Yesterday while walking through Six Flags, a friend of mine received that phone call that no one ever wants to get. A dear friend, and former lover of his had passed away...at only 24 years old. A young man who was full of life, love, and ignited a room with his personality. As the day and evening moved along, word began to spread. His friends were naturally shocked, and undoubtedly today the reality of this horrific situation has certainly started to settle in.
Although I personally didn't really know him , I do know the impact his passing has made on my friends. It has made me think a lot about life. I have had extensive experience with death in my life. That experience includes family members, a priest friend who meant the world to me, and strangers I never knew at whose caskets I offered prayers and words of consolation to mourning family members while I was in Seminary. My ministry in the Office of Catholic Cemeteries resulted in my involvement in more burials then I can count. No one's passing however has ever made me really stop and think.
I think that we sometimes forget that we are not invincible. We forget the fragile nature of our lives. We let things get to us, and stress us out, that at the end of the day don't matter. We waste energy being upset about things that perhaps are not as important as we think they are in the moment.
When I was in Seminary I remember offering words of consolation. Words that came from a deep rooted, sincere faith in God and Heaven, and everlasting life. Those sentiments however do not take away the pain of those who mourn their loved one's passing. Those sentiments do not bring back the person that has been lost.
Our lives our short...in the end we have no idea how short. So we need to live everyday to it's fullest. We never know the impact we have on other people, and we never realize the impact other people have on us until it's too late. To my friends who mourn his passing, I offer my condolences, and prayers. I also remind you to carry him always in your heart, and live the lessons you learned from his friendship. To all my readers, and to myself, I can only say that we have no idea how much time we have, so don't waste any of it.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Pilgrims
Bishop Tobin, in his weekly reflection, this week discusses Archbishop Rembert Weakland's Memoirs entitled "A Pilgrim in a Pilgrim Church". Archbishop Weakland made somewhat of a name for himself when in the height of the Church Sex Scandel his own sexual transgressions with a youngster came to light, as well as the cover up that followed it. His book concludes with, "My story now comes to an end . . . Like all the other tales of human pilgrimage it must end with a fervent prayer for God’s gracious love and mercy on such a flawed but grateful pilgrim"
The quote reminded me of similar words heard spoken only a week ago by Senator Ted Kennedy to the Pope. The text of the letter was made public at the final commendation ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. In the letter he informs the Pontiff that he is dying of Cancer, and informs him of his stance on so many issues. He writes, "I want you to know, your Holiness, that in my 50 years of elected office I have done my best to champion the rights of the poor and open doors of economic opportunity. I’ve worked to welcome the immigrant, to fight discrimination and expand access to health care and education. I’ve opposed the death penalty and fought to end war."
The final paragraphs of his letter admit that although he has not been perfect, his faith has always been his rock, and center. When those words were read I thought they could be the words of any of us who are believers, as none of us have made the journey perfectly. The Archbishop is right, we really are all Pilgrims.
This year I turned 28, and I thought recently about when I was kid, I remember going to New York to celebrate my Brother-In-Law's 30th Birthday. He was quite the man in my eyes. A successful finance worker, with the body of a body builder. He lived in a gorgeous, spacious two bedroom apartment in Hoboken NJ. When you stood on his deck you looked at the Manhattan skyline. He took my sister to the nicest restaurants, wore nice suits, and was all around impressive. At least he impressed me! Then again I was just a kid. I remember thinking, that's what life had in store for all of us, as we got older we would naturally just get better and better.
Who's to say what age we have to be to reach certain marks in our pilgrim journey. Had I remained in the Seminary, this summer would have marked my two year anniversary of being a priest. The day of my class's Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood I attended. I put on my finest suit, and went to the Cathedral to sit and watch them achieve the dream that I had held in my heart and soul my entire life. At the Cathedral I watched with a joyful pride for my classmates and their momentous accomplishment. However in private, I cried. I cried a lot. What road was the right one to turn down for this Pilgrim if that was not the one?
One thing is for certain, life is not easy. For lack of a better word, it frankly sucks. No matter what choices we make we can never please everyone, we are always hurting someone, and when one challenge is overcome, there is another one to immediately follow. When I was in Seminary I thought when times got tough it was God's way of telling me that I was on the wrong track...now I see that is not the case at all, nobody has it easy. There are those people who we think do have it easy, but they face challenges and troubles too, we just will never know them. On the backside of every lovely and beautiful tapestry is hidden the knots, loose strings, and ties that make it up.
So how do we measure the success of our individual pilgrimage? Ted Kennedy's letter to the Pontiff highlighted his accomplishments, no doubt those things contributed to his end of life evaluation. The Archbishop, although he ends his text with words of prayer for mercy, he notes that he is a "grateful" pilgrim, for the many blessings and fortunes he had along the way. Clearly a man who feels there has been success somewhere along the twisted roads he traveled.
