The Seas of Life 

   “Unfurl the sails and let God steer us where He will."  (St. Bede) 

   Life can be compared to sailing unknown seas.  We can’t be certain of where it will take us.  A change in the wind can completely redirect our ship of life.  Too often we want to change the wind rather than sail where it may take us.

   There can be times of peaceful sailing on a calm sea or there can be dangerous times.  The winds may be gentle with easy rolling swells, or they may be of gale force with the waves crashing over the bow.  Either way our ship continues its course until this journey of life is complete.

   It’s natural to hope for easy days with gentle winds but the storms of life cannot be avoided.  We will experience days when we just want to trim the sails or tack against the wind rather than follow where it may take us.  At times we may just want to drop anchor and give up.  But life goes on and we must follow where it leads.

   “Just as you do not know the path of the wind or how the body is formed in a woman’s womb, so you do not know the work of God, creator of all.” (Eccl 11: 5).   When the winds pick up and seem to be directing us in a new direction we need to consider that the source of that wind is the God who created all things.  Though we may not know where the wind will take us, we must trust in His plan, accept His will.

   The winds of God will eventually bring us to His holy kingdom if we put our faith in Him, confident in His great love.  So we must sail our ship according to God’s direction.  Unfurl the sails and follow the winds of the Lord.

 

 Surrender 

   “Oh Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything.” (Surrender Novena) 

   Surrender yourself to Jesus, trust in Him and you will know peace.  However, we must trust in Him to do what is best, not try to restrict Him by our own ideas about how to resolve our problems.  We see little of the overall picture, He sees it all.  Allow Him to determine the best resolution, even if it isn’t quite what you wanted or expected.

   So many times we pray that our will be done.  We offer our petitions to God but try to tell Him what the answer should be.  When we try to solve our problems, God will allow it and very often we will mess it up.  Give it to God and submit to His will and the resolution will be for the best although we may never understand it in this lifetime.

   That doesn’t mean we can’t ask for what we desire.  If we are ill we can pray for healing or relief.  If we are troubled we can ask for peace of heart.  God wants us to ask, He wants us to reach out to Him.  But we must take the attitude of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Yet not my will but yours be done.” (Mark 14: 36).  We must accept God’s will in all things.

   When I look back over my life I see many times when I asked for God’s help but wanted His help to suit my desires rather than His.  It doesn’t work that way.  When I surrender myself to God I have peace within me.  When I place all my trust in Him all things are possible.  His way is always the right way though I may not know it at the time.

 

 Happiness In God 

   I look at my life and see many times when I was lost, looking only to worldly things for joy and happiness.  But there is no lasting joy in this world, only the temporary façade of happiness.  The promises of the world can never deliver what they offer.

   Looking back helps me remember when I finally found happiness.  I can’t put a date to it, but I know that a profound change came over my life when I submitted it to God.  To release the anxiety and worries of this broken world, trusting Him in all things, brings calm, peace, and a happiness that the world can never offer.

   God only desires what is best for us.  His ways are mysterious, and we will never fully understand them, but they are always what is needed for our spiritual growth and well-being.  The happy times teach us gratitude, urging us to always give thanks to God.  The trials teach us endurance and trust, knowing that when we place our trust in God we are on the right path.

   Christ said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt 11: 29 – 30).  When we accept His yoke we will know happiness in all things and have His peace within us.

 

 How We Suffer 

   “For it has been granted to you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him.” (Phil 1: 29) 

   Yesterday I wrote about beginning to understand suffering and why we suffer.  All of us will experience some suffering in this life but not all will approach suffering in the same way.

   When we suffer, we often focus on that to the exclusion of all else.  We tend to forget the many blessings and the joy we’ve known and allow our suffering to dominate our life.  We become depressed, some even to the point of taking their own life to end the suffering.  But suicide only leads to eternal suffering, not freedom from it.

   Some look at suffering as a fact of life in a broken and sinful world.  They accept it and deal with it, never allowing it to consume them.  They offer their suffering to the Lord out of love and thanksgiving for the suffering He endured for them.

   Though it may sound crazy, suffering can bring us closer to God if we will allow.  When we surrender our suffering to Him in prayer He will help us endure, giving us comfort even in times of pain and sorrow.

   The cross, our suffering in this world, is part of the path we must walk if we are to reach God’s kingdom.  When we read the gospels we see that Jesus’ ministry was one of suffering, from rejection by those He came to save all the way to Calvary.  We too must carry our cross just as our Lord carried His.

   Suffering is never easy, but it can be one of two things: misery or blessing.  To think of it as a blessing is difficult, but like all else in life, it is a choice we can make.  We will all suffer but how we suffer makes all the difference.  When we surrender our life, including our sufferings, to God, all things are possible.  Let it go and let God take it and even suffering is more easily endured.

