counting the years.
Its the same between a pair of lovers. On the one week mark, there is a soft acknowledgement perhaps in bed in the morning. Then the months, then the years. Its these small, often private celebrations that feul the fire of the love that is groing between them. Once they are just just counting the years it reminds them of that love, and strengthens them to last.
Convesrley it is the same for the less happy events in life, like death. As the early day sof loss unwind, we remember the weeks, then the months, and once it gets to remembering the year anniversaries, hopefully the pain of that persons passing has integrated into who we are, and the annual reminder is a celebration of that loved one's life, and the impact it had on ours.
Birthdays and Anniversaries are some of the best blessings we have in life. They cause us to take stock. Birthdays make us take stock of our own lives, and to celebrate our accomplishments. Anniversaries make us look at our relationships, and make us thankful for the love we share with that other person. These are the things that build who we are. They are also an opportunity for us to let others see the impact they have had in our lives, and us in theirs.
On Queer as Folk Debbie is talking to Justin about his attendence at Gay Pride. He doesn't want to go because he thinks the whole thing is pointless. Debbie tells him however, "Sunshine, in life you gotta morn the losses, and there will be many, but you gotta celebrate the victories, because there are so few."
So very true. At a time when everything feels like its falling apart. When everybody who has a job is thanking God, while so many are waiting at the unemployment office. People who had so much are loosing so much. The nightly news is filled with daily reports about how hard the economy is crashing, and the President's seemingly daily attempts to fix it. In the midst of all of this, we still stop, and celebrate these landmarks of our lives.
Hapy Birthday Matt!
Its funny, when a mother has a child, and she cradles the baby who has just been alive for a week, she will silently acknowledge that its his one week birthday...until its a month, then she will start marking each month until its a year, then she starts counting the years.
Its the same between a pair of lovers. On the one week mark, there is a soft acknowledgement perhaps in bed in the morning. Then the months, then the years. Its these small, often private celebrations that feul the fire of the love that is groing between them. Once they are just just counting the years it reminds them of that love, and strengthens them to last.
Convesrley it is the same for the less happy events in life, like death. As the early day sof loss unwind, we remember the weeks, then the months, and once it gets to remembering the year anniversaries, hopefully the pain of that persons passing has integrated into who we are, and the annual reminder is a celebration of that loved one's life, and the impact it had on ours.
Birthdays and Anniversaries are some of the best blessings we have in life. They cause us to take stock. Birthdays make us take stock of our own lives, and to celebrate our accomplishments. Anniversaries make us look at our relationships, and make us thankful for the love we share with that other person. These are the things that build who we are. They are also an opportunity for us to let others see the impact they have had in our lives, and us in theirs.
On Queer as Folk Debbie is talking to Justin about his attendence at Gay Pride. He doesn't want to go because he thinks the whole thing is pointless. Debbie tells him however, "Sunshine, in life you gotta morn the losses, and there will be many, but you gotta celebrate the victories, because there are so few."
So very true. At a time when everything feels like its falling apart. When everybody who has a job is thanking God, while so many are waiting at the unemployment office. People who had so much are loosing so much. The nightly news is filled with daily reports about how hard the economy is crashing, and the President's seemingly daily attempts to fix it. In the midst of all of this, we still stop, and celebrate these landmarks of our lives.
Hapy Birthday Matt!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Garden of Gethsemane
Today is my favorite day of the year. When I was in Seminary Holy Thursday was regarded as ur biggest day. Seminarians studying for the priesthood for our Diocese from all over the world came home, and we gathered at table for a HUGE meal and a beautiful Mass with the Bishop. Holy Thursday marks the day Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with his friends, instituted the Eucharist, and the Ministerial Priesthood.
Quite the night that was for Jesus. He identifies who will betray Him at dinner. Following this, He and his lot head to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, where He is arrested with Judas' help. As the evenings events unfold, Jesus is abandoned by all His friends, questioned all through the night, and subsequently executed on Friday afternoon.
