Faith
Gratitude is at the Heart of the Christian Life
Today, we celebrate the amazing Thanksgiving. Although this humble holiday tends to get trampled on by shopping deals and the upcoming Christmas season, it’s actually one of the most important days of the year. Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, which is a central theme of the Christian life.
We are who we are, where we are, blessed as we are, because of God. Thanksgiving turns our minds back to that reality. Families have so few opportunities each year to all gather together, and Thanksgiving presents that opportunity. Cousins get to play together, aunts and uncles get to play with their nieces and nephews, and all take time to reflect on the many blessings that they’ve received throughout the past year. What a beautiful holiday!
Gratitude is a central theme of the Christian life because it serves as the core of humility. Gratitude recognizes that our good life is a result of the good graces of another. Not only to we acknowledge the providence of God, but also those who make our lives easier, better, and more prosperous. The first Thanksgiving demonstrates this principle as the pilgrims thanked God for safe journey and the Native Americans for helping them through a difficult transition to their new lives.
There’s much anger, hurt, and sadness in the World today, but all of us can find at least one bright spot in our lives and be grateful for the blessings that we’ve been given. Eat well, enjoy the time with your family, and pass the mashed potatoes!
Starting Fresh
We all love a fresh start. New beginnings are always full of hope, excitement, and promise. We feel refreshed, able to take on the world and whatever challenges life sends our way. Fresh starts can be hard to come by. In relationships, past hurts get in our way. First impressions are lasting impressions and, if you make a mistake, it can be extremely difficult to overcome. What if there was a way to get a true fresh start? What if there was a reset button you could press that would wipe the slate clean and get you back on track?
Our yearning for fresh starts begins with an acknowledgement that we are weak. We make mistakes, dozens of mistakes, every single day. None of us has a great track record. It’s out of this reality that God offers us, through the Church and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the fresh start that we so desperately need.
Confession is that new beginning. It’s the grace we need to start fresh, to start over, and to get it right this time. We know the path isn’t easy, but we choose to comb the mountain anyway. But Confession is only that, a beginning. When we leave the confessional, it’s immediately up to us to make better choices and temptation is waiting as close as the doors of the Church.
So, how do we keep from messing it up again?
Stop giving yourself passes. There’s a balance to be struck between being overly scrupulous and too lax in our treatment of ourselves. We can be tempted to be too nit-picky, or we can be tempted to chalk all of our sins up to our humanity and move on. It’s time to get tough and find the middle of the road. Yes, we will sin. But those sins can be minor.We have the ability to control ourselves, we need to use it.
Get serious about Heaven and Hell. We don’t know when death is coming, but at some point, it will. We like to think that we’ll live until we’re at least 80, and most of us will. However, no matter what age you are, people older than you have died, and people who are younger than you have died. That means we need to get serious about the reality of Heaven and Hell and we need to buy our ticket, today. We must decide where we want to spend eternity and let our thoughts, actions, and choices flow from that decision.
Turn the focus off you. I love focusing on me, but one of the best way to reduce incidents of sin is to focus on someone else. Most sin is about me and how I want to feel. So if I lose myself in service to others (wife, kids, friends, community), I’ll have less opportunity to commit sin. As much as I love me, I could love me a lot less and be much more happy.
Fresh starts are amazing, but it’s important to not blow it. Next time you’re in line for Confession, make planning a better life for yourself part of your examination of conscience.
We’re Not Guaranteed Any Time
In the course of our human existence, we’re faced with tragedies, none more sorrowful than the untimely death of someone in our lives. We have a justified belief that all of us will live into our 70s, 80s, or 90s, but the truth remains that none of us are promised any amount of time. That’s why it’s so important for us to take the time we do have and to make something great out of it.
It’s said that the great lie of the Devil is that there’s time. Time to change, time to reform, time to renew. Live today, go to Confession tomorrow because there’s nothing but time. There’s a reason that is a lie. We don’t know how long our mission will last on Earth, or how many more chances we’ll get to make things right. We just don’t know.
