Author Archives: livedgospel2013

A reflective moment at Christmas

A friend of mine writes of his Christmas experience in a European village:

“The first thing that struck me when we arrived at the church was the sight of hundreds of candles in the cemetery, it seemed like every grave had one. The families were there too, remembering their loved ones. Then the bells started ringing, the signal that the service was about to begin.

The minister, the female minister, greeted every single person at the door. There were candles everywhere, and near the altar, a magnificent Christmas tree with real candles, quite a sight to behold. When the bells stopped ringing, the minister sat with the congregation and the organist started playing. This was followed by ‘Away in a manger’. The mood was very contemplative, the atmosphere very intimate, it was like being on a retreat.

There were three guests who sat at the altar, a midwife, a mother and an animal keeper, and all 3 talked about birth, about nurturing new life. The minister also spoke and linked what they said to Christ’s birth. She concluded by telling the congregation that they should be filled with hope, that they should nourish their dreams, their ideas, and that they shouldn’t be afraid of taking risks to make them come true. This was followed by one of the most beautiful versions of ‘Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht’ (Silent Night, Holy Night) I’d ever heard. Then we all said The Lord’s Prayer. It was such a simple, moving meditation, I think you would have been touched by the sincerity. I know my mum would have loved the beautiful voices of the choir.”

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Peace

‘May peace reign in your heart’

is a common wish at Christmas

as we celebrate God-with-us.

The problem at the moment

Is that peace

Seems quite distant

As we read and hear and see

Murder and mayhem

Here and overseas

 

There are those

Who respond in kind.

But if we look closer

That’s not all we’ll see

 

We’ll see tears

And acts of compassion

From strangers

Who recognise

The bonds of shared humanity

 

Evil acts by humans

Can divide us

And remind us

That God’s reign

Is not complete.

But acts of love and compassion

Unite us

And bring the peace of God’s reign

closer

Educating for the Lived Gospel #152

“A guru asked his disciples how they could tell when the night had ended and day begun. One said, ‘When you see an animal in the distance and can tell whether it is a cow or a horse.’ ‘No’, said the guru. ‘When you look at a tree in the distance and can tell if it is a neem tree or a mango tree.’ ‘Wrong again’, said the guru. ‘Well, then, what is it?’ asked the disciples.

‘When you look into the face of any man and recognise your brother in him: when you look into the face of any woman and recognise in her your sister. If you cannot do this, no matter what time it is by the sun it is still night.” (Prayer of the Frog, Anthony de Mello, p227).

At Christmas, we celebrate Emmanuel, God-with-us. How can we recognise God with us if ‘it is still night’? As I look around today, I see those whose lives are lived in the light – who recognise each person as their sister or brother. I also see those whose lives are more in shadow. Christmas reminds us that all is not as it should be. However, Christmas also reminds us where we are headed and God’s grace will guide us.

Young people sense this bright vision of God-with-us, where each person is our sister or brother. It is what motivates them in all of their efforts towards social justice. Our role is to ensure they clearly see the origin of that vision – the source of all good, God.

Wishing you a great week and a great holiday. May you be showered with peace and love at Christmas and may that bright vision be your guide throughout 2015
Patrick

Educating for the Lived Gospel #151

“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight” (Mark 1:3)

Advent could be likened to a time of spiritual ‘spring cleaning’. Like our homes, where it is easy to leave things lying around, similarly, it can be easy to get stuck in bad habits and obsessions. We can feel ‘in the dark’. To fully embrace the joy of God with us at Christmas, we need to be truly open to the people in our lives. We need to ‘take stock’ of ourselves and work on those parts of ourselves that hold us back from the full life to which the Christian is called.

It is easy to make the mistake that Christmas is about what you get. In fact the happiness of Christmas lies in what you give. Our young people know about the preparations for Christmas – trees, decorations, cooking. Advent allows us to prepare for God with us. By the inner work of reflection and prayer, we can encourage young people to be most ready to be in relationship with others. Their happiness lies in what they give – primarily of themselves. ‘For it is in giving that we receive…’

Have a great week!
Patrick

Educating for the Lived Gospel #150

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,
my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Ps 18:2)

We each come to faith or have faith awakened in us by a variety of circumstances. It may be our family It may have been the school we attended. It may have been a chance meeting. However, coming to faith is different from continuing to believe or having our faith strengthened. Situations will arise that test our faith. That you are reading this means that something or someone helped you through. Getting through tough times through our faith invariably strengthens our faith. Thus the Scripture passage will ring true for you – as it does for me.

