Following is a speech given by Fr. Zabelka at Pax Christi about war. He was the priest who blessed the bombers who dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki. He soon after resigned from the military and became a staunch opponent of war. When he left the military he lived out his priesthood in Michigan.
Feel free to leave any comments you have on his speech. :)
Father Zabelka – August 1985
Speech at Pax Christi
“As a Catholic chaplain I watched as the Boxcar, piloted by a good Irish Catholic pilot, dropped the bomb on Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki, the center of Catholicism in Japan.
I never preached a single sermon against killing civilians to the men who were doing it. It never entered my mind to protest publicly the consequences of these massive air raids. I was told it was necessary. Told openly by the military and told implicitly by my Church’s leadership.
I struggled. I argued. But yes, there it was in the Sermon on the Mount, very clear: “Love your enemies. Return good for evil.” I went through a crisis of faith. Either accept what Christ said, as unpassable and silly as it may seem, or deny him completely.
For the last 1700 years the church has not only been making war respectable: It has been inducing people to believe it is an honorable profession an honorable Christian profession. This is a lie.
For the 300 years immediately following Jesus’ resurrection, the Church universally saw Christ and his teachings as non-violent. Remember that the Church taught this ethic in the face of at least three serious attempts by the state to liquidate her. It was subject to horrendous and ongoing torture and death. If ever there was an occasion for justified retaliation and defensive slaughter, with in the form of a just war or a just revolution, this was it. The economic and political elite of the Roman state and their military had turned citizens of the state against Christians and were embarked on a murderous public policy of exterminating the Christian Community.
Yet, the Church, in the face of the heinous crimes committed against her members, insisted without reservation that when Christ disarmed Peter he disarmed all Christians.
Christians continued to believe that Christ was, to use the words of an ancient liturgy, their fortress, their refuge, and their strength, and that if Christ was all they needed for security and defense, then Christ was all they should have. Indeed, this was a new security ethic. Christians understood that if they would only follow Christ and his teaching, they couldn’t fail. When opportunities were given for Christians to appease the state by joining the fighting Roman army, these opportunities were rejected, because the early Church saw a complete and an obvious incompatibility between loving as Christ loved and killing. It was Christ, not Mars, who gave security and peace.
Today the world is on the brink of ruin because the church refuses to be the church, because we Christians have been deceiving ourselves and the non-Christian world about the truth of Christ. There is no way to follow Christ, to love as Christ loved, and simultaneously to kill other people. It is a lie to say that the Spirit that moves the trigger of a flame thrower is the Holy Spirit. It is a lie to say that learning to kill is learning to be Christ-like. It is a lie to say that learning to drive a bayonet into the heart of another is motivated from having put on the mind of Christ. Militarized Christianity is a lie. It is radically out of conformity with the teaching, life and spirit of Jesus.
Now brothers and sisters on the anniversary of this terrible atrocity carried out by Christians, I must be the first to say that I made a terrible mistake. I was had by the father of lies. I participated in the big ecumenical lie of the Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Churches. I wore the uniform. I was part of the system. When I said mass over there I put on those beautifull vestments over my uniform. When Fr. Dave Becker left the Tridant submarine base in 1982 and resigned as Catholic Chaplain there, he said “every time I went to mass in my uniform and put the vestments on over my uniform, I couldn’t help but think of the words of Christ applying to me; beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing.
As an air force chaplain I painted a machine gun in the loving hands of the non-violent Jesus, and then handed this perverse picture to the world as truth. I sang praise the Lord and passed ammunition. As a Catholic Chaplain for the 509th composite group, I was the final channel the communicated this fraudulent image of Christ to the crews of the Enola Gay and the Boxcar.
All I can say today is that I was wrong. Christ would not be the instrument to unleash such horror on his people. Therefore, no follower of Christ can legitimately unleash the horror of war on Gods people. Excuses and self justifying explanations are without merit. All I can say is; I was wrong! But, if that is all I can say this I must do, feeble as it is. For to do otherwise would be to bypass the first and absolutely essential step in the process of repentance and reconciliation; admission of error, admission of guilt.
Thank God I am able to stand here today and speak out against war, all war. The province of the old testament spoke out against all false Gods of gold, silver, and metal. Today we are worshiping the gods of medal. The Bomb. We are putting our trust in physical power, militarism and nationalism. The Bomb, not god, is our security and our strength. The prophets of the old testament said simply; do not put your trust in chariots and weapons, but put your trust in God. Their message was simple and so is mine.
