Why go to mass?

Hello world-wide-web, May God bless you and keep you, always. In Jesus' name. Amen. I've been listening to a CD of a mission St. Joseph did last year, during Lent, I think, with Fr. Dennis Corrado. I want to share with you Father's reasons for attending church: 1. It's not good to be alone. Scripture has already told us. It's unnatural to be alone. We naturally seek companionship. Intimacy. Friendship. Support. It's in us. To be spiritual requires that we not do it alone. We wake up the consciousness of our souls, of who we are, not as an independent ego; it is natural for us to find ourselves in union with others. So that when people say, "I'm spiritual," it often means they are unwilling to make a commitment to be in communion with others, in some form. Some expression of unity. 2. Why should we go to church? So that we can take our place with other humans in humility. There are very few places in our lives where we can come in anonymously and silently and sit in the company of other human beings and realize our connection, humbly. I'm one person and I wish I could do more good than I can do. But when I sit in your company, I feel the power of our unity and possibility...I am only one out of 6 billion, but we belong to an international institution that stands for something powerful. Flaws and all, mistakes and all, sins and all, and I want my place to remind me of how small and insignificant I am, but how important I am in the company of others. To take my place, where I belong, with my fellow humans. 3. Because GOD calls me here. I am convinced that we are called here. That is a choice, but it's also a call. Our scriptures tell us that GOD knows us better than we know ourselves. What does the scripture say? Before I knit you in your mother's womb, I knew you. It's a great thing, is it not, to be known? That's why we Catholics do not believe in reincarnation. We are unique. Uniquely loved, uniquely identified and uniquely called. We are called to be a part of a community. Called by name. Are we free to reject the call? Of course. And you know, a lot of women, if there are single women here who are trying to figure out if they can be in relationship, know that one of the hardest thing to get guys to do today is to make a commitment. Nobody wants to make a commitment. You know there's this kind of prolonged adolescence that we have in our society now. That is not, I think, particularly healthy. Stepping up to the plate and accepting responsibility and making commitment is a very healthy spiritual thing. It makes you say, "I'm an adult. I'm not a kid." I'm not excluding fun, hah?, but I believe one of the worst things about organized religion is that it is always so sad. Church is not entertainment. We learn through humor more than we learn through tears, but, answer the call. Listen for the call to be part of a believing community. 4. When we were little my father used to hit us when we were bad and since we were faster than him, we would run out of the house and he'd say, "You can run, but you can't hide." Well that's a message for all of us, we're all running, where are we hiding? How do you hide from GOD? Who knew us before we were formed in our mother's womb? So why are we trying? Why aren't we listening? Why aren't we saying yes? 'Because pride goeth before the fall.' Because we think that if we make our own choices, if we do what we want, when we want and how we want, we'll be happier. Well so did Adam and Eve thought that. And they wound up with fig leaves. (laughter) 5. Spirituality is not a private search for what is highest in ones' self, but it is a communal search for the face of GOD. In other words: worship divinity and link to humanity. Now where have we heard this in another form in the scriptures? Love GOD. Love your neighbor as yourself. That's the key. We are searching for the face of GOD. However you call GOD. I'm not so concerned in talking about this topic, that we identify ourselves by a particular religion. Although I am proud of Roman Catholicism, I'm committed to Roman Catholicism, and I want it to be as good as it can be. There are many, many paths to GOD. I believe that if I'm going to link with humanity, I have to seek something greater than myself. One of my ancestors in the faith used to say that, "The search for GOD, for divinity, begins within the heart," but it doesn't stay there. It goes beyond the heart. You should belong to a church because GOD is calling us here. 6. You want to go to church because church, religion, helps to dispel fantasies about ourselves. We all have them, don't we? We all have an image of ourselves, which is made-up. We never see ourselves for what we are, do we? We often rely on others to give us an image. Church is a place where alot of the fantasies actually get dispelled because we're challenged not only by the word of GOD, but by the diversity and differences among us. We see ourselves more clearly when we're in the company of people who are not exactly like us. 7. I think the mistake of a lot of younger people is that they don't think that we have dreams, as you age, and that's another reason why we come to church. To dream. To dream with others. Our religious tradition honors dreams. Joseph takes Mary to his side because he dreamed it. He's told in a dream 'trust, trust, trust,' and he believes the angel in his dream. The Magi avoid murder by Herod because they're told in a dream to go home by another way. To dream alone often makes the dreams stay dreams. To dream with others can make them become a reality. That we dream that there will be a world of justice, we dream that there will be a world of peace; we dream that there will be compassion for those who have less, we dream that the poor will be honored; that's our corporate dream. If we dreamed it alone, we probably could do very little, but dreaming it in union with one another, gives us a strength to make that dream a reality, and also that GOD will speak to us in dreams. 8. The language of liturgy is a heightened language. It's not supposed to be ordinary language. So that when you come into church, the language that we use is poetic; it's supposed to make us in a certain sense, leave that familiar behind and enter into a different level of reality. To encourage us to think more deeply. And you know life is so fast, and so cruel and so unfair, that one needs a place of rest in which to dream. I'm sure that as I'm speaking your mind is going from place to place, and I might say a particular word that leads you to a particular thought that leads you down a path, all of that has an energy which will effect both of us, all of us. 9. I want us to go to church because tens of thousands of people before us believed in it. The saints; do you think that all of the thousands of people that believed in our religious tradition were fooled? Were they fooled? Were they wasting their time? That some how or other there was this great big magic show that they bought into? My parents inspired me to live this tradition. Because they lived honorable lives. And because they were honorable, I wanted to be honorable, and I felt that they learned their honorableness through their affiliation in church. Not entirely, but it shaped their moral values which then shaped mine, and to continue to be committed to that, allowed me to be part of a long procession of faithful people. That convinces me that even when I have doubts about the leadership of the church, and how they express it, and I've told you I have plenty of problems with the way the church talks; I have plenty of problems with the way they don't seem to be responsive to our needs. There are statements that they make that I think, "Oh GOD, why don't they shut up?" BUT I also realize that my departure will diminish the possibility of it changing. 10. I say to my cousins who don't go to church, "WE MISS YOU! Your cynicism, your distrust, your anger, your fear, is needed in the community. So that those can be used to challenge those either in leadership or in the pews. How else are we going to get better, unless we have the whole mess together? And if everyone who is hurt or a disbeliever, or has questions, books out the door, how will those questions ever be addressed? We need the presence of people who are vital enough to say, "I believe, help my unbelief." I'll be at the 5 o'clock mass with my mom on Saturday. Look for us...we'd love for you to pray with us, join in the procession... "I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Lent - it's not about God or Jesus