The temptation with this knowledge is to fret and obsess over the question of how long we have left. That is not at all the point. While the Devil directs us towards the negative, God would prefer us to focus on the positive. We’re given today, so enjoy it. We have our family, so love them. We have our health, our spiritual fortitude, the life of the Church, so immerse yourself in them.
Our bonds as people are strong with one another, and so the grief of losing someone that we love can be overwhelming, especially if it is sudden, unexpected, or if they were “too young.” These bonds are beautiful because while they cause us sorrow in death, that means they can be cause for tremendous joy in life. Recognize those bonds today and share their goodness with one another.
We do not have the full picture of our own lives, let alone those of whom we know and love. We can only trust that God, who wishes only the best for us, works in His own mysterious ways, in His own time, in accordance with His wishes for us. It’s up to those of us who remain to advocate diligently for the departed souls that they might gain admission to Eternal Life, and in that way, pray for us.
A Powerful Confession Strategy
I try to go to Confession once a month, but sometimes my schedule conspires against me. In early September, I was overdue and itching to go, which landed me in a parish half an hour away on a Tuesday night. Confession was preceded by a Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, which was something truly beautiful. Afterwards, both priests assigned to the parish heard confessions. Even though it was after 8pm, the lines were quite long.
I don’t often get the chance to go to Confession to a priest outside of my parish, but when I do, it’s special. Many Catholics, myself included, seek extreme anonymity in the Sacrament, and so going to a priest that you don’t know and likely will never meet is especially comforting. I find myself less resistant to giving a full confession when I don’t know the priest. It’s silly, I know, but it’s also part of the human experience to attempt to save face.
Most of us will struggle with the same habitual sins throughout our life. If not the same particular sin, sins surrounding the same character defect. Having a regular confessor, one with whom you have some rapport, can be immensely helpful. A regular confessor can get to know you better and offer more tailored advice. Having the opportunity to go on occasion to a different confessor can lend some fresh eyes and a new perspective to your situation. Combining the two, you can come up with a really powerful plan for overcoming whatever is keeping you stuck.
If it’s difficult to travel to another parish for confession, there are opportunities such as Parish Penance services or even going to Confession while you’re traveling. You should never be afraid of Reconciliation, or of a priest yelling at you during the Sacrament. At the same time, there are some very real benefits to having a regular confessor and on occasion going to a priest that you’ll never meet again.
Confession-phobia
The fear of Confession is deadly. It’s healthy to have some amount of fear of the Sacrament. That fear means we know that we’ve seriously hurt God and we need to make amends. However allowing your Confession-phobia to keep you from the Sacrament will leave your relationship in shambles and will prevent you from living the life that God wants you to live.
A few years ago, while driving for work, I was listening to Mark Hart on the radio. He said something so radical that it changed my perception of the Sacrament forever. Mark said that he didn’t start being a good husband until he started regularly going to Confession.
Wait, what?
We’re only required to go once per year. Yet, here’s Mark saying that his breakthrough moment, his turning point, was to start to receive the Sacrament regularly. It was an incredibly profound moment for me.
Sin has power over us when we let it. Sin gets its power primarily thorough secrecy. We are obsessed with other people’s perceptions of us and so we have to keep our misdeeds buried deep.
Carrying around the knowledge that you’re living this fragmented life is a real burden. It eats at you. You give into sin more often because, hey, you’re already in it. We don’t like to admit that we’re wrong and really, that’s what Confession essentially is.
If you’re anything like me, you get that feeling of dread when you’re in line. I feel physically sick. I usually also seriously consider getting out of line and coming back another day. But I stay. Because living with guilt is no way to live.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the only way forward. It’s the only way out of sin. It’s the only way to holiness. It’s the only way to love more. Plus, you feel really, really good when you come out.
You deserve a chance to start fresh. Pull out the bulletin, find out when the Sacrament is offered, and go.
