Friday, December 26, 2014

Experiencing God 198 - Growth

In January of last year, Archbishop Gérald Lacroix of Quebec and Primate of Canada, electrified the airwaves during an interview with this statement:

“I have a lot of hope for what is growing in our Church. There’s something dying, but there’s something new that’s coming up, that’s growing, that’s sprouting, that is filling me with hope”. 


Often, in the past, when it came to Spiritual Growth, I began with the anticipation of a quick change. After all, we are talking about God are we not? If God wants to change me, then He can certainly do it, quickly.

But if we examine things closely, we discover that, for most, change is not instant. Change happens through a process of slow growth. So if you don't noticed a quick detectable change, don't be alarmed.

I invite you to ask yourself a few simple questions. Are you experiencing a greater understanding of God? Do you feel closer to God? Are you gentler in dealing with yourself and with others? Through your discipline of daily prayer, do you experience being closer to Christ?

These are some of the signs of change; and you can be assured of further change as you continue to follow through on a discipline for continual growth.

Growing up on a farm gave me first-hand knowledge of this slow steady growth. Nature is a great teacher. The seeds that we planted in early spring took weeks before they could be visibly seen as new young shoots. It would be weeks more before they we big enough to be hoed, and it would be months before they could be harvested. All the change happened without our really seeing it happen.

In 1978, some 35 years ago, I began the process of discernment and formation towards becoming a Deacon. I was in process because I had limited knowledge and experience about what it was to be Deacon. Between then and now, much has happened; many experiences, many retreats, many ministries, much personal development. I am no longer the same person I was back then. Everything has changed, but I am still as much in the process of growth as I was back then. Growth requires of us to be always in that stance of further growth, so that we continue with our development until a time of harvest.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 13, we read: “Jesus puts before his disciples a parable. “The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown, it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches”. The Kingdom of heaven that Jesus is speaking does not lie in some far off place. It lies within you. It lies within the expanding heart of every person who is turning to Christ, who is being transformed and re-created by His all-pervasive Spirit. This is why it is so important that the Kingdom within us remains open to growth, open to be nourished by God’s love through Sacrament and Prayer. As God’s Kingdom comes alive within us, we embrace with awe and wonder an expanding vision of God and His plan for us as a part of His creative process.

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words. Let's pretend that you see a chart which describes the process of spiritual growth. Note that the arrows on the chart are going from left to right as you face the chart. The left side of this chart is marked “Unrelatedness with God”. The right side of this chart is marked “Relatedness with God”. The arrows indicate the direction that is necessary for spiritual growth. If we are growing spiritually, then we must be moving in the direction towards greater relatedness with God.

All of us fall somewhere between these two realities. We are all on the bar. Where we are at this particular moment in time is of no importance. What is important is the direction we are going. Do you experience your spiritual growth moving you in the direction towards greater relatedness with God?

Note the list of qualities that you see under each of these two headings. The ones of the left are illustrative of some of the qualities that we are trying to move away from. The list on the right is some of the opposite qualities we are moving towards. If we are growing spiritually, we are moving away from selfishness and towards unselfishness, we are moving away from self-centeredness towards other-centeredness. We are moving away from isolation and alienation towards a spirit of openness and community, and so on. You can add more to this list. For example, if we are growing towards greater relatedness with God, then we are moving away from slavery towards greater liberty and freedom as God’s Children.


As God’s Kingdom comes alive within us, we embrace more and more the awe and wonder of His expanded vision for us, His plan for us as a part of His creative process. Spiritual growth is being open and receptive to the workings of the Spirit within us. But there is one thing we have to realize.

The movement from unrelatedness to relatedness with God is not possible under our own power. Jesus says: “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in them will produce abundantly, but apart from me you can do nothing.” This movement to greater relatedness with God is only possible through the love of God that is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

In my mid-twenties, I had discovered within myself a deep dissatisfaction of life. Despite that fact that I was succeeding in many of my goals (in my accounting career, my family, in acquiring the things I wanted), something was radically missing. I felt empty when it came to love and relationships. As a result, I experienced being isolated and alienated from others. And there seemed to be nothing I could do to dispel the feelings that came from this. In my search for an answer, I decided to get more involved at church. I began to teach catechism, joined the parish men’s group, and I become part of a prayer group. It was there at the prayer group, on a cold November evening during a time of prayer that I let go of my fears, and in tears, turned to Jesus and asked Him for help. It was as if the walls of my alienation and fear washed away, and I experienced, for the first time, Jesus love for me, so strong that the structures of my well planned life were shaken. A few days after this, I was reflecting on the scripture of Jesus walking on the water towards his fearful disciples sitting in their boat, hanging on for dear-life. I heard Jesus’ call to me as well. Len, Do not be afraid. Take courage, I am with you. Come, step out of the boat, and walk towards me.

This left me with no doubt as how I had to respond. Jesus was calling me, to step away from a way of life where everything depended on my efforts and the false illusion of security it provided, and to step into the waters of uncertainty. Jesus was asking me to begin a journey towards greater relatedness with God.

I share this experience reluctantly because it was only a beginning of the long journey that was to follow. Each of you have had your own beginnings in faith, in which God has worked through your own unique circumstances and experiences. No two encounters with Christ are the same. But there are commonalities in the journey we take. First, is the recognition of those areas in our lives that are in need of change; our self-centeredness, our clinging to attitudes and ways that prevent us from growing in holiness, whatever they may be. And secondly, to place these areas of our lives before the Lord, cry out to Him for assistance, and allow His healing grace to move us into greater relatedness. Only through Christ the vine, and our connection with Him, will we realize our full potential.

Everything that followed in my life from this initial encounter were the integral parts of a life’s journey that has led and continues to lead to greater relatedness with God: commitment to daily prayer, retreats, participation at mass and in church, being part of faith sharing groups, the response in service. This way of life has been necessary to continue the growth towards God that only comes through faith and a gradually submission to Him.

