Month: February 2023

When I began primary school (elementary school) the first grade a child entered was called “low-babies.” From there you graduated to “high-babies” and from there to first class (grade). Early on, I remember my parents helping me with my homework, learning to write capital and small case letters on a lined copy-book, and learning to add and subtract. In first grade, and beyond, we had to memorize math tables and we had spelling books with hundreds of words to memorize. From the very first day I hated school, I hated homework, and I hated having to memorize all this stuff.

Once I got out from the basics, and my parents’ keen supervision, I never did any homework. Typically, I would run home from school, throw my book bag in a corner just inside the hall door, scoff down a sandwich and a glass of milk, hit the bathroom (literally), and then head out onto the street to play, soccer, or street cricket, or street tennis, or whatever the seasonal sport was at the time. We played all day, from after school to after dark, only stopping to answer the call of nature or for a food break. It was the same through high school.

The book bag never left the space behind the hall door until the next morning when it was carried to school. It contained the most under used books in school history. In school I would copy homework from my best friend who sat next to me and hope for the best. The worse part came when it was time for spelling. Spelling was a public event. The master would have each boy stand and, in front of the whole class, publicly spell the words we had to memorize the evening before. The consequence for failure was two strokes of a bamboo cane on each hand, multiplied for each failed spelling. Typically, I received six such strokes everyday from first grade to eight grade. Was it deserved? – Yes. Was it worth it? – Darn right! However, to this day my spelling and grammar are crap!

Things only changed when I began to study for the priesthood. I went from an average student to a Doctor of Theology. I have four degrees and still can’t spell to save my life.  What changed? Focus, interest, a vision and a goal. I was driven to succeed, and I had a genuine interest in what I was doing. I was focused on what God was calling me to do in life, to be in life, a priest. That made all the difference.

On Ash Wednesday we began Lent. Lent is a time for spiritual reassessment, refocus and renewal. Most of us enter this period in a general way but this year it might be a good idea to focus not on penance, or giving up things, or even alms. Instead, maybe it would be good to focus on what it is God has called us to do in life and who He is asking me to be. If He has asked you to be a husband or wife, ask yourself if you are the husband or wife that your spouse needs you to be. If you are not, well, it’s not too late to change. If you are a father or mother, ask yourself, if you are the father or mother your children need you to be. If you are not well then change. If you are a brother or sister, friend, son or daughter, a priest, a religious sister or brother, or a leader of others; let us ask ourselves – am I a blessing in the life of those I love or who love me? If not – well then, it’s not too late to change. This Lent focus on who God wants me to be; examine your conscience and see who you actually are. If they don’t match well fix the difference. This Lent question, examine, how I live and who I have become, then ask how God wants me to live, who God wants me to be. Then fix the difference.  Or better still ask God to help you fix the difference.

Let’s face it, being who God created us to be, is the blessing God intends us to be in the lives of those we live with. 

“The twentieth century blows across it now but deeply it has kept an ancient vow.” Patrick Kavanagh, Irish Poet.

In the middle of Lough Derg, a small lake in County Donegal, lies a site which is associated with St. Patrick. From at least 500 AD there has been a monastery on this site above a cave. Irish legend recalls Jesus showed St. Patrick the site of this cave and told him that it was the entrance to purgatory. Since its earliest days there has been a penitential pilgrimage at this site where old Celtic monastic spiritual practices have been retained. These intense practices challenge the pilgrim to focus on listening for God’s voice and presence in their lives, to make a recollection and inventory of their lives, and to make resolutions to reform and change. ‘St Patrick’s Purgatory,’ as this site has become known since the eleventh century, became renowned across Europe, drawing intrepid pilgrims from as far away as Spain, Italy, and Hungary.

Even today the traditional three day pilgrimage is maintained which includes fairly rigorous spiritual exercises including: going barefoot on the island, keeping a twenty four hour vigil, fasting on frugal fare and drink, one meal a day made up of black tea/coffee, dry toast, oat cakes, water, sustained vocal prayer, and bodily prayer practices – kneeling, standing, praying with arms extended in the shape of the cross, “walking the rounds,” a series of stations on the island where pilgrims walk around a cross within a circle of stones a designated number of times. Generally, pilgrims depart on the morning of the third day having slept on their second night. They complete their pilgrimage fast at midnight the day of departure. Still today this pilgrimage attracts between eleven to thirty thousand people a year, mostly young, and from all over the world.

Fasting and prayer is not new, and it has a deep Biblical foundation. The great prophet and Lawgiver Moses fasted for three periods of fourth days when he was in the presence of God on Mount Sinai. Nehemiah fasted to help him confess his sins to God and turn away from them and to ask God for favor in the sight of the King of Persia to get permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:4). King David fasted to ask God to intervene because of injustice (Psalm 35:13). Jonah had the pagan city of Nineveh fast to prevent its destruction. The Prophet Isaiah (58:8-10) lists eight reasons for fasting: Your mind will be opened to greater understanding; Physical healing will come quickly to you; God will go before you as a defender; God’s glory will protect you; God will answer your prayers; When you cry for help God will be there; God will fill you with light; God will lift the gloom from your life. 

Jesus, of course, is our great witness to fasting, prayer and alms giving. Not only does He go into the wilderness and fast for forty days and forty nights, He goes to a quiet place every day to pray. Also, before any major decisions or initiatives Jesus prays and fasts. He prayed intensely the night before His Sacrifice.

