Thought for the Week 2012-01-31T00:11:35Z tag:www.archdioceseofanchorage.org,2012:/thought/3 Movable Type Copyright (c) 2012, Cindy Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time [February 5, 2012] 2012-01-31T00:11:35Z 2012-01-30T23:35:24Z tag:www.archdioceseofanchorage.org,2012:/thought/3.935 2012-01-30T23:35:24Z I have occasionally heard Christian friends of mine say: “You know, I have just about given up reading the bible.” “How come?” I say. “Well some parts of it are so earthy, so trashy, so sexy, so worldly, so ordinary.... Cindy clentine@caa-ak.org Ordinary Time "B" I have occasionally heard Christian friends of mine say: “You know, I have just about given up reading the bible.” “How come?” I say. “Well some parts of it are so earthy, so trashy, so sexy, so worldly, so ordinary. I thought the Bible was meant to help people think spiritual thoughts, lift up their hearts to the sacred.” Indeed, I imagine many people, good Christians, may skip over at least some sections of the Bible for that very reason. They have a sense that if the Bible is about God, it should give us a higher sense of spirit, holiness, whatever it is that is characteristic of God.

Admittedly, I do not have the final answer to those disappointing situations but, for my own part, I approach the question like this. Yes, the Bible is about God, but not entirely about God. Realistically, it is about God and us, we humans, the human race of whatever race, color and nationality or religious persuasion we may happen to fall. Given that assumption, we might well expect to read many events, many stories, and pieces of history that are not particularly spiritual and uplifting. The story of humanity is a mixed message: we are not totally good nor totally bad. The beauty of the Hebrew Scriptures, however, is that they describe the human condition just the way it is: the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly. If human life were perfect, the Bible would not make for very interesting or inspirational reading

]]> Given all those assumptions I have just made, let us consider the first reading for this Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time from the Book of Job. Some consider it (falsely, I believe) to be the most depressing book in the Hebrew Testament. It tells the story of a man (Job) who literally had everything going for him: rich lands, flocks of cattle and sheep, a large family, hopeful future. For some mysterious reason, however, all these treasures were lost through various tragic earthly events. Job’s friends tried to convince him that he must have done something unmistakably evil. Job was beside himself for an answer. He had always thought of himself as a good and just man.

So, here he is, sitting inconsolably on his manure pile, his so-called friends mocking him. It is the last line in the story, however, that clears up the dilemma of misfortune: Job replies: “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

One interpretation of the story is that all life is a mixture of evil and good, devastation and good fortune. The critical issue however is the conviction that God the creator and sustainer of all life has no reason to punish the human race despite their evil ways. As it is often said, life is messy, life is often so mysterious that we can only say: “Blessed be the name of the Lord. “

Interestingly, the early portion of the story portrays Job as a very depressed person, struggling with his misfortunes.
Here is selection of his complaints: “Is not man’s life a drudgery? Are not his days those of a hireling? So, I have been assigned months of misery and troubled nights. If in bed I say, ‘when shall I arise,’ but the night drags on. I am filled with restlessness until the dawn.”

It occurs to me that Job’s tale is a tale that many of us experience in our daily life: our days are often unspeakably messy; nothing seems to go right. Unfortunately, many of us cannot seem to leave our problems of the day at the office or wherever it is that we work. We cannot seem to unburden ourselves from the problems that, most likely, were not of our own making. So, sleep comes belatedly and the morning seems a long way off.

It should also be noted that the gospel for this very Sunday describes a moment in Jesus’ day when he had been overwhelmed with peoples’ problems. At the end of the day, the text tells us, “Jesus went off into a lonely place to rest. At sunrise, his disciples come and waken him: “Lord, everyone is looking for you.” So, what does Jesus say: “Let us move on so that we can proclaim the good news in other villages as well.”

The point of the selection is that Jesus, like all of us, needed rest in order to do the work that his Father invited him to do.

Could it be said, therefore, that sleep is one of those natural gifts of God that we must treasure after having tried to do the beset we could on an average day.

Finally, I do not wish to play psychiatrist and offer any quick and easy answers to the real problem many distraught people experience each night. However, if it would be of any help, perhaps good Pope John XXIII might have the remedy. After a long day’s work, he would often pray: Lord, it’s your church, you take care of it; I’m going to bed.” If it worked for Pope John XXII, perhaps there is a still a chance for the rest of us too. Sleep well!

The scriptures: Job 7: 1-4, 6-7; 1 Corinthians 9” 16-19, 22-23;
Mark 1: 29-39

]]> Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time [January 29, 2012] 2012-01-25T23:50:12Z 2012-01-25T22:56:50Z tag:www.archdioceseofanchorage.org,2012:/thought/3.934 2012-01-25T22:56:50Z I am sure there is a custom in most families to review occasionally the colorful characters in their ancestral history. I must confess to one very jolly, roly-poly uncle in my family history who has always fascinated me: Uncle Bert... Cindy clentine@caa-ak.org Ordinary Time "B" I am sure there is a custom in most families to review occasionally the colorful characters in their ancestral history.

I must confess to one very jolly, roly-poly uncle in my family history who has always fascinated me: Uncle Bert as we knew him. A photo in an old album portrays him standing near a fancy new Buick. He is dressed for his “business:” Suit, nicely pressed, sporting a flat-topped straw hat that many dandy men wore in those times.

Uncle Bert was a man who did not fit the “agricultural mold” of our family. Rather he was a man of the road, a salesman and purveyor of schemes. Never rich, he nonetheless, enjoyed his lifestyle. What he was best known for was the “ability” to tell fortunes for a small fee. I’m sure this career did not last long inasmuch as many of his predictions and other schemes often came to naught as a hoax. Nonetheless, he was a happy man, working daily at his “career.” He thought of himself as something as a “prophet.” The title gave the semblance of weight and credibility to his “trade,” but my sense is that eventually he did not have a great fortune to leave to his heirs.

]]> The thought of Bert, our “family prophet”, and his questionable profession came to me as I read the scriptures for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary time. Both, the first reading from the Jewish Testament of Deuteronomy and the gospel speak of the power of prophecy. In Moses’ day, the people were terrified that God might address them personally concerning their transgressions. “No,” Moses assures them, “a prophet will do that.” In truth however, the Jewish prophets often proved more critical of their peoples’ ways than God himself might have.

Jesus too often impressed his synagogue audiences with his authoritative preaching. He did not need the permission of the scribes to proclaim God’s word. He spoke on his own. People were astonished and pleased with his independent spirit.

All of which brings us to the topic of prophets of our own time. They are not fortune-tellers or seers, and yet in a sense they are “seers” inasmuch as they have the insight to “see” into their own times and speak to those times with the courage of their conviction.

I imagine we all have our own list of our personal and favorite prophets. I drew up a list of my own some days ago and on that list of only 10 (there are hundreds more.) you will find such people as Pope Benedict XVI, Rabbi Abraham Heschel, Albert Camus, philosopher and novelist, Dorothy Day, lover of the poor, Gerard Manley Hopkins S.J. poet, Henry David Thoreau, writer and lover of wildness, Daniel Berrigan S.J., Thomas Merton, monk and modern Augustine, Deitrich Bonhoeffer who was hung by the Nazi SS because he questioned Hitler’s vision of a future Germany. And lastly, George Carlin, humorist and philosopher. His vocabulary was not always easy to bear, but he could also say some things that could literally take your breath away.