 

 Suffering 

   “If we accept good things from God, should we not be willing to accept sorrows as well?” (Job 2: 10) 

   Lord, why must we suffer?  This is a question that I believe all of us ask at some point in our lives.  Suffering is never easy, and it can be mistaken for punishment for some wrong though that is not the case.  Suffering, like joy and happiness, is a part of life that we will all experience, some more than others.

   If we must suffer, and certainly we must, should we not try to understand suffering in the light of God’s purpose and plan?  I don’t believe suffering is of God, but He allows us to suffer in this life.  The question is why, to what purpose is the suffering we are called to endure?

   I’ve spent a lot of time recently contemplating suffering, trying to understand why we must suffer.  I’ve come to some conclusions about it.   They don’t relieve the suffering, but they make accepting it and enduring it much easier.

   “Only by carrying the cross can one reach resurrection.” (Archbishop Fulton Sheen).  I look at the suffering of my Lord as He was betrayed, abandoned, brutally beaten, and nailed to a cross.  This was God’s chosen way to save me from my sins, so there was a tremendous good that came from this evil.  From the suffering of Christ there came redemption and forgiveness of my sins.

   If I am unwilling to join in the suffering of Jesus I have no right to expect resurrection and a heavenly reward.  It also occurs to me that I can transform my suffering into sacrifice, offering it for the salvation of others.   Can my suffering be joined to Jesus’ for the redemption of the world?  I believe it can.  So my suffering can also bring about good.

   Jesus said,  “Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14: 27).  If I wish to be His disciple, and I do, then I must reconcile myself to the suffering of the cross, whatever it may be.

 Lack of Respect 

   “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish you were either hot or cold.  As it is, since you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Rev 3: 15 – 16) 

   There seems to be a very relaxed attitude prevalent in the Church these days.  I’m not sure why or when it began, but it shows a lack of respect for God.

   The sanctuary of the church, even before Mass begins, is a place of worship, one of prayer and respectful silence.  The focus should be on God and Him alone.  It is the Lord’s house, not a place for catching up with friends and neighbors.  Casual conversations are not only inappropriate, but they are disruptive and intrusive to those who are in prayer preparing to properly worship the Lord.

   When did T-shirts and shorts become proper attire for approaching the table of the Lord?  I’m not suggesting that everyone should be in full dress attire, but a certain decorum should be observed.  If one were to attend a dinner at the governor’s mansion shorts and T-shirts would not be allowed.  Is a politician due greater respect than God?

   People receive the Holy Eucharist, the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ and then go straight for the exit instead of returning to their pew to offer thanksgiving for such a blessing.  Others might wait for the final prayer but before the priest has even left the altar they are out of their pew and headed for the door.

   Why are priests, pastors, and bishops, failing to address such lack of respect for God?  Even in the clergy it seems there is a lack of respect, or at least a lack of will to address such disrespectful attitudes.

   I suppose some might be offended by this blog, but perhaps offending those who disrespect God is what is needed.  There is no one due greater respect and honor than our Lord.

 

Faith 

   “Faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the conviction about things that cannot be seen.” (Heb 11: 1) 

   We are meant to be faithful, there is a need for it within us.  If we don’t have faith we are incomplete, there is an emptiness that needs to be filled.  The question then becomes, in what or in whom are we to place our faith?

   Many put their faith in wealth, yet wealth and riches can disappear overnight.  No matter what we may amass during this life, none of it goes with us when we die.  All we have gained passes to someone else.

   Some put their faith in others, spouses, parents, or friends.  It would be wonderful if all were worthy of such faith, but often they are not.  Marriages break up, some parents can be unloving, even cruel toward their children.  Good friends are a blessing, but they can be hard to find.  It seems all things of this world that we place our faith in can be unreliable.

   There is One whom we can always place our faith in and that is God.  He created us, He loves us, He sent His only Son to die for our sins so that we might have the opportunity of eternal life with Him.  The emptiness we have inside disappears when we open our heart and accept God into our lives.

   This doesn’t mean all of life will be without pain or sorrow.  But it does mean that when we place our faith and our trust in God the trials and tribulations of this world can become more easily tolerated, less difficult.  Jesus said,  “In the world you will endure suffering.  But take courage!  I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 33).  When we place our faith in God and His plan we too can overcome the world.

  

 The Sanctity of Marriage 

   “You come to church to be married before God and his people when you are convinced that your marriage is not, finally, about you; that it is about God and about serving God’s purposes; that it is, as much as the priesthood of a priest, a vocation, a sacred calling.” (Bishop Robert Barron) 

   The family is the basis of society, it is the building block of a successful society.  A sacramental marriage, a commitment not only to each other but to God, creates such a family.  Marriage is not just between a woman and a man.  It is a trinity, a man, a woman, and God.  If God is not part of the marriage it is not a sacramental marriage.

   Marriage is a vocation, a mission, even a means of evangelization.  It is a covenant, a life-long commitment.  It is a participation in the marriage of Christ to His Church.  The promises made are binding; for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, as the vows state.  To break those vows is an affront to the blessedness of the marital union.

