Catholic Life Ministries

This devotion is a family and/or community prayer often prayed at noon (or when it is convenient) on Fridays during ordinary time, every day during Lent and on any day when life is difficult.

L    For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, not to condemn the world  but to save it. (John 3:16)

All Christ suffered for [us] that [we] should follow in his footsteps. (1 Peter 2:21)

L  Though he was in the form of God, [Jesus] did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he humbled himself …becoming obedient to death…death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6-8)

All Christ suffered for [us] that [we] should follow in his footsteps. (1 Peter 2:21)

L  Jesus said, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross  and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-26)

All Christ suffered for [us] that [we] should follow in his footsteps. (1 Peter 2:21)

L Let us pray.

All Father, I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will. Whatever you may do, I thank you: I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures – I wish no more than this, O Lord. Amen. (Prayer of Abandonment, Charles de Foucauld)

By Robert Fontana

Lent is here and “Spring is in the air.”

Ahhhh, what a great time of the year. Fasting from meat on Fridays and going to fish fries on Friday nights; attending Stations of the Cross on Mondays in March and rushing home just in time for watching the latest game in March Madness; and coping with the last days of darkness, rain, and winter with time for a walk through the cherry tree blossoms at University of Washington.  Oh, of course, we pause from the solemnity of Lent on St. Patrick’s Day for some good Irish music, Irish beer, and Irish stew (or corned beef and cabbage if that’s your preference).

Lent is here alongside the rest of life’s happenings. Lent can easily become one of many Spring rituals that lead us to that wonderful Easter Day where we co-mingle the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus with the resurrection of the earth: Easter vigil and hunt for Easter eggs; baptisms of new members of the church and decorating the home with tulips and daffodils; Good Friday fasting and Easter Sunday feasting, with lots of chocolate.

What keeps Lent from simply becoming part of the cultural decorations of Winter as it becomes Spring? Lent has real meaning, of course, only when we use this season as a challenge to conform our lives to the life and teachings of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. This is complex. Jesus is both compassionate towards us in our weaknesses and demanding towards us as his disciples.

Jesus meets each of us exactly where we are in the spiritual life, and invites us to grow and mature, to gain a greater interior freedom to love God and neighbor. Certain aspects of Jesus’ teachings and actions will confront one person, while another person, reading the very same verse, may be unmoved.

That brings me to the Biblical text that confronts me this Lent:

Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:3-5)

I don’t know about you, but the older I get, the bigger that beam seems to be! In fact, it’s not one beam, it’s several beams tied tightly together.

As I have learned over the years, an indication that I have a “beam” or many of them stuck in my eyes and need to do some self-reflection on why they are there and how to remove them, is how I instinctively react to a certain situation, news report, comment from a friend or stranger, etc. My gut reactions that are defensive, that insist on an immediate response, explanation or even retaliation, are clear evidence that the major problem here is in me and not the other person or event.

Learning to pay attention to myself and my reactions to life to identify how I want to change or mature has been a long and slow process. I was introduced to this method in self-awareness while training to be a chaplain at Fircrest, a school for the severely mentally handicapped in Seattle. I was assigned to work with residents who had the cognitive ability of a small child and could not verbalize their needs.

What was my reaction to working with these folks who seemed to be trapped in big bodies with little ability for self-care? FEAR! I did not know how to be me with them. I was worried about doing the wrong thing and afraid of dealing with their tantrums or other forms of acting out.

I brought these issues to my supervisor and small group, initially saying that I was probably in the wrong place. I did not belong here. “No,” said my wise teacher, “you are in the right place because these people are going to teach you to let go of your fears, let go of your ego that wants to accomplish something, and let go of your timeframe and slow down. You are not here as much to learn about working with this population of people but so these beautiful people can teach you to learn about yourself. Being here and learning about your fears and anxieties will teach you how to let go of these so that you can be with these people as they need you to be with them.”

That training lasted for four months in the Summer of 1990. I have been trying to practice the lessons my differently abled friends taught me ever since.

