Christ My King! Christ Your King! Christ the King!

This past weekend as we celebrated Christ the King Sunday (and Riders Grey Cup Win) I was keenly aware of the Cross of Christ. It is Christ’s Cross that calls us to life, for it was his dying that leads to life, to his resurrection and the glorious kingship he offers to each of us in our baptism. I have said before that I feel we sometimes we so stuck on the crucified Christ, we forget about the rest of the story, that Jesus offers us paradise and we in turn are called to build up his kingdom through taking up our cross with hope and promise. Being a bearer of the Cross is not a burden, it is a witness that we walk with Christ our King.

 

 

 

Throughout the Grey Cup game we heard and saw about sacrifice, about hard work, about giving it our all to achieve victory. This reminded me once again that the ultimate victory belongs to Christ our King and through our sacrifices, hard work and giving our all we come to embrace this victory, which believe it or not is even better than the Riders Grey Cup victory. I am learning this more and more during this Postulancy year and as I look ahead to continued studies, my Notivate year and how I am being called to trust in God more deeply.

 

So between finishing up my first course, keeping up with the demands of a Postulant, my ministries and daily walks I have been working on being more aware and letting God speak to my heart. It’s hard sometimes to shut up enough to do this but I’m working on it. In this listening as I mentioned above the Cross of Christ has been surfacing, especially the San Damiano Cross which I gaze upon each day. There is so much in this cross, so I offer to you a description of its many messages and my own thoughts of how pondering the cross lead me to understand ‘Jesus Remember Me’ in a deeper way.

 

San Damiano Cross

This is the cross which St. Francis was praying before when the Lord commissioned him to “rebuild the Church.” (The original still hangs in Assisi.)

It is an icon cross because of the style of the image that it includes. With its detail, it teaches more fully the meaning of the crucifixion.

Jesus is portrayed as both wounded and strong, regal and suffering, crucified and resurrected. Note the halo and Jesus’ prominence. There are also color contrasts.

The major witnesses are the second largest figures: the Blessed Mother and the Beloved Disciple, (on the left); Mary Magdalene, Mary, mother of James and the Centurion (on the right). The Centurion’s hand gesture, a classic position of Christian witness, is a traditional sign for ‘I am speaking’ he is saying “Truly this is the Son of God”.

The minor witnesses include the solider who pierced Jesus’ side. He is the smaller figure below Mary, holding the spear. On the opposite side is the solider who offered Jesus the vinegar soaked sponge. Traditionally their names are Longinus and Stephaton.

At the end of the cross, six angels marvel at this event, their hands representing awe, discussion and invitation.

The six figures that are barely seen at the bottom are the patron Saints of the area: Sts. John, Michael, Rufino, John the Baptist, Peter and Paul.

The rooster at Jesus’ left calf represents Peter’s denial.

The resurrection and ascension are portrayed at the top: Jesus in royal garb, brandishing the cross like a scepter (love this description – see the cross takes to greater places!), welcomed by ten angels, alive by the power of God (right hand).

-          Info taken from Catholic Source Book

 

Pretty powerful stuff, huh? So much to ponder each day as I gaze upon it in prayer and as it gazes down upon me as I rest. Between the image of this cross and the gospel from this past weekend I sign off with this reflection…

 

Jesus Remember Me

 

Jesus, please remember me, a child of God, and your brother.

 

Please remember me

when I struggle, when I seek, when I wander.

Please remember me

when sin takes hold, when illness grasps me,

when frustrations roar.

Please remember me

when loneliness pursues, when fears hold fast,

when uncertainty takes control.

Please remember

me when I celebrate, when I rejoice,

when I cherish moments.

Please remember me

when I sit in quiet, when I sing out loud,

when I write my thoughts.

Please remember me

when I gather with community, when I pray lone,

when I serve my brothers and sisters.

Over and over I say Jesus remember me,

but then I remember

that you could never forget one of God’s own.

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Football and the Radio

What does someone living in Saskatchewan,

Someone from Saskatchewan living elsewhere,

And a Canadian Forces member from Saskatchewan

away on duty have in common?

 

Well to be honest probably a lot of things,

but the thing that came to mind for me this past week

was the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the radio.

