I have a lot of time. I am retired and now to top it off, I am recovering from some surgery. I do not go outside and probably will not for another few weeks I have a lot of time. No pain, just time.
I have chosen to keep open the portal here at my house just for the company it brings. Lots of spirits good, bad and ugly are not shy about traipsing through whenever they feel like it. I finally learned how to keep the bad and the ugly in their place. The good are a fun bunch. I almost passed out the other day when the spirit of one of the nuns from my High school days showed up. She was in full habit. I yelled at Carol to come see but it takes Carol awhile to figure out that we are being visited. Carol kept interrupting while I was in deep conversational prayer with Sister Florentia. I was in awe because I never, never, never would have expected this very tightly wrapped person who passed 35 years ago to partake in such goings on.
Now, more and more traditional types are showing up. They seem less and less interested in talking to me than to each other. I now believe that I am running a dating service for uptight spirits who have crossed over but brought with them their 1950s Catholic image of God. They feel safe with me because I am a priest but they also can share their hangups in a safe environment trying to accept an open, inclusive and loving Creator Spirit which they call God the Father. I tell them that it's ok to yell at God and share their disappointments. It's my party and they can yell if they want to. You would yell too if it happened to you.
(I apologize to Lesley Gore) I wonder if Dick Clark's spirit is available. I may want to pass this ministry on after a few more late night revelries.
Fr. Rod
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Mohegan Teacher
When my mother was in a nursing home in New London, Connecticut, she would tell me about the native American spirits that visited her there. She said that there were three of them, an older gentleman and a woman with an infant. They were accompanied by a large white dog.
Last night I was visited by the spirit of Rev. Sampson Occom. Please look him up on wikipedia. This learned man died in 1792. He was a Mohegan Indian from the New London, CT area. He presented a wonderful lesson on the positive and negative aspects of stoicism. Like all my lessons lately, it was done in rich living color. At the end of the lesson he insisted that I remember occom. He said it over and over so that as I awoke I was saying it out loud. It was 3am. I took my little flashlight and got my dictionary out to look up occom. I was not sure what occom was. I did not know it was his name. No luck in the dictionary. So, this morning, at a reasonable time, I googled occom and found the Rev. Professor. Its great to know that those in charge of my spiritual education can find such talented people to help me. It is also nice to do this in my sleep.
Last night I was visited by the spirit of Rev. Sampson Occom. Please look him up on wikipedia. This learned man died in 1792. He was a Mohegan Indian from the New London, CT area. He presented a wonderful lesson on the positive and negative aspects of stoicism. Like all my lessons lately, it was done in rich living color. At the end of the lesson he insisted that I remember occom. He said it over and over so that as I awoke I was saying it out loud. It was 3am. I took my little flashlight and got my dictionary out to look up occom. I was not sure what occom was. I did not know it was his name. No luck in the dictionary. So, this morning, at a reasonable time, I googled occom and found the Rev. Professor. Its great to know that those in charge of my spiritual education can find such talented people to help me. It is also nice to do this in my sleep.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Toothless in Phoenix
Sorry for the laxness on my part. I have been too busy to blog. Busy in a psychic sense.It turns out that my little house here in North Phoenix contains a "portal." This was news to me but it explains a lot of the strange goings on around here. Even Carol is getting used to the spirits whisking in and out. The five dogs are settling down also, they seem to understand that this is going to be the norm.
As I have blogged before, I have a hard time sleeping at night, I end up wrestling with all kinds of angry spirits. I thought I broke my toe the other night while I was trying to kick one. But my friends Laura and Karen along with the hardy troops from the local Spiritualist group have taught me techniques on how to control the unruly spooks. I was given the option of closing the portal but I have elected to keep it open. In the recent past we have been able to help several traumatized spirits cross over to God's love. I can't think of a greater calling. Maybe this is why God had me become a priest. It certainly was not to serve in a church that thinks I am irreconcilable. Yes, I have given up trying to get back in the church's good graces. Over the last twelve years they have come up with all kinds of accusations to keep me out. A lot of these are accurate but I thought that since I am "special" they would get over it. Nope.
So I will continue my healing ways with those that God sends. I am heartened by the news that Stephen King is using the theme of a hospice worker who has gifts similar to mine in his next novel. I do miss the opportunities to minister that hospice chaplaincy provided but the government limitations and the deer in the headlights look from some of the hospice staff caused me to quit.
By the way, I am now officially broke even without Mitt Romney's standard of brokeness recently exhumed.
That's it for now. If I run across any ghosties that have a direct message for any of you, I will pass it along.
Oh, the title of today's missive refers to Friday's oral surgery which left me without choppers and a hole in the roof of my mouth. Many have said that I act like I have a hole in my head. Perhaps it was prophetic, to those who believe in such things. Not me!
As I have blogged before, I have a hard time sleeping at night, I end up wrestling with all kinds of angry spirits. I thought I broke my toe the other night while I was trying to kick one. But my friends Laura and Karen along with the hardy troops from the local Spiritualist group have taught me techniques on how to control the unruly spooks. I was given the option of closing the portal but I have elected to keep it open. In the recent past we have been able to help several traumatized spirits cross over to God's love. I can't think of a greater calling. Maybe this is why God had me become a priest. It certainly was not to serve in a church that thinks I am irreconcilable. Yes, I have given up trying to get back in the church's good graces. Over the last twelve years they have come up with all kinds of accusations to keep me out. A lot of these are accurate but I thought that since I am "special" they would get over it. Nope.
So I will continue my healing ways with those that God sends. I am heartened by the news that Stephen King is using the theme of a hospice worker who has gifts similar to mine in his next novel. I do miss the opportunities to minister that hospice chaplaincy provided but the government limitations and the deer in the headlights look from some of the hospice staff caused me to quit.
By the way, I am now officially broke even without Mitt Romney's standard of brokeness recently exhumed.
That's it for now. If I run across any ghosties that have a direct message for any of you, I will pass it along.
Oh, the title of today's missive refers to Friday's oral surgery which left me without choppers and a hole in the roof of my mouth. Many have said that I act like I have a hole in my head. Perhaps it was prophetic, to those who believe in such things. Not me!
Monday, June 25, 2012
Nameless
It has been eleven weeks since I last blogged. A lot has happened, it seems. I will go for an interview in August for a traditional pastoral appointment. I have heard fron the Melkite patriarch, he wishes me well. Some of the bad publications about me have received retractions. I have lost ten pounds.
Which of these is the most significant? I guess that remains to be seen.
My day consists of prayer/contemplation and the Red Sox games. Is this a lifestyle for a priest? Where is the interaction with the people of God? How do I justify myself?
Like most of us I look to others for guidelines. I try to pick the "holiest" persons in my life as examples of Christian living. Three living persons come to mind. One is a friend who pastors three Catholic parishes in New Hampshire. Two is a man who left the priesthood to marry. Three is a man whom all say would be an ideal priest but who has put aside that opportunity to live an often lonely life of Christian service.
My own priesthood consists of five years as a parish pastor. Three years of hellish turmoil followed by twelve years of hospice experiences.
