Coming Back

Well, it hit me today. You know what I'm talking about - Christmas. It must have been the right combination of music (thanks to the always-fantastic SFU Singers!) and a good snowfall that just made everything click, and that excitement that defines so many childhoods rushed back as though it had never left.

Isn't it weird how something can disappear from our lives completely, but the second something triggers it, it can come back almost instantly? From December 26 until just now, Christmas was a fact. Now, it's a feeling and a mood and an almost tangible scent in the air - Christmas is almost heeeeeeeere. But that doesn't change the fact that it can completely disappear for so long and, with little warning and little reason, come back.

That's what I'm talking about today - coming back (not Christmas, sorry).

Although I'll still post a Christmas-ey picture because IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS

Finding It

If you turned on the radio this summer to any station that was vaguely Christian for even a few minutes, you probably heard the song Help Me Find It at least six hundred times (If you haven't, here it is). I'm not saying I mind - I love the song. And you know what that means! I'm going to do to this song what I do to everything I love. I'm going to tear it apart.

That's right! Just as I analyzed Blessings this summer, let's look at the deeper messages behind Help Me Find It, by the Sidewalk Prophets

Their fan club is a for-prophet organization

What the First Half of My First Semester of My Second Year Has Taught Me

Well, well, hello again...much like the spine, I'm back.

It's been...a while. Sorry. Things come up, y'know? Anyway, that was (by far) the longest break I've ever had from writing, but it really was a case of "one thing led to another" and next thing I knew, BOOM Christmas music (Although, in my defense, that is rather early this year). A lot has happened since my last post, and even more since I stopped writing semi-daily. I've camped in a storm, sailed the seven seas, ate a shark, taught a Bible school, definitely didn't accidentally roll over a toddler, kayaked in a state park, fallen into a lake at a state park, biked Gettysburg, learned the ukulele, played the ukulele with Chuck Olson around a campfire singing Hallelujah, wooed a girl with the Catholic Pickup Lines Song (and the aforementioned ukulele), stormed an ice cream shop I suspected of housing Confederates, convinced a lot of people I shaved my head  (or, as I called it, my faux chrome dome). Yeah, I've been busy. Again...sorry.

A great big thank you to anyone who still remembered that this exists and came back (If you're reading this, that means you) and a great big "why" to the several dozen people who blogger tells me still read this every day since I last posted...in July...

Anyway, today I want to talk about something that's been a big theme in my life lately (no, not stress...that'll be coming up soon): change.

Great, another post about change

The Answer to Life, the Universe and Everything

42.
/post

Really, though, today's Gospel might as well just be called the answer to everything. As in, somebody directly asks Jesus what he has to do to win eternal life. This guy, a scholar of the law no less, asks Jesus "Alright just tell me very simply what I have to do". And Jesus does.

Apparently the Bible in Lego is a thing. 

Treading Water

~Prove to me that you're no fool, walk across my swimming pool!~

I'm not going to lie. For the past three days, I've been denying that it's actually July. Summer is in full swing, and that means I'm spending time doing one of my favorite summer-y activities: swimming. There's just something about thrashing about in the water that says "Oh, okay God, you want to put us on a planet and then make 70% of it water?! Yeah? Well watch these moves." 

Or at least, that's what it said until people started getting uncomfortable around the weird man on the raft yelling at the pool. 

Anyway, one of my favorite stories in the Bible takes place on the water. You (might have) guessed it! I'm talking about the walking on water! It's mentioned in three of the four gospels - I guess Luke just wasn't cool enough - and is one of those common reference points that everybody seems to know, Christian or not. 

In fact, I'd argue it's another one of those stories we don't really pay attention to much anymore. Let's change that. 

Zeal, F'real

Today, I'm continuing my closer look at the readings from yesterday - specifically the gospel passage from Luke 9.

In all honesty, it's fast becoming one of my favorite passages. Not because it's particularly insightful (well, I mean it is the Bible, but you know what I mean) and it's not particularly quotable. I enjoy it because I can picture it happening in my head and, at least in my imagination, it was pretty funny.

James and John: The Original Neville and Seamus?

Mine vs Thine

Happy Sunday! I hope you're enjoying the slight redesign to the site, since it's really been a while since I've updated that. I also hope you paid attention at Mass today, because this week's readings were unique.