 

On Sunday, as I was busy in the kitchen making supper for my brothers, the radio was on and I was listening to the game. I’m not a die-hard football fan but the excitement of the game and the tie to my home was what drew me in. As I busily chopped vegetables I would listen intently to the play by play and make my own comments. It was very exciting to hear a Rider win and I thought of the flurry of green and white back home as celebrations broke out to celebrate.

 

This lead me to memories of growing up and realizing how blessed I was and am to have a home to shelter me and provide me with necessities and wants. Especially now as I see the suffering of our Filipino brothers and sisters, our neighbours to the south and those who call the street their home.

 

Listening to a particular radio station from Saskatchewan also brings me back to my childhood and some of my earliest memories. I remembering lying in bed as a child in the early morning and being awakened by the sound of the radio on as my Dad and Mom had their morning coffee. The news, the music, the sports would play in the background as they prepared for the day and one by one we joined them. I can still tell you where that radio sat and what it looked like. Happy memories.

 

These happy memories again caused me to pause and be thankful for my home. It also caused me again to ponder those who lack a home or lost a home. We are called to be in solidarity with them, yet none of us would give up our homes. Being in solidarity does not call us to give up our homes, but it does call us to be aware of what we have and should call us to give from our plenty to help those both near and far. Through prayer, acts of generosity, donations, acts of kindness and hospitality we build a better world.

 

Thinking about the Riders also made me think of home and thinking of home reminded me of very neat experience I was a part of this past week. Probably one that will not happen too often in my life time. I was part of a Friary blessing this past week. We blessed our new Friary in the community just down the road. It was a beautiful day. The 3 Friars who live there welcomed about 60 people to the blessing including our Provincial (the Friar in charge of Western Canadian Friars). It was a simple celebration of blessing each room, giving praise to God in song and gathering over table to enjoy good food and conversation. It was good to be there and reminded me once again about how we are all called to open our doors and invite Christ in.

 

Welcome Sign at Door. San Damiano is a special place for St. Francis

 

 

The community gathers

The delicious cake made by one of the Poor Clares

As I write this and hear the raining pelting against my window, I again give thanks for the gift of a home, I pray for those who seek shelter, I ask you to do the same and ask you to ponder how you can help our brothers and sisters who are in need of shelter.

 

Funny what listening to a football game on the radio can make you think of!

 

 

Oh and…

 

GO RIDERS!!!!!!!!!!!

Let’s keep the cup in Saskatchewan!

Green is the color, football is the game...

Freedom and Faith

 

November 11 – Remembrance Day has always stirred my heart: the reason why we stop, the pageantry, the honoring, the sounds and music, the silence, and the brilliance of a red poppy.

 

As we ponder and reflect on the freedom we enjoy, the freedom we sometimes take for granted or abuse, I am in awe of those who willingly went to battle and continue to work in war-torn areas of our world to try and achieve peace. I am grateful for their bravery and their commitment. It is because of this bravery and commitment that we live in a great country and have so many opportunities and privileges.

I truly believe it is up to us, those who have not seen war, to promote remembering on November 11 and to take up the cause for peace. We need to take the time to pause and show our respect on November 11 and tell others: children, new Canadians, neighbors, even family why we do what we do. This leads us to being makers of peace. As peace begins in our own hearts and in our own families and in our own communities.

 

I am reminded that I have the freedom to pray and express my faith because of the freedom that this country enjoys. I am reminded that brothers and sisters around the world do not enjoy this freedom.

I am reminded that Christ is the Prince of Peace and when I stop and am quiet with my God, I encounter this settling peace. I am reminded to take this peace beyond my prayers and bring it to my world.

 

I am reminded that conflicts (although small) arise every day and it is up to me to approach these conflicts with faith and peace. I am reminded that God gives me the gifts and skills to do so.

I am reminded to walk humbly with my God and to journey deeper and deeper into peace with my Savior. I am reminded to be an instrument of love, an instrument of hope, an instrument of peace.

 

As I journey through this Postulancy Year, I am becoming more and more aware of the gift of peace that wills to settle within us. I appreciate the moments of peace that each day brings and I strive to help achieve freedom in not only in my own life but also in the lives of brothers, sisters and in our community. My faith calls me to do so.

 

Saint Francis is often credited with prayers for peace, I leave you with this thought, it opened my eyes again to freedom and faith.

“For Saint Francis peace is one of the greatest gifts,

for in peace all the other virtues grow

and because it is the gift Jesus

left us after his Resurrection.”   