My recommendation to you for growth in faith is only that. Do what you must, do what you can to remain close to God. Come to mass, celebrate Christ’s presence with the community of faith, and be nourished by His presence in the Eucharist. We pray in many ways. Pray in a way that unites your Spirit to His. Service plays itself out in many different forms. Find that activity that draws you into relationship with that abundant source of Life that is available to all.

Groups of many types are available to stimulate your growth as Christ’s disciples. Find the group which fires up your spirit to live a life that is joyful and abundant. Practice sharing your time and resources, for this builds a spirit of generosity that draws you close to the one who wishes to share with you ultimate joy and abundance. The three fold actions of prayer, fasting and alms giving are important in that they give witness to our lives built on Christ. But they are also there for another reason. They are there as a discipline to help us break the roots of our own insecurity, our excessive attachment to pleasure and comfort, so that we may enter into greater relatedness with Christ.

I conclude with another quote from Archbishop Gérald Lacroix. In that same interview that I mentioned as the beginning, he said: “Bringing people to a personal encounter with Jesus Christ changes their lives because it brings them into a relationship with the Lord, with God our Father, with the Holy Spirit. And this changes everything.

Only this gives them a new vision of life, a new vision of values, and a new vision of family and community. It helps them to be different in the midst of this world so much in need of healing, so crying out to be saved.”

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Experiencing God - 197 Shining in our Darkness

In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet in the way of peace.
Gospel of Luke

We are all familiar with the story of Job from the Old Testament.  Job was a very successful man in every way. But he lost everything; his property, his family including his children, and finally, even his health.  Job is a story about a man who had a complaint against God for taking away everything he had of value.  He did not see this as fair because he was a just man, undeserving of such losses.

The story concludes when Job is humbled by God's reply to him:  "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?  Tell me, if you have understanding.  Who determined its measurements -- surely you know?  On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together, and all heavenly beings shouted for joy?"

The story concludes with Job coming to a new understanding of his relationship with God; humbling but filled with awe and reverence.  "I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me which I did not know."  The story concludes with Job's prosperity being restored.

From the book of Samuel, we find King David in somewhat of a similar but opposite situation.  David is sitting on the throne of success.  He has defeated his enemies, he lives in riches, surrounded by family and friends and untold wealth; and in his grandeur, he wants to return something to God.  "I am living in a house of cedar while the Ark of God dwells in a tent", he says.  

As with Job, David has to be reminded that it is not his plans that determine a place for God, but it is God's plans that determine a place for him.  And God's plans reach far beyond David's puny moments of success.  It reaches far beyond his knowledge and understanding.  It is a plan that includes countless future generations of peoples and nations.

In the Gospel of Luke, we hear the beautiful canticle of Zachariah, the father of John the Baptist.  "In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet in the way of peace." We begin to gain some insight into the plan that Nathan the prophet revealed to King David many centuries previous. 

Like Job and King David, do we still not live our advents with the view of fitting God into our plans for Him, instead of understanding that advent is really about the fulfillment of God's plan for us?  

God appears to us only as we put ourselves in right relationship with Him.  Job came to that understanding when he admitted:  "I have uttered what I do not understand; things too wonderful which I did not know".  King David understood this when he heard God's voice speak to him through the Prophet:  "Are you the man to build me a house to dwell in?  I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep"?  

Do we not understand that God's plan for us this Advent can be found in the sign of a child, a successor of David, one called Emmanuel - God is With Us -- born in a stable because there was no room for Him in the inn.  This advent, are we busy fitting God into our plans?  Do we still live in a world that does not have time for God's unfolding mystery and plan for us: to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace?    

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Experiencing God - 196 Seeing Things As They Really Are

“I am not the light. I am not the Messiah.  But I am a witness to testify to the light”
Gospel of Luke

For the last two weeks of advent, we have been hearing a lot about John the Baptist and his role in announcing the coming of Christ.  The question I asked myself as I was preparing this homily is: “How can these gospel accounts about John the Baptist help us in our own understanding of advent?”  Perhaps I can begin with a story that I read a couple of months ago that continues to be a source of reflection for me this Advent.

There once was a young man who wanted to become a monk in a near-by monastery.  But he had a problem.  This particular monastery followed a strict spiritual discipline and rigid ascetical practices.  And this young man was considered by many in his community to be a little slow, undisciplined, and at times, a little clumsy. But he decided to try anyway; so he placed himself under the direction of the Novice Master at the monastery to begin the required formation.  After two months, the Novice Master was called in by the Abbott of the Monastery to see how the new young recruit was doing.  The Novice Master told the Abbott that he was not doing well.  He was having great difficulty in learning the rule, and was undisciplined in following the required practices.  In fact, he told the Abbott, for the previous two months, he had assigned him the daily task of cleaning the dirt from the sandals of the monks as they entered the prayer room, and sweeping the dust from the floor.   As a result, he recommended that the young man be dismissed.

 The Abbott, being a compassionate man, asked to speak to the new recruit.  When he arrived, the two spoke, shared a few stories.  Finally the young man expressed the difficulty and struggle he was having in formation, but still affirmed his desire to become a monk.   The Abbott gave him some direction.  “From now on, when you clean the dirt from the sandals, and when you sweep the dust from the floor, I want you to say to yourself:  I am removing the obscuration so as to be the beloved of Christ.  

And what do you mean by obscuration, the young man asked the Abbott?  An obscuration is anything that prevents you from seeing things are they really are, replied the Abbot.

So the young man agreed to try this new discipline.  At first, every now and again, he would forget what he was supposed to say.  And he would meet with the Abbott for a refresher, but soon he was pretty good at following this basic instruction, and he carried it our faithfully every day as he did his task. 

Six months later, the Abbott called the young recruit in for another meeting.  He asked him: “Have you been cleaning the dirt from the sandals?”  Yes, was his quick response?  “Have you been sweeping the dust from the floor?”  Again, yes was his quick response.  “Have you been removing the obscuration so as to be the beloved of Christ?”  