   Just as baptism is a sacrament, one that can not be undone, so too is marriage.  We can walk away from our baptismal commitments, but it doesn’t change the fact that we are baptized.  Just so, we can walk away from our marital vows, but it doesn’t change the fact that we are married.  Perhaps if people better understood that marriage is of God, not of man, they would be less likely to make vows that they are not willing to keep.

   Society cannot survive once marriage becomes a disposable convenience rather than a life-long commitment.  Children suffer, never learning the true meaning of marriage.  Therefore, the problem is compounded from generation to generation.  The commitment of marriage grows weaker and weaker, eventually destroying society itself.

 

 The Love of God 

   “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 8: 38 – 39) 

   These words of St. Paul should give us great comfort and peace.  Nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate us from the love of God.  No worldly desires, no temptations of Satan, nothing can take us from the love God offers.

   Yet, there is one way to be separated from God.  It doesn't come from anything external, but from within us.  Through our sinfulness we can destroy our closeness to God, abandoning His love.  Our sins are the nails that penetrated the hands and feet of our Lord on the cross and our sins are the means by which we can separate ourselves from God.

   We like to blame our failures on Satan or the ways of the world, but our failures are our own, the result of our choices in life.  For the devil to be successful we must choose to accept his temptation.  By that acceptance we abandon God and His love.  While God will never abandon us we can abandon Him.

   Even when we turn from Him in our sin, He waits for us, hoping for our repentance.  He desires our return to Him rather than our condemnation.  “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15: 10).  No sin is so great, no act so heinous that God will not forgive when we approach Him in sorrow and seek His mercy.

   When we turn to God with love, trust, and repentance the light of His love will shine upon us.  Nothing can separate us from the love of God when we seek Him with an open heart full of love.

 Freedom 

   “Brethren, you were called to freedom.  However, make sure that you do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh.  Instead, serve one another with love.” (Gal 5: 13) 

   God, in His wisdom, granted us freedom of choice, a free will.  He will not stop us even if we use that freedom for evil purposes.  That is the blessing and curse of free will; we choose whether we are to be evil or holy.

   Freedom is misused in so many ways in our society.  We demand freedom of speech, even when that speech is filled with hatred and anger.  We demand the freedom of our own bodies, even when we are destroying the body of the baby within us.  Freedom of choice has become a religion unto itself.  We demand the freedom to do what we want, when we want, with whomever we want.

   Though society demands many freedoms it also refuses some basic freedoms.  The freedom to express ourselves freely and speak openly of our faith in God is restricted.  Public prayer is looked upon as an infringement of something called the freedom “from” religion; a subtle way of telling us that we can’t impose our faith upon the antichrists who would eliminate God from the public square.  Our freedom, unlike theirs, has limits.

   Freedom is a gift from God.  But like all gifts the Father gives it can be misused or even refused.  He offers the freedom to join Him in His heavenly kingdom, yet many choose the misery of hell even though they deny both heaven and hell.  However, their denial of a fact doesn’t lessen the validity of that fact.

   On the cross Jesus purchased for us freedom from sin.  He paid the price to redeem us from our sins and offers the strength and help we need to avoid sin.  He gave us the opportunity to spend eternity in God’s heavenly kingdom.  By our actions and misuse of freedom we can choose hell instead, but why would anyone in their right mind do so?

 

 The Ways of the Heart 

   “A good man produces good from the store of goodness in his heart, whereas the evil man produces evil from the store of evil within him.” (Luke 6: 45) 

   We see the exterior of others while the true person is only revealed by the interior.  Many present a pleasing façade while harboring hatred and evil within their hearts.

   Jesus said, “By their fruits you will know them.” (Matt 7: 15).  So it is with each of us.  No one can consistently and effectively disguise what is within them.  If it is good, that good will shine through for all to see.  If it is evil, it will become evident, it cannot be forever hidden.

   A heart devoted to God leaves no room for evil or the ways of this world.  It is consumed with the desire to serve Him and follow His ways.  His days are filled with doing what God asks, giving thanks for His many blessings.

   One who is enamored with the ways of the world has little room for God in their heart.  God’s ways are not worldly, and He will not share one’s heart with the evils of this world.  With God, it must be all or nothing; “You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matt 6: 24).

   “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matt 22: 37).  It must be God or the world, it cannot be both.  We are to love the world, but as the creation of God, not as an end unto itself.  When we open our hearts to the Lord, we will be filled with the joy, happiness and peace that can only come from having God within us.

 

 

 Mortality 

   “The span of our life is seventy years, or perhaps eighty, if we have enough strength.” (Psalm 90: 10) 

   When I was young my mortality rarely crossed my mind.  Like most, I considered death as something far into the future.  Then reality struck me; a high-school friend was killed in Vietnam.  Barely into his twenties, his life was over in a moment.  Still, in my mind, an early death was something that rarely happened and certainly would not happen to me.

