Blame It On Dante

It's Dante's fault. Really. Actually it's Dan Brown's fault. Ok, it's my fault. I apologize for no posts so far this week, but I am trying to pin it on someone else. Dan Brown's new novel is Inferno, whose central character (other than Robert Langdon, of course) is 100 Cantos of pure literary genius--the Divine Comedy. And more specifically, the first 33 Cantos, otherwise known as Inferno. 

I know, I know. Dan Brown is no friend of the Church, and sadly that hasn't changed in this book. But he can write a cheesy page turner that weaves in art, history, architecture, literature, and some of my favorite cities like no one else--at least no one else I've read. High literature it is not. The plot, like others before, is wacky and extremely far-fetched. A lark! But I quite enjoyed it. It's fiction, people!  No matter what the author himself claims. Call it a guilty pleasure.  

I will soon return to the great book, resuming our trek through the Bible--restarting at the Book of Tobit.

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

I am flattered and humbled to have been asked to participate in Sunday Snippets.  So, here goes with my initial post!

By way of context, my blog, On Jacob's Ladder, is a record of my thoughts and reflections as I try to read the Bible start to finish during 2013.  Here and there, there are posts about other things that are going on.  For example, my family vacation to Paris was the recent topic of a few posts.  

This past week, I have been working my way through 
1 Samuel. Although most would consider it the story of Samuel and David, I have been captivated by Saul--a fascinating, flawed man whose life reads like a Shakespearean tragedy.

1 Samuel 13-15

1 Samuel 16-19

1 Samuel 20-24
1 Samuel 25-28

1 Samuel 29-31

In addition, I was asked to write a personal reflection on Matthew Kelly's book, Rediscover Catholicism.  The book impacted me greatly, as it brought me face to face with a challenge regarding my own accountability for being the change I want to see in the Church and in the world.

Rediscover Catholicism--A Personal Reflection

Have a great week!

Rediscover Catholicism--A Personal Reflection

I was recently asked to write a reflection for a parish publication. The book is Rediscover Catholicism by Matthew Kelly. I thought I would share it here.
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Matthew Kelly’s Rediscover Catholicism is aptly named, as it is a book that calls us to rediscover the hunger within ourselves for truth, for love, for God.  If we respond to this call of rediscovery, Kelly contends, we will become who God created us to be--the very best version of ourselves.  As we allow ourselves to be transformed, we will, in turn, transform the Church and, beyond that, the whole world.  For me, the core challenge of Rediscover Catholicism is a deeply personal one.  Reading it was a very moving, and in some ways unsettling, experience. 

Early in the book, Kelly recounts an anecdote about Mahatma Gandhi, one of the most admired men of the twentieth century.  Known to be a regular reader of the New Testament; Gandhi once was asked why he had not himself become a Christian. Gandhi replied, “If I had ever met one, I would have become one.”  Kelly writes of his reaction to Gandhi’s words that they speak to him “ with a clarity that pierces my heart.”  I could not agree more.  They struck me like a hard slap in the face.

Many years ago, I latched on to the idea that if every Catholic in the world acted as God calls us to act for just the next ten minutes, the entire world would be converted to Jesus.  This formulation had the “value” of placing responsibility elsewhere.  Gandhi’s words brought the challenge embedded in my hopeful fantasy right back to my doorstep.  Perhaps if I were the person God calls me to be—that He created me to be—for just ten minutes, the ripple effects would transform the whole world.  If this is true for me (and for you), then each of us has a profound mission.

Kelly spends many pages discussing the state of the Church today, both the positives and negatives.  He doesn’t pull punches.  He takes aim at the ways that society—and, at times, our own Church--makes it more difficult for us to make room in our lives for God, and to find our way back to Him.  But it would be a mistake to dwell on those aspects of the book, for Kelly’s message is that you and I can overcome or transform those obstacles.

Do I wonder why fewer Catholics go to Church every Sunday?  Why fewer participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Why few people say the Rosary or pray the Liturgy of the Hours?  I could try blame television or the Internet or the quality of sermons or the discomfort of face-to-face confessionals.  But for me the lesson of Kelly’s book—the personal aspect of his challenge--is that the “fault” is mine.  Take Sunday Mass as an example.  If I were to make a greater effort—by preparing myself in advance, participating enthusiastically, actively listening for God’s message to me each Sunday—I would get more out of the Mass.  In turn, my life would gradually be transformed by the grace I would find there.  This would spill into the rest of my life and others would notice.  They’d see the positive difference in me and they would ask themselves, “How can I get some of that?”  And when they asked me, I’d tell them. I can be that one Christian Gandhi never met if I would commit myself to letting God’s grace work in my life.  I can be an agent of change in the Church and in the world by letting God be an agent of change in my life.  To do so, I must commit myself to making the effort to be the person that God calls me to be, the person that God sees when He looks at me. 