All these prophets whom I chose often said hard and beautiful words. No fortune telling, just simple insight into their times and that is why I remember them.

Speaking your mind and your convictions with candor will often get you into trouble as it has ancient and modern prophets. Nonetheless, like Moses and Jesus, it is important to speak with the authority of our convictions when the occasion calls for it. Some folks may be a bit astonished by it, but better that than to be embarrassed bys not saying anything at all.

The scriptures: Deuteronomy 18: 15-20; 1 Corinthians 7: 32-35; Mark 1: 21-28

]]> Third Sunday in Ordinary Time [January 22, 2012] 2012-01-18T00:56:34Z 2012-01-18T00:53:42Z tag:www.archdioceseofanchorage.org,2012:/thought/3.932 2012-01-18T00:53:42Z I am quite sure that, as I look back on my life’s history, I could say that I missed a lot of opportunities to do something or avoid something that could have made all the difference in the remainder of... Cindy clentine@caa-ak.org Ordinary Time "B" I am quite sure that, as I look back on my life’s history, I could say that I missed a lot of opportunities to do something or avoid something that could have made all the difference in the remainder of my life. Life is a great mystery, of course, and lots of things can go wrong, lots of mistakes are possible. We seldom have enough sight or insight to know whether we have made correct decisions. So, no matter what, we blunder on the best we can, never knowing what could have been. Perhaps it is fortunate that we do not know what we missed.

Nonetheless, there are instances in our lives that are critical, moments when we do have sufficient time to decide well about our future. The decision to continue our education, for instance, is critical, so too the decision to marry and have children or not to marry, yes even the opportunity to accept a position in another part of the country and move far from friends and relatives.

]]> Of course, in many instances we have little control over our decisions. The world around us often makes decisions for us: An office, for instance, in our hometown shuts down and we are out of work. We have no other option than to look elsewhere.

In my own life, the decision to study for the priesthood occurred at a certain point in time, although I have no sense when that actually occurred. Indeed, I do not know whether I ever made a clear decision about it. It just sort of happened gradually, almost imperceptibly.

Even the decision to be Catholic was never a true decision; my mother and father made that decision for me and I am glad they did. I would not have made a good Protestant, good as those folks are.

One point that is clear to me, however, is that God places opportunities before us every day; they are not gigantic or world shaking, but they do count and add up to something very important.
Sometimes I just think the best thing to do on arising in the morning is to say: “Lord, right now, half awake, I want to do whatever it is you have in mind. Just try to make it clear, okay. I hope that will cover the day.”

Add to all this the fact that in many instances, unique people will come through our lives who will make God’s will very clear. If we have the good sense to listen to them, it may make a tremendous difference for our future.

Oddly enough when I read of someone who is in prison for some serious malfeasance of justice, I wonder if he or she ever imagined as a youngster that life would turn out like it did. Again, decisions, decisions.

We have several examples in our scriptures for this Third Sunday in Ordinary Time that outline the critical difference decisions make. In that lovely reading from Jonah the prophet we learn of the story of a man who heard God’s call to preach repentance to people he cared little about. They lived in the metropolitan city of Nineveh in a country foreign to Israel. The inhabitants were neither of his own culture nor his religion and yet, God felt that it was necessary to call on a Jewish person to be a missionary to these foreigners.

As the story proceeds, we learn that Jonah, in an attempt to escape God’s call, decided to go in a completely opposite direction than Nineveh. He was foiled in this attempt, however, by being thrown overboard by sailors and ending up in the belly of a sea monster that very unceremoniously dumped Jonah on the shores of the country where Nineveh was located.

“Oh well,” Jonah said to himself, “ Now that I am here I might as well try to preach repentance even though these people obviously have no desire to change their lives.”

We all know the outcome, of course. The entire city, including dogs, cats and cattle, did repent. The moral of the story is that, at least in some instances, God will have God’s way, despite our reluctance to follow the clear instinct with which God has blessed us.

That same theme is the one Saint Paul preaches to his Christian converts: “The time is short,” he says. “Do not let the ways of the world overwhelm you so that you do not even recognize God’s call when it happens.

And finally, we have the well-known story of Peter and his brother Andrew who gave up their fishing business (and even perhaps their families) and follow Jesus, to go out and preach the good news of the kingdom of God. Leaving all, they followed Jesus. That short line describes a decision that ultimately changed the world. It’s called Christianity.

I am sure that most of the life decisions we make or shall make during our lives will not be as dramatic as those we just quoted. Nonetheless, God moves in strange ways and at unexpected times and in strange circumstances. Again, as we mentioned earlier, the ways of the world and the mind of God are a great mystery. Perhaps the old saying, better safe than sorry will fit our ordinary daily life. Choice is always a risk but we need never fear failure if we simply say: “Well, Lord, if this is what you want, I’ll give it a try. Just don’t let me fail, okay?”

The scriptures: Jonah 3:1-5, 10; 1 Corinthians 7: 29-31; Mark 1: 14-21


]]> Second Sunday in Ordinary Time [January 15, 2012] 2012-01-11T18:57:01Z 2012-01-11T18:47:22Z tag:www.archdioceseofanchorage.org,2012:/thought/3.930 2012-01-11T18:47:22Z It often seems to me as I survey my past life that I have had very little to do with my future. Perhaps that is true of all of us. We seem to fall into professions that often turn out... Cindy clentine@caa-ak.org Ordinary Time "B" It often seems to me as I survey my past life that I have had very little to do with my future. Perhaps that is true of all of us. We seem to fall into professions that often turn out to be a vocation, or a vocation that turns out to be a profession.

Very few of us, however, find our profession or our vocation all alone. Someone, at some point in our life, entered into that passage and invited us to look at life again, perhaps in a completely different manner. In some sense then our futures are made for us.

I can remember at least two instances in my life when someone made all the difference in my future. One happened to be the mother of a girl whom I was dating in high school, a wise lady who helped me see my way through an infatuation!

The second person was a chaplain-colonel in the U.S. Army who took me under his wing and steered me to a seminary at the University of Notre Dame; the rest is history!

]]> In some sense, however, both of those individuals were a form of divine grace that more or less sailed through my life and left a mark that has lasted until this very day. Indeed, I would dare say that very few individuals discover their future alone; some person(s), some event, some need arises to draw us into our future.

Among such individuals I would place the elderly, individuals of age, wisdom, discernment and sensitivity. Interestingly, they are often very quiet people; they say little, but what they do say is full of meaning and sincerity; they speak from long experience and, perhaps, from much pain and suffering. We will do well to listen to them carefully.

It also occurs to me that the process of discovering our vocation or profession can depend on the companions we keep. In some mysterious way we ourselves can be the source of discernment and wisdom for others who may be faltering or struggling with their future. It will simply be a matter of sitting quietly, listening, adding a word or two of encouragement and support. In short, we can often become a kind of divine presence to another without realizing it.

Such is the theme we find in our scriptures for this Second Sunday in Ordinary time as the New Year gets underway.

The first story comes from the Book of Samuel describing an occasion when Samuel, a young scribe was in training under the guidance of Eli, a man of age and great wisdom. The young Samuel imagines he is hearing the voice of Eli during the night. Three times the voice sounds. Finally Samuel goes to Eli one last time and asks: “Did, you call?” Eli, realizing that this was a divine call, simply replies: “If you hear the voice again, simply say: “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.” The consequence of this short interlude was the beginning of the career of a great leader, Samuel of Israel.