What strikes me also is the response that came from Rome. His response came from one of the Holy Father's assistants, in which he said; the pope got your letter, he is sad you are sick, he prays you are consoled, Mary loves you. If I were Ted that response would have been a deep disappointment. When I was a boy, maybe in the fourth grade, I wrote a letter to the Pope. In this letter I boasted of my aspirations to be a priest, shared my pride in my father's life of ministry as a Deacon, and asked him to pray for me. I told him about how I had watch World Youth Day on TV and one day hoped to attend. I later received a letter in return, which came from a Papal Assistant. It infromed me that; the pope got your letter, he's glad you want to be a priest, he prays you remain faithful to your goal of being a priest, Mary loves you.
The response is not much different then that of Ted's. To a fourth grader that response meant the world! I had a letter from the pope. As I got older I eventually came to realize that it was the same generic response everyone gets who sends a letter to the Supreme Pontiff. I certainly understand the reality of the situation, the Pope's concern about greater things, etc etc. However I find it to be ironic, and at 28 years old, I find so often when I turn to the God who I trust and believe so deeply in. . . I am still getting the same flat generic response; I got your prayer, stay strong, Mary loves you.
There comes a point in the Pilgrim journey when we need some kind of a break, where something's gotta give. There comes a point in life when we all begin to wonder when the roadblocks, speed bumps, and stop signs are going to pay off. I guess this is written by the hand of a frustrated pilgrim. However we keep going, despite the weariness. We utilize the rest stops along the way, and then gather it together and keep going. We keep going towards that end that we don't even know. We have our hopes and dreams of what that end will be but we won't find out until we get there.
The quote reminded me of similar words heard spoken only a week ago by Senator Ted Kennedy to the Pope. The text of the letter was made public at the final commendation ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. In the letter he informs the Pontiff that he is dying of Cancer, and informs him of his stance on so many issues. He writes, "I want you to know, your Holiness, that in my 50 years of elected office I have done my best to champion the rights of the poor and open doors of economic opportunity. I’ve worked to welcome the immigrant, to fight discrimination and expand access to health care and education. I’ve opposed the death penalty and fought to end war."
The final paragraphs of his letter admit that although he has not been perfect, his faith has always been his rock, and center. When those words were read I thought they could be the words of any of us who are believers, as none of us have made the journey perfectly. The Archbishop is right, we really are all Pilgrims.
This year I turned 28, and I thought recently about when I was kid, I remember going to New York to celebrate my Brother-In-Law's 30th Birthday. He was quite the man in my eyes. A successful finance worker, with the body of a body builder. He lived in a gorgeous, spacious two bedroom apartment in Hoboken NJ. When you stood on his deck you looked at the Manhattan skyline. He took my sister to the nicest restaurants, wore nice suits, and was all around impressive. At least he impressed me! Then again I was just a kid. I remember thinking, that's what life had in store for all of us, as we got older we would naturally just get better and better.
Who's to say what age we have to be to reach certain marks in our pilgrim journey. Had I remained in the Seminary, this summer would have marked my two year anniversary of being a priest. The day of my class's Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood I attended. I put on my finest suit, and went to the Cathedral to sit and watch them achieve the dream that I had held in my heart and soul my entire life. At the Cathedral I watched with a joyful pride for my classmates and their momentous accomplishment. However in private, I cried. I cried a lot. What road was the right one to turn down for this Pilgrim if that was not the one?
One thing is for certain, life is not easy. For lack of a better word, it frankly sucks. No matter what choices we make we can never please everyone, we are always hurting someone, and when one challenge is overcome, there is another one to immediately follow. When I was in Seminary I thought when times got tough it was God's way of telling me that I was on the wrong track...now I see that is not the case at all, nobody has it easy. There are those people who we think do have it easy, but they face challenges and troubles too, we just will never know them. On the backside of every lovely and beautiful tapestry is hidden the knots, loose strings, and ties that make it up.
So how do we measure the success of our individual pilgrimage? Ted Kennedy's letter to the Pontiff highlighted his accomplishments, no doubt those things contributed to his end of life evaluation. The Archbishop, although he ends his text with words of prayer for mercy, he notes that he is a "grateful" pilgrim, for the many blessings and fortunes he had along the way. Clearly a man who feels there has been success somewhere along the twisted roads he traveled.
What strikes me also is the response that came from Rome. His response came from one of the Holy Father's assistants, in which he said; the pope got your letter, he is sad you are sick, he prays you are consoled, Mary loves you. If I were Ted that response would have been a deep disappointment. When I was a boy, maybe in the fourth grade, I wrote a letter to the Pope. In this letter I boasted of my aspirations to be a priest, shared my pride in my father's life of ministry as a Deacon, and asked him to pray for me. I told him about how I had watch World Youth Day on TV and one day hoped to attend. I later received a letter in return, which came from a Papal Assistant. It infromed me that; the pope got your letter, he's glad you want to be a priest, he prays you remain faithful to your goal of being a priest, Mary loves you.