During the transition from parish priest to the gates of Hell and back I had the blessed oportunity to attend a priest in Boston who was in his last weeks on Earth. His name was Father Joseph Dagher, BSO. Fr. Joe was a living icon of the priesthood. He was a scholar with a heart like Jesus. He refused church promotions to titles he believed that none deserved. He had a marvelous sense of humor. He also could be easily "spooked" by things in this world that seemed out of control. He was not shy about sharing those fears. He was what I wanted to be.
I visited him in his last days at Mass. General Hospital. He was a gracious host. He asked for my blessing. He then looked me straight in the eye and said "I wish I could have lived my priesthood like you." I was stunned and I still am.
All this occured just weeks before all Hell broke loose for me in the parish and with my religious order. During the turmoil Fr. Joe's funeral was held. I went to the service but did not participate. I stood in the back as my brothers prayed. I felt nameless and alone. I do not believe that my brothers have ever forgiven me for this affront. I still feel nameless and alone but now I see it as a precious way of living in God. Maybe this is the gift of which Fr. Joe was envious?
I wonder if I can live again with a name?
Which of these is the most significant? I guess that remains to be seen.
My day consists of prayer/contemplation and the Red Sox games. Is this a lifestyle for a priest? Where is the interaction with the people of God? How do I justify myself?
Like most of us I look to others for guidelines. I try to pick the "holiest" persons in my life as examples of Christian living. Three living persons come to mind. One is a friend who pastors three Catholic parishes in New Hampshire. Two is a man who left the priesthood to marry. Three is a man whom all say would be an ideal priest but who has put aside that opportunity to live an often lonely life of Christian service.
My own priesthood consists of five years as a parish pastor. Three years of hellish turmoil followed by twelve years of hospice experiences.
During the transition from parish priest to the gates of Hell and back I had the blessed oportunity to attend a priest in Boston who was in his last weeks on Earth. His name was Father Joseph Dagher, BSO. Fr. Joe was a living icon of the priesthood. He was a scholar with a heart like Jesus. He refused church promotions to titles he believed that none deserved. He had a marvelous sense of humor. He also could be easily "spooked" by things in this world that seemed out of control. He was not shy about sharing those fears. He was what I wanted to be.
I visited him in his last days at Mass. General Hospital. He was a gracious host. He asked for my blessing. He then looked me straight in the eye and said "I wish I could have lived my priesthood like you." I was stunned and I still am.
All this occured just weeks before all Hell broke loose for me in the parish and with my religious order. During the turmoil Fr. Joe's funeral was held. I went to the service but did not participate. I stood in the back as my brothers prayed. I felt nameless and alone. I do not believe that my brothers have ever forgiven me for this affront. I still feel nameless and alone but now I see it as a precious way of living in God. Maybe this is the gift of which Fr. Joe was envious?
I wonder if I can live again with a name?
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Christ is Risen! He is truly Risen!
It's Easter. It's Passover. It's the Master's weekend. Truly it is The Master's weekend. If the Masters' weekend is plural (golf) you can hang up now. If the Master's weekend is uniquely singular (Resurrection), you can hang up too. But if this weekend is a conundrum for you, I have something for you. Hope.
This day I did not go to church. I did stand in front of the Holy Eucharist held in repose in my little chapel. I did take half of the precious Body for myself. I left the other half for you.
My day was like all days lately. I spend every waking moment in personal conversation with God. When I am asleep, I put to practice what I have learned in many dream like scenarios. You are included in these. I will meet and interact with all of you eventually in this medium. So many of you look so young and you seem surprised that I am getting old.
Your sharing is so important to me. I carry your worries, dreams, plans with me when I am back awake. They allow me to reach out to you and make you a part of my never ending conversation with God. The things you are concerned with may never have occurred to me. Thank you for sharing your experiences. If my concern for you is seen as an intrusion, I apologise.
You children of the conundrum are my life now. You who cannot decide whether to accept God's presence in your life as a blessing or an inconvenience.
A conundrum is a perplexing riddle usually answered by a pun. My choice of Master's v, Masters' is a poor excuse for a pun. Perhaps it is really something else. What do you think it is?
Fr. Rod
This day I did not go to church. I did stand in front of the Holy Eucharist held in repose in my little chapel. I did take half of the precious Body for myself. I left the other half for you.
My day was like all days lately. I spend every waking moment in personal conversation with God. When I am asleep, I put to practice what I have learned in many dream like scenarios. You are included in these. I will meet and interact with all of you eventually in this medium. So many of you look so young and you seem surprised that I am getting old.
Your sharing is so important to me. I carry your worries, dreams, plans with me when I am back awake. They allow me to reach out to you and make you a part of my never ending conversation with God. The things you are concerned with may never have occurred to me. Thank you for sharing your experiences. If my concern for you is seen as an intrusion, I apologise.
You children of the conundrum are my life now. You who cannot decide whether to accept God's presence in your life as a blessing or an inconvenience.
A conundrum is a perplexing riddle usually answered by a pun. My choice of Master's v, Masters' is a poor excuse for a pun. Perhaps it is really something else. What do you think it is?
Fr. Rod
Friday, April 6, 2012
Silence is Golden
In the last years of the seminary and when I was in my parish I used to vacation in Australia. I got to meet a lot of interesting church types there. I met Mathew Fox and heard him shouted down by Opus Dei members at one of his well attended lectures. I wondered why Opus bothered to attend. Fox fans ignored them and I think Matt fed off of them.
Later and on the other side of the continent I met a monk who was Padre Pio's English translator. I went to a beach gathering of some Blue Army friends and there he was sitting on a wooden chair in the middle of a long white sandy beach on the Indian Ocean. The ladies where dressed for a formal occasion despite sitting in the sand around father. I never could pronounce this guy's name, so it's no wonder I cannot think of it now. The ladies were quite chatty and I joined in on the conversation. I noticed however that all father translator did was nod and smile. I never heard him say a word.
This was to continue as I attended several house gatherings honoring this fellow. The gatherings were held at some incredible millionaire's mansions along the beaches in the Perth suburbs. I was wined and dined and I got to regale the crown with some of my best stuff. Father just sat there and ate. This went on for about a week until father was moved on to Adelaide during his conquering tour of Australia.
I never saw or heard of him again. I never heard from all those Aussie Catholic celebs again either. What went wrong? I gave them some of my best stuff. Father smiled and ate. I imagine that Father is still touring the best houses if he is still alive. He was quite old. Hmm, I am getting old and I get to tour my neighborhood here in Phoenix while walking the dogs. Is there a lesson here?
Fr. Rod
Later and on the other side of the continent I met a monk who was Padre Pio's English translator. I went to a beach gathering of some Blue Army friends and there he was sitting on a wooden chair in the middle of a long white sandy beach on the Indian Ocean. The ladies where dressed for a formal occasion despite sitting in the sand around father. I never could pronounce this guy's name, so it's no wonder I cannot think of it now. The ladies were quite chatty and I joined in on the conversation. I noticed however that all father translator did was nod and smile. I never heard him say a word.
