Today is our community Feast of St. Paul. We have a special Mass and Liturgy of the Hours and everything, just for the Pauline Family. So I joined the sisters yesterday and today to celebrate the opening of the Pauline Year and our special feast day. (It was quite a weekend, all in all.) Yesterday's Mass at St. Louis Cathedral was celebrated by the archbishop, with an opera singer as cantor (!). After Mass, my Mom treated the community to a jazz brunch at a French Quarter restaurant. Because it is Sr. Charlotte's Silver Jubilee, she got a free dessert; we all had a fabulous meal. Afterwards, Sr. Julia and I visited the French Market. I had a wonderful time looking at the stalls of surprisingly inexpensive souvenirs and craft items; we both really enjoyed the brass band. Then Sr. Julia took me to one of her favorite places in the Quarter: a shop with hand-crafted Mardi Gras masks--the elaborate kind you would see in movies. The designer told us he had great hopes that a movie that was being filmed here recently would use one or two of his creations, but alas... that will have to wait for another movie. Sr. Julia brought a camera, so as soon as she sends me the pictures (and the video clips of the brass band!), I'll post them for your enjoyment.
The daily thunderstorm came early today (usually it's in the mid-afternoon). When I came home from Mass and breakfast with the sisters, I barely had time to plant one of Mom's newly-acquired rosemary bushes before the lightning started flashing. Maybe I'll dig into one of the books I borrowed from Sr. Julia!
Monday, June 30, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Pauline Year
Well, we're here! What a great day for the first vows of our novices in Boston! The Pauline Year opened with Evening Prayer I of the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, and the Vatican has updated the Pauline Year page.
I'll be meeting my Pauline sisters tomorrow for Mass at the Cathedral and lunch in celebration of Sr. Charlotte's 25th anniversary of first profession. Monday a local pastor will celebrate Mass for our community feast of St. Paul; Mom and I are planning to be there!
Pity the poor lector
Today is one of the worst possible days to be a lector. Not because the first reading contains lists of ancient and seemingly unpronounceable names, but because it is from the book of Lamentations. If you can get through today's description of the siege of Jerusalem without your voice breaking and throat tightening, I'm not sure I would like you very much. The Responsorial Psalm is almost an eye-witness account of the destruction of the Temple, as told to God in prayer. These two passages tell of the horror of war from the inside, and give those suffering those horrors a way to pray through the sorrow.
I kind of wish the priest where Mom and I went to Mass had looked at the readings in that sort of light. Instead, he focused repeatedly on the concept of punishment. The Bible does not hesistate to interpret political defeat and so on as signs of the people's infidelity to God, but in today's reading, part of an almost unbearable description of suffering, the Bible seeks to excuse the nation. Instead of accusing the people of infidelity, Jeremiah (the reputed author of Lamentations) explains that they were deceived by false prophets who did not forthrightly declare the sins of the nation; the false prophets spun comforting visions for them, and so they could not repent. The disaster was not so much "punishment" as a consequence of believing the wrong teachers.
I kind of wish the priest where Mom and I went to Mass had looked at the readings in that sort of light. Instead, he focused repeatedly on the concept of punishment. The Bible does not hesistate to interpret political defeat and so on as signs of the people's infidelity to God, but in today's reading, part of an almost unbearable description of suffering, the Bible seeks to excuse the nation. Instead of accusing the people of infidelity, Jeremiah (the reputed author of Lamentations) explains that they were deceived by false prophets who did not forthrightly declare the sins of the nation; the false prophets spun comforting visions for them, and so they could not repent. The disaster was not so much "punishment" as a consequence of believing the wrong teachers.
Friday, June 27, 2008
More than meets the eye
Today's first reading details the final deportation of the people of Jerusalem and the destruction of the city. And the Responsorial Psalm expresses the anguish of the people as they sit in dejection "by the streams of Babylon."