We must all become prophets. I really mean that. We must all do something for peace. We must stop this insanity of worshiping the Gods of metal. We must take a stand against evil and idolatry. This is our destiny at the most critical time of human history. But it is also the greatest opportunity ever offered to any group of people in the history of the world- to save our world from complete annihilation.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Staff Reflection: Jordan is in Love
“If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.” – 1 Corinthians 13:2-3
Over the last two years I have sought to reduce all my possessions down to one bag. I have given my life to the service of others. I have spent my time praying and searching for all wisdom in Gods Word and I have tried to practice in my life what it is that Jesus preaches about. Thanks to the power of God, I have been successful in all things.
When I look back at my life, my successes and my failures, my dreams and my realities, my faith and lack thereof; I can not help but marvel at the brilliance and wisdom of God. My God is a loving god, a forgiving God and a providing God. He has blessed me with a strong and close family who is always there for one-another. He has blessed me with friends who support me in all my dreams, seek with me all answers to this sometimes confusing life and most importantly are (and always will be) there for me when I just need company. Lastly, he has provided me with a new family in Christ which has been built in my travels. Those who have offered me rides, places to rest, and food to eat. There are many I keep in touch with and to this day I consider them a part of my life.
In all these things I find love. Whether everyone knows it or not, it is in them that I find the beautiful and loving face of God. Today I spent time reflecting on my future with Jessie Wambold (my fiance) who also is here serving with me at Nazareth Farm. Almost a year ago I asked Jessie to marry me. Expressing that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.
I met Jess in AmeriCorps (National Civilian Community Corps), day one. We were assigned to the same “pod” (temporary groups before we were put in teams). She immediately caught my attention with her stories about traveling the world on her own. Who wouldn’t be impressed by a cute girl, 5 foot tall who, when she was 18 literally traveled around the world on her own. Confidence, happiness and love were beaming from her face and enthusiastic attitude. We remained friends through the first 3-4 months of AmeriCorps. It was in Vermont that we were put on the same team and began reading the bible together that we began to grow closer together. Both of us spent each night reading the New Testament starting with Matthew, in search for God knows what. I being raised Catholic and her Evangelical Free, allowed for good conversations about our understanding of Christ.
The deeper we read into the bible, the closer we became spiritually. With her I felt a bond that I never felt before. With her I felt the Holy Spirit alive, not only in her but in myself. Vermont came and went, and soon we were put back on our first teams. However, the thousands of miles did not break our communication. We continued reading the bible each night and discussing our thoughts about what we were reading on the telephone. We were both attending different Sunday Services but sharing what we learned and experienced. Our relationship seemed to be growing at a constant pace and our understanding of Christ seemed to be growing at a faster pace.
It was towards the end of our third round in AmeriCorps that we decided we wanted to continue our service of those in need, but this time we were going to do it under the authority and dependency of Jesus Christ, not Uncle Sam. One thing about Jess that is most attractive and similar to myself is her ability to dream; her ability to have a vision and work towards that vision with all faith and determination that it will become a reality.
After AmeriCorps we began the next phase of our life (AmeriCorps calls it our “life after AmeriCorps). Entering the program we both had different visions of our separate future, after the program we were on one accord with our dreams, we were on one accord with our God and we were on one accord with making our dream a reality. That dream of serving took us through Hattiesburg, Mississippi and landed us here at Nazareth Farm.
What Paul states in the passage above is important. One can know all things on this earth, have all faith in God and give all their possessions even their life to others, but without love there is nothing. Without getting to know the inner-soul of another human being we miss out on what life is all about. Whether it be a friend, family member or partner in life we are called to love one another. Not just be kind to one another, but to actually love them. We are called to be patient and kind. We are called not to be jealous, a braggart or arrogant. We are to act proper and not degrade ourselves or seek things for ourselves. We should not be provoked by others or count the times we are wronged. We should give no credit to that which is unjust and we are to rejoice and live in all truth. And finally, we are called to believe that anything is possible, be willing to handle anything that comes our way, always remember that Christ has filled us with all hope and use his strength to endure all challenges that may come our way. When we abide in love, we will never fail. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
-Welcome Home
Jordan
Over the last two years I have sought to reduce all my possessions down to one bag. I have given my life to the service of others. I have spent my time praying and searching for all wisdom in Gods Word and I have tried to practice in my life what it is that Jesus preaches about. Thanks to the power of God, I have been successful in all things.
