Gaudete!

As our Church gets ready to celebrate the 3^rd Sunday in Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday,(gaudete means rejoice in Latin), we are called to reflect on the Joy of this season.  We began Advent three Sundays ago; our holy spaces became dressed in the penitential color of purple, as a reminder that this is a season to reconcile ourselves with our Lord. It is a time to prepare our hearts and souls to receive the mystery of our Incarnated Christ into ourselves.   It is a time to reflect on those dark areas in our lives where we may not have the light of Christ and figure out why that is so.  Upon examining those dark areas, we must also decide how to bring light into it so that those shadows from our past or even present situations don’t keep us from the joy that God wants to share with us.

This third Sunday is a time to remind us of that blessing-the gift of joy!

Today in my morning prayer time I reflected on the fact that I chose to be Catholic. Yes, I was born into a Catholic family and as an adult, I wandered around looking for a spiritual connection with my Creator, thinking that I was in control of my own destiny. I was led back to Christ in the Eucharist and in Reconciliation. Those dark areas of my life, He cracked open as I poured my heart in prayer, asking him for mercy and pardon.  I was made aware that He chose me! That even though I was “lost” He never lost sight of me. Gently I heard Him say to my soul, “you are loved, do not fear”.

It was then that I experienced joy like I had never felt in my heart. I can say that the joy of Christ is not one that is satisfied by anything or anyone else.  I tried it and was always met with a dead end. However, once home, God has continued to show me His love.  I am not perfect, and I have realized that God doesn’t expect me to be perfect, just holy.  This for me means to be in constant prayer; to nurture our divine relationship and to talk to Him like I would a best friend.

I have also come to appreciate more those who struggled like I do, those inspiring individuals from all parts of the world, since the beginning of the Church, who now serve as examples for us. One in particular is St. Teresa de Avila. A Spaniard, a woman born in the 1500’s who grew up to become recognized as a Doctor of our Church, and she had a lot to say about prayer.  One writing in particular she reminds us “…if a person is in the habit of speaking to God's Majesty as he would speak to his servant, and never wonders if he is expressing himself properly, but merely utters the words that come to his lips because he has learned them by heart through constant repetition, I do not call that prayer at all -- and God grant no Christian may ever speak to Him so!” 

My faith is always challenging me to be more present to God’s majesty and to be more forgiving of others and of myself. It causes me today to think about how I pray. Advent is a time to rejoice in God’s grace that He places peace and joy in our hearts when we pray with our hearts and not just our lips.

Every time I celebrate this mystery at Mass I rejoice. It is the mystery of a God who reveals himself and still remains hidden; the mystery of my soul who continues to search for Him even though I know that I have found Him; the mystery of my Lord who challenges me to transform and in so doing I become more truly myself; how can I not rejoice?

 

The artist Bernini sculpted (about 1644) a very famous sculpture of  St. Teresa as she experienced God’s love through her personal meditation and prayer. Artists are great for expressing the drama and the symbolism in their work, and this piece is quite spectacular!  He captured in dense white carrera marble a figure defying gravity. This baroque expression has had many critiques; however, to the lay person it speaks sensually and emotionally of God's desire to have a relationship with each of us. I had the pleasure of discovering this amazing large scaled work of stone while in Rome at the ancient and beautiful church of Santa Maria della Vittoria, on the corner of a street named Susanna (random memory).  It speaks to me of the surrender that I must allow when I’m in prayer.   Even though it seems as though she is suffering, she is actually experiencing a kind of rapture, a transformation. This  is a kind of suffering, the letting go of those things that distract us from God's peace and joy; but if we do that we expereince our own transformations and it is joyful when our hearts are joined to the love and hope of Christ. 

One of the fruits of the holy spirit is to be joyful, even in the midst of personal pain and  suffering.

St. Teresa, in her writings and prayers, reminds me of that. During this Advent season who is not seeing random Mall killings in the west and now an elementary school massacre in the east? Who is not aware of the fiscal cliff? Who is not aware of the strife in Africa, in Syria, in Cuba? We look outside ourselves, anywhere and we see pain, injustice, suffering, poverty.

Yet in Advent we are called to look for those same things inside ourselves. Where have I experienced  personal pain, injustice, suffering, poverty and how have I contributed to those same things in others or in my society?

Through prayer we can bring light into this darkened world through our own transformation.  The only way that peace can be in our world if each one of us is able and willing to live a prayer filled life and to live it rejoicing in Christ!

Let us remember, that the Incarnation Mystery is about those things that science cannot explain and that only an open heart can accept in faith. A heart in prayer celebrates at all times. This is why Mass is a celebration!  Let’s come together to rejoice this Sunday as a community that believes that despite the darkness that exists, the Light that Christ brought us through his birth is one that endures and it endures through all of us too, His Church!  We continue to prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth…..Gaudete!

