St. Paul By: C.C.

 

“It happened that I was on that journey and nearly at Damascus when in the middle of the day a bright light from heaven suddenly shone around me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? “ I answered, “Who are you, Lord?” and he said to me, “I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting. “The people with me saw the light but did not hear the voice which spoke to me. I said, “What am I to do, Lord?”The Lord answered, “Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told what you have been appointed to do. “Since the light had been so dazzling that I was blind, I got to Damascus only because my companions led me by the hand. Someone called Ananias, a devout follower of the Law and highly thought of by all the Jews living there, came to see me; he stood beside me and said, `Brother Saul, receive your sight.` Instantly my sight came back and I was able to see him. Then he said, `` The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Upright One and hear his own voice speaking, because you are to be his witness before all humanity, testifying what you have seen and heard. And now why delay? Hurry and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.`` (Acts 22:6-16)

     Today we reflect upon the conversion of St. Paul. Through his life we are able to see God's transforming power of grace and mercy. St. Paul's conversion shows to us the depths that our Lord will go to pull us out of our sin.

    I have always been drawn to the writings of St. Paul, finding immense value and modern relativity in his teachings on Christian Life. Through St. Paul one can recognize the power of Christ within, the importance of surrender, and the way that we are called to live as followers of Christ.
Today's reading at Mass began by describing "Saul" as one who persecutes the Lord's disciples and by the end of this reading we are faced with the miracle of Saul being completely transformed by God. He is no longer one aiming to slaughter Christians, but one on fire for the Lord proclaiming the teachings of Jesus Christ.
    As we recall the Conversion of St. Paul today let us pray for his intercession to help lead souls to faith in Christ. Let us praise God for His power to transform and change us. May we constantly recognize our need for conversion daily. Let us come see ourselves as instruments of our Lord and seek opportunities to do His will and share the Good News. May we be proud of our Catholic identity and confidently live out our faith each day.
     Lord, As we bear witness to the world around us it is often hard to remain hopeful and faithful. Provide us with the courage, faith, and hope to persevere with You as our guide. Thank you for the gift of faith and for the eyes to see you, the ears to hear Your Word, and a heart that strives for purity. Amen (C.C.)

“With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity” (Rom 12:1-2, Phillips)

Meditating With Merton. By: C.C.

" Before we were born, God knew us. He knew that some of us would rebel against His love and His mercy, and that others would love Him from the moment that they could love anything, and never change that love. He knew that there would be joy in heaven among the angels of His house for the conversion of some of us." (Thomas Merton- Seven Storey Mountain pg 458)

     And still God loves us just the same. He loves us in our differences. Our Lord not only knew us before we were born, but He accepted all that we would become in the hope that we would someday know Him. He yearns for us to one day love Him with the fullness of our being. He loves the rebel and He loves the devout. Our Lord is love.
   It is dangerous when we forget this truth of love. It is not a matter of avoiding the reality and consequences of sin, or neglecting to acknowledge the judgement of our Lord that we will face. But, rather, it is a reminder that God's love is a gift to each of us. It is a love that does not discriminate as we often do toward one another. It is a love that sees past our mistakes, failures, and shortcomings. A love that is hopeful for the moment of conversion in our souls.
  As we reflect upon the unconditional love of our Lord may our hearts be opened to one another. May we come to see everyone as a child of God. Let us refrain from judging one another and instead spend time in prayer asking the Lord to open the hearts, minds, and souls of those who have yet to know Him. Let us pray for our brothers and sisters who rebel against His love, and for a continued strength and perseverance for those who do love Him. May we each remain hopeful that the angels in heaven may rejoice over many souls turning to our Lord with love and surrender. Let our lives serve as a witness to the love of our Lord and may we continue to share this love by loving one another. Amen (C.C.)
    
   

Consolation Along The Journey. By: C.C

                          I took this picture while on retreat at the Abbey of Genesee

                        

"On our journey through life we do not wish to meet any difficulties or contradictions. We want constant consolations, no periods of dryness, no unpleasant times; health without sickness, repose without work, and peace without disturbance! But can't you see our folly when we want to have something we cannot have? Unallayed good is found only in paradise, as in hell is found nothing but evil. The great Chrysostom says: "O man, you who get all upset when things do not always go your way, are you not ashamed when you ponder that what you want was not to be found even in the family of Our Lord? ... Consider, I beg you, the events, the contradictions, and all the things that happened. The angel of the Lord said in a dream to Saint Joseph, 'Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you otherwise. Herod is searching for the child to destroy him.' [Mt. 2:13] This, indeed, was a moment of great sorrow for the Virgin Mary and for good Saint Joseph." (St. Francis De Sales)