A lesson that all of us might learn from this episode when we are puzzled about the direction of our life is simply to say:
Speak, Lord, I’m listening as hard as I can.

Saint Paul also seems to be another Eli-the Wise. His very dedication to the work of evangelizing non-believers turned into one of the greatest missionary endeavors of world history. People listened to him because simply seemed “eaten up” with enthusiasm for the word of Jesus.

Finally, Jesus himself (gospel) seemed to his followers to be a wise person who spoke the word of God fearlessly. His very life itself was an invitation to discover the meaning of the kingdom of God.

Given all these references in scripture and our daily experience, we all might well say that there has been an Eli who has come through our life and made an immense difference in our future profession or our vocation, or is the other way round?

The scriptures: 1 Samuel 3:3-1-, 19; I Corinthians 6: 13-15, 17-20;
John 1: 35-42

]]> Epiphany of the Lord [Janurary 8, 2012] 2012-01-03T19:35:58Z 2012-01-03T19:33:05Z tag:www.archdioceseofanchorage.org,2012:/thought/3.927 2012-01-03T19:33:05Z One of the great marvels of modern life is the pace at which news of the world spreads. One can access a piece of information that occurs at a remote place in the world in a matter of seconds. News... Cindy clentine@caa-ak.org Christmas Season One of the great marvels of modern life is the pace at which news of the world spreads. One can access a piece of information that occurs at a remote place in the world in a matter of seconds. News reporters are stationed in places I have never heard of. If I want to know what is happening at the Vatican, I can click on Vatican Information Service, and “boom,” I will know within seconds what the pope and the Roman Curia are “up to.” Some months ago the pope himself was given an I Pad and wrote a message to the world on Twitter. (Can you imagine that?) There was a time when, if the pope wanted to send an encyclical to bishops around the world, some messenger would have to travel by foot, mule, and horse or eventually by boat to circulate the letter. (Sorry, I forgot about the pony express!).

At the time of the Twitter incident, the pope made an off hand remark that modern communication is a new and blessed way to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ; the “New Evangelization,” he called it.

]]> The pope is correct, of course: the words of Jesus by their very nature are meant to be spread beyond the borders of Palestine: the gospel is literally good news. I’m certain that if Jesus were alive in the world today, he would own an I Mac and he would be hooked up to the Internet. That would surely save a lot of blisters from walking the hot sands of the Middle East. Saint Paul, that great trekker would also chime in on that, I’m sure.

In short, news of any sort, good or bad in our time will spread almost instantaneously. People are always hungry to hear what is happening in the world around them and whether or not it will affect them.

Given that lengthy introduction, let me launch into the solemn feast that we celebrate during these early days of January 2012. It has a Greek title, Epiphany (i.e. to spread about). My biblical dictionary here on the computer tells me that it is a feast that tells of the divinity of Christ. All true, of course: news is spread of Christ the Son of God.

Now, a very interesting point about this description of the divinity of Christ is that the news comes to us not by way of the Internet the newspaper or any other modern mode of communication. The news of the divinity of Christ is tucked into a lovely little story about three wise men, three star-followers (gazers) who travel out of the East (the land of the rising sun) on word that in Palestine, in the West, the land of darkness they will find a divine, new-born king who will bring light and hope to the world. Their Global Positioning System will be a star, shining out of the East (the land of light again). The GPS will eventually point them to the village of Bethlehem where they will find the Divine Child, Jesus, along with Mary and Joseph, the parents of the child.

The point of the Magi journey is that they (foreigners, Arabs, perhaps) bring good news to the Western world that a savior of the entire world has been born.

Is all this simply a story? Did it actually happen? Most likely, it is fictional, but that does not make any difference. The point is that the birth of Jesus, the savior of the world was not to be considered an isolated event. The news was meant to be spread throughout the world. Early story telling was simply a way of conveying that reality. The fact of Jesus’ divinity is the central point; the mode in which that divine truth was conveyed to us is secondary.

One last point stands out so clearly in the Magi story. It is an ecumenical truth, a piece of theology. Note again that the people who discovered the divine child were Arabs, foreigners, and non-Jewish citizens. In other words the first news of the birth of Christ came from the mouth of foreigners. The ecumenical (theological) implication in all this is that the message of Christ is meant to pervade the whole world, Jew and gentile alike.

The final implication of the Magi story, of course, belongs to us: the good news of Christ, by its very nature, is meant to be dynamic, living, proliferating: we are meant to do what Jesus did, spread the word by mouth and action. We are not limited to walking sandy roads, of course. The task has become much simpler: we have the means right on our desk or on our laptop. There are endless sources to help us discover the meaning and implications of Christ’s work. It only takes a click on your mouse...and there you are. The fact that you may be reading this reflection on a local web site tells you how simple it is today. I’m sure the Magi would have loved it. No more sweaty camel trips, no more hot deserts to cross. Today the good news of Christ is literally at your fingertips. Now, how cool is that?

The scriptures: Isaiah 60: 1-6; Ephesians 3: 2-a, 5-6; Matthew 2: 1-12

]]> Mary the Mother of God [January 1, 2012] 2012-01-03T19:31:23Z 2012-01-03T19:29:09Z tag:www.archdioceseofanchorage.org,2012:/thought/3.926 2012-01-03T19:29:09Z I am quite certain that if you were chosen to help celebrate the one-hundredth birthday of your mother, you would go out of your way to do something really beautiful: if you had poetic leanings, you would write a panegyric.... Cindy clentine@caa-ak.org Christmas Season I am quite certain that if you were chosen to help celebrate the one-hundredth birthday of your mother, you would go out of your way to do something really beautiful: if you had poetic leanings, you would write a panegyric. If you were a musician or a good singer, you would compose a piece of music that celebrated your other’s life, her holiness and accomplishments. If you had any skill at story telling and humor, you would insert some anecdotes that would delight all the relatives and friends who had gathered for the festive day. Some of those narratives might even be a bit apocryphal (fictional) but everyone in the gathering would know the meaning and context and would delight in hearing them once again. All of these things would be accomplished with great joy because your mother and her memory were precious to you, days never to be forgotten.

]]> Well, my friends, this is exactly what Christians of the Eastern and Western churches (Roman and Byzantine) have been doing for centuries to honor Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary, the mother of God: churches and cathedrals have been built and named in her honor, musical compositions have praised her, artists have decorated churches with frescoes and mosaics, brilliantly colorful stones, bright stained glass windows. Nothing less than the best is considered worthy of God’s mother and her memory.

Interestingly, from a historical, biblical standpoint, there is not a lot is known about Mary’s life. True, we do have the splendid stories contained in the Nativity cycle, even references to her in the apocryphal gospels, those standing outside the circle of the four gospels we are so well acquainted with. Some of the narratives in our gospels are also written from a post-resurrection perspective, theological interpretations of what the life of Mary must have been like.

Nonetheless, there are also historical references in our gospels that give us a true sense of Mary the mother. We all remember the occasion when Mary and the rest of the family came out to where Jesus was preaching to rescue him from the angry mob that was about to kill him. Tell me, what mother would not be concerned about her son’s life, even if she could not explain why he was doing what he was doing. Often, she must have asked herself, “Is this the child I bore and raised? How come he turned out to be such a radical?” I’m sure all this must have been a mystery to her but, at the same time, she could not help but be proud of him.

