So Far Transition Has Been Smooth

[Theologian in Training]

The moment I walk through those chapel doors, my eyes are immediately drawn: first to the tabernacle and then to the large crucifix hanging upon the wall.

I look upon that cross each and everyday and think of how many times I have found myself kneeling before that cross, either figuratively or literally. It puts everything into perspective, it draws attention to what matters, to who matters, and even more, it reminds all of us to what we are called.

In fact, Jesus’ greatest instruction for His disciples was the importance of taking up their cross to follow Him. The same instruction He gives us.

And yet, I wonder if we really know what that means, if we truly understand what He is asking of us? Calling us, in love, to walk with Him on the road to Calvary, carrying with us our burdens, our pains, our hurts, and our desolations, and, treading this path of suffering to go there and die, not physically, of course, but die to our very selves. And, in many respects that’s even worse, that scares us even more, because even though death itself is scary how much more when we are asked to renounce our very being, the power we think we have; to be utterly vulnerable and at our most weakest, naked before the cross so that Christ can fully dwell within us?

Yet, this is the way Christ has shown for us, to die each and every day, by taking up our cross each and every day.

A while ago there was an email circulating about a man and his cross. I would like to share now:

A young man was at the end of his rope, and seeing no way out, dropped to his knees in prayer. He said:
"Lord, I can't go on, I have too heavy a cross to bear."

The Lord replied, "My son, if you can't bear its weight, just place your cross inside this room.
Then, open that other door and pick out any cross you wish."

The man was filled with relief and joy and said, "Thank you Lord," and did as he was told.

Upon entering the other room, he saw many crosses; some so large the tops were not even visible. Then, he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall.

"I'd like that one, Lord," he whispered. The Lord replied, "My son, that is the cross you just brought in."

Our cross makes us unique, because our suffering is unlike anyone else’s and the only person who truly knows the depth of our suffering is Christ Himself. For our cross is His, and His is what makes ours that much lighter, and yet, He still has us carry our own cross, out of love for us.

I know that sounds strange, giving us a cross so that we can learn love, but it is only at the foot of the cross where we learn the meaning of true love, and truly understand what it truly means to die to everything from that love.

In fact, I remember, a couple of summers ago while at IPF, a deacon there said something I will never forget. He said sometimes the cross can get so hard to handle that we scream out saying “God Your killing me,” to which God responds, “I know.”

While it is true that God does not give us more than we can handle He also does not want to give us too little, otherwise we would never understand the mystery and depth of Christ’s love if we cannot unite our own sufferings to His.

How incredibly hard this is to bear, because we don’t want to die, we don’t want to accept the fact that we "are dust and to dust we shall return." That we are no more than a speck in this vast existence, smaller than Christ, an ant in comparison to the Cross.

Yet this death occurs daily by our frequent prayer and the reception of the life, death, and Resurrection of Christ in the Eucharist. In fact, it is in the Mass that this is bought to fruition. The Mass reminds us of this death, and the death we must live ourselves. In fact, every time we receive the Eucharist we die more and more to ourselves because we become more and more like Christ in that reception and it is His life that dwells within us. St. Pio in one of his letters to his spiritual director said that there is no reason to imitate Christ if in imitating Him we don't appear "arisen" or "changed." In other words, when we deny ourselves, through our daily cross, Christ shines through us and we become "renewed" or "resurrected" in Him.

This is true death, the death of self, brought to fulfillment by living in direct communion with the Will of God, regardless of the consequences or actions it entails. True death of self then is true love of Christ, and true love of Christ is in imitating Him, and after all, isn't imitation the best form of flattery?

Therefore, how better to imitate Our Creator than to seek to imitate Him to the point of fully losing our very selves so that we can say, as St. Paul says, "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives within me.”

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' date='Oct 30 2005, 04:58 PM']In fact, I remember, a couple of summers ago while at IPF, a deacon there said something I will never forget. He said sometimes the cross can get so hard to handle that we scream out saying “God Your killing me,” to which God responds, “I know.”
[right][snapback]774193[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='Raphael' date='Oct 30 2005, 06:06 PM']
[right][snapback]774197[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

You didn't notice that before? Honestly, I have never recycled a homily so much as I have this one. The changes are always subtle but designed to fit the congregation to which I am preaching.

I am glad it moved you though, because it shows the lasting impact words inspired by the Holy Spirit can actually have.

I now have more confidence in preaching this tonight to the seminary.

Wow, you know what I just realized? This is probably my longest homily. I don't usually preach any longer than 2-3 minutes, yet when I timed this one, it was 4 1/2

Thank You

God Bless

Edited October 30, 2005 by Theologian in Training

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' date='Oct 30 2005, 05:12 PM']You didn't notice that before? Honestly, I have never recycled a homily so much as I have this one. The changes are always subtle but designed to fit the congregation to which I am preaching.

I am glad it moved you though, because it shows the lasting impact words inspired by the Holy Spirit can actually have.

I now have more confidence in preaching this tonight to the seminary.