There's a beautiful parallel structure in that psalm that is very revealing. The people of Babylon wanted to hear the harvest songs, the love songs, the typical songs of the land of Judah. But the Jews (the name itself means "Judean people") just shook their heads. "How can we sing a song of the Lord in a foreign land?" For the Jews, to sing the songs of Zion meant singing the songs "of the Lord." What else was there to sing about for God's people but the Lord himself?
There's a beautiful parallel structure in that psalm that is very revealing. The people of Babylon wanted to hear the harvest songs, the love songs, the typical songs of the land of Judah. But the Jews (the name itself means "Judean people") just shook their heads. "How can we sing a song of the Lord in a foreign land?" For the Jews, to sing the songs of Zion meant singing the songs "of the Lord." What else was there to sing about for God's people but the Lord himself?
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Rediscovering the Hours
Just finished a really fine book by Robert Benson, "In Constant Prayer." This is an introduction to the whole concept of what we Catholics call the Liturgy of the Hours. Benson was brought up in the Nazarene tradition (he's now Episcopalian) and writes for a non-Catholic readership, but I 
suspect that many Catholics could profit from this beautifully written presentation. (It helps that Benson is a poet.)
Benson noted in an early chapter that on his morning drive to the store to pick up the papers he reads daily (hey, writers have to read!), he would pass several houses of worship. At that early hour, between 6:30 and 7:00 each morning, he noticed that the parking lots were busy as worshipers streamed back to their cars and went off to work. They were beginning the day with prayer as a community. He also noted that the houses of worship were: a mosque, a synagogue, and a Catholic Church. The churches of his own tradition were not the sites of such daily activity. But many Protestants are beginning to adopt the ancient prayer that Catholics and Orthodox Christians inherited from Judaism. And many Catholics are learning how to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, or are joining in morning prayer in their parish before daily Mass.
It never was supposed to be just for monks, deacons and priests: we are all supposed to be participating in the prayer that the Body of Christ (that would be us) offers to the Father. Believe it or not, for about a thousand years, everyone was expected to come to Church daily for morning prayer: it was part of being a believer! That started getting lost at the time of the Renaissance; the Reformation finished the job in many places. (I recall from reading some early writings of our Founder that at least in Italy in the late 1800's, parishioners were expected on Sundays to attend not just the Mass, but also Evening Prayer in their local Church.)
Benson's book comes some years after he published a kind of introductory version of "fixed-hour" prayerbook. It offered first steps in what the ancient monks (and also Vatican II) spoke of as sanctifying the whole day. His book, and a similar one by Phyllis Tickle, enjoyed a really good distribution. What I think we are beginning to see in these years is a rediscovery of the value of what is called by many names: the Divine Office, the Breviary, Lauds and Vespers, fixed-time prayer. It would be an important renewal in Christian living: we seem to be one of the first generations of Christians who do not typically recollect ourselves two, three or the biblical seven times a day in prayer--not the "gimme" kind of prayer, but the prayer of simple praise. And in the Liturgy of the Hours, that praise does not have to depend on one's feelings of exaltation or gladness: the words of praise and thanks have been given to us right in the book of Psalms, which the Hours use as the primary prayer book.
Do you pray some form of the Liturgy of the Hours? What has your experience been? How many "hours" (set brief prayer periods) do you pray, and where?
suspect that many Catholics could profit from this beautifully written presentation. (It helps that Benson is a poet.)Benson noted in an early chapter that on his morning drive to the store to pick up the papers he reads daily (hey, writers have to read!), he would pass several houses of worship. At that early hour, between 6:30 and 7:00 each morning, he noticed that the parking lots were busy as worshipers streamed back to their cars and went off to work. They were beginning the day with prayer as a community. He also noted that the houses of worship were: a mosque, a synagogue, and a Catholic Church. The churches of his own tradition were not the sites of such daily activity. But many Protestants are beginning to adopt the ancient prayer that Catholics and Orthodox Christians inherited from Judaism. And many Catholics are learning how to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, or are joining in morning prayer in their parish before daily Mass.