This was to continue as I attended several house gatherings honoring this fellow. The gatherings were held at some incredible millionaire's mansions along the beaches in the Perth suburbs. I was wined and dined and I got to regale the crown with some of my best stuff. Father just sat there and ate. This went on for about a week until father was moved on to Adelaide during his conquering tour of Australia.
I never saw or heard of him again. I never heard from all those Aussie Catholic celebs again either. What went wrong? I gave them some of my best stuff. Father smiled and ate. I imagine that Father is still touring the best houses if he is still alive. He was quite old. Hmm, I am getting old and I get to tour my neighborhood here in Phoenix while walking the dogs. Is there a lesson here?
Fr. Rod
Friday, March 23, 2012
This Ones For The Birds
I have been talking about the road to perfection for us humans. It's a long one. One of the reasons I became a priest was to expedite a shortcut. I had spent most of my early life at a very low level of being. When I came to and recognized the opportunities in this life, I knew I had a lot of ground to make up. Thus the priesthood.
The rude awakening came when I realized that being a priest guaranteed nothing. The whole calling was blasting itself apart just when I got ordained in 1992. Believe me that was confusing. I was determined to stick with it but I was being manipulated by "holy" powers that refused to let me expand my being. So, in the name of altruism I left the priesthood and got married. Oy!
If you are seeking contemplative spiritual growth, do not get married. Unless you find a saintly fool who is willing to accept your concept of total giving. One who is not afraid to piss off all the powers that might make your life easier if you would only be like them. One who is not afraid of homelessness and a credit rating in the three hundreds. So, as I said, marriage is not an option for those who take up Jesus' challenge to sell all you have and give it to the poor if you want to follow me.
I do not know how Protestant ministers and rabbis do it but I really do not think that priests should be married. Not for the priest's sake but for those who would be their life's partner.
Instead I think a priest should look for a more equitable companion. I have always wanted an emu. They do not talk back much. They love to go for long quiet walks and you do not have to talk down to them. They are at eye level. They are also not ashamed about laying the occasional green egg.
Yes, this is my new goal, to have my canonical status ratified and to have an assignment where an emu would be seen as a plus.
Fr. Rod
The rude awakening came when I realized that being a priest guaranteed nothing. The whole calling was blasting itself apart just when I got ordained in 1992. Believe me that was confusing. I was determined to stick with it but I was being manipulated by "holy" powers that refused to let me expand my being. So, in the name of altruism I left the priesthood and got married. Oy!
If you are seeking contemplative spiritual growth, do not get married. Unless you find a saintly fool who is willing to accept your concept of total giving. One who is not afraid to piss off all the powers that might make your life easier if you would only be like them. One who is not afraid of homelessness and a credit rating in the three hundreds. So, as I said, marriage is not an option for those who take up Jesus' challenge to sell all you have and give it to the poor if you want to follow me.
I do not know how Protestant ministers and rabbis do it but I really do not think that priests should be married. Not for the priest's sake but for those who would be their life's partner.
Instead I think a priest should look for a more equitable companion. I have always wanted an emu. They do not talk back much. They love to go for long quiet walks and you do not have to talk down to them. They are at eye level. They are also not ashamed about laying the occasional green egg.
Yes, this is my new goal, to have my canonical status ratified and to have an assignment where an emu would be seen as a plus.
Fr. Rod
On The Level
Remember a few essays back when I compared our levels of being here in this life to the old teaching about there being nine choirs of angels? This is reflected in Jesus' comforting words that there are many rooms in my Father's house.
In my last essay "Have Gun - Will Shoot" I ended with an admonition about us all being ready to be slain rather than to slay. About forgiving the unforgivable. I indicted that there are probably not many of us that are ready for that level of being. I suspect that if somebody surprised me by breaking into my house and I happened to have a crowbar at hand, they would be sporting a bas relief of the Grand Canyon at twilight in the midst of what was left of their skull.
I am not at a level where I automatically forgive and recognize all persons as God's children. However, I believe that I am making progress by avoiding situations and confrontations that may lead to my animal nature taking control. In the meantime I am comforted by Jesus' telling me that even if I screw up badly, He will find a shack somewhere in the afterlife where I can contemplate and grow more like Him.
I suspect that the people who would attack me and steal from me and cheat me are at a low level of being. They are just starting out and they hardly know that they are human. God loves these, these are potential stars of the future. At one time you and I were at this level. God wants us to help the spirit guides form these wild children into loving beings. You cannot form anyone whom you shoot on sight. We form by example. It was the way of the early church. People then said that you knew they were Christians by their love. It was also the time of the martyrs. Man, many offered their lives in the name of love. They would not surrender to the crass laws of survival that were demanded of them by a pagan society.
I wonder if the time for martyrs has come around again? I wonder if we are ready to offer that ultimate love as did Sydney Carton in The Tale of Two Cities? If not then we still have Jesus' promise to fall back on. But me, I am an over achiever, I do not want to fall back. I aspire to move up as many notches as I can in this life. I do not want to go through this circus ever again. How about you? Are you satisfied with living life as a good person and accepting any level in the after life?
Me, I gotta get as near to God as I can and I gotta accept the sometimes frustrating and exhausting challenges that go along with this goal. Hey man, I'm on the level!
In my last essay "Have Gun - Will Shoot" I ended with an admonition about us all being ready to be slain rather than to slay. About forgiving the unforgivable. I indicted that there are probably not many of us that are ready for that level of being. I suspect that if somebody surprised me by breaking into my house and I happened to have a crowbar at hand, they would be sporting a bas relief of the Grand Canyon at twilight in the midst of what was left of their skull.
I am not at a level where I automatically forgive and recognize all persons as God's children. However, I believe that I am making progress by avoiding situations and confrontations that may lead to my animal nature taking control. In the meantime I am comforted by Jesus' telling me that even if I screw up badly, He will find a shack somewhere in the afterlife where I can contemplate and grow more like Him.
I suspect that the people who would attack me and steal from me and cheat me are at a low level of being. They are just starting out and they hardly know that they are human. God loves these, these are potential stars of the future. At one time you and I were at this level. God wants us to help the spirit guides form these wild children into loving beings. You cannot form anyone whom you shoot on sight. We form by example. It was the way of the early church. People then said that you knew they were Christians by their love. It was also the time of the martyrs. Man, many offered their lives in the name of love. They would not surrender to the crass laws of survival that were demanded of them by a pagan society.
I wonder if the time for martyrs has come around again? I wonder if we are ready to offer that ultimate love as did Sydney Carton in The Tale of Two Cities? If not then we still have Jesus' promise to fall back on. But me, I am an over achiever, I do not want to fall back. I aspire to move up as many notches as I can in this life. I do not want to go through this circus ever again. How about you? Are you satisfied with living life as a good person and accepting any level in the after life?
Me, I gotta get as near to God as I can and I gotta accept the sometimes frustrating and exhausting challenges that go along with this goal. Hey man, I'm on the level!
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Have gun - Will shoot
I wonder sometimes if people believe God. I'm talking about all the brohaha about carrying firearms. The only time I was armed was when I was in the Navy. I carried a Smith and Wesson 38 police special in my shoulder holster. It sure impressed the other sailors when I swaggered by in my best John Wayne impression on my way to my aircraft. Even then I would chuckle to myself knowing that on certain flights we would be armed with a nuclear depth charge that would make my little pop gun look benign.