Thankful for my family

When I was about 5 years old, I walked down the stairs of a jet plane that had landed in an air strip in Indianapolis, in the dead of winter in the year 1966.  For the first time my nostrils breathed in the frigid air of freedom. The air felt cold, still yet fragrant.  It is too difficult to explain what that scent was like; there have been a few times in my life since then that I have come across an experience where icy air fills my lungs and the lingering perfume of frost reminds me of the little Cuban girl who I once was. Funny how memory works like that, how quickly  a sensory moment can stop you in your tracks and take you back to a place in your mind that had been cleanly and gently archived in a cerebral file.

When I think of being thankful, I think of that moment.  As a child, my concept of family and security was about to change in that instant.  My family, in order to protect my sense of safety I am sure, tried to hide the sadness and panic that had taken hold of our home life since the revolution that had occurred in Cuba.  My parents had started their young married life with their two children with hopes to raise us in their country.  Yet, in the early 60’s they found themselves facing a drastic decision, one which many other families faced.   Do they stay and risk living in a communist country, or do they flee? And if they decide to flee, how would they find a way out?

My brother and I under the Nativity tree in our home in Havana, Cuba.
 One of our last years celebrating as a united family.

Our story gets complicated here.  As I have come to find out later in my life, each one of us who were fortunate enough to leave then, or later, have our own unique circumstances.  Not every Cuban has shared the same welcome that I received when my feet stepped onto a snowy tarmac in the USA.  Many came alone and found no one to help them understand the “American way”.  Some had treacherous journeys, involved homemade rafts, near drowning, stashed away on boats, going through other countries. I was able to board a plane that basically took me straight to a warm home only about 600 miles north, that had a familiar pot of black beans and rice warming on their stove. 

My identity was threatened during the Mariel boatlift in 1980. It seems I had acculturated really well into my American experience.  My American cousins had adopted me and formed me into a gum chewing, hip-hugging jean wearing, meat loaf loving teen age girl, annoyingly and constantly tethered to my bedroom phone. Suddenly, I realized that my painful separation to my past was not as “frozen” as it had seemed in my young heart.  The frost was melting off the reality that I could be reunited again to those family members with whom the only contact for so many years had been long letters, written concisely on both sides of the paper, even along the margins, making me realize that paper was in scarce supply.  My grandmother would cram in details of her life in every letter; the struggles about our family, letting us know that they were getting by as best they could. She always made sure we knew that she remembered all the things we used to love and wondered if we still loved those same things. Each letter ended just like Cubans typically say goodbye to a loved neighbor at the doorstep…..never done as an epilogue, savoring every sentimental  form of saying how much we are missed and always ending with a hyper emphasis on their love for each of us. 

The other mode of communication, which was rare because it was expensive, was we would talk on the phone, knowing full well that every call was being listened to by Cuban operators.  As kids, we knew there were certain things we couldn't ask or say so as not to jepordize my grandparents lives. Mostly we called them. Because my grandparent’s house did not have a phone, the call would go to the back door neighbor’s house, whose name was Carolina.  I vaguely remembered this neighbor as a child, but I could recall the hill that was behind our house. That’s because I spent many days playing on the side of that hill.  On late summer days, my grandmother and I would pick green beans that she planted there and I’d help her peel them on her back porch.  It was on top of that slope that Carolina’s house was located.  If they were home to answer their phone, Carolina would get very excited to receive a call from the states and knowing how expensive it  was, she would send someone to run down and get my grandparents to come up to talk with us.  As a kid, I imagined my grandmother running up that hill, always excited to speak with us, maybe even trampling over those treasured beans sprouts.

My life would have been very different had it not been for my American family who sponsored us for the months it took my parents to get a low paying factory job. My mother, who had prepared to be a teacher in Home Economics, and is one of the craftiest and most creative people I know, became a seamstress eventually. She can sew beautifully, and working beside other immigrants, such as Chinese and Japanese laborers in the sewing room, she became good friends with them.  Yes, I was living a melting pot experience I read about later in my history classes at Harrison Hill Elementary School where in those years, I was the only spanish speaking non-Anglo kid in my classes!

My father, eventually landed a job at Jenn-Aire factory. I don’t really remember what he did, but it was an assembly line type of job. In Cuba, he had prepared and had been working as an accountant.  My dad is the most persistent and detailed oriented person I can think of, with a perfect accountant’s mind.  Now, he had to learn a new language and a new trade.  There are two outstanding memories I have of his job at Jenn-Aire.

One is the environment of the building he worked at. It was modern and very spacious.  At Christmas time a Santa Claus would bring all the employees' kids a present.  I remember sitting on the cafeteria floor with other kids, waiting for my name to be called as they pulled presents from under the big Christmas tree. This was a culture shock for a Cuban kid, who had neither seen nor heard of Santa Claus. In our tradition, Christmas gifts are given at the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th, which commemorates the gifts that the Magi brought to baby Jesus.  This seemed to make more sense to me than Santa Claus. Yet the magical aspect of a jolly ol' elf with a sleigh full of toys and flying reindeer was too awesome for a kid like me to not buy into as part of the American experience I was beginning to gobble up.