The Apostles fleeing when Jesus needed them most is perhaps the greatest "Friendship Failure" in human history. We all see and experience these things everyday. In affairs of the heart sometimes its difficult to be a good friend, because that's when the immaturity and caddiness comes out. In the case of the Apostles, it was feuled by a fear of being arrested, and identified as being a part of Jesus' "cohort". In our everyday lives, the driving force behind such things is usually much less significant. Sometimes it is jealousy, sometimes it's just pure frustration, but whatever the reason it always points back to an affair of the heart.
We've all seen it, and done it....The immature or caddy posts on facebook, or some other such public foreum, where we know the other person will see it. The gossip behind their back...or the dirty looks across the bar...we've all been in someone in this situations shoes. Sometimes when we aren't happy with our own lives, we find it so much easier to take it out on someone who is happy. Regardless, to turn on someone so often becomes the result.
The Apostles turning on Jesus that night in the Garden, undoubtedly only added to the pain Jesus already felt with all that was happening. He in His divine wisdom knew that this was only the begining, and His Passion was only begining to unravel, but for His human side this was undoubtedly the most painful.
None the less, He holds His head up high, and faces the events of the following day more or less alone, with the company of only one friend, and His mother. Much like in our own lives, when the backs begin to turn, we see who the real friends are, and who the people are who will stay with us, all the way to our own individual Crosses.
The immaturity of the Apostles that day is clear. But in the days to follow, things subsequently come together again, and after the Ressurection things balance themselves out. Maybe sometimes people need their immature moments. Everyone deals with grief, in all of its forms, in different ways. We have all done it, and we will always have moments when we crumble to that very temptation. That's because affairs of the heart are delicate, and we as humans are naturally ordered to worry about ourselves...but we have to remember to go that extra step, and remember that we are not alone in all this. We have a responsibility to each other, and we have to do our best to not allow the temptation for immaturity to win.
There will be many times in our lives when we find ourselves in the Garden of Gethsemane, when we have the option to be immature and run. There will be times when we have the choice to stand by our friends, or to turn our backs. To be happy for a friend, or to act out. In this economy, its easy for the unemployed to be jelous when someone else lands a job.
Oprah the other night was about this very situation between married couples. One spouse looses a job, and grows to detest the other because they are now the bread-winnder. Sometimes relationships take work, weather it be a friendship, a lover, or a spouse....but we cannot forget our responsibility towards one another. We cant just throw ourselves into facebook wars, or let marriges fail, or let friendships die.
That night in the Garden, the Apostles were scared, and turned their back on their friend. In our lives we get jelous, angry, bitter, or so many emotions, and do the same thing. These "Garden of Gethsemane Moments" have been happening for 2000 years, and don't show any signs of stopping. How will we respond when we have our moment to act?
Quite the night that was for Jesus. He identifies who will betray Him at dinner. Following this, He and his lot head to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, where He is arrested with Judas' help. As the evenings events unfold, Jesus is abandoned by all His friends, questioned all through the night, and subsequently executed on Friday afternoon.
The Apostles fleeing when Jesus needed them most is perhaps the greatest "Friendship Failure" in human history. We all see and experience these things everyday. In affairs of the heart sometimes its difficult to be a good friend, because that's when the immaturity and caddiness comes out. In the case of the Apostles, it was feuled by a fear of being arrested, and identified as being a part of Jesus' "cohort". In our everyday lives, the driving force behind such things is usually much less significant. Sometimes it is jealousy, sometimes it's just pure frustration, but whatever the reason it always points back to an affair of the heart.
We've all seen it, and done it....The immature or caddy posts on facebook, or some other such public foreum, where we know the other person will see it. The gossip behind their back...or the dirty looks across the bar...we've all been in someone in this situations shoes. Sometimes when we aren't happy with our own lives, we find it so much easier to take it out on someone who is happy. Regardless, to turn on someone so often becomes the result.