As I said in an earlier blog, I had THE button that released the bomb if the pilot armed it.
Since then guns have never impressed me much. I know I will never shoot a gun because I refuse to own or handle a gun.
There are those who argue that the police cannot be everywhere and that we have a duty to be armed. They certainly take that to heart here in Arizona. I do not know how many other places where you stand in the check out line of a grocery store behind a thirty something mother with her kids behind her and her Glock 9mm tucked in her waist holster. And those 50 something men riding around the neighborhood on their Harleys with their choice of weapon prominently displayed. It kind of reminded me of Beirut. When I was there everybody had a gun but me.
I guess St Peter would have been a big NRA fan in the early days. That was until Jesus told him to put up his sword after he cut off the guy's ear in the Garden of Gethsemane. It sure confused Peter and it must still confuse a lot of other Christians who refuse to turn the other cheek or comprehend what Jesus was saying when he said that the meek will inherit the Earth. This understanding of who we are as God's children is a hard pill. Even those who have progressed well above the reptilian or animal nature of humans find it so hard to let go of the survival instinct. That is because they have misinterpreted what survival and repentance are all about. Survival means adopting Jesus' fullness in this life. Jesus who let the soldiers beat Him and kill Him. What he said to Peter in Gethsemane holds throughout His ministry, with one word His father could send millions of angels to wipe out all that displeased God. But He did not. He forgave them. And that's where repentance comes in. To repent does not mean to beg forgiveness for sins. Repent means change. Change to the model that Jesus presents us. That is when you and I will be readied to advance to the next level of being. Shooting people, even those who threaten you and your family and your nation will only hold you back. You will be repeating life experiences here or somewhere over and over until you can let go and be slain. Slain while praying that your slayers be forgiven. This is the beginning of eternal life. You will never die again. I think that beats revenge and heroic last stands all to hell.
Do you think that this is impossible? It's exactly what the God that was just a flickering image when you went inside yourself is looking for.
Rev. Rod McRae
As I said in an earlier blog, I had THE button that released the bomb if the pilot armed it.
Since then guns have never impressed me much. I know I will never shoot a gun because I refuse to own or handle a gun.
There are those who argue that the police cannot be everywhere and that we have a duty to be armed. They certainly take that to heart here in Arizona. I do not know how many other places where you stand in the check out line of a grocery store behind a thirty something mother with her kids behind her and her Glock 9mm tucked in her waist holster. And those 50 something men riding around the neighborhood on their Harleys with their choice of weapon prominently displayed. It kind of reminded me of Beirut. When I was there everybody had a gun but me.
I guess St Peter would have been a big NRA fan in the early days. That was until Jesus told him to put up his sword after he cut off the guy's ear in the Garden of Gethsemane. It sure confused Peter and it must still confuse a lot of other Christians who refuse to turn the other cheek or comprehend what Jesus was saying when he said that the meek will inherit the Earth. This understanding of who we are as God's children is a hard pill. Even those who have progressed well above the reptilian or animal nature of humans find it so hard to let go of the survival instinct. That is because they have misinterpreted what survival and repentance are all about. Survival means adopting Jesus' fullness in this life. Jesus who let the soldiers beat Him and kill Him. What he said to Peter in Gethsemane holds throughout His ministry, with one word His father could send millions of angels to wipe out all that displeased God. But He did not. He forgave them. And that's where repentance comes in. To repent does not mean to beg forgiveness for sins. Repent means change. Change to the model that Jesus presents us. That is when you and I will be readied to advance to the next level of being. Shooting people, even those who threaten you and your family and your nation will only hold you back. You will be repeating life experiences here or somewhere over and over until you can let go and be slain. Slain while praying that your slayers be forgiven. This is the beginning of eternal life. You will never die again. I think that beats revenge and heroic last stands all to hell.
Do you think that this is impossible? It's exactly what the God that was just a flickering image when you went inside yourself is looking for.
Rev. Rod McRae
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Assignment #1
Ok, all of you have had it easy so far. Time to put into practice the grace of contemplation. Put some time aside and go deep within yourself. Set up an appointment with God. Keep the appointment. If God does not show up, do it again and again until you have at least a shadow of His presence. Ok, now comes the real fun. The God you are meeting is a liberal or conservative. If you are liberal make God conservative and if you are conservative make God liberal. Then present your best stuff of why you are who you are. Get it all out. For the purpose of this exercise stop there. Watch God. Listen if you can but by all means watch God even if He is barely a shadow fading in and out.
Fr. Rod
Fr. Rod
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Invitation to Love
Firstly, there are those of you who seem to have perceived the previous blog on abortion and birth control as unreasonable and hard church line. I invite you to read it again. It is about love and growth in spirit. Those who found it judgmental may benefit from this reflection motivated by Fr. Thomas Keatings' book INVITATION TO LOVE.
Fr. Keating mirrors Dr. Freud in much of his work. That is, Dr. Freud as seen through Christian spiritual eyes. This comes in handy in this time of polarised thinking, i.e. conservative vs. liberal. Fr Tom sees all of us starting out with what he calls a reptilian concept of life. The need for nurturing and personal survival is the only motivation at this level. He moves on to describe later stages as egoist and superegoist. You can read the book to get a nice presentation on these stages of being.
For now I will compare conservatism with the reptilian stage. This can be seen as a very basic survival mode. Almost all things are black and white and if these things do not provide me personally with better nurture and safety, they are worthless.
For now I will compare liberalism with the superegoist. All is for the common good. Anything that is perceived as parochial or self-serving to the extent of excluding minorities is worthless.
The problem here is that both sides write off the other as worthless.
That's where the egoist comes in. The egoist is your true self. The egoist is not concerned with categorizing life as good or bad but with living it. Our task then is to educate the true self, the egoist, to its true purpose. The true purpose lies in the depths of our sub conscious. The place where you and I encounter our creator. Our creator's purpose is to educate us in the greatness of infinite love. In order for you and I experience this education, we must be willing to put time aside for contemplation. If we don't listen we will not hear. If we do not hear we may assume that there is no one trying to communicate with us. If we think that we have no spiritual centering from which to draw we will make one up.
The reptilian and the superegoist in us are only too willing to take over. It is mostly a matter of our cultural upbringing which wins out. Being a conservative or a liberal is a convenient hiding place for those who do not want to put aside the false self. Many of these are afraid of their real selves because they may not interpret very well in the society/culture that we have made our home.
Bottom line is, God is our home. If our society/culture is willing to accept us as God's child then it is worthwhile. Otherwise please look elsewhere. Your spiritual life depends on it.
Fr. Rod
Fr. Keating mirrors Dr. Freud in much of his work. That is, Dr. Freud as seen through Christian spiritual eyes. This comes in handy in this time of polarised thinking, i.e. conservative vs. liberal. Fr Tom sees all of us starting out with what he calls a reptilian concept of life. The need for nurturing and personal survival is the only motivation at this level. He moves on to describe later stages as egoist and superegoist. You can read the book to get a nice presentation on these stages of being.
