To Rise With Him

From Morning prayer today:

For in sacrifice you take no delight,
burnt offering from me you would refuse,
my sacrifice, a contrite spirit.
A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn. 

In your goodness, show favor to Zion:
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice,
holocausts offered on your altar.

- Psalm 51 

We are made to worship God. It seems that the rejection of burnt offerings here is that the sacred author would be lying, saying one thing with the sacrifice and saying another thing in their manor of life. But even though the author is the one at fault (and therefore we who pray the Psalms acknowledge our own faults and sins against God), we cannot rebuild Jerusalem.

We cannot rebuild Jerusalem.

No amount of self-help or self-improvement is enough to make God "pleased with lawful sacrifice." As important as they may be for other aspects of our life and our well-being, they are not the sacrifice of self that God asks of us.

We are created in the Image and Likeness of God. We find our true selves only in Christ, particularly in the Cross, as many Saints have told us.

He has given himself to us in humility, in a general and universal way, but He asks us to give ourselves to Him in a reciprocal humility, that He might give Himself to us in a particular and individual gift, one that is not forced upon us.

Our gentle God calls us once again to take up our cross, not out of some desire to punish us, but in His desire for us to be united with Him.

To die with Him that we may Rise with him, and offer perfect sacrifice in the New Jerusalem.

May I Understand

I've been thinking lately about the "Prayer for Peace" attributed to St. Francis, particularly the desire not to be understood, but to understand. Regardless of its true authorship, this bears at least some similarity to the Litany of Humility, which I certainly don't pray often enough.

As an Elder Millennial, I hear all this talk about "reaching out to the youth," or "reaching millennials," which of course just means some "panel," or "initiative," that will ultimately do little. Rarely is it founded on the true and unchanging reality of what draws people to God - Truth, Beauty, and Goodness.

And it upsets me.

As the phrase goes, "To be loved is to be know, and to be known is to be loved," and here it feels like no one understands me (because I might not still live at home, but who doesn't like to replay the hits of their teenage years!).

All jest aside, it is upsetting when you long to hear truth proclaimed from the pulpit, to hear beautiful and sacred music resonating in our Churches, to see a Church bursting with good works, and instead you get programs and panels.

It is upsetting when you just want the truth, and your shepherds insist on misdirection. When those called to imitate the Good Shepherd malign anyone who dares to question their intentions and actions.

I say the following as someone who has not been a victim of abuse. I speak only for myself.

Maybe this is a chance to change the Church. To rebuild it as St. Francis was called to. Maybe the only way to do that for many of us is to pray, and to fast, accepting the calumny, and the inaction, and the lies, as realities that we have no power to change on our own.

I think about Our Lord's Mercy covering Justice in that He accepted in His Sacred Body every punishment which we deserve. Paul says, "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church..." (Colossians 1.24)

If to be a Christian means to daily take up our cross and follow Him, then maybe for some of us, especially those who are not in the center of the particular scandals that rock our Church, our Cross can be these feelings of confusion, doubt, anger. Even our sense that we are powerless in the face of it all.

Because we are.

But He's not.

And He wants you to be a Saint.

God of the Gaps

Christianity is often accused of believing in a "God of the Gaps." What her detractors often accuse the Church of is justifying belief in God by pointing to the "gaps" in human knowledge. Gaps which they - as good children of the enlightenment - know will inevitably be filled in by the March of Human Progress™.

Certainly we know this is a false accusation. Our belief does not rest in gaps, but rather in encounter. As to knowledge, in many ways the more profoundly we understand the natural world, the more profoundly we meet its maker. But I think they may be on to something with this "God in the Gaps" concept.

A Humble New Year

This has been a tumultuous year, to say the least. More than that, it seems that 2017 has been an arrogant year.

As the meme says, "Every day we stray further from God's light."

The Wrath of a Gentle Man

When I was still a youth my father said
The hour draws near
to teach you, as my father did, those things
all wise men fear.

The ocean vast, majestic, calm, the thoughtful
heart keeps warm,
But wisely clings to safety's shore in tempest
and in storm.

The moonlit night restores the soul, whether
you wake or sleep,
But 'pon new moon what evil tracks its ways
in darkness deep?

Still worse than these, the wise man knows, its pow'r
he can't withstand:
Do not awake, do not arouse
the wrath of a gentle man.

The boundless depths, the vast expanse, the sailor
holds these dear.
With rope and sail and oar in hand, he conquers
every fear.

But when the waves do toss and break and rake
him o'er the coals,
The wise man seeks the harbor's calm, avoids
the wrecking shoals.

