Thursday, March 19, 2009
Let's take this one step further.
Hey, thought i'd chip in my two cents worth to help revive the log blog too!
Archbishop Fulton Sheen wrote a very inspiring article once called the Decline of Controversy. He said that these days, not many people challenge the existing order; we have become fine with the status quo- the passionate have become tired, the idealistic have become realistic. And we all lose that "fire" we once experienced at that camp, or that prayer service, or that vigil. Is that what is happening here?
When was the last time we reminded a brother or a sister what Jesus would do? Or have we gone beyond that? i think we have grown older. (a little bit different from growing up, as you will see later). We've grown more experienced with the way our church operates, a little bit more familiar with the running of events and administrative duties and we have celebrated a few anniversaries. In those terms, we are old. But have we grown up? Are we more willing to stand in the midst of a crises to hold our faith close to our chest and be persecuted? Do we bring to each other a hope in which those crying can seek solace in our community? Are we becoming more charitable?
What does having a relationship involve? Well, i wont call myself a cynic in this respect, but i would think, it involves a lot of pain actually! Expectations; disappointments; misunderstandings; insensitivities etc. Giving is never easy precisely because of that. It involves abit too much. I would think that is why we wont push community abit more. Because it demands more of me, and with that, i get to be hurt maybe a bit more. So we are planners, but not brothers. We become lovers at arms' length. Not fellow disciples that fall together and hurt together.
A community must go beyond its intellectual pursuits; it must be leavened above being satisfied at "doing church work"; our community must sink its roots and values into the heart of the church; and be grounded in the catholic faith. The previous week's session was about conversion of heart. I did not have the luxury of sitting in for a session with such a powerful theme. But the conversion of heart is what the community should strive towards. Let idealism fuel passion, let each member and brother or sister bring forth a spirit of revival to seeking that which started this community in the first place. And let such revival spearhead the movements of each member's heart this lent. Which brings us to forming ourselves and others.
Formation. Now there is trans-formation, con-formation, re-formation. We are called to true transformation. Now that goes beyong the herd instinct of conformation; it definitely calls for a greater challenge than merely reforming and revisiting that which we have learnt (though that could be necessay at times!). Transformation, is the day to day living of truth. What truth? That life is a gift from God. That this gift is meant to further His glory. That His glory is furthered when we become more like Him. That we can only become like Him with His grace. And that He pours His graces to those who seek Him with a humble heart.
Let us all take this one step further. Let us be community.
Let's take this one step further.
Hey, thought i'd chip in my two cents worth to help revive the log blog too!
Archbishop Fulton Sheen wrote a very inspiring article once called the Decline of Controversy. He said that these days, not many people challenge the existing order; we have become fine with the status quo- the passionate have become tired, the idealistic have become realistic. And we all lose that "fire" we once experienced at that camp, or that prayer service, or that vigil. Is that what is happening here?
When was the last time we reminded a brother or a sister what Jesus would do? Or have we gone beyond that? i think we have grown older. (a little bit different from growing up, as you will see later). We've grown more experienced with the way our church operates, a little bit more familiar with the running of events and administrative duties and we have celebrated a few anniversaries. In those terms, we are old. But have we grown up? Are we more willing to stand in the midst of a crises to hold our faith close to our chest and be persecuted? Do we bring to each other a hope in which those crying can seek solace in our community? Are we becoming more charitable?
What does having a relationship involve? Well, i wont call myself a cynic in this respect, but i would think, it involves a lot of pain actually! Expectations; disappointments; misunderstandings; insensitivities etc. Giving is never easy precisely because of that. It involves abit too much. I would think that is why we wont push community abit more. Because it demands more of me, and with that, i get to be hurt maybe a bit more. So we are planners, but not brothers. We become lovers at arms' length. Not fellow disciples that fall together and hurt together.
A community must go beyond its intellectual pursuits; it must be leavened above being satisfied at "doing church work"; our community must sink its roots and values into the heart of the church; and be grounded in the catholic faith. The previous week's session was about conversion of heart. I did not have the luxury of sitting in for a session with such a powerful theme. But the conversion of heart is what the community should strive towards. Let idealism fuel passion, let each member and brother or sister bring forth a spirit of revival to seeking that which started this community in the first place. And let such revival spearhead the movements of each member's heart this lent. Which brings us to forming ourselves and others.
Formation. Now there is trans-formation, con-formation, re-formation. We are called to true transformation. Now that goes beyong the herd instinct of conformation; it definitely calls for a greater challenge than merely reforming and revisiting that which we have learnt (though that could be necessay at times!). Transformation, is the day to day living of truth. What truth? That life is a gift from God. That this gift is meant to further His glory. That His glory is furthered when we become more like Him. That we can only become like Him with His grace. And that He pours His graces to those who seek Him with a humble heart.
Let us all take this one step further. Let us be community.