Gospel Thoughts 29 March 09

In today’s Gospel Story (John 12:20-33) Jesus says “It is for this purpose that I came to this hour”. He also reminds us that if we love our life we will lose it, and a grain of wheat must die before it can produce wheat.

In God’s loving providence, everything that has gone before us in our life has prepared us for where we are now -- the things we are happy about, and those we are not. Looking back on our life we find we may have grown through our experiences. They have made us the persons we are now. We might be happy about the way we are, or we might not. Jesus talks about death bringing us to life. As we look back on our tough times we might come to see them as little deaths which have brought us to new life in any number of ways. Many of these tough times came to us because of choices we made, others we might have had little to do with bringing them into our life. They happened, we dealt with them, our life changed somehow, and here we are. We may have learned a lot, or we may not have. We may have gained the wisdom or insight that when we look at a problem long enough we come to see our part in it. We are where we are. Things are as they are.

The life Jesus teaches we have to lose is the web of images we weave to make ourselves acceptable to others and to ourselves. We don’t just choose to let these images go, because they are so much a part of our everyday life that we think they are real. We find out what has to go as we live every day in Jesus’ company. It might be that, instead of having a conscious plan of realigning our life, we simply consent to our realization from time to time that we no longer need a particular image or value. It might be that we gradually become aware we don’t always have to know everything, that we don’t need people to live by our expectations, we don’t always have to get what we want. As this life begins to die – always with our consent – we might become aware of a new life happening within us. We also become aware that a lot of the images and habits do not want to go peacefully. At times we might have a battle on our hands as our old habits fight a rear guard action and we are getting beat up. We are learning humility, and another death begins for us.

Jesus says, “I am troubled now, yet what should I say, ‘Father, save me from this hour?’, Yet it is for this that I came to this hour”. Outside the setting of a journey with Jesus this makes no sense at all. In the setting of our journey it makes perfect sense, as Jesus invites us to follow him, and walks with us on our own way of the cross. As he shows us in his life, the only way to fullness of life for us is the death in us of what keeps us from going ever deeper with him. Jesus does not offer us an escape from difficult times but a way through them. Our journey offers us a different perspective on our life, one that is not recognized or accepted since it makes no sense at all outside the setting of our journey. We come to know God not as someone who is out there watching us, but as Someone in whom we are living all the time. And so our perspective begins to change. We move towards being willing to accept what comes on its own terms as an expression of grace, to being as best we can in practical circumstances obedient to the demands of our daily life, and open to the possibility of grace in everything, including the concrete realizations of our own weakness. “It is for this that I came to this hour; Father, glorify your name.”

Pastor's Desk 8 March 2009

Today’s Gospel Story is the Transfiguration, the Old Testament is Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son, the Psalm is, “I believed even when I said I am greatly afflicted”, and Paul reminds us of the trust of being with Jesus.

This past week in our community another soldier died. Any time a soldier dies it is a tragedy. When there is so much pain among us that our own are ending their lives by choice, the tragedy is unspeakable. It touches every one of us, often dredging up a confusion of feelings. Our leaders are calling us to stand down and refocus our concern for each other, to do what we do best – leave no one behind, take care of those who cannot take care of themselves. An increasing number of our leaders are taking the personally courageous step of sharing with us their own pain and their own reaching out for help. Our Army is pulling together as we try to take care of our own. It might be that we are hearing God’s call to trust him in our own lives and be alert to reach out in ways that might be costly for us. We do not know. We might echo the Psalm: “I believed even when I said I am greatly afflicted”.

Jesus led his friends up a mountain where they saw him as he truly is. It might be that he is leading us up a mountain to see him. Climbing up a mountain is not easy. Following Jesus is not easy. Abraham preparing to sacrifice his son was not easy. Believing when we are greatly afflicted is not easy. Being a soldier is not easy.

There would seem to be any number of reasons why a soldier might choose to end his or her life. A common one might be a sense of overwhelming aloneness. What Jesus would teach us in these readings, even show us in our own life, is that in no way are we ever alone. We might have to learn this ourselves before we can live it with others; otherwise if we were to try to share this with others, we would only be speaking pious platitudes and empty words.

Jesus walked with his friends up the mountain. Paul reminds us we are Jesus’ friends, and our faith teaches us he is walking with us up our mountain – this mountain we are living right here every day. When we are aware of this in our own everyday experience, it is a marvelous gift that we can share with each other, if only by enriching our attitude.