For now I will compare conservatism with the reptilian stage. This can be seen as a very basic survival mode. Almost all things are black and white and if these things do not provide me personally with better nurture and safety, they are worthless.
For now I will compare liberalism with the superegoist. All is for the common good. Anything that is perceived as parochial or self-serving to the extent of excluding minorities is worthless.
The problem here is that both sides write off the other as worthless.
That's where the egoist comes in. The egoist is your true self. The egoist is not concerned with categorizing life as good or bad but with living it. Our task then is to educate the true self, the egoist, to its true purpose. The true purpose lies in the depths of our sub conscious. The place where you and I encounter our creator. Our creator's purpose is to educate us in the greatness of infinite love. In order for you and I experience this education, we must be willing to put time aside for contemplation. If we don't listen we will not hear. If we do not hear we may assume that there is no one trying to communicate with us. If we think that we have no spiritual centering from which to draw we will make one up.
The reptilian and the superegoist in us are only too willing to take over. It is mostly a matter of our cultural upbringing which wins out. Being a conservative or a liberal is a convenient hiding place for those who do not want to put aside the false self. Many of these are afraid of their real selves because they may not interpret very well in the society/culture that we have made our home.
Bottom line is, God is our home. If our society/culture is willing to accept us as God's child then it is worthwhile. Otherwise please look elsewhere. Your spiritual life depends on it.
Fr. Rod
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Birth Control and Abortion
Abortion is taking a life. All life is precious. Abortion is not an option for fully matured Christian spirits. Sometimes when two lives, mother and child, are in a life or death situation because of medical complications, very difficult decisions must be made. If a life can be saved we are bound to try our best to save that one even if it seems like we are sacrificing our moral standards. Life is difficult, not all situations are black and white. Prayerful deliberance and common sense are gifts from God. Use them. When we all reach the level of spiritual being that knows that all life is precious, abortion will dissappear.
Birth Control is not an option for fully matured Christian spirits. Few of us are fully mature spiritually. When the time comes that all of us are at a grace filled advanced spiritual level, unnatural birth control will dissappear. In the meantime pray for those whose life journey includes this unnatural method. They and you are God's children. Encourage them and yourself to aspire for higher levels of being.
Birth Control is not an option for fully matured Christian spirits. Few of us are fully mature spiritually. When the time comes that all of us are at a grace filled advanced spiritual level, unnatural birth control will dissappear. In the meantime pray for those whose life journey includes this unnatural method. They and you are God's children. Encourage them and yourself to aspire for higher levels of being.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Three of Clubs
Ever been odd? Maybe at times during your life people have told you that you are odd or different. Most of us will then have a survival technique kick in and make adjustments so that we appear normal, acceptable and thereby less vulnerable. Others, very few, make a life out of being thought of as odd. These have a strong sense of self and the opinions of others are seen as re-enforcements of their independent lifestyle. Many of these are artists, authors, philosophers and performers. Some others live a hermit's lifestyle even while surrounded by others.
But there are still others who really are odd. They can't find a consistent place for themselves. There will be times when they are accepted, nurtured and even lauded but that usually does not last for long. The thing about being really odd is that it is not static, it is dynamic, your oddness continues to grow, sometimes exponentially, throughout your life.
When I reached a young age, perhaps seven or eight, I can remember begging God to "turn off the movie." I knew that I was permanently odd and I knew that I had had previous life experiences that had led to this phenomena. I really did not want to go through it again especially at this advanced rate of oddness.
Well, I have survived sixty-eight years of advanced permanent oddness. I really would not like to go for another lifetime of this but I can see the benefits now. My Faith is unshakable, my love is pure agape, my acceptance of others is universal.
Now the time of my life has become quite calm and stable. Sometimes I forget how odd I am. That's when the bizarre stuff kicks in as a reminder. When I play cards (every night) I have a voice inside me that tells me the value and suit of cards that are yet to be exposed. This is with a double deck! It works for me when I am alone but when I try to show off the voice usually clams up. I say usually because sometime I can do it when I need to bring a message to someone whose faith may not be as strong as mine. I can also name and bring messages from spirit guides and long dead relatives of people. Many times these people were co-workers at hospice or strangers to me. This again reinforces my acceptance of my oddness. But what am I supposed to be doing with these "gifts?" I have applied to get back into the active priesthood several times. No luck yet, though I am supposed to have my stuff gone over by another bishop next week. I get a feeling that my oddness and deep, deep faith actually exclude me from traditional priestly ministry. Isn't that odd?
Fr. Rod
But there are still others who really are odd. They can't find a consistent place for themselves. There will be times when they are accepted, nurtured and even lauded but that usually does not last for long. The thing about being really odd is that it is not static, it is dynamic, your oddness continues to grow, sometimes exponentially, throughout your life.
When I reached a young age, perhaps seven or eight, I can remember begging God to "turn off the movie." I knew that I was permanently odd and I knew that I had had previous life experiences that had led to this phenomena. I really did not want to go through it again especially at this advanced rate of oddness.
Well, I have survived sixty-eight years of advanced permanent oddness. I really would not like to go for another lifetime of this but I can see the benefits now. My Faith is unshakable, my love is pure agape, my acceptance of others is universal.
Now the time of my life has become quite calm and stable. Sometimes I forget how odd I am. That's when the bizarre stuff kicks in as a reminder. When I play cards (every night) I have a voice inside me that tells me the value and suit of cards that are yet to be exposed. This is with a double deck! It works for me when I am alone but when I try to show off the voice usually clams up. I say usually because sometime I can do it when I need to bring a message to someone whose faith may not be as strong as mine. I can also name and bring messages from spirit guides and long dead relatives of people. Many times these people were co-workers at hospice or strangers to me. This again reinforces my acceptance of my oddness. But what am I supposed to be doing with these "gifts?" I have applied to get back into the active priesthood several times. No luck yet, though I am supposed to have my stuff gone over by another bishop next week. I get a feeling that my oddness and deep, deep faith actually exclude me from traditional priestly ministry. Isn't that odd?
Fr. Rod
Monday, February 13, 2012
A note to the Living
This blog site lets me check the stats about how many visit my site and when. The number is in the thousands now. I wonder how many hits are real people and how many are attempts to sell me something by a machine? If your real could you do me a favor? Please click on comment. You do not have to say anything. Just put a letter or number that says you are a sentient being. I sometimes have this feeling that I am entertaining myself. Which is ok but leads to a form of neurosis that I would rather not deal with. :)
Fr. Rod
Fr. Rod
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Validation
I mentioned in my early blogs about my on-going relationship with Our Blessed Mother Mary. I certainly pray that you too have such a relationship. Mine started early on in life and became more tangible after I was ordained. I was visited by her in 1994 while I was celebrating liturgy (mass) alone in my church on the leave taking of the feast of her birth. I had been out of town for a couple of weeks and I did not get a chance to offer liturgy while I was gone. The first thing I did when I got back was to go into the church and offer liturgy.