It never was supposed to be just for monks, deacons and priests: we are all supposed to be participating in the prayer that the Body of Christ (that would be us) offers to the Father. Believe it or not, for about a thousand years, everyone was expected to come to Church daily for morning prayer: it was part of being a believer! That started getting lost at the time of the Renaissance; the Reformation finished the job in many places. (I recall from reading some early writings of our Founder that at least in Italy in the late 1800's, parishioners were expected on Sundays to attend not just the Mass, but also Evening Prayer in their local Church.)
Benson's book comes some years after he published a kind of introductory version of "fixed-hour" prayerbook. It offered first steps in what the ancient monks (and also Vatican II) spoke of as sanctifying the whole day. His book, and a similar one by Phyllis Tickle, enjoyed a really good distribution. What I think we are beginning to see in these years is a rediscovery of the value of what is called by many names: the Divine Office, the Breviary, Lauds and Vespers, fixed-time prayer. It would be an important renewal in Christian living: we seem to be one of the first generations of Christians who do not typically recollect ourselves two, three or the biblical seven times a day in prayer--not the "gimme" kind of prayer, but the prayer of simple praise. And in the Liturgy of the Hours, that praise does not have to depend on one's feelings of exaltation or gladness: the words of praise and thanks have been given to us right in the book of Psalms, which the Hours use as the primary prayer book.
Do you pray some form of the Liturgy of the Hours? What has your experience been? How many "hours" (set brief prayer periods) do you pray, and where?
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Content and the King
In the liturgy, we're back to reading from the history of ancient Israel. Today's first reading has a rather touching dimension to it. There is a renovation project going on at the Temple. Good sign. There are the levitical priests at their job, scribes, workmen. And an old book comes to light. The priest in charge takes a look at it. It's what we call the book of Deuteronomy: the details of the covenant between God and the people. And the priest quickly realizes that one of the parties has failed to keep its end of the bargain.
When the king is given the report of the day's work, he is also given a report about the book, which is read aloud to him. And the king is struck with grief. He recognizes that while they have maintained all the structures--the kingship, the Temple, the priesthood and the rites--they had lost sight of the actual content of their relationship with God. Centuries later, Jesus would also warn his followers about paying tithes on mint and cumin but neglecting justice and mercy. And more centuries later, it is still a temptation for us to distract ourselves with pious practices to the extent that we forget to honor the Lord himself. I know this happens to me. So today I am asking for a little extra grace to focus on the goodness and graciousness of God. After all, "it is right to give him thanks and praise."
When the king is given the report of the day's work, he is also given a report about the book, which is read aloud to him. And the king is struck with grief. He recognizes that while they have maintained all the structures--the kingship, the Temple, the priesthood and the rites--they had lost sight of the actual content of their relationship with God. Centuries later, Jesus would also warn his followers about paying tithes on mint and cumin but neglecting justice and mercy. And more centuries later, it is still a temptation for us to distract ourselves with pious practices to the extent that we forget to honor the Lord himself. I know this happens to me. So today I am asking for a little extra grace to focus on the goodness and graciousness of God. After all, "it is right to give him thanks and praise."
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
My Name Day
I know, it's the feast of the birth of John the Baptist and my given name is Anne; how can it be my name day? Because I took a second name when I made my vows, and it is the feminine form of John, Joan. For the first 25 years, I took the feast of St. John the Evangelist as my name day, but around the time of my silver jubilee, I recognized a kind of John-the-Baptist quality in my vocation, so I switched allegiances. Hence, today's Name Day observance.
I started the day in Atlanta, having arranged for an airport ride after Mass. Wouldn't you know, with it being a feast day and all, the Mass had a few extras. And they sang everything. Slowly. I ended up zipping out of Church right after Communion, with only the barest greeting and thanks to Fr. Fred (hi out there!) for the invitation to Corpus Christi Parish. Now I'm at Mom's house for some R&R. I hope to take advantage of the proximity to the Pauline community here to get Sr. Julia on videotape talking about books, so I can produce some more of her "Best Catholic Books" series. After the CNMC this weekend, I am pumped to make Best Catholic Books a genuine podcast... I wonder how many books Sr. Julia will have to talk about for me to get enough footage for that?