The response is not much different then that of Ted's. To a fourth grader that response meant the world! I had a letter from the pope. As I got older I eventually came to realize that it was the same generic response everyone gets who sends a letter to the Supreme Pontiff. I certainly understand the reality of the situation, the Pope's concern about greater things, etc etc. However I find it to be ironic, and at 28 years old, I find so often when I turn to the God who I trust and believe so deeply in. . . I am still getting the same flat generic response; I got your prayer, stay strong, Mary loves you.
There comes a point in the Pilgrim journey when we need some kind of a break, where something's gotta give. There comes a point in life when we all begin to wonder when the roadblocks, speed bumps, and stop signs are going to pay off. I guess this is written by the hand of a frustrated pilgrim. However we keep going, despite the weariness. We utilize the rest stops along the way, and then gather it together and keep going. We keep going towards that end that we don't even know. We have our hopes and dreams of what that end will be but we won't find out until we get there.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Legacies
Today the Nation mourns the loss of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister to President John F Kennedy, Senator and Presidential hopeful Robert Kennedy, and Senator Ted Kennedy. Arguably the most influential family in America, the Kennedys have had no shortage of criticism, press, and trials in their time. The scandal surrounding this great American Camelot has been present from the very beginning. A fact that was fore-known by the girlfriend of first born, Joe Kennedy Jr., who was refused a romantic relationship because the family was far "too active" for her to marry into. Clearly she saw from the beginning the threat of constant drama and invasion from the press.
Sister Patricia was perhaps the one Kennedy sibling who lived a life of somewhat quiet reserve, marrying and having her four children. Besides the infamous fates of John and Bobby, the others lives were no quieter. Joe, who died at 29 as a war hero over the shores of England. After shocking her family by marrying a Protestant Royalty, Kathleen (Kick) Kennedy faced scrutiny when, recently widowed, she died in a plane crash with a new lover. Perhaps the most devastating Kennedy tale of all is that of Rosemary, who was a victim of a lobotomy which her father had procured for her at an early age. This resulted in her living in an institution until her death at 87 years old.
Indeed it would seem the Kennedy gene guarantee either length of life, or death by tragedy, or in Rosemary's case: both. As we all know the clouds surrounding the Kennedy name did not disperse with this generation. What followed was generation after generation of politicians, marital scandals and infidelities, and no shortage of legal escapades including everything from attempted murder to rape.
Joe Kennedy Sr., the patriarch of this complex, political monster was perhaps the first seed of drama from which this tree sprang. A millionaire by this 30s, he died at 82, practically a cripple, but the 50 years in between were a testimony to determination. He became friends with President Roosovelt, and Pope Pius XII (prior to his election as Pontiff). Perhaps he would have lived to see his dream come true of holding the highest nation in the land, had he not slaughtered his own political career with his famous "Democracy is dead in England" quote during the second World War. He was heavily criticized for his perceived antisemitism, and finally suffered a stroke, just prior to the beginning of the chain of assassinations that would rock the nation in the 1960's.
God called Moses to lead His people out of slavery to the "Promised Land." Due to incidents along the way, 40 years later he is forbidden to enter, but allowed to see it from the precipice. In today's First Reading at Mass he cries. “I am now one hundred and twenty years old and am no longer able to move about freely; besides, the LORD has told me that I shall not cross this Jordan." He hands on the legacy of this great mission to Joshua, and would die after gazing over the land which he had so treasured. He warns the people to be obedient to Joshua, and to Joshua he warns, "Be brave and steadfast, for you must bring this people into the land which the LORD swore to their fathers he would give them; you must put them in possession of their heritage."
Moses reminds Joshua that it is no small task which he inherits, but rather the fate of a nation. Joe Kennedy stood at the precipice over his Promised Land too. When he realized he would not cross that line his hopes fell to his children. First Joe Jr., who subsequently died, then to John, who of course we all know was the only Kennedy to make it all the way to that office. Each member of this generation, despite their failures, scandals, or infidelities, have just as much victory behind them. Eunice, who we mourn today was the co-founder of the Special Olympics, which started in memory of her fallen sister Rose. Many served the nation as Senators or Ambassadors. As history unfolded and this legacy crumbled it is no doubt that Joe looked on from heaven with a heavy heart, as no doubt did Moses.
We are all led to the edge of our dreams, and we only go so far. What happens next? What's our role? What goals will we reach, and what legacy will we hand on to others. Moses lacked the certainty that Joe Kennedy had. When God called Moses he tried to refuse, he argued that he was not very intelligent or articulate, that he would be a poor choice for this mission. Joshua indeed led the Jews to their promised freedom in the promised land, and then leader after leader had to bring the battle for the mission of faith to where we are today. So too was Joseph Kennedy a carrier of the dream of his father Patrick, and he of his father. What mission do we take part in? What legacy will we leave behind? Which Kennedy will we be? The one who leaves the world surrounded by scandal and inquiry, or the one who leaves in triumph, having made our mark on the world, despite our own faults and failures. This is the legacy and challange that befalls each of us, and that we struggle to achieve everyday.