Lent challenges me, not so much to look at my sins and say, “Mea culpa,” although there is that aspect of Lent. It has me asking Jesus,

“What’s the beam in my eye that needs to be looked at and removed in this situation, in this relationship?”

At the end of each day, I try to do what the Jesuits describe as an examen of conscience. I review my day and try to name moments – encounters or situations – that evoked an emotional response. What happened? What were my emotions? Where did they come from? What biases, prejudices, sinful inclinations and/or painful memories do they tap into? What is the Spirit telling me through these moments? How am I being invited to mature, to grow?

Of course, the day may have also presented positive moments and emotions. I examine these in the same way.

It may be that I need to speak to someone about something he or she did that I found hurtful or that I didn’t understand. But before I do so, I want to reflect and call on God’s grace to take the “beam” out of my eye before I take the “speck” out of his/hers.

By Robert Fontana

Jesus lives in my neighborhood. I do not mean to shock you with this fact, but I don’t like him. When I see Neighbor Jesus coming towards me or find myself walking towards him, I want to avoid any interaction. Neighbor Jesus is nothing like the Bible Jesus I see depicted in movies, hear about in sermons and homilies, or even imagine in my own mind. Bible Jesus is awesome! He is a great storyteller, welcomes children, loves animals and nature, challenges hypocritical religious leaders, and comforts the sick and the sorrowful.

I like Bible Jesus. But Neighbor Jesus, that’s another story.

Neighbor Jesus lives in the green space near our home that is about one-half mile long and maybe 100 yards wide. The green space begins at Cowen Park which has a large open meadow and playground. The green space continues east forming a deep ravine with a flowing stream and lush trees and ferns on either side. It concludes at Ravenna Park with a ballfield and playground which give the green space its popular name, Ravenna Ravine.

At a random point anywhere between the two parks, Neighbor Jesus will find a spot to call home and settle in. Sometimes this means he brings in a tent along with a collection of items I assume are stolen from people’s yards and nearby stores. These items get strewn around his tent along with milk cartons, food wrappings, plastic bags, and other garbage. And, yes, when Neighbor Jesus leaves one spot to move to another, he leaves his former spot a mess for someone else to clean up.

Neighbor Jesus is nice enough, though I have heard some angry outbursts from him on occasion. We do exchange pleasantries when we cross paths. Lori and I have “friendship bags” prepared for people whom we encounter who do not have homes. These bags contain soft food items, socks, sweet treats, and a handout with information about how to access nearby shelters. We’ve given Neighbor Jesus a number of these, plus I often bring him coffee and occasionally an egg sandwich. He is grateful for these kindnesses.

I confess I don’t like continuing to give him these friendship bags because I do not want him to stay in the area. I certainly do not want him to know where I live and have him come knock on my door asking for help. And I don’t want to be picking up all the “trash” from the Friendship Bag that I gave him only a few days ago.

I walk through the Ravenna Ravine 3-4 times a week for my prayer time. I walk through the beautiful and diverse trees to spend time with Bible Jesus whom I like…and I do not want to encounter Neighbor Jesus. I do not like finding him sprawled out under a tree or hanging out on a bench asking me for a “cuppa coffee.” He ruins my time with Bible Jesus! He’s such an inconvenience!

Just today we had such an encounter. I was polite enough as I spoke to Neighbor Jesus who was just waking up, huddled beneath a tarp, obviously freezing cold in the 19-degree weather overnight. Yes, he asked me for coffee, and I said, “No, sorry, I don’t have any.” Which was true; I wasn’t carrying any coffee with me. But what I was really saying was, “Don’t interrupt my time with Bible Jesus! I only have so much time, and I don’t want to use it up on you, Neighbor Jesus.”

