Knitting a Conundrum

We have this fast as an ally, and as an assistant in this good intercession.

When the winter is over and the summer is appearing, the sailor draws his vessel to the deep; and the soldier burnishes his arms, and makes his horse ready for the battle; and the farmer sharpens his sickle; and the traveller boldly undertakes a long journey, and the wrestler strips and bares himself for competition.

So when the fast makes its appearance, like a kind of spiritual summer, let us like soldiers polish our weapons; and like farmers, let us sharpen our sickle; and like sailors, let us order our thoughts against the waves of extravagant desires; and as travellers let us set out on the journey towards heaven; and as wrestlers let us strip for the contest. For the believer is at once a farmer, and a sailor, and a soldier, a wrestler, and a traveller. Hence St. Paul saith, "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers. Put on therefore the whole armour of God."

Have you watched the wrestler? Have you watched the soldier? If you are a wrestler, it is necessary to engage in the conflict naked. If a soldier, you must stand in the battle line armed at all points. How then are both these things possible, to be naked, and yet not naked; to be clothed, and yet not clothed! How? I will tell you.

Divest yourself of worldly business, and you will have become a wrestler. Put on the spiritual armour, and you will have become a soldier. Strip yourself of worldly cares, for the season is one of wrestling. Clothe yourself with the spiritual armour, for we have a heavy warfare to wage with demons.

Therefore it is necessary we should be naked, so as to offer nothing that the devil may take hold of, while he is wrestling with us; and to be fully armed at all points, so as on no side to receive a deadly blow. Cultivate your soul. Cut away the thorns. Sow the word of godliness. Propagate and nurse with much care the fair plants of divine wisdom, and you will have become a farmer. And Paul will say to you, "The farmer that works must be first partaker of the fruits. He too himself practised this art. Therefore writing to the Corinthians, he said, "I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase."

Sharpen your sickle, which you have blunted through gluttony-- sharpen it by fasting. Lay hold of the pathway which leads towards heaven; rugged and narrow as it is, lay hold of it, and journey on. And how are you able to do these things? By subduing your body, and bringing it into subjection.

For when the way grows narrow, the corpulence that comes of gluttony is a great hindrance. Keep down the waves of inordinate desires. Repel the tempest of evil thoughts. Preserve the ship; display much skill, and you will have become a pilot. But we shall have the fast for a groundwork and instructor in all these things.

From 21 Homilies on the Statues, Homily 3

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I look forward to Lent because it is a time blessed to strive to be ever closer to God...I was going to write something about why I like it, but St. John Chrysostom says it so well why it is good.

A link to writings by this great saint can be found here

Labels: Lenten meditations, Ways of Holiness

Remember that the Christian life is one of action, not of speech and daydreams. Let there be few words and many deeds, and let them be done well.

- Saint Vincent Pallotti (1798-1850)

Deeds. Love of neighbor is a deed, not a feeling, really. It is choosing to hear the pain in another's voice and asking what's the matter. It's seeing the person in the harried shop clerk and smiling at him instead of fussing about the time he took to look up a price. It's remembering the bite of hunger when you see the ad for the foodbank and choose to do something. It's knowing that "they" who ought to be doing something about it is actually you, and me, and all of us, and taking steps to do what you can.

Today, I saw a report how 18,000 children die in this world of hunger and malnutrition-related illnessess, and I know I live in a country where food is so abundant and cheap I and my countrymen have to fight myself not to eat well past the point of good sense. The challenge is how do I turn this realization that my fellow man is hungry and children are dying into deeds? Is it enough to feel moved to go to a site like CRS or CARE or Feed the Children and give a donation? Or should I take it further? What type of deeds should I turn this sad feeling I have into?

Lots to think about here.

Labels: Ways of Holiness, Works of Mercy

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors (Matthew 6:12 RSV)

One of the images that Jesus uses regularly about the relation between sinner and one sinned against is debt. We see this clearly in several of his parables. Forgiveness of debt is a key concept. For instance:

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house, and took his place at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner."

And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you."

And he answered, "What is it, Teacher?"

"A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?"

Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more."

And he said to him, "You have judged rightly."

Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.

"Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little."

And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?"

And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." (Luke 7: 36-50 RSV)

But beyond that, he makes it clear that the idea of forgiving debt transcends our asking God for his forgiveness of our debts to him, but requires that we behave in like manner:

"Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.

"So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, `Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

"But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, `Pay what you owe.'

"So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, `Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place.

Then his lord summoned him and said to him, `You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt.