– Murray Bodo

 

Lest We Forget

 

The Lord Give You Peace

Community, Fraternity, Brotherhood and Brothers

 

As we enter into this month of remembering and praying for our deceased loved ones our province of Friars was brought into this month in a very real way. This past week two Friars died (from Saskatchewan) on the same day just hours apart from each other. They both now are enjoying their heavenly reward and hopefully finding a few minutes to send some prayers our way.

The death of these two Friars even though I did not know them got me thinking about community, fraternity, brotherhood and brothers.

 

The desire to belong to a community is something that we all long for in our life journey. Our families are our first communities and I believe because of this, good or bad, we desire to create or become part of other communities our whole life long. That is true for me, besides my family I have belonged to several school and church communities, each of them being blessings and helping me to grow. As I lived on my own for several years the awareness of community was something I sought, worked at creating and was thankful for each experience. As I discerned if religious life was for me, community was one of the benefits that kept surfacing. Now that I have been living in community for over 2 months, that desire is still there and it is opening me up to new challenges, encouraging my gifts, helping me to develop new ones and to appreciate the balance of community and individual time. I am thankful to live in a home, full of men of all ages, from all walks of life, who have a deep relationship with Christ and are full of passion and hope.

 

Fraternity is one of the gifts and one of the challenges of belonging to a religious community. Fraternity is a common bond that in sense makes of us a family. Fraternity as a gift means you have built in support and encouragement. Fraternity as a challenge means you deal with personalities and interesting input.

I am appreciating the gift side and growing from the challenge side. Fraternity does cause one to be more aware of the value of praying for others… ‘Dear Lord, please be with Friar A as he struggles within a ministry setting that he works.’ Or ‘Dear Lord, please grant me the patience to accept Friar B and his smart remarks today.’ You see Fraternity in a religious community does not strip you of your humanity, in fact I think it makes you more real and honest.

 

Brotherhood which in a sense is fraternity yet it is something more. Brotherhood is what makes one stop and listen a little more closely. Brotherhood is what causes one to ask questions in a caring way. Brotherhood is what makes one put aside their own agenda and help another. Brotherhood is what opens us up to understanding Christ and his followers. Brotherhood is our common bond, what unites us in our desire to follow in the footprints of St. Francis as we seek to be more like Christ. Brotherhood is what will shine forth in the week ahead as details are handled and comfort and sympathy are shared so we can celebrate the life and lay to rest two brother Friars.

 

All of this got me thinking me about my own brothers and a couple other guys who are like brothers to me. These are the guys who taught me about fun, taught me to roll with the punches a bit more, helped me to endure teasing better, challenged me to express myself and in their own way encouraged me to ‘do my thing’.

 

My own two brothers are so different from each other and myself, but I am so thankful for that, as it is helping me to embrace fraternity and brotherhood in a more grounded way. I appreciate how they have approached life, their drive and determination and I will give them credit for lessons learned that are so benefitting me now… like knowing when to keep your mouth shut, when to tease someone, when to dig in and when to let someone do it on their own.

 

The few other guys who are like brothers to me, have helped me to be honest, have listened well, have asked good questions and like my own brothers have caused me to laugh and enjoy the journey. My brothers from other mothers are true gifts and because of them I can embrace this brotherhood, because I know I still have them in my corner as well.

 

My brothers and those like brothers have taught me about forgiveness, understanding, perspective and sacred bonds. These are true gifts for the journey. Thank you to these remarkable men in my life.

 

Note: At this time I would like to also mention that I have an awesome sister, two pretty fantastic sister-in-laws and pretty great brother-in-law! J Just want to put that on the record for they too have helped me appreciate brotherhood.

 

Anyways…

Community, fraternity, brotherhood and brothers: God at work in all of them.

God blessing my journey because of these gifts.

 

Lord our God,

Thank you for community. For the gift of others who build your kingdom and help us on the journey.

Thank you for fraternity. For the common bond that draws us together.

Thank you for brotherhood. For the gifts and challenges.

Thank you for brothers. For the sacred bond, special moments and forgiveness.

Thank you for calling us into relationship with You

and discovering this gift through the encounter of those in our life.

Amen.

 

May Brother Adam and Brother Barthole rest in peace. May perpetual light shine upon them.