The Apostles turning on Jesus that night in the Garden, undoubtedly only added to the pain Jesus already felt with all that was happening. He in His divine wisdom knew that this was only the begining, and His Passion was only begining to unravel, but for His human side this was undoubtedly the most painful.
None the less, He holds His head up high, and faces the events of the following day more or less alone, with the company of only one friend, and His mother. Much like in our own lives, when the backs begin to turn, we see who the real friends are, and who the people are who will stay with us, all the way to our own individual Crosses.
The immaturity of the Apostles that day is clear. But in the days to follow, things subsequently come together again, and after the Ressurection things balance themselves out. Maybe sometimes people need their immature moments. Everyone deals with grief, in all of its forms, in different ways. We have all done it, and we will always have moments when we crumble to that very temptation. That's because affairs of the heart are delicate, and we as humans are naturally ordered to worry about ourselves...but we have to remember to go that extra step, and remember that we are not alone in all this. We have a responsibility to each other, and we have to do our best to not allow the temptation for immaturity to win.
There will be many times in our lives when we find ourselves in the Garden of Gethsemane, when we have the option to be immature and run. There will be times when we have the choice to stand by our friends, or to turn our backs. To be happy for a friend, or to act out. In this economy, its easy for the unemployed to be jelous when someone else lands a job.
Oprah the other night was about this very situation between married couples. One spouse looses a job, and grows to detest the other because they are now the bread-winnder. Sometimes relationships take work, weather it be a friendship, a lover, or a spouse....but we cannot forget our responsibility towards one another. We cant just throw ourselves into facebook wars, or let marriges fail, or let friendships die.
That night in the Garden, the Apostles were scared, and turned their back on their friend. In our lives we get jelous, angry, bitter, or so many emotions, and do the same thing. These "Garden of Gethsemane Moments" have been happening for 2000 years, and don't show any signs of stopping. How will we respond when we have our moment to act?
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
The Closet of Despair
Today traditionally is "Spy Wednesday", which commemorates the day that Judas Iscariot plotted with the Chief Priests to betray Jesus. We all know the story of how Judas, bribed by 30 pieces of silver, arranged ahead of time with the chief priests that he would kiss Jesus in the Garden, and thats how the gaurds would know it was Him that they were to arrest. When Judas learned of Jesus' fate, he was so distraught he killed himself. Dante found his sin so horrific that in his great work "The Inferno" he places Judas in the very center of hell, being tortured for eternity by Satan himself....a result of a sin so evil that even God could not forgive it.
When Judas is first introduced in the bible, and the author lists the names of all the Apostles, after Judas' name he includes the tag line, "the one who would betray him." (Just in case "Judas Iscariot" wasn't clear enough.) Every image the Last Supper shows in front of him that bag of silver coins. History did not give Judas a very good wrap.
To play devil's advocate, Judas was so horrified over his actions, he turned in despair to suicide, unable to carry the burden of what he had done. Certainly we can all relate. We have all, somewhere along the line, carried a burden of some kind. Something we did wrong, something we knew, something that we needed to get off our chest.
Sometimes its not even anything "bad". Any of my readers who are members of the Gay community can certainly relate, there is always that one person that you dread telling. Yesterday someone very important to me "came out" to his mother, and I am so proud of him, words cannot express. For him it was burden, to have this aspect of his life shielded from her, so he reached deep down inside and sat her down and told her the truth.
I remember when I was in College and I sat my best friend down and told him that I was gay...I was petrified at what the outcome would be. He said to me, "David, you've always been gay, the only difference is now I know. Why should that change anything, you're the same person.." I remember when I was in Seminary, it felt at times like everyone was bearing somebody else's secret. I remember along the way thinking, or even flat out telling people - "I would never do it myself, but I can understand why people commit suicide."