Hello world-wide-web, Heavenly Father, bless all eyes that are reading my blog. In Your Name. Amen. Did my title get you thinking? he he Of course Lent is about God and Jesus, but I'm not going to tell you what I'm 'adding' or 'giving up,' or any of that, since I think that's personal and the bible reading today mentions how we should act like nothing is going on with us. I know I paraphrased the bible verse(you don't think I know the gospel, but I do!!!), but you get the idea. I want to tell you about a past Lent. I had the time and desire many years ago to visit a nursing home. My goal was to visit someone three to four times a week for about an hour. I chose a nursing home that wasn't close to my house so I could have time to offer prayers for those I was about to visit. Sometimes I spent the hour with one person, or visited various people who needed a friend. I prayed with them, spoke with them, or read to them. Have you heard the saying, "You may not remember what people say, but you do remember how they made you feel."? Well I will always remember how Mary made me feel. For some reason during one of my visits with her the conversation turned to movies. I asked her what her favorite movie of all time was and she said, "Gone with the Wind." I admitted to her, somewhat sheepishly, that I'd never seen it. "What?! You have to watch it - it's a great movie. I have the tape here; we'll watch it together." "Really? You want to watch it again?" "Sure, I never get tired of it." I hesitated. Could I count this as a visit if we watched a movie? "C'mon," she pleaded, "Look for it over there, by the television. Put it in the VCR. I'm ready to watch it." (Yes, it was a VIDEO!) I did as she said. If you've never watched it, you need to rent it. It's a great film. It took me four days at an hour a day to watch it with her, but it was worth it, and Mary did in fact seem genuinely happy watching it. Except for the pleasantries we shared upon my arrival - where I asked her how she was and mentioned how we didn't need to watch the film if she wanted to chat - we really didn't talk. She didn't want to visit, she wanted to watch. Strange as it may sound, I felt close to Mary in our quiet viewing of the film. I think she felt close to me. That film will always hold a special place in my heart, as will the time I spent with Mary. When Easter arrived, I bought some lillies and took them to the women I'd visited during Lent, thanking them for allowing me to spend time with them. It was after this Lent that I understood what Lent meant. Enjoy your Lenten ride, however bumpy, and remember what awaits you at the end of your trials: a glorious Easter! "I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Lessons learned, love