Doubtless, the narrative of Mary at the foot of the cross must also be historically true. What mother would abandon her Son in the last moments of his life?

In some sense then our affection for Mary stems from the great mystery of her suffering. Her son was so unlike any other young man in Palestine; he threatened public authority of temple and palace he preached a message no one had ever heard before…the good news of he kingdom of God. He addressed Yahweh as his father? He was actually willing to sacrifice his life to help people understand that they were children of God, precious to the Father. What hubris unless it were actually true?

I think I must probably share the devotion and practice of most Catholics in the sense that Mary is my link to Jesus and the Father. She was human like we are human; she experieFnced the joys and the sadness that we all experience. But like all mothers she could not and did not abandon her son even though she could hardly understand his intent or his ways. Often she must have said, “Why can’t he just grow up normally like other young men?” Hindsight, of course, we must say that it was fortunate that he did not “grow up” like everyone else. He was born with a vision of life in the cosmos that no one else ever dreamed of.

So, let us not hesitate to say that Mary is not only Mother of the Redeemer, Mother of Jesus, Mother of God, but also especially the Pride of our Race. What a privilege, what a mystery to be chosen out of all other human creatures on earth to be he Mother of God, How fortunate we are to be privileged to be called sons and daughters of Mary the Mother of God.

The scriptures: Numbers 6: 22-27; Galatians 4: 4-7; Luke 2: 16-21


]]> Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) [December 25, 2011] 2011-12-20T23:29:51Z 2011-12-20T23:22:07Z tag:www.archdioceseofanchorage.org,2011:/thought/3.924 2011-12-20T23:22:07Z Let me tell you one of the most hilarious and embarrassing experiences that ever happened to me. It took place at a Christmas Eve “family” Mass. I had decided earlier in the week that it might be a nice idea... Cindy clentine@caa-ak.org Christmas Season Let me tell you one of the most hilarious and embarrassing experiences that ever happened to me. It took place at a Christmas Eve “family” Mass. I had decided earlier in the week that it might be a nice idea to give the kids an inexpensive Christmas gift, a noisemaker or a harmless toy they could take home and welcome Christ. Nice idea, I thought. So, shortly before the final blessing I invited the kiddos to come and pick up their “toy.” My final instructions were these: “You may not blow those horns in church; you can blow them in the car on the way home and when get back to your living room but not in God’s holy sanctuary…okay?” All nodded their assent, of course. I had no sooner blessed the assembly when I heard the first “toot,” then another until it sounded like a discordant band concert. I knew right then and there that I had lost the battle, so I cried out: “The Mass is ended, go in peace.” They did, indeed, go happily in peace. I went back to the rectory thinking to myself, Christmas is for everyone, we just proved it.

]]> It is true; of course, The Nativity of the Lord, the birth of Christ, is a solemnity that rises out of Jewish history, Christian theology and cultural interpretation. There is literally something for everyone in the celebration of this magnificent feast.

Leaving behind for a moment the role of children and their affection for the Christ child, we should also pursue the more mature theological implications of the Nativity and its meaning for Christians today.

The birth of Jesus of Nazareth in the village of Bethlehem is without doubt the most world-changing event in history. Christians have left the mark of Christ across the entire world.

We must say, however, that it is his life and not simply his birth that gives us reason to celebrate this earthly/heavenly event each year.

Saint Athanasius of Alexandria (296-373) once made the claim that Christ became human so that humankind might become like God. This statement is often explained as theosius or divinization. In other words the cosmos itself has taken on a divine quality, an image of the sacred.

An important point to make in this context, of course, is that the birth of Christ is a time-limited event; it happened once and only once in history. Given that reality, one might imagine, therefore, that it could have well been forgotten, lost among all the other births that occurred on that day in Palestine.

What makes all the difference in this event; however is that his followers, disciples, did not allow Jesus’ death to deter them from continuing to declare that he had been raised from the dead by the power of the Father. They immediately began to carry his message, the good news of the kingdom of God, to all who would listen, Jews and gentiles alike. The rest, of course, is history. Christians who believe that the message of Christ can continue to change the face of the world have carried the message of Jesus around the world.

Here then is the point where we Christians today become so important. The birth of Christ could well remain an historical event unless you and I are determined that Christ can still change the face of history even today. Obviously, Christ was born among us; today, however, he must become present in the flesh of humankind… through us, through our works of charity, our care for the poor and the downtrodden, through our determination that we can bring peace and justice to the small world where we live. These are the very issues that consumed Jesus’ life and the lives of those early Christians.

In some sense, we should say that we Christians today have been handed an immense responsibility. The world is not so different than it was in Jesus’ day: violence still infects so many countries; people are still poor and defenseless. The overused phrase, “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer” is truer today than ever.

So, once again, we gather to celebrate the birth of Christ, the birth of a child who, in his adult life, left us with the opportunity to complete what came to do. Children will continue to cry out with joy and share gifts. You and I will continue to make our best efforts to make the world a place where all can rejoice that peace is still possible, if we exert our best efforts to make it happen. Christmas is a season for everyone to enjoy, children and adults as well; Jesus still lives among us and through us.

May the celebration of the Lord’s birth bring you the joy that lasts forever.

The scriptures: Isaiah 52: 7-10; Hebrews 1: 1-6; John 1: 1-14

]]> Fourth Sunday of Advent [December 18, 2011] 2011-12-20T23:29:37Z 2011-12-13T23:36:09Z tag:www.archdioceseofanchorage.org,2011:/thought/3.923 2011-12-13T23:36:09Z It has long been my conviction that there are two places, two buildings, two structures, two reminiscences that are important to us, vital to the deepest part of our human psyche. They are, first, the place, the home where we... Cindy clentine@caa-ak.org Advent It has long been my conviction that there are two places, two buildings, two structures, two reminiscences that are important to us, vital to the deepest part of our human psyche. They are, first, the place, the home where we were born. Secondly, the church where we celebrated the sacraments of initiation.

True, that original home may not exist any longer or perhaps we have moved many times since our birth. Nonetheless, that building where we spent our early days, the back yard, the swing hanging from the old cottonwood limb, the street where we rode our tricycle, all these memories are part of our very humanity. Here is where we first got a sense of the world around us and somehow discovered where we fit in. In short, certain places leave an impression on our very soul. This is where life began for us.

]]> And the local church, St. Joes, St. Anthony’s, Sacred Heart, or whatever its name, this is the place where we first came in touch with the sacred, even though we may have been more interested in the cookies our mother brought along for silencers! Obviously, we had no idea what that man all dressed in colorful robes was doing up there in front, no idea what folks around us were saying, what those shining objects were up there on that table with the white cloth. Somehow, intuitively, we knew we were in a sacred setting. Mother kept shussing us to keep quiet, so that must have meant something, at least until we needed to visit the bathroom.

The point here is that certain places have a sacred meaning and character by their very nature. We would go back there if we could just to be in touch again with that early experience, that sense of sacred presence once again.

Sadly, I must admit that the home where I was born and the church where I prayed during my earliest days have both disappeared with time and uncontrollable circumstances. But my mind can still reconstruct the landscape and even remember circumstances that formed my early moral fiber.

We all remember those famous lines of, Robert Frost in his lovely poem, “The Death of the Hired Man.” “Home is the place where, if you go there, they have to take you in.” It is true; I believe, we are all mysteriously pulled back home if we want to go there, physically or mystically.