I started the day in Atlanta, having arranged for an airport ride after Mass. Wouldn't you know, with it being a feast day and all, the Mass had a few extras. And they sang everything. Slowly. I ended up zipping out of Church right after Communion, with only the barest greeting and thanks to Fr. Fred (hi out there!) for the invitation to Corpus Christi Parish. Now I'm at Mom's house for some R&R. I hope to take advantage of the proximity to the Pauline community here to get Sr. Julia on videotape talking about books, so I can produce some more of her "Best Catholic Books" series. After the CNMC this weekend, I am pumped to make Best Catholic Books a genuine podcast... I wonder how many books Sr. Julia will have to talk about for me to get enough footage for that?
Monday, June 23, 2008
Hi from Atlanta
It's more than ironic that I came to Atlanta for a New Media Celebration, but have been unable to access the Internet for four days! I fully intend to rectify that situation now, with the help of the wireless connection at Corpus Christi Parish in Stone Mountain, home of blog commenter and fellow New Orleanian, Fr. Fred Sahuc, CMF. (I'll be giving a talk on St. Paul here tonight, and then heading to Mom's house tomorrow.)
I arrived in Atlanta on Friday so I could help Sr. Clare (from our Charleston community) with a book exhibit at the Eucharistic Congress (Friday and Saturday); turns out Sr. Tracey made the same arrangements, so it was a little FSP reunion there at the convention center! The Archdiocese has been holding a Eucharistic Congress every year, and it seems to be doing wonders for the life of the local Church. I was impressed at how diverse the Catholic community here is; it reminded me of Chicago. There is also a huge African population. Here in Stone Mountain there is a large Sudanese Catholic community, too. The Eucharistic Congress brought everyone together, some 20-30,000, all around the Eucharist. (Much better than a generic "celebrations of faith" with no real center, as if we were all about ourselves.) Then Sunday was the SQPN Catholic New Media Celebration. The three Pauline sisters were part of a crowd of hundreds interested in learning more about social networking, podcasting and other technologies available for the New Evangelization. The one phrase I heard the most yesterday, though, was "I think we're Facebook friends!" I met a number of people I follow on Twitter or whose blogs I read: Dr. Paul Camerata, Lisa Hendley, Fr. Jay (iPadre) Finelli... I did not actually meet, but at least I saw Jeff Miller (the CURT JESTER!!!) and Fr. Roderick. All people whose hearts are set on sharing the faith they live, and using great creativity in doing it. I picked up some good advice, and even got free Mystic Monk coffee (God is good).
Readers of this blog might also be interested in learning about a new Catholic social network, 4marks. I think it just launched a few weeks ago; I hadn't heard a breath about it until yesterday, but am looking into it right now.
Sr. Clare and I received warm hospitality with the Hawthorne Dominicans, the "Servants of Relief for Incurable Cancer," who were founded by Nathaniel Hawthorne's daughter (a convert to Catholicism who then became a nun). We even met their Mother General, who was in town for a meeting. (Nothing like sharing pizza with Mother General on Sunday night.) These sisters have such a powerful mission in the culture of life: assisting people in the last months of their life. There are about a dozen patients in their lovely facility, and these people get the most loving end-of-life care. Except for one thing: when I'm dying, please don't wake me up at 7:00 for breakfast. Let's skip breakfast, okay?