Predictably, as I walked away and turned my attention to Bible Jesus, I felt uncomfortable. I could hear Bible Jesus reminding me of a key passage from Scripture, “When I was hungry…sick… imprisoned…naked…you comforted me.” And then I heard a voice in my head/heart say, “There is little difference between Bible Jesus and Neighbor Jesus. Neighbor Jesus is what Bible Jesus looks like crucified, crucified by who knows what. Childhood trauma? Severe addiction? Terrible decisions? All of the above? Perhaps he has a criminal record? Perhaps he has burned all his family relationships? What is yours to do now?”

I walked back to Neighbor Jesus whose birth name is Jay and asked if he still wanted that coffee. “Yeah,” he replied, sitting up. “And you got one of them bags with stuff for me?”

“Wait here,” I said. And I walked back home to get hot coffee, an egg sandwich, and yet another Friendship Bag for my Neighbor Jesus.

Lorene Davidson was asked by our pastor to give a reflection on Women in the Church in place of his homily on the Feast Day of ST. Phoebe, deaconess and companion of St. Paul (Romans 16:1). She has given us permission to reprint it here.

When Fr. Oliver asked me to offer this reflection, I had just heard Maria Laughlin from St. James Cathedral share her experience of the synod gatherings in our archdiocese. It filled me with hope for the future of our church. People of all ages and backgrounds came together to listen to each other intentionally and share from their hearts what they envision for the future of our church. She said that the Holy Spirit’s presence was evident.

When the results of the first phase of the global synod were published, I felt uplifted and energized. People from all around the world believe that there is an urgent and critical need to rethink women’s participation in the church. The number of priests is dwindling. We need more vocations to the priesthood, but we also need laypeople to step forward to help – both laywomen and laymen. Religious women and men are also a great resource.

There are nuns all over the world carrying out leadership roles, but they often lack official recognition or support. There are women in the Amazon acting as deacons with the blessings of their bishops. Because there are so few priests, some remote communities do not see a priest for six months to a year. These women are baptizing, officiating at marriages, and ministering to the spiritual and physical needs of the communities. And yet, these women cannot be ordained as deacons.

Where is St. Phoebe in all this? St. Phoebe was a deacon and benefactor of the church in Greece. She, along with other women and men, spread the gospel across Asian Minor and east to the Roman Empire. St. Paul himself commended her to the Christian community in Rome, asking them to receive her in the Lord and treat her in the manner of the holy ones. Paul said that she was a benefactor to many including himself.  (Romans 16:1-2). Think of the courage it took for a woman to travel 700 miles to a country and community she did not know. Imagine that strength of her faith. She is a reminder that there is historical precedent for women deacons in the Catholic Church.

I have seen so many changes in our church during my lifetime. When I was a child, we did not have “Altar Servers,” we had “Altar Boys.” There were no lectors or Eucharistic ministers. The priest did it all. Of course, most parishes had two, three or more priests to divide the labor. Our priests need our support. And many of them would welcome it.

My mother is often on my mind when I am a server, lector, or Eucharistic minister. She and many of the women in her generation would have welcomed the opportunity to serve in the way women can now serve. I am so thankful that I can participate more fully in the life of our church. The last few years I have been serving at daily Mass with a team of eight other women and men. As a server I feel even more connected to the liturgy and the Eucharist. As a Eucharistic minister I feel a special bond to each communicant. I am in awe of offering them the body of Christ. As a lector, the connection to the word of God, studying it, reflecting on it offers new insights into God’s message.

And His message can change in different circumstances. For example, Mark 16:18 says, “they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink poison, it will not harm them.” I could not relate to this until I went to healing ministry with two women from our parish. They gave me several Bible verses to meditate on while I was in treatment for cancer. It was like the Holy Spirit turned a light on in my head. These words were spoken 2000 years ago, before there was chemotherapy, and yet they are a perfect description. It brought me peace and calm. It gave me hope.

This healing ministry is just one example of the important work women in our church are doing. Look around you in our parish – at Mass and in the wider   community, women are serving the needs of others. They are Eucharistic ministers, ushers, lectors, members of the RCIA team, teachers in religious education, members of St. Vincent de Paul, members of the parish council and countless other ministries. There is a saying, “Women hold up half the sky.” Women and men need to serve together, but as equals.