Still though how mount'nous are the crests, how low the
valleyed troughs,
There's something more than storm he fears, and leaves it
lie far off.

Poseidon's rage may splinter ships, and hopeless
sailors strand,
But fearsome'r still than crashing waves
is the wrath of a gentle man.

The hunter has no fear at nighttime when
the moon is raised.
No friend nor foe, no prey nor snare escapes
his piercing gaze.

But when the moon hath hid its face, the dark path
he doth shun:
The wise man tarries not at night, while shadows
lengthening run.

But still preferred is moonless night, all trackless,
wand'ring, lost,
The wise man knows that other fears may fetch
a dearer cost.

The hounds of hell may howl and bay within that
trackless stand,
But fearsome'r still in the dead of night
is the wrath of a gentle man.

The darkened night, the raging storm, strike fear
in wisest heart,
If length of days be yours, my son, avoid them
for your part.

But peace, for only nature's whims are dangers
such as these;
Let not the troubles of this kind your heart
in terror seize.

Betrayal by friend, thy foe's keen sword, o'er these
the wise prevails.
And nature's strength the wise man turns and of
its pow'r avails.

But though he toil, though he prepare, no matter
what his plan,
Even the wise man can't survive
the wrath of a gentle man.

Myrrh Christmas?

Merry Christmas! Today is, of course, the 12th day, the Feast of the Three Kings, Epiphany - though it will be celebrated this Sunday by most of us (which, as it was last year is certainly commented on, but decidedly not the point of this post).

Instead, today I want to talk about one of my favorite Christmas Hymns, which - much like We Three Kings from last year's post, seems rarely sung in its entirety.

So here's your chance to correct that grave disservice done to you this season! Dive into a Christmas carol that one website warns has explicit lyrics, and which inspires me to wear the coolest Christmas tie ever!

Ask yourself this Christmastide: Who could this baby be?

Victory

So I was talking with my buddies Paul and Matt the other day, and Paul was all,

Where, O death, is your sting?

Oh man. You have no idea how hard it was for me to not sarcastically retort, "It's in my heart, Paul, where do you think it is?"

Well, okay, so I was listening to Matt Maher's Christ is Risen, which references Paul's 1 Corinthians 15.54-55 taunt at the wages of sin:

Death is swallowed up in victory.
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?

There is Hope, Even in Loss

This is a pretty brief note, I want to share a new ministry that I've had the honor of being a part of for the last year or so. We have finally launched our website, HopeInLossDSM.com. Hope In Loss DSM is an independent ministry for those grieving the loss of a pregnancy, infant, or child in the womb, supported by the Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa.

While we do particularly minister to Southwestern Iowa, we hope that the resources we share are helpful to anyone who is experiencing a loss, or wondering how they can help their friend or family member who has miscarried, received a terminal diagnosis, had a child born still, or lost their newborn or infant. We are always expanding our resources section, and will gladly take suggestions.

Not in or near the Diocese of Des Moines, but still want to help out? Pray! When we lost Gabriel, we were sustained by the prayers of the community - your prayers are effective! Also, call your parish or diocesan office, and find out what sort of ministry they have to women and couples experiencing pregnancy loss, miscarriage, infant death, or any similar loss. If they don't have one, maybe God is calling you to help start it in your diocese?

Thank you for your prayers and support, for us as we support those grieving the loss of a pregnancy, infant, or child in the womb; and for the couples, for the mothers and fathers, the brothers and sisters whose lives will never be the same.

God Has Healed

Who is like God?

God is my strength.

God has healed.

Before we were even married, the Mrs. and I had chosen these three names for our first three boys. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, the three Archangels named in the bible. On the first of the month, our third "angel boy" was born, a healthy and beautiful 7lbs 12.5oz, 20.5in. Mama and baby are doing great, and we couldn't be happier. But our little Raphael has a birth story he will never live down!

On Mowing the Lawn

Who knew that mowing the lawn could be so inspirational?

Our lawn desperately needed it. Heck, it desperately needed it 3 weeks ago. Through various scheduling issues with the guy who normally takes care of trimming my lawn, he hadn't been by to do it, and I hadn't had the time. Fast forward to probably a month since it should have been done, and it was not a pretty picture.

A Familial Proposition

There is a shocking proposition in Amoris Laetitia which my friend brought to my attention in just about the most interesting way imaginable: a question.

Specifically, this question:

Is he saying we basically turn ourselves into whores!!??

And it's profoundly worse than that, which we will explore in a minute. First let's take a look at the question that spurred this reaction.