Hello world-wide-web, God bless us on this day of lovers, Lord. We are all lovers and we are striving to learn how to love and live better. Continue to guide us, Lord. In Jesus' name. Amen. As I drove to the store this morning for the ingredients to make a meatloaf, and get some delish sides to go with the the meatloaf, I looked at the patchy bedspreads of snow on the ground. For Texas, this snow is a HUGE event. We don't get snow, and certainly not a foot of it. We broke records. Well the snow reminded me of the winter Olympics and of one particular skier; I think she is a skier. At any rate, I remember she is from Montana. Remembering she is from Montana reminded me of a guy I knew from Montana, SP. Since today is also Valentine's day, I thought about SP more than the skier, the Olympics, or Montana. I don't think SP ever liked Texas. In fact, I would venture to say that he probably started preparing to leave our great state as soon as he arrived. He stayed here for six plus years too long. SP was the epitome of a 'rugged individualist'. He reminded me of a cowboy, but not a Texas cowboy; a cowboy from Montana. He loved to watch "Deadwood." He didn't have many friends, but the friends he did have were fiercely loyal. He had a dry sense of humor, a tendency to be crabby, and moody, but we got along all right. I met SP when I moved into the apartment above his. I remember him "rigging up" his cable in order to share with me and the guy who lived above me (we were in a three story building). He ran the cable wires outside his apartment through his porch, connecting them to my t.v. through my porch, and covered the evidence, pretty flimsily, with fake vines. I didn't make the big bucks then that I do now, LOL, so I was grateful for the gesture. SP was giving with his money: whenever we went out to eat he always paid; if you were in a bind, he'd loan you his time. Did I mention he was attractive? The bluest eyes I've ever seen. Not that tall, but what he lacked in stature he made up for with his 'round 'em up' Montana cowboy spirit. We remained friends until he moved to Chicago in 2005. We didn't keep in touch, but I'm grateful for the friendship we had. Thinking upon the Olympics again reminds me of the terrific rendition kd lang did of Leonard Cohen's: "Hallelujah" Now I've heard there was a secret chord That David played, and it pleased the Lord But you don't really care for music, do you? It goes like this The fourth, the fifth The minor fall, the major lift The baffled king composing Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah Your faith was strong but you needed proof You saw her bathing on the roof Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you She tied you To a kitchen chair She broke your throne, and she cut your hair And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah Baby I have been here before I know this room, I've walked this floor I used to live alone before I knew you. I've seen your flag on the marble arch Love is not a victory march It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah There was a time you let me know What's really going on below But now you never show it to me, do you? And remember when I moved in you The holy dove was moving too And every breath we drew was Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah You say I took the name in vain I don't even know the name But if I did, well really, what's it to you? There's a blaze of light In every word It doesn't matter which you heard The holy or the broken Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah I did my best, it wasn't much I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you And even though It all went wrong I'll stand before the Lord of Song With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah "I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

Now I understand...me

Hello world-wide-web, God always has our backs, even if we think He doesn't. To my sweetest, most loyal, devoted, and loving Valentine, Jesus-God, you have my Heart! Thank you Lord for all the givers in my life. For any and all prayers I said I would pray for: families, friends, marriages, singles, and co-workers, Lord, please hear my prayers. Thank you. In Jesus' Name. Amen. This past week was fairly stressful for me, and I wasn't looking forward to the work I brought home from school to do, or dealing with on-going issues with the electric company, or writing a blog complaining about this week, he he. SO, even though I didn't relish the thought of writing a paper for my psych class, I was happy I had to take a personality quiz. If you are into taking on-line quizzes you will probably enjoy this site! I wrote my paper, and I took the personality test and I am proud to post the results...It's like someone gets me! he he I'll give you the site address at the end of my post, I promise. INFJs focus on possibilities, think in terms of values and come easily to decisions. The small number of this type (1 percent) is regrettable, since INFJs have unusually strong drive to contribute to the welfare of others and genuinely enjoy helping their fellow men. This type has great depth of personality; they are themselves complicated, and can understand and deal with complex issues and people. It is an INFJ who is likely to have visions of human events past, present, or future. If a person demonstrates an ability to understand psychic phenomena better than most others, this person is apt to be an INFJ. Characteristically, INFJs have strong empathic abilities and can be aware of another's emotions or intents even before that person is conscious of these. This can take the form of feeling the distress of illnesses of others to an extent which is difficult for other types. INFJs can intuit good and evil in others, although they seldom can tell how they came to know. Subsequent events tend to bear them out, however. INFJs are usually good students, achievers who exhibit an unostentatious creativity. They take their work seriously and enjoy academic activity. They can exhibit qualities of over perfectionism and put more into a task than perhaps is justified by the nature of the task. They generally will not be visible leaders, but will quietly exert influence behind the scenes. INFJs are hard to get to know. They have an unusually rich inner life, but they are reserved and tend not to share their reactions except with those they trust. Because of their vulnerability through a strong facility to interject, INFJs can be hurt rather easily by others, which, perhaps, is at least one reason they tend to be private people. People who have known an INFJ for years may find sides emerging which come as a surprise. Not that INFJs are inconsistent; they are very consistent and value integrity. But they have convoluted, complex personalities which sometimes puzzle even them. INFJs like to please others and tend to contribute their own best efforts in all situations. They prefer and enjoy agreeing with others, and find conflict disagreeable and destructive. What is known as ESP is likely found in an INFJ more than in any other types, although other types are capable of such phenomena. INFJs have vivid imaginations exercised both as memory and intuition, and this can amount to genius, resulting at times in an INFJ's being seen as mystical. This unfettered imagination often will enable this person to compose complex and often aesthetic works of art such as music, mathematical systems, poems, plays, and novels. In a sense, the INFJ is the most poetic of all the types. Just as the ENTJ cannot not lead, so must an INFJ intuit; this capability extends to people, things, and often events, taking the form of visions, episodes of foreknowledge, premonitions, auditory and visual images of things to come. INFJs can have uncanny communications with certain individuals at a distance. And just when you thought you knew me! Here's the website, as promised: http://www.neurocareusa.com/GWtest/gwtest.html (thanks to a good friend who gave me the correct link!) "I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa

The Middle

Hello world-wide-web, Thank you Heavenly Father for all your blessings. Dear Lord, bless all the people who are falling in love, or think they may be; Heavenly Father work through me to help my friend who is contemplating divorce; Holy Spirit give me the words to console a friend who recently dumped her long time bf b/c she knew the relationship wasn't good. Jesus, give me the strength and courage to understand the friend who stayed in bed all weekend b/c of 'the blues'; and Heavenly Father, teach me how to encourage a friend to let you work your miracles with her upcoming surgery. God is watching. He knows our trials, pains, and happy moments. Sometimes the good gets BETTER; all things are possible with God. In Jesus Name. Amen. Why have I had such a hard time writing about something? I'll tell you why: there are way too many topics in my head asking for attention: 1. Talk about the president's talk with Republicans. No, I can't do that, some of my readers absolutely HATE the president and think he is doing a LOUSY job. Any positive comments I might make will fall on deaf ears. Oh well: I think he did a great job and I enjoyed watching the interaction between him and Republicans immensely. Especially watching it with my brother. That was the Best Part! 2. I could have sworn I heard Msgr. Don say that St Catherine of Sienna asked Jesus how she could love Him more and that Jesus said, "I don't need your love; I need you to love my people. Everyone." But for the life of me I can't find anything even closely related to this statement on google. Although I did find out a bunch of cool stuff about St. Catherine of Sienna; you should google her, it's an interesting read. 3. I debated writing about my students. I have bonded really well with my class this year. After tutoring on Tuesday as I was walking out the door with the students, I accidently pushed the play button on my phone and the ring tone for "All the Single Ladies," played. My students and I laughed. But one of them did something cool, "Ms. Bush, play that again." I did and he busted some moves for us. It was hilarious. I asked if he wanted to show his moves to one of the other teachers and he refused. Teachers are pretty possessive of their students, so it took me alot to ask if he wanted to share his dance, which made me happy when he didn't. 4. I wanted to write this whole blog about how being religious or spiritual doesn't make a person a fundamentalist. It's unfortunate how being in a religion and having a set of beliefs seems odd to the outside world. "Church people" get a bad wrap. I don't think you have to belong to a religion to be a good person, but it helps me. Please note: religious/spiritual people are not ALL conservative, judgmental, right-wingers. Remember to be kind - just like my prof says - you can't tell if people are in pain by looking at them; even religious people have feelings. 5. I was trying to think of a bunch of funny things to post since my last post was kind of serious. I didn't know if I was going to write about funny things that happened to me, or post hilarious youtube videos. I've decided to tell you about a couple of funny sitcoms; the first one is "The Middle." If you ever get a chance to watch it, you should, it will lighten your spirits. Chris Kattan is on the show playing a needy, nerdy, very unmanly man who can fix anything, or hook-up any kind of electronic. In tonight's episode, "Bob," Chris Kattan, was falling to pieces about some woman he met on the internet. He's telling the main character's husband about this girl, "She had everything: three kids, a house, and a dog. I could have just walked right in and had a life. Like you." My second favorite show is "Modern Family." Two of the men on the show are gay and they live together, with a cute Asian baby they adopted. One of the gay men played racquet ball with one of the husband's, but the husband (Al Bundy from "Married with Children") tells his wife, "I don't want to play with him. I mean, to a straight guy the locker room is just that, a locker room. To a gay man it isn't a locker room it's a show room." Then the two men accidently bump butts and the gay man is calling it a moon kiss, and instead of a "high five," it's a "low two." I do love Wednesday nights. I can't even begin to tell you how humorous I think "Cougar Town" is... 7. The healing power of forgiveness. This one I'm saving for later. Thanks for forgiving me; you know who you are and I'm truly grateful. I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world. Mother Theresa