These days, most of my weeks are filled with retreats and discussions with retreatants. At the weekend, I usually travel to local parishes to get a flavor for the parish and the groups who visit the retreat house where I work, Mater Dolorosa.

This past weekend, my wife Sally and I visited a parish in Pasadena, CA. The pastor there introduced an interesting concept in his homily; the practice of external worship. I had never heard this description before. The pastor, Fr. Mike, was describing, in his view, how the Church has lost its way in the management and oversight regarding the most recent revelations in the sexual scandal. In his analysis he used the term “external worship” as a means of illustrating how key members of the Church are more concerned how the “external” view of the Church became more important than a personal, and deep relationship with Jesus Christ.

His words struck home. If we, or anyone in a position of oversight, somehow separate the appearance of worship and the love Christ has for us is on a road which has been paved in the past. During the time of Jesus, the Pharisees, played the same cards and it became clear an authentic nature of worship was lost. If we, or others, engage in an appearance of worship, “external worship” we also beckon the same fate.

Fr. Mike called his flock to meet Christ at the Foot of the Cross, no matter how painful the process. Times such as this test our faith, but we always know we can rely on Christ to be there for us. No matter what. It is this closeness and fidelity to our personal relationships with Christ which sustains us when things are tough. Not wallpapering with a “fake” worship offered which has no depth to it; the stain will eventually make its way through for all to see.

As a sage local parishioner noted this week “Nothing, absolutely nothing, comes between me and Christ. That is the sacred space in my life, nothing an impinge on it, regardless of who they are and what they have done.”

The Cross continues to provide the illumination, the insight we need during these difficult times.

Peace and All Good.

THE UNBROKEN WORD

This last weekend I had the pleasure of being on retreat with Fr. Michael Fish, a Benedictine priest who lives as a hermit for most of the year, and the balance of the year delivers silent guided retreats. He is a man of many talents and beams what it means to be a contemplative in action. As we speak he is on his way to start his fifth, yes fifth, Camino. Few can make one in their lives and each one he has completed has been solo.

During his retreat he described a period of his life where he felt God’s presence in a way that was like a flame of peace lit in his heart. During this time, he was so peace-filled he was just full of gratitude, and tried to do anything to hold this wonderful warm feeling of God’s presence in his heart. After a few months, Fr. Michael woke up one morning to find himself without this flame in his heart, the feeling of Christ’s peace had left him. The consolation he had encountered for just a few months of his entire life had disappeared. He was devastated.

Just as St. Ignatius informs us not to get “hooked” on the drug of consolations, Fr. Michael had a consolation which he did not want to leave him. When God touches is in such a way, there is a desire to hold onto the feeling forever! Some of us never experience such a thing, but we all know love in its various forms, so can relate to what such a feeling of God’s presence might produce in us. Of course, we do not have control over such incidents, just as we often don’t have any “control” of who we love, or even why we love them at times. It just is.

Fr. Michael continued to discern what had happened during this time, and while going through the various stages of grieving and anger which accompanies such a loss, he eventually had a huge revelation. While he was mourning the loss of the “presence” of God, he suddenly realized the absence of the Presence, was a presence in itself.

Now if that sounds hard to swallow, we can agree God is always with us, even if we are not aware of His presence. Therefore, it makes sense for the experience of Fr. Michael to see the “felt absence” of God, as he had experienced, is therefore also confirmation of His presence.

It is in this noticing of God in others, in nature, in families, at work. Everywhere in fact, that we can assured of this “absent presence” of God. God is there all the time, regardless of whether we can feel Him in some physical way or experience.

I leave you with an image of how His presence is made known to me each day in the gardens here at Mater Dolorosa.

Let us notice God in the absent Presence of our minds and let Him lead us into His heart through the presence of the everyday activities in our lives.

 

 

 

Gardens at Mater Dolorosa, CA

 

 

 

 

 

THE UNBROKEN WORD

This week I was preparing for an opening conference for a group of young adults attending the retreat center at Mater Dolorosa. Inevitably I find music a wonderful backdrop to this preparation process, serving the purpose of calming the nerves, providing inspiration and inevitably, provoking thoughts and emotions in my own soul.

We all have musical favorites, and once listened to can immediately transport to a new place or past memory. For music we may be listening to for the first time, new vistas can open, as a tapestry is weaved on top of the already thick quilt of life.

After completing the presentation, I noted how much the materials included are just a reflection of how I feel about my own relationship with God. Reminding me of the importance of how those around me help in this molding process, my presentation includes a donated windchime, music from Aine Minogue, the Beatles and materials from the Beatitudes faith formation program from the teen program at St. Eulalia’s.

One song included is Ordinary World from the eighties band, Duran Duran. The song’s lyrics lament the loss of someone important in our lives, and the huge hole left as a result. The song digs deep into the soul of the one left behind and how courage and fortitude helps them survive those missing.

The loss of a great friend or love is something many of us have experienced; even those who have been with us for a short period of time; yet at times we do not appreciate those left in our lives who help us along.

This greatest friend of all is Jesus Christ; the one who was tortured, hung on a tree and killed just to show how much He loved us all. The ultimate act of friendship and love, done in an unconditional act which showed no preference, bias or unwillingness to surrender.

Perhaps this is the friend we should be turning to? To look at when we have those moments of self-pity or sadness. Our consoler-in-chief will always be there, showing how the passion is not only relived in pain, but in a joyous union with Jesus at the Foot of the Cross. Here, we join Mary and the others, saddened by events, but assured of what comes next.

Another day of resurrections in our lives.

TODAY AND TOMORROW

Sitting here at the Foot of the Cross,

The sadness of the day is enjoined by our community,

Small, huddled, but firm in a belief;

Faith for a new tomorrow.

Where change is guaranteed;

As is salvation if we only have surrender tomorrow to His will,

Today.