When I look back at my life, my successes and my failures, my dreams and my realities, my faith and lack thereof; I can not help but marvel at the brilliance and wisdom of God. My God is a loving god, a forgiving God and a providing God. He has blessed me with a strong and close family who is always there for one-another. He has blessed me with friends who support me in all my dreams, seek with me all answers to this sometimes confusing life and most importantly are (and always will be) there for me when I just need company. Lastly, he has provided me with a new family in Christ which has been built in my travels. Those who have offered me rides, places to rest, and food to eat. There are many I keep in touch with and to this day I consider them a part of my life.
In all these things I find love. Whether everyone knows it or not, it is in them that I find the beautiful and loving face of God. Today I spent time reflecting on my future with Jessie Wambold (my fiance) who also is here serving with me at Nazareth Farm. Almost a year ago I asked Jessie to marry me. Expressing that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.
I met Jess in AmeriCorps (National Civilian Community Corps), day one. We were assigned to the same “pod” (temporary groups before we were put in teams). She immediately caught my attention with her stories about traveling the world on her own. Who wouldn’t be impressed by a cute girl, 5 foot tall who, when she was 18 literally traveled around the world on her own. Confidence, happiness and love were beaming from her face and enthusiastic attitude. We remained friends through the first 3-4 months of AmeriCorps. It was in Vermont that we were put on the same team and began reading the bible together that we began to grow closer together. Both of us spent each night reading the New Testament starting with Matthew, in search for God knows what. I being raised Catholic and her Evangelical Free, allowed for good conversations about our understanding of Christ.
The deeper we read into the bible, the closer we became spiritually. With her I felt a bond that I never felt before. With her I felt the Holy Spirit alive, not only in her but in myself. Vermont came and went, and soon we were put back on our first teams. However, the thousands of miles did not break our communication. We continued reading the bible each night and discussing our thoughts about what we were reading on the telephone. We were both attending different Sunday Services but sharing what we learned and experienced. Our relationship seemed to be growing at a constant pace and our understanding of Christ seemed to be growing at a faster pace.
It was towards the end of our third round in AmeriCorps that we decided we wanted to continue our service of those in need, but this time we were going to do it under the authority and dependency of Jesus Christ, not Uncle Sam. One thing about Jess that is most attractive and similar to myself is her ability to dream; her ability to have a vision and work towards that vision with all faith and determination that it will become a reality.
After AmeriCorps we began the next phase of our life (AmeriCorps calls it our “life after AmeriCorps). Entering the program we both had different visions of our separate future, after the program we were on one accord with our dreams, we were on one accord with our God and we were on one accord with making our dream a reality. That dream of serving took us through Hattiesburg, Mississippi and landed us here at Nazareth Farm.
What Paul states in the passage above is important. One can know all things on this earth, have all faith in God and give all their possessions even their life to others, but without love there is nothing. Without getting to know the inner-soul of another human being we miss out on what life is all about. Whether it be a friend, family member or partner in life we are called to love one another. Not just be kind to one another, but to actually love them. We are called to be patient and kind. We are called not to be jealous, a braggart or arrogant. We are to act proper and not degrade ourselves or seek things for ourselves. We should not be provoked by others or count the times we are wronged. We should give no credit to that which is unjust and we are to rejoice and live in all truth. And finally, we are called to believe that anything is possible, be willing to handle anything that comes our way, always remember that Christ has filled us with all hope and use his strength to endure all challenges that may come our way. When we abide in love, we will never fail. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
-Welcome Home
Jordan
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Simplicity: Preferential Option for the Poor
This past week we had groups from a variety of different colleges up at the farm. On Monday we talked about the Catholic Social Teachings and the principle of Preferential Option for the Poor. In that discussion I pointed out how I believed that we are often the over-looked poor and vulnerable; overlooked because we are blessed with an abundance of things. I also pointed out how I believe that it is dangerous to overlook our vulnerability. When we suffocate ourselves with and abundance of things and fail to recognize our blessings we begin to lose the importance of God in our lives. We begin to pretend that we are self-made and that we are in complete control of our lives.
When all this happens not only do we lose sight of God but we lose sight of the poor and we begin to lose sight of even ourselves. We begin to question our faith, we isolate ourselves from humanity and we begin to consider our wants as needs.
Thoreau once said “We often starve ourselves not of lack of necessity, but for lack of wants.” We do this when we begin to view even small things such as coffee in the morning as a necessity in order to function during the day or to not be grumpy with others. We can see signs of this when we think we need t.v. in order to ease our minds after a long day of school or work. In reality those are addictions and escape mechanisms that have replaced God in your lives to provide for the energy, or ease of mind.