What happened next has been documented by me in many places. I submitted a report on it to the Melkite Bishop Elya in Boston and to Fr. Nassaney, OMI at the shrine to Our Lady in Willimantic, Ct. What happened was my first actual "in the flesh" visit by the Mother of God. She explained to me what the Immaculate Conception was all about. I have never been able to put the detailed explanation into a language that my conscious level could employ. I just have a great story about a teenage Jewish woman who was pregnant and did not want to embarrass her father. She also made me a pro-lifer without the usual political garbage.
I have had several other spiritual visits since, four with miraculous healings. I would like to say that this has led to a spectacular career for me in the church. Nah, just the opposite happened. My view of church and the sacraments were radically changed forever and this made me some kind of radical in the church's view and they really did not want to deal with me.
I see the church as a living entity that needs to be nurtured not an institution to be defended. I see Our Lady as the Mother of that living being.
Today Our Mother spoke to me again. This time two of us together were blessed with this visit. One here in Phoenix and the other in Connecticut. She told us that she sees her beloved church as we would see our teenage son or daughter experimenting with drugs or alcohol. Her hope is like that of many agonizing parents. That hope is that her church will survive beyond this plague. Perhaps hope is the wrong word. Her message was stronger than that. Her promise is that when (not if) we gather ourselves back together we will be stronger than ever. Our traumatic journey in the desert of abuse will be made into a glorifying march to a new sobriety of purpose.
The rest of the hour long message is private. Not by my choice. The only hint I am allowed to give is that we have less than two years to wait. Is that wait 5 minutes or 24 months? Wait for what? The time, I don't know. As for what, it is a new set of gifts. She tells me that I have a big world shaking gift coming. Hoo Rah, I could use a boost! I am grateful and more than curious but I have to wait like everyone else. Hang in there! Can I pray with you?
Fr. Rod
What happened next has been documented by me in many places. I submitted a report on it to the Melkite Bishop Elya in Boston and to Fr. Nassaney, OMI at the shrine to Our Lady in Willimantic, Ct. What happened was my first actual "in the flesh" visit by the Mother of God. She explained to me what the Immaculate Conception was all about. I have never been able to put the detailed explanation into a language that my conscious level could employ. I just have a great story about a teenage Jewish woman who was pregnant and did not want to embarrass her father. She also made me a pro-lifer without the usual political garbage.
I have had several other spiritual visits since, four with miraculous healings. I would like to say that this has led to a spectacular career for me in the church. Nah, just the opposite happened. My view of church and the sacraments were radically changed forever and this made me some kind of radical in the church's view and they really did not want to deal with me.
I see the church as a living entity that needs to be nurtured not an institution to be defended. I see Our Lady as the Mother of that living being.
Today Our Mother spoke to me again. This time two of us together were blessed with this visit. One here in Phoenix and the other in Connecticut. She told us that she sees her beloved church as we would see our teenage son or daughter experimenting with drugs or alcohol. Her hope is like that of many agonizing parents. That hope is that her church will survive beyond this plague. Perhaps hope is the wrong word. Her message was stronger than that. Her promise is that when (not if) we gather ourselves back together we will be stronger than ever. Our traumatic journey in the desert of abuse will be made into a glorifying march to a new sobriety of purpose.
The rest of the hour long message is private. Not by my choice. The only hint I am allowed to give is that we have less than two years to wait. Is that wait 5 minutes or 24 months? Wait for what? The time, I don't know. As for what, it is a new set of gifts. She tells me that I have a big world shaking gift coming. Hoo Rah, I could use a boost! I am grateful and more than curious but I have to wait like everyone else. Hang in there! Can I pray with you?
Fr. Rod
Thursday, February 2, 2012
What does your culture say is appropriate prayer?
I graduated from the seminary in 1992. That was when all the scandals about pedophile priests were first breaking. The last year of formation in the seminary is mostly about practical parish stuff. So naturally there was a lot about how to act toward young people. Be polite and friendly but no touching or being alone with a child was the mantra. That seemed like a no brainer.
Then I was assigned to my first parish, St Basil the Great in Central Falls, Rhode Island. Being a Melkite Catholic priest I knew I would be serving mostly people of Arabic heritage. I knew there would be an adjustment period. I figured that after six months or so I would have a good idea of what was expected of me. Little did I know that three months later I would be alone as a pastor of my own parish. But that's another story.
The day of my first liturgy (mass) I went over to the church and began to get things set up. After a while the altar boys started to arrive (no altar girls). What came next was a bit of a shock. I went back into the sacristy and found all my altar boys lined up. The oldest and most experienced were first on down to the little guys. I stood in front of them and began to introduce myself when the first in line gave me a big bear hug and kissed me on both cheeks. He said, with a big smile, ahlan abouna, welcome father. This went on in turn for all seven of the servers. Hugs and kisses.
Oy vey, I said to myself, its the granite hotel for you bucko and they will throw away the key. But that did not happen. I got used to the greeting even though I am not much into hugs and kisses.
A week or so later I went to dinner with one of the priests who had attended seminary with me. It was a Roman Catholic seminary. He asked me how things were going and particularly, how did I prepare myself for liturgy (mass). I said, well the first thing I do is kiss all the altar boys. I think his eyebrows reached the considerable bald spot on his head. And no matter how much I tried to explain the Arabic culture he never got it. That taught me a lot about people, prayer and cultural expectations.
I am now more open to how people in our own American culture pray and what is expected during that effort. I see Pentecostalism's energetic, loud prayer on a par with the little old Catholic lady in the back of the church quietly praying her rosary. I see the busy mom taking her daily chores and offering them as a prayerful sacrifice on a par with the minister rendering a well prepared sermon.
I could go on and on. But the important thing is that we pray. Pick a style. Pick a culture. Pick a friend to pray with. What's you style? Can I pray with you?
Then I was assigned to my first parish, St Basil the Great in Central Falls, Rhode Island. Being a Melkite Catholic priest I knew I would be serving mostly people of Arabic heritage. I knew there would be an adjustment period. I figured that after six months or so I would have a good idea of what was expected of me. Little did I know that three months later I would be alone as a pastor of my own parish. But that's another story.
The day of my first liturgy (mass) I went over to the church and began to get things set up. After a while the altar boys started to arrive (no altar girls). What came next was a bit of a shock. I went back into the sacristy and found all my altar boys lined up. The oldest and most experienced were first on down to the little guys. I stood in front of them and began to introduce myself when the first in line gave me a big bear hug and kissed me on both cheeks. He said, with a big smile, ahlan abouna, welcome father. This went on in turn for all seven of the servers. Hugs and kisses.
Oy vey, I said to myself, its the granite hotel for you bucko and they will throw away the key. But that did not happen. I got used to the greeting even though I am not much into hugs and kisses.
A week or so later I went to dinner with one of the priests who had attended seminary with me. It was a Roman Catholic seminary. He asked me how things were going and particularly, how did I prepare myself for liturgy (mass). I said, well the first thing I do is kiss all the altar boys. I think his eyebrows reached the considerable bald spot on his head. And no matter how much I tried to explain the Arabic culture he never got it. That taught me a lot about people, prayer and cultural expectations.