First off, they aren't passages we hear constantly (I'm looking at you, loaves and fish) but they're readings packed with dozens of messages, angles and lessons. So many, in fact, that I can't cover them in one post. So, I'm going to try something a bit different. This week, I'm going to write about today's readings a few times, each time from a different interpretation or point of view. Since the First Reading and Gospel are usually connected (Spoiler: This week is no exception) I'm going to take a look at the Second Reading first, from St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians.

Specifically, let's think about the relationship between our wants and God's.

Here's a funny picture of JP2, because Google Images didn't have anything for"Dichotomous relationship between human desire and God's will"

The Answers to Our Prayers

Yesterday, I gave you my thoughts on the song "The Summons" and mentioned how there was a lot more I had to say about one line in particular. Lucky for you, I actually remembered, and here we are!

The line in question comes at the end of the second verse, right at the point where the action picks up wherever this is played (offertory/communion/etc.) and distracts us from the song. Nevertheless, I want to give my thoughts on one of those neglected lyrics:

Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

Answering the Summons

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to join Tori and co. for Mass at her parish. Oddly enough, that was my first Mass there - I had been to their summer fair, their flea markets, and basically every other event they had...except Mass (but I digress).

One of the hymns we sang was the fairly common tune "The Summons". What's that? You're not familiar with it? Yes you are. You probably just don't recognize it by that name - the word "summons" is only in the song once, buried in one of the later verses. It's one of those ubiquitous Breaking Bread gems that sounds pretty much exactly like half the book, so it's understandable if you don't recognize it. It's even more understandable if you don't actually pay attention to the words.

Don't worry, we'll soon change that.

Breaking Bread's Finest

Stacking the Melchize-deck

Happy Feast of Corpus Christi!

Today we celebrate our "source and summit" - the Eucharist. We take one Sunday to give special attention to something we do very often, many of us daily. I hope the Eucharist doesn't become "routine" or "regular" to you, but if you've slipped into that pattern today is a fantastic opportunity to break free.

I've already talked quite a bit about the Eucharist, and even wrote a whole post about today's Gospel, Luke's version of the Feeding of the 5000. So, for today, I want to focus specifically on the First Reading, a short three-verse blurb from Genesis - but an important and foreshadowing blurb at that.

Thy Kingdom Come, Let's Have Some Fun

So, raise your hand if you have ever encountered the stereotype that Catholicism is all about being in a stuffy, dark church and not having fun. Wow, okay, that's pretty much all of you.

Now, raise your hand if you've noticed people tend to think Catholics are all about rules and "can'ts" and the saints were a group of very, very sad looking people. Riiiiight, yep, everyone.

I've been thinking a lot about why this is, especially in light of Pope Francis' recent call to "be annoying." Maybe there are just too many people with repressed memories of 1960s Catholic gradeschools staffed by strict nuns. Maybe it's because we don't do the same things other people do - we don't have sex before marriage, even though everybody keeps telling us it's reeeeally reeeeally fun. Depending on the day, we might not share that bacon cheeseburger with you, even though we know from experience that they're reeeeally reeeeeally good. 

Does that mean Catholics are anti-fun? Does that mean being a saint requires locking yourself in a nice, quiet monastery where you are safe from the temptation to laugh?

Not at all.

In fact, St. Teresa of Avila, one of the who's-who of the communion of saints, prayed "God save us from sour-faced saints" from her cell in a convent. She knew what it meant to laugh (seriously, if you are looking for a good role model, check her out).

And, those of you who know me in person know that if there is one thing I cannot refuse...it's an awful, so-stupid-you-have-to-laugh joke.

So, let's take another example from the Big Book of Awesome Saints (Oh wait, it's exactly the same as the Big Book of Saints 'cause they're all awesome) to see how yes, Catholic and happy aren't mutually exclusive.

Raindrops

So, there's been this song stuck in my head lately. I mean, I've heard it before. Actually, I heard it for the first time almost a year ago. It's recently re-entered my life as a timely and poignant reminder. That song is Blessings by Laura Story, and if you've never heard it, it's fantastic.

So, I'm going to do what I usually do with beautiful things. I tear them apart like a small child discovering the wonder of flowers for the first time.