Our task is to help guide our young people towards faith. If when the time is right, we share our experience of faith helping us through the tough times, then we plant a seed, a possibility. The Holy Spirit will nurture that at the right time.

Have a great week!
Patrick

Educating for the Lived Gospel #149

He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.’ (Luke 21:1-4)

The message of this Gospel has ongoing truth. It is easy to engage in ‘the right practices’ so that one is ‘seen doing the right thing’. The Gospel calls us to a change of heart; calls us to radical generosity. And so the Gospel continues to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable – by pricking the conscience.

Young people strongly desire justice and we have all seen their good will harnessed wonderfully. But, like adults whom they can mimic, young people can also be selfish and not see the bigger picture. Our task in sharing the Gospel with them, is to ensure they see the social justice imperative at its heart. If we can all live that, we will bring God’s reign closer.

Have a great week!
Patrick

Educating for the Lived Gospel #148

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. (Ps 9:1)

We live in a time when it is easy to fool ourselves into thinking that we have ultimate control over lives. By acknowledging that all we are and all we have is gift from God, we put matters into their proper persecutive. It also allows us to cultivate an attitude of graitude – giving thanks for the goodness in our lives to the source of all good, God.

Thus, we have a two-fold task with the young people in our care. Firstly, we need to demonstrate that we are people who are thankful to God – in word and action. Given the normal ups and downs of life, we should be people who shine ‘good news’. Secondly, we need to give our young people opportunities to reflect upon the reasons that they have to be thankful. Service activities and/or immersion programs can bring such a message home quite strongly without us having to preach.

Have a great week!
Patrick

Educating for the Lived Gospel #147

Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.” He said, “No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” ’ (Luke 16:29-31)

It is so easy to be stuck in our certainties – we know things, we know people, we ‘know the score’. When, in reality, there are other factors at work to which we are closed. So how do we ‘see’ them? One way is by taking time to reflect on life – to pray that God might open our eyes. It is the eyes of faith that will show us the way.

We can all be ‘blind’ from time to time. By guiding our young people towards opportunities for prayer and reflection, we give them a great gift. We give them a mechanism to see themselves and the world truly. This can be a discipline that helps them to live the Gospel each day.

Have a great week!
Patrick

Educating for the Lived Gospel #146

Wisdom cries out in the street;
in the squares she raises her voice. (Prov 1:20)

Like me, you might feel that Wisdom will need to be pretty loud to get attention at the moment. Sadly, Fear & Ignorance seem to be dominant voices in the public arena. If we pursue the metaphor, ‘What is Wisdom saying?’ and ‘Who is listening?’ In the tradition, Wisdom is another name for the Holy Spirit, who according to the Gospel of John will guide us ‘into all the truth’ (John 16:13). This truth is about the fullness of life, love and community to which God calls us all. Listening would need to be attentive, prayerful and shut out the voices that lead us away from our full lives in community.

A principal role we can play with young people is to talk about current events from a faith viewpoint. We need to resist the urge to talk politics. Rather, we need to explore right and wrong, as well as compassion, mercy and forgiveness. And, importantly, what decisions will lead our community to a fullness of life and love. Not easy, but important!

Have a great week!
Patrick

Educating for the Lived Gospel #145

So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. (Luke 15:20)

This beautiful parable gives us a warm and intimate image of God as a forgiving and loving father. As a good parent should, he has given his son licence to make mistakes – and learn from them. Ideally, this is how all parents feel about their children. We are also challenged to provide this example, loving this way in all of our relationships. It is challenging to do so because we have no defences from the pain of rejection & disappointment.

It is easy to fall into the trap of controlling as a form of ‘love’. However, we know our own growth occurs when we are free – including free to fail. Therefore, we need to model that to our young people. Yes, such love is open to abuse – but aren’t the successes breathtaking!

Have a great week!
Patrick