John- Good blog...
One of the things that I had been thinking about after our email dialogue was the Incarnation and how that comes into play. God did not have to become man. He did so out of love. He could have sent us some "spirit guide" like the Holy Spirit but he chose to become man, to lower himself. He chose to enter into humanity- even in its depravity.
In a way, I think this is what is happening in the Eucharist. Do we really need to consume Jesus? Do we need to consume him to have eternal life? Probably not. There are millions of people who do not consume Him that probably will go to heaven, so is this neccesary? Did Jesus have to become present in the species of bread? No.
To complete the incarnational act of Love, Jesus chose to become physcially present to us for the remainder of time in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the alter. He does this as a gift. This is a pure gift of love. He wants pure intimacy with us, and what better way then to be "one" with Him?
Also, in consuming Him we come to share in His divinity. His love becomes our love. Our love towards others is His love that is trying to pour out of us, but is darkened by our sin. If we were without sin, then after we recieve Holy Communion, pure, unfettered love would be overflowing from us.
I am not worthy, but only the say the word...
Friday, November 21, 2008
Eucharist Discussion Continued
We were having a good email conversation about the Eucharist, so I thought I would bring it over into our blog.
There is one fascinating perspective on the Eucharist that I just recently picked up on, namely the basic significance of eating. I think I often have trouble with the sacraments because the materials themselves are so utterily mundane: bread, wine, water, oil etc. But now I am realizing that the universality and "everyday-ness" of the materiality of the sacraments is not merely accidental. In the sacraments, the everyday things that are most intimate to us become where we meet God. So, in essesnce, we are bringing what is most human to God. And God is bringing Himself to what is most human. This is so incarnational; it only makes sense Christologically.
In the Eucharist, perhaps the most basic human act--eating--becomes a meeting place with God. Eating is symbolic of culture in general; people come together to eat; its one of the most fundamental social/ cultural actions. So it makes sense that the central sacrament would be a meal.
Moreover, when we eat we literally take something into us and make it a part of us. In eating, something outside enters into us. Food is digested and absorbed into our body. So when we eat the body of Christ, we take Christ into us, and we physically become one with him. This is so basic and physical that it easily escapes my attempt to "analyze" the meaning of the Eucharist.
I think the more difficult question, then, is not why do we eat the Eucharist, but why does Christ enter into bread? I guess one could point to bread as the most universal and everyday food. Another problem for me: wouldn't the apparent "effects" of the Eucharist be more apparent if Christ is truly entering into us. Why don't I experience a renewed faith or spiritual energy, etc? Is it just due to my lack of faith?
Any thoughts?
There is one fascinating perspective on the Eucharist that I just recently picked up on, namely the basic significance of eating. I think I often have trouble with the sacraments because the materials themselves are so utterily mundane: bread, wine, water, oil etc. But now I am realizing that the universality and "everyday-ness" of the materiality of the sacraments is not merely accidental. In the sacraments, the everyday things that are most intimate to us become where we meet God. So, in essesnce, we are bringing what is most human to God. And God is bringing Himself to what is most human. This is so incarnational; it only makes sense Christologically.
In the Eucharist, perhaps the most basic human act--eating--becomes a meeting place with God. Eating is symbolic of culture in general; people come together to eat; its one of the most fundamental social/ cultural actions. So it makes sense that the central sacrament would be a meal.
Moreover, when we eat we literally take something into us and make it a part of us. In eating, something outside enters into us. Food is digested and absorbed into our body. So when we eat the body of Christ, we take Christ into us, and we physically become one with him. This is so basic and physical that it easily escapes my attempt to "analyze" the meaning of the Eucharist.
I think the more difficult question, then, is not why do we eat the Eucharist, but why does Christ enter into bread? I guess one could point to bread as the most universal and everyday food. Another problem for me: wouldn't the apparent "effects" of the Eucharist be more apparent if Christ is truly entering into us. Why don't I experience a renewed faith or spiritual energy, etc? Is it just due to my lack of faith?
Any thoughts?
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Al Qaeda's number two man, Al- Zawahiri, came out with a statement yesterday...
Paraphrased...
"Obama is a puppet for the whites in the United States. Your leadership will not deter our efforts to destroy america, our resentments caused from Western Opression run deep and will not change because of a new president".
The article said this was Al Qaeda's way of trying to "convert" american muslims to fanaticism and cause division.
Analysis:
-The statement is infected with : rage, resentments, hatred, raging incoherence (Bailie)
-The statement is an accusation and a threat
- The Statement intends to cause division
--Guess who???
This diabolic influence is rather obvious, but the same accusing and divisive voice whispers and screams at us all day. "You don't have what it takes...you are an embarassement...healing is impossible, your Father does not love you...you are worthless".
