Archive for November, 2009
Once again, Advent is upon us. A time of reflection and preparation. I was in a new liturgical role for this 1st Sunday of Advent, which in fact, begins a new liturgical year. I was a Lector. The readings start with a bold statement by the Lord God, letting us know something big would happen to set things straight. A very special person would come to the people of Israel who would do just that.
St. Paul in the second reading, exhorts in a prayerful way, for people to continue to act in the manner he had taught them–not that they were not doing so already–but exhorting them to do so even more. St. Luke in our Gospel reading paints a picture of turbulent cosmic action, where the Lord’s return will be so spectacular, that people would literally be scared to death. So, we must be vigilant, not taken off guard, and we must await anxiously for this day to come. We should not be afraid, but look upon this moment with longing and with joyfulness.
So, we kick off the new liturgical year, and once again, begin the telling our story of salvation history. And by doing so, we prepare ourselves in mind and spirit, for the coming of the Lord Jesus, into our hearts and in human history.
May yours be a blessed journey!
November 30 2009 | celebrations and liturgy | No Comments »
Last night, as we were celebrating the vigil of Thanksgiving, I was reminded that we are people of constant thanksgiving. We give thanks each and every time we come to church, thankful and ever mindful of our manifold blessings.
There are many moments where my life’s been touched by something I’ve learned, or someone I’ve met. These experiences
celebrate the uniqueness of every individual, yet also celebrate our commonality. I feel blessed to be able to learn from such committed professors and study with such fine individuals who both bring their God-given gifts to bear in ministry. In commitment to formation and service. Service has been the biggest change in my life. To think I would get to spend time like this with others, would have been unthinkable a year or more ago. But, Love is patient and kind.
I am also thankful for my family, who has always loved and supported me through tough times. I now get to spend time with my younger brother and sister, both nurses, and get to witness their genuine love and care for the sick. It fills me with such pride to have watched them called into their vocations, being formed and commissioned to carry out that service to their brothers and sisters in need. Something I share in common. Both of them have affirmed my own vocational call–to minister to these same people in their spiritual need–by their reciprocal love and support. I find it a blessing that we all work together at the same hospital, in ways each are affected by the movement of their heart.
In these ways, I find myself ever thankful, not just one time of year, but always. In enjoying the gifts God’s graced us with, and having the sense to be grateful for them.
Why? Because I find myself acting in opposite to those healed lepers in the gospel reading last night. You know, the ones that Jesus heals and who had failed to come and offer any thanks for the healing. Lately I feel much like the one who did. I’ve learned, while Jesus acknowledges the others absence, he doesn’t dwell on it, rather, he chooses to spend time and enjoyment with the one that did. A good lesson for me to remember, God does notice the lack of acknowledgment, but rather dwelling on those that don’t–rejoices with those of us that do.
God bless you all.
November 26 2009 | celebrations | No Comments »
Several years ago, my wife, daughter and I took a course hosted by the Tacoma Mountaineers titled, “Mountain Oriented First Aid” or “MOFA” for short. In this course, we learned to provide First Aid to victims of injuries sustained in mountaineering. It was a course that many in the medical field had difficulty with. The reason is, you must treat the patient only with those items in their backpack and they are used to treating in a clinical environment with rooms full of equipment and supplies.
One of the highlights was treating and providing comfort care to the unconscious patient. The cardinal rule was, treat them as you would the conscious.
In a seminar I attended on the final rights of the dying, it was stated that the last thing to cease, was the hearing. I don’t know about you, but I would be mortified if the last thing my loved one heard was some flippant comment about them by me. So please, treat them as you would those that are present.
My point is that often, medical people get it wrong, make mistakes in diagnosing because they are human.
A remarkable story:
A car crash victim has spoken of the horror he endured for 23 years after he was misdiagnosed as being in a coma when he was conscious the whole time. Rom Houben, trapped in his paralysed body after a car crash, described his real-life nightmare as he screamed to doctors that he could hear them – but could make no sound.’I screamed, but there was nothing to hear,’ said Mr Houben, now 46, who doctors thought was in a persistent vegatative state.
I cannot imagine what that is like, to be aware and trying to communicate and no one can hear. I think it’s remarkable that he has learned to communicate with his family and friends through a computer.
‘I want to read, talk with my friends via the computer and enjoy my life now that people know I am not dead.’
I think that’s great.
November 24 2009 | inspiration and pro-life and respect life | No Comments »
Saturday evening, we as a group were notified by the Vicar for Clergy, that Archbishop Brunett has received and accepted all of our petitions for Candidacy. This is an important step for us on our journey toward ordination as a Roman Catholic Deacon.
As a recap, last year was termed, our Aspirancy year. Not like aspirin, but as to aspire or aspiring. We are aspiring to become Deacons. The main focus in Aspirancy, was on discernment for Candidacy. It’s a big decision. Not only for us, but for our wives, children and extended family. Lots to consider, ranging from our jobs up through our spirituality. It was exciting not only to get to know one another as classmates, but ourselves as well. Aspirancy, was a path in itself, to which we were called by the Archbishop. He called, we responded.
