Wednesday, November 30, 2016
The Coming of Christ
By Fred Vilbig
So we are in Advent.
Advent has always struck me as kind of an odd season. We are told that we are waiting for the coming of Christ, but that’s a little ambiguous for me.
In a way, there are four “comings.” There is the first coming when God became man by taking on flesh from the Virgin Mary and was born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger. I think that is the “coming” that most people associate with Christmas.
Then there will be the final coming, what we refer to as the Second Coming at the end of time. Notwithstanding all of the attention on the supposed “Parousia” (the whole “left-behind” thing), Paul tells us in 1st Thessalonians 4:16-18 that on the voice of an angel and the sound of a trumpet, Christ Himself will descend from Heaven (just as He ascended (Acts 1:11)), and the Saints will be caught up into the clouds with Him.
But it seems to me that there are two other “comings” in our lives as well. One of those was often brought home to me by my mother. Living in Texas, we often had Jehovah’s Witnesses come to the door. They would always want to talk about the end of the world, the Second Coming. My mom would always ask them why they were so worried about that. If they were crossing the street and got hit by a bus, wouldn’t that be the end of the world for them? They always left a little confused. But in a sense, she was right. Our own deaths will be a “coming” because we will all see God in our particular judgment at that time.
The last “coming” is the one where Jesus comes into our lives in a personal encounter. Perhaps “coming” is the wrong word since He is always right “there” in the depths of our hearts, at the root of our being, just waiting for us to turn to Him. And if we are attentive to it, the “coming” can be an ever-growing Presence in our lives. Jesus is God, and God is infinite. We will never in this life and even in eternity fully grasp the infinite beauty, love, and perfection of God.
It is that last “coming” that I associate with Advent. Yes, we should remember the Birth at Bethlehem and hope for the Second Coming, but I think Advent should be a time to focus on becoming more aware of the Presence of God in our hearts, and all around us for that matter. The Church tells us to take some time during Advent to pray quietly and come to know Jesus more deeply. We should be doing this year-round, but we get caught up in “busy-ness.” Advent should be a time to allow Jesus to come into our lives more fully, more deeply.
To me, that is the meaning and purpose of Advent. We should take time to be with Jesus, so that we can love Him more and more. And as St. John of the Cross says, in the end, we will all be judged on love.
Happy Advent, and Merry Christmas.
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Speak Lord Your Servant is Listening...
Here I am on the other side of the world celebrating mass outside the very spot where Jesus told Simone that he would now be Peter, the rock on which our Catholic Church would be built. We are outside in a small circular amphitheater with an altar in the front. There is a giant olive tree behind the altar, which is all framed by the glistening Sea of Galilee. It’s beautiful. I’m feeling guilty because everyone around me seems so full of excitement, yet I seem to be full of doubt. Why am I here? Did all of this really happen? How do they know?
After mass our guide begins to tell a story. I had heard these passages before, but not like this. He began with when Peter had denied Jesus three times. He mentions that the third time was from a slave who was warming by the fire. After the crucifixion and resurrection, the apostles returned to Galilee. Peter went back to what he knew, fishing. I’m sitting at the very spot where Jesus appeared on the shore, warming himself next to a fire, reminding Peter of that final denial. Peter doesn’t recognize his friend. There are several instances in the New Testament where people who should know Jesus don’t recognize him. Our guide suggested that when we allow sin to creep back into our life, it becomes more difficult for us to see truth. Peter finally realizes who it is after this stranger helped them fill their nets again with fish. Jesus invites them to come and have breakfast. I touched the rock believed to be where they all gathered to eat.