   As I’ve grown older, my own mortality has become more of a reality.  Now in my early seventies, I recognize that I’ve seen far more years go past than are left before me.  I don’t fear death, although it’s not something I would choose at this moment.  It will come at a time of God’s choosing, and that is as it should be.

   The question for me is, am I ready?  Am I prepared to face my Lord and answer for all I’ve done in this life?  This is the thing that concerns me most, that I may not be as prepared as I think that I am.  Do I live according to God’s will?  Do I see this life as a preparation for the next?  Is my soul destined for heaven or hell?

   Our pastor often says that we live in the land of the dead; everyone on this earth will die at some point.  We pass from the land of the dead to the land of the living at our demise.  Will that life be the joyful happiness of God’s kingdom, filled with love for all or will it be the misery of hell where there is no joy, happiness, or love?  This is the question I must answer.

   My death doesn’t scare me, it doesn’t depress me or bring me anxiety.  It helps me to understand the reality of my passing and the importance of living so as to be prepared when it comes.  May God guide me on the right path and have mercy on my soul.

 

 Love One Another 

   “I give you a new commandment: love one another.  Just as I have loved you, so you should also love one another.  This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples: if you love one another.” (John 13: 34 – 35) 

   If we want to serve God, we must love one another.  If we want to be disciples of Christ, we must love one another.  If we want to have peace in our life we must reject hatred, we must love one another.  If we want to spend eternity in God’s heavenly kingdom, we must love one another.

   Only love will be present in heaven.  No hatred, no bias will be permitted, only love.  Scripture tells us over and over that love is of God and God is love.  If we do not love with the love of the Father, we do not love at all.  We may pretend, we may convince ourselves that we love, but if it is not from God it is not true love.

   The world knows little of actual love though love is one of the most used words in our vocabulary.  We love our cars, our homes, our ice cream.  We say that we love so many things, but what we really mean is that we like them, not love them.

   I do not believe that we can genuinely love an inanimate object though we may like it very much.  For love to be real it must be shared one with another.  It must be an unselfish, giving love that demands nothing but always seeks to bring joy and happiness to the beloved.

   Paul wrote that if we don’t have love we are nothing (1 Cor 13: 1 – 4).  Without the love that comes from God, we do not know love and without love, we cannot know God.  Jesus loved us so much that He willingly gave His life for our redemption.  Only by His sacrifice and love do we have the opportunity of eternal life in His presence.

   Love is all, love is everything, without it we have nothing and are nothing.  Love, the love we must have, can only come as a grace from God.  In that grace lies all happiness and joy, all contentment and peace.  When we seek the love of God, and share that love with others, we become the disciples of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

 A Faithless Society 

   According to recent polls over a quarter of Americans classify themselves as “nones,” no religious affiliation.  Living an amoral life soon leads to an immoral life which further leads to hatred and evil.  I question whether society can survive a continuing decline in faith and morality.

   Recent polls also indicate that less than one third of self-proclaimed Catholics attend Mass on a weekly basis.  Nearly half of them see the Eucharist as only a “symbol” rather than the true presence of Jesus Christ under the guise of bread and wine.  Less than half of Catholics report going to confession at least once a year.  Sadly, these pseudo Catholics have effectively excommunicated themselves by their actions and lack of faith.

   Cardinal Ratzinger, before he became Pope Benedict XVI, predicted that the Church would become much smaller, but more faithful.  A remnant of the faithful will remain, but the Church will suffer a loss of the lukewarm and cafeteria Catholics.  This is disappointing but it is also evident in the Church today.  Perhaps a smaller, more faithful Church is needed to reenergize the faith and help it to begin to grow again.

   Faith has become something people show little or no evidence of in their lives.  I know people who haven’t been inside a church for years but still say they are Christians.  I don’t understand how a true believer can not desire to gather with others of faith to give glory and praise to the Lord.  If I never visited family and friends how could I say I loved them?  Love requires fellowship with one another.

   Without God, civilization deteriorates into anarchy and chaos, breeding hatred and evil.  A faithless nation cannot long survive, it will eventually self-destruct.  Though I love this nation, I fear that it is on the path to perdition.

 

  The Ways of the Lord 

   “How inscrutable are his judgments and how unfathomable his ways.” (Romans 11: 34) 

   I don’t pretend to know the ways of the Lord.  There are so many things in this world that I don’t understand, but I understand that the ways of God are always the right ways.  I may not comprehend the purpose, I may not even like some of His ways, but His ways are the only path to heaven.

   I think many refuse to accept God and His ways because they don’t understand them, but there are many things we don’t understand but still accept.  I don’t understand the inner workings of my own body, but I know that my life depends on them continuing.  I don’t understand advanced mathematics, biology, or many other sciences but I accept that they are of value.

   There are many things that I don’t know and never will know in this life.  I’d like to say that I understand most things, but it seems the more I know the more I understand how much I don’t know.  I sometimes think that not knowing is a plus in some ways.