Not everyone is lucky enough to have the loving mother, who loves her son just the same when she finds out he's gay. Not everyone has someone to turn to when they are unemployed, and the bills are due, and the economy is a disaster with no hopes of getting any better. We all have had moments of despair, but we've all been lucky enough to have people there to lean on...and there have been those moments when we were the ones who they leaned on.
Being trapped in this closet of despair doesn't always result in suicide. Sometimes it results in forms of mild depression, and depending on your personality, it can be tough to kick. As a bartender, its my job to always be in a good mood. It's definately a challange to slap on that happy face when I'm not feeling it on the inside. I've had those slumps through the years where my personal life was falling apart, the bills were mounting, the bar was slow, and everything was seemingly conspiring against me, and then the car died...the icing on the cake...Thank God I have always had people I could turn to.
If Judas had turned to the other Apostles for a shoulder to cry on would they have been there for him? Would they have forgiven him? Peter later denies even knowing Jesus so as to not get drawn into any sort of legal trouble, and later laments, and Jesus forgives him. Peter and Judas are two sides of the same coin, the coin of betrayal. The difference is Judas thinks he has no where to turn, and he kills himself, while Peter emerges from the story a hero. In fact, when Jesus rises from the dead He finds the Apostles gathered in hiding - together - all feeling guilty for abandoning Jesus, and mourning His death. They had turned to eachother.
Maybe there is a lesson to be learned here. In those moments when we find ourselves in the closet of despair we have to be more willing to share that burden with others, partners, lover, friends, whoever it may be in each of our lives. And when we recieve the honor of being that person for someone else, we should listen with compassion. When someone seeks our forgiveness, maybe no matter how difficult it is to do, we should offer it....because someday it may be us who needs the forgiveness.
When Judas is first introduced in the bible, and the author lists the names of all the Apostles, after Judas' name he includes the tag line, "the one who would betray him." (Just in case "Judas Iscariot" wasn't clear enough.) Every image the Last Supper shows in front of him that bag of silver coins. History did not give Judas a very good wrap.
To play devil's advocate, Judas was so horrified over his actions, he turned in despair to suicide, unable to carry the burden of what he had done. Certainly we can all relate. We have all, somewhere along the line, carried a burden of some kind. Something we did wrong, something we knew, something that we needed to get off our chest.
Sometimes its not even anything "bad". Any of my readers who are members of the Gay community can certainly relate, there is always that one person that you dread telling. Yesterday someone very important to me "came out" to his mother, and I am so proud of him, words cannot express. For him it was burden, to have this aspect of his life shielded from her, so he reached deep down inside and sat her down and told her the truth.
I remember when I was in College and I sat my best friend down and told him that I was gay...I was petrified at what the outcome would be. He said to me, "David, you've always been gay, the only difference is now I know. Why should that change anything, you're the same person.." I remember when I was in Seminary, it felt at times like everyone was bearing somebody else's secret. I remember along the way thinking, or even flat out telling people - "I would never do it myself, but I can understand why people commit suicide."
Not everyone is lucky enough to have the loving mother, who loves her son just the same when she finds out he's gay. Not everyone has someone to turn to when they are unemployed, and the bills are due, and the economy is a disaster with no hopes of getting any better. We all have had moments of despair, but we've all been lucky enough to have people there to lean on...and there have been those moments when we were the ones who they leaned on.
Being trapped in this closet of despair doesn't always result in suicide. Sometimes it results in forms of mild depression, and depending on your personality, it can be tough to kick. As a bartender, its my job to always be in a good mood. It's definately a challange to slap on that happy face when I'm not feeling it on the inside. I've had those slumps through the years where my personal life was falling apart, the bills were mounting, the bar was slow, and everything was seemingly conspiring against me, and then the car died...the icing on the cake...Thank God I have always had people I could turn to.
