Musings of a Catholic Convert

Here's hoping for a short week.  Normally, Mondays are the days in which most of my work get's piled on, or when I sort through the pile of work given to me on Friday.  Needless to say, I hate Mondays.  

Had a great time this weekend, spending good time with friends.  The kids and I even had a decent Saturday while the wife was out on business.  Father Parham had a TOTALLY AWESOME homily on Sunday, which made Sunday's Mass that much more amazing.  Small group was excellent, and I'm not just saying that because we grilled burgers.  Things are really clicking along there and I'm glad for it.

But today is not small group.  Today is Monday.  The good news is that it's also payday.  Maybe I'll buy a CD today?  There are a couple that I have my eye on.  One is new and the other is not.  How's that for a vague hint.  Ha!  

Almost time to start work for the day.  Hope you all have a great week, and I hope you all get Friday off!

I wish I knew more about Archbishop Sheen's personal life.  No doubt, there are numerous biographical books I can get my hands on.  For now, however, I am absorbed in the man's sermons and books.  He has been such a tremendous help to me in my own continuing conversion and relationship with Christ.  And I ask for the continuous intercession of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, as I know from my reading that he was a tremendous prayer warrior as a pilgrim on this earth.  His prayer strength has certainly not diminished now that he is before the very throne of the One who saves us. He can only have become even more effective in his prayers to God.

Why this man?  Why not some other already canonized saint?  Listen, I've got loads of saints as examples, mentors, and teachers.  They show me it is possible to live for Christ amid difficulty and selfishness.  Archbishop Fulton Sheen stands out, however.  From the first time I saw him on television, it has been as though he was talking directly to me, as if he could read my very soul.  I found myself listening to his sermons more and more.  Now, I'm reading books, and it is here that I am beginning to see major transformation.

And it's not that Archbishop Sheen is telling me something I haven't heard before.  In fact, I've taught the very things I'm reading.  How is it that now, in 2008, these words are piercing my heart?  Perhaps now my heart is ready to receive.  The timing of God is impeccable, though I am grossly late in my spiritual time table.  Far too many years have been spent "coasting" and exchanging intellectual stimulation for spiritual growth.  The heart was never meant to be separated from the intellect.  Faith and reason must work hand in hand.

As I read though my latest Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen book, The Way to Happiness, I am struck dumb by the wisdom of God.  Why is it that such simple principles can be so difficult to put into practice?  The reality of sin and a humanity weakened by its own concupiscence.  Many are ready to die a martyr's death, but very few are willing to live a life of quiet, attentionless, self-sacrifice.  Yet that is what we are called to do.  I would prefer to be recognized in my struggles, or sacrifices.  I would prefer to be noticed.  I would prefer to have my ego boosted.  This is not right.  The real conversion takes place when nobody knows, sees, or cares about your sacrifice.  Only God sees.  No human reward.  No human empathy.  No attention.  Just sacrifice, given out of a pure love, because love does what it does not for show but for love's sake.  

May we all swallow the bitter pill of our pride and give ourselves totally to God by loving our neighbor.  And may God transform our hard hearts to be like His own. 

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Nothing philosophical to post.  Just wanted to say that we joined the YMCA last night.  Hooray!  I haven’t stepped foot in a YMCA for years so I wasn’t sure what to expect, especially in our little suburbia we call home.  Most Y’s that I’ve visited have been huge facilities with all sorts of stuff and then some apartments available for rent.  This YMCA didn’t have any apartments, and it’s not huge, but it has plenty of space for recreation and exercise and also provides for safe childcare while adults take a class (tiger style kung fu anyone?).  I’m pretty stoked about the pools as well.  Indoor and outdoor pools for my swimming pleasure.  

Last night we took the tour before we signed up.  I had already researched the facility and was confident we would join, but I still wanted to take the tour.  We had fun.  The kids are already telling us what classes they want to take.  Surprise!  My son wants to take Karate.  Of course that is EXACTLY what a four year old boy needs.  Should be fun to watch.  Then we can match our skills in friendly competition.

You have been studying for some time, young one.  Do you think you are ready to face me?

Venerable father, you will soon see that I have learned much in the art of battle

You would be foolish to think one so young as yourself could best me.  I have great experience and my age has given me wisdom.

Then, father, you would be wise to surrender now before I injure your old bones.

Your speech is brash.  What makes you think your monkey style technique can defeat my tiger style? 