   I don’t understand the workings of the universe, but I give glory to God for its beauty and its intricacies.  I don’t understand all that happens in my life or on this small piece of God’s creation that we call Earth, but I know He has a plan.  Therefore I look to Him in faith and confidence because I know it is His creation and all He created is good.  My lack of understanding doesn’t change that fact.

   Sometimes I wonder if all my questions will be answered in the next life, but it really doesn’t matter.  All that will matter is the love, joy, and perfection of eternal life in His heavenly kingdom.  To Him be all glory, praise, and thanksgiving, now and forever.

 Persecution and Hatred 

   “Do not be surprised, my brethren, if the world hates you.” (1 John 3:13) 

   Imagine what would happen if a group of pro-life activists overran an abortion clinic, occupied the building, destroyed equipment, and attacked anyone who came near with vile names and threats.  I am quite certain the SWAT teams would show up, arrest everyone and charge them with multiple crimes.  And rightfully so.

   At elite universities across the nation mobs of students, professors, and activists are overrunning the school, occupying the buildings, and destroying property, spewing hate and threats to all Jews while promoting the violence of Hamas.  The authorities are largely ignoring these attacks, referring to them as “free speech.”

   Just as in Nazi Germany, the rights and safety of the Jewish are being ignored while the violence increases.  Most school presidents refuse to take appropriate action by expelling the students and firing the professors participating in such illegal actions and demanding they be charged with crimes.  Even the federal government is turning a blind eye to these atrocities.

   Persecution not only against those of the Jewish faith, but against all the faithful is on the rise in our country.  Churches are being attacked and vandalized, God is banned from public events, prayers are mocked and unwelcome at sporting events, school graduations and public meetings.

   Satanists, violent protestors and instigators are protected and allowed their right to free speech even though their speech is full of hate and threats of violence against anyone who might disagree with them.

   “And the judgement is this: the light has come into the world, but people prefer the darkness to light because their deeds are evil.” (John 3: 19).  This nation, like many in the past, will be judged by their actions, held accountable for their deeds.

 

 Peace and Contentment 

   “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.  Not as the world gives do I give it to you.  Do not let your hearts be troubled; be not afraid.” (John 14: 27) 

   These words of Jesus to His apostles shortly before He ascended into heaven are as applicable to you and me today as they were to His apostles.  In Him there is peace, in Him there is contentment.

   There is a spiritual war being fought within us each and every day.  It is a war between the evil of Satan and the love and peace of Christ.  It can’t be won with conventional weapons; it can only be won by prayer and faith in Christ.  Satan and his version of peace is a lie and will lead only to heartache and destruction.  The peace Jesus offers leads to joy and happiness throughout eternity.

   However, our God is a jealous God, He will not share us with the evils of the world.  If we wish to have the peace Jesus offers we can’t fill our hearts with the ways of the flesh.  We must cleanse our heart and make it a worthy dwelling place for the Savior of the world.

   “In the world you will endure suffering.  But take courage!  I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 33)  There will always be troubles and trials in a world stained by sin.  Like most things spiritual, we have a choice granted to us by our free will.  We can ignore the promises of Christ and allow the world to disrupt our peace, living in fear and trepidation or we can accept the peace and calm Jesus offers and live in the hope and promise that He puts within us.

 

 Slow Down 

   “Never be in a hurry: do everything quietly and in a calm spirit.  Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.” St. Francis de Sales 

   Everyone is in a hurry these days.  Fast food, instant coffee, instant oatmeal, drive thru restaurants and banks.  Speed limits are ignored, and everyone drives as if the world depended on making that next light, even if they must speed up to do so.

   With God there is no time, all is now.  I know that we are bound by time, but we too must focus on the now.  What just happened is gone and what the future holds or even if there is a future is pure speculation.  In the hectic life so many live there is no calm, no inner peace, just the urge to hurry to the next minute.  Speed causes chaos and chaos steals inner peace.

   When we slow down we become aware of so many things that we miss in our attempts to live at the speed of light.  Take a moment to gaze at the sunrise or enjoy the sound of a gentle rain falling and you will find the peace that is supposed to be within.  Hang a bird feeder and take the time to watch nature.  Glory in the beauty of God’s creation and give Him thanks.

   Spend quiet time with God in prayer and contemplation.  Don’t watch the clock, just close your eyes, open your heart, and bask in His presence.  Let the cares and concerns of the world fade away for a time and regain the calmness of heart and soul.

   Time will no longer exist when we pass from this life to the next.  There will be no hurrying, no rushing, just love, peace and joy.  We can enjoy those things in this life as well if we just slow down and live in the presence of our Lord.  In our haste, we make life a burden rather than a joy.

 

 A Christian Example 

   “When we Christians behave badly, or fail to behave well, we are making Christianity unbelievable to the outside world.”  C. S. Lewis 

   The world does not see the piety we might practice on Sundays in the safety of the pews of our churches.  They don’t hear the readings, the prayers, or the hymns.  What they see and hear is how we live our lives among them.  It is there that we must be an example of Christian behavior.