We all become disciples at our baptism. We all have different gifts, through God’s grace. God wants each of us to use our gifts to support each other and our community. As I look around our parish, I am amazed at all the time, treasure and talent that is given. This is exactly what is needed to strengthen our faith and our church. As we approach the start of the synodal assembly [in October], I am optimistic. The members of the synodal assembly will gather in Rome to discern what steps the Holy Spirit invites us, the Universal Church.

To grow as a synodal church, the pope has appointed 450 participants, including dozens of religious women and men and lay people from around the world, to attend the general assembly of the synod of bishops. The voting members number the pope plus 363 cardinals, bishops, priests, religious, and lay women and men. Out of the 364 members who can vote, 54 are women…either lay or  religious. This seems very positive to me. Let us pray for the members’ thoughtful discernment and blessings on church renewal.

Dear Friends, as you know Lori and I wrote Pope Francis and asked for a meeting to discuss how critical it is that he publicly support people like us who have exposed cover-up of clergy sex abuse. That’s our concern. What’s yours? If you could ask Pope Francis any question or present him with a short statement of wisdom/insight/a problem, what would that be?

Let us know and we will leave these with Pope Francis should we meet with him or with a Vatican office if we do not. Keep your question or comment to 25 words or less and send it to us by September 21 (that’s when we leave). We will print all questions and comments on our blog site.

Send your question and/or comment to robert@catholiclifeministries.org.

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CLM Fall Retreat— Day of Prayer and Study—Saturday, October 28th

“Celebrating 10 Years of Pope Francis”

Our presenter is new to our CLM community: John Skrodinsky, religious brother of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity (ST).

“…when I met the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity….I was impressed by the men, their down-to-earth nature, their love for God and for serving God’s people, especially the poor.  By God’s grace, I was accepted into the Congregation.”

John made final vows in 2000. He has worked in campus ministry, as a drug and alcohol counselor, and in ministry to migrants. John currently directs the pre-novitiate formation house for the ST’s in Chicago. He has a Masters in Pastoral Studies and a law degree from Temple University.

Location: Assumption Parish, Seattle. Time: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm.

Topics: “From Jorge Bergoglio to Pope Francis” (Bro. John); “Pope Francis as Teacher: Encyclicals and Apostolic Exhortations (Bro. John); Pope Francis: Changing Catholic Culture Not Doctrine (Robert)

Cost: $30(single), $50(couple) Scholarships available.  Please bring your own brown bag lunch.  Snacks/drinks will be provided. 

To register: Email: Robert@catholiclifeministries.org that you wish to participate, and pay the fee at the following link: https://www.paypal.com/donate?token=RgGj4GeyNRG2RG1PJGtU2QW-i8lUGYsZjQJEBStEjLlgMc2yU2SOXYHWaQ6F44_sGe85TxKkKlWFGVcB

OR bring a check to the retreat, payable to CLM.

Two our of friends died this month – both “too young.” Both funerals were celebrated this past week.

On July 1, Angela, a counselor colleague of Robert’s, died while swimming, probably due to a cardiac event. Her death was quite shocking, really. We did not know she had any major health concerns. Only 44 years old, she was one of the most dynamic, vivacious, faith-filled people we know.

She was a force of nature, and from all accounts, a very caring, skilled mental health therapist. She was single; her extended family lives back east; so, with a couple other of her friends, Robert and I helped to clean out her counseling office and clear out her apartment. When her dad and sister arrived, we connected in a small way to grieve and to share some happy, poignant memories of Angela.

Angela’s memorial Mass was well attended. It was beautiful, formal, with lots of Latin chants and old hymns. Her sister gave a heart-warming, heartfelt, and humorous eulogy. All of us Seattle friends knew how much Angela loved and treasured her family. That came through clearly in the eulogy.