To be clear, though, Kelly’s book is not a “downer” in any way.  His message is one of hope and joy.  It is radical and simple—but simple doesn’t mean easy.  God is ever-merciful and loving.  He waits for us.  We can blame others—society, the Church, the media—or we can accept the personal challenge to rediscover Catholicism.  If, rather than accept this challenge, I decide that “others” are to blame, nothing will change.  But if you and I each try to be the best version of the person God created us to be, we can, with God’s help and grace, change the world.

Pope Francis

We have a Pope! I have only just begun to read the news accounts this morning, so all I have are ally impressions, but here goes....  I think this is in some ways a radical departure from what has gone before. JPII was almost certainly a saint. BXVI was in many ways a continuation of JPII. A brilliant theologian following a philosopher. Both nonItalian Europeans who, together, constituted a definitive break from the centuries-long grip the Italians had on the Papacy. And now the cardinals have gone to the other side of the world for the next Pope. A man of seeming great humility. Not a well-published scholar. Even in his initial appearance on the balcony he opted not to follow certain traditions. He did not wear all of the pieces of clothing typical for the occasion. He asked the people to pray for him before he blessed them. He prayed together with the people for BXVI, using the simplest, most common prayers available so that every Catholic listening could actively participate. And that name! God called St. Francis of Assisi to "rebuild my Church which is in ruins." It cannot be a coincidence that this Pope chose that name at a time when certain aspects of the Church need rebuilding--maybe even need fumigation. May God guide him. As the product of a Jesuit education, I am also tickled that Francis is a Jesuit. That he is a member of that incredible order, and yet took the name of the founder of a different and equally renowned order is significant, I think, in terms of desire for unity across the Church. May the Holy Spirit be with him.

Joshua 22-24

The men from the two-and-a-half tribes of Israel who had settled east of the Jordan are released with Joshua's blessing to return to their homes, having kept their promise to Moses. A misunderstanding later arises on the part of the tribes that remain in Canaan regarding an altar the eastern tribes build on their side of the Jordan. This misunderstanding nearly leads to bloodshed, but dialogue and trust between the tribes lead to a peaceful and productive resolution. The altar built in the east was meant as a remembrance of the true altar that houses the Ark--not a competing sanctuary. Trust and dialogue within our Church, and among various Christian denominations, are critical in helping us all ultimately find our way to Jesus.  

As Joshua nears the end of his life, he recounts to the Israelites all the blessings and wonders God has done for them from the time of Abraham to the present, and says:

Now acknowledge with your whole heart and soul that not one of all the promises the Lord, your God, made to you has remained unfulfilled. Every promise has been fulfilled for you, with not one single exception.

Indeed, our God is a faithful God. 

Joshua reminds the people to "fear the Lord and serve him completely and sincerely."  Describing for the Israelites the choice they face--to serve either the Lord or the false gods of the past--Joshua puts his own choice simply and beautifully:

As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

Soon after, Joshua dies. But not before reminding the people, yet again, that they must serve the Lord by following His law, His statutes, and His decrees.

Joshua 13-18

We continue with what I must confess is for me the least inspiring sections of the Old Testament to date. Joshua affirms the division of the land just outside Canaan to two and one-half of the twelve tribes, and then begins the process of dividing the promised land among the remaining tribes. This is done in accordance with the instructions of Moses before he died. 

Tomorrow begins the conclave to elect a new Pope. The media is very focused on the "horse race" aspect of it, which I suppose is human nature. But I hope and trust that the Holy Spirit is at work this week through the assembled cardinals, flawed humans as they are. And that they are inspired by the Holy Spirit to select the man we need for the job at a critical time in Church history. I will certainly be praying for that.

One message that has been coming to me very strongly this last week or two has been "do not be afraid." As I alluded to in a prior post, I am in a period right now of being afraid. And yet it seems everywhere I turn--this past Sunday's readings, songs on the radio, comments of support from loved ones--I can hear God's voice encouraging me to put aside my fear and trust Him. It is very, very difficult for me. But I will keep trying and praying for courage and trust. 

Joshua 5-8

Two important rituals precede the Israelites first battle for the Promised Land. First, because no men were circumcised during the forty-year exile in the desert, all submit to the knife.  Then, they celebrate Passover. On that same day, the manna from heaven that had fed them during their long journey ceases. To demonstrate His presence and commitment to them, the Lord sends an angel with a sword to lead the Israelites into battle, who announces, "I am the captain of the host of the Lord and I have just arrived."  Why "just arrived", I wonder? Isn't God always there for us? Perhaps the angel chooses these words to remind us that while God is always present and available for us, He comes to us in a special way when we are in need. 

What follows is a great story of how the walls of Jericho come down as a result of the Israelites blowing ram's horns and shouting, as they had been instructed by the Lord through Joshua. And then they massacred the people of the city--every last one except the family of Rahab, the harlot, who had aided the scape of Joshua's spies. But despite all He had done for them, the Israelites--or at least one of their number--disobeyed the Lord's precise instructions about hauling off booty from the city. He withdraws his aid and the Israelites are (temporarily) rebuffed at Ai. The Lord insists to Joshua that he find and remove the disobedient person. A man named Achan, of the tribe of Judah, is found to be the plunderer, and he is taken to the Valley of Achor, where he is stoned to death by the Israelites. The Israelites then conquer Ai in a rousing battle scene, using an ambush per the Lord's instructions to secure the city. Joshua built an altar to the Lord, and in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote the law on to unhewn stones as God had instructed  Moses. Joshua then "read aloud all the words of the law, the blessings and the curses, exactly as written in the book of the law. Every single word that Moses had commanded, Joshua read aloud to the entire community." 

As we have seen, time and time again, the Lord reminds the Israelites, by word, action, and ritual, that the law is and must be central to their lives--impacting every aspect of their existence. This is no less true for me personally. God's Word, His message through this Bible and through His Son, as intermediated through His (far from perfect) Church, must guide my life. It must not just be reflected or observed in my actions, but it must also penetrate to my soul. 

Joshua 1-4

According to the introduction in my New Catholic translation, the Book of Joshua is "a prophecy of the spiritual conquest of the world through the Church under the leadership of Jesus, the Messiah." This reinforces my own tendency so far to understand the Old Testament through the prism of Jesus and the New Testament. Early in this book, the Lord repeats multiple times these words of encouragement: Be firm and steadfast. The Catholic Church is at a crucial juncture. The Throne of St. Peter is empty. And this has not happened in the usual way. Rather, BXVI has left the office by resignation, not death. During Lent. And while we trust in the Holy Spirit, there are many of us who are nonetheless unsettled by it all. We need to be reminded to be firm and steadfast. And why should we be? The Lord explains to Joshua why:

I command you: be firm and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go.

I am unsettled in certain aspects of my own life. I am afraid and dismayed. These words come to me at a propitious time. I need to be firm and steadfast, because God is with me wherever I go. 

This section of Joshua has the story of the "harlot" Rahab, who protects the spies sent by Joshua. To repay her, those spies promise that she and her family will come to no harm when the Israelites cross the Jordan to make war on its inhabitants. At their direction, she hangs a scarlet cord in her window, so the invaders will know which family to spare. The red cord echoes the blood painted over the doors of the Israelites in Egypt to signal to the angel of death to pass over their house during the final, awful plague brought on by Pharaoh's intransigence. Led by Joshua, the Israelites follow the ark to the Jordan, where the river is parted for them--echoing the crossing of the Red Sea out of slavery. 

The Israelites pass through the water in safety to escape slavery, and again to reach the promised land. I am reminded of how we are saved from the slavery of sin and death through the waters of baptism. 

Numbers 26-28

The Lord instructs Moses to take a second census as the Israelites near their entry into Canaan. The second census reveals that the Israelite community has grown. It also reveals that, as God had promised, not a single man is still alive who had been counted in the first census at the base of Sinai, except for Joshua and Caleb (and Moses himself, of course)--the rest had perished as the Lord had promised for their lack of faithfulness. The Lord instructs Moses as to how the Promised Land should be divided among the twelve tribes, and reminds Moses that he himself will see, but not enter, the promised land. Moses accepts his fate gracefully, but does ask the Lord to appoint a successor to guide the people:

Set over the community a man who shall act as their leader in all things, to guide them in all their actions; that the Lord's community may not be like sheep without a shepherd.

God directs Moses to appoint Joshua as his successor. Moses lays his hands on Joshua in a ceremony before the whole community, and in this way the community itself also consecrates Joshua. This is a very interesting, and yes comforting, passage to be reading as we prepare for the election of a new Pope. It is an unsettling time for Catholics, with the historic resignation of BXVI, and we pray for God to guide the cardinals in the task ahead.

This passage ends with more detailed descriptions of the sacrifices that God expects the Israelites to offer on various occasions, all of which have that social dimension to them: a shared assembly of the people.

Numbers 8-10:10

Shortly before the Israelites set out from Sinai, the Lord instructs them in the purification of the Levites, the priests who are dedicated to the Lord. What I love about this passage is that God calls on the entire community of Israelites to gather and to lay hands upon the Levites to purify and sanctify them in their service to the Lord. There is a vital link between serving God and serving the community--they are completely intertwined. It is true today of the religious and the priesthood, but also true for all of us who are called by God in love, whatever our vocation. Love and service for God and for our neighbor are in many ways indistinguishable. Chapter 9 closes with another description of the fiery cloud that has guided the Israelites, and which will continue to guide them on their journey to the promised land. The cloud is God's message and instruction to the Israelites about the timing and path of their journey. 

Thus, it was always at the bidding of the Lord that they encamped, and at his bidding that they set out; ever heeding the charge of the Lord.

God wants to guide me and direct me on my own journey to the promised land, to salvation. I pray that I am able to see His Will for me as clearly as the Israelites were able to see the fiery cloud, and that, when I see it, I have the courage to follow.

One last thought here. It is fitting, and likely a very direct message to me, that I am reading this passage today, Ash Wednesday. Like the Israelites, the Church and I myself, embark today on 40 days in the desert of Lent on our way to the promised land of the Resurrection. I hope that I am able to make this a meaningful journey of preparation. But for today at least I will try to remember that I am indeed dust, and to dust I shall return, and I will strive to repent and make straight the way of the Lord.

BXVI Resigns

I had not intended to make this a current events or "issues of the day" blog, but I do feel compelled to comment on yesterday's stunning news that BXVI is resigning as of the end of February. Most news outlets are reporting that his is the first Papal resignation since 1415, but that is a bit misleading. In 1415, there was in effect a civil war on, with competing claimants to the Papacy. That Pope's resignation was not exactly voluntary, as he was on the losing side. One must go back several more centuries to Celestine V for the last truly voluntary resignation. Celestine V was essentially a hermit who had been (to his surprise) elected to be Pope. He lasted only five months. During that time, he was responsible for only a few acts, one being the issuance of a decree that establishes the Pope's right to resign from office, a right he then exercised so that he could return to a life of solitude and prayer. 

What to make of yesterday's news? Too soon to tell, I guess. I believe that the Holy Spirit works always through the Church, and so I trust and hope that God is working through these events for the betterment of the faith and of all of us. The Vatican assured us that the Pope's decision came after much prayer and examination of conscience. I do hope so. Interesting that our time without a Pope will coincide with Lent, a time of doing without and journeying toward the Resurrection. Let us see what the journey brings us.

Numbers 3:33-5:31

The Lord continues to instruct Moses and Aaron in preparation for the Israelite's departure from the base of Mt. Sinai. He directs them to assign certain tasks relating to the Dwelling to particular clans within the group of Israelites. The passage shifts to a discussion about expelling the unclean, such as lepers, from the encampment, and then on to directions about the test to be used to confirm a hsuband's suspicions that his wife has committed adultery. In Rediscover Catholicism, Matthew Kelly identifies fasting as one of the seven pillars of the Catholic life. He explains that to give oneself in love (to God, to a spouse), one first must possess oneself. Self-possession, in turn, is aided by--indeed, is impossible without--self-discipline. Habits of discipline when it comes to food, drink, and other daily aspects of our lives can help build and strengthen the discipline we need to be the best version of ourselves and to give ourselves in love to others. As I read Kelly's explanation, I thought of Leviticus and Numbers. The Lord is preparing the Israelites for a journey to the promised land. This time of preparation includes a great deal of detailed instruction from God about what they may and may not do, what they may and may not eat, etc. Perhaps one of God's purposes in this was to instill a sense of individual and communal discipline, which would steel the Israelites for the journey ahead, but would also ready them for entry into the promised land. Likewise, God calls me to look at my habits and my actions, calls me to be more disciplined, for example, about what I ingest (do I treat my body right?) and what I say (do I use appropriate language? Is it sharp, sarcastic, inappropriate?). Living more disciplined in this manner helps to make straight the way for the Lord. As we approach the start of Lent (early this year!), I would like to focus more on this self-possession and self-discipline to help ready myself for Easter.

Leviticus 22-27:34

As the Lord's explanation of the rules regarding sacrifices, holocausts, and offerings closes, He instructs Moses that an offering must be unblemished; it cannot be an offering of something that the owner would otherwise discard or have no use for. You shall not offer [a sacrifice] that has any defect, for such a one would not be acceptable for you. I was a freshman in college in 1978 when I had the good fortune to score a ticket to see John Paul II at Yankee Stadium. It was quite a memorable experience.  To think that I was present for a Mass offered by a man who will likely be recognized by the Church as a saint in my lifetime! In his homily that day, JP2 urged Catholics, and particularly Americans, to give of their substance and not just of their abundance. I am reminded of that message by the words from Leviticus quoted above. Do I do this? Do I offer to Him, and try to do His Will in, those aspects of my life I hold most dear?  Do I cabin off the "God times"--Mass on Sundays, certain times for prayers--and keep the rest for myself? Or do I try to weave Him into every aspect of my life? Well, I know what I should do, but I also know what I usually do--and unfortunately they are often not the same.

The Lord goes on to instruct Moses about the Holy Days, including Passover, the Day of Atonement, New Years' Day, etc. It is noteworthy that, with respect to each holy day, God calls for "a sacred assembly." Even as He addresses very personal aspects of human behavior in Leviticus, He calls them back to the community. The community, the sacred assembly, is a vital and integral part of living as God's people. So, too, with Catholicism. So much rides on the community and its response to God's call, to its collective action, its collective holiness, its collective sinfulness. The "Old Testament God" comes to the forefront as Leviticus closes, with many warnings about the punishments that await the chosen people should they ignore or reject the Lord--too numerous and frightening to catalog here. But even so, the Lord promises that I will not reject or spurn them, lest, by wiping them out, I make void my covenant with them; for I, the Lord, am their God. He is ever faithful, and will not forget His promises. 

Leviticus 8-13:39

Aaron and his sons undergo the ceremony of ordination, the details of which were commanded and carefully prescribed by God to Moses. At the end of the ceremony, Aaron "raised his hands over the people and blessed them. Then the glory of God was revealed to all the people." God reveals His glory through the priest-mediator. This is a concept that continues to this day. Jesus of course is the ultimate Priest and Mediator. In some ways, so too is Mary--a mediatrix who intercedes for us in a special way. Catholic priests have a mediating role as well.  Their special, integral role in the sacrifice of the Mass, established through their ordination, becomes the medium through which we can eat and drink Christ's body and blood. I am not sure, though, what to make of the brief story of Nadab and Abihu, two of Aaron's sons. Consecrated as priests, they make the mistake of burning incense not approved by God, and because they offered up before the Lord a "profane fire", the Lord causes a fire to come forth and consume them. Moses attempts to explain the Lord's ways to Aaron, but he says nothing in response. As I said, I am not sure how to understand this. It seems an incredibly harsh punishment for an act that I do not see the evil in. Perhaps Aaron's silence reflects an inner conflict between love for his sons and his respect and trust in the ways of the Lord. But I wonder if Moses, who repeatedly challenged and questioned God, would have stayed silent had it been two of his sons. Another aspect of the priest's role as mediator is captured in the following direction that God gives directly to Aaron: You must be able to to distinguish between what is sacred and what is profane, between what is clean and what is unclean; you must teach the Israelites all the laws that the Lord has given them through Moses.  So, the priest does not simply mediate the sacrifices that cleanse sins, but also must teach the law and must discern between clean and unclean and good and evil.  Priests are called to these very weighty responsibilities in the Church today as well. Finally, Aaron and the other priests are given an important role in diagnosing leprosy, which is a focal point of a long section in Leviticus. This section suggests to me that leprosy serves as a metaphor for sinfulness. It is a disease that eats away at the body just as sin eats away a person's spirit.  At my spirit.  Like leprosy, sin has a social dimension as well, as both can be contagious and can infect and negatively impact a whole community.

Exodus 8:16-11:10

The story of Moses continues with the remaining seven plagues brought on by Pharaoh's obstinate refusal to accede to God's request, communicated through Moses and Aaron, that the Israelites be allowed to leave Egypt to worship God. The pattern was so familiar from plague to plague that it started to get tiresome. Moses makes request; Pharaoh denies request;  Moses threatens plague; Pharaoh still denies request; plague comes; Pharaoh gives in; Moses ends plague; Pharaoh breaks promise. But then suddenly I saw myself in the Pharaoh. God shows me the way--through the Word, through the Church, through the love of those around me; I promise to walk more closely in the path He calls me to; I wander off or get distracted and forget my promise; I feel lost; rinse and repeat. It particularly hit home during the plague of darkness, when the Egyptians could see nothing, not even the people around them. Like me when I wander off from God and forget Him. Interesting that the darkness lasts three days, like the darkness the Earth was in when Jesus died and descended into Hell, before the Resurrection. By the way, isn't it a fascinating notion that Jesus descended into Hell? It is in the Apostle's Creed although not in the Nicene Creed that we recite at Mass. I am intrigued by that visit to Hell, by what it could have been like for Jesus, and what it was meant to accomplish.