God’s Word to Us – Page 2 – The Maiden Warrior

Altars of Remembrance: Know Your Why

We continue to build the proverbial family altar using the Sacred Scriptures as our blueprint. What God commanded Joshua to do with his people, he still commands us to do with our people—build altars of remembrance. These altars are “to be a sign among you. When your children ask you, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ We will be able to recount the reasons for our faith in the One True LORD God Almighty.

We, in effect, build altars of remembrance in our homes each time we come together to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, graduations and weddings, even funerals. We tell our children the events of their birth; we share the story of how we met our husbands and wives; we hang memory boards at graduation open houses and funerals to celebrate a life in photos and memorabilia. What would happen in our homes if we honored our faith journey as much as our family journey? Do our children and grandchildren know the story of our faith in God? Do WE know our story of faith in God?

In the last post (The Family Altar), we discussed the instruction from the Shema (“to listen or hear”) to “Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart” (Deuteronomy 6:6). Today, we will consider the next instruction from the Shema where God directs his people to “Recite them to your children and talk about them…” (v.7).

When we know why we choose to practice our Catholic Faith, it is much easier to confidently practice our faith in what we do and how we live. When we recite the Nicene Creed like practicing Jews recite the Shema, it sets the trajectory of our lives, and it can set the trajectory of our children’s lives when we live what we believe. The bottom line for us as parents and grandparents is to guide our children in establishing a Catholic worldview in our quotidian existence. Where do we begin? St. Peter wrote to the early Christians,

“…In your hearts, sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to give a reason why you (believe in God) to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence.”

I Peter 3:15

Giving an account of something is at the heart of storytelling; its effect is proven in history. It is how The Faith was passed down to us, beginning with the story of the Jewish nation recorded in the Old Testament. When we share our stories of faith in God with our children (or anyone for that matter), we effectively give an account of the hope that is in us. Have you ever spent time meditating on the events of your life in the rubric of God’s providence? That’s an excellent place to start telling your faith story to the next generation. Consider these seed thoughts and questions you can ask yourself as you prepare to make a practice of reciting our Catholic Faith to our children.

What’s your earliest memory of feeling God’s presence? That is where your faith journey began. Children are always intrigued by our childhood stories; we can capitalize on that as we learn to recite our faith.

When was a time you felt a strong sense of God’s presence? No doubt there’s an interesting story that accompanies that memory, too. Is there a tender or dramatic moment you can share with your children where you felt the presence of the Lord?

When you look back at your life, where can you identify a blessing in disguise? Understanding where God came through for you unexpectedly can help you articulate the memory to your children. Share the circumstances of a time when money was short for a need, and how God provided it. Share the circumstance of a time when you were lonely, afraid, or angry and how God helped you overcome it.

What are some of the blessings of God’s natural world most meaningful to your life? Recall times in your childhood when you experienced those blessings. Share them with your children and grandchildren! In the present, there are so many moments we can seize when we are in nature with our children to point them toward our Creator God. When you hear a bird call, wonder aloud with them why God designed that bird to sing that song. Thank the Lord out loud for the weather, even when it’s not agreeable to you. Again, we are pointing our children to God by displaying an attitude of praise and thanksgiving for things present, past, and future. We can instill faith and hope in God in our children every tiny moment of the day!

Fostering a holy environment where our faith in God is active, remembered, treasured, celebrated, and passed on to generations to come is a privilege and honor. Let’s pick up our tools and get to work!

The Family Altar

“Teach [your] children of the [loving ways] of God; [so] that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and rise up and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments”

~Psalm 78

The Sacred Scriptures emphasize the honor and responsibility we have to our family and future generations to teach the ways of God. Let’s consider an object lesson; as it were, God used to open the eyes of his people to their sacred responsibility to sanctify their families.

The first books of the Bible and the book of Joshua relay the lengths God went to to establish his covenant with his creation. He chose the family of Abraham and his future generations to fulfill his desire that all creation would know of his desire to bless them. He led his people into the long-awaited Promised Land through the river Jordan under the leadership of Joshua. God instructed Joshua to tell his people, “Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow, the Lord will do wonders among you” (Jos 3:5). And he did!