We encounter Jesus in the unexpected persons and places. Each of us is a mystery, a reflection of the Great Mystery which is God. Who we are is known only to God who loves us, and asks us to be open to his loving us. Our hurting soldiers do not know God loving them – their pain is too great. Love is not something we talk about, but anyone who has been in combat knows love among us is real.  Our relationship with Jesus is something personal, but it is not private. We let Jesus lead us up the mountain with whomever is in our life. How we do this comes out of our prayer – our prayer by ourselves and our prayer with others, especially our prayer together at Mass. We don’t learn new “techniques”; we bring (often without even being aware of it) to what we do everyday a new depth and richness that arises out of our deepening relationship with Jesus.

Our situation, difficult and disturbing as it may be, is not beyond grace. Everyone in our life has the need and the right to be in our life. Each of us, every single one of us, is right where we need to be, and we are not alone. Where we go with this is up to us.

Pastor's Desk 1 March 2009

1 March 2009,          Pastor's Desk . . . . .           

In today’s Gospel Story Jesus (Mk1:12-15), having been led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted, tells us to repent, to change where we look for our happiness, to re-direct our focus, because the Kingdom of God is at hand right here and right now. He is not calling us to do more “holy things”, but to choose to live in a way that lets us open ourselves to knowing  him as real, to experience in very practical ways our relationship with him as someone intensely with us always and in everything. He is calling us to be transformed.

“This is the time of fulfillment” – right here and right now. It is good. Now is real. Jesus calls us to make necessary changes in our life, and we find out what they are in our own desert, our own fearful and dark times, and our time with him. He asks us in our own life and in our own way to let him become really real to us. Our choosing to respond to Jesus’ invitation is really life-changing. It does not mean that we will have to give up fun, or that our life will be dull or miserable. It does mean that we will discover a depth and richness and a goodness to our life that we never thought possible.

It might be that in our Army these days we are experiencing our own desert as we try to deal with our brothers and sisters in uniform for whom the ordeal of life has become too painful for them to bear any longer. When Jesus is talking about the Kingdom of God being at hand, he is not talking about our private relationship with God, because there is no such thing. He is talking about a personal relationship with God that we live out with everyone around us. When those of us who are privileged to wear or serve the uniform took the Oath, we called on God to witness and support our commitment to our military lifestyle and culture. We have no doubt that God is doing this now. Each of us has the grace to bring healing to our Army, and to our brothers and sisters in uniform, to our own community. With this grace comes the power and responsibility to act, to be involved, live the grace and the kingdom right here and now. How we do this comes from our efforts to be open to Jesus always, in other words, to get to know him.

It is no accident that each one of us is right here at this time and place in history. The Kingdom of God is here, and we are part of this Kingdom. It is good that we are here. Taken together we have all the gifts necessary to meets the needs of our brothers and sisters, our families. We might move our focus beyond the workshops, presentations, stand-downs, etc, and look to the quite place in each of us where we are one with God, and then go where this takes us. We do not have to know just where we are going. We just have to take each day, each moment, each step in trust and confidence not in ourselves and our judgment, but in the power and love of grace that is with us always in every situation and relationship.

When we come to know beyond words that we are not alone in any sense, it is a freeing experience. We are not alone here. Our brothers and sisters are hurting, our Army is hurting. We are hurting. In a setting unknown outside the military, Command is hurting. In one of the thrills of being soldiers, we are becoming aware of a terrible burden upon us. As we have benefitted from the sufferings and growth of generations of soldiers who have gone before us, in the wonders of grace we will address this burden and bring the gift of God’s healing to all who suffer. This will be the gift we pass on to the soldiers who come after us, for “The Kingdom of God is at hand.”

Pastor's Desk 1 February 2009

In today's Gospel Story (Mark 1: 21-28)  the people say Jesus teaches with authority and not like the scribes.  The scribes were not bad people.  Jesus just taught differently from the way they taught. He taught from his own experienced love of his Father, while they taught from the perspective of law. For them, following God was doing the right things the right way.  For Jesus, it was living in love first from the Father, and then with everyone.

There is always a danger that following the traditions of a given religion might become an end in itself, and get in the way of what the traditions point to.  In our case as Catholics, it is easy to forget where our traditions, beliefs, and practices are pointing -- experiencing and knowing beyond words God loving us.  It is easy, too, to focus on what we do, and not let ourselves be drawn to awareness of grace happening in and around us.

Jesus' authority came out of his living in his Father's love.  He was teaching from his own experience, and not just passing on what he had learned from someone else. This is the origin of the Scriptures.  People at different times and places had an experience of God. They tried to lead others to have their own experience through stories which they arranged and wrote down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This is the new teaching with authority.