If Judas had turned to the other Apostles for a shoulder to cry on would they have been there for him? Would they have forgiven him? Peter later denies even knowing Jesus so as to not get drawn into any sort of legal trouble, and later laments, and Jesus forgives him. Peter and Judas are two sides of the same coin, the coin of betrayal. The difference is Judas thinks he has no where to turn, and he kills himself, while Peter emerges from the story a hero. In fact, when Jesus rises from the dead He finds the Apostles gathered in hiding - together - all feeling guilty for abandoning Jesus, and mourning His death. They had turned to eachother.
Maybe there is a lesson to be learned here. In those moments when we find ourselves in the closet of despair we have to be more willing to share that burden with others, partners, lover, friends, whoever it may be in each of our lives. And when we recieve the honor of being that person for someone else, we should listen with compassion. When someone seeks our forgiveness, maybe no matter how difficult it is to do, we should offer it....because someday it may be us who needs the forgiveness.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Tolerance
Tolerance. How would you define this word? In everyday usage, for example, lets say I am on a plane, and I have the eternal joy of having a toddler seated behind me, who has found entertainment value in kicking the back of my seat. I am tolerant of this behaviour.
The dictionary provides the following four definitions:
1: capacity to endure pain or hardship : endurance , fortitude , stamina
2 a: sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own b: the act of allowing something : toleration
3: the allowable deviation from a standard ; especially : the range of variation permitted in maintaining a specified dimension in machining a piece
4 a (1): the capacity of the body to endure or become less responsive to a substance (as a drug) or a physiological insult especially with repeated use or exposure; also : the immunological state marked by unresponsiveness to a specific antigen (2): relative capacity of an organism to grow or thrive when subjected to an unfavorable environmental factor b: the maximum amount of a pesticide residue that may lawfully remain on or in food
Indeed we often heard the word "tolerance" as a goal in the fight for rights in the women's movement, the african american movement, and the GBLT movement. Is "tolerant" however, the attitude that we really want? Is that really the goal? I'd say that's where we are now. My sexual preference, is an "allowed deviation" from the norm. What the Gay Community wants is equality. Just like how a woman or an african american walks down the street and we do not give it a second thought, we want the same for the Gay Community.
In a recent article, Bishop Tobin composed a ficticious interview with President Obama, which in my opinion was rude, and insulting to the President. Certainly a less sarcastic way could have been found for the Bishop to excercise his Ministry as chief shepherd. The following is the link to said article:
http://thericatholic.com/stories/1894.html
This week, the Bishop wrote his weekly column in response to the many Catholics in Rhode Island who agreed that the tone of this article was inappropriate. Not backing down from his defense, the Bishop argued that his "interview" was not at all "un-christlike", as he was defending the moral order and Christ Himself would have acted no different. He goes on to say;
"And that should be the mission of the Church today. Sometimes as Catholics we’re hesitant to challenge the immoral behavior of others, including public officials, because we don’t want to appear judgmental or uncharitable. Our society urges us to be “tolerant” of other people and their behavior, even if it’s objectively wrong. But it’s precisely because we love others that we should never tolerate immoral behavior. As Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver has written so well, “Tolerance is not an end in itself, and tolerating or excusing grave evil in a society is itself a grave evil . . . And it is not a Christian virtue.” (Render Unto Caesar, p. 145-146) "
There's that magic word again. Is "tolerance" the cowards way out from not having to become unpopular by calling someone out for public immorality? If my neighbor were to kill someone I would not simply be "tolerant" of his situation and look the other way.
Certainly the topic of Abortion is clear cut in Catholic teaching, and certainly the Bshop has a responsibility to be clear about church teaching, however the fact of the matter is there are other issues in our nation which deserve more attention. The average American sitting in a pew is not worried about funding Planned Parenthood in Mexico (an organization that is geared towards helping people responsibly raise families and assisnt in STD control, Abortion is only a portion of the work they do). They are worried about much more immediate concerns.
Despite the President's "not so Catholic" view on Abortion, upon his election the Holy Father himself called it, "a choice that unites." That was the first and most important step in fixing our nation...unity, and the Pope recognizes that. From there we can move onee issue at a time. Weather legal or not, abortions will continue to happen. Organizations like planned parenthood will make sure that they are happening in a way that is not going to harm the mother.