Last July, after June Synthesis weekend, we waited to hear if we would be accepted into Candidacy. Everything we did was reviewed. This is because we have to be presented by the Church, that is, the body of Christ. It is our church that says, yes, they are qualified, and ready. It was a very anxious time for us, as some of our classmates were not selected. I would not want that job of evaluating and selection. It is hard and painful for all involved.
Selection is one thing, but we must petition in writing after selection to continue.
Here, we petitioned to take the next path, Candidacy. The Archbishop heard and responded by accepting our petitions. We are making a free-will choice to undergo a more intensive part of formation. It will raise the bar so-to-speak to the next level, challenging us to the task of even more discernment and balance of our lives.
The Rite of Candidacy is that formal presentation of ourselves to the Bishop, we will make both our intention and presence known and are resolved to undergo formation, and in turn be formally received, welcomed and blessed for this next part of the journey. I am very excited. A little nervous, but anxious to see what God has in store for me next. I know my brothers feel the same. Our lives will not be the same, because we are truly becoming public witnesses and ministers. I pray for God’s grace to be upon us all.
At this stage, I think it necessary to state the purpose of my blog. It is to chronicle my journey toward the Diaconate. To share with friends and family or whoever may find it interesting this journey I’m on.
If you have any interest in witnessing the Rite of Candidacy, it will be held at St. James Cathedral in Seattle, WA on December 6th, 2009 at 2pm and all are welcome.
November 23 2009 | celebrations and formation | 3 Comments »
Yesterday’s celebration of the Feast of Christ the King reminded me of the often forgotten purpose of us as Christians. That is, we must always and everywhere work for the coming of His Kingdom.
Isn’t that what we pray for in the Lord’s prayer? Is it what we believe?
“Come, let us worship Jesus Christ, the King of kings.”
Colossians reminds us in our reading for mid morning prayer:
“We thank the Father who has made it possible for us to share in the saints’ inheritance of light. He has taken us out of the power of darkness and created a place for us in the kingdom of the Son that he loves.”
And again the same letter speaks to us again in the noon time reading:
“All things were created through him and for him. Before anything was created, he existed, and he holds all things in unity. Now the Church is his body, he is its head. As he is the Beginning, he was first to be born from the dead, so that he should be first in every way.”
Finally, in the reading for afternoon prayer, Colossians says:
“God wanted all perfection to be found in him and all things to be reconciled through him and for him, everything in heaven and everything on earth, when he made peace by his death on the cross.”
I was reminded that the ways we work for this Kingdom, is often in conflict with the world around us. But that conflict doesn’t have to always be in shouting matches or protest. In fact, often, the best witness of this Kingdom, is going about in simple, quiet resolve performing faithful and faith-filled service to others.
Think that don’t make a difference? Sometimes, I’m tempted to think so.
However, gentle reminders to the effectiveness of quiet, patient resolve surface.
Yesterday, while on our monthly formation weekend, we were told of someone who wrote a letter to the Archdiocese, sharing their experience with a hospital chaplain–who is in our the formation class–that witnessed in the manner I just described. This person writing, who hadn’t had “any” good experiences with chaplains in the past, was overwhelmed with the patience and kindness this chaplain had demonstrated.
Get the picture?
Overwhelmed with patience and kindness. I was overwhelmed by the story myself, because that is my ministry. And this person, whoever they may be, has lived the image of bringing the Kingdom of Christ–to the ones needing it the most. It also spoke to me about how the Grace of God, was working within that person’s life. Which was something else we touched on this weekend. Cooperation with grace. Grace is a gift. It is much like prayer, always initiated by God. We can only respond to grace. Grace enables us to love without counting the cost. Enables us to respond with patience and kindness, enables us to act apart from our own desires.
All this brought two important questions to my mind,
What are you doing to bring about his Kingdom?
How will you answer, “Who do you say that I am?”
I know my answer.
November 23 2009 | celebrations and formation and ministry | No Comments »
My last posting was on a seminar hosted by the Seattle Archdioceses, which provided some much needed training in this area. Almost 2 weeks ago, my supervisor at the hospital asked me to attend another, hosted by the Hospice of Kitsap county. It was about the care of the dying, and respecting/fulfilling final wishes. This was another stellar class! It helped to prepare me–for what I think is–God’s plan for me. Helping patients and their families with this difficult moment, which is both an honor and blessing.
Both educational events, helped me to handle the pastoral care needs of this last Tuesday at the hospital. With this training, I was able provide this much needed pastoral care for this patient and his family. If anyone would’ve told me this as little as a year ago, that I would be doing work like this , I would have promptly told them they were nuts. No way. I just did envision it.
But! The miracle I am witnessing in my life, is due to the kind of formation I am receiving, as I approach the possibility of becoming a Roman Catholic Deacon. I am learning of so many gifts I have been given that are buried deep within me–and this is changing my life.
Serving God in this way feels good and is right where I want to be.
If you ever feel the slightest bit inclined toward service, follow it. It is God who is calling you into relationship.
Peace to all.
November 19 2009 | formation | No Comments »