Sister Patricia was perhaps the one Kennedy sibling who lived a life of somewhat quiet reserve, marrying and having her four children. Besides the infamous fates of John and Bobby, the others lives were no quieter. Joe, who died at 29 as a war hero over the shores of England. After shocking her family by marrying a Protestant Royalty, Kathleen (Kick) Kennedy faced scrutiny when, recently widowed, she died in a plane crash with a new lover. Perhaps the most devastating Kennedy tale of all is that of Rosemary, who was a victim of a lobotomy which her father had procured for her at an early age. This resulted in her living in an institution until her death at 87 years old.
Indeed it would seem the Kennedy gene guarantee either length of life, or death by tragedy, or in Rosemary's case: both. As we all know the clouds surrounding the Kennedy name did not disperse with this generation. What followed was generation after generation of politicians, marital scandals and infidelities, and no shortage of legal escapades including everything from attempted murder to rape.
Joe Kennedy Sr., the patriarch of this complex, political monster was perhaps the first seed of drama from which this tree sprang. A millionaire by this 30s, he died at 82, practically a cripple, but the 50 years in between were a testimony to determination. He became friends with President Roosovelt, and Pope Pius XII (prior to his election as Pontiff). Perhaps he would have lived to see his dream come true of holding the highest nation in the land, had he not slaughtered his own political career with his famous "Democracy is dead in England" quote during the second World War. He was heavily criticized for his perceived antisemitism, and finally suffered a stroke, just prior to the beginning of the chain of assassinations that would rock the nation in the 1960's.
God called Moses to lead His people out of slavery to the "Promised Land." Due to incidents along the way, 40 years later he is forbidden to enter, but allowed to see it from the precipice. In today's First Reading at Mass he cries. “I am now one hundred and twenty years old and am no longer able to move about freely; besides, the LORD has told me that I shall not cross this Jordan." He hands on the legacy of this great mission to Joshua, and would die after gazing over the land which he had so treasured. He warns the people to be obedient to Joshua, and to Joshua he warns, "Be brave and steadfast, for you must bring this people into the land which the LORD swore to their fathers he would give them; you must put them in possession of their heritage."
Moses reminds Joshua that it is no small task which he inherits, but rather the fate of a nation. Joe Kennedy stood at the precipice over his Promised Land too. When he realized he would not cross that line his hopes fell to his children. First Joe Jr., who subsequently died, then to John, who of course we all know was the only Kennedy to make it all the way to that office. Each member of this generation, despite their failures, scandals, or infidelities, have just as much victory behind them. Eunice, who we mourn today was the co-founder of the Special Olympics, which started in memory of her fallen sister Rose. Many served the nation as Senators or Ambassadors. As history unfolded and this legacy crumbled it is no doubt that Joe looked on from heaven with a heavy heart, as no doubt did Moses.
We are all led to the edge of our dreams, and we only go so far. What happens next? What's our role? What goals will we reach, and what legacy will we hand on to others. Moses lacked the certainty that Joe Kennedy had. When God called Moses he tried to refuse, he argued that he was not very intelligent or articulate, that he would be a poor choice for this mission. Joshua indeed led the Jews to their promised freedom in the promised land, and then leader after leader had to bring the battle for the mission of faith to where we are today. So too was Joseph Kennedy a carrier of the dream of his father Patrick, and he of his father. What mission do we take part in? What legacy will we leave behind? Which Kennedy will we be? The one who leaves the world surrounded by scandal and inquiry, or the one who leaves in triumph, having made our mark on the world, despite our own faults and failures. This is the legacy and challange that befalls each of us, and that we struggle to achieve everyday.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Birds of a Feather
Have you ever owned a Jeep Wrangler? Or ridden in the passenger seat of one? There is no better demonstration of the saying "birds of a feather flock together" then that. I have found that Wrangler drivers find it necessary to acknowledge fellow drivers of the same vehicle to blow the horn, or wave, or somehow acknowledge one another on the road. It's amusing to be certain. Today walking home from the grocery store, a fellow bald man chose to stop me (this was not he first occurrence of this nature) and comment on our common hairstyle...or lack thereof.
These are not uncommon situations. A basic part of our humanity is to rely on similarities with other sin many situations. When I was in Seminary we had common areas of the house, designed to encourage fraternization among fellow Seminarians. It built a sense of community among men who were all going through the same experience, who shared common struggles, and who rejoiced over common victories. It is the same in a Military barracks. For that matter it is the same around the water cooler in an office building. We naturally gravitate towards people with whom we share something in common. In the more serious situations we do so for support.
It is for this reason that Addiction Recovery Programs encourage the community angle of their programs. Support groups for widows, gays, the crippled, the elderly, etc etc are all based on the concept of a community driven effort to work together towards a common goal. These are all well and good, but what do we do when the comfort of others is not enough?
In the First Reading at Mass today, we hear the plight of the Israelites who are walking with Moses through the desert on their 40 year trek to the promised land. They cry and wail about the lack of food, and God send Manna from heaven, a basic bread, to satisfy their needs. God sees in this community that fellowship alone is not going to be enough, so He provides more, but no more then is necessary. The cast of vagabonds are only allowd to retain each day what is required for that meal, and no more, as a demonstration of faith that God will provide more when they need it.