There was a long silence as he pondered this question. Then suddenly, like a light bulb coming on, a bright smile broke on the young man’s face as his mind was awakened as to what the Abbott was trying to teach him.  He suddenly realized that the sandals, even with the dirt, were still sandals:  That the floor, even with the dust, was still the floor.  And that he, even with all his limitations, those things he saw as impairing him, his weaknesses, his faults, his warts; he was still the beloved of God, and loved by Christ.

Soon there-after, the young man was initiated into the community as a monk.  As time would later show, he became the best and most loved of all the monks.  At time, he would chuckle to himself when others teased him about his slowness, or when he was a bit clumsy. But with the birth of his special insight, this awakening in his heart, he was able to see, in a new way, all those people who entered the doors the monastery for the first time.  No matter what their position, no matter what situation in life, no matter what their difficulty or struggle, he saw them as the beloved of God, as loved by Christ, and he welcomed them, every one of them, as Christ himself. 
Perhaps the greatest obscuration that people face today when it comes to advent, and when it comes faith practice, is that we often fail to see things are they really are.  We fail to see that no matter what our impediments and warts, no matter what our limitations, no matter what our station in life, no matter what we have done, we are the beloved of God.  We are loved by Christ.  If we can free ourselves from this obscuration, then like the monk in the story, we will discover who we are before God; we will discover God’s perfect plan for our lives, and the gift that is ours to share.

John the Baptist was able to see things as they really were.  “I am not the light”, he said.  "I am not the messiah. I am here as a witness, to testify to the light”.  What is this witness to the light?  I like what Archbishop Mancini had to say about this when he presented the building blocks for the new evangelization.  He compared the witness to Christ to a witness in a court case.  He said that a witness is not the judge.  A witness is not the arresting officer.  A witness is one who gives testimony as to what he or she has seen, what he or she has heard, and what he or she has experienced. 

 During the early years of my Christian journey, in my mid-twenties, I went through a time of what I call a critical introspection. I thought that to be a better person, I would have to root out all the things I didn’t like about myself: my shyness and introversion, my aloofness, my dark thoughts, my selfish tendencies.  All of this introspection did very little good.  In fact, it made me feel worse about myself, until that moment when my mind and heart was awakened to that deep realization that I was God’s beloved, that I was loved by Christ.  It was not just an intellectual thing, but a heart-felt experience; a experience that changed the course of my life.    

Advent, this beautiful season of our church year, is here as a reminder that first and foremost, we are being called to give birth to Christ in our hearts.  When we give birth to Christ in our hearts, then all our feeble attempts at trying to find fulfillment through our own efforts begin to die away, and through Grace, we become the person that God intends us to be.  We are not the light, but we become witnesses to the light found in Christ.

Grace means one thing – to be thankful, to be filled with gratitude, to overflow with the light that is given to us as gift. The other readings for today speak of this so beautifully.  The reading from Isaiah is not just meant for Isaiah, or for Christ.  It is meant for us:  “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me.  He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners.”

The beautiful “magnificat” found in our responsorial psalm is not just a prayer for Mary, but is our prayer as well:  “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savoir, for He has looked with favour on the lowliness of His servant.” 

And St. Paul’s prayer in his letter to the Thessalonians is not just for Paul.  It is again our own advent prayer of thanksgiving:  “Brothers and sisters, rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Advent is not about turning ourselves into super people. It is not about perfectly having all our plans in place in order to meet the illusionary expectations of what we feel Christmas is all about.  This is only an obscuration.  Like the young monk is the story, Advent is about giving birth to Christ in our hearts, recognizing that we are the beloved of God, and becoming grateful witnesses to Christ’s indwelling Spirit. 

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Experiencing God - 195 Removing Our Mourning Veil

"On this mountain, the Lord will remove the mourning veil covering all peoples and the shroud en-wrapping all nations.  Death will be destroyed forever." 
Isaiah

Scripture's most beautiful imagery can be found in our Advent readings from Isaiah.  The time of the above reading was around 740 BC.  Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel finds itself in a "life and death" struggle against its own people to the North.  These beautiful scripture readings of Isaiah were written during difficult moments when brother was fighting brother on the battle field.  

Isaiah is an artist with words.  He paints a tapestry that touches the hearts of a troubled people.  It's a tapestry that touches our heart even today in the midst of our own struggle. 

I remember, not too long ago, when I was a part of a "Celebrating the Word" group.  Twelve of us gathered to share the Sunday scripture readings.  

The producer of the "Celebrating the Word" program always asked soul searching questions.  One I remembered was: "What is heaven like for you, or how would you describe heaven?"  We would then go around the room and each person would identify something from their own hearts as to what heaven was like for them.  And each person would offer something unique that added to the picture that would eventually emerge.  

We need images such as this because they restore our hope and bring us in touch with a reality that is often in conflict with our day to day experience and struggle.  They express something much deeper, at the level of the heart, that take us beyond the surface of our own existence.  

Jesus in the Gospels is doing much the same thing, but He is doing it differently.  He creates a tapestry for us through the actions of His life.  

We read in the Gospel of Matthew: "Jesus sat on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and crowds came bringing the lame, the blind, those without speech, and many others. These they put down at His feet and He cures them."  

Through these biblical accounts, we see the tapestry of Jesus' actions beautifully laid out before us, not only offering us hope, but challenging us to live differently in order to see and build up God's Kingdom.  

This painting of God's tapestry with words and actions is not unfamiliar to us in our Christian faith. In fact, our Archbishop has done this in his recent Pastoral letter called "Lord, Where Are You Going". In conclusion, I have quoted a paragraph from this letter as it relates to mission and community. 

Mission
The mission to which we are presently being called is to effectively do, in our times and in our world, what Christ came to accomplish.  Christ's mission is to proclaim a vision of life and a hope for humanity, revealed in a culture of personal encounter, and experienced in relationships of self-sacrificing love.  This is presently counter-cultural.  The challenge is to take seriously the proclamation of an alternative way of being and living, which can touch the heart of humanity, and do it consciously and deliberately through commitment and action.