As we move our attention to Lent, and preparation for Easter, it would be a good time to reexamine our own relationship with God, to evaluate how we are carrying out the mission God has given us to do here on earth, and to examine our own lives and, if necessary, readjust our focus and direction. We can’t all go to Lough Derg, or make the Camino de Santiago, but we can all do something that helps us to take stock and find our direction. 

Some spiritual exercises and opportunities that might help us this Lent could include: making a commitment to go to daily Mass, or an extra Mass each week, making a good examination of conscience and going to confession, making the Stations of the Cross in private or as a community exercise, making a visit to the Blessed Sacrament or Adoration, fasting on Friday from meat or fasting during Lent from some food or pleasure we enjoy (limiting TV, alcohol, social media), take the opportunity to attend one of the special Lent events like The Shroud of Turin Talk (March 28th, OLV), Mike Davis Lenten Concert (St. Dominic, 15^th March), Cincinnati artist Holly Schapker’s talk on the Passion of Christ and the Stations she painted (OLV, 9^th March). We could also increase our personal prayer like offering the rosary for a good cause, praying for the Poor Souls, lighting devotional candles at church for the honor of God, Our Lady, the Saints, and for particular intentions. It was a custom during Lent to recite the great Litanies, Litany of Loreto, Litany of the Saints, Litany of the Sacred Heart, Litany of the Name of Jesus, Litany of the Precious Blood. We might pray as a family or enshrine a holy image for Lent and Easter. We might also spend time in charitable works, help provide for the poor, or give some time or treasure to support the cause of justice, peace, goodness, and life. Or we might support a parish event, donate time and talent around the church, school, parish grounds, or help a neighbor in need.

In all of this the point is not to do more stuff but to turn our hearts, minds, and lives to God so that God can fill us with His grace and blessing. Any opportunity given to God, or for God, God will not forget. If we open our heart to God, the Holy Spirit will enter in.

You might find this hard to believe but the following story is absolutely true. A few years ago, I was having breakfast and was joined by two people who I didn’t know but who were family of a priest friend. As the conversation went on, we began talking about Rome. I lived in Rome for three years as a seminarian, so I was pretty familiar with the city. One of the men mentioned the Basilica of Sant’Agostino. I said that this particular church was where St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, was buried and that it was in Campo Marzio not far from Piazza Navona. A conversation ensued on where the church was located and how to get there. I was pretty sure of my geography as I had been to the church many times as my mother has a deep devotion to St. Monica and often prayed for her intercession. When she came to visit me near the end of my studies we went there together. Both the father and brother of my friend said I was mistaken and that the Basilica was not at Campo Marzio and that my directions were wrong. There followed a ten minute animated and somewhat aggressive conversation between both of them as to the directions to the Basilica. They were so convinced and certain of their knowledge of the place that I presumed I must have gotten it wrong. Later that day I happened to say to my friend “your father and brother know Rome quite well.” To which he answered, “no they don’t, they’ve never been to Rome.”

I guess if you are going to give directions you should really know what you are talking about. In the Gospel Jesus assumes the mantel of prophet and teacher of Israel. It is important to realize that the words Jesus says: “you have heard it said, but I say to you,” are not simply a turn of phrase. These words are loaded with authority and in saying them Jesus is speaking not as another interpreter of the law but as a law giver. He is saying that the law says one thing, but I am now giving you a new law. Rabbi Jacob Neusner, in his outstanding book, “A Rabbi Talks With Jesus,” points out that for the Jews, The Law, contained in the first five books of the Old Testament, called the Pentateuch, are the highest authority in Judaism. At the same time, Moses, who tradition says wrote the Pentateuch, is both the greatest prophet and “The Lawgiver.” There is no greater authority in Judaism than Moses and The Law. Rabbi Neusner says that here, Jesus deliberately and intentionally, places Himself above the Law, Moses, and the prophets. If Jesus was just another teacher giving another interpretation there would be no conflict with the Pharisees and Scribes as such interpretations were the common process for Jews coming to interpret the Law. When Jesus says: “You have heard it said,” who is he talking about? He is talking about what the Law of Moses says, and what those who came before Him said about the Law. The phrase: “You have heard it said, but, I say to you,” is a statement of authority that placed Jesus as the highest teacher, above the prophets, above Moses, and above the Law. “I have not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it.” He has come to bring it to completion.

In our time we are told that we put our mark on our own existence, we define who we are, how we live, even our own character, nature and being, our mode of existence, our gender, and our identity. As limited and dependent as we are we attempt to interpret and make real our own existence from our own personal conviction. We attempt to make creation, reality, and even God, in our own image and likeness. The world says to you; we say to ourselves; the elite say to you; those who don’t know you, don’t love you, don’t care anything about you, say to you. Jesus says: “You have heard it said,” You have heard others say, “But I say to you.” 

There are lots of voices in the world who claim to know the way and are willing to lead anyone who will listen. It seems to me that the one who knows the way is the one we should listen to and the one we should follow. Everyone else thinks they know the way, has an opinion on how to make our way, but only Jesus is “The Way.” The one who created the way is the one who knows the way best. Listen to Him, He knows what He’s talking about.