Sometimes it All comes Together

Sometimes it all comes together, me thinks, like today.

"The Catholic Church is a Church of sinners because it is a Church for sinners, a Church to make us saints ... they need the grace and forgiveness given through the Church to help them change." (What is the Church, Fr. S. Wang, CTS publication)

And then at mass we hear Jeremiah complaining that though he do God's bidding, he suffers for it. Jesus reprimanding Peter because as God's Son, thinks the disciple, the Christ should be able to pass on the predicted suffering on the cross. Yet both, carry on because they know that the way of this world is not the same way of the divine. They choose.

And then on praying we are reminded that this is the basis of our relationship with God, that, like any relationship, it needs our attention, it must be deepened, it allows the relationship to mature and that it "can also be a challenging part of our prayer, because we should never pray for someone or something without being prepared to do something about it, should God ask us." (A Rule of Law, Fr. M. Woodgate, CTS publication)

What is God asking of me?

Following the words of my prayer i listen and yes, sometimes it all comes together in the tiniest blessing, my daily epiphany. And as with all epiphanies, great thought! But now, what are you going to do with it?

The Lord, ever present, always supportive through His grace, challenges me to do the right thing.

Deo gracias.

Abandonment of the Self to God

What does it mean "to abandon themselves to God"?

Pope Benedict XVI defines 'themselves' or the Self/ego as "self affirmation and the desire to put oneself at the center". The Buddha taught that the Self is an illusion, a lie, a construct built by a fearful and power hungry ego bent on maintaining its world within the World; a great, personal filter through which all phenomena, thoughts and emotions are made mine. When the world around us is reduced to 'how is this relevant to me', each individual becomes an island unto himself. Anger, fear, greed, even families fall apart in the race to uphold that frail identity of Me.

Then to freely abandon it, with personal understanding and the application of reason, is a good thing. Not that i don't want to be me, rather, that Me can better be defined by all those around me. How people see me, interact with me, this can better define a person that one's own fearful ego. "I want to be a good person", one thinks. Only if those i encounter see me as 'good' can this idea become reality, namely that i become a 'good person'. We then freely abandon something lesser, something unworthy of our own 'navel gazing' attention. And thus freed of the ego's baggage, we become lighter, focused, determined and resilient, more able to choose our own thoughts, words and deeds, to live in the 'now'.

It's certainly not easy. A monk, through practising mediation and ethical behaviour, tries to limit the rule of Self. Beds are hard because the Self whines that a softer bed would be more comfortable. One eats what one is given though the Self whines that other food tastes better, more salt, less gristle and so forth. The whole way of life goes against the natural desire of the Self to get what it wants. And it is always wanting ... if the monks have it hard, what does that say about the rest of society charging blindly forward, driven by desires and fears?

With no Self ruling, the parable of the good servant (Mt 24:45-51) makes sense, to me. Today, we are not often told to be good servants. "I am a servant of no man" the ego cries! At least, this is the theme i see in popular 'it's all about me' consumerist culture. I always remember Plato's City of Pigs and smile: thousands of years later and humanity is still at the trough. Not putting himself first, the servant is always present for those whom he serves, never wavering, dependable even when the boss is away. He is loyal, faultless (for his motivation to work to the best of his ability comes first) and full of love for his patron.

This boss, lord or patron deserves our commitment and by controlling our ego we shall certainly reap what we sow. And when this lord is God, we reap the grace, glory and eternal love that is freely offered us. God is perfection; with the Self abandoned we are free to climb towards perfection.

From pope Gregory the Great: I am the servant of the servant's of God.

Deo gratias

our True nature

The Christ Jesus, the human face of God who has come to show Love, how it is manifested, how it is practised and what it means to do so unconditionally with all brothers. The Buddha knew something of this True Nature, but did not say what it was, rather he encouraged man to find out for himself through leading a moral life and meditation. The Jews recevieved the Law. God revealed His face in his Son and seeing this face in those we help, those we try to love unconditionally, we can know Love.

And it comes as second nature because it is our True nature, perhaps because we have merely forgotten that in the fever of this life of suffering and clinging.

To Love: live in peace, see joy in the world, to be brave with all suffering, knowing all the time His human face in the holy spirit shining from within our brothers all ...

No fear. No doubt. Just Love. God's message is as easy as this, me thinks.

limited time offer on absolving sins?

Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Mt 23:9-12)

On the news tonight, World Youth Day 2011. The pope criticises the Spanish socialist government and their policy on abortion. He announces that as a limited time offer (until the end of the event), confessions by young girls for having had an abortion will be forgiven. But how?

But aren't all sins forgiven?

Or do some expect forgiveness be bought?

No, it must be freely given, me thinks, and the sinner contrite, praying for the mercy of Christ, for strength, for wisdom, for serenity and knowing the peace of a unburdened mind.

"Limited time offer"?

Can the pope do that?

If his actions are inspired by S.S. and acting from divine grace, selfless, in service of all his flock, he forgives in the name of Christ and the Father.

But "limited"?

After the great event this forgiveness shall no longer be offered? The sinner damned? Even to those begging forgiveness?

No, me thinks. Jesus knew no day of rest when healing. Forgiveness is healing.

Please great Pontiff, inspire faith, but not to the detriment of its goal. Be grace, so that we might better know our true Father. Teach a Christian life, and not simply the flesh and blood politics of the Law.