|
Medjugorje
Message: November 25, 2012 |
|
Published by the Marian Center of San Antonio / A Catholic
Evangelization Ministry In this beautiful Advent message, Our Lady invites us to a
penitential practice that will prepare us for the full enjoyment and
appreciation of Christmas. She says, “In this time of grace, I call all of
you to renew prayer. Open yourselves to Holy Confession so that each of you may accept my call with the whole heart.” As
always, Our Lady frames her call to prayer in terms of “opening.” The imperative that we open our hearts and minds is ever
the precursor to spiritual growth and intimacy with God. We cannot receive
and accept what Heaven offers us until we have prepared an open
space within our hearts that are so
often glutted and overstuffed with worldly “fluff” and the materialistic
obsessions of our culture (especially during the “holiday season”). This emptying
of toxic, meaningless excess through prayer and Confession leads us to wholeness, the capacity to “accept…with the whole heart.” Our Lady’s
call in Medjugorje is the Gospel call to conversion, to change the direction in which we look for happiness—away
from self-centered agendas and toward the Divine will for our life.
This call beckons us to evolve to a higher level of God-consciousness
and Christ-like love. Yet who among us really accepts this call “with the
whole heart”? Wholehearted acceptance requires our entire
being to respond in openness: body, mind, emotions, and spirit. But very few human beings are “whole” in
our response to the call of Jesus and Mary. In our practice of Christianity,
as in every area of life, we are partial at best in our attention and
commitment. Many of us live our entire Christian journey at the intellectual
or “head” level only, learning by rote the
Catechism, doctrines, prayers, and rules of the Church, the protocol of
proper behavior, or maybe even the theological and mystical teachings of
saints and popular spirituality. Our breadth of knowledge and information may
be impressive, but often it is confined to the gray matter between our ears—intellectual
only, with no penetration to our emotional, instinctive, or moving
centers that are integral parts of our total being or essence. Various types of Christians are lopsided in their response to the
Gospel call in other ways, with the weight of their attention loaded on the
instinctive or emotional centers, or the compulsive “doing”ness
of the physical/bodily dimension. Whatever our particular aberration may be, there are few among us who do not suffer some
imbalance—overdeveloped and underdeveloped areas of response—that prevent a
"wholehearted” YES to God with every part of our
being integrated and participating in
the consent. Jesus said, “Whoever does not gather with me, scatters.”(Matt 12:30) Indeed, we are not one whole person; rather, in the egoic false self, “our name is Legion for we are many” (Mk 5:9), with the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of
ourselves disjointed, conflicting, wanting different things, and running in
opposing directions. Ideally we would experience an inner
unity of what we think, what we
feel, what we say, and what we do as ONE. However, the fundamental “disconnect” between our various centers
paves the way for our sinful choices and actions, as one moment our bodily
hormones dictate our behavior, another moment our raging emotions, another
moment our rational intellect alone, etc.; there is no permanent “I” in the
driver’s seat, but a motley crew within, “running the show” from moment to
moment. Our Lady invites us to see and admit the
truth about ourselves as the first step toward a
holistic, complete, and heartful acceptance of her
call; she says: “Open yourselves to Holy
Confession.” Here are the very first words of Jesus’ public ministry and
the words of His precursor, John the Baptist: “Repent,
for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand!” To prepare the way of the
Lord’s “Advent” or coming—his coming into history at Bethlehem, his
coming into public ministry at the Jordan, his coming into human hearts and
lives throughout the centuries, his coming at the moment of each one’s death,
and his coming into the world at its end and final hour—we are counseled,
again and again, to “repent.” This most humble, holy and sacred act that we as human beings are
uniquely able and privileged to do is sacramentalized
in the Church as “Holy Confession” or the Rite of Reconciliation. Our Lady
tells us that if we open ourselves to Confession, we are empowered to accept
her call “with the whole heart.” Thus repentance for sins and
confessing the full truth about ourselves makes us whole; it begins knitting together the disparate, fragmented parts of our
being—body, intellect, emotions, and spirit—into one integral functioning
essence, a fit dwelling place for God. Our Lady’s message goes on to affirm our own necessary role and
responsibility in our personal spiritual journey; no one else can “do it for
us”—we must each walk our own path and “discover [for ourselves] the
love and the joy of living” through the personal discipline of “opening”
to the change needed for our own holiness/wholeness. Last
month Our Lady warned of “satan attracting many
hearts to sin and perdition,” but now assures us: “I am
with you and I protect you from the ruin of sin, but you must open yourselves to the way of conversion and
holiness.” How comforting to know that
Our Blessed Mother, while not interfering with our choices or preventing our
sinful actions, nevertheless “protects us from the ruin of sin.” Closeness to Mary is a proven shield, invincible armor and
incomparable spiritual safeguard in every age. In fact, a large part of her
protective power from the “ruin of sin” is the courage and confidence
she gives us by her companionship (“I am with you”) to look honestly at ourselves in an authentic examination
of consciousness and conscience. Our Lady says that opening ourselves to the changes that lead to our
wholeness will cause “our heart to burn out of love for
God.” This is the passionate ecstasy that all
lovers experience when their hearts have opened completely to each other
in total vulnerability and transparency, hiding nothing, eager and willing to
change anything that is hurtful to the Beloved. Such burning
open-heartedness is the hallmark of true lovers who have given themselves
totally. Our Lady’s message ends with the practical teaching of “how” to
reach this blissful state of burning love that can make a heaven of this
earthly life. How does mutual love and understanding grow between any two
persons? Time spent together. Our Lady says, “Give Him time and He will give Himself to you and thus, in the will of God you will discover the love and the joy
of living.” How do we “give God time,” so that God will give Himself to us? A
wonderful place to start this Advent is a regular daily prayer
practice, including a nightly
examination of conscience in light of the day’s events; a dedicated
time for silent meditation, with open-hearted consent to God’s presence
and action within; and monthly celebration of the sacrament of “Holy
Confession.” In this way we will be shown more clearly than ever the
Divine Will for our life, and “in the will of God we
will discover the love and joy of living.”