Later, when they crossed the Jordan, God instructed his people to build an altar with 12 stones from the river so that “these are to be a sign among you. When your children ask you, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ you shall answer them, ‘The waters of the Jordan ceased to flow before the ark of the covenant of the Lord when it crossed the Jordan. Thus these stones are to serve as a perpetual memorial to the Israelites” (Jos 4:6-7).

This wasn’t the only time God instructed his people to build an altar as a remembrance (a visual reminder of God’s faithfulness), but it is one that will encourage us in our desire to live our faith effectively so that we become the holy families God desires to bless.

Altars would eventually serve other purposes: a place where parents would prophesy over their children by reminding them that they were created for a purpose—to serve the Lord God with all their mind, all their strength, and all their hearts. An altar became a sacred place where parents would release children into their prophetic destinies and where they would receive their father’s blessing. It would also become a destination to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving to the Lord on behalf of their family.

Over time, the geographical altars of remembrance became family altars in the culture of Judeo-Christian home life. It was a designated place in the home. The purpose was the same: a family remembered God’s faithfulness to their ancestors in the faith (Bible stories), and they conversed with God together, showing their love and thanksgiving for him (prayer). The benefit to future generations, of course, depended on how committed the parents were to passing on the faith to their children.

I grew up with a family altar that shifted throughout the day: from the kitchen, where we knelt at our chairs after breakfast as my father would pray for each of us before we went our separate ways, to the living room after dinner, where we listened to our father read the Sacred Scriptures, and we each learned to pray together; then to our bedsides as our mother prayed with us and tucked us into bed. Once I left home and married my husband, we built a family altar. Why? Because my parents were faithful to God by being faithful to us around the family altar, I knew the stability it provided for my development as a Christian, not to mention my self-image!

It isn’t always easy; a toddler crying at your feet or a teenager slamming their bedroom door in your face is distracting. Perseverance is required if we desire to instill in our children the stability of knowing who they are and why God created them the way he did. We must teach them, through example and habit, the beauty, goodness, and truth of The Faith.

Our desires for our family require consistent attention to God’s Word and perseverance in prayer, but where do we begin, and how do we fit it in? I would like to come alongside you to offer encouragement and practical advice for finding suitable “stones” for your family altar. We will consider other altars in the Sacred Scripture and how they can inspire us as we worship at our family altars.

Regardless of the composition of your family (mom and dad, single parent, blended family), You will discover ways to build a family altar and navigate family life under the priority of family worship. You will discover the beauty of verbally blessing your family and fostering an atmosphere of peace. We will offer practical approaches for discussing the faith with your children. And most importantly, you’ll learn how to become prayer warriors for your children and future generations.

Advent: Waiting Full

We can wait empty, or we can wait full.

It all depends on what we do with the time.

Those who wait empty get irritated or dissipated.

Those who wait full get richer as time goes by.

Those who wait empty wait aimlessly.

Those who wait full do something that
changes them by the time they get what they are waiting for.
–Unknown

Consider
“Indeed, this is our God; we looked to him, and he saved us! This is the Lord to whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”(Isaiah 25:9) Waiting equates with hoping; it’s waiting complete with gladness and joy at the thought that one day, the Lord will come through on his promise of salvation. Salvation is a noun that can function as a verb—it’s the unfolding and fulfilling of God’s purpose.

“Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us…” – Luke 2:15

Advent is defined as the season of quiet waiting, expectation, and hope fulfilled in the Incarnation of Christ. But here’s the thing: the culture no longer defines Advent that way. For that matter, most would not even recognize the noun Advent! In our world, these four weeks of the calendar year can be the most stress-filled weeks for many of us. It is a time of increased expectation, and if we are not careful to retain our way, we will scramble to fill the days according to the merchandising god that defines fulfillment of expectation with tangible goods.

It can be supremely difficult to silence the voices around us, step back from the noise, take a deep breath, and allow the LORD to reveal himself to us, can’t it? If we are honest, we admit to some irritation and dissipation because THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO to keep up with what we have been conditioned to think what a perfect Christmas looks like, so much so that we can become frantic to make every moment perfect for our loved ones.