I am now more open to how people in our own American culture pray and what is expected during that effort. I see Pentecostalism's energetic, loud prayer on a par with the little old Catholic lady in the back of the church quietly praying her rosary. I see the busy mom taking her daily chores and offering them as a prayerful sacrifice on a par with the minister rendering a well prepared sermon.
I could go on and on. But the important thing is that we pray. Pick a style. Pick a culture. Pick a friend to pray with. What's you style? Can I pray with you?
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Heaven, Purgatory, Hell
My last blog inspired one of you to ask if I was describing heaven or hell in my last post titled Another Visit.
I will state categorically that the Heaven promised us through the sacrifice of the Living God Jesus Christ is the most real entity in this universe and beyond.
Heaven is attained in increments. For most of us we would not be comfortable in the ultimate heavenly place. We would feel like intruders.
Just like there are nine choirs of angels, we ourselves are travelling in families that are separated by our capability to embrace Love.
Some of us are at a basic level where Love is seen as a far distant dream. Some at these levels cannot even fathom the existence of Love. These have a long way to go. They always need our prayers. They will always tug at us in a jealous rage fed by Satan.
Most of those who have passed from this life are in a place that used to be called Purgatory. It used to be seen as a place of pain. It is not. It is a place where souls can catch their breath before continuing their everlasting journey. Please pray for these.
Some of those who have passed attain a higher level. These are the blessed ones who reach out with encouragement to us.
Hell, is the most difficult to grasp by me. I suspect that it is a place that souls who truly reject all hope over and over go to slowly fade into non-existence. The Hebrew Sheol is the closest I can come up with for these. Pray for them anyway. Who knows the truth about Hell. The master of Hell, Satan, is surely not going to share the truth with us. It may put him out of business.
Fr. Rod
I will state categorically that the Heaven promised us through the sacrifice of the Living God Jesus Christ is the most real entity in this universe and beyond.
Heaven is attained in increments. For most of us we would not be comfortable in the ultimate heavenly place. We would feel like intruders.
Just like there are nine choirs of angels, we ourselves are travelling in families that are separated by our capability to embrace Love.
Some of us are at a basic level where Love is seen as a far distant dream. Some at these levels cannot even fathom the existence of Love. These have a long way to go. They always need our prayers. They will always tug at us in a jealous rage fed by Satan.
Most of those who have passed from this life are in a place that used to be called Purgatory. It used to be seen as a place of pain. It is not. It is a place where souls can catch their breath before continuing their everlasting journey. Please pray for these.
Some of those who have passed attain a higher level. These are the blessed ones who reach out with encouragement to us.
Hell, is the most difficult to grasp by me. I suspect that it is a place that souls who truly reject all hope over and over go to slowly fade into non-existence. The Hebrew Sheol is the closest I can come up with for these. Pray for them anyway. Who knows the truth about Hell. The master of Hell, Satan, is surely not going to share the truth with us. It may put him out of business.
Fr. Rod
Another Visit
Yesterday and today I was blessed with an extensive visit to "the other side." Previous visits have left me sad and confused. I could not understand why the ones I loved who had passed seemed to be stuck in one place. Each time I would visit them they were dressed the same, looked the same and the venue was always the same.
This time I took the advice of a gifted friend and asked questions. Those with whom I was visiting were only too glad to answer. In fact they were waiting for me to begin this long anticipated dialog.
It turns out that my perceptions of lack of change was on the money. Our loved ones on the other side create a venue in which they are most comfortable and they stay there. They pick their favorite age, some are young, some are older. They pick their housing, some pick the home in which they were raised others pick the home which provided them with the comfort of child raising or natural beauty. They even drive their favorite cars. They can visit others no matter what the time setting may seem. A person who is comfortable in the 1960s can easily jump in the car or ride a bicycle to their friends who are comfortable in the 1930s. The distances and roads are provided by the expectations of the travellers.
They can even visit us on occasion but those visits are fraught with potential dangers. They are fascinated by our progress and psycho/spiritual growth. This is the one thing that they cannot participate in directly while they are in their current state of being. They will stay the same until they return and begin to grow again. But we can help them. By sharing our experience they can vicariously grow. They love that. They are our family and we owe them that privilege. They in turn can petition the higher beings to help us and them. These are our spirit guides and angels. Some of them may be our own well experienced family members.
I said earlier that these visits can be fraught with danger. There are many, many of those who have passed who do not have a suitable age, time or place in which they feel safe or comfortable. These souls wander about alone or in "gangs" just waiting for an unguarded spirit to pass by. These lost ones will try to hijack the unsuspecting one's milieu. The results are a chaotic visit which can leave both the visitor and visited in a state of anxiety and bewilderment. Satan loves these encounters and there are plenty of them that happen every day.
It is important therefore that you living prepare yourselves for visits by prayer and putting yourself in a safe environment through contemplation and relaxed quiet time. The chaotic ones will try to block this. Your loved ones who have passed will be invited by it. It is up yo you to fight off the chaos and provide a safe place for those who would help and be helped by you. It works. Invite !
Fr. Rod
This time I took the advice of a gifted friend and asked questions. Those with whom I was visiting were only too glad to answer. In fact they were waiting for me to begin this long anticipated dialog.
It turns out that my perceptions of lack of change was on the money. Our loved ones on the other side create a venue in which they are most comfortable and they stay there. They pick their favorite age, some are young, some are older. They pick their housing, some pick the home in which they were raised others pick the home which provided them with the comfort of child raising or natural beauty. They even drive their favorite cars. They can visit others no matter what the time setting may seem. A person who is comfortable in the 1960s can easily jump in the car or ride a bicycle to their friends who are comfortable in the 1930s. The distances and roads are provided by the expectations of the travellers.
They can even visit us on occasion but those visits are fraught with potential dangers. They are fascinated by our progress and psycho/spiritual growth. This is the one thing that they cannot participate in directly while they are in their current state of being. They will stay the same until they return and begin to grow again. But we can help them. By sharing our experience they can vicariously grow. They love that. They are our family and we owe them that privilege. They in turn can petition the higher beings to help us and them. These are our spirit guides and angels. Some of them may be our own well experienced family members.
I said earlier that these visits can be fraught with danger. There are many, many of those who have passed who do not have a suitable age, time or place in which they feel safe or comfortable. These souls wander about alone or in "gangs" just waiting for an unguarded spirit to pass by. These lost ones will try to hijack the unsuspecting one's milieu. The results are a chaotic visit which can leave both the visitor and visited in a state of anxiety and bewilderment. Satan loves these encounters and there are plenty of them that happen every day.
It is important therefore that you living prepare yourselves for visits by prayer and putting yourself in a safe environment through contemplation and relaxed quiet time. The chaotic ones will try to block this. Your loved ones who have passed will be invited by it. It is up yo you to fight off the chaos and provide a safe place for those who would help and be helped by you. It works. Invite !
Fr. Rod
Friday, January 13, 2012
A Blessing?
Occasionally I google myself. When I google my full name and place where I live, Roderick J McRae Phoenix, a blurb comes up warning people that I am a false priest. This hurts. It uses a half truth that I am not a priest for a certain diocese, Manchester N.H., but does not mention that I was ordained for a religious order and that I am in good standing with the church. A lot of this is the result of my refusal to go along with some of the expectations for clergy these days.
