2Corinthians 1:8-11
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the Province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this has happened that we might not rely on ourselves, but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us.
Commentary:
What they did in their distress: They trusted in God. And they were brought to this extremity in order that they should not trust in themselves, but God. Note, God often brings his people into great straits, that they may apprehend their own insufficiency to help themselves, and may be induced to place their trust and hope in His all sufficiency.
Our extremity is God's opportunity. In the mount will the Lord be seen; and we may safely trust in God, who raises the dead. God's raising the dead is a proof of His Almighty Power. He that can do this, can do anything, can do all things, and is worthy to be trusted at all times.
If we should be brought so low as to despair even of life, yet we may then trust in God, who can bring back not only from the gates, but from the jaws of death.
Past experiences are great encouragements to faith and hope, and they lay great obligations to trust in God for time to come. We reproach our experiences if we distrust God in future straits, who has delivered as in former troubles. (Matthew Henry)
I couldn't say it any better. All I can say from the experience of our own hurricane and pandemic twelve years ago is that the above is extremely hard to put into practice, especially in front of unbelieving friends and family. If you are very weak in peer pressure, now would be the time to cast that aside. It is very difficult to please God and family/friends, nearly impossible. It may be that you must choose one or the other. Choose wisely.
You may also hear many times that God only helps those that help themselves, that you need to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, that you need to put on your big boy or big girl pants, that you should be acting as though it is all on you, etc., etc. People may mean well, but none of these sayings are helpful or true when God Himself took your bootstraps, and your pants. The words of Jesus, "whoever tries to save their life will lose it" are very true. Much time is lost, and much sin committed in trying to save your life. Many will do whatever they can to save their worldly life. If this is not God's will, you will find yourself devastated, angry, and resentful.
If you truly desire to please God and follow His will, resolve now to surrender. Surrender it all no matter what. Pray for the grace of detachment, and the Blessed Mother will surely grant it.
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Sunday, March 29, 2020
What I Don't Miss about the Mass
It's been two weeks since our family has been to Mass. I used to love the Mass and couldn't wait to go. My daughters and I went to daily Mass for five years, then due to circumstances only God understands, we weren't able to any longer.
I had noticed the last few years that for some reason, the Mass was becoming laborious. I felt oppressed, stressed, distracted and frustrated. Since we've been away, I've had time to ponder why I feel almost relieved that there is no Mass. It sounds awful, but true. The only part of the Mass that I loved were the readings, and the Eucharist. I continued to labor through it because it is Jesus in the Eucharist. He died for us. It is His Death, brought forth on the altar, that drew me and kept me coming back. He alone is worthy of our Praise! The rest of it, however, was exhausting and draining. Burdensome in a worldly way. It was as if the weight of the world was hanging in the air, and coming out of the mouths on the altar. It was conflicting and aggravating. So, here is my list of The reasons I do not miss the Mass:
1. We no longer have to suffer the patronizing, pleading, manipulating and very often down right lying all done in the Name of Jesus.
2. We no longer have to suffer the worship of ourselves, our feelings, our weaknesses (or sin as it is usually called by God).
3. We no longer have to bear the emotional burdens of the priest or his political beliefs, couched in Jesus terms.
4. We no longer have to be subjected to the incessant forced "community" and "family" pressures.
5. We no longer have to have Advent and Lent, supposedly the most holy times of the Church year, be dominated by capital campaigns and CSA. The near constant desire for money, at least in our parish, had become nearly sinful and dominated the season of Advent and Lent.
6. We no longer have to be subjected to the musical performances by the cantors. Many weeks, I fully expected the church to burst into a standing ovation for their "great singing" or you could call it "entertaining."
7. We no longer have to clap and fake joy over every small volunteer act or mention.
8. We no longer have to cringe at the bizarre interpretations of the gospels, see #1.
9. We no longer have to be interrupted in our few moments of silence before receiving the Eucharist by the stragglers who insist on continuing on with the Sign of Peace, even though we are in the midst of the "Lamb of God."
10. We are free of the guilt that was always felt after Mass for feeling rather empty and wondering what the gospel was even about this week.