Jesus spoke about the "Kingdom of God" using terms that were relevant and understandable in him time.  Now, we need to present the same concept in our own language and context, by speaking in terms of achieving a better world.  We need to speak of a world where the truth and reality of God is not an idea, a philosophy or a political agenda, but where the truth of our Trinitarian God is founded on the personal experience of being loved; where love is a choice, a decision and a deliberate action, not just a feeling or wishful thinking.

Community
To speak of rebuilding our Church is not to speak about repairing, reconstructing, or even maintaining what we had; nor is it about repeating what we have always done. That Church has largely disappeared.  If we are going to interact with the present world, we need to be there.  We need to develop the skills, the discernment and the mentality that lead us to see, recognize and acknowledge God present in all circumstances.  This is the formation of heart and mind needed to bring about engaged communities of Christian faith.

A community is not something perfect or only for the elite who qualify.  Think of your families and friends: They all have communities to which they belong because they are welcomed and accepted.  If your sons and daughters are not perfect, you don't reject them; you don't stop loving them.  If there are points of disagreement, you learn to cope with them.  With such attitudes and qualities, dynamic Christian communities can and must become centres of welcome, providing opportunities for conversations and invitations for accompaniment on the spiritual journey, where people and their needs are respected and discernment is encouraged with time and patience.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Experiencing God - 194 Shutting Out God's Love

"Lord, here is your talent.  I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man.  You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow."
Gospel of Luke

When I was in Diaconate Formation, my children were quite young; nine, ten and eleven. This process included interviews with all family members to see how things were going.  During one of the family interviews, I remember explaining about all the things I was involved in; at work, courses I was taking, ministry at the church etc. After I had finished, I recall my oldest son quickly coming in and saying: "My dad is quite busy, but we don't see him as much any more."  This was certainly a wake-up call.
   
Both the Gospel of Matthew and the Gospel of Luke contain the parable of the "talents".  In Matthew, only three servants were given talents of different amounts.  In Luke's Gospel, ten servants were given one talent each with which to do business.  But the message of the two Gospels are the same.  The negligent servant in both Gospels is quoted as saving:  "Lord, here is your talent.  I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man.  You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow."

The reaction of many people when they hear this parable is guilt.  Why guilt?  Because it generates the question - Am I doing enough?  We picture in our minds that to pass the test we have to be the one who is most busy, who is at the centre of every activity.  But this Gospel parable is not about busyness.  Neither is it about the multiplication of our money.  It's about trust and faith. 

Do you have trust and faith that God loves you unconditionally?  Is that trust and faith integrated into your life to the point that it affects and influences your relationships with others? 

If you look at Jesus' own life, you discover that He was not about busyness or being at the centre of every activity. Jesus came from an obscure Nazareth village.  He did a bit of carpentry work in His early years but left that for other pursuits.  He had no university degrees.  He did not seek or attain fame or fortune.  He wrote no books.  He belonged to no committees or organizations that I know about.  He depended largely on others for His personal needs which were minimal.  And yet, more than any other person, He touched the lives of others. He was present to them in a way that changed their lives.  He had complete faith and trust in a relationship with One He called "Father", and this relationship moved Him into every action that He performed.

The difficulty with the servant who took his talent and hid it in a piece of cloth was that he did not have faith and trust in God's unconditional love for him.  His life did not reflect the awesome presence of God's abundance and goodness because his heart was closed and fearful.  The little he had of the very thing he needed the most was lost to him because he chose to remain closed from God's creative presence.

The question that arises from all this is not: "Am I doing enough?".  The question that should arise is: "Are there ways in which I am shutting out God's love that prevents me from seeing His goodness and abundance?"  What do I need to change so that this goodness is reflected in my life and shared with the people I encounter; my spouse, my children, my friends and neighbors, those with whom I share faith, the stranger I meet in my daily journey?  These are the moments that give witness to God's Kingdom.  These are the moments that Jesus was able to live so well. 

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Experiencing God - 193 Amazement and Gratitude

"Now as they were going away, the ten were cleansed.  Finding himself cured, one turned back praising God at the top of his voice, and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked Him."
Gospel of Luke

In the above Gospel, Luke gives an account of the cure of the ten lepers, of whom only one thanked Jesus. This Gospel is much more than a story about ten people who were healed of their physical ailment.  It's about the disposition of the heart of those who were cured.  

Back in my late twenties when I had my own deep encounter with Christ, there were two things that I remember most about the experience.  The first was the sense of amazement that such a think would happen to me in the first place.  It was quite unexpected, and it therefore struck me with a sense of awe.  The second thing I remember and it continues to be with me today is the sense of gratitude to Christ that it would happen at all.  It is this immense gratitude that moves us into a new relationship with Christ.  It is this immense gratitude that causes a shift in our priorities.  Our focus and attention is no longer on ourselves but has shifted to Christ.

If you look at stories of miracles and conversion in the New Testament, you will find that these qualities of amazement and gratitude are common. The man who was healed of his physical handicap at the temple gate by Peter and John went away with them walking, jumping and praising God.  The man that Jesus healed at the pool of water called Bathsadia immediately rose up, took his mat, rolled it up, and went on his way in amazement, praising God.  The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were amazed when they finally recognized the person who was travelling with them on the road. In their excitement, they returned all the way back to Jerusalem to tell their companions.  

This amazement and gratitude is what makes us effective witnesses to Christ.  It reveals our true change of heart.  Gratitude or gratefulness expresses a thankful disposition, is related to the receiving of grace, and causes us to respond in acts of thanksgiving.

Recently, many of us attended a workshop where our Archbishop presented his new pastoral plan for the next five years.  His plan focuses on three main initiatives - mission, community and formation.  As we begin to explore these three initiatives, we will be asked to do some discernment surveys in which we will be asked to reflect on a serious of questions.  For example, the first question we will be asked on the mission initiative is:  "Am I comfortable in speaking about my relationship with Christ?