In the Gospel, authority is not the power to force someone do something.  It involves speaking truth which of itself draws us on, assuming we are open to being led beyond our comfort zone.  The truth of the Gospel is love -- our Father loves us first, and our response, when we have begun to experience this love, is to live it out in service to others.

Perhaps the story of the man with the unclean sprit might be a symbol of ourselves when we are confronted with Jesus' love.  Part of us does not want to hear it, because there might responsibilities we don't want to face.  We might be afraid of the peace and freedom that happens as we open ourselves more and more to grace. We might not want to lay aside our need to be tense and fearful in the presence of the distant god we have created for ourselves and who keeps us from knowing the loving God who comes to us in Jesus. We may have to change some of our values and choices, restructure our priorities, let ourselves be led out of ourselves to serve others, give up our need to be in control, whatever. We fear being led beyond what we know to experience what we do not know. This is not nice, even when we sense that it is Jesus who is calling us. It is far easier to keep him at a distance than to know him really loving us in our everyday life, really with us and involved in everything.

Jesus' teachings are different, especially so in our times. We live in a time when established orders are coming into question, when there are people who hurt so much that the only way they can deal with their pain is to inflict more pain on others, when trust is often met by betrayal, when love is seen as weakness, peace is seen as something imposed by force.  Jesus' teaching strikes a cord deep within the human heart.  It cannot be imposed by force, and can be taught only by example, which in turn can be lived only through a commitment to prayer and openness.  Each of us who espouses a religion and calls ourself a follower of Christ must commit to living as He did -- rooted solidly and prayerfully in our Father's love.  Then, and only then, will we share in this "new teaching with authority".

Pastor's Desk, 25 January 2009

25 January 2009

From the Pastor's Desk . . .

In today’s Gospel Story (Mark 1:14-20) Jesus invites several fishermen to “Come, follow me”. They leave their father, abandon their nets and follow him. If we are remotely serious about trying to be open to Jesus we will hear him invite us to “Come, follow me”.  How, or if, we respond is our choice. This is how we work out God’s will for us --  by following Jesus in the ordinary events of our everyday life while doing our best to remain rooted in our life with him and going wherever this takes us.

As with the men in the Story, it is possible that Jesus might invite us to abandon some things that have become pretty important to us. From time to time we will face difficult choices. Our tradition is filled with people who have heard such an invitation from Jesus and have followed him. Nowhere does Jesus say, “Come follow me and I will make you comfortable and secure”. He says, “Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men”. He calls us to follow him in bring his Father’s love to others around us. It is quite possible that if we try to follow him in this way we and what we do will be neither understood nor appreciated. We in the military know what this is like in a very real sense.

While our relationship with Jesus is personal, it is never private, never just “me and Jesus”. It always is with, through, and for others. We learn what Jesus is inviting us to both in our time with him and our interaction and involvement with the others in our life. Each provides depth and richness to the other as we live the time we spend with Jesus through our everyday dealings and relationships. Prayer is not an escape, but our response to Jesus inviting us to greater involvement in his mission of bringing his Father’s love to all creation.

Then there is the Cross – our own and others’. Life is painful and difficult in many ways. All of us have been hurt in any number of ways, and perhaps are hurting now. This is one of the mysteries of life. Healing is real, a facet of God loving us. Most of the time healing is not dramatic, but very quiet and simple, even unobtrusive. Our participation in the healing power of God loving us is inevitable if we are open to Jesus and are really trying to follow him. The odds are we will never even know that we are ministering his love. We don’t have to know, we just have to be willing and open.

In the Opening Prayer we express our belief that, “the love you offer always exceeds the furthest expressions of our human longing, for you are greater than the human heart”. In our efforts to follow Jesus we come to know this, perhaps in very practical ways. We ask him to “direct each thought, each effort of our life”. We have to ask ourselves if we really believe in this, if we really want him to do this in our life, if we are serious about facing our faults and weaknesses, accepting them, and presenting them to him to use as he chooses.

At some point we might ask ourselves if Jesus is really real to us, or is he just some nice idea we hold onto in case it might be true. In Jesus everything comes together, makes sense somehow, shows us the love and goodness that underpins everything. We might come to love life, discover a new richness that has always been there, begin to sense the good that is in every one of us, and maybe even begin to reflect in our own unique (and perhaps not always appreciated) way the love we have begun to know deep within ourselves, as the conditions we have placed on our life.

Tidbits 23 Jan 09

Frog’s Tidbits – 23 January 2009 
It's a lot easier to react than it is to think  . . . 
Mass Servers. It would be neat if we had Mass Servers on a regular basis. All our efforts so far to find and train servers have not worked.  Any thoughts??