Love Hurts

When you hear the word "love," what do you think? Do you imagine a romantic dinner with violin music and hearts and chocolates and roses and happykissyBLEHHH. Sorry, threw up a little there. Also, sorry to disappoint. If that's your only image of love...boy, are you in for a wake up call. 

Now, for those of you who are currently thinking "Oh great, another scorned lover being cynical and depressing"...again, sorry to disappoint. I'm neither scorned nor cynical. I'm also not badmouthing this "Hollywood" image of love just because I think it's too perfect to ever really work with real people. Quite, the opposite, actually. I'm saying that you should reject the "normal" idea of love, not because it is too great, but because it isn't great enough. 

While we're on the subject of scorned lovers, though, allow me to address the popular saying "Love hurts"

Good. It's supposed to. 

Gifted

This past Tuesday, my sister Ashley became an adult in the Church by receiving the sacrament of Confirmation! So, first of all, if you're reading this Ashley, congratulations! Also, if you're reading this...how? Pretty sure you have no idea how to access this.

Anyway, I was fortunate enough to sponsor Ashley as she took this major step, and this allowed me to see the sacrament from a unique perspective. This wasn't the first time I've been to a Confirmation since my own (I sponsored my sister Mimi three years ago) but it was my first Confirmation since I've been at college.

Anybody who knew me in high school knows that I went through a bit of spiritual awakening right around the end of sophomore year (so, right around the time Mimi was getting confirmed). That transformation, though, was nothing compared to what I've experienced in the last eight or so months. Not to mention I understand the sacrament a lot more because of FireStarters (and, well, "Br. Dave's Awesome Powerpoint"). So, even though this wasn't my first time sponsoring a confirmandi, I saw the sacrament from a fresh point of view.

So I think for this post (and for those of you who kept checking even though I haven't been able to post recently, thank you) I'm going to "go deeper" with what exactly Confirmation is all about.

In the meantime, enjoy a picture of my lovely family with some clergy (or, as my mom would say, "the bishopness")

This is the Night

Place yourselves, for a moment, in the place of one of the apostles.

Thursday, you ate the Passover with Jesus. You sat around the table sharing the story of your people. You stood by helplessly as guards came out of nowhere and arrested him. You screamed at the injustice of the courts, and winced with Mary as he was beaten mercilessly.

Then, yesterday, you watched him struggle under the cross. You saw them murder your best friend, right in front of you, in the most painful way possible. You saw his mother scream in that guttural cry that can only come from a mother who has lost her child. You saw her kiss his lifeless feet, begging God to bring him back. You stared at the shrinking gap between the tomb wall and the huge rock, and felt your heart sink when the stone sealed off the last crack between you and him.

Flashback: Getting Our Feet Wet

Note: I've decided to spend Holy Thursday reading The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by St. Anne Catherine Emmerich. I hope to do a review at some point, but for now I'm reposting one of my older posts, Getting Our Feet Wet. Of all the days to post it, it's most relevant today since it specifically deals with the Holy Thursday liturgy (Which, of course, I'd encourage you to go to). If you missed this one, now's your chance. If you caught it the first time around, it's worth another read since it fits for today.

I thought for today's (admittedly late) post, I'd take a closer look at one of my favorite passages from one of my favorite books of the New Testament (John); specifically, the Washing of the Feet. For those of us who have been to a Holy Thursday liturgy, we've seen this part acted out in front of us. Maybe we see it as just another "thing" that happened that night, or a weird bit of the Gospel we don't really question. Like always, though, it's possible to go much deeper. So, in that spirit, duc in altum.

Take Up Your Cross

I must apologize for the delay...things have been getting busy with class, work, etc. etc. etc. It's almost as though I do things other than sit on the computer...

Anyway, in lieu of a bunch of posts about each day of Holy Week, which would probably become stale and cliche soon (not that that's stopped me in the past), I'll be doing something different. Namely, whatever pops into my head.

Before the jump, a note: this year, be different. Last night I watched The Passion of the Christ with Campus Ministry, and realized how incredible it is to look with fresh eyes. This week, when you hear the stories you've heard since you were little, listen as though you've never heard them before. Look at them with fresh eyes...a fresh viewpoint. You'll find things you never noticed, and you will definitely be on the road to putting out into the deep.