The point I would like to make is that when we have that personal encounter with Christ that leaves us with that sense of amazement and gratitude, then we become effective witnesses of that encounter to others.  The gospel above about the healing of the lepers gives expression to that change of heart.

Ten lepers were healed of their physical ailments, but only one returned in amazement and gratitude praising God.  Only one returned with a changed heart and a changed life.  To this one, Jesus says: "Go your way, your faith has saved you."  What happened to the other nine?  We do not know, but this one, a Samaritan, experienced a true conversion of heart.

From the letter of Titus, we read:  "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God appeared, God saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy.

It is through amazement and gratitude, the actions of Grace, that we are able to freely and easily give witness to Christ.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Experiencing God - Flying On Two Wings 192

I've recently read a little story that has stuck in my mind.  It's about a butterfly.  A butterfly has two wings.  In order to fly, it needs both wings.  Without both, it will go no where.  

The author of this story compares these two wings of a butterfly with the two wings that we need in our relationships with one another in order that these relationships will grow and flourish.  And these two wings that we need in our relationships are "wisdom" and "love".  

"Love" without "wisdom" -that is without commitment, fidelity, responsibility - is not love at all.  

There are many examples of this type of love in our culture which has brought great suffering to relationships.  

"Wisdom" without "love" - that is without caring, compassion, understanding - is not wisdom at all.  

We need both for either to work.  For "wisdom" to be "wisdom" and "love" to be "love", they must work together like the two wings of a butterfly.

In the Gospel Of Luke, we have Jesus singling out the religious teachers and lawyers with some rather strong words of rebuke.  Jesus was angry with the religious leaders because they failed to listen to God's ways, and were misleading the people they were suppose to be guiding.  

What is happening here?  How can we learn from it?

The religious leaders were conveying what they considered to be great spiritual wisdom, but correspondingly, missed the mark.  One example Jesus points out was in tithing, the offering of one's labor, their first fruits, as an expression of thanksgiving and honor for God's loving care.  The Scribes however went to extreme lengths to tithe on insignificant things, such as tiny plants, with great mathematical accuracy.  They were very attentive to minute matters of little importance, but they neglected to care for the needy and the weak.  In becoming self-justified by following their minute rules and laws, they became filled with pride and contempt for those who were unable or unwilling to do so.  

The exercise of their practice of wisdom and scriptural knowledge was not done with caring, compassion, concern or understanding of others, and as a result, they were leading others to a Pharisaism rather than to the love of God and neighbor. 

The essence of God's commands is love - love of God, love of neighbor, and everything that flows from love.  St. Paul went at great length when speaking to the Galatians to speak about the fruits of the Spirit.  Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  But in order for these fruits to be manifested in our relationships and community, our love must be, as St. Paul says, directed by the Spirit.  This means directed by Wisdom.  We cannot belong to Christ unless we begin the process of crucifying all self-indulgent passions and desires. 

It's a sensitive balance, one that is difficult to maintain, and we often fall off, but with the presence of God's Spirit, we can be guided towards the wholeness and fullness that comes from using both wisdom and love together.     

Experiencing God - What Has God Entrusted to You 191

"From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required, and from the one to whom much has be entrusted, even more will be demanded."
Gospel of Luke

Entrusted, in this sense means: "to be given responsibility for".  A lawyer is often entrusted with funds from his clients.  That's why they are called trust funds.  The lawyer is then responsible for the proper distribution of those funds to the beneficiaries.  If he or she fails to do that, they are in breach of trust.

The concept of "being entrusted" comes out very strongly in Paul's letter to the Ephesians.  St. Paul says:  "For surely you have already heard of the commission of God's grace that was given me for you."  In the Jerusalem Bible, it is translated even more clearly.  "You have probably heard how I have been entrusted by God with the grace that God meant for you."  He has been entrusted with something that must be shared, and of course, he takes this very seriously.  If he did not follow through, he would be in breach of trust.  

In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 12, Jesus is telling little stories to illustrate this point.  Each of us as Christians, as people who live with others in community or society have been entrusted with something that is very special, that must be shared.  It could be this, or it could be that, depending on the individual, but it all relates to our faith in God.  Jesus says: "Happy the servant whom His master will find at work with this task when He arrives.  Truly, I tell you, this person will be put in charge of all of His possessions."  And of course we hear also the other side of the story.  What if we are not about the task that has been entrusted to us?

The question that I ask myself, and I throw it out to you: "If Jesus were to call on us today, would He find us at work with the task entrusted to us, or would He find us squabbling over boundaries, rules, who's right or who wrong, and many other things that serve only to distract us and divide us?

To be entrusted, as I said at the beginning, is to be given responsibility for.  It has to do with missioning.  St. Paul says in Ephesians: "I have been entrusted by God with a grace that is meant for you."  The "you" in this case are the gentiles - those without grace - at least at the moment - the intended beneficiaries of those chosen by God.

What is the mission in our communities in respect to all that has been entrusted to us?

Friday, September 26, 2014

Experiencing God - Balancing Wisdom and Love 190

Do you remember the time when you started to date the one you loved?  During this time, we most often put our best foot forward.  Although we may have noticed little things about our loved one that we did not like, we did not address them because we wanted to be seen at our best. 

Most times after marriage (when the honeymoon is over) and when things become more normalized, we often begin the process of fixing those little things we see that bother us.  But our attempts at fixing the other often leads to problems of hurt, confusion, and arguments.  The other person in the relationship sees our attempts at fixing as non- acceptance, uncaring, and violations of love.  So the early years of marriage for many may be a bit rocky, and if we continue with the approach of trying to fix those things we don't like, it may lead to separation.  People do not like being fixed by another. 

In most growing mature relationships, the persons must learn that love requires the acceptance of the other, warts and all. We come to realize that our attempts at fixing another just does not work. We have to change our approach from "fixing" to "attentive listening",  "caring" and sharing  wisdom in a non-judgemental way. 

A butterfly has two wings. In order to fly, it needs both.  Tear one wing off and it can no longer fly, and will probably die.  In relationships and community, these two wings are "wisdom" and "love".