A young mom-friend of mine wrote “A Parent’s Advent Prayer” that you may resonate with as you endeavor to wait full of joyful anticipation with your family. I pray that as you lead your pilgrim band, Christ will be more than enough to fill your home with true hope and joy!

Dear God,

I now stop what I’m doing,
what I’m thinking,
what I’m scrambling to plan
and hustling to finish
so that I can
be here.

Be here in the safety and warmth of your love.
This love that holds me fast and keeps me centered.
What I want to be a season of joy for my children
so quickly becomes a season of
increased expectations for me –
not because they expect things,
but because I do.

It’s the pressure I put on myself to
make things perfect,
and memorable,
and happy,
and special.

But you came to me amidst darkness and stars –
reminding me how darkness and light
are most beautiful together.
And in that holy, mysterious and messy night,
you re-defined perfection,
promising me that leaning into the mystery
and laying down in loving awe
compose the most faithful response.

You tell me the best gift I can give
my children this Christmas is
to look with love into their eyes.
To pause throughout the day
to pray over them.
To envelop them with arms
of fierce grace when I feel
most angry or annoyed.
To sit in wonder for a moment (or many)
and marvel at all that shaped
our family this year.

To give thanks
and allow tears to fall
and dreams to rise.
To take my pilgrim band
by their hands and walk together,
deep into the heart of Bethlehem
shining bright within our souls.
This will be more than enough,
because you’ve made a manger
in which my heart will rest and find
your heartbeat becoming mine.

Amen.

(Matthew 2:10-11 * Matthew 6:31 * Luke 2:15-20)

Prayer It Forward: Arrow Prayers

“Prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.”

~St. Therese Lisieux

Michael Keaton starred in the 1996 comedy Multiplicity; he played a husband and father who tried to be present to his children and wife and still maintain his successful career. A scientist managed to clone him into four versions of himself to do right by his family and his career. The plan works for a while but comes to a comedic end. The movie’s intrigue has stayed with me as I’ve seen our family grow and divide into three parts of the country; my desire to live near each of them couldn’t be fulfilled, so multiplying myself sounded like a great idea. I follow their lives in conversations, texts, and Facetime. We are unique in our interests and pursuits, and even though I long to be a daily companion in their lives, I must rely on another kind of multiplication.

I offer up my prayers for each of them and am oriented to their well-being; my prayers as a wife, mother, and memiere are indeed the upward surge of my heart throughout each day. I can turn my look to our Heavenly Father, knowing that he knows my heart and embraces my family even better than I do. The idea of “arrow prayers” isn’t original to me. Still, my pattern of daily prayer for my lovies could be described as arrow prayers. They are a few lines of Scripture or quotes from the writings of the Saints or prayers of The Church coupled with my knowledge of each of my lovey’s needs.

When we were raising our children, I made a practice of writing said prayers on 3×5 cards strategically placing them around our home. The silent witness of those prayers seeped into our family atmosphere, and I know they helped to form our children’s faith in God. I encourage you to practice praying arrow prayers for your children and grandchildren. Remember that the Word of God is living and active…sharper than a two-edged sword…able to pierce the heart and mind (Hebrews 4:12). Our “arrow prayers” are just as intense!

The arrow prayers we pray with our children when they are young are much different than what we pray for in other stages of life. For instance, whenever we hear a siren or helicopter, we can train our children to know that someone is in trouble and then ask God to help them. The change of seasons gives us ample reasons to offer praise together to God for the beauty of his creation. Simple prayers like “Help them, Jesus” or “Thank you, Jesus” orient our children to God.

My prayers are different now. As I pray for my adult children and grandchildren, I rely on God’s prevenient grace (see Pray It Forward: Introduction) to answer my prayers. I still write appropriate arrow prayers in a prayer journal I keep for my family. Some I’ve relied on so often that they are written in my memory. It is as though I carry a quiver full of arrows with me each day, ready to be shot to heaven at the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I am sharing some of those prayers in my quiver to help guide your prayers or give you ideas of what to fill your quiver with.

Lord Jesus Christ,

I ask that [ ]…

Would grow in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man.

Would function with godly wisdom, discernment, and revelation.

Would be given a sense of purpose and hope for the future.