With that, let me introduce to you something you may have seen, particularly if you are lucky enough to attend SFU. It's something that you've definitely seen if you've been in the chapel, but in all likelihood failed to notice (or at least noticed then forgot about).

It's the Second Station of the Cross.

Habemus Papam!

Alright, so I had a good post planned for today, but honestly this is much more exciting! We have a pope!

On March the 13, 2013 AD, Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio was elected as Supreme Pontiff as the Catholic Church and took the name Francis I. HOW AWESOME IS THAT!?

Anyway, he is a lot of "firsts" - First South American (or any American pope - for that matter, first modern non-European pope), first Jesuit, first Francis.

The Prodigal Son

I'm going to be honest. I thought really hard about a creative title, but I got nothing. So you get a descriptive, albeit bland title. Perhaps it's because it's the Monday after a break, and nobody feels like doing anything productive. It's been a bit of a break for writing here as well. Thanks to all those who kept with it!

Anyway, I thought I'd "go deeper" with yesterday's Gospel. I don't always do that (although it's not unheard of) but yesterday was one of the "big ones" - the prodigal son. Honestly, I've read entire books about this parable, so no blog post (however rambley) will be able to cover it. But I'll at least try to hit the big stuff.

Take and Eat: The Communion Rite

We are standing in heaven itself. The Lamb, the Son of God, the Jesus, is right in front of us. This alone should be the highest honor we ever receive...standing in God's throne room.

But for God, that isn't enough.

We must eat the Lamb.

This is part ten of my series on the Mass, Guided Missal. 

Part 1: Opening the Doors
Part 2: A Rite for Wrongs
Part 3: Word.
Part 4: I've Got Good News
Part 5: Offer It Up
Part 6: Holy, Holy, Holy
Part 7: This is My Body

Part 8: Pater Knows Best

Part 9: Mary's Little Lamb

Mary's Little Lamb: The Agnus Dei

Once the Lord's Prayer is complete, the rest of the Mass can seem to move rather fast. There's a flurry of handshakes, kneeling, standing, walking, kneeling, standing, driving, home. If we're not paying attention, it can seem to go by in a flash. This is one part of the Mass that we can't afford to miss. This is it. This is the climax. This is what everything has been leading up to until this point. 

This is part nine of my series on the Mass, Guided Missal. 

Part 1: Opening the Doors
Part 2: A Rite for Wrongs
Part 3: Word.
Part 4: I've Got Good News
Part 5: Offer It Up
Part 6: Holy, Holy, Holy
Part 7: This is My Body

Part 8: Pater Knows Best

Pater Knows Best: The Lord's Prayer

The Eucharistic Prayer is finished. The Bread and Wine have been transfigured before our eyes into the very Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. We've called upon the fire of the Holy Spirit and now we are in the presence of Almighty God.

We are standing in the palace of the King of Kings. We are basking in the Light of the World, we the assembled flock of the Good Shepherd.

We stand in heaven itself.

The question, then, is what now? What can you say when you are mere feet away from God Himself?

Exactly what he told us to do. We pray.

This is part eight of my series on the Mass, Guided Missal. 

Part 1: Opening the Doors
Part 2: A Rite for Wrongs
Part 3: Word.
Part 4: I've Got Good News
Part 5: Offer It Up
Part 6: Holy, Holy, Holy
Part 7: This is My Body

Fast and Furious

Again, I'm taking a break from Guided Missal. Why? Because it's my blog, that's why. Also, because today's Gospel is really cool. That's also the reason behind the title! Today, we find Jesus fasting in the desert, and being tempted by the devil. Satan is, of course, unsuccessful and ends up furious. Get it?

Anybody?

Anybody?

Special Note: Hi Katie! You're awesome!

This is My Body: The Eucharistic Prayer (Part II)

We have presented our offerings. We have "lifted up our hearts". We have recognized that we are at worship not only like heaven but in heaven.

We have lifted ourselves up to heaven...now heaven is going to come down to us.

This is part seven of my series on the Mass, Guided Missal. 