Thank You

God Bless
[right][snapback]774199[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
Oh, Deacon...it's just kinda the story of the last year of my life...being killed very slowly and painfully by our Lord.

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='Raphael' date='Oct 30 2005, 06:26 PM']Oh, Deacon...it's just kinda the story of the last year of my life...being killed very slowly and painfully by our Lord.
[right][snapback]774204[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

Oh, I see. Yet, don't forget though, what doesn't kill us, makes us strong, and that is what He does to us, kill us to make us stronger in Him. "I can do all things in Him who strenghens me"

God Bless

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' date='Oct 30 2005, 05:30 PM']Oh, I see. Yet, don't forget though, what doesn't kill us, makes us strong, and that is what He does to us, kill us to make us stronger in Him. "I can do all things in Him who strenghens me"

God Bless
[right][snapback]774206[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
Yes, Deacon. It's just nice to have a reminder in such simple words.

[StColette]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' date='Oct 30 2005, 04:30 PM']Oh, I see. Yet, don't forget though, what doesn't kill us, makes us strong, and that is what He does to us, kill us to make us stronger in Him. "I can do all things in Him who strenghens me"

God Bless
[right][snapback]774206[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

I might just have that saying tattooed on me because I can't say Amen enough times to show how much I agree with it.

[Theologian in Training]

The reality just hit me that I am preaching to the seminary in a half hour. Please send prayers...please

God Bless

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='StColette' date='Oct 30 2005, 06:38 PM']I might just have that saying tattooed on me because I can't say Amen enough times to show how much I agree with it.
[right][snapback]774215[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

look at that, another idea for a homily

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' date='Oct 30 2005, 05:49 PM']look at that, another idea for a homily
[right][snapback]774230[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
You're gonna tattoo a homily to your back?

[StColette]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' date='Oct 30 2005, 04:49 PM']look at that, another idea for a homily
[right][snapback]774230[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

ROFL! hehe glad to be a source of inspiration lol

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='StColette' date='Oct 30 2005, 06:54 PM']ROFL!  hehe glad to be a source of inspiration lol
[right][snapback]774237[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

Actually, I meant what you pointed out I said. However, I could use that for a homily as well...

BTW, it went well. One of the guys said he doesn't think he has seen someone so calm preaching about the cross.

I was a bundle of nerves both before and after I preached, but while I was preaching I felt very calm and comfortable.

Thanks all for the prayers

God Bless

[StColette]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' date='Oct 30 2005, 06:22 PM']Actually, I meant what you pointed out I said. However, I could use that for a homily as well...

BTW, it went well. One of the guys said he doesn't think he has seen someone so calm preaching about the cross.

I was a bundle of nerves both before and after I preached, but while I was preaching I felt very calm and comfortable.

Thanks all for the prayers

God Bless
[right][snapback]774316[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]

I'm sure you did a wonderful job The subject of Suffering is pretty interesting. I wrote a whole tract about it and have read it I don't know how many times. Great source of calm and peace.

[philothea]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' date='Oct 30 2005, 03:54 PM']Here are the two homilies I gave, one for the Sunday liturgy and the other for the Holy Hour. The one for the seminary is going to be another recycled version of the one on the cross. I will post that one as well.
[right][snapback]774187[/snapback][/right]
[/quote]
Thank you!

I only read the first one right now, because otherwise I'll get overloaded. It's beautiful, and I really appreciate it. For some reason, about 80% of the time, the Sunday masses I go to have homilies which do not relate to the readings!

(Today: heating bills. Really! Though a 100% ($6k) jump [i]is[/i] pretty horrible.)

[Theologian in Training]

I was, again, having difficulties discerning where the Spirit wanted to take me with this homily, so I wound up writing it at 5:00 AM this morning before 7:00 AM Mass. People seem to like it, I feel as though I really did not say anything. And yes, it really is that short. It was not even a full page with 16 font.

God Bless

Ten virgins anticipate the return of the bridegroom, and while they wait five are not ready. So, instead of continuing to wait, they go off to get ready, and when they finally ready themselves and return the bridegroom does not recognize them and as thus are not admitted to the wedding feast.

This is one of those parables that, before anything else, forces us to ask a very simple question. Why do we wait?

And the answer to this question sums up the entirety of what we believe.

We wait because we have hope, hope that not only will the bridegroom, Christ, return, but upon that return will raise up those who have died. As St. Paul so beautifully put it, in today’s second reading. “For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.”

It is the Resurrection that gives us such great hope, because it is a testament that though we die, as Christ did, we will also rise as He did as well. His Resurrection is ours, and by that Resurrection He has destroyed death itself.

We also wait, because we want to see Christ, as He is, face to face. Granted, the His Second Coming will be different than the first, but if we are prepared to see Him we will have nothing to fear.

This is the point of the Gospel today, that our waiting precedes something greater, someone greater and if we wait, are prepared to wait, and want to wait, when someone cries, “Behold the bridegroom, come out to meet him,” we will be ready to be with Him, Christ, our bridegroom, at the wedding feast.

Edited November 6, 2005 by Theologian in Training