Would inflame them with Spirit, that it would burn, consume, and nourish them so that your Supreme will form them.

Mary lay her mantle over them so the infernal serpent may not dare to penetrate or entice them away from you.

Would be someone who speaks wisely, graciously, and clearly and never foolishly, rudely, or insensitively.

Would open the doors of salvation and draw them into your Divine will to form their life all in you.

You would remove anything that separates them from you.

May they see, hear, taste, savor, and touch you. They would be conscious of your presence and enjoy you!

I lay a spiritual ax to the root of their family tree and pray that the physical, mental, or emotional tendency stops and will not manifest in them.

May the Spirit of the Lord stir them onward and upward in the ascent of holiness.

May they rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances.

Grant [ ] the Spirit of Wisdom that they may not be attached to the perishable things of this world but aspire only after the things that are eternal.

Grant [ ] the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten their minds with the light of your Divine truth.

Grant [ ] the Spirit of Counsel that they may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven.

Grant [ ] the Spirit of Fortitude that they may bear our cross with you and that we may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose our salvation.

Grant [ ] the Spirit of Knowledge that they may know God and know themselves and grow perfect in the science of the Saints.

Grant [ the Spirit of Piety that they may find the service of God sweet and amiable.

Grant [ ] the Spirit of Fear that they may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may avoid anything that may displease him.

Mark [ ], dear Lord, with the sign of your true disciples, and animate [ ] in all things with your Spirit.

May the words of [ ] mouth and the meditation of [ ] heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, our Rock and Redeemer.

Keep sending your arrow prayers to the Lord on behalf of your family. He will receive them and work all things together for the good of those who love him.

Pray It Forward: Cast Your Bread Upon the Water

“…Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap, for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

St. Luke 6:38

Send out your bread upon the waters,
for after many days, you will get it back...

Ecclesiastes 11:1

Consider

Jesus teaches us that giving of ourselves to others results in a reward. The same principle applies in His Kingdom’s economy of abundance when we cast our prayers upon Him. When we intercede, we surrender our most profound concerns for our loved ones to Him. Some of us have been praying for years for a loved one, but we are losing hope that God will answer our prayers. It can be challenging to entrust our loved ones to our Lord, whether it is a wayward child, a broken marriage, a chronic disease, or any other issue. It boils down to this: the tricky part about giving our children and grandchildren to the Lord is that we must let go, which can seem impossible. How is it going for you?

The most powerful way to communicate with God is by using His Word. One of the best things we can do for ourselves is engage with the Sacred Scripture, which helps us find peace when we are struggling with our loved ones. We immerse ourselves in His grace when we meditate on God’s Word. We can be confident that His Word always hits the mark. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews reminds us that the Word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It can divide the soul from spirit, joints from marrow, and judge the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. (Hebrews 4:12)

My prayers for my present and future family members may not be perfect; I’m just not that good! However, when we pray using the Word of God, the Holy Spirit interprets our words and makes them effective.

Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 8:26-27

If you need more encouragement for your intercessory prayers, consider the power of God’s Word described by the prophet Isaiah.

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55: 10-11

When we entrust the well-being of our loved ones to God by praying His Word, we may have a solid urge to dictate precisely how we want Him to answer our prayers. However, we must trust that His Holy Spirit will translate our requests according to His will. Even though the answer may not come immediately, we can be confident that God will fulfill His purpose for our loved ones in abundance and with incredible generosity as they respond to his grace and salvation.

Pray

Lord, you promise to keep [ ] from all evil and keep [ ] life in your hands. You know [ ] comings and goings from this time on and evermore. I entrust [ ] to you; do with [ ] what You will!

