"Family is the essence that helps define our very identity."
"Family means believing, loving, and supporting each other."
These two quotes appear on a picture frame that Brian and Nichole sent me for Christmas, in which is framed a picture of the six of us from Brian and Nichole's wedding day. My room has been decidedly lacking in pictures of family since I moved into the Novitiate over 4 months ago, so I was very grateful to receive this gift from them, as a reminder of my family back home in Albuquerque, whom I miss very much!
But as I looked at the picture, and began to think, I realized that not only are these two quotes true about my blood family- they are also true about another family that I have been blessed to be part of for over 2 years now- my Basilian Family. I realized that this was especially true at Christmas time, when celebrating Christmas with the Novitiate community. It was at our Christmas Eve Celebration that it first hit me that the Basilian Community is also my family, a thought that was re-affirmed when we went to help with check in for the Basilian Summit being held this weekend in Dickinson, TX. The feeling that I had seeing many of the Basilians I have met before, or lived with before, or even meeting Priests I have never met before is almost the same feeling I have when re-connecting with blood family after being apart for a long time. It is an amazing feeling to be able to look across a room, and see what makes everyone gathered there Basilian, and to know that we are all united as brothers by the work we share, and the life we live.
That doesn't mean that this life is without it's challenges, because Religious Communities have the same problems that families have-personality conflicts, people who drive us crazy, and so on (Insert remark about crazy Uncle ______ or Aunt ______ here)... but the Challenge of Religious Life (and of family life too!) is to learn to live in a way in which we are beacons of Christ's love, and we strive to show that love, and the joy that is a life fully alive in Christ to others. It's not easy, but with The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as our model, we can strive to more perfectly emulate the love of the family to one another- not only in our blood families, or for some of us, in our Religious Congregations, but across the entire Christian family of believers.
Today, I had the opportunity to attend the opening Mass for the Centennial Celebration of Holy Family Parish not too far from where I live here in Sugar Land. This Parish is easily one of the most eclectic parishes in the entire Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, and the Mass was truly a reflection of that diversity. Some of the languages used at various parts of the Mass were Italian, Tagalog, French, Spanish, English, Ibo, Czech, and a few others I'm sure I've forgotten. It was a true testament to the Universality of the Christian Faith. Even though we may speak different languages, or come from different cultures, or countries, we are all one family in Jesus Christ. And it is a beautiful thing indeed when we can all put aside our differences, and come together to worship the One true God. Hopefully that is an Ideal that I can continue to work to realize, especially as I continue my journey with the Basilians.
And on this day, may all families, both spiritual, and blood families, be blessed. And may we always strive to be beacons of love to all families that we are blessed to be a part of.. Amen.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Sunday, December 2, 2012
What do you really desire?
"The key to getting what you desire is to desire the right things."
Fr. Edmund McCorkell, C.S.B.
The above quote is on one of the Vocation Posters that hangs in the Basilian Novitiate House. I've glanced at this poster so many times in the three plus months I've been here, but the other day, this quote really struck me, and it got me thinking: What do I really desire in life?
Of course, it's easy to think that I desire all the right things, that I'm doing God's will by journeying towards Priesthood, and that doing God's will is all that I am desiring in my life. But, quite frankly, I know that just isn't so.
There are still times that I catch myself thinking about what it would be like to have a family, what I would be doing if I had continued to teach choir, and many other things that are different than where I am right now. Am I really doing God's will if I am longing for something else while journeying towards Priesthood?
As I've given this some thought, I've come to realize that, sad as it is, this is normal. Because humans are not perfect (even though many times we like to think we are) We constantly must remind ourselves of our need for God in this life, so that we may dwell forever with Him in the next. We must constantly re-commit our selves to being Disciples of Christ, and we must constantly keep forsaking the ways of the world.
But what a task this is! If only we could have the faith of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar that Jesus heals as He is headed to Jerusalem. Mark's Gospel tells us that when Jesus called to him, he immediately threw aside his cloak, and ran to Jesus (no small feat for a blind man!) And when his sight was restored, he followed Jesus without a second thought, even though Jesus had told him that he could go wherever he wanted to.
This is where our desires must lie- With Bartimaeus as our example, may we put our sole desire in God, and learn to trust him. How much more will God give us if we fully desire him alone, and we don't keep looking for worldly happiness, which fades like the setting sun? God does not want us to be unhappy. God is Love, and his love for us is the greatest gift we could ever wish for. I cannot begin to explain how different my life is now that I am in the Novitiate. I am united to the people of God in a way that I never thought was possible- and when I really start to think about that, I thank God that he has blessed me in such a way.
As we begin this joy-filled season of Advent, I urge you all to count your blessings, and to thank God for them. And share some of that joy with others! It's the best way to make a difference in someone's life. And may God bless you during this most holy Advent and Christmas season!
Fr. Edmund McCorkell, C.S.B.
The above quote is on one of the Vocation Posters that hangs in the Basilian Novitiate House. I've glanced at this poster so many times in the three plus months I've been here, but the other day, this quote really struck me, and it got me thinking: What do I really desire in life?
Of course, it's easy to think that I desire all the right things, that I'm doing God's will by journeying towards Priesthood, and that doing God's will is all that I am desiring in my life. But, quite frankly, I know that just isn't so.
There are still times that I catch myself thinking about what it would be like to have a family, what I would be doing if I had continued to teach choir, and many other things that are different than where I am right now. Am I really doing God's will if I am longing for something else while journeying towards Priesthood?
As I've given this some thought, I've come to realize that, sad as it is, this is normal. Because humans are not perfect (even though many times we like to think we are) We constantly must remind ourselves of our need for God in this life, so that we may dwell forever with Him in the next. We must constantly re-commit our selves to being Disciples of Christ, and we must constantly keep forsaking the ways of the world.
But what a task this is! If only we could have the faith of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar that Jesus heals as He is headed to Jerusalem. Mark's Gospel tells us that when Jesus called to him, he immediately threw aside his cloak, and ran to Jesus (no small feat for a blind man!) And when his sight was restored, he followed Jesus without a second thought, even though Jesus had told him that he could go wherever he wanted to.
This is where our desires must lie- With Bartimaeus as our example, may we put our sole desire in God, and learn to trust him. How much more will God give us if we fully desire him alone, and we don't keep looking for worldly happiness, which fades like the setting sun? God does not want us to be unhappy. God is Love, and his love for us is the greatest gift we could ever wish for. I cannot begin to explain how different my life is now that I am in the Novitiate. I am united to the people of God in a way that I never thought was possible- and when I really start to think about that, I thank God that he has blessed me in such a way.
As we begin this joy-filled season of Advent, I urge you all to count your blessings, and to thank God for them. And share some of that joy with others! It's the best way to make a difference in someone's life. And may God bless you during this most holy Advent and Christmas season!
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