Spiritual Maturity

It takes a lot of spiritual maturity to endure suffering.  On the other hand, suffering helps us to mature.  Arrested spiritual development is by far the most serious of all developmental issues. A parent may give their child every good thing, but if they do not ensure the gift of strong and mature faith, they have given their children nothing but sand slipping thorough their fingers.

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Humiliation

Pope Francis explained during his morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta that Christians are prone to falling into a state of 'spiritual well being' because the Church has many ways of helping people achieve salvation. He also praised those who really try to imitate Jesus, even during challenging times.  

POPE FRANCIS

“And that is the temptation of falling into a state of 'spiritual well being'. We've got everything: the Church, Jesus Christ, the Sacraments, the Virgin Mary: everything. A good job from the Kingdom of Heaven. We are good, all of us. At least we must believe this, otherwise it would be a sin! But 'spiritual well being' isn't enough. Like the parable of the young rich man: he wanted to follow Jesus, but only up to a certain point. To be a real Christian you must receive the last anointment: the cross anointment, the anointment of true humiliation. He humiliated himself to the point of death. Even death on a cross. That is the cornerstone, the proof of our Christian reality: Am I a 'well being' Christian or am I a Christian that walks with Jesus towards the cross? It consists on being able to endure every single humiliation.” 

The Pope said that the sign of a true Christian is the ability to endure every humiliationand to carry one's daily Cross with joy and patience.

EXCERPTS FROM POPE'S HOMILY: 

“It was the Holy Spirit that touched Peter's heart and inspired him to say who Jesus was. 'You are Christ, the son of God... it's a mystery. Who can explain this?... But he said it himself. And if each and everyone of us, when we pray, look towards the tabernacle, and say to the Lord: 'You are Christ, the son of God on earth'...first we cannot say that by our own inspiration, it must be the Holy Spirit who inspire us, and second, be ready, because He will answer: 'It's true.' 

"And that is the temptation of falling into a state of 'spiritual well being'. We've got everything: the Church, Jesus Christ, the Sacraments, the Virgin Mary: everything. A good job from the Kingdom of Heaven. We are good, all of us. At least we must believe this, otherwise it would be a sin! But 'spiritual well being' isn't enough. Like the parable of the young rich man: he wanted to follow Jesus, but only up to a certain point. To be a real Christian you must receive the last anointment: the cross anointment, the anointment of true humiliation. He humiliated himself to the point of death. Even death on a cross. That is the cornerstone, the proof of our Christian reality: Am I a 'well being' Christian or am I a Christian that walks with Jesus towards the cross? It consists on being able to endure every single humiliation. 

“The sign of a true Christian is his ability to withstand humiliations with joy and patience; and this is something we don't like... But there are many Christians that looking towards the Lord, they ask for more humiliations to be more like Him. This is the choice. Whether to be a Christian of well being -and you'll go to heaven, I'm sure you'll be saved- or a Christian close to Jesus, through His way.” 

Evangelization

Relation ship heals wounds.

Many Catholics are stuck in a model of catechetical formation. This means they see the work of the Catholic Church is to hand over doctrines and teachings. While this is one important role, this isn't the mission of the Church. The mission of the Church is to make followers of Jesus. This is done by evangelization. Evangelization must be centered on relationships. Our relationship with another (through word and witness) helps someone form a relationship with Jesus. If some get the mission of the Church wrong, then they won't understand the focus Francis has on making disciples as one that is in the heart of the Church. Doctrinal formation necessarily must follow the proclamation of the Gospel.  NOT the other way around.

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Mass

Understanding what the mass truly is helps align one's suffering to Christ.

Mass Attendance
Q. Polls consistently report that only 20- 25 percent of those who identify themselves as Catholics regularly attend Sunday Mass. Consequently, many seem to be unaware of how HHS mandate provisions will impact religious liberty despite the USCCB and bishops being outspoken in their warnings. So even though bishops are trying to get the message out about impending dangers to the family, religious liberty, and so forth, how can they do so in such an environment? How can the lay faithful best assist? [Editor’s Note: The “ HHS mandate” is the mandate by the Health and Human Services department of the federal government that requires all health plans to provide coverage at no cost for contraceptives, abortion- inducing drugs, and sterilization as part of so- called “ preventative health services”for women.]