Angela lived life with gusto. She did most everything full bore. She was “all in” with life and shared that zest with others. One day at the office, Robert ran into  Angela and couldn’t help exclaiming, “Angela! You look like a leprechaun!” Angela was decked out in Emerald Isle green: green dress, green stockings, green shoes, even green eye shadow with sparkles.

Angela laughed her full-throated laugh and responded, “Thank you!”

She had a knack of drawing people into her enthusiasm because she was so confident in her own worth, loved by God. She will be greatly missed.

On July 17, our dear dear Yakima friend of many years, John, died. John’s death was long-expected. He battled a rare cancer, adenoid carcinoma, for 16 years. In the past 15 months, we’d made 3 different trips to Yakima when his wife called us to say, “I think this is it. You’d better come now to say goodbye.” But each time, John rallied…until this time.

John gave us such a truly amazing example of “living until you die.” Just three weeks before he died, his family took him on a hot air balloon ride at sunrise. He was not able to speak much, but he was wide-eyed and alert and loving every moment, high in the sky, over sun-drenched Skykomish farmlands, surrounded by beloved family.

In his last months, he continued to jog, go to Friday evening Adoration, greet the mailman each day, play card games, especially Go Fish! He was a man of prayer, right to the end, filled with the hope and the assurance of God’s love and of life eternal with the angels, Mother Mary, and the communion of saints.

John’s funeral showed the depth and breadth of his love for others. There were people representing the different “spheres” of his life – his large family /extended family, school colleagues and students with whom he had worked as an elementary school counselor, friends – both current and also from grade school and high school. The stories and memories, along with laughter and tears, flowed copiously!

The loss of our two friends gives me much to ponder. I’m so sad. Waves of grief wash over me several times a day now. Tears flow, and I whisper prayers of thanksgiving for these dear ones and prayers of    compassion for the family they leave behind.

But I’m also inspired. These two lovely people were people of great faith. They loved God and joyfully shared that love in all the circumstances of their lives. They met life challenges with the hope of eternal life. They remind us that we’re all on this same journey toward death, and onward to eternal life. And, very poignantly, they remind us to live fully until we die.

Bishop Desmond Tutu said:

“We are each made for goodness, love and compassion. Our lives are transformed as much as is the world when we live these truths.”

Our friends John and Angela lived this way.  I want to follow their example, living until I die and using all my gifts, and even my imperfections, to be a power for God’s goodness in the world.

by Lori Fontana

You know how when you have a job to do, especially one that is a bit unfamiliar to you, the right tools make a HUGE difference in your success. In the past few weeks, Robert and I have had several occasions of attempting a job (home repair – not our strength!) and needing to find just the right tools to complete the job satisfactorily. More on this later…

Two Sundays ago, we heard a great homily about the 8^th and 9^th sacraments. Hey, you say! Doesn’t the church have only 7 sacraments? And if ever an 8^th sacrament is talked about, wouldn’t that be “Bingo?”

No, the priest did not talk about Bingo. But he did concur with many modern theologians who point to Jesus as the 8^th sacrament – “an outward sign, instituted by Christ, to give grace.” The person of Jesus is the ultimate outward sign of God’s grace. Jesus shows us close up God’s love and mercy, God’s guidance and compassion. Indeed, Jesus is the very embodiment of grace in action, grace lived day-by-day in the world.

And what about a 9^th sacrament?

Well, say many theologians, the 9^th sacrament is “we,” we Catholics / Christians, all the people of God! After all, isn’t each one of us commissioned by our baptism to be living, breathing signs of God’s grace in the world? As St Teresa of Avila says,

“Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands, no feet but yours. Your are the eyes with which Christ looks out his compassion to the world. Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good. Your are the hands with which he is to bless us now.”

Author William J. Toms sums it up succinctly:

“Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some person ever reads.”

Pretty tall assignment – WE as sacrament. And my goodness, does our world need God’s grace! How can we live up to this task of being Jesus’ disciples?