   When those of the world see someone who claims to be a faithful believer acting in the ways of the world, they consider Christians to be hypocrites and liars.  They use the bad example to disdain all believers and God Himself.  If the one they see acting in such a manner is me, I am betraying my Lord through my actions.

   There’s a gospel song that tells us how we should act.  It’s called “They’ll know We Are Christians by Our Love.”  But the opposite is also true, they will know we are liars by our hatred and biases; without love we do not have Christ within us.  And that love must be evident in all we do.  We can’t be loving in church and cursing others in our daily life.

   C. S. Lewis also wrote, “If you are thinking of becoming a Christian I warn you, you are embarking on something which is going to take the whole of you, brains and all.”  Christianity is not a part-time affair; it is a lifelong devotion to God and His will.  It must be our guide at all times, not just in church on Sunday.

   We are called to be evangelists, to spread the good news.  But we can’t do that if we live in a worldly manner.  We must keep in mind that we are in the world but not of the world.  We will sometimes be hated for our faith, we may face persecution for it, but we can never deny it.  To do so is to deny Jesus and the sacrifice He made for us.

 

 The Significant Other 

   At my wedding there was my wife and myself, but there was also another who took part.  The vows we made were made to God as well as to each other.  Hence, our Lord, Jesus Christ is part of our marriage as well.  He is the significant Other that makes a sacramental marriage what it is supposed to be.  He offers a love which is giving and never demanding, a love that is more concerned with giving joy to one another rather than self.

   When we suffer, whether physically or emotionally, we can easily become depressed, even despondent.  Some go as far as to decide life is no longer worth living and take their own lives.  However there is a significant Other who will share our suffering and our pain.  It is Jesus who suffered far greater that we are likely to ever suffer.  If we turn to Him in our suffering, He will give us peace and comfort amid the suffering.  He will give us the strength to persevere.

   As we grow older our bodies begin to weaken and suffer the pains and difficulties of old age.  We become more conscious of our mortality.  The key to growing old with grace and peace is to again turn to the significant Other in our life, Jesus Christ.  When we trust in Him and the promises He has made we can face leaving this world with confidence that we are journeying to a better world.  One without pain and suffering.  A world filled with love, joy, and total happiness.

   No matter the situation, no matter what is happening in our life Jesus, the significant Other, is there.  He will support us and comfort us in difficult times and give us even greater joy in the good times.  But we must open our hearts and allow Him to enter.  Only then can He give us the blessings He has in store for us; only then will He and the Father come and dwell within us.  Only then can we look forward to eternital life in God's heavenly kingdom.

 

 Eternity 

   “And eternal life is this: to know you, the only one true God, and the one you have sent, Jesus Christ.” (John 17: 3) 

   If faced with a decision, one that would make the rest of your life filled with love, joy, and happiness or make it one of misery, sorrow, and pain, which would you choose?  I imagine that everyone would choose love, joy, and happiness.

   And yet life is short, perhaps 80 years, a few less or a few more.  But even if the choice were offered as we neared our final days we would still choose happiness over sorrow, joy over misery.  We would desire to avoid the pain and bask in the love of another.

   What of our eternal soul?  The same choice is before us, we must decide.  Would we knowingly choose hell and all that implies over the kingdom of God?  Sadly many make that choice, choosing the lures and temptations of a broken, sinful world.

   The choice we have is a simple one; either we love and obey God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, or we choose to follow Satan.  There is no middle ground to be had.  We will spend eternity in the place we have chosen by the way we live our life.  God will send no one to hell, but He will honor the choice we make and allow us to choose hell.  It is our choice, not His.  He desires that all repent and spend eternity in His kingdom.

   We make decisions every day, some important and others that are not.  But this choice is the most important of all.  Would you choose to live in pain and agony throughout this life?  Of course not.  Then why would you choose hell and all the misery that awaits.  Rather, turn to God, reject Satan, and choose the beauty, the love and the joy of the kingdom God has prepared for those who love Him.

 

 Strive for Excellence

   “Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts.” (1 Cor 12: 31) 

   The question I must ask myself is whether I am striving to achieve excellence in my spiritual life.  Am I willing to take the time to spend in prayer with our Lord, to submit myself to His will no matter what it might entail?  If not, how will I ever enter His kingdom?

   As a Benedictine Oblate I am guided by the rule of St. Benedict which urges me to “strive for Christian perfection.”  Of course there is no perfection in this world, but to strive for it is what is needed if I am to enter the kingdom of God.  Failures will come, and yes, I will sin.  But I will also turn to the love and mercy of God for forgiveness and the strength to do better going forward.

   Regardless of my state in life, regardless of my success or failure in the ways of the world, only my desire and effort to find spiritual excellence will matter at the judgement.  As an athlete must train, as a musician must practice, I must pray and spend time with our Lord.  I will never be an Olympic athlete or an award winning musician, but I can be a saint, the person God created me to be.

   I must do all I can to excel in Christianity.  I must offer myself to the Lord.  I must say and live by the words, “I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me.” (Gal 2: 19 -  20).