A. Sadly, in the time after the Second Vatican Council, there was a reform of the sacred liturgy which made it man- centered and banal. In some cases it actually became hard for people to bear because of illicit insertions, foreign agendas, and imposition of the personalities of priests and congregations into the liturgy to the point that people began to think that the Mass was some sort of social activity. If they did not find it acceptable, they did not go anymore.
If one understands what the Mass truly is — Christ Himself coming down from Heaven to renew the sacrifice of Calvary — how could you possibly not be there on Sunday? In the past people understood this and Mass attendance was in the 80- 90 percent range. We have to restore the sanctity of the celebration of Holy Eucharist so that those who have fallen away will return to the practice.
Secondly, when people are not coming to Mass in great numbers, as is the case, they do not hear the Sunday homily which is the principal means for instruction of faithful adults in the Church. In some places, even where people do attend Mass, they are not being instructed as they should be. The bishops first, and then the priests with them, must be clear and consistent in presenting the truth about the freedom of conscience and the evils of the health-care mandate.
Thirdly, in the situation as it is, which we simply must recognize, lay people giving witness to fellow lay people is the only solution. More and more sincere and informed Catholics must be ready to give an account of their Faith to others even if they are not the most eloquent and articulate. The very fact that they approach and speak with a fellow Catholic about a question like freedom of conscience will not go without a positive effect on that individual.

Follow Your Heart

Go where your heart takes you. Follow your heart. It's the true course because your heart is the real you, where your soul resides. Be true to it. Let it guide you. Too often we do the opposite; we replace the heart with the mundane, which can fashion pretense. This causes you tension. The greatest distance can be between your heart and your brain. You should go nowhere nor move anywhere nor strike up a close relationship with anyone unless your heart is in it; it knows secretly what is not in your "rational" consciousness. While there are certain obligations we must fulfill, in most cases we should not do anything unless our hearts are behind it. Don't define yourself to please others. Have a pure heart, a humble heart, and it will guide you. Try to escape problems and they will only repeat (until we repent, which means to change). Change only your facade and surroundings (try to run away) and God in His wisdom will continue to send you the same challenges no matter where you go until you work them out. Let your heart be the guide in finding the root of a problem, for it is often different than the problem it presents on the surface; a root cause might be called a plank in your eyes. "Beware of seeing yourself through other people's eyes," a woman seeking the Lord's words felt she heard. "There are several dangers to this practice. First of all, it is nearly impossible to discern what others think of you. Moreover, their views of you are variable: subject to each viewer's spiritual, emotional, and physical condition. The major problem with letting others define you is that it borders on idolatry. Your concern to please others dampens your desire to please Me, your Creator. It is more real to see yourself through My eyes. My gaze upon you is steady and sure, untainted by sin. Through My eyes you can see yourself as one who is deeply, eternally loved. Rest in My loving gaze, and you will receive deep Peace. Respond to My loving Presence by worshipping Me in spirit and in truth.""Learn to love from your true center in Me. I reside in the deepest depths of your being, in eternal union with your spirit. It is at this deep level that My Peace reigns continually. You will not find lasting peace in the world around you, in circumstances, or in human relationships. The external world is always in flux -- under the curse of death and decay. But there is a gold mine of Peace deep within you, waiting to be tapped. Take time to delve into the riches of My residing Presence. I want you to live increasingly from your real center, where My Love has an eternal grip on you."One thing at a time. To thine own self be true. Look for progress with the eyes of the heart over time. Do not make haste to please the perceptions of others. Every day God will send you special little challenges that relate to your weaknesses and you must tackle each one with that frame of heart: everything He sends has the potential for advancement. Don't force things. Don't reach beyond your strength. Don't try to change who you really are; it is not possible; change who you are not. God works over time. He dissolves what is false and rebuilds us when we cooperate through free will oriented in prayer from the heart. What God looks for is persistence -- not an attempt to do everything at once, or be somebody else, but at making constant progress in union with our deep inner being.  A conversion that is total is gradual in a natural flow over time with ease of the spirit like all things that God so profoundly does. Accept His Way, His design. In humility, use the normal course of daily events (problems and crises) as steppingstones to perfection.  Chip away at each challenge, which will always come. Look at everything that happens as an opportunity. Great monuments were fashioned in this manner. So was the Grand Canyon. Be natural and gradual.As Jesus taught, the evil of the day is sufficient.