In a consumer based society we are targeted daily and are told we need things in order to succeed or to prosper and to be happy. We have created a society in which some believe it is impossible to live successfully unless you spend one hundred thousand dollars on a college degree so that you can get a career that makes good money. But what is the point? What is the motivation behind all that? What is our definition of success? Jesus warned us not to be motivated by “mammon” or material goods. Because they will grow old and even your mind will leave you some day. It is not our physical abilities, our material possessions or even what we know that points to our success in life, but rather it is how we love and serve others that determines our path to Christ. Now, I am not saying do not educate yourselves by any means, in fact, education is extremely important and something we need to strive for. It will help us live informed lives able to advance Gods gifts that we are given, but our attitude, motivation and value that we place with high costing diplomas should be evaluated. Are the poor given the same opportunities or do we create a divide between those that can/have a college degree and those who can’t/don’t?
Put simply: To have the goal in life to make money and collect things is dangerous, selfish and causes people to wander from the faith.
What is the faith that we wander from? The two greatest commandments are to love God with your whole heart soul, mind and strength and to love each other as Christ loved us. When we look at how Christ loved us, we see simplicity and we see sacrifice. We see that our faith is to serve the poor, feed the hungry, visit the lonely, welcome the outcasts and heal the sick. This is why we sacrifice and live simply. To free ourselves for those callings in whatever form they take.
When we disengage ourselves from material goods, comforts, and false needs we expose our vulnerability and recognize our dependence on God. When we depend on God he provides and that leads to much courage and joy. The most confidence one can have is found through the strength that God provides. Our actions can then become intentional, our wants are then realized as wants and our blessings are recognized, given thanks for and shared with others.
So, today I would like you all to take a moment to reflect on your lives. What are the blessings in your life? What in your life do you consider your needs? What are your wants? Most importantly, what can you sacrifice in your life to open yourself up to service, community or prayer?
When all this happens not only do we lose sight of God but we lose sight of the poor and we begin to lose sight of even ourselves. We begin to question our faith, we isolate ourselves from humanity and we begin to consider our wants as needs.
Thoreau once said “We often starve ourselves not of lack of necessity, but for lack of wants.” We do this when we begin to view even small things such as coffee in the morning as a necessity in order to function during the day or to not be grumpy with others. We can see signs of this when we think we need t.v. in order to ease our minds after a long day of school or work. In reality those are addictions and escape mechanisms that have replaced God in your lives to provide for the energy, or ease of mind.
In a consumer based society we are targeted daily and are told we need things in order to succeed or to prosper and to be happy. We have created a society in which some believe it is impossible to live successfully unless you spend one hundred thousand dollars on a college degree so that you can get a career that makes good money. But what is the point? What is the motivation behind all that? What is our definition of success? Jesus warned us not to be motivated by “mammon” or material goods. Because they will grow old and even your mind will leave you some day. It is not our physical abilities, our material possessions or even what we know that points to our success in life, but rather it is how we love and serve others that determines our path to Christ. Now, I am not saying do not educate yourselves by any means, in fact, education is extremely important and something we need to strive for. It will help us live informed lives able to advance Gods gifts that we are given, but our attitude, motivation and value that we place with high costing diplomas should be evaluated. Are the poor given the same opportunities or do we create a divide between those that can/have a college degree and those who can’t/don’t?
Put simply: To have the goal in life to make money and collect things is dangerous, selfish and causes people to wander from the faith.
What is the faith that we wander from? The two greatest commandments are to love God with your whole heart soul, mind and strength and to love each other as Christ loved us. When we look at how Christ loved us, we see simplicity and we see sacrifice. We see that our faith is to serve the poor, feed the hungry, visit the lonely, welcome the outcasts and heal the sick. This is why we sacrifice and live simply. To free ourselves for those callings in whatever form they take.
When we disengage ourselves from material goods, comforts, and false needs we expose our vulnerability and recognize our dependence on God. When we depend on God he provides and that leads to much courage and joy. The most confidence one can have is found through the strength that God provides. Our actions can then become intentional, our wants are then realized as wants and our blessings are recognized, given thanks for and shared with others.
So, today I would like you all to take a moment to reflect on your lives. What are the blessings in your life? What in your life do you consider your needs? What are your wants? Most importantly, what can you sacrifice in your life to open yourself up to service, community or prayer?
Saturday, January 9, 2010
A New Year!