This influence is much less obvious, because it comes in subtle ways. It will catch us off guard, especially when we are tired, lonely or frusterated. Let us rubuke this voice, and listen to the other voice: "Come to me all you are burneded and I will give you rest".
Lord, protect us from all evil, deliver us from the assaults of enemy, and bring us into your freedom and love.
Amen
Paraphrased...
"Obama is a puppet for the whites in the United States. Your leadership will not deter our efforts to destroy america, our resentments caused from Western Opression run deep and will not change because of a new president".
The article said this was Al Qaeda's way of trying to "convert" american muslims to fanaticism and cause division.
Analysis:
-The statement is infected with : rage, resentments, hatred, raging incoherence (Bailie)
-The statement is an accusation and a threat
- The Statement intends to cause division
--Guess who???
This diabolic influence is rather obvious, but the same accusing and divisive voice whispers and screams at us all day. "You don't have what it takes...you are an embarassement...healing is impossible, your Father does not love you...you are worthless".
This influence is much less obvious, because it comes in subtle ways. It will catch us off guard, especially when we are tired, lonely or frusterated. Let us rubuke this voice, and listen to the other voice: "Come to me all you are burneded and I will give you rest".
Lord, protect us from all evil, deliver us from the assaults of enemy, and bring us into your freedom and love.
Amen
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Charismastic Contemplation
These are inseperable. They are able to be seperated, by they shouldn't be. The Charismatic Renewal movement, which empahsizes the presence and influence of the Holy Spirit, the 3rd person of the Trinity, centers on praise/worship and using the gifts, or charisms of the Holy Spirit. Contemplation, on the other hand, is the quiet, reccolected state of being where one simply "is" in God's presence.
The blending of these two ways of prayer can be very fruitful. In fact, one without the other can be destructive in your prayer life. Charismatic prayer, without contemplation (or mediation for that matter) can lead to excessive emotionalism, irrationalism, hypomania, and even lunacy. Contemplation, without charismatic prayer (the individual being open to the promptings and gifts of the Holy Spirit) can lead to an endless pursuit of nothingness-a quiet and self-centered escapism.
Such groups as the Intercessors of the Lambs, the Franciscans of the Renewal, and the Franciscans of the Primitive Observance are wonderful examples of religious orders who blend so well the essense of Charismatic Contemplation. St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) gives us another great example. It goes without saying, that one fruit of charismatic contemplation is active service. One ought to bring the fruits of this intimacy with the creator out to His people and to serve the Church.
"Our goal for prayer should be to bring a sober intoxication within the realm of intimate reccolection and solitude".
Paz
These are inseperable. They are able to be seperated, by they shouldn't be. The Charismatic Renewal movement, which empahsizes the presence and influence of the Holy Spirit, the 3rd person of the Trinity, centers on praise/worship and using the gifts, or charisms of the Holy Spirit. Contemplation, on the other hand, is the quiet, reccolected state of being where one simply "is" in God's presence.
The blending of these two ways of prayer can be very fruitful. In fact, one without the other can be destructive in your prayer life. Charismatic prayer, without contemplation (or mediation for that matter) can lead to excessive emotionalism, irrationalism, hypomania, and even lunacy. Contemplation, without charismatic prayer (the individual being open to the promptings and gifts of the Holy Spirit) can lead to an endless pursuit of nothingness-a quiet and self-centered escapism.
Such groups as the Intercessors of the Lambs, the Franciscans of the Renewal, and the Franciscans of the Primitive Observance are wonderful examples of religious orders who blend so well the essense of Charismatic Contemplation. St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) gives us another great example. It goes without saying, that one fruit of charismatic contemplation is active service. One ought to bring the fruits of this intimacy with the creator out to His people and to serve the Church.
"Our goal for prayer should be to bring a sober intoxication within the realm of intimate reccolection and solitude".
Paz
Monday, November 17, 2008
We have a blog! Lets get Fleckenstein and Gil Bailee to follow us. Do I have to change my name to Mile John? That seems to be the trend around here.
Nice, heartfelt post, M. Dan. I am feeling more and more integrated as I get older, but I still have a lot of problems with feeling integrated into the greater community. This weekend, though, it occured to me that no matter what I do, I cannot help but be a part of a burgeoning Catholic community, namely our family. I'm looking forward to Christmas time....
Nice, heartfelt post, M. Dan. I am feeling more and more integrated as I get older, but I still have a lot of problems with feeling integrated into the greater community. This weekend, though, it occured to me that no matter what I do, I cannot help but be a part of a burgeoning Catholic community, namely our family. I'm looking forward to Christmas time....
The Redemption of Suburbia: A Re-connection and Re-integration
Danny Peterson
In AA and in Catholic Spirituality a big part of "healing" has to do with "connection and integration". In AA, they claim that one must have their "inner-connection" to be able to be sober, joyful and peaceful. As an example, senior year of college, I had NO CLUE who I was, or who anyone was for that matter. I was completely lost and disconnected from everthing and everyone including myself.