In order for the relationship to move forward (or fly), it must have both. 

Love without wisdom (that is commitment, responsibility, fidelity) is not love at all.  Our culture certainly gives witness to a love practiced without wisdom and the suffering that springs from it.

Wisdom without love (caring, attentive listening, compassion) is not wisdom at all.  It becomes confrontational and leads to disunity.

We need both!  

The very difficult task in our relationships and community is to carefully balance both wisdom and love.  Like couples involved in a marriage, we must move from trying to fix those in relationship with us (which leads to division), to attentively listen to all concerns, caring for all, accepting the warts and the flaws, and gently offering wisdom from the to heart to those who are open to listen.    

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Experiencing God - Child of God 189

"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get. But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner".
Gospel of Luke

In this Gospel reading from Luke, Jesus said:  "Of the two people that came to the temple to prayer, only one went away justified before God."  Why was the sinful tax collector justified before God where the pious Pharisee was not?  This question can be answered with a story.

Two brothers joined a monastery to become monks.  The first brother was very cleaver, and certainly had the intelligence and attributes to join the order.  The second brother was a little slow and quite unpredictable.  After their initiation into the monastery's way of life, the Novice Master went to the Abbott to give his report on the two brothers. 

"The first brother is very astute and will be able to learn the "rule" of our order, and commit himself to the discipline that is necessary", he reported.  "He is currently enrolled in our program of formation.  The second brother will never be able to learn the rule or exercise the necessary discipline in order to become a monk.  We currently have him cleaning the monks sandals and sweeping the floor of the dust.  I recommend that he be asked to leave."  

The Abbott, a compassionate man, requested that the second brother report to him.

When the second brother arrived before the Abbott, he continued to express a strong desire to become a monk, just like his older brother.  The Abbott saw potential in him and gave the following instructions:  "Whenever you clean the dirt from the sandals of the monks and sweep the dust from the floor, say the following:  With each sandal that I clean, and with each sweeping of the floor, I am purifying the hindrances to being a child of God. Can you remember that?"  The second brother affirmed that he could.  

From that point forward, the second brother repeated this sentence as he went about his work.  Sometimes he forgot the sentence, and had to go back to the Abbot to remind him again, but eventually, he was able to repeat the sentence well, and as he cleaned each sandal, and sweep the floor of the dust, he repeated the words. 

Many months later, the Abbott called for the second brother again and asked him:  "Are you cleaning the dirt from the sandals?" To which he answered:  Yes.  "Are you sweeping the dust from the floor?  And again he answered yes.  The Abbot continued:  "Are you purifying the hindrances to being a child of God?" 

And the brother's heart was suddenly open to what the Abbot was teaching, and he was filled with joy. 

What he became enlightened to understand and know in his heart was: that the sandals, with the dirt, were still sandals;  that the floor, with the dust, was still the floor.  And that he, even with his hindrances, was still a Child of God. 

With this new found awareness, he became a monk and a very faithful and humble servant.  And the least proud of all the monks because he was able to acknowledge his limitations.  Sincere intentions and purity of heart was for him the most important, as he saw in each of those he met a Child of God.  He was able to say with conviction:  Lord, have mercy on this Child of yours, a sinner.

"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.

But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner".  And he went away justified.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Experiencing God - Humility 188

"I bless you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children."
Gospel of Matthew

In order to have an understanding and appreciation of the above gospel passage from Matthew, one needs to have an understanding of humility. 

Humility springs from the word "humus" which means; "from the soil or from the earth".  We are from the earth.  Humility, in its ordinary definition means; "not proud; having or showing a low or modest estimate of one's own self-importance.  There's a meekness or mildness associated with humility, but it has nothing to do with being used as a door mat or putting oneself down.  It has to do with seeing ourselves and our reality as they really are.

There are many many biblical references to humility.  For example, in the beatitudes  from Matthew chapter five we read:  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." 

In the canticle of Mary from the gospel of Luke, we read: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on His lowly servant."  Mary acknowledges the gift of Grace given to one who is unworthy.

And in Luke, chapter 18, we have the story told by Jesus abut the Pharisee and the tax collector who went to the temple to pray.  The Pharisee in his prayer uses the words: "God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves and rogues, and even like that tax collector over there.  I fast twice a week, and give a tithe of my income."  While the only words that could be heard from the tax collector were: "God, be merciful to me a sinner."  Jesus would proclaim that it was only the tax collector that went home that day justified:  "For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all those who humble themselves will be exalted."

When children were being turned away, Jesus, in Luke, declared: "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them.  It is to such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs".

Humility places us squarely into an experience of God being present with us, in the here and now; not a God in a far away place, but a God whose Spirit dwells within.  When we let go of our puffed-up reasoning and rationalization, when we acknowledge the mystery that life brings to each of us, a mystery beyond intellectual understanding and conventional wisdom, then we discover that which Jesus calls "the Kingdom of God".  In humility, we discover ourselves and our reality around us as being in right relationship with God.

So Jesus exclaims: "I bless you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever, and revealing them to mere children.  Yes Father, for that is what it pleased you to do."  And if we let Him, Jesus will become the way to the Father.  He will become the truth of our reality giving us the life beyond all explanation through His Spirit and through Grace.  "No one knows the Father except the Son and those whom He chooses to reveal Him."  By letting go of our own puffed up reasoning, our stance that leads to self-justification - look at me, I tithe, I fast twice a week - we discover the treasure hidden in the field for which we are willing to sell off all our other trappings in order to possess.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Experiencing God - God's Tenderness 187

"Israel was a luxuriant vine, yielding plenty of fruit.  But their heart is a divided heart". 
Hosea

Hosea spoke to Israel during its long and violent struggle with Assyria who would later over run their little country, and send its people into exile.  Hosea (750-725 BC) was one of the prophets who formed a bridge between the early prophets that we read about in the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings, and the later prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel.  