If I were walking with the Israelites I would have not found this to be an acceptable compromise. I would not want to play games. In that setting I am not thinking about faith, I am thinking about realistic concerns that face me on a day to day basis, that must be met. I have needs that must be satisfied. I have a drive for the future that must be acknowledged. To me, Gods answer to my cry from the depths of despair would be viewed as Him playing games. Just give me something to eat without stipulations. Just get me to the Promised Land without delay. Just acknowledge the fact that I am putting my faith in you...and let that be enough.
Today I write this blog with that temperament. It is so easy to loose faith sometimes. Not only in god but in Justice itself. In the very natural order of the universe. The bottom line for us so often is, "look...I cant take anymore." When we offer up this prayer we are told that God will provide exactly what we need, and not a crumb more. In the case of the Israelites it means that He will govern the distribution of the bread from Heaven. In the case of the ambitious it is that He will not grant that promotion. In the case of the "underemployed" he will not provide that raise, those few cents that they don' t necessarily NEED, if they eliminate every cent of excess money that they spend.
The Israelites were God's "Chosen People", so why then did He force them to endure so much torture? Why not just give them all the food they need? Why not provide I faster means of transportation across the desert? Do we really have to suffer every step of the way? Apparently we do. Apparently it is the shoulder of others that we have to rely on. Evidently the tiny droplets of water that God offers when we are on the cusp of dying of thirst and total dehydration, have to be enough to quench our thirst.
Why does God play these games? Perhaps we will never know. Perhaps we will find all out answers in our experiences with others, or upon our own internalization. The bottom line is, while it is true that Birds of a Feather flock together, it is only God who gave them the ability to fly. It is also only God who can provide the sky in which that gift can be expressed.
These are not uncommon situations. A basic part of our humanity is to rely on similarities with other sin many situations. When I was in Seminary we had common areas of the house, designed to encourage fraternization among fellow Seminarians. It built a sense of community among men who were all going through the same experience, who shared common struggles, and who rejoiced over common victories. It is the same in a Military barracks. For that matter it is the same around the water cooler in an office building. We naturally gravitate towards people with whom we share something in common. In the more serious situations we do so for support.
It is for this reason that Addiction Recovery Programs encourage the community angle of their programs. Support groups for widows, gays, the crippled, the elderly, etc etc are all based on the concept of a community driven effort to work together towards a common goal. These are all well and good, but what do we do when the comfort of others is not enough?
In the First Reading at Mass today, we hear the plight of the Israelites who are walking with Moses through the desert on their 40 year trek to the promised land. They cry and wail about the lack of food, and God send Manna from heaven, a basic bread, to satisfy their needs. God sees in this community that fellowship alone is not going to be enough, so He provides more, but no more then is necessary. The cast of vagabonds are only allowd to retain each day what is required for that meal, and no more, as a demonstration of faith that God will provide more when they need it.
If I were walking with the Israelites I would have not found this to be an acceptable compromise. I would not want to play games. In that setting I am not thinking about faith, I am thinking about realistic concerns that face me on a day to day basis, that must be met. I have needs that must be satisfied. I have a drive for the future that must be acknowledged. To me, Gods answer to my cry from the depths of despair would be viewed as Him playing games. Just give me something to eat without stipulations. Just get me to the Promised Land without delay. Just acknowledge the fact that I am putting my faith in you...and let that be enough.
Today I write this blog with that temperament. It is so easy to loose faith sometimes. Not only in god but in Justice itself. In the very natural order of the universe. The bottom line for us so often is, "look...I cant take anymore." When we offer up this prayer we are told that God will provide exactly what we need, and not a crumb more. In the case of the Israelites it means that He will govern the distribution of the bread from Heaven. In the case of the ambitious it is that He will not grant that promotion. In the case of the "underemployed" he will not provide that raise, those few cents that they don' t necessarily NEED, if they eliminate every cent of excess money that they spend.
The Israelites were God's "Chosen People", so why then did He force them to endure so much torture? Why not just give them all the food they need? Why not provide I faster means of transportation across the desert? Do we really have to suffer every step of the way? Apparently we do. Apparently it is the shoulder of others that we have to rely on. Evidently the tiny droplets of water that God offers when we are on the cusp of dying of thirst and total dehydration, have to be enough to quench our thirst.
Why does God play these games? Perhaps we will never know. Perhaps we will find all out answers in our experiences with others, or upon our own internalization. The bottom line is, while it is true that Birds of a Feather flock together, it is only God who gave them the ability to fly. It is also only God who can provide the sky in which that gift can be expressed.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Martha
The Gospel today at Mass tells the story of Martha and Mary. They were sisters, and they and their brother Lazarus were good friends of Jesus. The story in todays Gospel tells of a time when Jesus came to visit. Many friends had been invited over. The two sisters behaved quite differently. Mary sat at Jesus' feet to hear what He had to say, while Martha ran around the house getting things ready, cleaning, and being a good host. She quickly got angry that Mary was not doing the same;
“Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me.”