This makes sense to me. AA, catholic spirituality, and Dr. Mango all say that we must be "connected" with 1. God 2. Ourselves and 3. Others (community). You can take this further and claim that we must be connected with our past, to avoid disconnects, indetity confusion etc.
Over the past few months, I have felt very connected with God and with myself(more on this in different blogs). I have had a renewed experienced with community (AA groups, my living situation etc) but I havent had a full integraton with community yet- I still felt in the periphery, yes yes? But last weekend, it happend. I was at mass and I had this transcenant feeling, that could not be better described as "connection" or "integration". I was in a good mood, so the feeling was emotion-based but it was powerful nontheless. I looked around at the St. Helen community (which I love more and more as time goes on) and I felt such a sense of belonging. It wasn't simply acceptance, it was more...it was belonging. I felt as though I was a part of the mystical body of Christ.
Then, yesterday I went to a 6th grade football game. It was a kid from my group whose parents I know very well. I have become good friends with them and they invited me there. It was a very interesting experience, because again I felt more fully integrated. It was at this game that I realized that the Lord redeems all things for us- even the small ones.
--
The Redemption of Suburbia
I have some very positive perceptions of suburban america, but for the most part they are overshadowed by the negative ones. The first negative perspective, and this is unrelated to my reflection, is that it is a place of waste, extravagance, and wealth. It is a place where wealthy people live in peace and forget about everything else in the world. This isnt my exact view, but it is a perspective...this is irrelevant at the moment.
My "negative view" or "Small Story" (Eldredge) of suburbia is very distorted. For me, after childhood (age 12) Suburbia became the setting for the "play". The play of debauchery and confusion. Like so many things (swimming pools, certain music, rivers, decks) the essence of suburbia became intertwined in my vaste adolescent bewilderment. It became something it wasn't. After all, what is it?
In my own experience with St. Helens and Westfield (textbook suburban town), and through my healing process of re-connection, and re-integration, suburbia is being restored to what it is meant to be: nothing more then a word that describes the way of life in the Suburbs. This is much more relaxing. I'm glad that I'm not attributing false perceptions, essences and associations to words that don't deserve it.
Danny Peterson
In AA and in Catholic Spirituality a big part of "healing" has to do with "connection and integration". In AA, they claim that one must have their "inner-connection" to be able to be sober, joyful and peaceful. As an example, senior year of college, I had NO CLUE who I was, or who anyone was for that matter. I was completely lost and disconnected from everthing and everyone including myself.
This makes sense to me. AA, catholic spirituality, and Dr. Mango all say that we must be "connected" with 1. God 2. Ourselves and 3. Others (community). You can take this further and claim that we must be connected with our past, to avoid disconnects, indetity confusion etc.
Over the past few months, I have felt very connected with God and with myself(more on this in different blogs). I have had a renewed experienced with community (AA groups, my living situation etc) but I havent had a full integraton with community yet- I still felt in the periphery, yes yes? But last weekend, it happend. I was at mass and I had this transcenant feeling, that could not be better described as "connection" or "integration". I was in a good mood, so the feeling was emotion-based but it was powerful nontheless. I looked around at the St. Helen community (which I love more and more as time goes on) and I felt such a sense of belonging. It wasn't simply acceptance, it was more...it was belonging. I felt as though I was a part of the mystical body of Christ.
Then, yesterday I went to a 6th grade football game. It was a kid from my group whose parents I know very well. I have become good friends with them and they invited me there. It was a very interesting experience, because again I felt more fully integrated. It was at this game that I realized that the Lord redeems all things for us- even the small ones.
--
The Redemption of Suburbia
I have some very positive perceptions of suburban america, but for the most part they are overshadowed by the negative ones. The first negative perspective, and this is unrelated to my reflection, is that it is a place of waste, extravagance, and wealth. It is a place where wealthy people live in peace and forget about everything else in the world. This isnt my exact view, but it is a perspective...this is irrelevant at the moment.
My "negative view" or "Small Story" (Eldredge) of suburbia is very distorted. For me, after childhood (age 12) Suburbia became the setting for the "play". The play of debauchery and confusion. Like so many things (swimming pools, certain music, rivers, decks) the essence of suburbia became intertwined in my vaste adolescent bewilderment. It became something it wasn't. After all, what is it?
In my own experience with St. Helens and Westfield (textbook suburban town), and through my healing process of re-connection, and re-integration, suburbia is being restored to what it is meant to be: nothing more then a word that describes the way of life in the Suburbs. This is much more relaxing. I'm glad that I'm not attributing false perceptions, essences and associations to words that don't deserve it.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
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