Looking past Mardi Gras...

So, I've been thinking. How am I going to "be" this Lent?

Last year's Lent for me, consisted of a number of grand pronouncements, followed by false starts and rationalizations. I did facilitate a prayer group for my parish, but admittedly, that was more to convince myself of the promising parish leader I was becoming. I did not embrace the spirit of fasting and abstinence, was sporadic in my prayer, more sporadic in Mass attendance, did a lot of loafing in front of the computer and TV, and I certainly didn't do anything for the poor.

So...how am I going to be?

I was thinking of trying to be an example this year, the example I'm always touting. If I am not embracing in my life what I profess to believe in, what's the point, really? There's a lot in my life that needs changing; my laziness around the house. My wasting of time on the TV and the Internet. Not engaging in personal prayer unless it is late at night and I'm alone, as if I am embarrassed by it. Not making Sunday Mass an absolute priority. Not spending quality time with my wife and my children. In other words, if I am not living my faith where it counts the most - in my own home, with my own family - what's the point, really? If I am not giving what I receive at Mass with my Church community, with the Franciscans, with the Hibernians, with the Knights, what the heck am I doing, really.

So here's how I am going to be this Lent, with the help of God's grace:

- Be faithful to the standard fasting and abstinence requirements. GO FURTHER...try fasting, not just abstention, each Lenten Friday
- Severely curtail TV and Facebook time. Fill that time with housework, quality time with my family, reading, writing, and prayer
- Join the Lenten Mission at my parish...as a participant instead of a facilitator to keep my considerable ego in check.
- Create a Lenten "sacred space" to use for daily prayer
- Make time for the following: Daily Lauds and Vespers, daily Rosary, at least one Stations of the Cross meditation, and at least one additional Mass per week.
- Attend Holy Triduum services
- Remember the poor in prayer and action.

We need to go beyond the idea of simply "giving something up" for Lent. This penitential season is an invitation to grow in our understanding of God's love for us and our solidarity with the poor, with the rich, and everyone in between. Certainly, giving up something or things that we don't need is a good start. However, if we are not proactive in its stead, if we are not filling that "hole" with something good and worthwhile, we are left with nothing but a hole, ripe for us to grumble about.

Peace & All Good,
Thomas

Daily Mass Readings
James 1:12-18
Psalm 94:12-15,18-19
Mark 8:14-21

Meeting of the minds and souls

It's been awhile since I have been able to write. Thankfully, our busy season is starting to wind down and I am nicely recovering from a long hard bout of bronchitis; I will be able to hit the blog a bit more often as Lent arrives.

For the second month in a row, I've not been able to get to my Franciscan fraternity meeting. Last month I was laid up with the aforementioned bronchitis, and tonight's meeting was canceled because of the forthcoming snow. I've not been together with my spiritual brothers and sisters since the beginning of Advent, and I really miss them. We're supposed to have a day of prayer at the Friary this Saturday, but our host and spiritual director, Bro. Ed, is recovering from a minor stroke, so he's touch and go for the time being.

God does always have an answer for our needs, however.

This Friday I am getting together with 2 dear friends from high school, both of whom I have discovered are "kindred souls". All 3 of us come from different spiritual paths, yet we all seem - I don't know - excited by the possibility and hope that belief in the Divine can bring. We've been shooting emails and messages back and forth for the last few months and have finally nailed down Friday as an opportunity to "solve the problems of the Universe".

I'm really looking forward to it!

Pax,
Thomas

Daily Mass Readings
James 1:1-11
Psalm 119:67,68,71,72,75,76
Mark 8:11-13

Thoughts on The Screwtape Letters

"You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy. It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one-the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts."
— C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

I've just recently re-read C.S. Lewis' excellent Screwtape Letters - a "correspondence" between two demons regarding a man's soul the junior "tempter" Wormwood is tasked with obtaining. Screwtape, the senior demon and Wormwood's uncle, helps Wormwood navigate his "Patient" through all manner of temptation and sin -from pride, lust, sloth, and so on. The above quote has always chilled me somewhat; Screwtape is explaining to his nephew not to attempt to extract "spectacular" sins and evil from his patient. "Cards" may not be flashy, but eventually the mundane will get the job done. Indeed, going too overboard may alert the patient to the tempter's presence.