I am not condoning it, I myself share in the belief that Abortion is wrong. as an issue that will never effect me in my life, I tend to not rally about it. Is that me being "tolerant" according to any of the definitions shared above? I think it's me being realistic. At this moment in time the President is dealing with much more immediate, realistic, and serious issues that are effecting you and me. Issues that will put roofs over peoples heads, and putting people back to work. Issues that will gain health care for those of us who do not currently have access to it.
Big issues that effect the everyday person, yet that are governed by world-wide moral, objective laws are complex. Perhaps there is no ultimate answer, but no matter how we feel, or what our stance is, or what our belief is, it does not give any of us the right, on either side, to be rude and uncharitable. If we feel the need to criticize a stance, then I believe we have a moral duty to do so.
"Tolerance" is NOT turning our heads to immoral behavior. Those dictionary definitions above apply very much to the meaning of the word "tolerant" The criticism is that to insult the President publicly is not the appropriate form of expressing a dissenting belief or opinion. Just like to attack an abortion clinic is not the way to express a "Pro Life" belief. Just like calling a gay man a "faggot" is not the way to express your feelings about homosexuality. These are all innappropriate ways to express our beliefs.
The Church has a stance that Homosexuality is an "intrinsic disorder", and the Church has published an entire, almost condescending, letter regarding "Pastoral Care to the Homosexual Person." At least the Church encourages Pastoral Care, and isn't out right rude. To attack the President openly in such a forum is not going to accomplish anything, except get people worked up, weather it be in a blog, or the countless letters that flowed into the Chancery.
To mistakenly use words like tolerance, and to be uncharitable do not do anything to help anyone's position. Pope Benedict felt that his election was a choice of unity...perhaps we as a Church, a State, and a Nation should look mre towards unity and less towards division. Does that involve ignoring morral injustice? No. Does it perhaps involve tolerance and maturity? Most Definately.
The dictionary provides the following four definitions:
1: capacity to endure pain or hardship : endurance , fortitude , stamina
2 a: sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own b: the act of allowing something : toleration
3: the allowable deviation from a standard ; especially : the range of variation permitted in maintaining a specified dimension in machining a piece
4 a (1): the capacity of the body to endure or become less responsive to a substance (as a drug) or a physiological insult especially with repeated use or exposure
Indeed we often heard the word "tolerance" as a goal in the fight for rights in the women's movement, the african american movement, and the GBLT movement. Is "tolerant" however, the attitude that we really want? Is that really the goal? I'd say that's where we are now. My sexual preference, is an "allowed deviation" from the norm. What the Gay Community wants is equality. Just like how a woman or an african american walks down the street and we do not give it a second thought, we want the same for the Gay Community.
In a recent article, Bishop Tobin composed a ficticious interview with President Obama, which in my opinion was rude, and insulting to the President. Certainly a less sarcastic way could have been found for the Bishop to excercise his Ministry as chief shepherd. The following is the link to said article:
http://thericatholic.com/stories/1894.html
This week, the Bishop wrote his weekly column in response to the many Catholics in Rhode Island who agreed that the tone of this article was inappropriate. Not backing down from his defense, the Bishop argued that his "interview" was not at all "un-christlike", as he was defending the moral order and Christ Himself would have acted no different. He goes on to say;
"And that should be the mission of the Church today. Sometimes as Catholics we’re hesitant to challenge the immoral behavior of others, including public officials, because we don’t want to appear judgmental or uncharitable. Our society urges us to be “tolerant” of other people and their behavior, even if it’s objectively wrong. But it’s precisely because we love others that we should never tolerate immoral behavior. As Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver has written so well, “Tolerance is not an end in itself, and tolerating or excusing grave evil in a society is itself a grave evil . . . And it is not a Christian virtue.” (Render Unto Caesar, p. 145-146) "
There's that magic word again. Is "tolerance" the cowards way out from not having to become unpopular by calling someone out for public immorality? If my neighbor were to kill someone I would not simply be "tolerant" of his situation and look the other way.