The other memory is the Jenn-Aire club house out in the country.  We would drive up their impressive curving drive way towards it, and were greeted by a big rustic cabin-like structure with a huge stone fireplace on the inside, all nestled on  large open grounds next to a large lake.  At Easter time, families would go there for their annual Easter egg hunt. This became another new “American” experience for us.  My parents, even though were of limited means, always managed to make sure my brother and I had new clothes to wear for Mass at Easter.  Usually, my outfit was a crocheted skirt and vest that my aunt would knit for me.  They were very popular back then, and I was a bit competitive with the Easter egg hunt and would inevitably end up muddied and tangled up in a cluster of rose bushes. My poor outfit suffered for it, along with my exposed arms and legs. My mother was never too pleased with my “unlady-like” demeanor during those hunts.

The Mariel crisis did not reunite my family after all like we had hoped. Eventually, thanks to another turn in politics, both sets of grandparents eventually ended up living with us. One had left in the early 70’s through their Spanish citizenship and joined us in Indiana. The other set, the ones that lived on in a humble suburb on the side of the hill, they came while I was in college at UF in 1982.  They were allowed to leave Cuba with a visa to visit only but ended up staying due to my grandfather’s health. He died a year later, a month after my wedding.

These memories are important to remember, and they also allow me to reflect on how much I have to be thankful for.  I am thankful for my parents and my family and this country that became my home.  Through these experiences God connected to me in some way and my heart to Him. I realized that God makes himself present through communities of people.  My life has been a patchwork of cultures that came together in a zigzagged kind of way. Sometimes I could be very “Cuban” and other times I could blend in and be very “American”, thanks to my loving family and friends.  

Funny that when I think of January in Indianapolis, I don’t think of cold days, I think of the warmth of the family that greeted me and handed me my first winter coat and hat, and allowed me to know that God was always present in my family. God was my warmth in the midst of a winter darkness so far from home.

Preparing families for personal change

Yesterday morning I had the pleasure of leading a group of about 15 families in a catechetical session as we prepared to celebrate the Rite of Acceptance next weekend.  Having had the experience of teaching children in the past, I remembered that most children consider themselves “artists”.  You give them an opportunity to be creative and they run with it.  Also, most children are not comfortable yet verbalizing spiritual concepts.  So I planned that after a large group reflection on the gospel from this Sunday, I would give them the opportunity to express what God was saying to us through papers, markers, and crayons.

After  small group discussions at their tables, which included at least two different families, the children which ranged from ages 8 to 15, they all began to translate what they heard onto their paper.  After some time, each family shared their reflection and the child presented their creative work.  What became so unexpectedly wonderful was the variety of expressions and the detailed craftsmanship! Sitting at different tables, three boys created origami hearts and doves, others created beautiful graphic illustrations using repetitive patterns and iconic symbols such as the cross and hearts. One wrote a profound and personal reflection using strongly colored strokes across the paper. 

 

The adults were touched by the expressive art that resulted from the gospel reflection at each group.  It became an opportunity to share with the children how God gives us talents and gifts so that we may glorify him in our work.  In our artwork, in our poetry, in our songs,  we have the opportunity to share the hopeful and challenging messages that we hear in God’s word.

Here are some a few highlights of what was shared by the children and how they interpreted what was heard:

1. "God is freedom. When we love God, we are free to love others and to do what is right." (This boy made a detailed and carefully folded dove origami sculpture which upon the wings he drew symbols and put the word “freedom” and “peace”)

2. "God created us out of his love. Although we may all be different, we are all created by God and we must love everyone and accept everyone for who they are. God chooses us to be born the way we are. We must love and serve him by loving others" (This girl drew a big heart with many people that symbolically represented different cultures, different races, different languages, etc., all were included within the large heart shape)

3. "Loving God means we love and obey him, but most important, we are to love him with our mind, heart, soul. "(This boy drew a very colorful drawing of many hearts and a big golden cross in the center, which he said represented God).

4. "God loves us, so we love him back and we love everyone because God made us the way we are born, so we must love who God made us to be and we must love others and how God made them too." This girl drew abstract images which were very conceptual and illustrated a pattern along the border of her paper, and provided decoration around her writing, reminded me of calligraphy found on  old illuminated manuscripts.)

5. "God loves us and he wants us to love him back." (This boy was the youngest one, about 7 years old, he drew a smiling robot figure that took up the entire paper and colored it with bright colors. He drew a robot because that is what he is passionate about.  Our passions can be ways we can glorify God with.)

After this time of reflection, the focus of the session became directed to the Rite and what it will mean when they go in front of our community to ask for prayers on their faith journey. We spoke about being open to God’s grace and that means that we prepare ourselves prayerfully for this new step that we all will all embark on. This Rite becomes a bridge to the the catechumenate.  They now become a “catechumen”.  A  Greek word which means, “the one who is learning”.  The catechist is the Greek word for “instructor”. These are ancient words (still in use today by our church) which St. Paul used to refer the unbaptized Christians who were not yet initiated into the sacred mysteries of the Christian faith. The early church recognized that Christians are formed through discernment and a process that takes time.  Time that would allow them to understand why we worship the way we do and why being a disciple of Jesus calls us to a change of lifestyle as well as a dying to ourselves, so that we can best serve others. The early Christians understood that when a person was baptized, they are baptized into a church community, a community where they will find support, encouragement, guidance, and challenge.