Mercy Saves

We are called to have mercy.  The mercy of God can be very healing for those who suffer in any way.  Christians should treat the sick with Christ's compassion.  Human compassion is of little use.  The Holy Father agrees.

"If, in our hearts, there is no mercy, no joy of forgiveness, we are not in communion with God, even if we observe all his precepts because it is love that saves, not only the practice of his precepts," said Pope Francis in his reflection, in which he focused on the "parables of mercy" taken from today's liturgy.

Mercy, in the pope's words, is "the true force that can save man and the world from the 'cancer' of sin, of moral and spiritual evil." Hence, it marks the journey of Christians through life, because "if we live according to the law of 'an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth', we cannot come out of the spiral of evil. The Evil One is smart. He dupes us into thinking that human justice can save us and save the world. In fact, only God's justice can save us! And God's justice revealed itself on the Cross."

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The Healing Power of Silence

Silence can be very healing.  During times of suffering it is necessary.  Jesus suffered in silence.

We live in a wilderness, a wilderness of noise. Noise is not just about sound. It has to do with the constant barrage of stimulation to our senses, emotions and even our intellect, (read information overload.) The problem with all this noise, pure and simple, is that it is an obstacle to our own inner order and peace, and more importantly, to a living communion with God and with others. For some reason, many of us either seem afraid of silence, or, more likely, we have lost familiarity with the wonders of silence. Yet it is essential to our physical and spiritual well-being.

Authentic silence is not emptiness. Things come to us in the silence. We hear new languages. We are visited by penetrating peace, insight, God Himself, His wisdom, light, His perception and understanding. In authentic silence we hear new sounds and enter new worlds. In silence we come to know our own hearts.

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Pride

Pride before the fall. 

Our own pride often is our worst enemy and a cause of much suffering.

We live in times collectively marked by pride. And, while pride is a problem of the human condition that has beset us from the very beginnings of paradise lost, our modern age, with the rise of atheism, rejection of God, scorn for the metaphysical, and a hyper-emphasis of the “autonomous” self, pride has taken an even more prominent place.

 

Largely absent from the modern psyche is any deep notion that we are contingent beings, radically dependent on things, people and factors outside our “autonomous” self. Even before we bring God into the discussion, we seem less aware today that our existence and capacity to survive is deeply rooted in thousands, if not millions of factors outside us and beyond our immediate control

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Gossip

Where there is God there is no hatred, envy or jealousy, and there is no gossip that can kill.

These are words from Pope Francis.  He is stating that words can be damaging and cause a great amount of suffering.

There is a story of a man who confessed his sin of gossip.  His penance was to scatter all the feathers from a pillow into the wind, then attempt to gather them.  The penitent replied that would be impossible.  The priest answered that our words do the same thing.  Once we release them we cannot gather them back. 

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Priestly Suffering

The indelible mark received upon a priest's soul at the moment of his ordination makes him a bearer of Christ's suffering.

Today’s priest has inherited a real problem. He is the heir to over a hundred years of priestly culture that has reified the priesthood, making it like being doctor who leaves work and the rest of the day is “his.” Further, the rest of the day is for “neutral” non-Christian activities. Living, as we do, in a Protestant culture means that clergy will be likely to unconsciously cast their own priesthood in terms of a protestant minister – hired by the community and so concerned not to upset them by teaching anything they won’t already accept.
 

Some priests do realize that they have to live the life of Christ as closely as possible. I am not speaking about them. The issue comes up when you have one priest who knows this and twenty others who are of the 9-to-5 variety. Where is the chance for collegial growth as priests in Christ?
 

There’s more. In a unisex culture, the priest is still supposed to be a male leading a parish that is spiritually receptive, that is spiritually feminine. He has to know and live out what true maleness is from Christ, the epitome of being male in this world. Then he can learn from Christ how to lead a Christian community. Of course, this depends on whether we believe in the Incarnation. Was Jesus truly a man? Or do we take the culture with its inevitable cloak of sin and the corresponding distortion of gender as the source of meaning?
 

Lastly, we live in a distraction-based culture. Every one of us is susceptible to the next shiny thing that comes along – a TV show, a new phone, a movie star’s wardrobe malfunction. You name it. Yet the priest still has to be Christ who is more attractive and more constant than any created thing.
 

This constancy, which translates into constant Christlike presence, is good for the priest and the people. Constancy in prayer and availability is Christlike. It is a great time to be a priest!

 

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