I have challenged bishops and my religious superiors when I knew that following their lead would be wrong. I have never felt any guilt because of my actions.
Despite all of this, I love my church because I know that there is hope still alive in her bosom. I see this in my weekly healing prayer group at a Roman Catholic Church. Most of the group are traditional Catholics who have a faith to be envied. They have put aside their concerns for the scandalous headlines and have concentrated all their spiritual energies on prayerful intercession for others. We study books by Fr. Henri Nouwen and Fr. Thomas Keating. These are men who help make up the hope that I cling to. We share, sometimes tearfully, our frustrations and disappointments. We laugh when the spirit of compassionate forgiveness fills us with the hope and the joy of belonging. I love this church which has relegated me to a life on the fringe. This seemingly unfair treatment is mitigated somewhat when I read Matthew 5 11-12: "Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of ME. Rejoice and be glad , for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
But it still hurts.
I have challenged bishops and my religious superiors when I knew that following their lead would be wrong. I have never felt any guilt because of my actions.
Despite all of this, I love my church because I know that there is hope still alive in her bosom. I see this in my weekly healing prayer group at a Roman Catholic Church. Most of the group are traditional Catholics who have a faith to be envied. They have put aside their concerns for the scandalous headlines and have concentrated all their spiritual energies on prayerful intercession for others. We study books by Fr. Henri Nouwen and Fr. Thomas Keating. These are men who help make up the hope that I cling to. We share, sometimes tearfully, our frustrations and disappointments. We laugh when the spirit of compassionate forgiveness fills us with the hope and the joy of belonging. I love this church which has relegated me to a life on the fringe. This seemingly unfair treatment is mitigated somewhat when I read Matthew 5 11-12: "Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of ME. Rejoice and be glad , for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
But it still hurts.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Your cadence, is it hope?
These are the times that try men's souls. Election year that is, and its not just men. When I read my facebook, I have to set up a proper mental scenario for myself to keep from offending you. My list of friends is a mine field of political opinion. I even found a libertarian today. I try to allow your ideas/ideals to enlighten me. Seldom do I express a political preference.
In a previous blog I mentioned that I was a liberal democrat. This is true of my cultural upbringing. I guess I will always see political viewpoints from that lofty precipice of right thinking (or is it left thinking?)
On the other hand political viewpoints are so enmeshed with blind nationalism that even liberal democrats have the need of a prophet to guide them. I see no prophets from here. Do you?
I think that the upcoming election is a classical effort in self aggrandising. The outcome really is irrelevant. The die is cast and those who have been stamped by this die from Hell will not survive in the crucible of social upheaval that they have created for themselves.
My leanings are both right and left. My spirit calls a cadence that allows me to heed warnings from both camps. If you ask your spirit to lead you, you may find yourself in both camps also. Our presence in these camps is not to lend credence to either cause but to offer a presence of hope. Those in the camps will insist that their candidate is hope. These are those who have been blinded to real hopefulness which comes not from the brain but from the Spirit.
Left, Right or Libertarian you have a seed of hope in you or you would not care about the future. Look closely at the seed. Is it the one that must fall to the ground and die before it will bear fruit? Are you willing to die to the thoughts that have brought about this terrible collapse for our society? If the answer is yes or even maybe, you have the hope that I have. Welcome. Keep up the fight, it works.
In a previous blog I mentioned that I was a liberal democrat. This is true of my cultural upbringing. I guess I will always see political viewpoints from that lofty precipice of right thinking (or is it left thinking?)
On the other hand political viewpoints are so enmeshed with blind nationalism that even liberal democrats have the need of a prophet to guide them. I see no prophets from here. Do you?
I think that the upcoming election is a classical effort in self aggrandising. The outcome really is irrelevant. The die is cast and those who have been stamped by this die from Hell will not survive in the crucible of social upheaval that they have created for themselves.
My leanings are both right and left. My spirit calls a cadence that allows me to heed warnings from both camps. If you ask your spirit to lead you, you may find yourself in both camps also. Our presence in these camps is not to lend credence to either cause but to offer a presence of hope. Those in the camps will insist that their candidate is hope. These are those who have been blinded to real hopefulness which comes not from the brain but from the Spirit.
Left, Right or Libertarian you have a seed of hope in you or you would not care about the future. Look closely at the seed. Is it the one that must fall to the ground and die before it will bear fruit? Are you willing to die to the thoughts that have brought about this terrible collapse for our society? If the answer is yes or even maybe, you have the hope that I have. Welcome. Keep up the fight, it works.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Are you Radical?
I read in Huff Post today about a young woman who says she is confused. She was raised Catholic but describes herself as an atheist now. Now, as a catholic priest I might be expected to defend the traditional faith that this woman was reared in. And I do. But like all normal humans she seems to have outgrown the scope of what she had been taught. The traditional stuff no longer fits her life situation. And well it should not. I suspect that like most Catholics, she had a child's religious educational experience. This is fine for some but for persons who need more there seems to be a huge gap in learning opportunities. Plus most are too busy to read or contemplate Catholic teachings meant for adults. Another road block is that a lot of progressive/adult Catholic teaching is frowned upon by the traditional church. They do not trust you.
I trust and believe you. I believe that you would not have read this far if you were not at least curious about the meanings of religious shortfall and the promise of spiritual growth. Religion and spirituality started off as one and occasionally during the last 5,000 years they come tantalizingly close again. My blog is about instigating another one of these experiences. If enough of us put own spiritual longings into a spiritual force perhaps we can get religion to bend our way. Who knows, maybe we are meant to do this. Do you feel a tingling when you think about actually making a Loving spiritual home here on Earth for the people for whom you care? A place where all can contribute and build a powerful shield against those who would have us castigated for our lack of earthly realism. Stay tuned to my blog and send in some suggestions. We can do it!
Fr. Rod
I trust and believe you. I believe that you would not have read this far if you were not at least curious about the meanings of religious shortfall and the promise of spiritual growth. Religion and spirituality started off as one and occasionally during the last 5,000 years they come tantalizingly close again. My blog is about instigating another one of these experiences. If enough of us put own spiritual longings into a spiritual force perhaps we can get religion to bend our way. Who knows, maybe we are meant to do this. Do you feel a tingling when you think about actually making a Loving spiritual home here on Earth for the people for whom you care? A place where all can contribute and build a powerful shield against those who would have us castigated for our lack of earthly realism. Stay tuned to my blog and send in some suggestions. We can do it!
Fr. Rod
Monday, January 2, 2012
Had enough?
This is my first blog entry for the new year. Checking the stats, I started off with a bang in Oct, began to slip in Nov. and was downright ignored in Dec. Perhaps I am the proverbial ninety day wonder? At any rate, I was looking forward to comments from you that would help me understand my role as a retired priest. Only one comment came my way. I will take this as a confirmation that all I have written about is clear and relative to your spiritual understanding. This is great news. If everything in your spiritual ambit is clear and acceptable, I guess I will sign off and continue to explore my retirement unfettered by self doubt. I will check every now and again to make sure you are all ok. Bye for now :)
Fr. Rod
Fr. Rod
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)