As I get older, I see that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is not simply a social gathering of "family." As I grow in my faith, I desire to worship God properly, in Spirit and in Truth. This has seemed nearly impossible in the Catholic Church of late. The spirit of the world has so permeated it that God the Father is nowhere to be found and a false image of Jesus has been promoted. A Jesus that is pleasing to the world, and is concerned about pleasing men. The Mass is not about us. Not in the way that it has been made out to be. The Sacrifice of the Mass is our means of worshiping God the Father. It is our means of reconciling with the Father, through the death of Jesus His Son. The Father instituted this for us, yes, but it is not to be about us. The priest is supposed to be offering the Sacrifice to God on our behalf, to forgive our sins, to reconcile us with Him, the Father and Creator of all things. The priest isn't supposed to be reading the prayers addressed to God to us,as though to placate us, to seek our favor but that is certainly what is feels like. It is as though the entire meaning and purpose of Mass has been lost. This needs to be restored through repentance.
I truly hope that when the lock down is lifted, we don't go back to our old way of doing things. I truly hope that this trial has it's effect, the effect God desires of such trials.
I had noticed the last few years that for some reason, the Mass was becoming laborious. I felt oppressed, stressed, distracted and frustrated. Since we've been away, I've had time to ponder why I feel almost relieved that there is no Mass. It sounds awful, but true. The only part of the Mass that I loved were the readings, and the Eucharist. I continued to labor through it because it is Jesus in the Eucharist. He died for us. It is His Death, brought forth on the altar, that drew me and kept me coming back. He alone is worthy of our Praise! The rest of it, however, was exhausting and draining. Burdensome in a worldly way. It was as if the weight of the world was hanging in the air, and coming out of the mouths on the altar. It was conflicting and aggravating. So, here is my list of The reasons I do not miss the Mass:
1. We no longer have to suffer the patronizing, pleading, manipulating and very often down right lying all done in the Name of Jesus.
2. We no longer have to suffer the worship of ourselves, our feelings, our weaknesses (or sin as it is usually called by God).
3. We no longer have to bear the emotional burdens of the priest or his political beliefs, couched in Jesus terms.
4. We no longer have to be subjected to the incessant forced "community" and "family" pressures.
5. We no longer have to have Advent and Lent, supposedly the most holy times of the Church year, be dominated by capital campaigns and CSA. The near constant desire for money, at least in our parish, had become nearly sinful and dominated the season of Advent and Lent.
6. We no longer have to be subjected to the musical performances by the cantors. Many weeks, I fully expected the church to burst into a standing ovation for their "great singing" or you could call it "entertaining."
7. We no longer have to clap and fake joy over every small volunteer act or mention.
8. We no longer have to cringe at the bizarre interpretations of the gospels, see #1.
9. We no longer have to be interrupted in our few moments of silence before receiving the Eucharist by the stragglers who insist on continuing on with the Sign of Peace, even though we are in the midst of the "Lamb of God."
10. We are free of the guilt that was always felt after Mass for feeling rather empty and wondering what the gospel was even about this week.
As I get older, I see that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is not simply a social gathering of "family." As I grow in my faith, I desire to worship God properly, in Spirit and in Truth. This has seemed nearly impossible in the Catholic Church of late. The spirit of the world has so permeated it that God the Father is nowhere to be found and a false image of Jesus has been promoted. A Jesus that is pleasing to the world, and is concerned about pleasing men. The Mass is not about us. Not in the way that it has been made out to be. The Sacrifice of the Mass is our means of worshiping God the Father. It is our means of reconciling with the Father, through the death of Jesus His Son. The Father instituted this for us, yes, but it is not to be about us. The priest is supposed to be offering the Sacrifice to God on our behalf, to forgive our sins, to reconcile us with Him, the Father and Creator of all things. The priest isn't supposed to be reading the prayers addressed to God to us,as though to placate us, to seek our favor but that is certainly what is feels like. It is as though the entire meaning and purpose of Mass has been lost. This needs to be restored through repentance.
I truly hope that when the lock down is lifted, we don't go back to our old way of doing things. I truly hope that this trial has it's effect, the effect God desires of such trials.
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