Remember how I mentioned the importance having the “proper tools” for the job at hand? If we are the hands of feet of Jesus, if we are to make real the Gospel to those we meet, if we are a sacrament, then we must be equipped with the basic tools we need to share God’s grace. What are those necessary tools?

For a start, I propose these: openness, listening, and courage.

Openness – Can I be open to and in awe of our loving God; open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit; open to the dignity and marvel of God’s presence in each person I meet; open to the grandeur and wonder of nature, God’s creation?

Listening – Can I listen to the “still, small voice” of God in my prayer, learning from God’s directions and encouragement? Then can I bring that listening attitude to each person I meet?

Courage – Do I have the courage to believe that I am God’s ambassador in the world? Can I share my story, mainly by how I live my life, and when appropriate, through words?

Developing these tools of discipleship is a lifelong process. Our sphere of influence in bringing Christ to the world may seem very small. But each of us is important; in fact, each of us plays a vital role in bringing God’s message of love and forgiveness to the world. As Mother Teresa said, “Small things done with great love will change the world.” God wants to use us to spread grace and is just waiting for our “yes.” How will you be a sacrament today?

By Robert Fontana

The Greek Orthodox teach that the “heart of God” is anchored in the human heart because the human person is made in God’s image and likeness. The most ancient dwelling place for God in history is not the Ark of the Covenant (with the 10 commandments), not the temple in Jerusalem and not even in the Catholic tabernacle where the Eucharist is reserved. God dwells most intimately in God’s creation, especially in every woman and man because we are made in God’s image and likeness:

Then God said: Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness. God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27

St. Paul agrees:

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? 1 Cor 6:19

Catholic teaching affirms this.

The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man [and woman are] created by God and for God, and God never ceases to draw [them] to himself. Catechism of the Catholic Church, Art. 27

Deep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey. Its voice, ever calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, sounds in his heart at the right moment…. For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God…. His conscience is man’s most secret core and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths.  Catechism of the Catholic Church Art. 1776

The pathway to the heart of God is the human heart. Each is connected to the other. Every human being regardless of race, creed, color, sexual orientation, or political persuasion has a direct relationship with God “whose voice echoes in his/her depths.” And the fundamental truth that God speaks to every human being from the moment of conception until old age and death is, “My beloved child, I love you. Abide in me as I abide in you.” (John 15:4 adapted)

Of course, we humans have not abided in God. We all know the story of sin in the world and sin in our own hearts. We have been raised in our own family and in a Church community which have struggled to help us know our deepest identity in God. But childhood wounds, personal traumas, poor choices, addictions, and corruption in the Church and society have caused us to forget our deepest identity. We see this echoed so beautifully in the story of Zacchaeus the Jewish tax collector.  (See Luke 19:1-10)

Zacchaeus is a Jewish man who, through his collaboration with the Romans as their tax collector, has forgotten his roots. He is a crook who has robbed his own people for material gain and has worked his way up to the top of his profession as the chief tax collector. Yet he is unhappy. He wants to see Jesus and so climbs a tree and gets into a place where he can see Jesus clearly. And when he does, Jesus calls out to him and says, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

Zacchaeus comes down with joy. He is already a changed person. The crowds, meanwhile, get angry at Jesus for staying at the house of a sinner. Jesus has never called Zacchaeus a sinner. He has never said to him, “Repent from your crimes, and get on your knees, and beg forgiveness from God and the people you have robbed.” All we know is that Jesus took the initiative to be with Zacchaeus and dine with him. Zacchaeus, for his part, shows that he has changed:

I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.

Wow! Jesus is impressed. He realizes that Zacchaeus now remembers who he is, where his deepest identity lies. It is not in being a tax collector, a rich and powerful man of the world.  What does Jesus say?

Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.

Jesus is the incarnation of God’s love. Whatever is in the heart of God is enfleshed in the person of Jesus. To encounter Jesus is to begin the process of rediscovering the deepest truth about oneself by hearing the voice of God say:

“My beloved child, I love you. Abide in me as I abide in you.”

