28 September 2008

28 September 2008

Greetings Friends,

In my younger years, as a child, I was raised in a rather strict household. Being the eldest of six, I learned some hard lessons early on. The more I tried to become independent, tried to establish my own way in life, the more my parents seemed to thwart those efforts. My inner and at times my outer voice declared, "It's not fair!" Over the years when I prayed for one thing or another, and those prayers were not answered (or so I thought), that same "It's not fair!" was directed toward God. And yet...when I really thought about it, I came to ponder these things in a different way.

Was the strictness of my parents really always an effort to stifle growth? Does God really not answer prayers? In all honesty, the answer to both questions, for me, became a resounding "No!"

Just as any caring adult tries to guide children toward growing to live life in a way that is good and right not only for the child but also for others, so too God always knows what we need - and that may be very different from what we think we need. Surely we need people around us to point the way. Surely we need God's loving care and wisdom to nudge us, and sometimes push us toward becoming and being who we are intended to be - God's own beloved.

We are persons who have been formed by our history - by our ancestors. We are where we are in life right now in part because of the way the events of our life have unfolded and because of the choices we have made. As I put it to myself: If my parents hadn't done this or that, I would certainly be in a very different place in my thinking and my life. As people of faith we are also where we are in life because we place our trust and belief in our God who deeply and constantly loves us and all of creation. God invites us to live in harmony, in communion, with ourselves, with others, and with God. Not always an easy task, and I think God understands this. And yet, this is the greatest work of our life: to love as best we can. And when we stumble, God picks us up and nudges us again and again with forgiveness, with mercy, with compassion, with grace, and above all with Love.

May we always know we are surrounded by the abundant and eternal love of God.

Peace on the Journey

21 September 2008

21 September 2008

Greetings Friends!

I've been pondering community lately in light of some comments made at our last Town Hall meeting. More specifically, how we have grown to be community and how our sense of community manifests itself as we come together each weekend for Eucharist. At the meeting I heard comments about all the chatter and conversation before Mass being disruptive to those who desire a time of silence for private prayer and also comments that conversation before Mass is, well, community building. Both positions are valid everyone's opinion matters!

Let me pose some things to ponder: Before beginning constructing our current building, we were part of four separate faith communities worshiping at four different sites (five when we include the months we celebrated Mass first at Meeme School and then at Silver Lake College chapel). It became important to us to commence building the "house" we currently occupy in order to come together and to grow closer as community. This was believed to be the best way we could get to know each other and become the one faith community of St. Thomas the Apostle. An integral part of growing closer as community was and is communication - talking with one another. And talk we do! This indicates to me that we care about one another.

And yet, times of silence are desired by many for private prayer - and this is a very valid desire. So...I got to thinking. The design/rhythm/flow of our liturgy offers us some opportunities for silent prayer: The pauses between the readings are times for us to take into our hearts the Word of God which we have just heard and sung in the Scripture readings and Psalm. Some priest presiders offer us another opportunity for silence following the homily. The most extended period of silence within the liturgy can often times be found following Communion.

The physical space in which we currently worship lends itself to conversation (before Mass). It was never intended to be a permanent worship space - its design is that of a social hall. And we have to live with that fact for the time being. When we enter that space, we become part of the gathered community - a community that values and cares for each other and a community that realizes we are deeply loved by our God. I pray that this may always be so - that we gather to worship our awesome God with reverence while continuing to show our concern for those around us.

May we together continue to rejoice in the abundant Love and Life God has given is in all we do and are!

Peace on the Journey

14 September 2008

14 September 2008

No article this week.

07 September 2008

7 September 2008

Greetings Friends,

Listening is an art. In the course of every day we have the opportunity to speak with others and hear what they have to say about any number of things or events. But hearing and listening are two very different things. I can't help but think of past experiences, and I dare say perhaps all of us have had similar encounters. The scene is at the dinner table. Dan is talking about something. I hear his voice, and at one point he stops and says, "You're not listening; you haven't heard a word I said!" And in some cases he has been right - I may have been thinking so intently about what I was going to say in reply that I missed much of what he was saying or I may have been thinking of something else all together. The point is that listening, truly listening to another is our gift to them. It says, "You and what you have to say is important to me". Oh, we do not have to agree with what they say, and we are entitled to our opinion, but to really focus on attending to the person speaking to us, and having another really listen to us is so integral to relationship - it brings us a strong sense of togetherness.

The biblical prophets had the art of listening down to a tee. God spoke, and they listened and then they spoke God's message to the people. Oh, for sure most if not all of them questioned God in some way, shape, and form. But in the end, they not only heart but listened to the voice of the Divine. The message God spoke to Ezekiel in today's reading (Ezekiel 33:7-9) seems on the surface a harsh one. But within God's words, we can always find a message of love" "...you shall warn them for me". God was counting on Ezekiel to show the people that God wanted them to turn away from evil and return to God's love.

I believe God also speaks to us and continually offers us that message of God's love. Where? In the people around us, in the events of our lives, in all of creation that surrounds us, in the very core of our being, and more. We need only listen...

May we be in tune with the divine music of our loving God!

Peace on the Journey