Prayer and Flowers
This summer, Alison and I really got into gardening. We had an herb garden on our back porch along with assorted flowers, we had a small garden growing peas, potatoes, garlic, and onions. The biggest challenge we faced was the sun. Our garden had tons of sunlight and, with this summer’s heat, lots of difficulty flourishing. We took a trip for about four days and when we came home, most of our plants were dead.
The whole experience called my attention back to my daily prayer life. Our prayer life is a lot like that garden. We need to be like the good gardener, diligently tending to the garden of our prayer life. Our prayer life needs attention daily, plenty of resources, and most importantly, reserved time. If you set aside time for prayer, it’ll happen.
Like a garden, our prayer life can flourish if we give it the attention that it needs. If we remain disciplined, we’ll grow. Yet, only a small dose of negligence is all that’s required for us to start to lose the vibrancy. It can be regained, just as a recently withering plant can be brought back in a few days with water. Yet, there’s a point where we have to start all over.
Prayer should be the cornerstone of our days, and yet it can be difficult to get started and keep going. Remind yourself of your role as the gardener of your soul, keep your eye on your prayer life, and keep on praying.
A Refuge in the World
I don’t spend nearly enough time in Adoration. When I was in middle school, my mom and I were members of our local Nocturnal Adoration society. During my two years at Franciscan University, there was perpetual Adoration during most of the academic year, but I didn’t often take advantage of it. Before we had Benedict, Alison and I did have a regular adoration shift on Friday nights, but since moving to Virginia, I’ve only been to our Parish’s perpetual Adoration a handful of times. For such an amazing experience, I really ought to go more often.
Think about what Adoration is. One-on-one time with God, the creator of the Universe. He’s physically present. You just can’t spend time in Adoration and not be changed in some way.
Perhaps my favorite part of the whole Adoration experience is the peace and quiet that accompanies it. Nearly every moment of my day is filled with bings, beeps, lights, and distractions. When I’m in Adoration I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to think about my to do list, what I’m having for dinner, when I’m going to go grocery shopping, or how much work I have to do. I’m free to just be there. Present. Still. Calm.
There are many ways to live out our faith and to experience the daily life of the Church, but I’d say that Adoration, outside of the Sacraments themselves, is the most worthwhile. I’ve never had a “bad” experience of Adoration. I’ve only found myself awash in an ocean of calm.
Find an opportunity to go to Adoration near you, speak, listen, and be still. It’ll be worth every second.
The Worst Time to Discern
The absolute worst time to make a discernment is when you’re mired in sin. Yet, we do it all the time. Discernment isn’t just about the meta-question of what you’re called to do with your life. It’s about prayerfully listening to what God is trying to tell you in the decisions of your life. Nothing could be more disruptive in the discernment process than habitual sin.
We were made to live a wonderful life, wrapped in grace, and free from the limitations of sin. Sadly, it’s not the reality that most of us choose. In shortsightedness, immaturity, and for a variety of other reasons, we keep choosing sin over the freedom of God’s law. When we continue to choose sin over what God offers, our decision making process becomes clouded. Like a room of smoke and mirrors, we think we see things that aren’t really there. We convince ourselves of something other than reality and eventually reach a decision that we then claim is moral.
Although politicians are not alone in falling into the trap, certainly we all do, they present a clear illustration of this point. In the United States Congress, 31% of Members are Catholic. There are many Catholics in Congress who vote, speak, and advocate for issues that are in direct opposition to the positions of the Church, particularly on life issues. Some of those Catholics attend Mass regularly, and have reconciled their position in their minds. Through an obstructive reasoning process, they’ve come to conclude that they are still “good Catholics” even though they directly and publicly advocate against the Church, whose position is unambiguous. That’s a discernment process that’s been confused by sin.
Again, we all fall into this situation at one time or another, politicians are an easy target because their lives are so public. How do we get back to a healthy discernment process?