     As our spiritual journey becomes challenging and often plagued with dryness we must not lose hope. There is a part of us that longs for a consistency of serenity and peace amidst our walk with the Lord. If we give ourselves so fervently to prayer and devotion how can we expect anything less than this?
   These moments of dryness awaken us to the imperfect nature of ourselves and of the human condition in need of redemption. Our spiritual dryness awakens us to our need of further purification and humility. It is helpful for us in these times to reflect upon the difficulties and trials of our beloved Saints and Holy Family in order to gain proper perspective.
  Throughout Scripture we hear the voices of God's children crying out to Him amidst their difficulties and desperation. Through their cries we also hear the echo of such profound and unshaken faith; a faith assured of the only true and sustaining consolation that can be provided by our Lord.
   Through our own dryness and afflictions we are each called to turn to God in the hope of His consolation. If we are deprived of this, then may our longing for Him be the only fitting remedy. May the gift of our faith aid us in persevering through the drought. May we come to the understanding that our Lord is Love and that He always keeps His promises. Let us remember the words of St. Paul to the Philippians. (C.C.)
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:5-8)

His Light Amidst Our Darkness. By: C.C.

 

       As we continue journeying through Advent and anticipate the coming of Christ again into our midst on Christmas day we are reminded of His light amidst our darkness. This idea of Jesus as light has been rather amplified for me personally during this Advent season. On December 19th I received the news that my great aunt Zia Giovanna had passed away.
   As my family continues to mourn the loss of my Zia I realize that there is something greater at work within this situation. Only a few days ago while Zia was on her way alone to visit her Doctor with a gift for Christmas she fell to the pavement as a result of a massive heart attack. Thanks to many kind soul bystanders who called 911 she was able to be stabilized enough to make it to the hospital. Today was difficult as I was just made aware of many of the details of her final moments. My Zia has suffered greatly in her life with heart trouble. From as early as her forties she had already had her first of what would be multiple heart attacks before her final rest at age 68.
   Today we had Zia's funeral and it was a very emotional time for all present. Despite her history of heart trouble she was doing relatively well and this was very sudden for all of us.  The viewing was very difficult and the burial was equally as sorrowful. It was very evident that Zia Giovanna is already greatly missed by everyone who knew her.
  Following the burial, we gathered at my grandparents home to eat and share time with one another. Due to the amount of people my Nonna decided to have our lunch in the basement at the larger table.
   As I walked down into Nonna's basement I realized that it was the first time in years that my entire family (extended family and all) was sharing a meal together in that basement. The death of my Zia had not only joined us all together again in love, but it brought life back into an area of the home where we used to spend many holiday dinners and gatherings. Overcome with emotion many of my cousins sat and cried over the loss of Zia, while others shared memories of Nonna's basement and the many laughs lived. We spoke of our deceased grandparents, great grandparents, uncles, cousins, and other relatives who have gone before us, and were once so very present in the same space that we shared today. When this realization came upon me I paused and took this picture with my phone. I had to capture this moment of us sharing food and candidly chatting with each other. When I looked at the picture later this evening I noticed the amount of light shining in through the small basement window; it was then I realized that the Lord's light is truly present amidst our time of darkness. 

    It is easy to focus on the darkness when these events occur. Death is one of these circumstances that presents us with numerous emotions. In these moments many question their faith, the existence of God, and the purpose for such a loss to happen. Especially now within this joyful season of Christ's birth it seems that death has come at the "wrong time". When we accept that God's time is always right and further seek and yearn for His will we may come to find supernatural hope and divine comfort within our hearts. We may come to see that God's light is truly so very near  to us. 
   Tonight I pray for all of those who mourn the loss of Zia Giovanna, and for anyone who is dealing with loss, suffering, and a heavy heart during this time. May we be open to seeing the light of Christ surrounding us amidst our circumstances. Let us draw nearer to our Lord with trust and hope that though we do not know His plan we can trust in His Providence. May we continue to extend the gift of love and our time to one another. May our Lord have mercy on all of our deceased loved ones and may they be welcomed into His Kingdom. Tonight I am saddened by the loss of my Zia, and yet, I rejoice with hopeful prayer for Zia Giovanna to be blessed to spend Christmas day with The birthday boy. Amen (C.C.)  
    

Advent: By: C.C.

"God is constantly revealing himself to us. He whispers to us, he doesn't shout--Advent invites us to listen and discover His grace and mercy" (Cardinal Dolan)

  As each of us are preparing for Christmas during this Advent season it is often easy to get caught up in the chaos and noise of our consumerist culture. As we journey through our Advent season it is important to take the time and put everything into proper perspective. As the commercial/consumerist world pulls at us with various propaganda we are called to remember the true focus of Christmas. We are called to keep Christ as the centre of the season.
  Cardinal Dolan reminds us of the quiet voice our Lord uses to speak to us. During this Advent season we are shouted at with an overwhelming amount of Christmas marketing and it is easy for us to lose sight of the real reason for the season. As we journey through Advent we are called to interior preparation for Christ. We must make an effort to set aside time for prayer and spiritual growth. It is important that we seek silence, solitude, and uninterrupted time with our Lord despite the many distractions, commitments, and other external things that may consume us. 
  The "Christmas season" seems to highlight the way in which we as Christians are in the world but not of the world. This is a time that we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ and one in which the world prepares for "X-mas". Let us continue to walk with our Lord and keep Him as the focus amidst our preparations. (C.C.)
   