"So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." Matthew 18:23-35 RSV

Thus, we are taught in the Lord's prayer, "Forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors." Our forgiveness is predicated on our response in kind. Let us pray that we too will have hearts softened with love to be forgiven much, and that in return we find the ways to forgive those who injure us.

Labels: Forgiveness, Ways of Holiness

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves; let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to edify him. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached thee fell on me." Romans 15: 1-3 RSV

What a summation of how to live the Christian life! If loving God and loving one's neighbor is the core of how to approach life as a Christian, it has to start with us bearing with one another, living not for ME, but for God and neighbor.

Here's an example: choosing our clothes. It's the current custom in the US that women can wear whatever they feel like and men just need to deal with it. But if we follow St. Paul's advice, we would be careful to choose clothing that is not unwarrantedly distracting, because it hinders, not helps our fellow people (now I'm not talking about wearing burkhas here...more like covering up bear middrifts and not wearing overly tight or short clothes, especially to places like the office or church. )

No matter what way we feel called to dress or behave, we would do well to remember this saying from St. Francis of Assisi to his brothers: Preach the gospel everywhere you go, and if you have to, use words.

Our lives, by our choices in word, action, deed ought to reflect our Christian vocation. Remembering the parable of the servant who was forgiven much, but didn't forgive his fellow servant, we need to realize that these everyday things matter, and matter a lot. The outside world ought to be able to tell we are Christian because of how we live, how we act, how we treat our fellow men. We need to work on being Christ's light, not hidden under a bushel basket, but visible, open, and showing why it's worth being a follower of Jesus.

Labels: Following Jesus, Ways of Holiness

The fruit of prayer is faith. Prayer leads us to say, "I believe."

The fruit of faith is love. Faith leads us to say, " I love."

The fruit of love is service. Love leads us to say, "I want to serve."

The fruit of service is peace.

Mother Teresa.

Labels: Mother Teresa, Ways of Holiness

I ran across this piece which sums up a whole lot, I believe, in how to walk with God more closely:

Here are three means, other than the prayer rule, by which one can teach the soul to ascend prayerfully to God: first, dedicate some time in the morning to the contemplation of God; second, turn every action to the glory of God, and third, often turn to God with short prayers. When contemplation of God goes well in the morning, it leaves a deep inclination toward thinking about God. Thinking about God makes the soul carefully order all of its actions, interior and exterior, and turn them to the glory of God. At the same time, this sets up a state in the soul that it often will be moved by prayerful cries to God. These three: contemplation of God, doing all to the glory of God, and frequent short prayers are the most active weapons of mental prayer and prayer of the heart. Each of them raises the soul to God. He who decides to practice these quickly attains the habit of ascending to God in his heart. The labor put into these leads to the heights. The higher one ascends on a mountain, the freer and easier he breathes. Thus it is also here: the more one does these exercises, the higher his soul ascends, and the higher the soul ascends, the more freely prayer can act in it. Source

This reminds me of many things I have read, by people like Brother Lawrence, St. Francis de Sales, St. John of the Cross and others. It is such a succinct but good summary, I thought I would share it here.

About the writer:

St. Theophan the Recluse, also known as "Theophan Zatvornik" (Russian: ?????? ?????????), (1815–1894) is a well-known saint in the Russian Orthodox Church. He was born George Vasilievich Govorov, in the village of Chernavsk. His father was a Russian Orthodox priest. He was educated in the seminaries at Livny, Orel and Kiev. In 1841 he was ordained, became a monk, and adopted the name Theophan. He later became the Bishop of Tambov.

He is especially well-known today through the many books he wrote concerning the spiritual life, especially on the subjects of the Christian life and the training of youth in the faith. He also played an important role in translating the Philokalia from Church Slavonic into Russian. The Philokalia is a classic of orthodox spirituality, comprised of the collected works of a number of church fathers which were edited and placed in a four volume set in the 17th and 18th centuries. A persistent theme is developing an interior life of continuous prayer, learning to "pray without ceasing" as St. Paul teaches in his first letter to the Thessalonians.

Labels: Spiritual Growth, Ways of Holiness

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?"

And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."

And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live." Luke 10: 25-28 RSV

The basis for holy living: Loving God and loving our fellow man. It sounds so easy and is so hard to do. Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God. In practice, learning to do it is hard, the work, as Cardinal Newman put it, of a lifetime. St. Paul once said "I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate." (Romans 7:15 RSV)

This is a growing experience. We are given many examples of how to behave, what to do. A good keystone verse is also in Romans: Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good (Romans 12:9 RSV).

