Laetare Vespers, Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle

Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle Stewardship Sunday 2009

Pugilistic Hope

Young hearts want to believe.

Algebraic symbols are good for certain types of modern discourse, especially for the lower forms of monologues which can be heard in bars, restaurants, parks, grocery stores. It is apparent that many people were never encouraged to stumble into a library, look at books, listen to the music.

Walk down any street and you will hear the adopted jargon of the mass media and see the anxiety which is incessantly encouraged. Distrust rules, reason hides.

Thinking about modern life is easy. Writing about it is challenging yet pleasant.

Different things capture our attention, capture our imagination. We live for sensation and interaction. The sky at twilight is beautiful, words can not adequately describe the calm, the sense of serenity that passes through my mind as my eyes glance upward to the moon surrounded by clouds, slowly disappearing. Words can not express the majesty of the sun, a round orb reclining against a cushion of clouds in a bouquet of muted colors.

Looking at the cityscape as a gentle breeze touches my body, a sense of peace moves through my mind.

In the distance, almost on the horizon, dark smoke rises up, without a zoom camera lens the dark, black smoke appears to rise just in front of the dark green treetops. With a lens, the smoke is further away, actually behind the trees.

One of the best things about the Catholic Church is its pugilistic attitude. The Catholic Church continues to argue for social justice, for fairness, for peace, for life. The Catholic Church never takes a holiday, opens its doors everyday to those in need. The Catholic Church asks us to think before we act. Is that how Jesus would have behaved? Are our lives reflections of Jesus' life? How do we love unconditionally and universally?

The church offers hope and a voice for those unable or afraid to speak.

Young hearts need faith.

Sunlight and Silence

The pale blue sky fades into dark trees on the horizon. I can see the bell towers and steeples of several churches in the city. I can also see the domes of two churches. I can see a man straining to push a cart on the roof of a nearby building. There is a cool breeze. I can feel the warmth of the sunlight on my neck and face.

I can hear multiple sirens, becoming louder, louder, more insistent and then fading away. And then become louder and louder before fading away.

Earlier today, I decided to write about the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

When I opened my eyes this morning, I searched for a topic. I wanted something to anchor my imagination, to direct my mind.

Life has many constants and many variables. In a city constants are automobiles, pedestrians, sidewalks. Variables are sidewalks, pedestrians, and automobiles.

Life provides questions, answers, and mysteries. Every question does not have a solution or an answer.

I find it comforting to see church architecture, the domes, steeples, bell towers are inspiring. They suggest a quest for something beyond a convenient parking space, a freshly laundered silk shirt, or pasteurized orange juice.

I find the Catechism of the Catholic Church comforting. Here is an explanation, a description of my faith. Here is the ultimate companion to the Bible. Here are the Church teachings.

It begins simply.

“The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself.” CCC no. 27

That desire for God has been written and explored for centuries. That desire for God is the reason I am writing and asking questions and reading various books and texts.

God’s call becomes louder, and louder and more insistent and then it fades away. And then it returns louder and louder.

“Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice” Ps 105:3

And so I am trying to create more time devoted to prayer, more time devoted to silent reflection.

And more time to glance at the horizon, to feel blessed, and to offer thanks to God.

Clouds In The Sky and I Am Learning How to Feel

Looking at the white clouds against the blue sky, hearing the beeping noise of a truck backing up, feeling a warm breeze against my skin I try to concentrate and write about this day.

Recently, I had a brief conversation with a group of friends. I denied the existence of true happiness. I said that in modern America, rabid consumerism has made happiness impossible. I said that materialism creates neither altruism or peace. There is too much anxiety, too much avarice, too much avoidance.

The Church offers an antidote to all of these things if we take the time to examine our consciences and to decide what is really necessary in our lives.

Many luxury items are masquerading as basic necessities. Are cell phones really necessary? Is it necessary to have a pair of alligator shoes? Are designer shirts and jeans really necessary?

I constantly ask myself questions. I sometimes find the answers.

But, I think that I am happiest when I am completely calm, when I am silent, and when I allow myself to thank God for the blessings in my life.

Sitting in the sunlight, occasionally searching the skyline for the Capitol Dome or the Washington Monument in the distance, I realize that consumerism is not the evil enemy; the problem begins with the behaviors which our society freely allows and often encourages.

I wish that consumerism allowed a little room for civility and charity. Our society is in a hurry to deliver the next punch line, to download the next song, to race through yellow lights.

Ed McMahon, Johnny Carson’s sidekick on the Tonight Show died. He was 86. He was an integral part of the show.

Investigators are still trying to determine why a Metro train rear-ended another train on Monday during rush hour. Nine people were killed in the worst commuter rail accident in Washington’s history.

These events remind us of life’s fragility, our own vulnerability. They remind how connected we are to our fellow man. They remind me how much I should close my mouth, stop complaining about little things. They remind me how important it is to follow Jesus’ example and love my neighbor. They remind me that life on earth is short. It is best to spend time in God’s service.

Last night I received a phone call from a friend, who told me that a former coworker was among the dead. My prayers are with the family of Cameron Williams.