Homes are often mentioned in the scriptures: We know Jesus was born in Bethlehem, lived Nazareth; the temple where he discussed the Scriptures was in Jerusalem.

In our first reading from the Book of Samuel for this Fourth Sunday of Advent the story is told of King David who, once he was settled in his palace, decided that he would build a house for Yahweh. He became a bit nervous, realizing that he lived in a sumptuous home while Yahweh, God of the Hebrews, had no house where the people of Israel could come to pray and offer sacrifices.

Before, he could call the construction workers together, however, he experienced a vision of God who told him that He (Yahweh) did not need a house built with human hands. Indeed, he (God) would build a house for Israel a house that would be everlasting. “Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.”

What we learn here, of course, is that the “house” will be a person, someone of David’s clan who will carry on David’s kingdom for all generations. For Christians, this is a clear reference to Jesus, Son of David, son of Joseph and Mary.

It was this Jesus, Son of David, who assured his followers, and all future Christians that they were dearly loved by God, that they were sons and daughters of the Most High.

It was this same Jesus, Son of David, who told his disciples to spread the good news of the kingdom of God to the ends of the earth. They were promised that He, Jesus Christ would be with them.

We may not end this reflection without insisting that Jesus, Son of David first made his “home” in the womb of Mary of Nazareth. In some sense, therefore, Mary of Nazareth, and all mothers provide us with our first home. All this, of course, is the foundation for the doctrine of the Incarnation. God’s Son, Son of David, Son of Mary took on human flesh, the flesh of human kind; henceforth, He will make his home with us, his brothers and sisters until the end of the ages.

All of this we will experience first hand once again one week hence as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas). On that day we shall be reminded once again that we need never be concerned that we will be without a home where we can meet the Lord in Word, and sacrament and wherever we, his brothers and sisters meet to experience the Son of God on the Lord’s Day. It is during those sacred moments that we can confidently say that we are home again.

The scriptures: Samuel 7: 1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Romans 16: 26-38; Luke 1: 26-38

]]> Third Sunday of Advent [December 11, 2011] 2011-12-20T23:29:24Z 2011-12-07T22:46:50Z tag:www.archdioceseofanchorage.org,2011:/thought/3.921 2011-12-07T22:46:50Z First, I must confess to anyone who reads this piece that I have always hated waiting, waiting in line, waiting for anything. Perhaps this is a “malady” with sources deep in my genes, who knows? It even irks me when... Cindy clentine@caa-ak.org Advent First, I must confess to anyone who reads this piece that I have always hated waiting, waiting in line, waiting for anything. Perhaps this is a “malady” with sources deep in my genes, who knows? It even irks me when I make mistakes on this keyboard and need to waste time doing deletions? I’m sure the dear Benedictine sister in heaven who taught me typing in high school must have stopped praying for me long ago. I am sure, however that this human trait must disturb many people who strive to be achievers, never wasting a precious moment in their day.

Of course, I often wonder what I would do with the time saved if I never had to wait for anything? Good question. I’d probably waste it on some other useless activity.

]]> All of this talk appears rather frivolous in a sense when one thinks of all the people in the world who have no other option than to wait for something over which they have no control: the families who live in the Sudan who must walk for miles to find water; the sick in that same country who also walk miles to find a clinic to mend their ills, and when they arrive they find a line with no end in sight! Or again, think of the good people of Haiti who continue to patiently wait for housing of any sort.

I often think too of young people who wait patiently to discover the full meaning of their vocation. It comes only when God is ready to make the call.

Think again too of the millions of people in the world who wait to board airline flights, moving slowly through the scanning screen, finally waiting for the plane to take off in zero visibility.

Okay, why don’t we just say that waiting is simply part of the human condition; clever as we may think we are, we are not in control of very many facets of life in this world. Perhaps it is worth remembering, therefore, that waiting can teach us a lot about the incompleteness of our human condition. Thank God we are not robots programmed to do certain actions by way of an electrical impulse.

These thoughts come naturally to mind during the church’s season of Advent. The predominant theme of these four weeks is obviously waiting. The tradition reaches back even into the Jewish scriptures, the people of Israel who longed and waited for a Messiah after many years of suffering in exile.

The early Christians also longed for the second coming of the long-awaited Redeemer, the glorious Christ, the one who suffered death and was raised up again by the power of the Father.

Throughout all these centuries since Christ’s first coming in human flesh, Christians have continued to wait for the fulfillment of time. Each year at Christmas, for instance, Christians are reminded to wait patiently for the Lord’s future coming by gazing in wonderment at a helpless child lying in a crude barnyard feeding trough; it is a sign that the time has not yet been fulfilled. The coming of the Christ child to Mary and Joseph is history; that momentous event will not happen again. What we wait for now, in this present age, is the coming of the glorious Christ who reaches out to us in the holy word of scripture, the presence in the Eucharist and other sacraments, and finally in the gathered presence of the worshiping community each Lord’s day.

As Christians we must not imagine, however, that the eternal coming of the Christ is merely a religious or spiritual experience in history. It is evident from reading the gospels that Jesus himself was a man of his age, a hard worker. He walked the paths of Palestine preaching the good news, healing and offering compassion to all who asked.

The point then is to insist that in these in-between-times, the period between Jesus’ first coming and his final coming, we must be committed to bringing the kingdom of God, the work of Christ into our age of history.

We are all aware, of course that we live in perilous times: uprisings and wars around the world, the spread of nuclear weaponry, and natural disasters of all sorts. In some sense we live in an apocalyptic age. Are we, indeed, bringing this world to an end, or shall we commit ourselves to bettering the smaller world in which we live. That is the question put before us in this time and place.

Given all that, it would seem that waiting should not be a major problem for us. There is more than enough for us to do while we await the glorious coming of the Christ into this age and time.

The scriptures: Isaiah 61: 1-2, 10-11; 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24; John 1: 6-8, 19-28


]]> Second Sunday of Advent [December 4, 2011] 2011-12-20T23:29:09Z 2011-11-30T19:47:21Z tag:www.archdioceseofanchorage.org,2011:/thought/3.919 2011-11-30T19:47:21Z I sometimes find it interesting and, indeed, instructive to try and identify some of the characteristics of the American psyche, those features or traits that seem so common to us all: Our need, for instance, to make all things simple,... Cindy clentine@caa-ak.org Advent I sometimes find it interesting and, indeed, instructive to try and identify some of the characteristics of the American psyche, those features or traits that seem so common to us all:
Our need, for instance, to make all things simple, our tendency to want answers to questions right now; our need to keep up with the latest in communication technology, our fascination with competition. It is this last issue I find the most interesting because it affects all of us in unique ways.

An example may make this clear. I admit to the fact that I have never been a talented athlete. I could get along in the sporting world of my younger days, of course, but when it came to the matter of choosing up sides for a softball team, I would always end up being chosen last, or if chosen, being sent to play the position of right field when balls are rarely hit!

]]> Or again it I often wonder how the second or third string football players must feel when a game is close and there may never be an opportunity for them to play, at least in this game.
They are probably asking themselves why they went to all the trouble to get suited up. Unfortunately, like many things in life, some people get to play and others get to watch. When this happens over and over, of course, it can become a source of great disappointment or even depression. On the other hand, in such a situation one can also say to one’s self: “I know my talents, my skills and I am ready to live with them.”