We know what we are supposed to do. We know that the grace of God will work through us if we are open to him. How to get started?

Pope Benedict tells us: Holiness grows with the capacity for conversion, repentance, willingness to begin again, and above all with the capacity for reconciliation and forgiveness.

How do we open up?

Love. Sounds trite, reminiscent of the Beatles singing, "all you need is love," but it really is the door.

Love the Lord with all you have. What you have may vary from time to time, and you will find as you go down this road, your love changes with time, but the bedrock of the Christian walk isn't rules or magic formulae, or ritual purity. It is the response of a loving heart to the love of a God who emptied himself to enter into creation there to die for us, out of love. This is why Catholics spend so much time pondering the mysteries of the Crucifixion...because this is our salvation. This is the gift of our Bridegroom.

Then:

Look for Christ Our Lord in everyone and you will then have respect and reverence for all.
St Teresa of Jesus, OCD

This is the hardest part, IMHO. Seeing Jesus in the face of the one who frightens us, or hates us, or is irritating is hard work. Only through being open to God's grace will we make progress in that, and that means being focused on our Lord, who loves us.

The world currently tells us a big lie. It proclaims, in a gleeful, silly voice, "It's all about Meeeeee...." but it isn't. That's the trap. It's never been about "Me." From the beginning, "me-ness" has caused the human race grief after grief. "Me-ness" is what the story of the Fall is about. "Me-ness" is Cain slaying Abel.

Salvation, hope, peace didn't come in "It's all about me." It came in "Not my will, but Thine."

Labels: Love, Ways of Holiness

Continuing to ponder the statement of Pope Benedict: "Holiness does not consist in not making mistakes or never sinning. Holiness grows with the capacity for conversion, repentance, willingness to begin again, and above all with the capacity for reconciliation and forgiveness. And we can all learn this way of holiness."

Here are some quotes to ponder on it:

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

He said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read?"

And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."

And he said to him, "You have answered right; do this, and you will live." Luke 10: 25-28 RSV

Cardinal Newman once said, "To obtain the gift of holiness is the work of a life."

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12: 1-2 RSV

Trials are nothing else but the forge that purifies the soul of all its imperfections.
St Mary Magdalen de'Pazzi, OCD

Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord.

Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like the flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
Blessed is the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him. James 1: 2-12 RSV

You know that our Lord does not look at the greatness or difficulty of our action, but at the love with which you do it. What, then, have you to fear?
St Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, OCD

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house, and took his place at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, : and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner."

And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you."

And he answered, "What is it, Teacher?"

"A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?"

Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more."

And he said to him, "You have judged rightly."

Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little."

And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?"

And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Luke 7: 36-50

Let nothing disturb thee,
Nothing affright thee;
All things are passing;
God never changeth;
Patient endurance
Attaineth to all things;
Who God possesseth
In nothing is wanting;
Alone God sufficeth.

- St. Teresa of Avila

Labels: discipleship, Ways of Holiness

At his audience of Jan. 31, Pope Benedict XVI was talking about Paul, Silas and Barnabas, and their interactions with each other. During the address he said the following:

"Holiness does not consist in not making mistakes or never sinning. Holiness grows with the capacity for conversion, repentance, willingness to begin again, and above all with the capacity for reconciliation and forgiveness. And we can all learn this way of holiness."

Anybody who studies the lives of various saints (ones with real solid history) will notice quickly that these people are not perfect. St. Peter ran away and hid during the crucifixion. Paul got into a big fight with Barnabas over whether to take Mark along with them. St. Jerome was noted for being a horridly cantankerous arguer. St. Thomas Becket, until he became archbishop of Canterbury, was a best friend and party buddy of Henry II. I could go on and on, but what you find are people with feet of clay who have many vices and virtues, but one thing in common dominates them: love of Christ and the desire at some point in their lives, of following him as well as they could.

Loving Christ honestly should be a transformative process. Like the old story of the Pilgrim's progress, we really are on a road from the City of Destruction to the place where our Lord will lead us. In the process, he guides us in holiness. We are asked to become holy, as he is holy...and that is a process that cannot happen overnight. Some of my protestant friends call the process sanctification, and that is a good term. It's made up of many slips, falls, painful moments, and also moments of great joy. It is bound up not in "me-ness" but in "Thee-ness."

I will be meditating on this the next several postings.

Labels: Ways of Holiness