The Lord said to her in reply,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.”
We all can relate to Martha. We spend our days and nights so busy...we work towards our goals, we try to reach our dreams, and we look at other people who are just sitting there, not doing anything, and victory seems to be theirs. Even Jesus tells Martha, "Mary has chosen the better part." Jesus sides with the lazy one, the one who just sits there and success comes to her. He favors the one who just seems to ride wave of life, and the good fortune that fate seems to have dealt her. Yes, Martha is "worried about many things", much like you and I. Life is not easy is it? In fact it's damn hard. We have our dreams, and hopes, and everyday smacking us in the face is reality. We have bills to pay, jobs to maintain and excel at, relationships to foster, lovers to satisfy, and friendships to hold on to. On top of that we have the surprises that come along; car problems, broken phones, banking mistakes, leaky roofs, flooded basements, and everything in between. Parents have children who get sick, it seems to be just endless.
So why does Jesus side with Mary, who seemingly has nothing to worry about. He is making a statement, that to sit at His feet is the better part. Mary has chosen to sit and hear the words of the Savior rather then run around the house trying to be hospitable. At the end of the day, to hear the words of life from the mouth of the Lord is much more meaningful then the petty worldly concerns that Martha has committed herself to.
When I was in Seminary this message is exactly what I would have proclaimed from the pulpit. That we allow ourselves to become slaves to the world, when what matters is the life to come with the Lord. Today however that message is different. Now that I live in the real world, I think that any man who trys to tell me that from a pulpit has alot of nerve, because frankly...life is not that easy.
What the story does not tell however is what Mary did in the background. I presume that she did her share before Jesus arrived, and then just put the rest in His hands. You see, there comes a point where we have done all that we can. There's a point when we just can't do anymore. We have worked as hard as we can to reach our goals, we do the best we can at work, we deal with each challenge that comes along with as much dignity and strength as we possibly can. . . and we have to put the rest in the hands of something bigger then ourselves. I call it God, some call it fate, some call it hope.
We have to draw strength from the areas we have gotten right. We have to lean on our partners who we love more then anything, on our friends who we are proud to have in our lives, and on the successes that we have managed to get under our belts. You see, in the story Martha went wrong because she stopped working. Jesus didn't tell Martha to settle down, or call her out on her business. She stopped. She stopped what she was doing and tried to get Jesus to see her frustration. She stopped working so she could point the finger at someone else who seemingly wasn't pulling her load.
Mary chose the better part, because she did the best she could, and then let it rest. May we all take the lesson from the story of Martha and Mary. We need to stop worrying about everybody else. We can't compare ourselves to other people. We can only do our very best, armed with the love of those who support us, and the lessons we have already learned, once we do our very best, we will be amazed at the fruits of our labor.
“Lord, do you not care
that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving?
Tell her to help me.”
The Lord said to her in reply,
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her.”
We all can relate to Martha. We spend our days and nights so busy...we work towards our goals, we try to reach our dreams, and we look at other people who are just sitting there, not doing anything, and victory seems to be theirs. Even Jesus tells Martha, "Mary has chosen the better part." Jesus sides with the lazy one, the one who just sits there and success comes to her. He favors the one who just seems to ride wave of life, and the good fortune that fate seems to have dealt her. Yes, Martha is "worried about many things", much like you and I. Life is not easy is it? In fact it's damn hard. We have our dreams, and hopes, and everyday smacking us in the face is reality. We have bills to pay, jobs to maintain and excel at, relationships to foster, lovers to satisfy, and friendships to hold on to. On top of that we have the surprises that come along; car problems, broken phones, banking mistakes, leaky roofs, flooded basements, and everything in between. Parents have children who get sick, it seems to be just endless.
So why does Jesus side with Mary, who seemingly has nothing to worry about. He is making a statement, that to sit at His feet is the better part. Mary has chosen to sit and hear the words of the Savior rather then run around the house trying to be hospitable. At the end of the day, to hear the words of life from the mouth of the Lord is much more meaningful then the petty worldly concerns that Martha has committed herself to.
When I was in Seminary this message is exactly what I would have proclaimed from the pulpit. That we allow ourselves to become slaves to the world, when what matters is the life to come with the Lord. Today however that message is different. Now that I live in the real world, I think that any man who trys to tell me that from a pulpit has alot of nerve, because frankly...life is not that easy.
What the story does not tell however is what Mary did in the background. I presume that she did her share before Jesus arrived, and then just put the rest in His hands. You see, there comes a point where we have done all that we can. There's a point when we just can't do anymore. We have worked as hard as we can to reach our goals, we do the best we can at work, we deal with each challenge that comes along with as much dignity and strength as we possibly can. . . and we have to put the rest in the hands of something bigger then ourselves. I call it God, some call it fate, some call it hope.