First, recognize that you may not like what you hear. You may discern that God is asking you to do something that is opposed to your current way of thinking. God has a way of doing that. While reading Matthew Kelly’s new book Rediscover Jesus, I discerned that God was asking me to do more for the Christians in crisis in the Middle East. I was focused on other things, but He turned me back to an understanding that advocating for life is as much of being Catholic as advocating for and supporting the poor and the migrant. This message tracks with the message that Pope Francis has been bringing to us.
Next, you’ve got to get rid of that sin that’s holding you back. It takes courage to do the things that it takes to beat sin. It takes courage to say that you’ve been wrong for too long and need to make things right. The freedom and clarity of mind and heart that wait for you on the other side are totally worth it. So do it.
Finally, you need to pray regularly. Start and end your day with prayer. Recognize grace in your life, be grateful throughout the day for blessings, and continue to turn your mind back to God. This is a struggle because travel, illness, or a major disruption in your schedule can knock you off of your game. Keep at it.
Discernment is the process by which we understand what God needs us to do for Him. We can only discern properly when we have a clean mind, a clear heart, and ears to listen. Be prepared to be challenged, be prepared to give your heart back to Him, and be prepared to experience life as it was meant to be lived.
3 Reasons to Pray the Rosary Daily
The Rosary is an amazing prayer. While it may be easy to discount it as rote, there’s a real beauty in the repetition. There are compelling reasons for us to pray it more often.
One of the biggest challenges in daily prayer are perceptions. I tend to perceive prayers, like the Rosary, as something that takes too much time. I’ve found, through experience, that it really doesn’t. A small pocket of time somewhere in the day is all that I really need to make it happen.
There are three reasons that you should seriously consider adding a Rosary or two somewhere in your week.
• It’s powerful. The Rosary is a powerful intercessory tool. There are countless numbers of miracles gained, battles won, and hearts changed. The Rosary was given to us as this tool for our benefit. The Rosary carries serious weight with our Lady and Her love for it results in many answered prayers.
• It’s therapeutic. We carry many stresses and burdens in our lives. The beautiful repetition and simplicity of the prayer can bring great calm and peace into our lives. Whether you’re in a fight with someone close to you, in the throes of temptation, or even just having a bad day, the therapy of the Rosary can be healing.
• It only takes 15 minutes. As if the previous two reasons weren’t enough, praying the Rosary really does take only 15 minutes. That’s less than an episode of The Office or your favorite TV show. Think of how much better spent those 15 minutes are!
The Rosary is a buried treasure right in front of you. Pull out your shovel, get to work, and start praying!
Incredible Martyrs
I’m encouraged by the stories of martyrs. Their fortitude in the face of unimaginable pain and sufferings is beyond inspiring. Truly their martyrdoms were events full of grace, and yet, their pain was very real. It’s doubtful that there’s really ever been a time in the Church’s history when Her members weren’t being killed in hatred of the faith somewhere in the World.
While we hear the stories of the end of a martyr’s life, we often don’t know much about the rest of their life. We meet them, so to speak, as they receive the crown of martyrdom, but we don’t see their struggle in their faith life. We see how their story ends, but not how it begins. This is a tragedy because their stories are not unlike our own. We should readily identify with them in their human experience and see that it is possible to achieve a deep and pure faith as they did.
Martyrdom is rarely a “humane” death. Even today, Christians are being crucified. Martyrs often suffer the most barbaric, unconscionable, and markedly demented cruelties. Most are so extreme, it’s unbelievable that the torturers were able to endure the sight, let alone conduct the tortures themselves. Yet, despite the depravity, despite their desire to crush faith and root out the Church, martyrdom does just the opposite.
It’s said that the Church is built on the blood of the martyrs. The martyred are remembered, their attackers are not. Martyrdom feeds the Church’s growth because it’s hard not to be inspired when many are willing to die instead of give up the treasure of their faith.
While you and I may not be called to a physical martyrdom, we are called to give witness to our faith. The consequences may be less severe, but the impact is still the same. When we live the Christian life well and others can see it, they are inspired. Your actions may even inspire some to join the Church.
The martyrs were willing to give their lives for love of Christ and the Church. May we be willing to do the same, in whatever way we’re called to.