Satisfying Christ Leads Us to Our Heart’s Desire

At the January “Fellowship of Catholic University Students” conference (FOCUS) in Dallas, Texas, Joe Hesler gave a powerful keynote to 3,300 students.  Although he was not a gifted presenter, his message was riveting.  Joe came to the realization that he was a cultural Christian that is, just going through the motions of mass attendance, but nothing more.  He was confronted by not being a real “follower” of Christ.  He framed this by saying that he lived his life to suit or satisfy himself over the desire to suit and satisfy Christ.  When he began being centered on Christ, the course of his faith life changed and he started living his faith. 

The first step led him to take theology courses at night.   Later he  became an adjunct professor at the seminary.  The second step was to join the FOCUS staff where he continues the path of satisfying the desires of Christ.  While this FOCUS position is a huge pay cut from his former managerial position, he is content with his faith journey.

From our baptism, we can draw the grace that makes us radical followers of Christ which leads us to find our hearts desire.  

Seeing With A Broader Wavelength

The Christmas season affords us to look at life through a broader wavelength.  We often view people through solely a human lens limiting who they are.  Time Magazine’s recently did this by describing the “The Me Me Me Millennial Generation”(those born between1980 and 2000) as obsessive, lazy, and narcissistic. 

A group of millennials decided to characterize their identity with a broader lens.  They identified themselves as multiaskers capable of juggling multiple responsibilities, however, social media and texting can easily distract them.  Millennials need the accompaniment of older mentors that keep them on track toward constructive goals.  This way of viewing millennials offers a corrective lens.  At the same time, mentors need millennials who are shaping life in through their savvy in a technological age.

Pope Francis has been looking and listening at life with a different lens.  At WYD, although he spent time with young people, he also bowed down low with the heart of St. Francis of Assisi by kissing a disfigured man—this was an impromptu gesture.  Pope Francis looks with the heart of Christ making people feel that they count as sons and daughters of God.  

Hoping to bring you some Christmas cheer!

http://animoto.com/play/qXYGFohXBflgo1Bp221FAw (copy & paste link)

Have a blessed Christmas !!

God Always Keeps The Door Open

Have you ever wondered why the good shepherd with the sheep is so popular in the gospels.  While sheep are inclined to stray from the pen and go beyond the pasture, we too can stray from the life of grace.  Sin causes a disconnect between reason as a segue to a lived faith response. 

For sure, the pervasiveness of sin has dire consequences. Although the prophet Isaiah encouraged the Israelites to return to Jerusalem (pasture) after their long exile in Babylon (which resulted from not following God), some of them did not return because they feel that they would be better off in exile (Isaiah 40:1-11).  What a sad state of affairs that they should settle for exile over God’s abundant grace.  Sin diminishes sharing life with God. 

Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter, “The Joy of the Gospel” paints a picture of how God desirers that we return home to grace.  Moreover, the door (pen) is always left open for us to return.  May we heed God’s invitation of grace during Advent as we prepare for Christmas.  

Mary, A Mother’s Role in Evangelization

Having their first child, my niece and her husband have found a joy that has pervaded their lives. They have shared their new bundle of joy by traveling abroad to be with family.  My brother, as grandfather found that joy enlivened his life.  As a father, he never was one to push a stroller, but with his new grandson, he takes he can’t wait to push the stroller.

There is something infectious about having an encounter with joy, which leads to sharing its abundance with others.  Pope Frances’ Apostolic Letter, “The Joy of the Gospel” cites Christian joy as the result of encountering Jesus in the everyday.  Joy pervades the heart when we dispose ourselves to encounter Christ in an ongoing way.

One intentional way of encountering Christ so that we are not swallowed up with being too busy with consumerism during Advent is to pray a novena.  If nine days are too much, then try a 3-day tridium!  Here is an example of a tridium based on Mary, Mother of Evangelization that Fr. Dominic Tran, rector of our Salesian formation house coined.

• Day one:  At the wedding feast at Cana, Mary nudges Jesus to assert him in the temporal need at hand in which Jesus worked his first of signs.  How can we nudge each other to be signs of God’s mercy?
• Day two:  Mary experienced an element of surprise when she encounters the angel in the Annunciation.  She was astonished, that being a woman of Nazareth, she would be chosen to be the Christ bearer.  Mary trusted openly the hand of God to guide her to live and witness the joy of the Gospel with Christ.
• Day three:  Jesus sent out his disciples to make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Mary models for the way to be sent, to ponder our heart’s desire in Christ and to bring those sentiments to others through prayer, work, and conversation.