Ultimately, of course, second place is never a very desirable option in any element of life. Vince Lombardi, coach of the very successful Green Bay Packers in the 60’s, was often quoted as saying that winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing. That very phrase, of course, is often used as a criticism of the competitiveness of all professional sports.

Let me insist now that being first is not simply a characteristic limited to matters of the secular world, Indeed, we commonly find it throughout the history of the Jewish testament and the gospel of Jesus of Nazareth. The great Jewish prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea and others constantly complained of the “climbers” in Jewish religious society, the high priest, scribes and Pharisees who expected places of honor, polite address. They wished to be easily recognized, wearing their decorous religious clothing and symbols of distinction. All the while, of course, they were simply trying to escalate their own importance.

Jesus, in his debates with the scribes and Pharisees makes the same point: “They wait on street corners for recognition but do little to serve the needs the people in regard to justice and charity”

At this point, however, we suddenly meet the last and the greatest of the prophets; he was known not only for his biting condemnation of the religious elite (brood of vipers, polished sepulchers) he called them.

He did not limit his criticism only to the religious leaders, however. To all who came out to the Jordan River to hear this fiery preacher, he demanded an entire change of life, repentance, and a call for works of justice and kindness, concern for the poor.

We all know him, of course, not only by his penitential preaching, but also by his penitential lifestyle: camels’ hair clothing, locusts for a luncheon entrée, wild honey for dessert. He is none other than the famous John the Baptist.

What makes the Baptist unique, however, is that not only was he a relative of Jesus, but from a early age, he spoke of himself the forerunner of Jesus, the “advance man” of the Messiah; he was willing to step aside, stand back, so that the good news of the kingdom could be preached by Jesus.

So, in John the Baptist we have one of the best examples of a person who was unashamed to be considered “second best.” “He must increase, I must decrease,” he would say.

So, what should one make of all this? Several points:
First of all, we should thank God every day of our life for the giftedness of our human nature, physical, mental and spiritual.

Secondly, there is no reason for us to immediately begin comparing ourselves to someone else; each of us is distinctly unique: no two persons on this planet possess the exact same endowments; each of us is blessed and holy in his/her own unique way.

Finally, perhaps it might be a nice idea to do what athletes often do when they have finished a well-fought game. They get in line and give each other a firm hand class, a “high five” or say a word of congratulation for having won or tried hard to win. It is a simple sign as though to say: “let’s praise God for having done our best with what God gave us.” I would guess that there must be something deeply spiritual about all that. Even (or especially) John the Baptist might agree

The scriptures: Isaiah 40: 1-5,9-11; 2 Peter 3: 8-14; Mark 1: 1-8

]]> First Sunday of Advent [November 27, 2011] 2011-11-23T21:39:37Z 2011-11-23T20:40:33Z tag:www.archdioceseofanchorage.org,2011:/thought/3.917 2011-11-23T20:40:33Z It has always appeared to me to be a mark of great wisdom that Christian mainline religions and Catholicism in particular have learned to divide up their church year into a series of splendid sacred seasons. As in many other... Cindy clentine@caa-ak.org Advent It has always appeared to me to be a mark of great wisdom that Christian mainline religions and Catholicism in particular have learned to divide up their church year into a series of splendid sacred seasons. As in many other matters of life, of course, repetition often breeds boredom and discontent; and so we naturally look forward to whatever is new, surprising, unexpected, breathtaking and overwhelming: we anticipate with excitement unique times and seasons, saints days, feast days and fast days, days of the Lord and his holy mother; our hope is that it will always be thus and we are gladsome for it.

Now, turn your attention for a moment, if you will, to nature’s seasons; are they not a delight to behold? We await them with great expectancy, each of them carrying the matchless character of their individuality. In other words, without change, life on this planet would indeed be doomed to remain a cloud of grayness, dullness, nothing more.

]]> And so it is with the Church’s Year of Grace: each new time of year brings with it the assurance that the abundance of God’s love is never lacking, never far from sight or experience if we choose to discover it.

And so, it appears to me that there is a certain similarity between the movements of the cosmos and the seasons of the sacred. Indeed, as I remember it, there is a well-known axiom in theology, which claims that grace builds on nature. I see it happen each fall as I shuffle through the gold and burgundy leaves that fall upon the path around St Joseph Lake.

And so, here we stand, my friends, on the threshold of a new year as we celebrate Advent 1. The Latin word Adventus is a translation of the Greek word, Parousia, commonly used in reference to the Second Coming of Christ. So, the season of Advent serves as a reminder both of the original waiting of the Hebrews for the birth of the Messiah as well as the patient waiting of Christians for the Christ of glory to return at the end of time. That is an abbreviated description of Advent.

But let me digress for a moment from that short sketch of liturgical theology and reflect on the poetic meaning of time and seasons. I will choose from the works of the British scholar, T.S. Eliot. The question in my mind is this: are there truly such realities as time and divisions of time, or are these simply a fabrication of our own imagination and construction? And surprisingly, I found a hint of an answer in several quotes from the pen of Eliot:

“Time present and time past are both perhaps present in time future and time future contained in time past. If all time is eternally present, all time is redeemable.”

And here are several more lines from the same author:
“In our end is our beginning, in our time infinity. In our death resurrection, at the last, a victory, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.”

And one final quote from Eliot’s poem entitled “Little Gidding”:
“We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”

And so, my friends, I am gradually coming to experience life, not so much in segmented times and seasons but rather as one divine circle, life never ending. In the end is our beginning and around and around we go again and again on into eternity.

In some sense, then, the 34th Sunday of Ordinary time is not the end of the liturgical year; the first Sunday of Advent is not the beginning of a new year; in the mind of God all times and all seasons blend into one divine reality. We humans, of course, with our shortness of patience and imagination, always feel the need to divide life into small portions for, as Eliot wrote, “Humans cannot bear very much reality.” Happy New Year, my friends.

The scriptures: Isaiah 63: 16-17, 19, 64: 2-7; 1 Corinthians 1: 3-9;
Mark 13: 33-37


]]> Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ The King [November 20, 2012] 2011-11-14T18:54:57Z 2011-11-14T18:51:37Z tag:www.archdioceseofanchorage.org,2011:/thought/3.915 2011-11-14T18:51:37Z Thirty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time I imagine most of us must feel a certain sense of sadness when we face “end things.” Summer, obviously, is swiftly ending and autumn is upon us. Even the glorious colors of the hardwood... Cindy clentine@caa-ak.org Ordinary Time "A" Thirty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

I imagine most of us must feel a certain sense of sadness when we face “end things.” Summer, obviously, is swiftly ending and autumn is upon us. Even the glorious colors of the hardwood trees cannot quite keep us from the sad realization that we will need to bear up with bare branches until spring comes around once again.

On the other hand there is also a certain feeling of fulfillment, knowing that we have been the beneficiaries of all those lovely summer months. We have been richly blessed indeed.

]]> Nonetheless, we, and all matters earthly, live within the limits of the great mystery of life, death and resurrection. All beings of whatever sort come into existence at some point in cosmic history, exist for a certain amount of time, gradually begin to lose strength and eventually pass from life in the cosmos. Think, for instance of all the dead, burned out stars in outer space. At some point in extraterrestrial time they had a life of their own, but eventually burned out and disappeared from sight. In short, all things terrestrial and extraterrestrial experience the mystery of life and death. It seems as though nothing in the universe that we know of lives forever.