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Act

Start a prayer journal dedicated to intercessory prayer for your family. As you read the Daily Office, you will discover how to form the Scripture into prayer. Here are a few samples from today’s liturgy:

The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and he will take the disgrace of his people from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. Isaiah 25:8

Oh Lord God, I carry [ ] to your loving arms, and I ask that you wipe away her tears and assure her of your unfailing love for her. You know the disgrace in her life and how it affects her mind and body. Comfort her for me today. –Amen

Light dawns for the just and gladness for the upright of heart. Be glad in the Lord, you just, and give thanks to his holy name. Psalm 97:11-12

God of Light, shine on [ ] as he strives to be a godly father. Grant him an upright heart so that he gladdens the heart of his children. May he live a life of gratitude before all people. –Amen

Pray It Forward: Introduction

Today, I trailed behind my daughter and granddaughter as we walked the halls of the school she will enter this year. With her schedule and map of the school in hand, she walked beside her guidance counselor to each of the doors in her new adventure–high school! It was a bizarre moment for me. I was here in a place like this with her mother just yesterday, wasn’t I? The guidance counselor gave the same advice to my granddaughter that my daughter and I heard when we were her age. “Change is exciting, but it can be scary; everyone around you probably feels the same way as you do, so don’t be afraid to ask for help.” Good advice, no matter your age!

I have 16 grandchildren, and there are many bizarre moments like these for me as I mother-once-removed them. It is more challenging for me to see my grandchildren growing up than it ever was when I parented their parents. I know it’s ridiculous to feel that way, but I can’t help myself. My love for them is possibly more than their fathers and mothers’ love for them at this stage in the game. It feels like my mama bear-ness is on steroids with my grandchildren.

Our family is spread across the country, and so is my love. With the arrival of each grandchild, my passion keeps expanding; sometimes, I’m bursting with emotions in 16 directions. So, what do I do? I get down on my knees and pray like I’ve never prayed before! I pray for these grandchildren just as I prayed for my children, but with more urgency than I ever felt when my children were young. I was too busy surviving motherhood; I didn’t have time to think of the “what ifs.” I would collapse into bed at night and ask our heavenly Father to make up for all my mistakes that day and for the stamina to get through the next day. I often told the Lord, “I just want them to remember how much you love them; don’t let me get in the way of them knowing that.” Now I pray, “Lord, help their parents to show them how much you love them, but let me help!”

And I do help! I help with the most significant effectiveness I have as their memiere (grandmother), for I, too, have a Guidance Counselor walking beside me, reassuring me as I navigate each new change in my family’s life. I’ve taken St. James’ admonition (5:13,16) to earnestly pray for others for a long time.

Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? … The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.

The sense of urgency in interceding for my children grew exponentially when they reached their teen years, and now, 30-some years from our first child starting his teen years, I’m still praying not only for my children and grandchildren but our progeny! There is a theological understanding referred to as “prevenient grace,” referring to the grace of God that goes before us to prepare us for the recognition of sin and to enable us to understand our need for a Saviour. I know, that I know, that I know prevenient prayer for my family is the most valuable inheritance I can give as a mother and memiere. It is my habit to pray the Sacred Scriptures for my family. For what better way could I pray than praying God’s Word over them. The writer of Ecclesiastes encourages us to Send out your bread upon the waters, for after many days, you will get it back.

I pray that this new category addition to my blog will be helpful to you, friend.

The Table

Jesus and feasting go together! Jesus frequently gathered with people around the table to enjoy good food and wine. The conversations around the table led to lessons by Jesus that would reveal truths about himself or human nature. Jesus’ first recorded miracle was at a wedding feast. He revealed his compassion and his power for the guests at that table. Jesus multiplied bread and fish for feasts that fed thousands of people. At one of those feasts, he declared that his body is the bread of heaven, and all who eat it are welcome at the table in God’s Kingdom. The last night with his disciples before his arrest, was spent around a table where they celebrated the Passover Feast–Lamb, bread, and wine. He instituted the Feast of the Eucharist when he broke bread with them and shared the wine:

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

The Gospel according to St. Matthew 26:26-29

On the evening of the day of his resurrection, he revealed himself to two of his followers at their table while breaking the bread; he blessed the bread and gave it to them. They immediately recognized Jesus as he broke the bread and blessed it!

They urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him…

The Gospel according to St. Luke 24: 29-31a

After his Ascension into heaven, his holy Spirit descended on his followers while they celebrated the Feast of Pentecost!

