The Ultimate Commitment

Today's Readings

So let our sacrifice be in your presence today as we follow you unreservedly; for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame. And now we follow you with our whole heart..." - Daniel 3: 40-41

I have been on a quick trip to visit with a great group of young leaders serving the Xaverian Brothers Sponsored Schools (XBSS). These students from New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Kentucky have all committed their young hearts to witnessing the Good News, guiding their peers in ways of faith, study, athletics, and various other areas that will ultimately call on entire student bodies to do the same.

Tonight, as I traveled out of Atlanta, the last leg of my trip home, I witnessed another level of commitment that too many of our nation's young men and women have to make... The body of a fallen soldier in a flag-draped casket was respectfully loaded into the cargo bay of the plane with full military honors. The passengers all witnessed this amazing moment of honor and sorrow, as we all gazed out of the right side of the plane. The picture above was taken with my cell, so its a tad dark. When we arrived home, his family and an honor guard were on the tarmac to greet the plane and reverently move the fallen soldier closer to his final resting place. Again, the plane sat silently, and watched this soldier's last journey come to an end.

So the nature of "commitment" can be measured in various ways, and my time with the students of XBSS rejuvenated my spirit and my hope for a generation who will make things better for our community. But witnessing this solemn moment, and the example of the ultimate commitment and sacrifice on the part of this soldier added something poignant to this trip.

My dear friends of the GregBlog... We share these things with one another, so we can know just how amazing God's people can be. The young leaders of XBSS, and all around our church, country, and world seize opportunities to lead by example all of the time. We depend on these witnesses of God's grace! But with this post, I also want offer my condolences to the family of this soldier who I only know from witnessing his last great statement to his home... He made a commitment to serve our country, and he stuck by that promise to the very end!

I will forever remember this night, and these witnesses of God's amazing presence in our world!

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!

Three of a Perfect Pair

Today's Readings

“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." Luke 9: 23-24

The calendar this year offers a unique combo of dates that truly helps define our real purpose as a people. To combine Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day allows all to see that with sacrifice comes love.

• Sacrifice... Sacrifice is the day to day work. Sacrifice is the full commitment to each other over the things that could be getting in the way. Sacrifice is the reality that, even when it doesn't seem to be working, the work and the commitment continues. Sacrifice is an intentional "giving up" of self, so as to "give" so as to help meet other's needs. Sacrifice gets more difficult before it gets easy.

• Love... "Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

• Work... The work of Ash Wednesday is to let your heart know that you are ready to "repent for your sin, and be faithful to the Gospel." (That's what they said when you were getting that ash on your head yesterday... Hope you washed your face this morning!) The repenting is the sacrifice, and the love is the Gospel; which by the way, calls us all to love one another!  The work of Valentine's Day is to let your heart be shared with the people you love, usually uttered in the phrase, "Will you be mine?" (Which usually is accompanied by a box of chocolates, or a rose to symbolize just how sweet and beautiful they are!). The Sharing and the symbols are the work, and the love is the purpose that drives us.

So, just like sacrifice, love is not a feeling.  It is work.  Just like sacrifice, love is not easy, it is purposeful.  Just like sacrifice, love tells the world that you mean business... You care... You have faith... You have hope... And yes, you have a love that serves them, struggles with them, rejoices with them, and grows with them, denying your very self to work for them daily.

That's life, that's sacrifice, and that's love... And that's why Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day go well together, and why sacrifice, love and work are "three of a perfect pair!" (a stretch of a King Crimson reference).

Happy Valentine's Day!

Ordinary Martyrdom!

If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him. (2 Timothy 2: 11-12)

Since Pentecost, we have leapt back into “Ordinary Time”, which seems to be rooted in the concepts of reaching out of one’s self in mission, trust, prayer, persistence, patience and sacrifice!

None of these concepts are by any means ordinary in our world today, but they are the basic foundation of living our faith. What is ordinary in faith, must seem extraordinary to the world. Take the example of St. Charles Lwanga and his Companions. These Ugandans were martyred as they attempted to resist the immorality and the persecution of the Bagandan ruler, Mwanga. While imprisoned, Charles taught the faith, and helped many come to an understanding of the true core of its teachings. At the height of their persecution, the group was led on a 37 mile hike to the place of their execution, Namugongo. After their arrival, they waited for several days, and then, on June 3, 1886 Charles and his companions (made up of Catholics and Protestants) were burned to death. As they awaited execution, they proclaimed “You can burn our bodies, but you cannot burn our souls!” While one of the group also exclaimed, “Goodbye, then. I am going to Heaven, and I will pray to God for you."

This is an “ordinary” response in faith, for in faith we have nothing to fear! Now I’m sure that we’re not all going be persecuted, and I thank God for that! But it follows, that in faith, we are all going be tested! St. Charles and his Companions were canonized in 1964, and set as an example to all, especially youth and those who put their faith into action. They are Saints because the world needs “extraordinary” examples to make faith more ordinary in their lives!

I do not dwell on martyrdom for the shock value, nor the tragedy. I also do not bring it up to call you or me to be a martyr today. I simply offer, that on this Feast Day for St. Charles Lwanga and his Companions, what is extraordinary in the sacrifice of few to live their faith to the bitter end, and share in the promise of Heaven, is actually quite ordinary to a person of faith. So, knowing that we might not actually have to die for Christ today, we should understand that the ease with which we sacrifice our time, energy, and self is indicative to strength of the faith we proclaim. If it seems ordinary to reach out of yourself in mission, trust, prayer, persistence, patience and sacrifice... Then we’re all in good hands!