Happy Advent and Merry
Christmas! December
Musings: “Daily
Awareness Examen”—Examination of Consciousness
& Conscience . . . the Joys of Advent & Christmas In this month’s Medjugorje message, Our Lady calls us to “Holy
Confession.” The starting point for a fruitful celebration of the Sacrament
of Reconciliation is an Examination of Conscience, which ideally
becomes a daily practice that also includes an Examination of Consciousness.
What is the difference between the two?
An “Examination of Conscience” is a moral inventory that
often uses the scriptural Ten Commandments or Beatitudes as a guideline.
There are many traditional examinations available on the internet or in
Catholic bookstores. These ask a series of questions based on Church
teaching, to enable us to discern clearly what might need to be confessed in
the Sacrament of Reconciliation; they are designed as preparation for the
Sacrament, but also helpful in our daily striving for holiness. An “Examination of Consciousness”
is a daily evaluation of our “God-awareness”—our recognition and
discernment of God’s presence and inspirations throughout the day.
This is a thorough and searching tool for becoming more mindful and aware of the Divine
indwelling at each moment of life, which, in turn, will inevitably
lead to more righteous and moral behavior, with fewer sins and “less to
confess”! St. Ignatius of Loyola,
founder of the Jesuit Order (Society of Jesus) made the Daily Examination of
Consciousness (or “Awareness Examen”) a centerpiece of his Spiritual Exercises. It
is a simple practice for busy people who seek to do God’s will in ordinary
life. Here are the suggested 5
Steps: 1) Recognize
the Presence of God. A
gesture, lighting a candle, or a moment of silence
before the place where we will do the examination can express this. God is
always present, but we are not always “present to Presence,” so we take a
few moments to become aware. “In God we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28) 2) Recall with Gratitude the Day’s Gifts.
Move through the events of the day, giving thanks to God for the many gifts
received, both large and small. Simple pleasures will come to mind: restful
sleep, a child’s smile or laugh, the smell and taste of coffee or food,
morning sun, singing of birds, the kindness of a friend or stranger, a
pleasant conversation, your own health and strength to do good works,
etc.—all are God’s gifts in the concrete details of the day. (Some
people also keep a “Gratitude Journal” for recording each day’s graces.) 3) Ask the Help of the Holy Spirit.
Now invite the Holy Spirit into your heart to help you look at your
own actions of the day clearly, with an understanding of your
limitations and a deeper awareness of your interior motivations and the
mystery of your own heart. “When the
Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.” (Jn 16:13) Come, Holy Spirit! 4) Review Your Day. Look honestly
at the ways you responded to God’s gifts and love this day. Watch your day
like a small movie being replayed in your mind, noticing the details of what
happened and how you acted. Especially notice your interior feelings and
motives. In what ways did you act with less than perfect freedom? When did
you fail? When were you cross with someone, and why? When did you react in ways
that were automatic or habitual? How did you interact with people and things?
When was your heart divided by mixed motives? Allow the Holy Spirit to remind
you of the full context of all that was happening. See your actions taken in
freedom and love, without ulterior motive, in genuine charity. When were you
open to receiving God’s grace without internal obstacles? Notice habits and
life patterns that may not be healthy, and the times when you weighed the
choices and went with the Christ-option. See clearly both the positive and
negative aspects of your day in God. 5) Reconcile and Resolve. Have a
heart-to-heart talk with Jesus, imagining him sitting beside you, perhaps
holding your hand and speaking quietly with you about what you did and did
not do during this day. Thank Him for all the ways he helped you and was
there for you, and feel true sorrow of heart as you apologize to him for
whatever you did wrong. Draw close to him in gratitude for God’s gentle work
inside you as he continually labors to make you more Christ-like, day by day.