This is when Jesus asked Peter “Simone, son of John, do you love me more than these? Peter answers, “Yes Lord, I love you.” First of all, Jesus doesn’t call him Peter. He calls him Simone. Ouch. Peter is getting ready to learn another lesson from his master. The word Jesus used for love when he asks the question, was the highest form of unconditional love -“agape". When Peter responded to Jesus, the word he used was a much lower form of the word - “phileo” which is more of a friendship love. It was almost like replying, “Yes Lord, I like you.” Here Jesus repeats the question three times, reminding Peter again of the three times he denied him. The third time Jesus concedes and uses the word phileo. Jesus is calling Peter to a deeper love, however Peter is admitting to Jesus, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I 'phileo' you”. Jesus is compromising with Peter, meeting him where he is at. This man has denied Jesus in his greatest time of need. He tried to walk on the water, but started to sink because as Jesus points out, he has little faith. And here he is admitting that his love for Jesus is not the same deep, unwavering love that Jesus has for him. This is the rock Jesus chose to build the church.
At times, I am just like Peter, wanting to go back to a simple life of fishing, denying His call for my life. We also went to the spot where the miracle of the loaves and fishes took place. As I am picturing the thousands of people across the terrain, I think of the broken Peter like ‘phileo’ love I have for God, and pray that he will multiply it into something beautiful.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Presence ... Heat, Light, Love
I woke of this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now
Thought, how'd we ever get so far down
How's it ever gonna turn around
So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, "God, why don't You do something?"
Well, I just couldn't bear the thought of
People living in poverty
Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, "God, why don't You do something?"
He said, "I did, I created you."
-lyrics "Do Something" by Matthew West
Whether young or old, you’ve heard the question. Is God good?
The liberties I took in creating the fictional dialogue above have a few similarities to an argument attributed to a youthful Einstein and his philosophic atheistic professor. The original piece, has never been verified as Einstein’s thoughts. However, it resonated with me as a college student. As I wrestled with evil’s origin and essence, I have largely dismissed the fallen angel scenario linking God possibly to creating evil. I was annoyed by others’ vindicated claims ‘the devil made me do it’ or that evil personified was somewhere ‘out there’ beyond my responsibility lurking for opportunities.
A young, cocky, agnostic Einstein once defended that scientists were not responsible for addressing the advantages and detriments of a discovery’s impact on society. The emerging issue of his time was Fermi’s development of the chain reaction and its promise of nuclear energy vs the destructive might of atomic weapons. Though Einstein argued against quantum mechanics at the time, the maturing physicist quickly grew to understand his responsibility in weighing the horrors of atomic warfare. He also understood both good and evil occupy the hearts of men and women.
Throughout our democratic elections, we’ve seen and heard, perhaps been a part of the ugliness and hatred among our presidential candidates, candidates for whom well over 50% of their supporters disliked. Popular media fed the frenzy saturating us with disgust. I’ve sensed a general surrender of hope to cynicism. I’ve watched over time well before the campaigns began, a dissolution for goodness to inconsistent, ego-centric interests.
It is dangerous to think that evil is distant, “somewhere out there” … or to scapegoat, blame the “other” as okay. Evil is more pervasive encouraging one to avoid relationships and empathy for others by allowing the convenient escape into entertainment and consumption. Christian writer and pastor, Johann Christoph Arnold commented people are “Paying to be distracted, (instantaneous cellular, television, Wi-Fi bundles) we let our hearts become callous and are unable to see the world from another’s perspective.”
The vast majority of people carry a little bit of evil and a lot of good. “God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female … God looked at everything he had made and he found it very good.” Gn 1:27-31
Though the pervasive nature of distrust spreads through us all, we, as a community, must come together to live, share, and build the good. We are called to love … to love generously. And that can be tough! It’s easy to empathize with the poor, sick, homeless, imprisoned, … but what about empathizing, walking in the shoes of one holding different values with whom we disagree? We must build change upon authentic dialogue and relationships. Active loving, fulfilling hope must rise from consistent modeled action, not from sensationalized deceiving rhetoric. As novelist and environmental activist, Wendell Berry states, “If change is to come, it will come from the margins. It was the desert, not the temple, that gave us the prophets.”