 We went around the room and each child was given some time to think about what they are preparing for.  What do they seek from our community? 

Again, the children touched us with their answers. “I want to know how to love God more”.  “I want to be baptized and be part of God’s family”.  “I want to learn how to have more faith”.

Are we ready for the Rite next Sunday?  Yes, I believe we are.  A very spirit filled morning where I walked away feeling blessed and thankful that God gives us the opportunity to recognize his grace through our children and their families!

I am convinced that God calls each one of us by name, how are we responding?

We are spiritual bridges

So we had Halloween on Wednesday, where many of experienced a secular purely American festivity (Latinos don’t celebrate this day as they do in the US).  For us who are Catholic Hispanics, Halloween is the day that prepares us to celebrate All Saints Day on November 1^st.  The first of this 11th month is a day that has been set aside for many many centuries to reflect on all those who have come before us, those who have set examples for us of what it means to be holy, wise and live fulfilled and joy filled lives. Often times, those experiences when not seen through the eyes of Christian faith, can seem illogical and crazy.

Today we have the second day of the 11th month where we commemorate, All Souls Day. But with all the hoopla over Halloween and the two day old crumpled candy wrappers littering our house, and fun with the All Saints processions and going to Mass and eating a special familly dinner, it seems that today can be easily overlooked.

So what’s up with All Souls Day?  Today we as a Church community, celebrate the gift of eternal life.  In light of today's need for immediacy and compulsions to feel good now, the idea of eternity may seem irrelavant to some.

Believing in the eternal makes life worth living, gives me purpose beyond the tangible goals I may have set for myself, and makes me realize that I am a bridge between those who came before me and those who will come after me.

As I was drive my son to school each mornig, it is our habit to hold hands. (OK, I know I should have both hands of the steering wheel.)  This morning, as I pressed his skinny little 6th grade fingers between my own, I remembered how I would also hold my grandmothers worn and withered hands and caress her one crooked index finger.  Because of her arthritis, she had a funny way of pointing and I have always noted that Zac’s index finger bends a bit too at his first knuckle.  Although my grandmother has passed on a few years ago, it was in this ordinary moment in my car that I felt us connected to her and her to us. 

So, yes,  I do believe that  our souls are eternal. I agree with Catholic philosopher Pierre Tielhard de Chardin in his book, The Phenomenon of Man (1955) wrote: "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.”

Today is a day to celebrate that we are spirit and matter.  I am thankful for a God who says "I love you" each and every day. Today reminds me that even if I don't understand the concept of eternity, there are moments in my day that God gives me a glimpse of the eternal unity we all share and that he has gifts us with. I am called to put my hope in a GOD who IS LOVE and I AM love too when I choose to live for LOVE.

Lord, today I pray that you give me eyes to see and ears to hear you in all the moments of my day! For often I am distracted and yet, I long for you!  Amen!

Bearing one another through love

In today’s reflection in the Word I read this from St. Paul’s writing to the early Christian community at Ephesus: “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bear­ing with one another through love,” (Ephesians 4:2). Wow!  I needed this, especially in light of how divided I am feeling with the political debate that just passed and many friends and colleagues who are beginning to draw the proverbial line in the sand.  They seem to be saying, “are you with us, or against us?” 

I was not happy with the presidential debates, as there was no real debate opportunity. It became a war on words and trading spin stories.  Neither candidate seemed to be really interested in getting to the meat of the issues.  The same happens in my social media circles; when I see some argue over abortion or artificial contraception; when we really should be debating the sanctity of life issue, and not limit it to only a woman's issue or a religious issue.  When I see some argue about greedy Wall Street billionaires, when we really should be debating the moral responsibilities that must be a part of a capitalistic economic system within a repubulic built on democratic ideals. There are no easy answers, and those issues are harder to debate, especially when one is given two minutes to respond to a complex question. It becomes easier to divide ourselves and point at who the "enemy" is.  

So in the spirit of this political season, instead of egaging in “conversations” that really doesn’t convince anyone to change their minds, I prefer a reflection on examining our minds and hearts.  This reflection is one I prepared a few weeks ago for a group of adults that I facilitate once a week as we got ready for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  It is based on Jesus’ teaching on the Mount, known as the Beatitudes (Latin for “Blessings”). (Matt 5: 3-12) 

It is a teaching that is meant to help us understand that we are called rise above our own divisions  and distractions and become "counter cultural". We are called to be people who prefer to be transformational, rather than live in security and validation. 

 

1. Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God~

Do I trust God above all things?

Do I choose to live knowing that I am a child of God and that is more meaningful and significant than being part of any particular nationality , any political party or what gender I am?  

Am I aware that ALL of creation is blessed? Living and non-living, in any phase of development?

2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted~

Do I take responsibility for the problems in the world?