 

 Rejoice, Pray, Give Thanks 

   “Rejoice always; pray continuously; give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God for you in Jesus Christ.” (1Thes 5: 16 – 18) 

   Strong words from St. Paul.  Words that express the will of God for me; the way I am to live my life.  Heeding these words and living according to them is a challenge at times but to do so is to be on the path that leads to  heaven.

   “Rejoice always.”  How often do I turn to God and rejoice in His love, His mercy, the many blessings He has given me?  Not often enough I’m sure.  It’s quite easy to slip into complacency, to take for granted all that He has done and continues to do.

   “Pray continuously.”  How can I spend all my time in prayer?  Even the religious in cloisters and convents must work as well as pray.  Ora et labora, Latin for “work and pray” is the answer.  When I offer all that I do to the Lord and ask for His guidance and direction in all I do then everything I do becomes prayer.

   “Give thanks in all circumstances.”  It’s hard to give thanks for the difficulties in life, the hardships and the crosses life brings.  Yet all that comes to me in life is the will of God.  This fact gives purpose to even the pain and suffering I may be called to endure.  Jesus, in His passion and death, suffered far greater than anything I might suffer.  To give thanks, even in suffering, is to acknowledge and give thanks for His suffering.  To offer the pains and sorrows of this life to Christ is a way to share in His suffering, which is a noble and good thing.

   “This is the will of God for you in Jesus Christ.”  If these things are the will of God, then I must accept them as such and give all glory and thanks to Him.  I can’t decide that I will thank Him only for the good things in life but resist His will when it may not be to my liking.  I do not know His plans, but I know that His will is the only path to His kingdom.

   Rejoice, pray, give thanks.  Only when I live by these words do I live in the will of God.  Only by the will of God will find eternal happiness in His kingdom.

 Where Is Our God? 

   “The light of faith makes us see what we believe.” (St. Thomas Aquinas) 

   We cannot see God, but we can see the evidence of God.  With an open mind and an open heart our eyes will be opened, and we will see God in all there is.

   St. Thomas Aquinas said that God is not a being.  God is “Being” itself.  He is, always has been and always will be.  He told Moses when asked for His name, “I am who I am.” (Exodus 3: 14).  The great I AM is the God of creation and the God of love.

   We tend to want to picture God, but nothing we may imagine can adequately portray Him.  In art we often see Him depicted as an older man, even grandfatherly in appearance.  In fact God is not a man at all, He simply is. 

   But where is God?  We speak of His throne in heaven, but I question whether heaven is a place or a state of being.  If it is a place, where is it?  Christ told His apostles, “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.” (John 14: 2).  Does this imply that heaven is a place?

   Jesus also said, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our abode with Him.” (John 3:14).  So is heaven a place or within us?

   If asked where God is I would answer, He is within me and within you.  He is in the majesty of His creation, from the vast universe down to the smallest atom.  He is in the sunrise and the sunset.  He simply is all things and all people.  He is “I am who I am.”

 

 Peace in God 

   “Don’t worry about anything, but present your needs to God in prayer and petition, with thanksgiving.  Then the peace of God, which is beyond all understanding, will guard your hearts and  your minds in Jesus Christ.” (Phil 4: 4 – 7) 

   I grew up with a father who was a worrier.  He worried about everything, even the most trivial of things.  It made him miserable and negatively impacted his health.  His constant worrying taught me that worrying is usually futile and unhealthy.

   Worrying rarely, if ever, results in a solution.  Rather it increases anxiety in life.  Fretting about every little thing is a trap of Satan, a means to draw us into ourselves and away from God.  We feel that we are alone with no one to help, but God is always with us.

   Even in times of crisis we can find peace and comfort when we accept what comes as the will of God.  Nothing happens to us that God is unaware of.  He knows of our pain and our struggles.  He will grant us peace when we offer those things to Him in prayer, a peace that can overcome any trial. 

   I find it odd, but true, that many times the worst moments in life can bring us closer to God if we will turn to Him, accepting His will and seeking His strength.  When we feel most lost and forsaken, God is there to strengthen and comfort us.  He will never turn away from us even though, in our despair, we often turn into ourselves rather than turning to God. 

   The peace of God can overcome all anxiety, all worry in our lives.  By giving ourselves over to God and His will we can overcome any obstacle, any trial.  His peace is beyond all understanding.  He is love and His love for us is eternal.  Worry has no place within us when we place ourselves in His hands.

 

 Without Love 

   “If in speaking I use human tongues and angelic as well, but do not have love, I am nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and the ability to understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and have all the faith necessary to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give away everything to feed the poor and hand over my body to be burned but do not have love, I achieve nothing.” (1 Cor 1 – 3) 

   I can spend my life doing good, but if I do not have love it is of no value.  Nothing is accomplished by all the good I may do unless there is love behind it; the love of Christ who exists within everyone we encounter.