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.And suddenly from heaven, there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit…

The Acts of the Apostles 2:1-4a

The book of The Revelation to St. John includes a vision that reveals Jesus feasting around a table with his followers. St. John is instructed by the angel that accompanied him to write these words, Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
    the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
    and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
    and his bride has made herself ready;
to her, it has been granted to be clothed
    with fine linen, bright and pure”—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

The Revelation to St.John 19:6b-9a

What is Jesus up to with all that feasting? Is it the food, or is it the event? Well, it’s both. It was just like him to use the stuff familiar to us to reveal how God’s Kingdom may “come on earth as it is in heaven.” St. Luke draws our attention to a few feast conversations in his gospel (14:7-24), and considered together they foreshadow the eternal feast of heaven: The Marriage Supper of the Lamb. It seems that Jesus wants us to rehearse feasting with the proper attitude and understanding so that we may be allowed through the doors of heaven to take our place at the table of that feast.

Rehearsal includes three things necessary for receiving an invitation to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. We are to practice humility and hospitality, and finally, we are to practice readiness.

The way Jesus wants us to rehearse humility and hospitality is evident in the first lesson (St. Luke 14:7-14): obey his command to love our neighbor as ourselves. The last lesson is known as the Parable of the Great Banquet; a festal feast (St. Luke 14:15-24). Festal feasts have extraordinary religious symmetry; they symbolize covenant communion with God and others. In the parable, Jesus describes himself at once as the host of the feast, and as the servant sent to gather everyone in for the covenant communion around his table.

The Great Banquet foreshadows the worship of the Mass as a celebration of covenantal communion. The worship of God in the Mass is quite literally a rehearsal for The Marriage Supper of The Lamb in eternity. We join the great multitude of the faithful who have departed this earthly kingdom. We enter into the conversation around The Table of Christ’s Sacrifice, listening to his Word and humbly responding through prayer, confession of our sins against God and others, and receiving Christ’s body and blood, soul and divinity in The Eucharistic Feast! The worship of The Mass on earth is where we receive Christ as Host and Suffering Servant

[Christ Jesus] emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians 2:7-11

All of life is sacramental in that everything that happens to us and around us becomes an offering of thanksgiving when we offer it to our Lord. The mundane and ordinary is a rehearsal of humility and hospitality where we reveal Christ to others in our attitudes and actions. We are practicing readiness before God through obedience to his command to love others as we love ourselves. How is rehearsal going for you, friend? Do you faithfully worship God in The Mass, or are you skipping out for the fast and easy worship of this earthly kingdom? The Good and Gentle Host and Servant invites us to come to him, to eat and drink of him as he is made present in the worship of the Mass. He paid the price for our seat at this table with his body and blood. Will you accept the invitation?

You Look Just Like Your Father!

The Daily Liturgy of The Church has immersed us in the letter of St. Paul to The Early Church in Ephesus over the past week. His signature theme, Be imitators of God, is most obvious in this letter.

Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:1

Salvation History encapsulates God’s one desire, to restore his identity in us whom he created in his image. I’ve been told that I look just like my father. I’m always glad to hear that because my father has aged well, and at 92 years, his vibrance still shines, so I like to think that’s what people notice about my 62 years. One can hope.

Looks are only skin deep, but our heavenly Father’s beauty is from the inside out! So how can we look just like our heavenly Father? It begins by remembering who we are and what we are to be about as the beloved children of our Creator God. St. Paul writes in the letter to The Early Church in Corinth:

There is one God, the Father, from whom all things are and for whom we exist, and one LORD, Jesus Christ, through him all things are and through whom we exist.

I Corinthians 8:6

The God of The Cosmos is the God of the Gospels with skin on, Jesus Christ! He is the very Word of God, made flesh so that we may be restored to God through him. How does that happen? As we contemplate the gospels, we observe God through Jesus, unsullied by sin; it follows that we learn the way back to our Heavenly Father as we accept the truth of who Jesus Christ is. The disciple John begins his account of the life of Christ with these words:

In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him, not one thing came into being. What has come into beingin him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it… And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

The Gospel according to St. John 1:1-5;14

Jesus, the very Word of God, made flesh mirrors before us God’s nature. Jesus answers the purpose of “God made flesh” with his disciples. (The entire chapter of St. John 14 is a profound discourse and is worth your time)

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him… If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him because he abides with you, and he will be in you.”