Honorable one, have you not seen the YouTube clip of the chimpanzee tormenting not one but TWO tigers?

Oh.  No, I have not.  It is of little consequence.  Let us battle.  I will teach you a thing or two.

So be it, father.  You will soon see that the student has become a master. 

Or something like that. We’ll see.  I’m just glad to have a place like the YMCA so close to home.

I love the Smokies. Every time I visit my folks, I try to find a way to visit the mountains. I could spend days there, just enjoying the pristine beauty of God's creation there. My kids? They just like playing in the mountain streams. I enjoy that myself, but let me tell you, that water is C-O-L-D.

This was a very relaxing and long weekend for us. I enjoyed visiting with my family. The holiday also gave us another opportunity to go together to decorate the graves of our departed family. I took the time to talk to my kids about the family members, some of whom my kids never got to meet. It was a sad time because we miss having our family with us, but it is also a good time to remember our time here with them and share our love for them with our kids.

What did we see in the Smokies?

12 Deer, 2 Black Bear, 1 Wild Turkey (the bird, not the bottle)

Lots of fun and lots of rest, even though I spent a goodly amount of time working on a data project. That's what late evenings are for, especially while I'm watching Unbeatable Banzuke. I gotta get G4 for my cable tv. Our Japanese friends have such awesome game shows.

Not convinced?

 

 Awesome Japanese Game Show Clip: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

That's pretty much how I ended every visit with my brother-in-law. After praying with him at the hospital in the trauma center, I was thinking the same thing. It's true in an eschatological sense, because I know that, even though he has died, Robert's trust was in Jesus Christ. I also know that he was reconciled to God before he died. So my trust is in God that, indeed, I will see him later. That doesn't mean I don't hurt inside. I mean, he's my brother-in-law for pete's sake. Of course I hurt and of course I'm saddened. But I am confident that where he is now is world's better than where the rest of us are. Even in the purification we call Purgatory, Robert is in Heaven. He is preparing to see God face to face for all eternity. So I take heart in knowing that Robert is in good hands and that his eternity with Christ is secure.

Even though he is not with us physically, Robert continues to carry out his desire to help others. The organ and tissue donations he is making right now are not just helping people, they are saving lives, even here in Memphis. I never cease to be amazed at how God can take great tragedy and bring hope and light from the darkest places. Nothing and no one is beyond His saving reach.

That's all I've got for today. On behalf of my family, let me thank everyone for their continuing prayers. They are doing more good than all the well wishes in the world. Thanks.

I suppose that it is indeed Monday.  Back at the office for another the usual strain.  With so many projects going on at once, I have a tendency to feel overwhelmed.  My desire is to overcome the overwhelming feelings with resolve and purpose.  Easier said than done, I know, but at least I know the correct answer to the problem of anxiousness.  And I trust that whatever comes my way is a part of God's revealed plan for my life, whether it suits my fancy or not.

I'm learning to let go of my big plans and abandon myself in total trust to God.  It's not an easy thing to do, but I'm learning to trust God on a much deeper level than I have before.  I think this is going to be the cure for my fears.

Mother's day is always interesting at my house.  I hope that your respective Mother's day celebrations were filled with love and warmth.  I also hope that you have a good week and that God will bring you opportunities to share the hope and love he has given you with someone else.

No, not really.  Although, I would not be opposed to making a movie about myself.  That would probably be a lot of fun to do.  I think I would make a cameo as Officer #4 or something like that.  Yeah, and who would play me?  Mr. T?  Christopher Walken?  A puppet from Industrial Light and Magic?  Endless possibilities, my friend. 

As much fun as it is to think about sinking millions of dollars into a film project, I actually am working on something productive.  I'm finally finishing my book.  What I do once it's done, I have no idea. I guess I'll start sending manuscripts to various publishers.  This is actually the first of several manuscripts I have going.  I just cannot do all of them at once.  The same goes with the CDs.  Pray that I don't run out of steam and that the ideas don't get lost (or stolen).

If anybody does want to make a movie, I'm up for it. 