A socialist, Eugene Debs came from the margins. Debs struggled to understand Archbishop Romero’s support for the poor and disadvantaged of El Salvador, a country under extreme oppression. Years later, Debs wrote of his own transformation, “I recognized my kinship with all living human beings, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest person on earth. I said then, and I say it now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” When we approach the suffering, the differences of others in this way – by making it our own–we will find that, far from defeating us, it will stir us to compassion and positive action. Moreover, we will find that through community we may seed love and hope for the future.
We will continue to struggle with our personal demons, addictions, but hopefully not alone. Our disease of the spirit won’t simply go away and stay away. But we can choose to turn the battle against it into a positive one – even into a source of strength. Dan, a patient who lost his fight with cancer shared with his care givers throughout his journey, “… the fires through which we must go will leave us either scarred or refined.”
As I’ve written earlier, I do not think the Kingdom is “out there”. Though incomplete and broken, we, our community, are all part of an ever-forming Kingdom “here and now.” I find confidence, wisdom in Mother Teresa’s words. “Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do … but how much love we put in that action.”
On behalf of the PX-90 men, as Thanksgiving approaches, celebrate family, friendship, goodness and the joy of fellowship … and give thanks for the gifts our Father bestows!
PS: Pretty popular so an ad will be attached. Skip it. The Spirit moves through this video. Enjoy!
Saw a world full of trouble now
Thought, how'd we ever get so far down
How's it ever gonna turn around
So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, "God, why don't You do something?"
Well, I just couldn't bear the thought of
People living in poverty
Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, "God, why don't You do something?"
He said, "I did, I created you."
-lyrics "Do Something" by Matthew West
Yes, is generally the reply, God is good.
Is God all-powerful? Can God do
anything?
Yes.
Let’s say there’s a sick person, can you cure them?
I may guide them,
hopefully in most cases, in the right direction to be cured.
My brother died of cancer. I
prayed to God for healing. He did not
heal him. Is God good?
Yes.
According to what I’ve been taught, Satan came from a fallen angel
created by God. If the all-powerful God
created everything, didn’t God create evil as well as sickness, immorality, and
hatred?
…..
What is the essence of cold?
Heat is the measure of change
of molecular kinetic energy (how fast molecules move or vibrate).
Temperature gages molecular motion.
The higher the temperature, the greater the motion. The lower the temperature, the slower the
molecules. At absolute zero, 0 kelvin or -458 Fahrenheit, there is no molecular
vibration or motion. High or low, heat
measures the change in molecular motion.
Cold is not heat’s opposite. Cold
is the absence of heat.
What is darkness in our visible
region of sight?
It is the absence of
energy able to stimulate our visual receptors.
Even a single photon can stimulate a receptor. In the absence of a single photon, one cannot
make dark, darker. Darkness is the
absence of light.
Is God good?
Yes.
Did God create evil?
No. Evil is the rejection of God’s love. Love is union with others in God. Evil
is the absence of love.
The liberties I took in creating the fictional dialogue above have a few similarities to an argument attributed to a youthful Einstein and his philosophic atheistic professor. The original piece, has never been verified as Einstein’s thoughts. However, it resonated with me as a college student. As I wrestled with evil’s origin and essence, I have largely dismissed the fallen angel scenario linking God possibly to creating evil. I was annoyed by others’ vindicated claims ‘the devil made me do it’ or that evil personified was somewhere ‘out there’ beyond my responsibility lurking for opportunities.
A young, cocky, agnostic Einstein once defended that scientists were not responsible for addressing the advantages and detriments of a discovery’s impact on society. The emerging issue of his time was Fermi’s development of the chain reaction and its promise of nuclear energy vs the destructive might of atomic weapons. Though Einstein argued against quantum mechanics at the time, the maturing physicist quickly grew to understand his responsibility in weighing the horrors of atomic warfare. He also understood both good and evil occupy the hearts of men and women.
Throughout our democratic elections, we’ve seen and heard, perhaps been a part of the ugliness and hatred among our presidential candidates, candidates for whom well over 50% of their supporters disliked. Popular media fed the frenzy saturating us with disgust. I’ve sensed a general surrender of hope to cynicism. I’ve watched over time well before the campaigns began, a dissolution for goodness to inconsistent, ego-centric interests.
