Protestors

It's nice to know.  I'm going to the Religious Education Congress sponsored by the Diocese of Los Angeles.  In the instructions that are sent out, I noticed this little note:

If there are protesters at Congress, please do not engage in conversation with them. Ignoring them is the best way of responding. We have developed a plan with Convention Center staff to handle any potential protests.

 I do ignore them mostly because I'm rushing to get to the event.  Besides, there's more of them than little ole me.  They have a bullhorn, too.  But I've encountered them when the pope came to the USA, Eucharistic Congress and last year at the religious congress.  I never thought much about it.  I always thought they were just trying to save my soul, according to their beliefs.

But you think they'd get the idea when their conversion rate                                                                      from these events is "0".

Behaving Like God

Lectio:

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1LV 19:1-2, 17-18

The LORD said to Moses,
"Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them:
Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.

"You shall not bear hatred for your brother or sister in your heart.
Though you may have to reprove your fellow citizen,
do not incur sin because of him.
Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
I am the LORD."

Studium:

This book is named "Leviticus" because a lot of the book deals with priests, and the priests were from the tribe of Levi.  The book of Leviticus parallels the Ten Commandments but aimed for the Levite priests.  Although these particularly chosen verses are for us people, too.  We are all to strive towards holiness as God is holy. 

We are to revere God, and we should respect each other as God reveres us. My favorite priest, Father Aniello, says, "Thank you, Jesus, for making me your # 1.  Help me to love others as # 1, as You instruct me to."  Loving others like God loves us, will make us holy.  This type of love forbids inner hatred.  Inner hatred breeds grudges and vengeance.  God's love has no room for hate.  

Being holy is behaving like God.  "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Meditatio:

I remember when Troy, a catechumenate in RCIA got up and ostentatiously left Mass during the Prayers of the faithful. He didn't come back to the Mass but he did attend the next RCIA class.  I asked him the reason for his rude departure from Mass.  Troy responded something to the effect that Father had asked everyone to pray for terrorists and he'd be damned before he would pray for terrorists.

But "we're not praying for their success; we're praying for their hearts to be converted!"  Troy knew that.  He actually didn't want their conversion.  Troy wanted them to go to hell!

Oratio:

Oh boy!  Lord, what can I do?  Where do I begin?  How do I explain that You want us to love our enemies?  This does not make sense to people like Troy.  How did You convert the Israelites who were obligated to exact revenge by Mosaic law?  I need the Holy Spirit, desperately.

People like Troy did not receive much love in their youth.  Their homes didn't foster forgiveness and love.  I understand that.

Maybe if I began with that premise--parents, homes, and backgrounds. If you grew up in the home of a terrorist family, you'd be a terrorist, yourself.  You would want to kill your enemy.  But we are Christians and are taught differently.  This is RCIA, after all.

Contemplatio:

Holy Spirit come open the hearts of Troy and others who struggle with the concept of God's love.

Pray for Him

Leslie Ray Charping needs prayers.  He recently died and from the brutal, mean obituary that was reported in the newspapers, no one will miss him, let alone pray for him.

Sometimes the people who need love the most, and the hardest to love.

 Requiescat in pace Leslie Ray Charping.

Contractors

First Things had a poem that resonated with me.  It might with you, too.

Prop Tools

My friend the carpenter (no, not that one) 
Told me about a trick some workmen use.
They leave some tools around if they’re not done—
Nothing that they can’t afford to lose—

As if they’ve gone for coffee or a snack,
Or an emergency—a roof with leaks.
They want to keep us thinking, “They’ll be back,”
Despite the fact that days stretch into weeks.

But even if they do this to deceive,
They do it. They need us to think that they’re 
Decent, the kind of men who wouldn’t leave. 
That Skilsaw on the ground shows wear and tear,
A lot like faith. We need it. So do they.
A promise to believe in anyway.

—Midge Goldberg

The first time was 45 years ago!  We were having a new roof installed. Hubby had to leave and he was waiting and waiting for the roofer to finish.  Finally, he couldn't wait any longer.  The roofer only had about a foot wide length across the roof to do.  Hubby told the roofer he had to leave and paid him.
         When hubby came back, the roofer was gone, but he left a large pail with goo, a stack of shingles, and a spreading tool, on the roof.  Who would do that?  Why did he do that?  Surely, he'll come back and finish the job.
         We waited a year!!!  We telephoned and left messages, with no response.  We asked around; the man had disappeared!         I won't belabor the point, but the first time wasn't the last time.  As Midge Goldberg says, we need to believe.  We always have hope.  We never lose faith.

Do Your Job!

Aleteia hits the nail on the head, again!  Today there's an article by Tom Hoopes on 5 Lessons he wants his sons to learn from the Patriots win in Super Bowl LI.

He's highlighting spiritual lessons:
Don't coast.
Never give up.
Never turn against your own.
When it's hard to do, do it for your Mom.
Do your job!

I think I'll use this in my next TOPS meeting.      

Don't slack.
Keep trying.
Don't get down on yourself.
Do it for your family.
Do it for your health!

The Big Game

The Big Game: I'm not sure there were many people at the 6 p.m. Mass on Super Bowl Sunday. Actually, I think I can say without too much reservation that the congregation was most assuredly smaller than usual. That's because everyone was preparing to watch the Super Bowl game.

Jaymie Stuart Wolfe, the author compares this particular game's result to the spiritual life.  I like this and agree.  Super Bowl LI was unique.  The Patriots, who won, never led in the entire game, yet they won.  Let this be a lesson to everyone.  Persevere.



The same is true in our spiritual lives.  How many times do we sin?  How often do we doubt?  Isn't easier to just relax and join the cultural decline of moral values?  Aren't we tired?



Well, don't.  No matter what, take a lesson from the Patriots and persevere.

Thy Kingdom Come

What do you think?  Come join.  Why not?

Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement, which invites Christians around the world to pray between Ascension and Pentecost (May 25 - June 4) for more people to come to know Jesus Christ. What started out as an invitation from the Archbishops’ of Canterbury and York in 2016 to the Church of England has grown into an international and ecumenical call to prayer.

The hope is that:

People will commit to pray with other Christians around the world- as a church, individually or as a family;�

Churches will hold prayer events, such as 24-7 prayer, prayer stations and prayer walks, across the UK and in other parts of the world;�

People will be empowered through prayer by the Holy Spirit, finding new confidence to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.   

See:  https://www.thykingdomcome.global/