We are back! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas Season and enjoyed their time with family and friends. We at the farm had an extremely busy but rewarding month of December. Now we have all returned back to the farm and just finished a most wonderful volunteer group week. We were blessed with the presence of St. Mary’s Life teen (Massachusetts) (youth group), Canisius College (New York), Caldwell College (New Jersey) and Manhattan College. Lots of wonderful work was done around the farm. Because we have received close to 10 inches of snow throughout the week the groups for most of the week remained around the farm and completed projects. The supply barn was organized on the inside and all the wood was sorted and stacked. The White Barn and Dining Room was re-mudded and painted! We also had the pleasure to work for Granny, Betty, Butch, and Steve!
It is so beautiful this time of year and the air is fresh. With the New Year already begun it is a time to start anew. To remember fondly the past and to look forward with great hope to the future! Although, most importantly, we should take time to enjoy the season and the people around us and fully enjoy the present!
Tomorrow we have brand new schools coming to the farm for another week and the staff here is enthused to meet the new volunteers. It is a constant reminder for us that people around the world are seeking Christ and aiming to serve him by serving others. God is good, life is good, and we are all one!
Welcome Home,
Nazareth Farm.
It is so beautiful this time of year and the air is fresh. With the New Year already begun it is a time to start anew. To remember fondly the past and to look forward with great hope to the future! Although, most importantly, we should take time to enjoy the season and the people around us and fully enjoy the present!
Tomorrow we have brand new schools coming to the farm for another week and the staff here is enthused to meet the new volunteers. It is a constant reminder for us that people around the world are seeking Christ and aiming to serve him by serving others. God is good, life is good, and we are all one!
Welcome Home,
Nazareth Farm.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Twelve Days of Christmas
I’m sure you have all heard the Christmas carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” with its haunting melody. The carol dates back to the 16th century and its precise author is unknown. It has generally been assumed to consist of twelve nonsense verses built around a pretty melody. But in a fascinating article in Our Sunday Visitor (12/20/92), Fr. Gilhooley, a chaplain at St. Mary’s College, informs us that the carol was written by the English Jesuits of the 16th century as a catechetical device and it is far from filled with nonsensical verses.
The carol is akin to the apocalyptic literature of Scripture that used obscure symbols to hide its true meaning from the enemy in time of persecution. To understand the background that gave rise to the carol, let us look briefly at the history of Catholicism in 16th century England.
When Henry VIII was rebuffed by Rome in his bid to divorce Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn, he declared himself head of the Church in England replacing the Pope and demanded that all swear an oath of allegiance to him as such. St. Thomas More, the Chancellor of the Realm, the equivalent of the Prime Minister today, refused the oath supporting the elimination of the Pope’s authority and Henry had him publicly beheaded. Catholic convents and monasteries were closed and looted. The situation was worse under his son, Edward VI, and better during the short reign of Catherine’s daughter, Mary Tudor. She was succeeded by her half-sister Elizabeth I, an ardent Protestant, the daughter of Anne Boleyn. The practice of the Catholic faith was banned. Priests were exiled and forbidden under pain of death from returning or performing the sacraments. It was a desperate, dreadful time.
But many priests risked their lives to come back and minister to the flock and many lay Catholics likewise risked their lives and fortunes to hear Mass and have their children baptized. Wealthy families built hiding places, called priests’ holes, in their homes to hide priests in case their homes were raided by the secret police.
The story is told of one priest who was almost caught in a surprise raid. He had just time to squeeze into his hole before the police broke in on the family. The police had obviously received a tip because they went right to the fireplace where the priest’s hole was located. But try as they might, they couldn’t find the entrance. Then in their frustration they ordered a fire to be lit to drive out the priest. When he didn’t emerge, because to do so would subject the host family to prison or death, they ordered more logs on the fire. Eventually all were driven from the room by the intense heat and the police left in disgust. The family rushed to get the priest out of the hole but he was already dead, baked alive. He gave his life under cruel circumstances to save those whom he had come to serve. And he was only one of many.
With this as a background we can see the need for secrecy and deception. “The Twelve Days of Christmas” was written to educate the faithful in the doctrines of the faith and yet not be obvious to the persecutors. The numbers are simply a mnemonic to help Catholics remember some basic facts. Recall the words of the song. “On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: twelve lords a leaping, eleven pipers piping, ten ladies dancing, nine drummers drumming, eight maids a milking, seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.”