Advisory Council. There will be a Pastoral Advisory Council meeting this Monday, 26 January, 1730-1845, in the Post Chapel. In by 1730, out by 1845.

Upcoming Events

• Sunday, January 25th,   no Confirmation Class
• January 25th, Parent meeting for 1st Penance
• February 7th 1st Penance @ 3 p.m
• March 13, Friday, Bishop Higgins will join us for Confirmation at 1830. More info as things unfold.

Family participation at Mass. It would be great to have more families take part in the Sunday 0900 Mass by writing and reading the intercessions, setting up the altar, and bringing up the gifts. So far it has been working well. I would like to have more families take part. There is nothing to be afraid of, the people at Mass are very friendly. Family time together is important, especially for us in the military. Families spending “quality time” together taking an active part in the Mass is wonderful.

Cultural Influence. There are several cultures represented in our Catholic Community. Is there interest in having some of our cultures expressing themselves in the Sunday Mass? Perhaps in the music?  Fellowship?

Rachel Ministry. We have the opportunity as a parish community to sponsor a Rachel Ministry in some form -- perhaps a retreat or a multi- week interdenominational program. Rachel Ministry is a Catholic and/or interdenominational outreach to all who have been affected by abortion – women and men – having had an abortion, procured or performed an abortion, or simply suffering the loss caused by an abortion.  I think it is a worthwhile ministry.  What do you think? The situation is open and fluid, and if we move in this direction the details still have to be worked out.

Daily Mass.  Mass normally is celebrated on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 1145 in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, except for non-duty days and holidays. 

Your comments are welcome and encouraged. If you have anything you want me to know just reply to this email or tell me whenever you see me, which is what quite a few people do already.

Take care,  Frog

James E. Sheil 
Chaplain (MAJ) US Army 
Community Catholic Pastor 
Fort Stewart, GA 31315 
james.sheil@us.army.mil 
912-767-6825/1813

Gospel Thoughts for this Sunday, 18 January 2009

In today’s Gospel Story (John 1:35-42) John points out Jesus, saying, “Behold, the Lamb of God”. Two of John’s followers ask Jesus, “Where are you staying?” He responds, “Come and see”. As they begin to know him, they tell others of their experience, who also come to see who Jesus is. While the Story tells, albeit briefly, of their journey and experience, it also might give us insight into what happens on our journey if we choose to let it.

In any number of ways and at any time(s) in our life we might feel some sort of interest in Jesus that could bring us beyond what we are used to. We might sense that Jesus has something to offer us that is different and perhaps more substantial than what we have known thus far in our life. Then, perhaps, we might ask him our equivalent of, “Where are you staying?” If we choose to be ready, we will hear, “Come and see”. The next question is what we will do about it.

Coming to see where Jesus is staying is a personal choice that no one can make for us. It is a choice that challenges our preconceived ideas about Jesus as he asks us to let him into our life on a very personal and profound level, and in very practical ways. In the Story Jesus gives Simon a new name which shows he is becoming a changed man. In any number of ways this is what happens to us: we begin a journey with Jesus that changes us in ways we could never have imagined. There are popular misconceptions that following Jesus is only for “holy people”, that following Jesus means a life that is dull, uninteresting, and without any fun, but Jesus asks every single one of us for permission to enter our life on an everyday basis. Anyone who has chosen to follow him knows that the journey is exciting and challenging well beyond anything we would have expected. We find ourselves led into situations and relationships we would not have chosen, and yet which are fulfilling and liberating, for lack of better words. Our life and all who are in it take on a new depth and richness as our focus shifts from our own comfort and convenience to amazement and cooperation with out newfound experience of ever-present grace. We consent to Jesus leading us without demanding to know where or how. We just go step by step.

Our journey with Jesus is not all fun and games. There is an element of fear and confusion as our accustomed standards and values are shaken. Life does not get any easier. We come to face our faults and shortcomings, our own personal contributions to the pain and suffering in the world, and begin to know Jesus accepting and loving us in very real and practical ways. There is nothing comfortable about the journey. It is hard work and a constant effort, not always successful, to do battle with our desire to go back to our old ways of comfort and security. Yet in very practical ways we come to know Jesus with us, and this gives us the trust and hope to move ahead in whatever situation we find ourselves, knowing that grace is real, powerful, and unpredictable.

The Opening Prayer tells us what we are beginning to know every day: “Almighty and ever-present Father, your watchful care reaches from end to end and order all things in such power that even the tensions and tragedies of sin cannot frustrate your loving plans”. This becomes the story of our life as we reflect on grace, consent to grace, and go our best to cooperate with grace. We might even to able to say, “We have found the Messiah”.