I arrived in Atlanta on Friday so I could help Sr. Clare (from our Charleston community) with a book exhibit at the Eucharistic Congress (Friday and Saturday); turns out Sr. Tracey made the same arrangements, so it was a little FSP reunion there at the convention center! The Archdiocese has been holding a Eucharistic Congress every year, and it seems to be doing wonders for the life of the local Church. I was impressed at how diverse the Catholic community here is; it reminded me of Chicago. There is also a huge African population. Here in Stone Mountain there is a large Sudanese Catholic community, too. The Eucharistic Congress brought everyone together, some 20-30,000, all around the Eucharist. (Much better than a generic "celebrations of faith" with no real center, as if we were all about ourselves.) Then Sunday was the SQPN Catholic New Media Celebration. The three Pauline sisters were part of a crowd of hundreds interested in learning more about social networking, podcasting and other technologies available for the New Evangelization. The one phrase I heard the most yesterday, though, was "I think we're Facebook friends!" I met a number of people I follow on Twitter or whose blogs I read: Dr. Paul Camerata, Lisa Hendley, Fr. Jay (iPadre) Finelli... I did not actually meet, but at least I saw Jeff Miller (the CURT JESTER!!!) and Fr. Roderick. All people whose hearts are set on sharing the faith they live, and using great creativity in doing it. I picked up some good advice, and even got free Mystic Monk coffee (God is good).
Readers of this blog might also be interested in learning about a new Catholic social network, 4marks. I think it just launched a few weeks ago; I hadn't heard a breath about it until yesterday, but am looking into it right now.
Sr. Clare and I received warm hospitality with the Hawthorne Dominicans, the "Servants of Relief for Incurable Cancer," who were founded by Nathaniel Hawthorne's daughter (a convert to Catholicism who then became a nun). We even met their Mother General, who was in town for a meeting. (Nothing like sharing pizza with Mother General on Sunday night.) These sisters have such a powerful mission in the culture of life: assisting people in the last months of their life. There are about a dozen patients in their lovely facility, and these people get the most loving end-of-life care. Except for one thing: when I'm dying, please don't wake me up at 7:00 for breakfast. Let's skip breakfast, okay?
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Novena to St. Paul
I prepared a simple meditation-style video novena in preparation for the opening of the Year of St. Paul (June 29!). Naturally, you can use the novena throughout the year, especially in preparation for the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul! Feel free to tell others about it, or to embed/link it in your own blogs and e-mail. The novena begins tomorrow, June 20!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Taking the mantle
Today's first reading is the mysterious departure of Elijah in the whirlwind. His ambiguous passing gave rise to the expectation that he would come again before the day of the Lord to set everything right. (Jesus famously explained that "Elijah has indeed come" and he was John the Baptist.)
When Elijah was taken up, his cloak fell to his disciple, Elisha, who was given a twofold portion of Elijah's spirit (and used it right away to divide the Jordan so that he could cross back to the other side). Wielding the rolled-up cloak like a whip over the waters, Elisha said, "Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?" This has generally struck me as a kind of challenge, tempting God to show himself. But today I heard it as a prophetic statement, given that he was working the prototypical Israelite miracle of parting the waters: Elisha was giving notice that the Lord was acting through him now, on behalf of Israel. Elijah may have left, but God did not abandon his people.
A note about names:
We have become used to the names Elijah and Elisha, which are closer to their Hebrew versions. But Elias and Eliseus are the same two prophets, when their names are rendered from the Latin.
When Elijah was taken up, his cloak fell to his disciple, Elisha, who was given a twofold portion of Elijah's spirit (and used it right away to divide the Jordan so that he could cross back to the other side). Wielding the rolled-up cloak like a whip over the waters, Elisha said, "Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?" This has generally struck me as a kind of challenge, tempting God to show himself. But today I heard it as a prophetic statement, given that he was working the prototypical Israelite miracle of parting the waters: Elisha was giving notice that the Lord was acting through him now, on behalf of Israel. Elijah may have left, but God did not abandon his people.
A note about names:
We have become used to the names Elijah and Elisha, which are closer to their Hebrew versions. But Elias and Eliseus are the same two prophets, when their names are rendered from the Latin.
