It's Time for Square Fish Again!

An Opening GregNote: Today's GregBlog is a growing train of thought on the nature of fasting during Lent. Check back often to see the Blog grow, and feel free to share a quick thought or two of your own. It's like one of those group written stories, where we pass the piece of paper around the group, each person adding their own new details... Have fun, and let's see what this fasting thing is all about!

Today's Readings

"This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own." Isaiah 58: 6-7

Why do we Catholics eat square fish on a bun on Fridays during Lent?

Some random thoughts during this First Friday of Lent, 2013.

• Disclaimer: The term "square fish on a bun" was inspired by the highly educated Deacon, and my friend, Dan who asked the question: "When does Lent officially begin?"  The answer: "At the imposition of ashes and your ordering your first McDonald's fish sandwich." The term "square" of course refers to the rare cod fish that migrates this way every February, and is caught, fried and served with great care! :)
• I got a Facebook post the other day from someone quoting a sign in our local Walmart: "Seafood for Lent!" 
• My Pastor always says this time of year that we kinda miss the point when we give up our double cheeseburgers on Friday, only to order Lobster instead. 
• If He can give me so much, the least I can do is avoid those things that get in the way of me giving back! 
• Let us consider that giving up vices might be more productive than giving up meat. (cf. St. Basil the Great's Homily on Fasting) 
• When you meet those who are in need of clothing, do not turn away from them, for they are your brothers. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your good deeds shall go before you. (From The Office Morning Prayer 2-15-13)
• I do, cause I like to eat the crunchy corners off first! However, THIS LENT, I will be eating just the fish. Gave up bread! (From Laurie on FB) 
• Because it fits! (From Alice on FB)
• Because you aren't supposed to eat meat… Cause it's good… Ewwwww… Because Catholics like squares. (?)… Par ce que les Catholiques ne mangent pas du viande les vendredi's pendant le careme. (from Karen’s class at Notre Dame Collegiate HS in Calgary, AB Canada)
• For the same reason that we Roll Up the Rim during Lent. A surprising number of fast food chains cater to Catholics. (Roll up the Rim is put on by Tim Horton's - it's irresistible, and likely intended to keep Catholics drinking coffee throughout Lent, rather than giving it up.) Note: Tim Horton's is Canada's most beloved cup of coffee, not that SB stuff! (From Ryan on FB)

A Closing GregNote: The original intent of the GregBlog today was to have a little fun.  But let's admit it, there's more to Lent than a square fish sandwich.  The Prophet Isaiah saw a day when people like you and me would reach out of our own selves to share love, or coats, or time, or even food like square fish on a bun with our neighbor.  Let's do this thing people; let's make this Lent about sharing the Good News, and all that people need to feel the love of God in their midst!  Thanks to all who participated in the GregBlog today!

Body and Blood!

They all ate and were satisfied. (Luke 9: 17)

In my Faith today, we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, or the Body (and Blood) of Christ! This is a special day for the Faith, my Parish, my family and also myself. We concentrate on the reality that we are fed by Jesus Christ, and that He is truly present in our midst.

The quote above from Luke’s Gospel is the culmination of the “Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes”. Jesus took five loaves and two fish, and fed 5000! I’m sure it was a day like today, and I’m sure the crowd was there to see Christ, and visit with one another. But Christ also needed them to know that He was more than Word; He was food as well!

Isn’t it fitting that my Parish has its annual Summer Picnic today... I think its perfect timing and a wonderful representation of what Church is all about. We gather for Mass, then eat together as a community of faith. Add BBQ, a few moon bounces, snow cones and DJ Jazzy Greg’s Ultimate Picnic Mix, and we are the Body of Christ in action!

Happy Corpus Christi, and keep praying for the Body of Christ throughout the world, especially those who struggle this day. To our friends on the Gulf Coast, God bless you!

Big Oil and the Poor Little Fisherman

A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,
“Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.” (Mark 12: 42-44)

Big Oil sucks! There. I said it! I wanted to put that in the title, but I felt it might be in poor taste. I got to thinking today, there’s a lot of angry people out there protesting at the British Petroleum (BP) Offices around the country, and even at the small little gas stations displaying those two letters on their logo, “B” and “P”. Being that BP is the source of the nations worse oil spill in history, anger is understood at time like this. I forget how many hundreds of millions of gallons of oil have already poured into the beautiful Gulf of Mexico, and I can’t imagine how many miles of beaches, marshes and wetlands will be forever tainted with its gooey mess. The fragile ecosystem is just that, FRAGILE. Its finely tuned balance will forever be immeasurably harmed because of the spill. One gentleman, quoted in the USA Today, sums it all up, “It makes me sick!”

With that said, I don’t want to be accused of ignoring the immensity of the damage done by this oil well, and its leaking into the Gulf. It’s just that today’s reading from the Gospel seems to offer a basis for what we’re dealing with here in human terms. Basically, Mark’s Gospel outlines the generosity of the Widow who gave her last cent as compared to the rich man who gave a miniscule portion of his wealth’s surplus. The connection between this Gospel Truth and the situation along the Gulf Coast is just too perfect!

While BP meets today with its Stockholders to reassure them that there’s plenty of money available to respond to this disaster, others are facing the loss of their whole way of life. First, we must not forget the reality that 11 people lost their lives in the original rig explosion. They have quietly been laid to rest in their hometowns in Texas, and their families will most surely forever be affected by this catastrophe! Another Vietnamese-American community in Buras, Louisiana is also affected. "Many of these people do not speak English, so they don't understand what kind of assistance is available, and they are scared," said Billy Nungesser, Plaquemines Parish president. "Just the other day, a 94-year-old fisherman, who has his wits about him and looks forward to taking his vessel into the marsh each day, said, 'Mr. Billy. Please help. What do I do?' I didn't know what to tell him." (LA Times May 7, 2010)

I recognize that BP is offering to foot the bill for it all, and yet their cost keeps mounting. I also recognize that they have untold wealth, and its their position that there is plenty of money to pay for this... So my prayers are with them, and their efforts to fix this terrible problem! Meanwhile, there are fishers all over the region forced to contribute all they have... Their entire livelihood! This of course is the lingering issue and the tragic part of the whole event... One that a “geeky blogger” like myself cannot fix sitting here at his computer!

So I’ll just conclude with this... God blesses those who give their all! It says so in the Gospel (above), and the Apostle Paul wrote about it to Timothy: “For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.” (2 Timothy 4: 6-8) To the people of the Gulf Coast, keep fighting, and keep praying. This is NOT a plague, and you do NOT deserve this! But you are the people strong enough to show the rest of the struggling world how to respond to challenges. You’ve teach us all what “family” can do as you continue to rebuild after Katrina, and you’ll lead the way in providing example, courage and tenacity as you call upon your community to help clean and protect this crucial part of our home.

The challenge for BP would be this. Are they willing to sacrifice their entire wealth to match the willingness of the many who are facing the loss of everything? That will be the measurement of their true worth. There are many folks dependent on BP these days, and the ripple effect of unintended consequences has never been more evident. But if they fight to the bitter end, and win this battle of oil vs. nature, and save a marsh, or a beach, or the livelihood of a Bayou La Batre fisherman and his family... We will all be a better people for it. The earth will readjust, and life will live on, but how we respond as a people will forever change the future of our humanity, and the way we respond with our wealth.

We must put away the anger, and match the generosity of the poor widow, and that poor fisherman somewhere on the Gulf Coast, looking to the sea with hope and promise of a new day!