I hear nightmare stories from friends about struggling parishes.  In some dioceses it seems to be difficult to find a thriving and active community.  A caller asked me about that when I appeared on The Journey Home with Marcus Grodi.  Why aren't Catholics more energized about their faith?  I'm fortunate enough to have a strong group of Über Catholics by my side and in my diocese.  Still, I come to Mass every week and face people who look like they don't want to be there.  They would be more enthusiastic at a ball game.  They would rather be entertained.  They would rather sip coffee and discuss current events.  Anything but humble themselves and worship God in spirit and truth.  Can I see their hearts?  Nope, but I sure as shootin' can see their gestures.  They sigh and grumble when there is an announcement.  They take their purse with them to communion because their plan is to exit before Mass ends.  They fidget in their seats.  They play with their cell phones (silently).  They read the bulletin.  They sleep.  Do I need to point out more evidence?  Is it any wonder, then, why their children don't want to be there?  Is there any wonder why these kids will likely leave the Church when they are out of the house?  They have NO CLUE about what they possess as Catholics?  

Listen, Cradle Catholic, what you take for granted is that your Creator, JESUS CHRIST, is humbling himself to be with you in a way He does NOWHERE ELSE.  He wants to give to you the same resurrection life that raised him from the dead on the 3rd day.  He wants to have intimate union with you at the deepest levels.  And you would rather be somewhere else?  Are you insane?  Ask a Catholic convert if they would leave the Eucharist.  Ask if there is anything out there more exciting than to commune with God.  Ask if they would rather be some place with different music and a coffee bar instead of Mass.  You know what their answer is.  You know that in many cases they have fled these places in order to receive the Eucharist.  You know they have realized that the only true fulfillment in life is communion with God.  The Catholic convert is not perfect, but he or she does know where to go for help.  Christ in the Sacraments make all the difference in the world.  

I know several men and women who left careers, lost friends, lost family, sometimes more, just to be part of the Catholic Faith.  I think of the men who served as ministers in Protestant congregations who left not just a job, but a true ministry as leaders, their entire education and professional training, in order to become Catholic and serve God as laypersons.  Why make that sort of sacrifice unless there was something to make it all worthwhile?   

Being friends with men and women (both Catholic converts and cradle Catholics) who truly love their faith, as evidenced by their 24/7 365 life, is a great blessing.  Serving and worshipping with them in a growing and thriving parish is super.  Stepping back and looking at what God is doing among His faithful followers is nothing short of amazing.  It is truly a work of God's grace the renewal spreading throughout the Church.  If you are in a remote parish that seems to be going nowhere, remember this:  even in the coldest parish, Christ is still present in the Eucharist.  He still wants to communion with you.  He is there for you.  You are not alone.  The same sacramental grace Christ pours out in the "exciting" parishes, He has made available for all.  And when we commune with God, we commune with each other.

You may remember way back in the day when I posted an article about Catholic Ninjas.  You know, the people who are in and out of Mass before they are noticed?  The past two weeks in Mass I have noticed a decrease in Catholic Ninja activity.  Normally, I know that we have been Ninjafied when I at Mass.  There are always two significant occurances.

1.  During Father's collect prayer after the Penitential Rite, my eyes are closed.  When I open my eyes, where there were empty seats I now see people standing.  It's like magic!  No, you fool, it's Catholic Ninjas.  Abra Cababra and all that jazz.  The only thing missing was a puff of smoke, but maybe that happened when my eyes were closed as well.

2.  After Communion, I kneel to pray with my family.  When we finish praying, sometimes the Blessed Sacrament has not yet been reposed in the Tabernacle.  As I look toward the altar again, I notice that many previously occupied spaces in the pews are now vacant.  Where did those people go?  They were not people.  They were Catholic Ninjas.  You have been Ninjafied!  Again, no smoke bomb or flash powder, just disappearance.  It would be a really awesome trick if it weren't so sinful.  

I haven't seen as much Catholic Ninja activity the past two weeks.  People are still appearing after the penetential rite but I'm not seeing the vanishing act after communion.  Now, to be frank with everyone, I'm sure that there are still Catholic Ninjas practicing their dark arts.  However, it does appear that either they are appearing in another section of the Church or they are decreasing their activity.  I'm hoping for the latter.

If Catholics knew the significance of the Mass, and especially of the Eucharist, we would not see Catholic Ninja activity.  We would not see people chewing gum, or parents feeding their kids sandwiches during Mass.  We would not see people yawning or looking at their watch.  We would see and hear people participating in the Mass.  We would see people concerned about proper gestures (bowing during the recitation of the Incarnation in the Creed) and not concerned with improper gestures (holding hands during the Our Father) during Mass.  We would see people  concerned with the state of their heart and not the status of their cell phones.  We would see lives changed.  We would see an increase in holiness.  We would see an increase in vocations to the consecrated life and to Holy Orders.