Part 1: Opening the Doors
Part 2: A Rite for Wrongs
Part 3: Word.
Part 4: I've Got Good News
Part 5: Offer It Up
Part 6: Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy, Holy, Holy: The Eucharistic Prayer (Part I)

This is it. The gifts have been brought forward and prepared, and our hearts are ready. We are ready to experience heaven.

It's time for the Eucharistic Prayer.

This is part six of my series on the Mass, Guided Missal. 

Part 1: Opening the Doors
Part 2: A Rite for Wrongs
Part 3: Word.
Part 4: I've Got Good News
Part 5: Offer It Up

You've Got Something On Your Forehead

So...it's Ash Wednesday. In honor of the day, I'm taking a break from my Guided Missal series just to give a little bit of background and context for what, to outsiders, must seem like an odd ritual.

Offer It Up: The Offertory

After the Homily, quite a number of things happen seemingly at once. Perhaps we get too caught up in the song and don't really notice. But now we have, as one priest I know likes to put it, "halftime". It's anything but a break, though. Rather, it is a preparation - setting the table of the Lord.

It is here that the Liturgy of the Word becomes the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

This is part five of my series on the Mass, Guided Missal. 

Part 1: Opening the Doors
Part 2: A Rite for Wrongs
Part 3: Word.
Part 4: I've Got Good News

I've Got Good News: The Gospel

Until this point, we've been seated for the entirety of the readings. Then, to a chorus of "alleluia", we all stand. This reading is a bit different.

This is the Gospel.

This is part four of my series on the Mass, Guided Missal. 

Part 1: Opening the Doors
Part 2: A Rite for Wrongs
Part 3: Word.

Word: The Liturgy of the Word

So now we've been freed of our sins and we're a clean slate. We're empty.

God then does what he loves to do when we're empty...fill us up.

For those who are just joining, this is Part 3 of my series on the Mass, Guided Missal. Part 1: Opening the Doors. Part 2: A Rite for Wrongs.

A Rite for Wrongs: The Penitential Rite

Welcome to Part 2 of my series on the Mass, Guided Missal, where we examine the most fundamental sacrament of the Church piece by piece.

Part 1: Opening the Doors

In Part 1, I discussed how the Sign of the Cross was like our oath. But an oath to what? If it's a trial, who is the defendant? We are.

Opening the Doors: The Introductory Rites

Sunday Mass. Statistically, 24% of Catholics in America experience it every week, or about 16.4 million people. Over sixteen million people sharing in the Eucharist every single week. Of that "great multitude", how many do you think actually understand (or make an effort to understand) what is happening? How many  are just going through the motions without realizing the supernatural drama unfolding right in front of them?

That's my goal with this new series, Guided Missal. A step-by-step walk-through of your typical Sunday Mass, uncovering twenty centuries of symbolism, meaning and grace.

All You Can Eat

As I am writing this, it is just after 11:00 Thursday morning, and I am hungry. So, I decided to distract myself by writing a post...but about what? I turned to my tried-and-true method of picking topics; that is, I opened the Bible randomly and committed to write about whatever passage I opened to. In a wonderful display of God's poignant sense of humor, I opened to Mark 6:34, commonly known as the "Feeding of the 5000".

Okay, God. I can dig it.

Also, apparently one of my regular readers did not realize that only the introduction , and that you do in fact have to click "Read More". If you're reading this, you've been missing out friend.

Thirsting for God

Thirst is one of those human experiences that is universal. From the mightiest king to the lowliest slave, everybody gets thirsty. In a broader sense, we can even apply thirst to other human needs as well. Is not hunger just a thirst for food? Is not exhaustion a thirst for rest?

But there is something in the connotation behind "thirst" that goes deeper than being hungry or tired. When we say "hungry", we could easily be referring to our stomachs rumbling before lunch. "Tired" could mean the sleepy feeling we get in the afternoon.

But "thirst"...thirst is desperate. Thirst is a burning desire.

"I thirst for you like a parched land" - Psalm 143:6

We thirst like a parched land. We're crying out for water in desperate need.

We're thirsty for God.

Time Travel

What do we all have, but can never gain more of? What is incredibly precious and limited, but wasted so haphazardly?

It's the most valuable thing we can give. It's the most valuable thing we can receive. It is the most precious thing we can ever give somebody.

It's time.

Gone Fishin'

"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."