We have to draw strength from the areas we have gotten right. We have to lean on our partners who we love more then anything, on our friends who we are proud to have in our lives, and on the successes that we have managed to get under our belts. You see, in the story Martha went wrong because she stopped working. Jesus didn't tell Martha to settle down, or call her out on her business. She stopped. She stopped what she was doing and tried to get Jesus to see her frustration. She stopped working so she could point the finger at someone else who seemingly wasn't pulling her load.
Mary chose the better part, because she did the best she could, and then let it rest. May we all take the lesson from the story of Martha and Mary. We need to stop worrying about everybody else. We can't compare ourselves to other people. We can only do our very best, armed with the love of those who support us, and the lessons we have already learned, once we do our very best, we will be amazed at the fruits of our labor.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Come Away and Rest
This week in the Gospel, Jesus invites his followers "Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." I have decided to heed that advice by taking a few days off from work. As I begin my gradual escape from the city, I do so with a spirit of contemplation, and a light heart.
What is it about Birthdays that makes us so excited? Maybe it's the victory that we feel inside for surviving another year. Maybe it's the joy of having something to celebrate in a life that is filled with so many challenges, disappointments, and struggles. Maybe it gives us a chance to stop thinking about ourselves, and focus on someone else, even if it's just for a day.
Birthdays are always a time to think. A time to celebrate the accomplishments of the last year...no matter how small. It's a time to think about the impact we have had on others, and a time to set goals for the year to come.
My 25th birthday was celebrated in the company of good friends, in the Eternal City of Rome. I remember standing on the roof of the Minerva Hotel, and looking out over the city of Rome, I whispered a silent prayer to God. A prayer that will only be answered in God's time. It's like that silent unspoken wish that we make when we blow out the candles on the birthday cake. God did answer a part of that prayer, in Joshua.
Today Joshua blows out the candles on his cake. He utters those silent prayers and supplications to God. He wishes for all the blessings and opportunities that God has in store for him this year. Happy Birthday Joshua. I pray that all of your dreams and wishes come true. Thank you for making one of my wishes come true, and I pray that this is the first of many birthdays that we will celebrate together. As they say in Latin, "Ad Multos Gloriosque Anos!!"
What is it about Birthdays that makes us so excited? Maybe it's the victory that we feel inside for surviving another year. Maybe it's the joy of having something to celebrate in a life that is filled with so many challenges, disappointments, and struggles. Maybe it gives us a chance to stop thinking about ourselves, and focus on someone else, even if it's just for a day.
Birthdays are always a time to think. A time to celebrate the accomplishments of the last year...no matter how small. It's a time to think about the impact we have had on others, and a time to set goals for the year to come.
My 25th birthday was celebrated in the company of good friends, in the Eternal City of Rome. I remember standing on the roof of the Minerva Hotel, and looking out over the city of Rome, I whispered a silent prayer to God. A prayer that will only be answered in God's time. It's like that silent unspoken wish that we make when we blow out the candles on the birthday cake. God did answer a part of that prayer, in Joshua.
Today Joshua blows out the candles on his cake. He utters those silent prayers and supplications to God. He wishes for all the blessings and opportunities that God has in store for him this year. Happy Birthday Joshua. I pray that all of your dreams and wishes come true. Thank you for making one of my wishes come true, and I pray that this is the first of many birthdays that we will celebrate together. As they say in Latin, "Ad Multos Gloriosque Anos!!"
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Goodbyes
Have you ever said goodbye to a friend? We all have. There are any number of reasons why a friend leaves a fold, to return home, to move away from home, work, or just a need for change, whatever the reason is...we have all had that moment, that TV sitcom moment where we hug a friend, and realize we have no idea when we will see them again. That moment when some sappy song plays in our head as various moments and memories pass through our minds, of that person through the years as we say goodbye.
This weekend the Providence Community says goodbye to someone who has become one of our own. Ty. I think until the onset of Facebook, many people didn't even know his last name. He was simply, "Ty", and we all knew him. We all have memories with Ty, and I would wager that we could each write an entire blog filled memories of times with Ty. I personally have many such memories. Those memories range from Downtown Providence, to the Beach, Randolf Country Club, Twin River, Parties, Restaurants, and everything in between. To me he was a very special friend, who I know I will miss dearly. That's why I wanted to write a blog about him. You see, Ty is one of my best friends...and he is one of the few people in the world about whom many people can say that. For most of us, our friendships with Ty began over a cocktail, and a lot of laughs. For nearly all of us, it grew into more then that.
We all joke about each other all the time, when one of us has too much to drink. We like to point fingers at each other about someone being "a drunken mess", or what have you...well we have all been there...and one of the joys of Ty is that he is always the first person to laugh at himself, and if he laughs at you, he's usually sitting with you, and your laughing along with him. That's not because he thinks life is a joke, it's because he realizes that so much of our lives is dark, and heavy, and stressful...so let's look on the lighter side whenever we possibly can.
It is all together appropriate that the Gospel this coming weekend talks about Jesus sending the Disciples out into the world, to spread the Christian message, and further the spread of the Gospel. He instructs them to go out into the world, with no money, armed with nothing but their faith. His instructions to them are clear, "Wherever you go, enter a house, stay there until you leave. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them."