Conclude your Examen
by praying the “Our Father.” A
Word about “Conscience” As Catholics, we
adhere to the “primacy of conscience.” We are obligated to listen always for
the “still small voice” of the Holy Spirit’s counsel and the indwelling
presence of God guiding our decisions. We are also responsible for having
a correctly
formed conscience, and this formation comes from a humble
disposition, a good moral education, and a sustained effort to understand
Church teaching in all matters. Without these three aspects of formation,
we are vulnerable to erroneous judgments of conscience. However, even if
one’s conscience is in error, one must follow the directives of
conscience above any other authority. Not to do so is the “blasphemy
against the Holy Spirit.” It is important to
understand the high regard we must have for conscience. The Fourth Lateran Council taught:
“Whatever is done in opposition to conscience is conducive to damnation.” Bl.
John Henry Newman taught: “Conscience truly so called does have the right of
opposing the supreme, though not infallible authority of the Pope. If a
person cannot conform himself to the judgment of the Pope, it is his duty to
follow his own private conscience.” As Catholics, Newman said, we owe
“dutiful obedience to what claims to be a divine voice, speaking within us.”
This Cardinal’s most famous words on conscience were: “If I am obliged to
bring religion into after-dinner toasts… I
shall drink to the Pope, if you please—still to conscience first, and
to the Pope afterwards.” Bl. John Paul II also
taught that we must follow our conscience at all times, even if it means
leaving the Church. Finally, here is the formulation on conscience taught by Pope
Benedict XVI when he was the theologian Fr. Joseph Ratzinger, a peritus
(expert) at Vatican II: “Over
the pope as expression of the binding claim of ecclesiastical
authority, there stands one’s own conscience, which must be obeyed
before all else, even if necessary against the requirement of ecclesiastical
authority. This emphasis on the individual, whose conscience
confronts him with a supreme and ultimate tribunal,
and one which in the last resort is beyond the claim of external social
groups, even the official church, also establishes a principle in
opposition to increasing totalitarianism.” (1967) Advent
Reflections on the Wonder of the Incarnation From a hymn to Mary, “Theotokos” (“Mother of God,” the title given to
her in 431 at the Council of Ephesus): The God whom earth, and sea, and sky adore and laud and magnify, who o’er their threefold fabric reigns, the Virgin’s spotless womb contains. This is truly a
holistic insight. Heavens, Earth, Humanity, and Divinity all seem to be present
in just a woman. The senses perceive a Jewish woman; the reason sees
womanhood; the third eye discovers the entire universe, a symbol of the
Whole.
– Fr. Raimon Panikkar Our Lady gave God a
human heart. She made it possible for him to love me. She gave her life to
be his life. She gave him her body, what he asked for. She gave Christ his
capacity for pain. Giving him life she gave him death. She was made for
Christ and then literally her life became his life. She gave birth not only
to the Christ in history, but to the Christ in all of us; she gave her good
simple life to be the substance of his life in us. Her love for him always
radiated, always went out to the whole world, touched
all sinners. When she held him to her heart, she took all broken sinful men
to her heart. Giving him her life, she gave us our life. That is the great reality about
her. The sacramental life which is the only true mysticism, the only
pure contemplation, is the life that Our Lady lived. It consisted in her daily
self-giving of her life to make Christ’s life, to give him birth, to give
birth to him in all human beings. It was, and is, the life
of sacramental love, the love which says and means, “I want to give
you the marrow of my bones, every cell of my body, the pulsing of my blood.
It is not enough to be with you. To look at you, I must be in you, must be
you. I want to be your food, your flesh and blood, yourself. I give you my
body and I give it in every split second of every moment that I live, awake
or asleep, in all that I do, in my words, in my work, in eating, laughing,
weeping, in sorrow and in joy, that you may have my life and have it
abundantly.” That is what Our Lady’s life said to our Lord Christ; that is
what its tremendous littleness means. That is reality.
– Caryll Houselander
|
||
|
|
Mark Your Calendar!
|
December 8 |
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, Holy Day |
|
9 |
Hanukkah begins |
|
9,
10, 11 |
Advent Triduum
Retreat honoring Mary Immaculate: 3 Evenings with Fr. Gerald Flater, OMI; 7:00 pm, St. Mary’s Church, 202 N. St.
Mary’s |
|
12 |
Our Lady of Guadalupe |
|
14 |
St. John of the Cross |
|
25 |
The
Nativity of the Lord: Christmas Day |
|
26
|
St. Stephen, first martyr |
|
27 |
St. John, Apostle & Evangelist |
|
28 |
The
Holy Innocents |
|
29 |
PEACE MASS: 12 pm, St. Mary’s Church, 202 N. St. Mary’s; Rosary at 11:30 am |
|
30 |
The
Holy Family: Jesus, Mary, & Joseph |
|
“Christian,
acknowledge your dignity. Become what you are, another Christ!” -- St. Leo the Great |
|
Copyright, Marian Center of San Antonio. All
rights reserved. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced without
permission. |