Like Amos, Hosea saw the injustices, deceit, violence and cruelty that was common among the people of his time; but he spoke of it quite differently than the other prophets.  He spoke about it by describing their lack of fidelity or faithfulness, their lack of tenderness towards each other, and their lack of knowledge of a God who wanted a loving relationship with them, a relationship as a father would have with a child.

Hosea is the prophet who describes Israel's relationship with God as being similar to his own painful experience of a marriage with his wife Gormer.  They had made their pledge of love to each other - "you shall be my wife, you shall be my husband" - but Gormer would then repeatedly reject his love and go off with someone else.  To Hosea, the people of Israel showed this same lack of fidelity, this same lack of tenderness that was meant to generate friendship, affection with a desire for union. A covenant with God would require Israel to grow in mutual trust, affectionate love, and tender admiration.  It  would express itself in mercy, kindness, tenderness, and so on; but this was sorely lacking in the hearts of the Israelite people.

Hosea gives the beautiful instruction:  "Sow integrity for yourselves, reap a harvest of kindness.  Break up your fallow ground.  It is time to go seeking the Lord until He comes to rain salvation on you."

In the gospels, we discover this reformed image of the people of Israel in the person of Jesus whose faithfulness, gentleness, and tenderness is not only directed to the One He calls Father, but also directed to all those He meets.  In the Gospel of Matthew, He calls forth His disciples to whom He is entrusting that same faithfulness to God, a faithfulness that will begin a new Kingdom, a new reign.

Jesus calls his disciples, not from the elite of society - those with power, education, or importance - but from the ordinary; those whose hearts can be molded through Grace and love of the Spirit.

In the same manner, He calls each of us to be His disciples, to be faithful in building of God's Kingdom, not for ourselves, but for the glory of God.

"Sow integrity", we hear Hosea saying. "Reap a harvest of kindness.  Break up your fallow ground" - that part of you that lies dormant. "It is time for seeking the Lord until He comes to rain salvation on you".  

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Experiencing God - Empying Self 186

"Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them, for then you have no reward from your Father in Heaven"
Gospel of Matthew

Why did Jesus single out prayer, fasting and almsgiving to His disciples?  In the Hebrew scriptures, these three were considered the cardinal works of the religious life.  They were seen as the key signs of a pious person, three great pillars on which the good life was based.  In fact, they are still considered so today, and have also been adopted in our Christian tradition.  However, Jesus warns us that it is not enough just to do them.  We must do them with the right intention.  "Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them, for then you have no reward from your Father in Heaven."

What does Jesus mean by this?  Is God sitting up there in heaven evaluating everything we do, making sure we have the right intention in our hearts when we do it?  If we do it right, we are awarded, but if we don't do it right, no reward is given?  Of course not.

Our God is a God of relationship.  God wants to enter into relationship with us, and us with God.  God wants us to personally encounter His presence in our lives, to experience the joy of the presence in a relationship of love; but this cannot happen if we do things like our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving for selfish purposes -- that is, to be seen or to be esteemed by others.  It's not that God is absent when we pray with the wrong intention.  God is always there.  It's just that our awareness of God's presence is clouded over by "self", that which seeks its own benefit, and not for glorifying God.

The prayer we do in Christian meditation is a discipline for the purpose of transcending "self" so as to enter into that relationship with the Father.  Christian meditation is a prayer form that many are unfamiliar or have difficulty understanding.  The reason for it is that it is prayer based on silence, stillness and simplicity - of really doing nothing.  The only thing we do is repeat our one sacred word or mantra.  We seek to personally do nothing, achieve nothing.  We have no words, goals or expectations.  And by seeking nothing, having no goals for ourselves, we discover that God is inwardly present with us, and there is a personal uniting of that presence with us.  It is a difficult prayer practice because this inner stillness is so often disrupted by constant thoughts of our own agendas and plans.  We worry about what has happened in the past, we are creating plans for the future, we get caught up in our personal fantasies.  This prayer discipline is the work of letting go of all of this through silence and stillness, of setting these things, ("self"), aside for a few moments.

This is what Jesus means when He says:  "When you pray, go into your private room".  This private room is the room of your heart free from self-absorbing distractions.  "When you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you."  In other words, as we empty ourselves, as our self-absorbing thoughts subside, we discover God's presence residing within us.  This is why meditation is often referred to as pure prayer or prayer of the heart. 

In all of our prayer, no matter what form it may take, we pray in a way that leads to that discovery of God's presence.  It is God's presence that transforms us so that we may acknowledge with Saint Paul that it is in Him that we live, and move and have our being. 

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Experiencing God - Unity 185

"Holy Father, keep those you have given me true to your name so that they may be one like us."
Gospel of John

When a parent, a mother or father, is dying, the one hope and dream they have for their family, particularly their children, is that they remain united. Their wish is that they support one another, look after one another, be there for one another.  In fact, this is more important than the individual success stories of each of their children.  Why is this?  I think the answer lies in the fact that a parent knows that if their children are united in love for one another, they will all be safe, all will be cared for.

There's a story in Acts where St. Paul is leaving the people of Ephesus.  "Be on your guard for yourselves," he says;  "Be on your guard for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you the overseers".  In other words, be united in your faith.  Do not allow the outside world with all of its temptations separate you and divide you.  

The focus of the seventeenth chapter of the Gospel of John, from which the above quote is taken, is on unity.  This is written at the time when Jesus is preparing to leave His disciples.

Jesus prays to the one He calls "Holy Father that His followers be joined in oneness, just as the father and son are one.  The central focus of Jesus' prayer is unity, unity of not only the present disciples, but also the future disciples; a unity modeled on that of the Father and Son; a union that takes it roots from the love that exists between the two of them.

What is the cause of disunity, this breaking of the love covenant?  Jesus describes this source of disunity as the world.  In fact, He mentions this seventeen times in these verses of chapter seventeen.  This world that Jesus mentions is the anti-world, the place of disbelief, hatred and unlove; that which is in contradiction to what Christian living should be.  It would include the getting caught up into inordinate desires and attachments to things, the lust for power and ambition, and for worldly pleasures.  Jesus uses Judas as an example of one to whom unity was offered, but was rejected; of one who experienced light and life, but left it for the darkness of the world.