   Many people do a lot of good in this world but the good they do does not edify them spiritually because it is not done for love.  Charity and good works must come from the heart, not the mind.  It is a means of loving Christ.  “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brethren of mine, you did for me.” (Matt 25: 40).  Loving and caring for others is loving and caring for Jesus.

   Loving others can be difficult, especially those who are evil.  A brutal tyrant or an abusive spouse tempts us to condemn them for all they do rather than love them as a neighbor.  But I must remember that God “…causes his sun to rise on evil people as well as those who are good, and his rain falls on both the righteous and the wicked.” (Matt 5: 45).  It is not up to me to condemn, but to love and to pray for the wicked in the world.

   “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12: 31).  Do I love myself?  Am I forgiving of myself?  If not, I am not accepting the love and mercy of the Lord.  Though I may, at times, seem unlovable, still God loves me.  When He forgives me I must also forgive myself.  That is how we must view others.  They may also seem to be unlovable, but God loves them just the same.  If we have the love of God within us, we are obliged to share that love with others, even those who are difficult to love.

   God is love.  If we do not have love we do not have God within us.  Without love, we will never enter the gates of heaven.

 

 Questions 

   “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:  8) 

   Sometimes I wish I could sit down with my Lord and ask the questions that abound in this world.  I do not question His ways; I just wish I knew them more fully.  Yet, I must admit that understanding God and His ways is not possible in this lifetime.

   I wonder why there is so much evil in the world.  I know that evil is not of God, but I also know that He sometimes allows it to exist.  Evil is of Satan, and he is present in all that takes place in this world.  But why are so many willing to follow his ways rather than Gods?

   And yet, without evil how would we know good?  Without sorrow, how would we know happiness?  If we never knew pain, how could we experience joy?  In many ways we learn from comparisons to understand what is not understandable.  Without experiencing the bad as well as the good, we would never appreciate the good.

   What is God’s plan for me?  I guess that’s the question most of us would like to have answered.  If I don’t know His plan how will I know if I am following it.  There are clues and nudges which point me in the right direction but never a clear answer.

   Why do I sin?  I don’t want to sin, but still I do.  Is it the result of original sin or am I weak and easily misled by Satan.  I want to live for God and to obey Him in all things but try as I may I still fail from time to time.  Do I fail because I try to do it on my own when what I need is God’s help?

   There are many questions, but few answers.  Yet even that leads me to trust and faith in God.  The questions fade when I look to Him; I know longer wonder, but place all in His hands.  Through faith, trust, and sincere effort to serve Him I know that in His love and mercy He will lead me home.

 

Sunrise – Sunset 

   “The span of our life numbers seventy years, or perhaps eighty, if we have enough strength.” (Psalm 90: 10) 

   One way to look at life is to compare it to a day.  The sun rises, the day progresses, and the sun sets.  In life, we are born, we grow and mature, we age and grow old.  Then, at the time appointed by God, we leave this world.

   In the morning of life I was often far more consumed by the desires of this world.  My efforts were directed to having fun and enjoying life, never worrying about the future.  My death rarely, if ever, crossed my mind.

   Now in my 70’s, the reality of my morality is more evident.  My body shows signs of age, I have less energy, and suffer more bodily aches and pains.  I recognize that the sunset of life is approaching.  This reality has created a more fervent need to ensure that I am in the grace of our Lord, prepared for what comes after this life.

   I regret that I didn’t come to understand my need to know, love, and follow my Lord sooner.  Looking back I see times in my life when God was calling me, but at the time I ignored Him.  In His mercy, He did not take me when I was unprepared but gave me time to come to Him.  For that I will be eternally grateful.

   Death is a transition from one life to another.  It is a door that I must pass through at some point.  The question I must answer is whether I’m prepared to open that door and walk through?

 

 The Unknowing 

   “If  you understood him, it would not be God.” (St. Augustine) 

   In many ways we can know our God.  By the beauty and majesty of His creations we can see His handiwork.  By the love that he bestows on us and the love He gives us to share with others we can know His caring for us.  In the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross His mercy is evident.  And yet God remains a mystery in many ways.  He is an enigma that the human mind cannot unravel.

   Over the years I have grown closer to God.  I’ve come to love Him more deeply and know Him better.  However, in this lifetime I will never fully know Him.  My greatest desire is to live according to His will in all ways.  To do so I must reconcile within myself both the God I can know and the God that I will never fully know in this lifetime.  If that sounds confusing, it is: the more I know of Him, the more I understand how much I cannot know of Him.

   “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has the human heart imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Cor 2: 9).Even the apostles did not completely know Christ, so how can I, who have never seen or walked with God expect to do better than those who lived day to day with our Lord for three years or more?  The only way is through faith, the faith that tells me I will know Him, and I will walk with Him when this life is done. 

   For whatever time I have left in this world I will strive to better understand, to better know my God.  Though it’ s not possible for me to fully know Him, to continue to try is, I believe, what God wants of me.  One day, when I walk with Him in His kingdom, I will know, but until then I will trust.