What is the path of prayer to “abide with God?” It is the prayer of the heart, prayer that lets go of words, mental examinations, even imaginative play, and is simply being with God in silence and quiet. This is very Biblical:

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

When you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew  6:6-8

Slowly over time, by quieting the active mind, the anxious body, the restless soul, we humans learn to rest in God, to receive God’s love, and to let go of unnecessary attachments, fears, resentments, regrets, shames, and control, and finally find a measure of freedom to oneself in Christ. Joy wells up! Love wells up! Peace wells up! Not always, but most of the time. 

Prayer of the heart, is a way of praying for every person, especially those like Zacchaeus who get up every day and go to work, even as a tax collector, to be a power for good, confident in one’s true identity as God’s beloved son or daughter.

By Robert Fontana

Yes, it is true. This is the good and proper season for questioning one’s belief systems. That’s what Thomas the apostle did after his friends claimed to have seen Jesus, whom Thomas knew was dead. Thomas responded, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail-marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” John 20:25

Thomas probably expressed the doubt that some of the others also felt. In fact, Luke’s version does state that all the disciples present were disbelieving in what they were seeing: But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” Luke 24:37-43

Healthy doubting and questioning can lead to greater understanding and conviction. This has been true in my life. For example, in struggling to understand what it means to live as a Catholic Christian in a world with sincere believers of other religions – Protestant, Orthodox, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Native American, and even sincere practitioners of no religion – I have wrestled with: Is my way right and their ways wrong? Can we all be right? Are we all somewhat right and somewhat wrong?

What I came to see through this questioning was that I had a wrong attitude about the non-Christian world. I used to believe that it was completely void of God, and we Catholics and other Christians were bringing God to the world. I was a Catholic fundamentalist, conquering the world for Christ. I was convinced that “the other side” has nothing to offer, that they needed to surrender to my monologue of truth. When I came to see that God’s grace and presence abound in every human person and culture, that I have a truth to share but so do others, then I learned that respect and dialogue had to be at the core of my relationship with them. 

Having the courage and skill to question one’s belief system is essential for mature spirituality and responsible engagement in the Church and in civic society today. This is especially true considering the influence of social media and the “either/or thinking” of both the left and the right in today’s Church and society. It also takes into consideration the modern levels of corruption that abound. 

Many Catholics would not agree with this statement. Question the Church…or my pastor? Never!

My mother once told me that she tithed weekly to the parish because that was her duty to God. What the pastor did with the money was his duty to God and not her concern. I told my mother that her way of thinking was a recipe for financial mismanagement in the church (she didn’t like hearing that). But apparently the bishops at the Second Vatican Council thought as I did because, although the bishops recommended parish councils in each parish, finance councils were mandated. Leading up to the Vatican Council in 1962, problems with incompetence and actual criminality among managers of the church’s financial resources were acknowledged. Sadly, these problems continue today: 

The Michigan priest—pastor of the same parish for 30 years—who was convicted of stealing $573,000…for stock market investments and alcohol; the Philadelphia Archdiocese CFO who embezzled nearly a million dollars (gambling habit); the New York Archdiocese employee who embezzled nearly a million    dollars to purchase additions to her expensive doll collection; the Florida monsignor who was accused of stealing as much as $8 million over his 40 years as pastor, [money] …used to purchase real estate and take expensive vacations with his mistress… (https://uscatholic.org/articles/201701/how-to-stop-embezzlement-in-your-parish/)

When it comes to money and management of church assets, the approach the Catholic faithful ought to have towards Catholic leadership who are managing affairs is the same approach that President Regan recommended in dealings with the Soviet Union: “Trust but verify.”  But how? Learn about and question all budgets and expenditures and insist on full disclosure.