Sometimes you find enough in a single line from the liturgy. That's what happened this morning for me. We are accompanying in prayer the father of one of our former sisters. He and his wife used to volunteer for us (for years and years), but his health has been in steady decline for almost a decade, and now he is at Heaven's door. And today's Responsorial Psalm has just the encouragement for him: "How great is the goodness, O Lord, which you have in store for those who revere you."
That "goodness" is none other than the Lord himself.
Go forth to Paradise, Robert: let angels take you by the hand.
That "goodness" is none other than the Lord himself.
Go forth to Paradise, Robert: let angels take you by the hand.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
You're bigger than that!
That seems to be the message of today's Gospel. Jesus is telling us to be magnanimous, to show our family resemblance as children of God. Far from measuring out every favor, God lets his rain fall on the just and the unjust. Rather than dole out our mercies, we ought to be prodigal with them. Maybe it is easier to interpret that "be perfect" in terms of flawlessness, a goal we can dismiss out of hand. Instead, Jesus tells us to be like God in open-heartedness: this is just as out of reach as flawlessness, but perhaps more doable. Either way, it is beyond us apart from grace.
Monday, June 16, 2008
This is too fun not to share: our radio ad for the Pauline Year. Special thanks to Jim and his company for putting it together (Sr. Helena wrote it!).
turning the other cheek
Today's two Mass readings would seem to be in contradiction with each other. Actually, in the first reading we only get the evil deed; the retribution will be announced in tomorrow's reading. But retribution is promised for the vicious murder of the innocent Naboth: the dogs will "lick the blood" of King Ahab and his treacherous wife Jezebel (the original Jezebel).
The book of Exodus (quoting Genesis and the laws given at the time of Noah) that if anyone sheds the blood of a human being, then the killer's blood must also be shed. And that is what God tells King Ahab is going to happen to him and his scheming wife: they are going to lose their lives.
But Ahab repents.
And God accepts his repentance. Instead of insisting "An eye for an eye," God does not require that strict justice be visited on Ahab. (Ahab's descendants, however, will suffer the consequences of his misdeeds!)
Jesus says, "You have heard it said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,' but I tell you to offer no resistance to injury." No revenge. No payback. It seems that Jesus was only telling us what St. Paul put a different way, "Be imitators of God as his very dear children."
The book of Exodus (quoting Genesis and the laws given at the time of Noah) that if anyone sheds the blood of a human being, then the killer's blood must also be shed. And that is what God tells King Ahab is going to happen to him and his scheming wife: they are going to lose their lives.
But Ahab repents.
And God accepts his repentance. Instead of insisting "An eye for an eye," God does not require that strict justice be visited on Ahab. (Ahab's descendants, however, will suffer the consequences of his misdeeds!)
Jesus says, "You have heard it said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,' but I tell you to offer no resistance to injury." No revenge. No payback. It seems that Jesus was only telling us what St. Paul put a different way, "Be imitators of God as his very dear children."
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Yes and No
Today's Gospel ("Say 'yes' when you mean 'yes,' and 'no' when you mean 'no'") is one of those passages that is echoed in the letters of St. Paul, giving us a hint of what Paul knew of Jesus' earthly life and teachings. (Paul actually never wrote a word about Jesus being a teacher; in terms of Jesus' life, Paul focused more on Jesus as our exemplar.) Paul is answering the Corinthians' accusation that he was being dishonest with them, telling them he was going to be coming to Corinth for a visit and then not making the trip. Paul defends himself, saying that the timing just wasn't good, and didn't they know him well enough to realize that he was not someone who would say "Yes, yes" when they meant "no, no"? He was, he insisted, simply following the example of the Lord, who was not "yes and no," but "yes has been in him."
Tomorrow two of our sisters will say their "yes" to the Lord in the definitive consecration of perpetual vows. Please pray for Sr. Jennifer Tecla and Sr. Joane Caritas!
Tomorrow two of our sisters will say their "yes" to the Lord in the definitive consecration of perpetual vows. Please pray for Sr. Jennifer Tecla and Sr. Joane Caritas!
