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When I was in my late teens and into my twenties, I lived like a practical atheist. I'd be quick to label myself as a Christian, but there was not a single thing I did that would have alerted anyone to the fact that I was one. I didn't go to church. I didn't read my Bible. I used God's name in vain. I was not chaste. I lived with my husband before marriage. I had two issues: 1. I thought just believing in God was sufficient and 2. I had no real relationship with God. I didn't love Him. These two things, consequently, caused me to live as if God was just some distant being that didn't really factor into my life that much. Over the many years that I've been writing online, I've noticed that there are different ways that people "wear" the label of Christian. I was explaining this to my oldest daughter recently when she was home for a visit. I explained that there is the "social justice warrior" Christian, who likes to use Christianity to advance modern day social justice issues. What is striking is that the issues they are "warrioring" over are quite often in direct violation of Church teachings. They are all misguided heart and lack any obedience to Scripture or Christ's teaching. If we aren't obedient to Christ, then we do not really love Him. Another group is all intellectual. They appreciate the intellectual rigor that Christian theologians and scholars have brought to the table and they relish the opportunity to outsmart...well...anyone really. This group is all mind and no heart. If we aren't in love with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we may enjoy the intellectual prowess of the Church's minds, but we won't have a true relationship with Jesus. A third group is the piety group. These are the people that nitpick everyone and everything to death in an attempt at moral superiority with regards to how the Faith is lived. As I've experienced this type of people over the years, I've noticed that they have a rigidity about them causing a lack of joy. Being in love with God should be a joyful thing and not cause scorn or bitterness. Lastly, there is the group that live like practical atheists, like I did. When you really love someone you want to know them and spend time with them. If as a Christian, you think you can do without church, Scripture, or adherence to Christ's teachings, then there is no love, but only the desire that the label of Christian will be enough to get you into Heaven. All of us are guilty of one or more of these things in our life, Catholic Pilgrims. What we must do is be aware and strive to love God with our whole mind, our whole heart, and our whole soul. Have a blessed Wednesday.
Continue ReadingToday is the birthday of St. Frances Cabrini, the featured saint for Season Five of my podcast, "Journeying with the Saints." If you want to get to know a person read their words. This lets you into their mind--what they think about, dream about, fear, and love. Saints can seem distant, untouchable, and unknowable when all we do is see statues of them or hear about their feast day. Once we read their words, they become so much more real to us. I knew of Mother Cabrini, but I didn't know her very well before reading her letters. I was always impressed with hearing how much she had accomplished in her life as a missionary, but I didn't really understand how she went about doing so much. I knew she relied on God, but what that looked like for her, I didn't really get. We are almost at the end of Season Five and reading Mother Cabrini's letters has been so enriching for me. When I saw this stained-glass window at the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, CO, I told my son, "This is just how I imagined her on the steamers writing to her Daughters." Since getting to know her, I talk about her to people all the time. I tell her story, give interesting details about her, share the magnitude of her missionary work, and describe how close she was to God. I have realized that when I'm talking about her, it's like sharing the story of a friend that I love very much. And that's the truth of the matter, I have come to love her and see her as friend now. So, happy birthday to St. Frances Cabrini, the first canonized American saint. St. Frances Cabrini, pray for us!
Continue ReadingMost of us aren't ever going to come across someone out in public who is literally battered, bruised, and left for dead. It's not impossible that we would stumble upon such a situation, but the chances are more likely that we will come in contact with someone that is spiritually or emotionally battered. Way back at the start of my husband's career in the Air Force, I took a summer job at base legal. I was a front office helper with very little work to do. Most days, I was bored out of my mind. There was too little work for too many people. This suited my immediate boss just fine. She was content to do nothing and even got annoyed when people came to receive services. Consequently, I spent much of my time at work trying to find anything to do. My time there was not long after 9/11 and a lot of people on base were deploying people. One day, the phone rang and I answered, "Base legal, this is Amy." The guy on the other end was crying and said, "Ma'am, I just came home from deployment and my wife took my kids, took everything in my house, and cleaned out my bank account. I have nothing. I'm just calling to see what my legal options are." I wasn't able to pass him off to a JAG officer right at that time, but I chose to stay on the phone with him and listen to him. I knew the truth of the matter was that base legal could help very little. He needed an outside attorney. But, I decided to offer my ear. After a good while of listening, I was able to pass him over to an attorney and our phone call ended. My immediate boss started scolding me by saying, "We are not a counseling agency. You can't be holding up the lines talking to people we can't help." I responded back, "Look, I am not about to hang up the phone on someone in that situation. I didn't counsel him, I offered my time and attention." Today's reading from the Gospel of Luke is about the Good Samaritan, a story we are all familiar with. Like I said in the beginning, most of us won't come across people on the side of the road left to die, but we will come across people that need our time, attention, and love. Have a blessed Sunday, Catholic Pilgrims. *Altar is from Mission San Gabriel in Los Angeles, CA
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