Certainly the topic of Abortion is clear cut in Catholic teaching, and certainly the Bshop has a responsibility to be clear about church teaching, however the fact of the matter is there are other issues in our nation which deserve more attention. The average American sitting in a pew is not worried about funding Planned Parenthood in Mexico (an organization that is geared towards helping people responsibly raise families and assisnt in STD control, Abortion is only a portion of the work they do). They are worried about much more immediate concerns.
Despite the President's "not so Catholic" view on Abortion, upon his election the Holy Father himself called it, "a choice that unites." That was the first and most important step in fixing our nation...unity, and the Pope recognizes that. From there we can move onee issue at a time. Weather legal or not, abortions will continue to happen. Organizations like planned parenthood will make sure that they are happening in a way that is not going to harm the mother.
I am not condoning it, I myself share in the belief that Abortion is wrong. as an issue that will never effect me in my life, I tend to not rally about it. Is that me being "tolerant" according to any of the definitions shared above? I think it's me being realistic. At this moment in time the President is dealing with much more immediate, realistic, and serious issues that are effecting you and me. Issues that will put roofs over peoples heads, and putting people back to work. Issues that will gain health care for those of us who do not currently have access to it.
Big issues that effect the everyday person, yet that are governed by world-wide moral, objective laws are complex. Perhaps there is no ultimate answer, but no matter how we feel, or what our stance is, or what our belief is, it does not give any of us the right, on either side, to be rude and uncharitable. If we feel the need to criticize a stance, then I believe we have a moral duty to do so.
"Tolerance" is NOT turning our heads to immoral behavior. Those dictionary definitions above apply very much to the meaning of the word "tolerant" The criticism is that to insult the President publicly is not the appropriate form of expressing a dissenting belief or opinion. Just like to attack an abortion clinic is not the way to express a "Pro Life" belief. Just like calling a gay man a "faggot" is not the way to express your feelings about homosexuality. These are all innappropriate ways to express our beliefs.
The Church has a stance that Homosexuality is an "intrinsic disorder", and the Church has published an entire, almost condescending, letter regarding "Pastoral Care to the Homosexual Person." At least the Church encourages Pastoral Care, and isn't out right rude. To attack the President openly in such a forum is not going to accomplish anything, except get people worked up, weather it be in a blog, or the countless letters that flowed into the Chancery.
To mistakenly use words like tolerance, and to be uncharitable do not do anything to help anyone's position. Pope Benedict felt that his election was a choice of unity...perhaps we as a Church, a State, and a Nation should look mre towards unity and less towards division. Does that involve ignoring morral injustice? No. Does it perhaps involve tolerance and maturity? Most Definately.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Spring
Have you ever noticed that there is no more common and universal symbol of hope then a sunny day? On television sitcomes the cheerful music plays and the camera will span a sun drapped neighborhood. A feel good movie will end with that same music, and the same bright sunny sky. Even when the weather is nice we find ourselves smiling more, laughing more, and just more cheerful.
When I was in Seminary on just such days we would sit outside and smoke cigarettes and discuss the problems of the world, and debate our ingenious solutions. In college such discussions were had over a pack of Marlboros and Cans of Diet Coke. In late college they were discussed off campus over a scotch and a pack of Marlboro Lights. In grad school they were discussed over Vodka and Tonics and a pack of Marlboro Ultra Lights. (You'll note my smoking got healthier over time.) Regardless, we always thought we had all theh answers, and we talk about how our life of Ministry would be spent implimenting these ideas and making a difference in people's lives.
As a bartender I stand behind the bar and realize that I am no different then anybody else, as now I go to work and listen to everyone else sit at the bar covered in sunlight discuss the same issues. As the evening goes on and the lighting changes, the alcohol flows and the answers continue to come.
