When Christianity Deserves to Die

Having cited many evils in the world (entitlement of the wealthy, the rise in disease, recruitment of child soldiers, general apathy, unequal age expectancy, and more) Anthony Gittins writes in his book A Presence That Disturbs: A Call to Radical Discipleship that if Christians do not advocate for the poor and marginalized, if initiative to correct the world’s problems is not the lifeblood of Christianity, “Christianity would deserve to die.” Powerful words. Terror striking words. Biblical words. Words rarely said in a pulpit. Words that we don’t admit to ourselves.

Is Service an Avoidance Technique?

When I don’t want to write a blog or weed or practice piano, I can usually think of a reason to avoid the activity. If I gave in repeatedly, you wouldn’t be reading this blog, the weeds would dominate, and the parishioners would hear sour notes. One idea that surprised me recently is that we can settle for service to avoid the call to love. I suppose that’s true. I can do a good deed for someone while harboring critical thoughts about them. When I’m taking an extra turn, I can mutter “Isn’t there anybody else?” When clearing someone else’s mess, my body tenses with angry reluctance. (“Why me?”)

When God, my angel, or a saint “messages me” I realize my service is a cover-up for my lack of love. I’m spending more thought and energy on not loving, even when appearances suggest I am charitable. When service is a way to dig deeper into my soul, I guess I need to sublimate my reasons to serve. I can, for example, write about this topic in today’s blog, I can weed prideful thinking, and I can practice putting on the mind of Christ. And I can still get the service accomplished!

The Starting Gate

Recently I completed 55 years of religious life. While no one celebrated except me, I was content with a quiet Emerald Jubilee. Green, my favorite color, is associated with new growth. I felt ready for new growth of some kind, and I was blessed that the time coincided with packing for my annual retreat. Typically, I would have chosen a directed or guided retreat (a time with a leader or companion). I was wondering what my days would be like with just me. Of course, I invited God to come along. Realizing the Spirit might use the first day to help me plan, find the “right” book (besides my bible), get used to my surroundings, settle in my room, and open my heart at the starting gate, I was already chomping at the bit. (Yes, I know “champing at the bit” is the better idiom, but my spell check doesn’t approve.)

Even though this type of retreat was not what I would have ordinarily done, I am surprised that my reading is about the ordinary. I read, for example, that God doesn’t give meaning to events. Rather God is meaning. God doesn’t sanctify the ordinary, but rather “God is the heart and soul of ordinary.” In addition, I read that I should not spend so much time with the parts of me that are not God but be alive in God. (Ideas and quotations from Becoming an Everyday Mystic by James Warnke, Abbey Press, IN). May you and I “champ at the bit” for the next revelation of God.

Always Looking Forward

You’ve probably noticed how the Gospels are forward-looking. Up ahead is eternal life. Of course, this is Jesus Christ’s modus operandi. His words pointed beyond. His thoughts were on His Father. Jesus based his decisions on the will of His Father. His Kingdom was not of this world.

Looking forward seems to be a good thing to do even when our feet are planted firmly in the here and now. Earlier in July many SND sisters across the nation met in Columbus, Ohio, where we rooted ourselves for three days. We renewed friendships, analyzed where we are now as the Immaculate Conception province, and looked forward. We experienced beautiful rituals, discussed, made charts, recorded results, and traveled back home to think, pray, and look forward  to our united future. Then and now we pray “For all that has been, we are grateful. For all that will be, we have hope. . . .Make us pilgrims of gratitude and hope as we dare to live simply, dream of a world without borders, and do justice with patient perseverance.”  

That’s a good prayer, don’t you think? We’ll let you borrow it.

Solemn Profession

Recently one of our Sisters made her Solemn Profession. Part of the ritual within the Mass is a series of questions. For me, the most poignant question is “Are you now resolved to offer the total gift of yourself to Christ in love…and to persevere in it forever?” While the formation years were a time of planting and blossoming (challenging though they were), Solemn Profession is the real deal. Ministry, community, service, deeper prayer, harder response to realities no matter in whatever form they come. There’s a Day One called Solemn Profession. The heart is full, the ritual inspiring, the music beautiful, the food and festivity unmatched. The community prays for its solemnly vowed sister: “May our Good God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment.” Day Two, Week 45, Year 10, Year 61… All will be well, because we prayed on this day: “Sustain her, O Lord.” May the undercurrent of her every day be her continued “Yes, Lord.”