It is dangerous to think that evil is distant, “somewhere out there” … or to scapegoat, blame the “other” as okay. Evil is more pervasive encouraging one to avoid relationships and empathy for others by allowing the convenient escape into entertainment and consumption. Christian writer and pastor, Johann Christoph Arnold commented people are “Paying to be distracted, (instantaneous cellular, television, Wi-Fi bundles) we let our hearts become callous and are unable to see the world from another’s perspective.”
The vast majority of people carry a little bit of evil and a lot of good. “God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female … God looked at everything he had made and he found it very good.” Gn 1:27-31
Though the pervasive nature of distrust spreads through us all, we, as a community, must come together to live, share, and build the good. We are called to love … to love generously. And that can be tough! It’s easy to empathize with the poor, sick, homeless, imprisoned, … but what about empathizing, walking in the shoes of one holding different values with whom we disagree? We must build change upon authentic dialogue and relationships. Active loving, fulfilling hope must rise from consistent modeled action, not from sensationalized deceiving rhetoric. As novelist and environmental activist, Wendell Berry states, “If change is to come, it will come from the margins. It was the desert, not the temple, that gave us the prophets.”
A socialist, Eugene Debs came from the margins. Debs struggled to understand Archbishop Romero’s support for the poor and disadvantaged of El Salvador, a country under extreme oppression. Years later, Debs wrote of his own transformation, “I recognized my kinship with all living human beings, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest person on earth. I said then, and I say it now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; and while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” When we approach the suffering, the differences of others in this way – by making it our own–we will find that, far from defeating us, it will stir us to compassion and positive action. Moreover, we will find that through community we may seed love and hope for the future.
We will continue to struggle with our personal demons, addictions, but hopefully not alone. Our disease of the spirit won’t simply go away and stay away. But we can choose to turn the battle against it into a positive one – even into a source of strength. Dan, a patient who lost his fight with cancer shared with his care givers throughout his journey, “… the fires through which we must go will leave us either scarred or refined.”
As I’ve written earlier, I do not think the Kingdom is “out there”. Though incomplete and broken, we, our community, are all part of an ever-forming Kingdom “here and now.” I find confidence, wisdom in Mother Teresa’s words. “Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do … but how much love we put in that action.”
On behalf of the PX-90 men, as Thanksgiving approaches, celebrate family, friendship, goodness and the joy of fellowship … and give thanks for the gifts our Father bestows!
PS: Pretty popular so an ad will be attached. Skip it. The Spirit moves through this video. Enjoy!
Thursday, November 10, 2016
The Election
by Fred Vilbig
Winston Churchill is quoted as saying, “democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”
Although for reasons I have previously stated, I was relieved by the recent election results (I was losing sleep before it), I know that about one-half of all voting Americans were upset by it. Several were very upset.
I noticed (even in my own family) a generational divide in the election. I think that another famous quote from Churchill shows that: “Show me a young Conservative, and I'll show you someone with no heart. Show me an old liberal, and I'll show you someone with no brains.”
The problem for many of us is that neither party really reflects a true Catholic perspective. I think that a Catholic politician would be either a moderate Republican or a Pro-Life Democrat. Politicians of either of those persuasions are few and far between.
Even if you were a Trump supporter, you cannot assume that he is going to do the right thing. You cannot assume that your elected officials are going to do what needs to be done to move the country in a positive direction. Years ago I was reluctantly appointed to the Ellisville City Council (I hung up on the mayor at least 7 times before I agreed to serve).It was a miserable experience. Even in a small town like Ellisville, the egos were huge. I just wanted to get done with the work and go home. I can’t imagine what it is like at the state or national level. And I assume that the people who want those jobs generally have larger than normal egos.
