Monastery life

A recent article in the NY Times provides a fascinating peek into the life of one monastery. From personal observation, I know that routines can vary in different communities; but, nevertheless, this is an interesting account.
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For his steadfast love endures forever

I rejoice each time Psalm 136 is on my schedule for praying the Psalms. It is such a beautiful reminder of God's love that reaches toward us no matter where we are; a love so great we cannot comprehend it; a love so enduring it will never end. For his steadfast love endures forever.
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Christmas wish

Here, weeks in advance, is my Christmas wish list: I wish we Christians could put down our culture-war swords and doctrinal spears and proclaim a message more befitting the Prince of Peace. I wish we Christians could stand down from our institutional concerns and see the human family for what it is: the wonderfully diverse beloved of God. I wish we Christians could put aside our harsh attitudes toward whatever threatens us and hear the gentle stirring of life. And I wish we Christians could listen as our prophets chastise those who are overly proud of their “righteous deeds,” as they offer “comfort” to exiles, and as they declare God's determination “to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners.” I wish, in other words, that we Christians could allow Christ into Christmas.
-- Tom Ehrich
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The old, old story

There is an old Gospel hymn, Tell Me the Old, Old Story. It goes on: ... of unseen things above, of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and his love. In the second verse there is the phrase: Tell me the story often, for I forget so soon.
When I was young I would get impatient with pastors preaching what seemed to me the same sermon over and over. I would tell myself, "I know this stuff; tell me something new!"
I was reminded of this impatience of the young and the reassurance of repetition to the old as I was reading from 2nd Peter today. Peter writes:
Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you. ... And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.
It's not only the old who need reassurance; we especially need to repeat God's message to the young. The challenge is to do it in fresh ways with applications that matter in their daily lives. It is through repetition that they will "be able at any time to recall these things."
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God's economy

The most dangerous thing you can do in God's economy is to play it safe.
-- Pastor Glenn Berg-Moberg preaching on the parable of the talents
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Religion

A "religion" is a highly acceptable thing. Once it is firmly established in a fixed form, people can do anything they want. They can go to church and take communion, while all the while carrying on with their stealing and cheating.

God could say, "Did I ever tell you to build churches, or to celebrate divine worship and communion so as to be saved?" If we think we have something mechanical that will save us, we are heathen. If our Christianity is a matter of forms and rituals, it will be dark around us.

What was the worst thing at the time of Jesus? I will tell you plainly: religion! People stagnated in religiosity instead of expecting something from above.
-- Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt
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on the other hand ...

Description of non-liturgical worship: Playing Bibleland
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The art of living

An interesting blog on the art of living. I just found it and it appears to look at the world from a secular point of view; nevertheless, we live in a secular world. Take a look at One Day at a Time.
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How capable are you?

God said to Mother Teresa of Calcutta: "You are, I know, the most incapable person, weak and sinful. But just because you are that, I want to use you for My glory. Will you refuse?"
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The role of the church

Often people feel the church exists to take care of problems. And it's terribly hard for the church to say no. And yet the effective ones say no. They know what their mission is, and they make no apologies for sticking to that.
-- Peter Drucker
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Fr Wilfrid Lambertz OSB

Rest in peace, Father Wilfrid. May your memory be blessed.
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How does one get fear of the Lord?

The elder said, "If one has humility and poverty, and judge not another, that is how fear of the Lord gets into him."
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What good work shall I do?

Whatever you see your soul to desire according to God, do that thing, and you shall keep your heart safe.
-- Father Abbot Nisteros
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What ought I to do?

Have no confidence in your own virtuousness. Do not worry about a thing once it has been done. Control your tongue and your belly.
-- St. Anthony
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Judge not

There was a monk (not all that scrupulous, observant, obedient, or
even chaste) who was dying with great calmness of spirit and peace.
The brethren were amazed, for monks more diligent than he wept and
begged for mercy until their last breath. When asked why, he
replied, "Since I have come here, I have done my best, with God's
help, never to judge another. And so I have the assurance of
Christ's promise that I myself shall not be judged."

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accept vs. approve

Acceptance is not approval.
-- Rick Warren
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Mega-church

Interesting mega-church observation:

One thing I noticed about this particular church. There was not a
poor, fat, or physically challenged person in sight.

Hmmmmmm..... Why do you suppose that is?

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The need for quiet

It may not be just us "old folks" who desire quiet times in church. The following is from an article in Leadership Journal:

"God touched me!" exclaimed five-year old Collin after he had spent time in the prayer corner.

"What do you mean?" asked one of the leaders.

"I don't know. I just know God touched me, " Collin replied.

A couple of weeks later, four-year-old Tony asked to go to the prayer corner. For five minutes he sat quietly in the curtained off area of the classroom. Then, because the curtain didn't come clear to the floor, I noticed him slip from the chair to his knees, resting his head in his hands on the floor. He stayed in this position for several more minutes.