Expecting Easter

It's hard to believe. Tuesday of Holy Week already. Where has all the time gone? Where has Lent gone?

This time of the year, I almost always feel like I've somehow "wasted" my Lent, not given it the attention it deserves. But perhaps that's not so bad - if I could fix my sinful nature in the span of 40 days, then I would be lying to myself. So perhaps Holy Week is a chance to acknowledge the good and the bad alike, to give thanks for the grace of conversion, and to beg for more grace as a sinner in need of Mercy.

But that's not the point of my thoughts today. One of the "Goods" this Lent was a thought I had a few weeks back regarding fasting, penances, and Sunday.

For those of you unaware, Sundays are not actually a part of Lent. They are Sundays in Lent, not Sundays of Lent. And I can prove it.

Yes, but what is Mercy?

We make a mistake if we attempt to read Pope Francis as a philosopher in the manner of Pope Saint John Paul the Great, and likewise err if we attempt to read him as a theologian in the manner of Pope Benedict XVI. However, we similarly make a mistake if we consider our reigning Pontiff to be soft, weak, ignorant, or naive. He is, after all, a Jesuit.

Which is why I propose that we rename this year from the Jubilee Year of Mercy to the Jubilee Year of Jesuit Cunning.

I Stand Alone?

"If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you don't like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself."

Recently I was a little more blunt than usual with a friend. We were discussing religion and attending different churches, and he said that for him he'll go so long as they're "Sola Scriptura." We were in a group, so he turned to me and said, "You know what that means, right?"

I stand alone on the Word of God...?

"Sure," I said. "It's wrong, but I know what it means."

Perceiving the Essential

It seems that many people take umbrage with the phrase, "Happy Holidays." (You may take umbrage with me posting about Christmas after Christmas, but 'Tis the Season until the 12^th day, so deal with it.) I don't know if that many people are really offended, or if a handful of offendees are magnified for the sake of The Narrative, but in any case it strikes me as silly.

Protestantism isolates Christmas, and the secular world expands it into a month-long avarice and gluttony fueled spendfest, but in reality there are many Holidays (Holy Days) celebrated in this season alongside Christmas. With Saint Nicholas, the Immaculate Conception (Patroness of the U.S.A.), Our Lady of Guadalupe (Patroness of the Americas), Gaudete Sunday, the Holy Innocents, the Holy Family, Mary Mother of God (Patroness of the Universal Church), we really should not take offense at the phrase "Happy Holidays," but rather be reminded of the vast array of Holidays and Holy Days to celebrate.

In hoc signo...

Today's episode brought to you by Racism, and the letters "P" & "K".

I've seen this image come up several times on Facebook, but when I saw it today on /r/CatholicMemes, I just couldn't get past it. I despise Planned Parenthood as much as the next guy, but this is just... wrong.

This is a dog...

I have a guest post for you today, penned by my beloved. Enjoy!

This is our dog Katie. This morning like most mornings I woke up with her cuddled at my feet. We got Katie shortly after our son Gabriel died to keep the mice away from me so I could actually sleep a little bit. It turns out that not only was she fantastic at keeping the mice away she has also been an amazing emotional support; I have cried into her fur more often than I can count. Katie is a great cuddler and would love to spend all day on my lap. This is a GREAT dog!! She is patient with my kids, she protects me in my scary basement, and she literally helped me up when I tripped over my own feet while walking her.

That You Might Be Perfect

My brethren, count it all joy, when you shall fall into various trials: knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience, and patience hath a perfect work: that you may be perfect and entire, failing in nothing.

This has not been our year.

The Feast of Love

Love. Luv. Like. Αγάπε (agape). Έροσ (eros). Φιλία (philia). Στοργή (storge).

What's love got to do (got to do) with it?

Everything.

I was thinking (dangerous, I know) about love, and I've finally come up with a good thing about the English language's lack of differentiation in the word "love." I didn't think it was possible! I mean "love" is my favorite English whipping boy, my go to example of why the language is terribly deficient (which it is).

But there I was, thinking about Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in Deus Caritas Est raising the question about eros, and if eros can be purified, and is it really different from agape, and...

Ecce Homo

How far from the Animal is Man,

• and how close?

He walks, he talks, he sits on command.
A thin veneer of civility...

• scratch the surface and see him implode.

Yet how noble?

• A hair's breadth from exalted orations.
• A hair's breadth from depraved ravings.

Wrestling with God while angels and demons whisper at his shoulders.
Running before he can walk,

• it is a wonder he stands at all.

How sad is a life wasted?
How beautiful is a life well spent?

See him chip and shatter.
See him weather storms.

Behold the Man.