So the question for all of us is what should we do now? In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul told his disciple, Timothy, that we should we should offer prayers for those in authority over us so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives in godliness and holiness. It is interesting to note that Paul was apparently writing this right after his first imprisonment in Rome. He had been arrested in Jerusalem out of the envy of the Jews, and as a Citizen of Rome, he appealed to the Emperor. When that happened, the prisoner was sent to Rome for trial. So even after having been in some sort of confinement, he was telling Timothy to pray for those in authority.
And that is what we should be doing as well. No matter how you feel about the recent election, in all charity pray for those who were elected and for those who were defeated. We should also try to work with any of our friends and families who are angry and upset over the outcome, and pray for them as well. We should all work toward a more just and charitable community, state, and nation, in whatever way you can.
But above all, pray. May God have mercy on our country. It’s the only one we have.
Winston Churchill is quoted as saying, “democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”
Although for reasons I have previously stated, I was relieved by the recent election results (I was losing sleep before it), I know that about one-half of all voting Americans were upset by it. Several were very upset.
I noticed (even in my own family) a generational divide in the election. I think that another famous quote from Churchill shows that: “Show me a young Conservative, and I'll show you someone with no heart. Show me an old liberal, and I'll show you someone with no brains.”
The problem for many of us is that neither party really reflects a true Catholic perspective. I think that a Catholic politician would be either a moderate Republican or a Pro-Life Democrat. Politicians of either of those persuasions are few and far between.
Even if you were a Trump supporter, you cannot assume that he is going to do the right thing. You cannot assume that your elected officials are going to do what needs to be done to move the country in a positive direction. Years ago I was reluctantly appointed to the Ellisville City Council (I hung up on the mayor at least 7 times before I agreed to serve).It was a miserable experience. Even in a small town like Ellisville, the egos were huge. I just wanted to get done with the work and go home. I can’t imagine what it is like at the state or national level. And I assume that the people who want those jobs generally have larger than normal egos.
So the question for all of us is what should we do now? In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Paul told his disciple, Timothy, that we should we should offer prayers for those in authority over us so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives in godliness and holiness. It is interesting to note that Paul was apparently writing this right after his first imprisonment in Rome. He had been arrested in Jerusalem out of the envy of the Jews, and as a Citizen of Rome, he appealed to the Emperor. When that happened, the prisoner was sent to Rome for trial. So even after having been in some sort of confinement, he was telling Timothy to pray for those in authority.
And that is what we should be doing as well. No matter how you feel about the recent election, in all charity pray for those who were elected and for those who were defeated. We should also try to work with any of our friends and families who are angry and upset over the outcome, and pray for them as well. We should all work toward a more just and charitable community, state, and nation, in whatever way you can.
But above all, pray. May God have mercy on our country. It’s the only one we have.
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Agape
II Chronicles 34:29-32
Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book. Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and Benjamin pledge themselves to it; the people of Jerusalem did this in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.
Last month I attended my second CRHP retreat at Holy Infant in September, this time as a member of the Formation Team. As a witness (Spiritual Renewal) and table leader this retreat was even more meaningful and special to me than my first in January 2016 as an attendee. Preparation and brotherhood with the 36 Formation Team and my original CRHP 35 keyed me in to what I should expect at my second CRHP. As a leader this time my experience was much more spiritually enriching and rewarding (apostolic if you will), knowing that the men at my table relied on me. Throughout this weekend of faith renewal there were surprises aplenty, and I can discuss those at another time. For this blog I will discuss the first surprise of the CRHP weekend, our Agape service.
So what is Agape? First of all it is pronounced AhGahPay, translated as "love: the highest form of love, especially brotherly love, charity; the love of God for man and of man for God." The noun form first occurs in the Septuagint, but the verb form goes as far back as Homer, translated literally as affection, as in "greet with affection" and "show affection for the dead." Agape is selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love, the highest of the four types of love in the Bible. This Greek word and variations of it are found throughout the New Testament. Agape love involves faithfulness, commitment, and an act of the will. It is distinguished from the other types of love by its lofty moral nature and strong character.
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