Given all that, it seems that we earthlings have learned quite successfully how to deal with this endless cycle of life and death. We have learned well how to glean the best from all four seasons and parts thereof. Some call it celebration, living life in this unique moment of history to its utter depths. In some sense there is something marvelously exciting to discovered at any moment of our history.

This has also been the ritual practice of many Christian churches. They call it the celebration of the liturgical cycle based on the preparation for, the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

At this time in the liturgical year we are observing the so-called “end times.” For those of us in the northern hemisphere the liturgical season fits in nicely with autumn, the time when we observe life slowly passing away.

In the Roman Catholic tradition and in several other main line churches, the final Sunday of liturgical year is numbered the 34th and last Sunday.

In the year 1925, Pope Pius XI assigned the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe to this last Sunday of the Church year, usually in late November. There is certain reasonableness for having this feast in the place where it now stands. First of all, Christian churches try to avoid the sense of sadness and despair that naturally comes with the end of the year.

Secondly, Christians have been celebrating the life of Christ in the liturgy since last Advent. We have moved from Advent to Christmas, to Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost and finally that long list of numbered summer Sundays called “ordinary” (ordinal, one-after the other) until we have completed the great cycle of Sundays and feast days to reach the First Sunday of Advent once again.

It seems only proper, therefore, that the liturgical year should end with lovely feast. Jesus Christ, after all, sums up in himself and in his life, death and resurrection all that Christians hope for in their lives.

We may not conclude this commentary on the last Sunday of the year, however, without reflecting on the universal judgment scene described in the last chapter of Matthew’s gospel. It is one of the most challenging of all the words Jesus spoke during his earthly mission. When the glorified Christ returns he will judge us not on the distinction between mortal and venial sins, not whether we have missed Mass or our daily prayers, not whether we have “kept” the Easter Duty. No, the judgment will be decided on whether we have treated one another with the human respect that is their due: Have we fed the hungry, given cold water to the thirsty, welcomed the stranger, clothed the naked, visited those in prison, those who were ill? Then Christ adds: “As often as you did any of these human acts for your brother or sister, you have done them for me. “ The lesson, of course is that Christ identifies with us precisely as brothers and sisters. It occurs to me, therefore, that if the Christian were to memorize no other passage than this “social gospel” scene in the New Testament, it would still serve one well as a model for our entire Christian life.

Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15,17, 1 Corinthians 15: 20-26, 28 Matthew 25: 31-46

]]> Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time [November 13, 2011] 2011-11-16T19:07:42Z 2011-11-09T18:54:37Z tag:www.archdioceseofanchorage.org,2011:/thought/3.912 2011-11-09T18:54:37Z I think I have now seen enough years and experienced enough living to confidently say that human talent has grown mightily over the years. I think, for instance, of how young men and women today demonstrate their skills in football,... Cindy clentine@caa-ak.org Ordinary Time "A" I think I have now seen enough years and experienced enough living to confidently say that human talent has grown mightily over the years. I think, for instance, of how young men and women today demonstrate their skills in football, basketball, soccer music, dance, art and many other human endeavors.

Obviously, whether for good or ill, there is a dollar value attached to talent: young men, even during their high school careers, begin thinking of entering the pro ranks and becoming rich. It doesn’t work for everyone, of course, but many people who are skilled in sports look forward to an affluent lifestyle. We live in a highly competitive world where human talent is eagerly sought after.

]]> In recent years in America and in Great Britain, exciting talent contests have sprung up: America’s got Talent, Britain’s Got Talent bring together some absolutely astonishingly people. Think, for instance, of the Susan Boyle a lady who came from tiny English village to walk on the stage of Britain’s Got Talent and sang “I Dreamed a Dream” from the musical Les Miserables. Her voice and stage presence completely stunned everyone in the theatre. The audience probably imagined her to be an ordinary British housewife. When asked by the judges why no one had ever heard of her extraordinary voice before, she said, “Well, I’ve never had a chance like this before.” She is still famous to this very day. Many other people, old and young have had the opportunity to try out their talents on large and critical audiences. All they ask for is the opportunity to let others see and hear what they can do best. Some disappear after their first audition and others “make it” on the big stage of life. They realize that this is the chance they take. Doubtless, it was worth the effort.

I can imagine that there thousands of such people in the world today who are specially gifted but do not have the opportunity to share their gifts with the larger world and so become appreciated by many of us who are less talented.

Ah, but we are, we are, all of us, are talented to some degree in some area of human life. Indeed, most of us do not even yearn for fame and fortune; we are simply happy to be able to do something with the gifts God has given us, and in the process, let the small world in which we circulate join us in our joy of giving.

In some sense it might be said that each of us is a walking miracle: We are individuals who will never in this whole wide world ever be duplicated again in all of human history. We are unique in ways that we ourselves often do not comprehend. Our fondest desire is not to become rich and famous, but happy with the opportunity that some other people in this world will find joy in what we do. In some sense, that gifts we have do not belong exclusively to us; they are meant for the world. That, in part, is the message the scriptures for this Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time lay out for us.

The first reading comes from the Hebrew Book of Proverbs describing the life of a wife and mother in glowing terms: her talents are basically housekeeping, but she is also praised for her artistic skills and her efforts to assist the poor and downtrodden. The concluding lines are a treasure: “Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her a reward for her labors and let her works praise her at the city gates.”

There is one more element worthy of our inspection. The Jesus of Matthew’s gospel tells the story of several individuals who were given different amounts of money, which they were to invest for the moneylender. Two did invest and increased their gain. The third, however, a timid man, was afraid of losing what he was given and buried the deposit in the ground. Of course, he received a reprimand for his lack of insight and courage. The other two were well rewarded for the risk they took in investing the owner’s original sum; they went home happy.

It is a story, of course, a tale with a message. The message, as we noted above, being that our gifts are not our own; they are meant to build the kingdom of God in this world. In short, what we invest in terms of charity, justice, peacemaking and other Christian deeds during our lifetime will return to us in ways only God will understand. So, we are left with the question: What are you good at? What can you do that will make others cheer and clap and say “Wow, aren’t you something though?

The Scriptures: Proverbs 31: 10-13, 19-20, 30-31 1 Thessalonians 5 1-6: Matthew 25: 14-30

]]> Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time [November 6, 2011] 2011-11-04T23:33:44Z 2011-11-04T17:45:16Z tag:www.archdioceseofanchorage.org,2011:/thought/3.911 2011-11-04T17:45:16Z Somewhere or other, perhaps in a college psychology class, I remember reading some lines about the stages of human development. It went something like this: Childhood is the age of imagination; young adulthood is the age of and reason and... Cindy clentine@caa-ak.org Ordinary Time "A" Somewhere or other, perhaps in a college psychology class, I remember reading some lines about the stages of human development. It went something like this: Childhood is the age of imagination; young adulthood is the age of and reason and exploration and the latter days of one’s life are described as the age wisdom. In my own growing-up life I often wondered how my mom and dad got so smart. I asked my dad once and he simply said, ”Hey, it just takes a little time.”

Speaking only for my self at this advanced age, I must admit that I did go through those three stages of life although I did not recognize them at the time; I was too busy growing up.

The issue might be simpler to understand if we could look in on another person’s life from the outside, from childhood all the way to advanced age. Of course, while we are observing someone else, we too are growing up. Big problem!

