On Baptism and Confirmation

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Monsignor van Burgsteden paid our catechism group a visit. As he will be baptising and confirming, he wanted to meet us. He based his talk on 'the shortest Catholic prayer', as he calls it.

First off, what is prayer. A prayer has 3 natures. The first is a fundamental attitude of giving thanks. The second is trust, trust with conviction that there always will be an answer. The third is with perseverance. He said that this commitment to prayer can be likened to peskiness, a nuisance to God, thus, pray as often and sincerely as you want!

Glory be to the Father and to the Son. God and the Christ, to whom we pray. The Holy Ghost is, however, what is awakened by the baptism and fills us at confirmation. All that God has created is related to Him:

Now the earth was a formless void, there was darkness over the deep, with a divine wind sweeping over the waters.

God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light. (Genesis 1:2-3) This 'divine wind' is the Holy Spirit, says the gentle old priest with a powerful confidence and warmth that betrays no doubt, no fear. Baptism awakens this Spirit in us. The baptism is received, not given. It is a movement from Heaven down to us on Earth and not the other way round. He reminds us that there is no separation of God, Christ and the Holy Spirit, that they are One. What do we receive then? Union. A Catholic is not busy with outer worldly things, but of inner things spiritual and divine. He reminds us that 'church' is not a building, altars, candles, etc. but all those men and women gathered together with Christ to be in the presence of God's grace and love. He tells us that Jesus was a leader and teacher who stood perhaps above his disciples, but after his death and resurrection he became equals to us, for only then in the Bible does he use the words 'brothers and sisters'. Immortal, he shows us our true nature in God's love. Love of Self or family or friends is limited, however, love of Jesus is enduring and imperishable, it is the basis of happiness. Invest then in this relationship, the father suggests. It can start with prayer. Confirmation is a rational decision of an adult to take our relationship with God a step further. Again, we allow the Holy Spirit to fill us from above, received and not given. It is personal. We accept the full measure of unconditional love that is the Holy Spirit. The monsignor then answers questions from the group gathered round. What remains in my thoughts is his explanation of faith being like a car engine. All cars have one. First one must turn it on. It needs to get warm before the car moves. It can go faster and faster as the gears are changed, but it can also go slower and even be shut off. But it is still there. We choose to leave it in the garage or drive it. The more we trust in it and use it, the faster we can get into higher gears, he laughs. He tells us too, that each good thought comes from God, that we share it, that we can note the work of the Holy Spirit in us, because all good comes from God. We have free will, however. God knows each one of us, our strengths and our weaknesses and thus the Holy Spirit is at work in each one of us differently. A collaboration with the Holy Spirit requires listening to it's suggestions, its inclinations, its warnings in conscience. Listen in silence. Listen in prayer. Read the Bible and notice what readings awaken something (especially the gospel of John, says the priest, then the letters of Paul, followed by the synoptic gospels, then Acts, he laughs, suggesting his own organisation of the New Testament). He leaves us with warm handshakes and again a brief but intense, real interest in each one of us. He is present for each one of us, truly present. I have rarely experienced this quality in people. God has chosen His bishop well. Oremus: I pray that all servants of God might be inspired by love and grace and grow as humble giants among men, so that we too may be inspired to do likewise. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Deo gratias.

Action from Faith

So also faith of itself,
if it does not have works, is dead. (Jas 2:14)

In this world of physical matter, thoughts are like the wind. Words are powerful, but actions are stronger. John tells us that the Word became flesh, of this Earth, of us. By doing, one declares ones faith, shows it to the world, holds it up to the light for all to see. Ones actions are concrete, a testament to ones beliefs and a demonstration of the love we can have for others. Our greatest teachers, Jesus, the Apostles, the saints, did more than just think, did more than just speak, they demonstrated their wisdom and courage through their deeds, they let their actions flow from their faith. We know them through their actions. Through faith we welcome the gift of salvation and the infinite love of God; through works we do as the Christ taught us to do and through the sharing and spreading of Love and thus transforming us, our reality, our world. Two sides of the same coin.

Oremus:
I pray that we can rely less on thought; perhaps indulge our ego less, speak less and do more for God and our neighbour. Let our mind's chaos and judgemental nature, the expectations and doubt, take a back-seat to the strength of our will to act with our own hands in honour of the divine, in service of Love. I pray that with attention and perseverance, with mindfulness and vigilance, wisdom can prevail and that through our deeds, monuments to our own simple faith can rise like powerful oaks, with deep roots in rich soil, with sheltering boughs for all who seek haven. Amen.

Deo gratias.

Two Minds

He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said,
"Why does this generation seek a sign?
Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation." (Mk 8:11-13)

for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea
that is driven and tossed about by the wind.
For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,
since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways. (Jas 1:1-11)
Oh, i'm a doubter. And it does get tiring. It is my mind that keeps the surf up, but i suppose it will be my mind (ego) that is soothed and surrenders to faith, becoming 'one mind'. It more often than not seems to be arrogance, an inflexible mind, that surrenders, retreats or ridicules that which might cause change.

i change so much, why then do i fear it? A mind created by God now plagued by Evil? Is that doubt? If so, showing Evil the door and calming the mind of its own endless drivel might be a good start. But then, i'm already doing that, it seems, with three steps forwards and two back.

Oremus:
I pray Lord, not for a sign to appease my ego's doubts, rather i pray that i can continue forwards on your path. And with each step i suppose nothing, i expect nothing, i am empty of all but hope and love and i pray, i give thanks, for coming closer to you, for coming Home. I pray that you encourage and shelter all those on your path, that they might all come Home. Amen.

Deo gratias.