Ty carries with him the message of Christ everywhere he goes. The message of Christ is unconditional love, and he carries nothing but love, in his smile, his kindness, his laugh, and his spirit. I don't think I've ever ordered a round of shots with him next to me, and actually paid for it, because he either A. orders first, or B. slaps his money down on the bar first. At fundraisers, and benefits we have all heard him scream, "it's for charity!!" And certainly any one of us who is a bartender in this town, cannot even begin to consider arguing his generosity.
This generosity is never limited to money. I remember sitting at my computer one Saturday afternoon, lost because of a relationship that had just fallen to pieces around me. . . and it felt like my life was in just as may pieces. Ty was online at the same time, fifteen minutes later we were walking down Snow Street, and he was listening to my every tear. He has sat by my side at Church, and joined me in prayer on Church days that he knew were important to me. When I was out of work, he set me up with shifts at his work, literally putting money in my pocket when I was counting Nickels.
You see, that is the life of Christ in the everyday real world. There are the Mother Theresas and the Pope John Pauls, and the heroes of Church history. Then there are the everyday, normal folks, who live the same message, and don't even realize they are doing it...because it's just who they are. These are the people that are the face of Jesus Christ, in our everyday life. No doubt wherever Ty goes in this world, and throughout the course of his life, he will enter peoples homes, hearts, and lives with that spirit of joy that defines his very nature, and in places where it is not welcome, he will walk away...and it will be that place's loss.
Now he leaves us...he has entered "the house of our hearts", and indeed he has stayed there as Jesus said. However he will stay with us when he leaves. Through the years Ty has been for me a very dear friend. We will all miss him, and weather you say goodbye to him at DownCity on Saturday night, or at State on Sunday pray that it is not the last hug. It certainly better not be the last cocktail!
This weekend the Providence Community says goodbye to someone who has become one of our own. Ty. I think until the onset of Facebook, many people didn't even know his last name. He was simply, "Ty", and we all knew him. We all have memories with Ty, and I would wager that we could each write an entire blog filled memories of times with Ty. I personally have many such memories. Those memories range from Downtown Providence, to the Beach, Randolf Country Club, Twin River, Parties, Restaurants, and everything in between. To me he was a very special friend, who I know I will miss dearly. That's why I wanted to write a blog about him. You see, Ty is one of my best friends...and he is one of the few people in the world about whom many people can say that. For most of us, our friendships with Ty began over a cocktail, and a lot of laughs. For nearly all of us, it grew into more then that.
We all joke about each other all the time, when one of us has too much to drink. We like to point fingers at each other about someone being "a drunken mess", or what have you...well we have all been there...and one of the joys of Ty is that he is always the first person to laugh at himself, and if he laughs at you, he's usually sitting with you, and your laughing along with him. That's not because he thinks life is a joke, it's because he realizes that so much of our lives is dark, and heavy, and stressful...so let's look on the lighter side whenever we possibly can.
It is all together appropriate that the Gospel this coming weekend talks about Jesus sending the Disciples out into the world, to spread the Christian message, and further the spread of the Gospel. He instructs them to go out into the world, with no money, armed with nothing but their faith. His instructions to them are clear, "Wherever you go, enter a house, stay there until you leave. Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, leave there and shake the dust off your feet in testimony against them."
Ty carries with him the message of Christ everywhere he goes. The message of Christ is unconditional love, and he carries nothing but love, in his smile, his kindness, his laugh, and his spirit. I don't think I've ever ordered a round of shots with him next to me, and actually paid for it, because he either A. orders first, or B. slaps his money down on the bar first. At fundraisers, and benefits we have all heard him scream, "it's for charity!!" And certainly any one of us who is a bartender in this town, cannot even begin to consider arguing his generosity.
This generosity is never limited to money. I remember sitting at my computer one Saturday afternoon, lost because of a relationship that had just fallen to pieces around me. . . and it felt like my life was in just as may pieces. Ty was online at the same time, fifteen minutes later we were walking down Snow Street, and he was listening to my every tear. He has sat by my side at Church, and joined me in prayer on Church days that he knew were important to me. When I was out of work, he set me up with shifts at his work, literally putting money in my pocket when I was counting Nickels.
You see, that is the life of Christ in the everyday real world. There are the Mother Theresas and the Pope John Pauls, and the heroes of Church history. Then there are the everyday, normal folks, who live the same message, and don't even realize they are doing it...because it's just who they are. These are the people that are the face of Jesus Christ, in our everyday life. No doubt wherever Ty goes in this world, and throughout the course of his life, he will enter peoples homes, hearts, and lives with that spirit of joy that defines his very nature, and in places where it is not welcome, he will walk away...and it will be that place's loss.
Now he leaves us...he has entered "the house of our hearts", and indeed he has stayed there as Jesus said. However he will stay with us when he leaves. Through the years Ty has been for me a very dear friend. We will all miss him, and weather you say goodbye to him at DownCity on Saturday night, or at State on Sunday pray that it is not the last hug. It certainly better not be the last cocktail!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)