Friday, June 13, 2008
St. Anthony, please come around!
Honestly, I did not know until I was a novice that St. Anthony was a renowned preacher. I just thought he was a pious medieval friar with a tender streak. It was Sr. Susan, my co-novice (very devoted to St. Anthony) who brought me around, responding to my none-too-pious remark about the saint with the protest, "He's a doctor of the Church!" (My bad.) Since here in Chicago I regularly attend Mass at a Franciscan church, I get an annual lesson in all things Anthony. (Serves me right!)
Thursday, June 12, 2008
TOB notes
Sr. Helena took notes during Fr. Loya's presentation last night; you can access them on her blog. The chat transcript is divided into two parts; you'll find it here, but scroll down for the first half!
You can also go to ustream.tv and watch the recorded version, although it will take a while to buffer.
You can also go to ustream.tv and watch the recorded version, although it will take a while to buffer.
Internet Radio and the Call to St. Paul
YEAR OF ST. PAUL... GET READY TO BE RENEWED!
www.radiopeace.org
www.radiopeace.org
What: Festival
Hosts: Sr. Tracey and Bill Brown
When: Tomorrow, June 13 at 5:00pm
Where: www.radiopeace.org
And now, a word from the sponsor:
Thanks so much for accepting the invitation to join us for the beginning of the
Call to Saint Paul, a year of personal spiritual renewal!!!!
We've been having meetings trying to put several big events together and this
Friday's radio show is our first attempt to get the word out. I really want you
to pray about becoming involved in the Call to Saint Paul. More information to
follow shortly.
In the meantime, I'd like to ask all of you to do us a few favors:
1. Can you change your Facebook status from now until after the show tomorrow
to say something about the fact that you'll be listening to Sister Tracey on the
Faith Factor. Be creative.
2. Go to the Facebook page for this event "YEAR OF ST. PAUL... GET READY TO BE
RENEWED!" and on the right hand side click the link to invite others to the
event. Help us spread the word by inviting all of YOUR Facebook friends to this
event.
3. Add this event to your profile. In the same area where the link to invite
others to join is, there's another link that will post this event to your
profile.
Lastly, we are going to be having a meeting at the Upper Room of the Paulinas
bookstore on Friday June 27th at 7:30PM. We're looking for creative people that
can help promote these "Call to Saint Paul" events that we'll be having over the
next year. If you can help, contact Sister Tracey and let her know.
Do you feel the LORD calling you to do more? This is your opportunity to say
HERE I AM LORD...
Blessings,
Bill Brown
The Faith Factor Radio Show
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Ceding gracefully
Today is the feast of the heroic St. Barnabas. He was the apostle (not one of the Twelve, though) who vouched for the sincerity of the persecutor Saul's conversion, and got him accepted into the community of believers. And then when Saul's overweening zeal (!) caused problems for the community, who invited him to go home to Tarsus, it was Barnabas who traveled there to find him and invite him to minister in Antioch. It was from Antioch that Barnabas, the leader, and his companion, Saul, set out to evangelize. And it was on that "first missionary voyage" that Barnabas, the leader and Apostle, ceded to Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles.
Barnabas' great quality was that he could recognize the presence and action of God in the most unlikely circumstances. He recognized God's power at work in Saul the former persecutor. He recognized the power of the Spirit in the conversion of pagans to the Gospel in Antioch. And when Saul began to outshine him in preaching the Gospel, he recognized the grace of God there, too, and let Paul the Apostle "increase" while he decreased.
All together, you can really understand why this man's nickname was "Son of Consolation."
Barnabas' great quality was that he could recognize the presence and action of God in the most unlikely circumstances. He recognized God's power at work in Saul the former persecutor. He recognized the power of the Spirit in the conversion of pagans to the Gospel in Antioch. And when Saul began to outshine him in preaching the Gospel, he recognized the grace of God there, too, and let Paul the Apostle "increase" while he decreased.
All together, you can really understand why this man's nickname was "Son of Consolation."
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