It's a line we've heard a hundred times. It's a line we don't really give too much thought to. It's a line that seems simple but implies a lot. It's a line that, looking through fresh eyes, can sound a bit weird.

It's also a line from today's Gospel. So, like the "fishers of men" we are called to be, let's put out into the deep. 

Duc in altum.

(Also, if you have yet to see the vocations video of the same name, I'd highly recommend it.)

Washed Clean

Today, we celebrate Jesus' baptism. At first, this seems a bit odd - just last week we were celebrating Epiphany, and now we've fast-forwarded over almost thirty years of Jesus' life. As with any gospel reading (any Scripture, really) there are a lot of ways to look at it. You can look at it from a "faith and works" standpoint (which I've discussed before) and say Baptism is not what makes somebody a good Catholic.

 In the meantime, let's look at one of the crucial elements of baptism - any baptism. Its symbolism pops up throughout the Bible, and it's one of the four classical elements: water.

Fire Power: Part 2

So I have just come from Sharers of the Word, a praise and worship/charismatic prayer group here on campus...and I thought it would be relevant to sort of take a look at some practical applications of what I talked about earlier today. If you haven't already, I'd strongly encourage you to check out part 1 (not that I'm biased or anything).

This will be like the "real world application" of sorts, along with a great experience I had of this first-hand not too long after publishing Part 1.

Fire Power

Fire. It's often regarded as a foundation of the universe. It was so important to the Ancients, it was regarded one of the Four Elements along with earth, air and water. So monumental is fire to humanity, its discovery is often regarded as the "starting point" for civilization itself.

We live in a world dominated by electricity in the form of lights, computers, cell phones, appliances and any number of objects so common to us we hardly pay them notice. But, even in an environment where everything has to have a blinking LED, we still get lost in a flickering flame. There is something about fire that captivates us, even today; just as it captivated our first ancestors.

All Things New

"Behold, I make all things new." 

Revelation 21:5

Well, it's now the second day of the spring semester, meaning I've officially had all my "first" classes. Things on campus are starting to get back into the swing of things, and overall there's a sense of a fresh start.

That's a very attractive idea for a lot of people, for a lot of reasons - a fresh start. A chance for us to look back and realize that, contrary to popular opinion, we're not perfect. We make mistakes. We procrastinate (and I'm definitely not procrastinating right now by writing this). As we say in the Confeitor, "I have greatly sinned...through what I have done, and what I have failed to do." 

That's why so many people make New Years resolutions. As a side note, if you have made a resolution and are still keeping with it, good job! Statistically, over 25% of you will have already "given up" by now.

Either way, that's why we like the idea of "New Years" so much - it's a chance to step back and start fresh. Personally, this week is a great time of change for me. New classes, new schedules and new opportunities - change is on the mind. 

All for One

By show of hands, how many of us had a "Catholic" childhood? Chances are at some point we were told "Jesus died for you." For many of us, this was one of those cliche things that (for the most part) went in one ear and out the other, like "Peace be with you." But, when we start to think of it a bit closer, it can become quite unnerving.

It can be easy to "rationalize away" the implications of this by saying, "Well, Jesus died for all of us!" While this is true, it's not doing justice to a vital truth - Jesus died for you. You, specifically. Yes, you. This isn't "Catholic guilt" coming into play...it's one of the most beautiful truths of creation: God loves you.

Truth and Dare

What does it mean to be Christian? It is perhaps one of the most fundamental questions to come out of the last two millenia, and throughout those twenty centuries many have put forth their own answers. Is it enough to believe that Jesus was the Son of God? What if we believe all that Jesus taught? If we follow all the "rules" of Christianity without any sort of belief, is that good enough? 

I say that none of those are valid in their own right. Being a Christian is more than holding an abstract philosophy. A true follower of Christ is filled with faith, but living through works. 

The First Knot

I decided to title this post after the first "knot" of a religious vow - poverty. Will I eventually get to the others? Will there be a post in the future called "The Second Knot" or maybe even "Return of the Knot"? Maybe...maybe knot. See what I did there? Now stop asking questions and let me do my thing.

Anyway, today I came across a passage from Matthew 6 about depending on God. I think that passage can be a great "explanation" for poverty. We'll get to that, and a few other verses, in a second. But, in the meantime, a picture.