The Gospel according to St. John 14: 6-7; 15-17

We know from the record of the Acts of the Apostles that the Advocate that Jesus promised descended from God as his Holy Spirit. Sometimes we don’t fully comprehend how his Spirit can transform our natures into God’s nature. We can’t understand the ways and means of this God’s amazing grace; faith and trust are required.

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting… All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit…

The Book of the Acts of the Apostles 2: 1,2,4a

The Breath of God’s holy Spirit fills us, permeating our very being. As we allow God’s Holy Spirit to inspire us, he transforms our very nature to look just like our Father! The letters to the Early Church are so important in our spiritual formation–they are the owner’s manuals, so to speak, on how to be inspired. St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians to live according to Christ’s example so that they may be inspired (given breath) to live in a manner worthy of their identity as God’s beloved children. The more we breathe in God’s Word to us, the more we breathe out the essence of his nature, revealed in Christ. Christ’s humility, gentleness, and patience (Ephesians 4:2) in exchange for our pride. Christ’s kindness, compassion, and forbearance (Ephesians 4:32) in exchange for anger. Christ’s strength and power (Ephesians 6:10) in exchange for our fear.

Triune God, we desire to look just like you! Breathe into us your very nature so that we may be transformed–mind, body, and soul–into your likeness!

In the name of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, it is now, and evershall be, world without end.

Amen.

Wealth that Matters to God

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus,
“Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”
He replied to him,
“Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”
Then he said to the crowd,
“Take care to guard against all greed,
for though one may be rich,
one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Then he told them a parable.
“There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.
He asked himself, ‘What shall I do,
for I do not have space to store my harvest?’
And he said, ‘This is what I shall do:
I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones.
There I shall store all my grain and other goods
and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you,
you have so many good things stored up for many years,
rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’
But God said to him,
‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you;
and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’
Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself
but is not rich in what matters to God.”

The Gospel According to St. Luke 12: 13-21

The “someone in the crowd” on this day came to Jesus with a complaint about an inheritance that he thought should be divided up between him and his brother. We don’t know the whole story, but Jesus did and he graciously responded with a parable to illustrate to him the spiritual lesson he needed to learn. Jesus’ method, so to speak, still works today. We are all someone in a crowd seeking answers for the dilemmas in our life, and Jesus knows our whole story. What Jesus had to say then, he still speaks today–this is what I treasure about the gospels–it is the good news I need for every moment of my life.

Let’s consider together this interaction from St. Luke’s narrative. Jesus warns the brother, as he does us, to take care to guard against all greed because our quality of life here on earth doesn’t rely on the accumulation of earthly goods. We know that in theory, but how do we follow Jesus’ advice to become rich in what matters to God? The parable Jesus then tells has been referred to as The Parable of the Rich Fool, for the man, so caught up in his greediness, doesn’t seem to consider treasuring what matters to God. It seems that he believed that the accumulation of money would give his life purpose. He certainly isn’t alone in his greediness, what began in Eden plays out in the habits of the human condition!

St. Augustine wrote that our hearts are restless until they rest in God. Like the rich fool, the restlessness of the human condition drives us toward immediate satisfaction from whatever fascinates or consoles us–all under the umbrella of over-weaning fear or pride. The rich fool’s pride was obvious, our’s might not be so obvious. The man’s question of what shall I do to satisfy my restlessness is the question that sends each of us down paths that may appear benign enough. But do they make us rich in what matters to God?

Consider Jesus’ words again, “‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong? ‘Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.” St. Augustine taught people to seek the invisible rewards of God in loving what is good, loving what God has created, but only if they are lovers of God. That’s the tipping point, isn’t it? He exhorted his congregation to pursue what they love in the right order: heavenly things before earthly ones, the LORD before everything else.

Here’s the thing, it’s much easier to pursue the things we see rather than the things we don’t see! We can’t quantify charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity. And how do we quantify temperance, justice, prudence, and fortitude or faith, hope, or charity? I’ve referred to this before by considering them as investments that roll back dividends into our lives, all for the sole purpose of glorifying God and attracting those around us to do the same. It’s the most simple and difficult method to guide us away from being fools!

