writing – Page 10 – Writing to Pray

3rd Sunday, Lent 2016

We often hear the default, “It’s just a job, puts food on the table.” However, most people typically want the fruits of their labors to be valued and respected. Most want to perform their job duties excellently. One of the social teaching exhorts us to assure all have gainful employment, and to compensate fairly for education, experience and responsibility. While we may not be employers, as co-workers and customers, we can recognize the labor others put into meeting our needs and desires.

The Gardener, Jesus, is our migrant farmer, putting time and energy, hope and faith into the sorry, struggling fig trees that we are. In many a work situation, we are asked to put effort into projects which seem fruitless or to help less proficient co-workers. This parable and social teaching exhorts us to help and uplift others so all might be find peace, hope and joy with their work.

The fig tree in Jesus’ parable this week is ‘sick.’ It is disabled, wounded or impaired, bearing no fruit, not fulfilling its potential. While the sacrament of the anointing of the sick is typically given to those in critical condition, the sacrament reminds us of our responsibility to accept human weakness. We are called to interact with such compassion and gentleness that we not only cause no spiritual pain, but actually heal previously inflicted psychological or spiritual pain.

This parable of the ailing fig tree, the sacrament of the anointing of the sick and the social teaching around worker’s rights and the dignity of work calls us to notice and appreciate the work of others. We are to interact in a way that causes no harm, but heals, encourages and inspires others so that they find peace, hope and fulfillment in their work.

2nd Sunday, Lent 2016

Before it became a popular TV show about zombies, the phrase ‘walking dead’ referred to people who are living yet not alive: people breathing with heart beating, yet unaware of the layers, nuances, and abundant gifts of human life. Regardless of politics, we have an obligation to be concerned with the quality of life of those around us, to help others find hope and joy in the fact and details of their life.

Many think of Catholic social teaching, “Right to life,” as centering exclusively on the issues of the death penalty and abortion. Some translate the exhortation into political action, while others feel the social factors and issues are too complex for sweeping, one-size-fits-all laws. However, we have a responsibility to the living, for their ‘right to life,’ which transcends secular laws.

While human life seems singular and internal, it can only exist in communion with others.Jesus’ communion with Elijah and Moses encourages us to take solace and consolation in our own relationships with those who have passed over. These relationships are not fixed or static, but continue to develop and deepen.

When we partake in the sacrament of the Eucharist (Communion), we are affirming our membership in the body or Christ, the Church, the Communion of Saints, living and dead. To accept our responsibility to fight for rich, full lives for those living, we need to rely on those who have preceeded us. These saints, universal and personal lawgivers and prophets, give us the strength, wisdom and courage to protect and love those in need.

1st Sunday, Lent 2016

Satan is tempting Jesus by suggesting specific roles that He could have in society; power over nature, power over people on Earth and power in Heaven. All would belong to Him, thereby leaving Him free to belong only to Himself. Instead, Jesus asserts that He belongs to the Lord God, Father and Creator. Because His identity centers only on belonging to Father, he seems unconcerned about His role in society at the moment.

Through the sacrament of Confirmation, we affirm and assert that our identity lies in belonging to the Lord, not our role on earth.
Summarized clearly on the USCCB website, Catholic social teaching remind us that all people have a role in economics and politics, law and policy, that family life is vital and that we should seek together the common good and well-being of all. We can offer many prayers to God for those oppressed by their governments, separated from their families, and those in physical danger because of political actions. We can support organizations who address these issues on a global scale.

We know many people, however, professionally and casually who are excluded from full participation in community. They may struggle to communicate effectively, have physical limitations, or face difficult logistical situations. Maybe we don’t agree with their point of view or like their personalities, but including and connecting to them is a responsibility outlined in Catholic social teaching.

Every time we reach out and welcome these folks into Church and our communities, we allow “the grace of Pentecost in the Church” bestowed during Confirmation to flow freely. We assert, regardless of our role on Earth, we belong to the Lord.