One of the most frustrating aspects of the clergy sex abuse crisis is that bishops are asking the faithful and the public at large to trust without verification. The first president of the National Review Board (which investigates clergy sex abuse), former Oklahoma governor Frank Keating, lamented that dealing with Cardinal Mahoney of the Los Angeles Diocese was like dealing with the Mafia. (See https://www.ncronline.org/news/accountability/keating-recalls-service-review-board)

Recently a grand jury investigation into the Baltimore Archdiocese disclosed cardinals, archbishops, and     diocesan leaders who, for decades, covered up sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults and protected the clergy perpetrators of that abuse. Does it take a grand jury investigation in every diocese in the country to get at the truth of clergy sex abuse?

What are you and your parish leaders doing to probe and question your diocese’s handling of cases of sex abuse in the Church?

Probing and questioning my relationship with God, the Church, the USA, and even my family does not mean I do not love God, the Church, the USA, and my family. Probing and questioning of behaviors that seem unhealthy or confusing is what healthy relationships and healthy spirituality in adulthood demand. 

Pope Francis clearly thinks this is true. He has challenged us Catholics to question how we welcome migrants in our countries, how we include divorced Catholics and gay and lesbian Catholics in our worship, and how we allow for the greater participation of women in the leadership of Vatican offices, issues not yet anticipated by the bishops at Vatican II.

Easter /Pentecost is a good time to examine and question your religious, cultural, and personal beliefs and practices.

What are some beliefs and practices that you hold dearly, that you get defensive about when others bring them up, that you need to probe and question?

Ask the Holy Spirit to instruct and guide you in the ways you need to mature and grow as an adult in your faith, your culture, and your beliefs.

by Robert Fontana

I have never been one to read poetry.  When I do I usually need someone to explain to me what I am reading. There are some exceptions to this.  My daughter Mary introduced me to the poems of Mary Oliver.  I found them very helpful. Last May I made a men’s wilderness retreat where the  retreat leaders relied on poetry to help us understand the points they were trying to make. There efforts worked for me and encouraged me to try my hand at poetry to say more clearly and profoundly what I am experiencing in  prayer.  Here are a few poems for your Easter/Pentecost meditation:

I HAVE SEEN JESUS

“Although you have not seen him, you love him” 1 Peter 1:8

I have seen Jesus, I have seen him. Oh, not the Jesus in robe and sandals walking along the shores of Lake Galilee. No, not him. 

But I have seen the Jesus in my mother and father who worked night and day to feed and clothe their children; in my music teacher practicing, once again, to create a more beautiful sacred song; in the priest who listened to me with great compassion and gave me wisdom instead of reprimand; in my neighbors who gather weekly to feed our struggling neighbors in a pop-up kitchen; and in my elders who bear their aging pains with patience and face their approaching death with hope.

No, the Jesus who walked in history, who opened the eyes of the blind and ate with sinners and tax collectors,  him I have not seen. But the risen Jesus alive in his people, that Jesus I have met over and over again. And I “rejoice with indescribable and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8) for I love him and he loves me.

FOREST CALLING

Come home, Human, come home. You don’t belong to the concrete, the noise, the buying and selling, the endless arguing, the despair, the fleeing from life.

No, that is not your home.

You belong here with the symphony of birds, with the gentle wind and soft rain, with the towering trees and lush ferns.

This is your true home, Human, where waters flow, trees grow, flowers bloom, squirrels play, children run, lovers walk, and elders listen.

Come home, Human, come home to the forest where you will find rest, acceptance, and a healing place to unlock your caged mind and heart, and be free.

TRINITY

Draw me into the warmth of your circle, O Trinity.  Draw me into the intimacy of your sharing, singing, laughing, silence, and tears.

Draw me close, Abba, Jesus, Spirit. Draw me and all whom I love.

You do draw me into your inner circle, into your communion of life and love. You do enclose me in your friendship, trust, vulnerability, truth, and wildness of heart.

Holy Trinity, Great Mystery, Love Divine, cosmic and earthy, I sit in wonder and awe before your presence.  Draw me close to you that I might be set free from what does not matter and set afire for all that does.