Do I make choices based on how my choices may impact others? 

When others around me are suffering, do I allow myself to share in their suffering?

3. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth~

Do I go through my day as though only I possess all the right answers? 

Do I listen to others, even if I don’t agree with them, and respond to them in love?  

Do I believe that groups wholly define a person, or do I take time to get to know the person and love them for the unique gift they bring to my world?

4. Blessed are those who search for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied~

What motivates me?  Is it my own desire to succeed, to have it all, to achieve greatness, to be in power/control? 

Am I on a quest for truth and peace within myself?

What am I willing to sacrifice in order to defend all that is sacred?

5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy~

Am I quick to condemn or judge others, especially when what they say or how they live isn’t in alignment with my own values?

Do I forgive those who have offended me or do I prefer to live with resentment and cynicism?  

Do I pray for others?

Do I sacrifice for others needs, without making a big deal of it, without expecting anything in return, even when it is inconvenient for me?

6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God~

Do I examine all issues through the lens of love?

Do I realize that I am either working towards love, or against it. 

Do I let myself be distracted by the “spin” from others who prefer that we stay distracted and confused.

Do I broaden my vision and realize that truly loving ourselves and loving others is only possible if we love God first with our whole mind, body, and soul?

7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God~

Do I pray for those who seem to be my enemies?

Do I avoid dualistic thinking: Conservative vs. Liberal, Democrat vs. Republican,  
Christian vs. Muslim, Wall street and Main street, Anglos vs. Hispanics, Us and them?

Am I able to walk away when I would rather make my point, although it would add to the chaos or anger or frustration?

Am I aware that prayer demands me to be counter cultural?

8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven~

What are the values and issues that I am willing to defend?

When have I been courageous enough to stand against what everyone else seems to be tolerating?

What trends do I follow?  

 When my children beg me for something because “everyone else” has one or is doing it, do I give in, even if I know it is not in the best interest our family?

9. Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in Heaven.

Do I live my life in fear or in gratitude?

Do I make my decisions from a desire for goodness for all of creation? 

Am I able to accept the consequences to all the choices I have made and will make?

Do I live a life that speaks of “peace, gentleness, love, humility, joy” without having to utter those words?

The Blessing Cups

Each of my children prepared for their first Communion at 2^nd grade.  This is a great age; children easily and eagerly love Jesus.  At the end of their year of preparation, they were presented with a blessing cup. They cherished their cups. Placed by their meal at dinner time, a visible reminder of how we share our blessings in our home with one another. Each cup served a reminder of how we share in the Lord’s blessing as we go to our church and Jesus shares himself with us at Mass.  We transform ourselves through worship and we affect our world by that transformation. This is a blessing!

Today as I cleaned the blessing cups that belonged to each of my children, I wondered what is the symbolism of the “cup”?  In the OT, Jeremiah speaks of Israel as having to drink the cup of the fury of the Lord at his hand.  Something was handed to Israel, which they had to endure. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prays, “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not my will but yours be done”.  Psalms 23 says “my cup runneth over”. I became aware that “cup” is our field of experience, of which we have no control over. The cup is used throughout the Bible as a figure of what life hands us.  Jesus knew what he was preparing for, as he prayed in the Garden; he was ready to accept what life was about to hand him. We don’t accept so readily, because we aren’t prepared.  Not being prepared means we can’t understand this kind of surrender to life.  Having a more mature faith, one grounded in a relationship with the Father, allows one to not only understand it, but to live it gracefully: to live what Catholics call, The Paschal Mystery. 

"If it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not my will but thine be done". This is the journey to the cross; the paschal mystery is what Jesus is referring to.  This is his cup to drink. He is spiritually ready for this experience that will take us all into new life.

How many Gardens of Gethsemane do we find ourselves in?  Jesus spent his life preparing to make a decision that would impact all of humanity and for all eternity.  How do I prepare for those moments when my choices can either drive me away from God or closer to Him forever?  Do I concern myself with my spiritual preparation or just the spiritual celebrations?  Preparation requires rigor and discipline.  Suddenly those four cups reminded me of how far removed I am because I am easily distracted in a world of what is seen only.  The creed I recite at every Mass says “I believe in one God…maker of heaven and earth…of all things visible and invisible….”  These cups today reminded me that I must remember those things that are not visible.  They made me reflect, how many times did I not see my cup? Where I may have walked away out of fear or out of pride?  Yes, I am sure I have.

In our baptism we began to prepare for our cup.  Our parents started our journey for us, by taking us to be plunged into the waters of spiritual life. It was through their faith that God began his work in me. Remembering what the baptismal font looked like from old photos, it was like a cup too! A large marble basin filled with living water that initiated me into the Paschal Mystery.  As an adult, I now understand that my baptism was more than just a “one moment in time” event.  I must be ready to baptize myself into every event in my life so I can continue to die to the old and be renewed into new life. This is what it means to live the Paschal Mystery.

I wiped dry and gently sat the cups back in the cupboard tonight. I thought of my kids, three of the them are adults now. We don't use the blessing cups as often anymore.  Tonight I prayed: Lord, may I always show the way to you to my children. Help us to be worthy of your blessings, that we may be prepared always to be a blessing to others and that we may come to share in your cup of salvation.  Amen.

Sketching/reflecting upon the Old Cathedral de Habana

CCayon-10-15-12

I was too young to remember your impressive face

That gazes upon a plaza full of people in the historic square

I only have images to reflect upon your striking look

One that has  absorbed sun and rain and much more in Old Habana.

quick sketches from a series of sketches on 10-15-12

 

Your centuries old face has undulating crevices, creases and folds

Perhaps gently caressing moments from a forgotten time

When citizens gathered for worship and fellowship within your walls

praying for a future that included life and liberty for all.

 

Now your imposing face appears paralyzed in time

Causing tourists and citizens who may pause to inquire

About your longing sad smile and beckoning bell towers and

why such Gestures of grander periods of your past  still evoke such hope?

 

I may never have the chance to discover the delight in hearing those campanas toll for freedom

Or walk casually through the narrow avenues of my old native city

Where I may chance upon this node that pleasantly welcomes all

And  glance with many who walk within your shadow, upon your Mona Lisa-like smile

 

For now, I pay tribute to your unique outline with my sharpened pencils

loosely I lay your edges and notice their contrast against a resplendent blue Cuban sky

Filling in those secret memories with somber colors from my paint brush

I long to walk through your cool shade of my old cathedral in Habana.

 

 

Parking lot conversations

The parking lot is full of cars for the afternoon Spanish Mass. Zac and I make our way towards my office on the other side of the campus where we parked when we got there at 8:30 that morning. It’s been a long and fulfilling day.  We’re both hungry and ready for a lunch break. We started with morning Mass with the whole family, today Zac served as Cross bearer. After Mass he joins Mr. David Smith’s 5^th grade class and his older sister Catie who is a co- catechist.  He serves as their aide. This year Mr. Smith is experimenting with a new product that my team and I are considering using in our curriculum, so there is an unexpected fun aspect to the lesson plans that he has not experienced before. He loves going to this class.

My daughter Catie has taken a more active lead role this year. The fact that she is sharing herself with this class makes me smile.  Mr. Smith has mentored her for a few years now. She has been helping in catechism classes since she was in 4^th grade. This is who she is: someone who gently makes her way through our community, leaving deep prints in the hearts of many young kids and adults she has assisted. The deepest of which, I am sure, is the imprint she has made (and continues to make) on her little brother.

Finally, noon comes and Zac goes to his next class; his own 6^th grade Faith Formation group. His teacher is a young, new catechist.  Her name is Ms. Rachel.  He seems to really enjoy that class and this is usually the topic our conversation each Sunday as he and I slowly trek back to our car.

Usually our conversation goes something like:

Me: How was class today?

Him: hmmmm…Good.

Me: What did you talk about?

Him: Silence…..More Silence……

Him(finally): …. about a camel and the eye of a needle, but I have a question……

He always has questions.  We talk about the spiritual meaning behind the literal messages he heard.  This is the moment in my day when I can put my “mommy hat” back on. It’s been a constant day of moving from one issue to the next for me, answering various administrative needs, being present to catechists, to families in need. I can be mom to my son now…this interchange brings me peace.   I allow the peaceful silence to be part of the discussion. He needs time to form his thoughts. He is processing deep insights. Meanwhile, I am putting aside the problems I could not resolve today. I realize I can handle them tomorrow. I try not thinking of the things I need to do when we get home. Right at that moment I am just walking through a parking lot with my son and being present to his questioning heart.   This is what our faith is about…searching for answers. Our search will always yield more questions.  God is usually found in the silence. Our heart desires silence. Can we find answers in a silent walk through a parking lot?  We try.  And we walk. I resist giving him quick answers or helping him form his questions.  He struggles to share his concepts, but when he finally does, I admire his ability to make certain connections and ask more questions.

These Sunday experiences form our own mother-son faith stories. I am so thankful for these parking lot conversations and how they are such a meaningful transition in my day.

A special family

 

Walking through the back lot of the church today, after celebrating our beautiful Mass, and after a few hours of religious studies, my son and I were leisurely  moving towards our car in silence when I spotted a boy about ten years old trailing his parents as they went into the church building for the afternoon celebration of Holy Mass.

This boy was wearing attire that I thought more appropriate for the pool side; sloppy and wrinkled cotton shorts, a big oversized T-shirt and flip flops that he shuffled on his bare feet. As a mother, I thought, what parent would allow their child to go to church in this attire? As Director of Faith Formation I thought, what family catechesis I would need to do in order to address this issue in the future.

I asked my son, “Zac, see that boy going into church? What do you think of what he is wearing?” I was expecting him to say to me what I so often say to him….. “Those aren’t church clothes. He shouldn’t wear that to Mass”. It was my test to see if he was going to have the “right answer” after all my years of drilling that into him.

Instead he said softly and thoughtfully, “Mom, at least he is going to Mass with his family”.

This made me stop and think. He didn’t have the right answer, according to me….but perhaps  he had the right answer according to Jesus. My son, without hesitation was accepting this boy and his family exactly where they are in their faith journey. Where I went straight to judgment and concern for the physical appearance, my son went straight to the place of the heart and acceptance.

I think most would agree, it is important what we wear and how we present ourselves to others in all areas of society. We wouldn’t go to the office wearing cutoff shorts and a scruffy t-shirt. We wouldn’t go to the Mall in our PJ’s. When we go to someplace really special, we usually take more time in selecting our wardrobe. Well, at least most people do. The celebration of the Mass is no exception. Catholics believe that when we gather for worship it involves all of our being….our spiritual and physical preparation matters.  Most of us have the ability to know and practice this because we accept this as part of living in a cultured society where norms exist. 

Yet I hear my son’s words and they resonate in my heart. What he said so humbly IS true too. We must accept people where they are, we must not judge others.

I thought of the Gospel reading from the book of Mark today, where a part of what we heard says:

Then he (Jesus) sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,
"If anyone wishes to be first,
he shall be the last of all and the servant of all."
Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst,
and putting his arms around it, he said to them,
"Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me."

Jesus is teaching us to value everyone, no matter their status or education or class or faith experience. The child in the early Jewish culture was “no one” to society. They were not productive citizens yet, they were like servants. In fact, the Aramaic word for child and servant is the same.  When Jesus put his arm around that child I visualize him holding the child in a way that emphasized, “Here is someone special”. This was radical to those he was speaking to in his time.  He was teaching his disciples a new way of seeing. He wants us to have new attitude; the kind of attitude that allows us to accept the cross and his death on it, as part of our salvation.  This is what Jesus does; he challenges us to transform our minds and see the good in what may not seem logical or may not meet our own or even society’s expectations.

 

My son showed me today, as we strolled along the hot asphalt that to listen to God’s word means to put it into action. If I am to be a disciple, I shouldn’t criticize so quickly, I should look beyond the obvious, that  family I observed was not just any family they are a very special family. My son saw Jesus and his parents walking to the temple. I need to learn to see with my heart first, like Zac does.

Jesus did have a bride!

You might have heard the news….Jesus had a wife!  Well, that is not really news, as many over the last 2000 years have tried to make the case of Jesus and Mary Magdalene for example, as well as other versions of this kind of story.  What IS news,  is the discovery of a piece of papyrus, smaller than a typical business card, where the following phrase is noted “Jesus said to them,  ‘my wife’ “.

Even though the actual historian, Dr. Karen King, has noted not to take this as proof of anything, this news was circulated by the media as proof positive that Jesus was married.

A news article I read this morning points to this discovery as a challenge to the ongoing debate of Catholic Church on the issues of religious celibacy. As though this finding could actually be the linchpin that will  unravel the theological understanding of whether a woman could be a priest.  Very naïve!

But here’s where the author of this article and many other news media have failed in their “reporting” –most have fallen short of telling the whole story.  Here it is: Jesus DID have a wife!  Catholics and most Christian churches understand this phrase to mean the wife, or the spouse, as God’s people! 

Ancient depiction of the Royal Couple:
Jesus and his Church, as his Bride

So, let’s not get carried away. Let’s learn to study our faith. Let’s read our scriptures, starting with Song of Solomon (Song of Songs). As Pope B16 noted in his encyclical Deus Caritas Est (2006), this ancient Hebraic book can be interpreted and understood literally and allegorically, pointing out the two halves of true love: The agape love which is a self-giving love and the eros love which receives. In  Song of Songs, we understand Christ, the Messiah, whom God will send, as the lover.  What a beautiful and human way in which God can express his love for us.  Here is one of my favorite verses:

“Thou art all fair, O my love, and there is not a spot in thee. Come from Libanus, my spouse, come from Libanus, come: thou shalt be crowned from the top of Amana, from the top of Sanir and Hermon, from the dens of the lions, from the mountains of the leopards.  Thou hast wounded my heart, my sister, my spouse, thou hast wounded my heart with one of thy eyes, and with one hair of thy neck.”

The Church, from the very beginning has understood the references Jesus made to his Church, as being his bride. Jesus used many parables to illustrate. Check out:  John 3:29, Matthew 25: 1-13, Mark 2:19, Luke 5:34, and finally we read in Revelation 21: 9……

“And there came one of the seven angels, who had the vials full of the seven last plagues, and spoke with me, saying: Come, and I will shew thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

This little discovery, in my mind only affirms what I understand from Holy Scriptures: an integral teaching in Catholic understanding; as us the Church, as the true spouse of Jesus.  Yes, he did have a wife and it is us!

3 fathers and my vote

I find myself grimacing and flinching at all the online headline news and talking heads on TV who spin and bend ideology into so many directions and shapes.  I purposely have avoided joining the debate among social media sites or watching political news shows because the reality is that most aren’t putting forth engaging arguments, each side has a bias and is willing to bash the other viewpoint in order to give credance to their view.

Regardless, I am thankful for the freedom that my government  affords us all the priviledge to engage in all these types of conversations, no matter how ridiculous and mean spirited they may become.

What is unsettling is I that I have to work really hard to uncover the truth, I research credible news sites (not many), I listen to arguments by individuals who have proven to me to have values that are in common to my own as well as to other individuals whom I respect whose values are not in line with mine, but their reasoning skills are well developed. 

Ultimately, as I reflect on the candidates running for US president I am drawn to my Catholic consience engrained in me by my Catholic practicing parents and the Catholic nuns and teachers at the schools attended.  In reflecting I realized that three fathers have shaped this process in which I am currently undertaking.

My first resource that has formed how I think was developed by St. Benedict of Nursia in the early 4^th century.  He is known as the Father of the Western Monasticm and developed a set of rules that helped create the early Christian communities for religious orders.  Still so relevant today! Here is a nice reflection on St. Benedict's values:

Awareness of God

To look for God in the ordinary events of each day.
"We believe that the divine presence is everywhere." Rule of Benedict 19.1

Community Living

To become who we are by our relationships with others.
"Let all things be common to all." Rule of Benedict 33.6

Dignity of work

To appreciate the dignity of work in God's creation.
"...they live by the labor of their hands." Rule of Benedict 48.8

Hospitality

To offer warmth, acceptance, and joy in welcoming others.
"Let all...be received as Christ." Rule of Benedict 53.1

Justice

To work toward a just order in our immediate environment and in the larger society.
"...that in all things may God be glorified." Rule of Benedict 57.9

Listening

To hear keenly and sensitively the voices of persons and all created beings.
"Listen...with the ear of your heart." Rule of Benedict Prologue 1

Moderation

To be content with living simply and finding balance in work, prayer, and leisure.
"All things are to be done in moderation." Rule of Benedict 48.9

Peace

To strive for peace on all levels: with self, others, and God. Rule of Benedict Prologue

Respect for persons

To respect each person regardless of class, cultural background, or professional skill.
"No one is to pursue what is judged best for oneself, but instead, what is better for someone else." Rule of Benedict 72.7

Stability

To cultivate rootedness and a shared sense of mission.
"To stand firm in one's promises." Rule of Benedict 58

Stewardship

To appreciate and to care lovingly for all the goods of this place.
"Regard all utensils as if they were the sacred vessels of the altar." Rule of Benedict 31.10 

The second father I come to, is our Holy Father and spiritual guide for our Church (and he happens to have taken the name Benedict as well, go figure!)  He gifted us with a great teaching document, Caritas in Veritatis,  the theme of which is found in modern catholic social teachings. 

( see:http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate_en.html)

These principles lay out how to create a just society and how to live a holy life. In this latest document our Pope points to another great father, who penned Humanae Vitae, the late Great Pope John Paul II,  “The Church forcefully maintains this link between life ethics and social ethics, fully aware that “a society lacks solid foundations when, on the one hand, it asserts values such as the dignity of the person, justice and peace, but then, on the other hand, radically acts to the contrary by allowing or tolerating a variety of ways in which human life is devalued and violated, especially where it is weak or marginalized.”

(A great reflection on Catholic Social Teachigs can be found at this link: http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/seven-themes-of-catholic-social-teaching.cfm)
 

In his writing Pope Benedict underscores the idea that a great and just society is one based on openess to life. 

So, for me, Holy Father Benedict from the early church days is an excellent starting point and the Church’s Social teachings of the 21^st  century are great too , but the ultimate resource is our Holy and Living Word, which according to Christian belief pre-existed all human existance. The Eternal Word.  In Scriptures we are taught by our Eternal Father himself what we are to value most of all: love God and love your neighbor as yourself. This is the foundation for every other value.  It forms the basis for the Catholic Social Teaching, St. Benedict’s rule and Pope Benedict XVI’s writings.

Using these underpinnings I now have a strategy and a clarity in how I am able to discern who I will vote for.

I empathsize with how difficult making an informed decision can be when we are daily being distracted by ideologs and ideologies screaming and yelling, all caps in social media forums, most grounded in some kind of fear, hate, power or greed.  Yes, it does take work and good research and deep reflection and ofcourse, prayer.

We must learn to reflect on what do we value most and WHO best reflects those values?  I recommend that we find a way to help us reflect on the important issues of life and a just society.  Let’s not depend on the TV or the social media crowd to bully or scare us into making our decision.

Also, lets talk with our children about it at the dinner table or in the car on the way to an activity.  It’s never too young to teach them how to debate these important issues without talking down to one another.  As Catholic parents we have a responsibility to vote but also to instruct our children how to be good, loving and critical listeners founded in what our faith teaches.  We must also show them how to rely on our Christian values that can shape the kind of world they will create. 

Now what I do suggest  is that we be kind to one another, let's not inflame the rhetoric by buying into the yelling and crazy talk, I suggest we listen critically to all sides, let's do some research, and then vote with a well formed Catholic conscience!