Wormwood eventually lost his charge to the Enemy (God)...turns out it wasn't even close. Screwtape assures his nephew that he will receive the fate the patient was to endure.

Screwtape seems to embody the idea that the greatest trick that the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he does not exist. While Wormwood longs for catastrophic evil, Screwtape prefers subtle cunning, distraction and confusion...keeping our eyes off the prize JUST long enough to lose it. Screwtape's method chills me far more than hiss nephew's. What comforts me at the end of the book is Screwtape's consternation of not knowing what "the Enemy" is doing:

"If we could only find out what He is really up to...I am almost in despair. All that sustains me is the conviction that our Realism, our rejection of all silly nonsense and claptrap MUST win in the end!"

Here's to silly nonsense and claptrap.

Seriously, regardless of your faith, The Screwtape Letters is a quick, intelligent, and at times hilarious read. For those of the Christian persuasion, this tome will make you think, perhaps re-think your ideas on the nature of Hell and evil, particularly apt as we approach the penitential season of Lent.

Peace,
Thomas

Daily Mass Readings
2 Samuel:2,9-17
Psalm 32:1-2,5-7
Mark 6:1-6

Embracing the Wolf

Thanks to Sharon Callahan for the retelling of this tale:

Perhaps the most famous story of St. Francis is when he tamed the wolf that was terrorizing the people of Gubbio. While Francis was staying in that town he learned of a wolf so ravenous that it was not only killing and eating animals, but people, too. The people took up arms and went after it, but those who encountered the wolf were killed. The villagers became afraid to leave the city walls.

Francis took pity on the people and the wolf as well and decided to go out and meet the wolf. He was desperately warned by the people, but he insisted that God would take care of him. A brave friar and several peasants accompanied Francis outside the city gate. But soon the peasants became terrified and said they would go no farther.

Francis and his companion began to walk on. Suddenly the wolf, jaws wide open, charged out of the woods at the couple. Francis made the Sign of the Cross toward the wolf who immediately slowed down and closed its mouth. Then Francis called out to the wolf: “Come to me, Brother Wolf. I wish you no harm.” At that moment the wolf lowered its head and lay down at St. Francis’ feet, meek as a lamb.

St. Francis explained to the wolf that he had been terrorizing the people, killing not only other animals, but humans as well. “Brother Wolf,” said Francis, “I want to make peace between you and the people of Gubbio. They will harm you no more and you must no longer harm them. All past wrongs are to be forgiven.”

The wolf showed its assent by moving its body and nodding its head. Then to the absolute surprise of the gathering crowd, Francis asked the wolf to make a pledge. As St. Francis extended his hand to receive the pledge, so the wolf extended its front paw and placed it into the saint’s hand. Then Francis invited the wolf to follow him into town to make a peace pact with the townspeople. The wolf meekly followed St. Francis.

By the time they got to the town square, everyone was there to witness the miracle. Then he offered the townspeople peace, on behalf of the wolf. The townspeople promised in a loud voice to feed the wolf. Then Francis asked the wolf if he would live in peace under those terms. He bowed his head and twisted his body in a way that convinced everyone he accepted the pact. Then once again the wolf placed its paw in Francis’ hand as a sign of the pact.

From that day on the people kept the pact they had made. The wolf lived for two years among the townspeople, going from door to door for food. It hurt no one and no one hurt it. Even the dogs did not bark at it. When the wolf finally died of old age, the people of Gubbio were sad. The wolf’s peaceful ways had been a living reminder to them of the wonders, patience, virtues and holiness of St. Francis. It had been a living symbol of the power and providence of the living God

http://www.anaflora.com/articles/saints-sages/saint-1.html

I love the story of St. Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio. It reminds me that I need to embrace and love all of myself, even those parts I consider unsavory, savage or dark. Everyone has their Wolf-selves. It is part of who we are, and the lesson Brother Francis teaches us here is not to hate or try to rip out and kill this part of ourselves as the townspeople of Gubbio initially wished to do with their wolf (with disastrous results); it is to accept it, come to terms with it, and live in peace with it. A lesson I still must learn - and I thank you, Little Brother Francis for continuing to teach me.