Father, reveal to us how our restlessness for you is misguided by our drive to eat, drink, and be merry with the temporal wealth of this world.

Draw our wandering hearts back to you, and open our eyes and ears to the abundance of your blessings. May we treasure what you think about us more than what those around us think of us.

Holy Spirit of God, train us in storing up the eternal riches of God’s glory as you guide us into the abundant freedom of detachment from this world’s empty treasures.

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, it is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen

Mottos

Mottos intrigue me, those catchphrases that we often live by or aspire to. A motto is different than a slogan collected by the culture to describe a thought or idea. Take, for instance, the phrase “Flower Power” (I’m dating myself here). That slogan represented the passive resistance of the hippie movement during the 1960s and early 70s in protest against the Vietnam War. The slogan morphed into the use of props like flowers, toys, flags, and candy in anti-war rallies with the hope that it would reduce the fear and anger that usually accompanied protests. Slogans can be effective for a time; however, it can change as quickly as culture does.

Mottos, however, are more like a maxim of a belief system that one wholeheartedly embodies no matter what is going on in the culture around them. We see this in clan mottos that develop over generations of behavior. For instance, my maiden name is Keith, and our clan has the motto “Veritas Vincit” which means “Truth Prevails.” I embrace that motto; it informs how I choose to respond to the culture around me.

The brokenness of the human condition is evident in the way you and I may find ourselves repeating lies to ourselves rather than the truth. Do these sound familiar? I am not good enough. I am too much. I can’t. I won’t. It’s impossible. I will never change. Do any of these lies echo in your thoughts? There is hope! The mottos in Sacred Scripture can work like a telegraph for our mind, constantly repeating the truth until it fixes in our mind. Like a mantra that means “man-think,” repeating the truth of Scripture will change how we think. Easier said than done, I know. Here is where our daily Mass readings come to our aid.

The Sacred Scripture imbues mottos for us to live by no matter the time in history. The Church intentionally worships God that is anchored in the consistent reading through the Scriptures in a three-year cycle. In effect, our very identity as a beloved child of God forms through the worship of God in the Mass. Practicing this identity begins and ends in the worship of God, not just in the Mass but in every moment of our lives. How’s that going for you?

The established pattern of the responsorial psalm in the Mass is necessary to practice our faith and live into our identity as God’s beloved child in daily life. You are familiar with many psalms because we read, chant, or sing them as we respond to the cantor with the antiphonal sentence after each verse. In effect, we are repeating a motto as a reminder of who we are. They encapsulate the Word of God into a rule of life to be embraced and to inform our thinking, transforming our very nature to reveal our identity as a child of God. This type of repetition is a form of meditation, and we can repeat the antiphonal response as prayers throughout our day. In this way, we allow the Holy Spirit to change our minds, returning us to our identity as the beloved children of our Creator God.

Let’s pray together some of the antiphons we have prayed in the last week as we worshipped in the Mass. You may find one to repeat as your prayer throughout today..

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. (Psalm 95)

LORD, your Word is always speaking to us; forgive us for the times that our heart is hard as a stone against your Spirit’s movement in our life. Teach us to listen to you rather than the “voices” in our heads!

The Lord will remember his covenant forever. (Psalm 111)

LORD, how easily we forget that your love endures forever. You never change your mind about us. We can do nothing to make you love us less, and we can’t do anything to make you love us more. Help us to respond to your covenant love for us with thanksgiving and humility.

Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. (Psalm 139)

LORD, when we are tempted to allow the culture to guide our thoughts and actions, remind us that you are the way, the truth, and the life. Grant us the courage to choose life with you!

The Lord made us, we belong to him. (Psalm 100)

Our Lord and Creator, we belong to you. You did not create us to belong to anything else! Forgive us for bowing to the over-weaning pride, fear, or anger that can hold us captive, enslaving us in futility and despair. Help us to remember that you want us to remain in your steadfast love that conquers all the enemies of our souls. May we carry your banner into our corners of the world, corners that are full of people who don’t know who they are, why they are here, or what they stand for. May the way we live our lives repeat your love, mercy, and forgiveness to all who observe us.

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, it is now and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen