Archive for January, 2008
Entry for Thursday, January 31, 2008
Thursday, January 31st, 2008
Blessed be God in HIs angels and in His saints!
Today the Church celebrates the feast day of St. John Bosco, one of our great patrons of youth and young adults. Commonly known as “Don” Bosco (”Don” being the title of address for a priest in Italy), the man distinguished himself by his selfless service to the youth of the streets. He sought to give them a home, a practical skill, and a strong Christian education. In his life, he saw the conversion of thousands of young people. His simple approach was reason, religion, and kindness. His motto was simply love, sometimes tender and other times tough.
On his feast day, it’s a good time to review where we’re at in our society. And how we are ministering to the youth and young adults in our midst.
A few years ago, I was told of a people in Asia who greatly revered their elders. To accentuate the point, the presenter told me: In the West, if you could only save one person, you would normally save the youngest; in this Asian people, if you could only save one person, you would save the oldest. The understanding being that the oldest person has the stories, wisdom, and experience. It’s the elder who is the heart of society and its stability. It’s an interesting switch.
In recalling this story on today’s feast day, I’m reminded of the current obsession with youth culture. The obsession does not serve the young people well. There have been times in the past when I couldn’t culturally distinguish a parent from a child. Somehow, even among adults, the youth culture has become the criterion and standard of dress, behavior, language, and life. It seems weird: shouldn’t a mature, adult culture be the goal of the young people, and shouldn’t they be aspiring to it?
Unfortunately, things seem a little backwards today. We have adults aspiring to youth culture, and trying to imitate it. I’m shocked at the tremendous leniency given to youth and young adults by many parents today. This does not serve them well. St. John Bosco did not convert thousands of rough, street children by catering to them and their subculture. He called them to a mature, healthy living, which he heroically modeled. That’s the call. Sadly, I think, some adults need to be told “grow up,” or “act your age.” If not for themselves, then for the youth and young adults in our society.
The fountain of youth doesn’t exist, and we shouldn’t be raiding youth culture for our own affirmations and consolations.
In conclusion, this was hammered home to me a couple of years ago by a priest mentor. I came home from seminary and was unshaven and in casual dress. I thought I looked pretty good (haha). I had on some faded, sagging bluejeans, a brightly colored polo shirt, flip-flops, etc., etc. This priest mentor pulled me aside and told me: “Kirby, grow up. You’re thirty- years-old, and you’re studying to be a priest. This isn’t how mature, adults dress. Clean it up.” It hurt a lot. I was upset for days, but I realized that what he said was true. I had to balance out some things (the least of which was clothes).
The youth and young adult culture in the United States needs strong, stable Christian adults, who are standing on their own in Christ and not seeking to become neo-young people. As seen in the life of Don Bosco, it’s precisely this stability and guidance that will convert thousands.
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Eight Truths Every Catholic Should Know: Who God is and Why We Worship Him
Thursday, January 31st, 2008
“The Catholic Miscellany”
Editor’s Note: This is the first of a series of columns Fr. Jeff Kirby is writing for Lent.
First Truth:
“Who God is and Why We Worship Him”
Awhile back I had a conversation with a friend on the publicized conversion of a serial killer to the Christian faith. This friend expressed some shock in the person’s conviction that they could make it to heaven. Our discussion moved into an explanation on God’s unconditional mercy. My friend was frustrated and ended the conversation by telling me that “his God” wouldn’t let a murderer into heaven.
It’s an interesting comment. Who exactly is “his God”?
Our contemporary approach to God seems to be marked by a certain subjectivism. God becomes “my” God, meaning whatever I think he should be, or whatever I determine to be good or right. God should conform to my worldview and fit into my way of life.
But is this a correct view? At the heart of this question is the deeper inquiry: What do we believe about God? Who is the true God? What is our proper relationship with him?
God cannot be approached as a nice fantasy, cherished heirloom, psychological consolation or entertaining hobby.
God is a real, personal being who has a historical, self-revealing relationship with humanity. He is not “my” creation, or “my” idea or even “my” consolation.
Rather, God is the one who has created me, has given me ideas, and who allows for me to experience consolation and hope. He has lovingly revealed himself and shared his own self-knowledge with humanity, so that we might know him, the true God.
God does not change for us. He has a perfect, divine identity. And as a real, personal being, he calls each person into an intimate relationship with him. By telling us about himself, God makes it possible for us to know and love him.
At times, our union with God will call for a transformation of our own thoughts, cultural assumptions, desires and aspirations. In this encounter with God and his love, we change for God. We allow ourselves to be converted by his grace.
All people are called to abandon the false gods of their own minds and the idols of their own hearts, and instead to hear the voice of the true God. The temptation to create “my” own God, or to fix, change, or complete God must be tempered and abandoned. All are summoned to give a generous response to God’s own loving self-revelation.
In coming to know and understand who God is, we are especially led to give him thanks and praise. The impulse to worship God is provoked by true knowledge of him, and by an urge to love him.
The human person’s highest ability is the worship of God. Because it allows the human person to see himself as a human being, and not as a god himself, it is the one spiritual power which most clearly defines, liberates, and orders his humanity. The true worship of God makes us more human.
To know and love the true God, to worship him in spirit and in truth, and to be transformed by his grace is the first truth and challenge of Christian discipleship.
Father Kirby is parochial vicar at St. Mary Help of Christians in Aiken.
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Entry for Sunday, January 27, 2008
Sunday, January 27th, 2008
Blessed be God, who saves us in Christ!
Last Sunday I gave the Middle School students some questions about why we use the color green during Ordinary Time. I want to thank all who responded. In particular, I want to highlight Curtis who gave the word “renewal,” Michael who answered “hope,” Hayley who wrote “new life,” Monica who presented “growth,” and Skyler who gave the words “creation, faith and hope.” All of these summarize the mind of the Church in using green for Ordinary Time. Bravo to all the students!
Here’s a question for this Sunday: In today’s Gospel, what was the response of the disciples to Jesus’ call? What can we learn from them? Good luck!
This evening, I attended the Vigil Wake Service for a priest of my diocese. It was held at St. Edward’s parish in Murphy Village, which is the community of Irish Travelers in South Carolina. The Irish Travelers are a group of traditionally itinerant peoples who make their living through manual labor. Most are devout Catholics. The community turned out in great numbers to pray for the repose of the soul of this former pastor of their parish. It was a very cultural and awakening experience.
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Entry for Saturday, January 26, 2008
Saturday, January 26th, 2008
Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever!
This has been a long week. The March for Life in DC and then the NET retreat for the Middle School confirmands were highlight events that filled but enlivened the week. God is good.
This morning I went to Augusta, Georgia (right over the Savannah River), and listened to Scott and Kimberly Hahn. They were both great speakers, but I particularly liked Kimberly’s presentation on the similarities between the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and Holy Matrimony. It was a powerful lecture which was delivered with emotion and conviction.
It seems there are so many great things happening in the Church. Come, Holy Spirit!
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Entry for Tuesday, January 22
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008
Praised be Jesus Christ!
Today I was with about 50 parishioners, many of them high school students, at the national March for Life in Washington, DC. It was an incredible event.
The Charleston group was able to meet up with our former Bishop, The Most Rev. Robert Baker, currently the Bishop of Birmingham. It was a grace and joy to see him again, and an honor to do the march with him.
Please pray for a conversion of hearts towards the unborn.
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Entry for Sunday, January 20, 2008
Sunday, January 20th, 2008
Praised be Jesus Christ!
This morning I was in North Augusta with the Catholic community there, and then came back to Aiken for Masses here. After the morning Masses, I met up with some good friends who were visiting from Charleston.
The Compton’s and Vaughan’s are old and cherished friends. It was such a joy to see them and have lunch with them. Along with them was my godson, who is one of the most spiritual babies out there!
***
I’d like to post a new question for the Middle School students of St. Mary Help of Christians: Why do we were green in the liturgy for Ordinary Time? What does it express? Good luck!
***
Tomorrow I head to Washington, DC, for the March for Life. Please pray for the young people who are going. They truly are Missionaries for Life.
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Entry for Saturday, January 19, 2008
Saturday, January 19th, 2008
Blessed be God forever!
In the hustle and bustle of a parish Saturday, I was reminded in several ways of our unique universal identity and obligation to serve one another.
It seems to be a constant temptation to close in on ourselves or to seek our own needs, and fail to see the greater needs of others or the greater unity of which we are all a part.
I spent a lot of today in a sister parish helping to cover some Masses, and to hearing two of our deacons (in English and Spanish) call for the disciples in this area to give generous help of prayer and finances to the community of disciples in Latin America.
It’s a good reminder and challenge to us all: Am I giving as much as I can? Is the Lord calling me to give more? Sometimes, we might be giving enough in material support, but lacking in our spiritual support of these efforts.
The call is great and broad, and each of us has different means and capacities for a response. It’s just important to discern and sincerely evaluate what we’re called to do, and what we’re able to do.
Come, Lord Jesus.
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Entry for Friday, January 18, 2008
Friday, January 18th, 2008
Praised be Jesus Christ!
Today the Catholic Church begins the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It’s the 100th anniversary of the occasion. It’s a real time to stop things and consider the call and desire of the Lord Jesus that his disciples be one (John 17).
I think sometimes there’s a temptation to dismiss ecumenism, but we have to remind ourselves that we’re summoned by Christ to do what we can to forge reconciliation and unity. As good disciples, we are called to hear and heed the call of the Master.
Please pray for authentic steps towards true unity and peace among Christians.
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Some Answers
Wednesday, January 16th, 2008
Praised be Jesus Christ!
I want to thank the Middle School students of St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic School for their answers to the question about Jesus’ baptism.
Jacob, McKenna, Michael, Curtis, Xavier, Josh, Mary Elizabeth, Breanna, and Pat gave well thought-out and good answers.
Their answers each form a part of the summary given by the “Catechism of the Catholic Church,” #1224:
“Our Lord voluntarily submitted himself to the baptism of St. John, intended for sinners, in order ‘to fulfill all righteousness’ (Mt 3:15). Jesus’ gesture is a manifestation of his self-emptying (Cf Phil Phil 2:7). The Spirit who had hovered over the waters of the first creation descended then on the Christ as a prelude of the new creation, and the Father revealed Jesus as his ‘beloved Son’ (Mt 3:16-17).”
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Questions for SMS
Sunday, January 13th, 2008
Dear Middle School Students: Are you ready for another round of questions? All right, here we go:
Questions: If Jesus had no sin, why was he baptized? This is a tough one – good luck!
Internet Challenge: What is the general intention and missionary intention of the Holy Father for the month of January?
Have fun!
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