]]> Another insight that has come to mind in these later years is that many human experiences are not learned in class or from reading books; they are absorbed or intuited simply by being quiet, observing, listening, paying attention to our surroundings and our imagination. Little kids, for instance, can look up into the sky and see a cow or a dragon in a cloud form. Adults do not know how to do that or perhaps they think it’s all silliness.

The point I am coming to is that during all stages of our life astonishing, unexpected experiences of wisdom are happening all around us: Countries that once were enemies have found ways to be friends; a certain pope (John XXIII) decided one night in bed that he would call an ecumenical council; the Church has never been the same since; scientists dream up electronic devices that enable us to learn about most anything and to send messages to acquaintances across the world in seconds. Is there something of the wisdom God in those occurrences? I think so. In so many ways God is to be found in world events if we just take the time to look and see and listen.

Pope Benedict XVI, for instance, recently was treated to the fascinating possibilities of the Internet. He commented on the fact that this new mode of communication could be a tool in the New Evangelization. I suspect that Steve Jobs, former CEO of Apple, Bill Gates and Paul Allen of Microsoft might be astonished to hear that they are instruments in spreading the Gospel!

Our scriptures for this 32nd Sunday in Ordinary time, if I interpret them correctly, seem to be making this same point.

The author of the Book of Wisdom (no name given) teaches his students that the wise person will be alert to all the unexpected places where God chooses to be made known. The person who is willing to stand open to the world and let wisdom seep in will find it in events that are overwhelmingly beautiful but also in those dark events filled with disaster.

I recall here a story from the Book of Genesis: the tale of the patriarch Jacob who retires one night in the desert, his head resting on a convenient rock. During dark hours he imagines angels climbing up and down a ladder with its top-most rung in heaven. In the morning he wakes up and says to anyone who will listen: “God was in the place and I did not even realize it.” In some sense we are all replicas of Jacob: God is all around us and do not even realize it.

Finally we have in today’s liturgy that strange story of the wise and foolish maidens. The wise remember to bring oil for their lamps just in case the wedding reception should continue into the late hours of the night. The foolish, on the other hand, were caught short of oil and were left out in the darkness with the door barred.

Notice how the words “wise and foolish” were used in the story. We should not imagine that one group was simply ignorant and the other a group of Ph. D candidates. The story is not about intelligence or the lack of it, but rather about insight, about imagining the circumstances, planning ahead, foreseeing the future.

So perhaps there is a lesson in this for all of us who go about our daily tasks, not imagining that there may be some astonishing epiphany happening right here, right now under our very noses.

Yes, I suppose there are also miracles happening around us every day. Unfortunately, for many of us, life often appears rather ordinary until a light goes on and we suddenly realize: “Wow, God was in this place (this event) and I did not even realize it.”

As usual, Jesus has the last word: “Keep your eyes open,” he says, “for you know not the day or the hour.” Let me add a word: “You know not the day or the hour when God will choose to come into your life and literally knock your socks off.” Get ready, it could happen today. Keep your lamps burning brightly.

The scriptures: Wisdom 6: 12-16; 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18; Matthew 25: 1-13

]]> Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time [October 30, 2011] 2011-10-31T18:17:56Z 2011-10-13T22:58:22Z tag:www.archdioceseofanchorage.org,2011:/thought/3.909 2011-10-13T22:58:22Z “So what are planning to wear to the cocktail party?” “Do you folks have dress down Fridays at your office?” “Bloomingdales is having a big sale on blouses.” “Check out Barney’s on 7th Avenue for their sale on new tie.”... Cindy clentine@caa-ak.org Ordinary Time "A" “So what are planning to wear to the cocktail party?” “Do you folks have dress down Fridays at your office?” “Bloomingdales is having a big sale on blouses.” “Check out Barney’s on 7th Avenue for their sale on new tie.”

Do those little pieces of clothing conversation sound familiar? Hey, it goes on all the time at least in the secular world with which I am actually not all that familiar.

Or if you are ever wandering through the Metropolitan Museum of Art, check out the royal attire of kings, queen, princes and princesses, or even a lowly baron or baroness. Ostentatious, fancy, overdressed to say the least.

]]> There is no doubt that clothing has always played an immense part in human life. People dress for work, for play, for special events, for a sitting with an artist. Some will tell you that they just feel better when they dress up, at least for certain occasions.

The Catholic Church also has a long history of dressing its upper clergy in splendid finery. I have no argument with that. I get dressed “up” for Mass every Sunday. I also wear a black suit with white collar when I attend certain formal or religious events.

Formal dress, therefore, is not simply functional. People dress up for certain secular or sacred occasions not for show but to heighten the meaning of this event itself.

I realize that our non-Catholic brethren often question our tradition of priests and bishops who wear liturgical vestments: albs, chasubles, stoles, copes, birettas, etc. At the same time, however, most Catholics, Lutherans and Episcopalians would be shocked to see a priest or bishop walk to the altar for Mass in a three-piece business suit and multicolored tie! Such dress would be completely contradictory to the meaning of the sacred action that is being celebrated. In short, certain sacred moments in life simply need to be enhanced. If clothing helps to achieve that goal, so be it.

Now, having said all that, we still need to deal with the life style of Jesus of Jesus who had some rather unsympathetic words for the scribes and Pharisees of his day who paraded about the temple precincts and on street corners in long robes, extensive stoles, excessive symbols of the Torah wrapped about their heads, etc.

It must be said, however, that Jesus’ criticism was not with the items of clothing, but with the life style of these Jewish preachers. His point was that their demand for respect and adulation did not match their actions. In short Jesus had little time for public arrogance when the poor and the lowly he associated with were scarcely ever recognized even for their human dignity.

What we are dealing with in this gospel story, therefore are two different life styles, two ways of considering the value of the human person. In short, Jesus insisted that clothing does not make the person; indeed, in certain instances, clothing can contradict what it means to be a human person; if we allow it, clothes can betray us, can cover up the full meaning of our dignity.

Obviously, life in Jesus time was not nearly as ostentations as it is today but the question can yet bother us if we have never or seldom asked the question of the meaning of clothes.

Patricia Sanchez, biblical scholar and writer for Celebration, a liturgy resource has written some beautiful and challenging words in a recent column. I quote her words here.

“Hearing this Gospel, some among us may wonder what Jesus would think of the contemporary titles and places of honor that have found a foothold in our liturgies and our communities. Do our vestments, thrones, miters and crosiers, rings and all sorts of “holy bling” reflect the simplicity of life and integrity of heart that Jesus showed when he was with us. Do these things make us more approachable? How do we reconcile the palaces of the church with the poverty and squalor of the people we are intended to serve?”

Unfortunately, we Catholics do not think much about such sharp divergences between the real world outside and the splendor within the sacred precincts. We just get “used” to it.

Finally, consider this short narrative about the life of Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador. When he became bishop of that poor war-torn country, some rich families in the city wished to build a palace for him where he could live in splendor, security and isolation.

Knowing that he could never face the Gospel and the poor of his country living in such sumptuous surroundings, he chose rather to live in the small sacristy attached to a hospital chapel.

History, of course can often times cause us to be forgetful of the Jesus of the Gospel, it would seem worth while for us, therefore, to let his simple lifestyle embarrass us a bit or at least to make us think again about the luxurious clothing at Barney’s, Bloomingdales Lord and Taylor and the poor whom Jesus loved.

The scriptures: Malachai 1: 14-22, 8-10; 1 Thessalonians 2: 7-9, 13;
Matthew 23: 1-12

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