The unity that Jesus speaks about has nothing to do with uniformity.  A parent recognizes that each of his or her children are uniquely different, with different strengths and gifts, different likes and dislikes, different preferences and even different views.  It is this diversity that makes community and family work, that makes Christ visible in the world.  This unity has its foundation in our common belief in Christ, faith in the Holy Spirit, and the mission of love that we are all called to share.  We serve in that mission in unity, using the diversity of our gifts and strengths to move us forward to building God's Kingdom.

St. Paul warns the people of Ephesus: "Be on your guard for yourselves.  Be on your guard for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you the overseers."  A dying parent knows what is the most important thing for his or her children: - care for one another, be there for one another.  Do not let the cares of the world separate you.

Friday, May 9, 2014

Experiencing God - The Truth that Sets us Free 184

"If you make my word your home, you will indeed be my disciples, you will learn the truth, and the truth will make you free."
Gospel of John

If we look at the beginning of John's Gospel, the first line is: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Jesus' invitation to us above (where he asked us to make His Word our home) really means to make Him our home, to make God our home.  Home implies a place where we are the most comfortable, a place where we can kick off our shoes and relax, a place where we want to be if we're not feeling well, a place beyond pretense.  

Whenever I go away on a trip, one of the experiences I like the best is that of coming home, getting back where I feel most connected with myself and the reality around me.  When we discover our home in Christ, then we discover what He means by true discipleship.  We discover the truth that sets us free.

In the "New Evangelization" process, one of the five building blocks identified by our Archbishop is witnessing to our faith.  I like what the Archbishop says about a witness when he compares it to a witness in a court case.  He says that a witness is not the judge.  A witness is not a policeman or the arresting officer.  A witness is one who is called to give testimony as to what he or she has seen, has heard or has experienced.  

A witness to our faith in Christ is the same thing.  A witness is one who is called to give testimony to what he or she has seen, has heard or experienced.  A witness is not there to judge or to provide judgement.  A witness is not there to catechize.  A witness is there to share, in some small way, their journey with Christ, their call to be a disciple, the experience of making Christ his or her home.  

We can do this in two ways: in the words that we share and in the lives that we live.  Both are equally important. 

As we open ourselves to be a witness to Christ, we become lighter and happier, less obsessed with our own personal problems. We create more space for others.  Think about the people around you: our friends, co-workers, the men and women we see on the way to work.  By cultivating a desire to share our faith in Christ, we are opening ourselves to bringing peace and benefits to all those we encounter.  Our joy attracts them to us, and they feel a sense of calm and happiness in our presence, just as one smile can light up many other faces.  This can spread to our community, our environment, and to the whole world. 

If we manage to do something good for others, even for a few seconds, we ultimately experience a feeling of great joy. This is not an abstract theory, but a simple statement of fact of what we have all experienced at one time or another.  This can happen as we make out home in Christ.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Experiencing God - Astonishment 183

"Did not our hearts burn within us as Jesus spoke to us on the road, and explained the scriptures to us?" 
Gospel of Matthew

In the Gospel story about the two disciples on the road to Emmaus after Jesus crucifixion, we see two people very confused, very disillusioned, and very dismayed. 

The first question that came to my mind as I was reading again this story was:  Why was it so difficult for these disciples to recognize Jesus as He joined them in their walk home? 

The truth of the matter is; Jesus' death shattered their hopes and dreams.  They had hoped that Jesus was to be the one to redeem Israel.  But His arrest and cruel execution caused them such grief, such a sense of loss, that their hopes were destroyed and their senses dulled.  This made it impossible for them to remember the scriptures and the teachings concerning Christ's mission.

This whole Gospel story is about how Jesus re-awakens their senses so that they could again understand the message and see the "Risen Lord" in their midst.  And when they did, their hope and vision was restored.  They returned to Jerusalem full of joy and excitement in order to tell their companions what they had seen and heard.  They returned to witness to their personal encounter with Christ on the road to Emmaus. 

There is an equally compelling story in the Book of Acts.  This story took place after Pentecost, probably a few months after Jesus' crucifixion.  It is the story of Peter and John passing through the place called "the Beautiful Gate" on their way to the temple to pray.  On their way, they ran into the man who was lame from birth who asked them for some money.  Peter and John are no longer confused, disillusioned or dismayed from past events.  They are now embracing their new mission with courage and enthusiasm.  They have been convicted by the presence of Christ in their lives.  As a result of that conviction, they are now able to do the work of Christ; to bring those outside the faith into that same conviction that they themselves share. 

The most beautiful line in this story is:  "Everyone could see the lame man walking and praising God, jumping and running, and they recognized him as the one who use to sit begging at the Gate of the temple.  And they were "astonished", and unable to explain what had happened to him."  They were "astonished".
 
During the season of Lent, our parish went through a series of Lenten Transformation sessions on the New Evangelization.  The purpose of these sessions was to try to bring us to a greater awareness of the message of the Risen Christ so that we may begin to give witness to what we have seen, what we have heard, and what we have experienced. We needed to realize that before "astonishment" can be realized by others (the "astonishment" that we read about in scripture) we must begin to direct some of our attention and energy beyond the pews of our own church. 

If you read the Gospels, or the stories in the Book of Acts and Paul's letters, very little has to do with what has happened in Church.  "Astonishment" happened to others as Jesus and His disciples gave witness in the streets, in the market places and with those they encountered in their daily walk.  "Astonishment" happened as they gave credible witness to their faith.  We read in the above Gospel of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus:  "Did not our hearts burn within us as Jesus spoke to us on the road, and explained the scriptures to us?" 

The message of Christ burns deep in all the hearts of those who believe.  As a community of faith, can we not discover together the ways and means to share our own "astonishment" with those whose only Gospel may be us?