St. Augustine and Perseverance: By: C.C.

"Your first task is to be dissatisfied with yourself, fight sin, and transform yourself into something better. Your second task is to put up with the trials and temptations of this world that will be brought on by the change in your life and to persevere to the very end in the midst of these things."
(St. Augustine)

 

   This sharing from St. Augustine is not written with any "fluff" at all. Augustine succeeds in relating a very important and hard hitting truth about the spiritual journey, and more so, about the effect of conversion and the on going effort that is required to persevere in the daily battle against sin. For those of you familiar with the life of St. Augustine and his Confessions you are aware that the emotions with which these hard hitting words are written were very familiar to this beloved Saint. Through the life of St. Augustine one comes to witness the tremendous transforming power of our Lord and the multitude of mercy that He has upon His children no matter how "lost" they may seem to be.
   "To be dissatisfied with yourself" is a statement that the secular world may look upon with a large amount of criticism. Today we seek to praise ourselves falsely, often setting our worth upon the external realities of our society and pleasures of the world. The idea of a soul and of sin is something very far from the minds of many individuals. Quite frankly, this reality was also something far from my mind at one point in my life. 
    The greatest blessing that God ever bestowed upon me was gifting me with complete dissatisfaction with myself and my life. This lead me to recognize the reality of sin that plagued me. It helped me to seek something greater. It helped me to find God in a way that I had never known. It was then that the stories of the Saints and statements like that which I share with you tonight became ever so real to me and relative. I began to understand that these works were more than just words and human testimonies of personal experiences- these words were the very real revelation of a present, loving, merciful, and powerful God. Revelations that though written so long ago their truth remains so relevant today because our Lord is constant and unchanging. Consistent with this unchanging and all loving Heavenly Father is the difficulty of the Spiritual life. 
   Recognition of sin and the yearning to "transform yourself into something better" is the beginning of a journey that St. Augustine reminds us is followed by "trials" and "temptations". Yes, these moments can be terribly difficult and the temptation to leave the path flirts with us along the way. Greater than all of this is the love of our Lord and the strength that He can provide when we cry out to Him as David did many times in the Psalms. We will come to see the "fruits" of our journey and our devotion in striving to become holy and better than what we are. The intense pain of purification is truly the birth of indescribable joy.
  Whatever it is that each of us battle within our lives, wherever we seek healing and God's mercy..PERSEVERE do not relent in your walk with the Lord. May we fully turn to Him who is able to satisfy our deepest desires and our restless hearts. In the midst of all trial and temptation may we cling to hope, love, and trust in our Lord. May all the Glory be to God. Amen (C.C.)

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:12)

(Musical Inspiration to tonight's writing- David Braid- El Castillo Interior)


  
  

"Let Nothing Trouble You". By: C.C.

"Let nothing trouble you, let nothing frighten you. All things are passing; God never changes. Patience obtains all things. He who possesses God lacks nothing: God alone suffices" (St. Teresa of Avila)

    These words from St. Teresa of Avila have always brought me great comfort. I have visited them many times throughout my journey of faith and each time I read them they speak so differently. Revisiting these words not only confirms the fact of how much we as individuals grow and change within our spiritual life, they also affirm that God is constant and His love unchanging.
   St. Teresa of Avila did not share these words without also empathizing with the emotion of which they are written; she identifies with each of us. 
   As I read this quotation today I can not help but smile. I reflect upon the many times that I have felt troubled and afraid. I remember that these emotions and situations did indeed pass away. It was in clinging to God despite the heaviness of my burdens that I was brought great comfort. Through faith we can endure whatever we are presented with. 
    "All things are passing; God never changes"
   In order for us to find full comfort in these words we must first have some understanding of our Lord as unchanging. We must acquire some sense of who God truly is and where our greatest source of stability can be found. As we come to reflect on Scripture, the lives of the Saints, and even our own lives we can recognize the truth of this statement. We may come to find that as we spent time questioning God, wondering where He was, longing for His comfort, that He was ultimately right there with us. Arguably in the midst of our difficulties we may often lose sight of His presence and give into our anxious feelings. St. Teresa of Avila reminds us of our need to constantly stay focused on our Lord through every circumstance.
     If God never changes, and we understand Him to be constant and all loving, then we must not be troubled or frightened. It is through faith that we are able to be patient through the storms of life and through the things that may burden our hearts. Let us come to recognize that we are fulfilled by God alone and that with Him present in our lives we lack nothing. May we see His unchanging love as a comfort to us in everything. Amen (C.C.)

"Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry"- Padre Pio