As we mark Holy Week, leading to Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection, there are so many places in the world today where suffering abounds. It might be the victims of another terrorist attack – in the Middle East, Egypt, Stockholm, London or elsewhere. It might be the victims of a chemical weapon. There are numerous situations of ‘conflict’ or ‘unrest’ throughout the world where people suffer, such as in South Sudan. We might also consider how many are oppressed in God’s name today.

There are millions of refugees worldwide – fleeing from situations of death, suffering and pain. They may have watched a loved one be killed, tortured or raped – or endured themselves.

We raise our hands to heaven and ask ‘when will it end?’ Better still to ask ‘how is my government treating refugees in my name?’ and ‘how can I be God’s heart and hands in this situation?’

The time is coming when people will be insane, and when they see someone who is not insane, they will attack that person saying: “You are insane because you are not like us.”

Abba Anthony (3rd century CE)

For Oscar Romero at his feast day

A life of integrity

And witness

Cut short by power,

Deaf and blind

To the inconvenient truth.

Your life

Freely given for faith

And love

Especially of the little ones

As you celebrated

God-with-us

With your very person.

Your deeds and words

Reverberate across the years

Touch my heart

And inspire me

To live

As a disciple

Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.’ (Luke 22:42)

When I am under pressure, I can forget my faith, I can forget to pray. Jesus’ faith in this situation is both real and exemplary. It is real because no sane person wants to suffer. It is exemplary because he transcended his own needs and fears. As humans, we don’t have all the answers but must trust in God. Our reliance on God is a facet of the full life toward which we are all called at Easter. Our reliance on God takes us away from self to see a bigger picture where we can each play our part to build community.

It’s also very human to expect an answer to our prayer on our terms. We may dress up our desire expertly, but if we scrape past the veneer ‘what we want’ from God can seem childish, placing God in the role of indulgent parent. Rather, if we trust in God our prayer will be answered – but maybe not as we expected: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference”

Have a great week!
Patrick

Lord, teach us to pray (Luke 11:1)

At this point in Luke’s Gospel, the apostles have been assembled, missioned, returned and witnessed many miracles by Jesus. Some even had a glimpse of Jesus’ divinity at the Transfiguration. The apostles are beginning to realise their need to be connected to God to continue their ministry. They’ve witnessed Jesus taking time away to pray – so who better to ask about prayer?

Jesus teaches them a prayer which emphasises community – Our Father – as well as the need to acknowledge God for everything we have. We are also commissioned to bring God’s kingdom, a place where peace and justice prevail. Also, if we are focussed on God’s will, we do what is our true heart’s desire – what we were made for – rather than some ego-fuelled flight of fancy. This prayer reminds us of our gifts and missions us to build community including those who are despised or forgotten. Sound teaching.

Have a great week!
Patrick

Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12)

We have been reflecting upon the need for our prayer and our actions to align. Prayer calls forth our truest and best self. Thus, when pondering a significant life choice, if we take that choice in prayer to God we are imitating Jesus – in this instance prior to the choice of the 12 Apostles. After such a period of discernment, the choice that is right for us is one which will leave us feeling at peace.

There are times when we wrestle with choices. It may be that all our options are good. It may be that we need to choose to go out on a limb. Or we are torn between our compulsions and what is truly good for us. We do the young people in our care a service by relating some of this to them as they try to make their own choices. Prayer is not a panacea but it is guides us in the right direction – so long as we’re paying attention!

Have a great week!

Patrick

Strange
The dark places
We can put ourselves
When the sun is shining.
Fears
Anxiety
Can swallow us.
Then God’s grace
Can lift the scales
From our eyes
So we can see
And feel
The light and love
To which we are all called

Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your healing shall spring up quickly; (Isaiah 58:6-8)

They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. (Mark 12:40)

This passage returns to a previous theme: our actions should coincide with our faith.This is especially true for those who are part of the religious establishment. Not being a hypocrite and behaving with integrity still speaks to those of us who hold positions of authority in schools and parishes. How can we instruct the young people in our care without the authority that comes from integrity?

Before we entangle ourselves in the sticky web of judgment, we do well particularly in Lent to take stock of our behaviour and ensure we act with integrity. We should also remember our humanity and not be too hard on ourselves. Setting high standards of personal behaviour is important for us to undertake, as well as witness and share with our young people.

Have a great week!

Patrick

But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matt 6:5)

We will shortly begin Lent, time of preparation for Easter. One of the activities that will prepare us for Easter is prayer. Prayer helps us to order our lives and strengthen our relationship with God. Prayer guides us towards the wholeness and fullness of life to which we are called at Easter. As this scripture says, our prayer for the most part should be a personal matter not something for public show.

Prayer, as personal quiet time with God, helps us to step away from the distractions of life – of which there are no shortage. Prayer helps us to reflect upon what matters and whether our actions match what we profess. While prayer is important for us all, it is of benefit to young people as they sift through their choices. Publicly reciting ‘holy words’ in an empty fashion is not prayer. Working to build a strong relationship with God through prayer will help them.

Have a great week!
Patrick