These unprompted words and actions are certainly not typical of young children. As a research project for the graduate school at Wheaton College, we studied how young children used to a typical preschool experience at church would respond to symbols, liturgy, and reflection. Fifteen preschoolers participated. We were astounded by the results.

To read the rest, click here.

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Happiness

I asked the professors who teach the meaning of life to tell me what is happiness.
And I went to famous executives who boss the work of thousands of men.
They all shook their heads and gave me a smile as though I was trying to fool with them.
And then one Sunday afternoon I wandered out along the Desplaines River.
And I saw a crowd of Hungarians under the trees with their women and children and a keg of beer and an accordion.
-- Carl Sandburg
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Are we afraid of ourselves?

This evening I had dinner with the son of a friend of mine. The friend is at a weekend church retreat for men. When I asked the son why he hadn't gone, his response was that they often stay up until midnight; there is no rest or quiet time.

Why do we do this? I used to see it in the workplace as well. Retreats are scheduled to encourage employees and improve their skills. Yet there is little time for them to get to know each other or for creative thinking.

Many religious retreats follow the same pattern. From early morning you are scheduled for prayer - 15 min., breakfast - 30 min., speaker - 90 min., small group discussion - 45 min., and so on. Is it because so many people are afraid of quiet -- so many don't want to be alone with their thoughts -- so many don't want to spend time in contemplation? Are these folks afraid of their own thoughts? Perhaps they are afraid they won't have any.

I suggested to my friend's son that he try a retreat at a monastery. He will have plenty of quiet time for prayer, reading, writing, or just thinking -- if he is not afraid of it. At most monasteries there's not much going on after 8 p.m. Perhaps we need to encourage those who are afraid to be alone with their thoughts to try it for short bursts of time. Don't turn the radio on during the drive to work. Take a walk by yourself during lunch. Turn off the TV or radio for an hour before bed time. Who knows, you may even hear God speak to you.

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Do we care?

I think the greatest source of danger in this world is indifference. I have always believed that the opposite of love is not hate, but indifference. The opposite of life is not death, but indifference. The opposite of peace is not war, but indifference to peace and indifference to war. The opposite of culture, the opposite of beauty, the opposite of generosity is indifference. Indifference is the enemy.
-- Elie Wiesel

Who will defend us?

It would be naive to depend on the Supreme Court to defend the rights of poor people, women, people of color, dissenters of all kinds. Those rights only come alive when citizens organize, protest, demonstrate, strike, boycott, rebel, and violate the law in order to uphold justice.
(The full article)
-- Howard Zinn
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All Saints Day

Let us make haste to our brethren who are awaiting us
Why should our praise and glorification, or even the celebration of this feast day mean anything to the saints? What do they care about earthly honours when their heavenly Father honours them by fulfilling the faithful promise of the Son? What does our commendation mean to them? The saints have no need of honour from us; neither does our devotion add the slightest thing to what is theirs. Clearly, if we venerate their memory, it serves us, not them. But I tell you, when I think of them, I feel myself inflamed by a tremendous yearning.
Calling the saints to mind inspires, or rather arouses in us, above all else, a longing to enjoy their company, so desirable in itself. We long to share in the citizenship of heaven, to dwell with the spirits of the blessed, to join the assembly of patriarchs, the ranks of the prophets, the council of apostles, the great host of martyrs, the noble company of confessors and the choir of virgins. In short, we long to be united in happiness with all the saints. But our dispositions change. The Church of all the first followers of Christ awaits us, but we do nothing about it. The saints want us to be with them, and we are indifferent. The souls of the just await us, and we ignore them.
Come, brothers, let us at length spur ourselves on. We must rise again with Christ, we must seek the world which is above and set our mind on the things of heaven. Let us long for those who are longing for us, hasten to those who are waiting for us, and ask those who look for our coming to intercede for us. We should not only want to be with the saints, we should also hope to possess their happiness. While we desire to be in their company, we must also earnestly seek to share in their glory. Do not imagine that there is anything harmful in such an ambition as this; there is no danger in setting our hearts on such glory.
When we commemorate the saints we are inflamed with another yearning: that Christ our life may also appear to us as he appeared to them and that we may one day share in his glory. Until then we see him, not as he is, but as he became for our sake. He is our head, crowned, not with glory, but with the thorns of our sins. As members of that head, crowned with thorns, we should be ashamed to live in luxury; his purple robes are a mockery rather than an honour. When Christ comes again, his death shall no longer be proclaimed, and we shall know that we also have died, and that our life is hidden with him. The glorious head of the Church will appear and his glorified members will shine in splendour with him, when he forms this lowly body anew into such glory as belongs to himself, its head.
Therefore, we should aim at attaining this glory with a wholehearted and prudent desire. That we may rightly hope and strive for such blessedness, we must above all seek the prayers of the saints. Thus, what is beyond our own powers to obtain will be granted through their intercession.
-- A sermon by Saint Bernard, abbot
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