Peace and a Blessed New Year,
Thomas

Daily Mass Readings
1 John 5:14-21
Psalm 149:1-6a,9b
John 3:22-30

Christmas is still going on, folks!

Some of my friends (on and offline) are already taking down, or preparing to take down, their Christmas decorations. "Thank God it's over!", one of them wrote.

Christmas is just beginning! Christmas is not only a day, it is a SEASON to be celebrated!

The online ministries of the Jesuits at Creighton University bear this out beautifully. Through Scripture, we can enter into the Christmas Mystery. From allowing ourselves to be present at the manger of the Christ Child with the shepherds and eventualy the Magi at the Epiphany, to fleeing to Egypt alongside the Holy Family to escape Herod's massacre of the innocents, to witnessing the cousins Jesus and John together again in the Jordan, one prophet baptizing the Greatest Prophet.

It is a journey we all too often miss!

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent/Christmas-as-Season.html

A Blessed Christmas SEASON to All!
Thomas

The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas
Daily Mass Readings
1 John 2:12-17
Psalm 96:7-10
Luke 2:36-40

My 2009 - This happened, BUT SO DID THIS!

Often I berate myself for not getting the things done I planned to or ought to be getting done. That was my initial reaction when I looked over my New Years Resolutions from last year. However, I've come to the realization that progress was made and things happened I didn't envision at the beginning of the year. There were at the very least silver linings for be grateful for.

So here's my Top Ten "This, BUT ALSO THAT" list for the waning year of 2009:

1. My beloved cat Archie passed away...BUT we welcomed Wall-E and Eva to our family!

2. I didn't reach my fitness goals...BUT my gym membership is still good for almost 2 more years!

3. I didn't take up a another musical instrument as I planned...BUT I 'donated' my bass guitar to my nephew, giving an old dusty instrument new life!

4. I didn't begin discernment to become a deacon...BUT I was accepted into the Secular Franciscan Order as a novitiate, became a 3rd Degree Knight of Columbus, and am the Recording Secretary for my Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians!

5. The book I was planning to put together has not yet come to fruition...BUT I made time to create and regularly 'self-publish' my own blog!

6. I don't have all the answers yet...BUT I think I'm starting to ask the right questions!

7. Myspace has pretty much gone the way of the dinosaur...BUT I have kept much closer contact with friends and family via Facebook instead!

8. My job has gotten harder this year...BUT I have been doing it better!

9. I am losing more and more hair from the top of my head...BUT I have a nice beard coming in to make up for it!

10. I am not the man I am supposed to be yet...BUT I won't be until the day I die anyway!

Christmas Blessings,
Thomas

The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas
Daily Mass Readings
1 John 2:3-11
Psalm 96:1-3,5b-6
Luke 2:22-35

"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

Advent is dying away and we can see the first glimpse of Christmas on the horizon.

Down and blue the last few days (Hell, the last few weeks!) I'd thought much of this Advent was a failure of sorts for me. I hadn't done much in preparation for Christmas; missed Mass here and there, gave up a half-hearted search for the Advent Wreath weeks ago, let myself get overwhelmed by big changes at work, and have generally been unhelpful (a kind word) around the house.

Something happened tonight that finally made me ready for Christmas. It was a blackout.

A good portion of Levittown and the surrounding areas lost power for a few hours tonight. To stave off boredom (and cold since the heat wasn't working either) we all snuggled in the den, talking about our days, playing word games, and we made up a ridiculous, silly, and hilarious version of the 12 days of Christmas, all by candlelight. We basked in the warmth of Family in place of the TV, the computer, and the dreaded Wii. We shared something we had forgotten about in our plenty..the joy of each other's company, and seeing the Love of God in each other.

Sure, we were happy to get power back. All the same, I hope I remember the Blackout of December 21st, 2009 for a long, long time. Regardless of what the calendar says, today is the day Christmas...the coming of God's Love...began. Or at least when I realized it was with me all along.

Peace and Advent Blessings,
Thomas

Feast of St. Peter Canisius, SJ
Daily Mass Readings
Song of Songs 2:8-14 orZephaniah 3:14-18a
Psalm 33:2-3,11-12,20-21
Luke 1:39-45