Thursday Inspiration: RCIA and Holy Thursday

Want to be inspired this Triduum?  Read the RCIA conversion stories posted on the US Catholic Bishop's Media Blog.  They serve to remind me that God is always at work in the world.

And in preparation for Holy Thursday:

Friday Inspiration - Thank You

If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.

- Meister Eckhart

After visiting China a few years ago, there are only two phrases I remember: “hello” and “thank you.” They’re among the most significant phrases in any language because they express two important Christian values: hospitality and gratitude. How we greet people speaks to who we are individually and communally. When we greet someone joyfully and earnestly, we recognize the dignity of that person and they feel welcomed and loved. Ditto when we say “thank you.” “Thank you” represents genuine appreciation for who that person is and whatever they have done. “Thank you” recognizes the gift of hard work and dedication. A “thank you” says you matter to me and I appreciate your time. But within the context of our faith, a “thank you” means something more; it acknowledges the imitation of Christ’s self-giving, self-emptying love in the other.

Say thank you to someone you love and someone you don't know -- and really mean it!

Friday Inspiration: Remember

"Take care and be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children’s children." - Deuteronomy 4:9

In the Silver Chair, in the Chronicles of Narnia, Aslan (who represents Jesus) tells the two main characters, Jill and Eustace, to recite four signs every day, for signs will help them along their journey. Slowly they come to forget to recite these signs and eventually find themselves in a dark situation -- being cast under an enchantment by a witch in a cave deep inside the world. It takes a third character, a rugged soul, to break this spell by remembering that there is a better place elsewhere, that there is such a place as Narnia, and there is such a person as Aslan. As it turns out, had Jill and Eustace remembered these signs all along, they wouldn't have come so close to being ensnared in darkness.

Christianity requires remembering. Remembering that Jesus is our Lord and Savior in and through everything in life. Remembering that there is a heaven so that this life on earth isn't meant to be perfect. Remembering that we are sinners, so we need to reconcile ourselves with each other. Remembering that there are people in need and so we need to help them. Remembering that our faith is about love so we should love all we come in contact with. Remembering that Jesus didn't die just for me but for us, so in community we can find God. Remembering that everyone else in life is also struggling with something, so love one another.

What do you need to remember?  Who do you need to remember?

Thursday Inspiration - think of these things

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. – Philippians 4:8

This one scripture verse seems to be the reverse of our popular culture’s focus. Charlie Sheen’s antics get more press than the parent whose sacrifices go untold, a child’s innocence, or a toddler’s wonder at the world. We should think of things that are true, honorable, and just, not of the singer who trashed a studio room or the football player who was thrown out of a mall. By starting to think of these things that are pure, lovely, and gracious, we are invited to go one step further and think about the Giver of all that is worthy of praise – God. And what we think about changes who we are and how we act. Maybe it’s just me, but when I consciously fix my mind on God, I love better, even though I love imperfectly and not always.

What is honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent and worthy to be praised in your life?  Think about these things and praise God for them.

Friday Inspiration - March Madness

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed.

Psalm 34:19

It’s March Madness. Basketball is (always) on TV and you can even watch all the early round action online. Fans love the last second shots and wild swings during games. But take a look at the losing players. They’ve poured their blood, sweat, and tears into the sport over the course of their life. God-given abilities coupled with hard work and dedication netted them a free education, yet the moment after a buzzer beater, their spirits are crushed and their hearts are broken.

We all feel like crushed at times: when our reality doesn’t match up to what we had hoped for; when our hard work and dedication goes unnoticed or is unrewarded; when our closely held dreams and desires are dashed; when we hear of the tremendous suffering in Japan. But the Lord is close to us when are our hearts need mending. Jesus has a special love for those who approach humbly and in pain. Jesus saves; but Jesus also heals and raises from the dead. Our life, our families, our world is never past the point no return to the Lord.

Thursday Inspiration - Wait for the LORD

Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! - Psalm 27: 14

I don’t think waiting for the Lord is quite the same thing as waiting in line at the grocery store. God doesn’t somehow pay less attention to us because we’re behind someone else in a queue. No, we believe God loves us all, all the time. Waiting for the Lord engages a different part of who we are, a part that might not come alive as we wait in a line: our hearts. When we wait, we take a pause to pray and allow God to be God. Wait for the Lord’s love – choose not to let that one person at work get to you. Wait for the Lord’s courage – choose to make that tough phone call. Wait for the Lord’s strength – that difficult decision won’t be any less difficult, but God is there. All requires heart-strength; all requires God’s grace. Be strong and wait.

Thursday Inspiration: Come Holy Spirit

Come Holy Spirit
fill the hearts of Your faithful
and enkindle in them
the fire of Your love.

I find myself praying this prayer more and more recently: before I jump out of bed in the morning, before a difficult conversation, or in the midst of making a big decision. Praying for God’s presence is a prayer echoed throughout all of Scripture. Moses begs the LORD to be with them as they journey to the Promised Land. The psalmist feels absent from God and asks “why do you hide your face?” And Jesus tells all who labor and are heavy burdened to come to Him. When we pray a prayer to be with God, or for God to be with us, we continue in that great tradition. It’s not such a wild thing, but rather, we were created to be with God and our hearts are restless until they peacefully rest with God. Try it this week. Silently pray “Come Holy Spirit” throughout your day.  See where God leads you.

Thursday Inspiration: Stop Worrying

From St. Francis de Sales:

Stop worrying.
Whatever it is that you must do
to follow the path that God has shown you
do to the best of your ability.
And when you have done it
move on to the next thing.
Don’t keep rerunning it in your mind
trying to decide
whether your efforts were too little
or too much,
whether it was a great deed or a small one,
whether you might have done better.
If it wasn’t sinful and
you were trying to do the will of God,
it is enough.
Don’t worry. Move on.
Simply.
Calmly.
Peacefully.
Follow the path the Lord shows you
free of anxiety.
Otherwise
your anxiety will undermine
your efforts to grow.
If you do fail,
don’t let anxiety
overcome you,
but admit your failure,
quietly, humbly,
and in God’s presence.
Then get on with following the path
that God will continue to show you.

Midweek Inspiration

"You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope." -Thomas Merton

What we do in Religious Education, CCD, or Faith Formation every week does make a difference. It's difficult to believe because we don't have a tangible outcome to point to. We often don't see visible progress in the same way we see roads or buildings go up around us. Catechesis is more like planting seeds than pouring concrete. It requires faith on our behalf in the possibility that what God does through us during an hour and fifteen minutes once a week will take root. It is a challenging task, but one that we joyfully and courageously undertake. God is always with us! And so let us never lose hope in the task at hand.