We talk alot. Weather it be all the social plans we make but never keep, or the brilliant ideas to change the world we will never follow through. Sometimes its the plans for the future that never happen quite as we expect.
I am so excited for the coming weekend, for many reasons, but particularly because it is the kick off of Holy Week, which in the Church tells the story of all our lives. It begins with great joy, moves through tragedy, betratal, and devestation...and ends with great joy and hope for tomorrow. On Palm Sunday Jesus enters Jerusalem and is greeted like a celebrity, celebrates a wonderful meal with his friends, and is then betrayed by one of them. He is tortured, and slaughtered on the cross. Of course, Easter morning, He is raised from the dead.
For centuries the ancient Jews preached to their families about the coming of a Messiah. This figure was almost to the Jews like one of those spoken but never fulfilled bar conversations. He was coming, he was coming, but never seemed to come. In Jesus, these seemingly empty words turn into action. The Messiah does come, and the bright shining sun of Easter morning over the empty grave reminds us of that hope that we feel at the end of those movies and sitcoms.
The words from the Preface of the Mass of Easter is appropriate; "The Joy of the Ressurection renews the whole world." Today is the first day of April, Easter is around the corner, Spring is finally begining to 'spring', restraunts are starting to put their tables outside, the days are getting longer and the nights shorter...This change of season is exactly the renewal that I needed. At times we could all use a boost. A reminder that all those un-fulfilled words can indeed one day come through, we just have to renew our drive to accomplish them, so we too can bask in the joy of our own "sunny days".
When I was in Seminary on just such days we would sit outside and smoke cigarettes and discuss the problems of the world, and debate our ingenious solutions. In college such discussions were had over a pack of Marlboros and Cans of Diet Coke. In late college they were discussed off campus over a scotch and a pack of Marlboro Lights. In grad school they were discussed over Vodka and Tonics and a pack of Marlboro Ultra Lights. (You'll note my smoking got healthier over time.) Regardless, we always thought we had all theh answers, and we talk about how our life of Ministry would be spent implimenting these ideas and making a difference in people's lives.
As a bartender I stand behind the bar and realize that I am no different then anybody else, as now I go to work and listen to everyone else sit at the bar covered in sunlight discuss the same issues. As the evening goes on and the lighting changes, the alcohol flows and the answers continue to come.
We talk alot. Weather it be all the social plans we make but never keep, or the brilliant ideas to change the world we will never follow through. Sometimes its the plans for the future that never happen quite as we expect.
I am so excited for the coming weekend, for many reasons, but particularly because it is the kick off of Holy Week, which in the Church tells the story of all our lives. It begins with great joy, moves through tragedy, betratal, and devestation...and ends with great joy and hope for tomorrow. On Palm Sunday Jesus enters Jerusalem and is greeted like a celebrity, celebrates a wonderful meal with his friends, and is then betrayed by one of them. He is tortured, and slaughtered on the cross. Of course, Easter morning, He is raised from the dead.
For centuries the ancient Jews preached to their families about the coming of a Messiah. This figure was almost to the Jews like one of those spoken but never fulfilled bar conversations. He was coming, he was coming, but never seemed to come. In Jesus, these seemingly empty words turn into action. The Messiah does come, and the bright shining sun of Easter morning over the empty grave reminds us of that hope that we feel at the end of those movies and sitcoms.
The words from the Preface of the Mass of Easter is appropriate; "The Joy of the Ressurection renews the whole world." Today is the first day of April, Easter is around the corner, Spring is finally begining to 'spring', restraunts are starting to put their tables outside, the days are getting longer and the nights shorter...This change of season is exactly the renewal that I needed. At times we could all use a boost. A reminder that all those un-fulfilled words can indeed one day come through, we just have to renew our drive to accomplish them, so we too can bask in the joy of our own "sunny days".
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