Ash Wednesday 2016

Social justice is often reduced to a list of actions and to-dos: a menu of choices and duties to perform to help the less fortunate. The readings for Ash Wednesday encourage almsgiving, while Catholic social teachings exhort us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable above our own.

But don’t all social situations call for ‘just’ behavior and words? Aren’t many interpersonal interactions a call to action? They invite us to recognize and shift perceptions and behaviors in response to others’ needs, regardless of the character of their poverty or vulnerability.

Repentance, advocated in each of the Ash Wednesday readings, may require a radical change of heart, but often entails a subtle, gentle refinement instead. When we don’t answer the call to help the poor and vulnerable, we fall into a sin of omission.

The sacrament of reconciliation invites us to receive the grace which flows from recognition of our sins of omission and comission. It reminds us of our responsibility to empty ourselves and address the needs of others. This rearranging allows us to enter Lent appropriately poor in spirit.

Christmas 2014

Is 52:7-10; Heb 1:1-6; John 1:1-18
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/122514-day-mass.cfm

A few weeks back on this blog I suggested we each reflect upon how we are different at present in comparison to past Advents. Now is the time to reflect upon how my thoughts, perceptions, activities and experiences of this Advent affect my relationship with the Lord.

I did several things differently this Advent, but I will only tell you about ‘the door.’

I was invited to decorate a door for one of the much-loved sisters at a nursing home I sometimes work at; I put my little heart into it because I regarded it as a visual prayer of thanksgiving and petition. I wrote “Prince of Peace Incarnate” on ribbon, the names of each sister on little embossed doves and petitions for peace and help for those in need on green and blue circles. Many of the sisters were upset by the conflict, war, violence, disease, hatred, poverty, etc particularly rampant in the world today. I wanted them to visually see that because their response to these troubles is prayer they too are answering the call to be the Prince of Peace Incarnate who dwells within each of us in the world. The connection between those praying and the petitions for the needs of others was tightly forged to the Prince of Peace Incarnate through their community. I hoped the door communicated some of those perceptions.

The Gospel of John is very clear; Jesus is the Word incarnate. Thereby, whatever words I have for Him, He is incarnated into that specific role. To use my example from above, I characterized Jesus as “Prince of Peace”, so Jesus brought peace to anyone who prayed my door. Maybe he brought them a bit of hope and love, too, as these feelings also over-flowed in my heart as I carried on with the taping.

In what other characterizations has the Word become Incarnate? The Bread of Life, Light of the World, the Vine, Gatekeeper, Good Shepherd, Resurrection and the Life, the Way, the Truth, the Life; Friend, Brother, Spouse, Son?

Rereading the opening to John’s gospel reminded me, when John talks about the Word as reigning with the Lord God from the beginning of time, he talks simultaneously about that Word bringing life. Indeed all life only has life by His will. The cause-and-effect might be a bit of a puzzle; we are alive only because of His will, but we will never truly know how our alive-ness effects His alive-ness. But, it bears repeating, we only have life if He desires so. This is true of all beings, whether or not they are aware of this dependence.

In addition to an awareness of our need upon Him for life, we may experience a new layer of gratitude, joy and hope in our relationship with Him. The idea that my soul and spirit are so valuable to Him as to be willed into existence by Him should also inspire a deeper sense of self-value and self-worth within each of us.

Reflection Questions: Which of the above terms from Jesus’ I Am statements might be most applicable in the past year for you, which might you explore in the upcoming year? Which expression provokes the most emotion, whether comfortable or not?

Writing Exercise: What changes might you make as you remember that it is Christ’s will that you are alive? Do you feel alive, or only as if you are going through the motions of life? What would need to change to be “more” alive, assuming we can consciously become “more alive.”

Art Exercise: Decorate a large space such as a door or wall using as your theme one of Jesus’ I AM statements or descriptions of Him.