“The Twelve Days of Christmas” celebrates the official Christmas season which starts liturgically on Christmas Day and ends twelve days later on the Feast of the Epiphany. “My true love” refers to God, “me” is the individual Catholic. The “twelve lords a leaping” are the twelve basic beliefs of the Catholic Church as outlined in the Apostles Creed. The “eleven pipers piping” are the eleven Apostles who remained faithful after the treachery of Judas. The “ten drummers drumming” are the Ten Commandments. The “nine ladies dancing” are the nine choirs of angels which in those days of class distinction were thought important. The “eight maids a milking” are the Eight Beatitudes. The “seven swans a swimming” are the Seven Sacraments. The “six geese a laying” are the Six Commandments of the Church or the six days of creation. The “five golden rings” are the first five books of the Old Testament called the Torah which are generally considered the most sacred and important of all the Old Testament. The “four calling birds” are the Four Gospels. The “three French hens” are the Three Persons in God or the three gifts of the Wise Men. The “two turtle doves” represent the two natures in Jesus: human and divine or the two Testaments, Old and New. The “partridge” is the piece de resistance, Jesus himself, and the “pear tree” is the Cross.
(courtesy of http://www.catholic.net/index.php?option=dedestaca&id=3465)
Welcome Home,
Nazareth Farm
The carol is akin to the apocalyptic literature of Scripture that used obscure symbols to hide its true meaning from the enemy in time of persecution. To understand the background that gave rise to the carol, let us look briefly at the history of Catholicism in 16th century England.
When Henry VIII was rebuffed by Rome in his bid to divorce Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn, he declared himself head of the Church in England replacing the Pope and demanded that all swear an oath of allegiance to him as such. St. Thomas More, the Chancellor of the Realm, the equivalent of the Prime Minister today, refused the oath supporting the elimination of the Pope’s authority and Henry had him publicly beheaded. Catholic convents and monasteries were closed and looted. The situation was worse under his son, Edward VI, and better during the short reign of Catherine’s daughter, Mary Tudor. She was succeeded by her half-sister Elizabeth I, an ardent Protestant, the daughter of Anne Boleyn. The practice of the Catholic faith was banned. Priests were exiled and forbidden under pain of death from returning or performing the sacraments. It was a desperate, dreadful time.
But many priests risked their lives to come back and minister to the flock and many lay Catholics likewise risked their lives and fortunes to hear Mass and have their children baptized. Wealthy families built hiding places, called priests’ holes, in their homes to hide priests in case their homes were raided by the secret police.
The story is told of one priest who was almost caught in a surprise raid. He had just time to squeeze into his hole before the police broke in on the family. The police had obviously received a tip because they went right to the fireplace where the priest’s hole was located. But try as they might, they couldn’t find the entrance. Then in their frustration they ordered a fire to be lit to drive out the priest. When he didn’t emerge, because to do so would subject the host family to prison or death, they ordered more logs on the fire. Eventually all were driven from the room by the intense heat and the police left in disgust. The family rushed to get the priest out of the hole but he was already dead, baked alive. He gave his life under cruel circumstances to save those whom he had come to serve. And he was only one of many.
With this as a background we can see the need for secrecy and deception. “The Twelve Days of Christmas” was written to educate the faithful in the doctrines of the faith and yet not be obvious to the persecutors. The numbers are simply a mnemonic to help Catholics remember some basic facts. Recall the words of the song. “On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: twelve lords a leaping, eleven pipers piping, ten ladies dancing, nine drummers drumming, eight maids a milking, seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.”
“The Twelve Days of Christmas” celebrates the official Christmas season which starts liturgically on Christmas Day and ends twelve days later on the Feast of the Epiphany. “My true love” refers to God, “me” is the individual Catholic. The “twelve lords a leaping” are the twelve basic beliefs of the Catholic Church as outlined in the Apostles Creed. The “eleven pipers piping” are the eleven Apostles who remained faithful after the treachery of Judas. The “ten drummers drumming” are the Ten Commandments. The “nine ladies dancing” are the nine choirs of angels which in those days of class distinction were thought important. The “eight maids a milking” are the Eight Beatitudes. The “seven swans a swimming” are the Seven Sacraments. The “six geese a laying” are the Six Commandments of the Church or the six days of creation. The “five golden rings” are the first five books of the Old Testament called the Torah which are generally considered the most sacred and important of all the Old Testament. The “four calling birds” are the Four Gospels. The “three French hens” are the Three Persons in God or the three gifts of the Wise Men. The “two turtle doves” represent the two natures in Jesus: human and divine or the two Testaments, Old and New. The “partridge” is the piece de resistance, Jesus himself, and the “pear tree” is the Cross.
(courtesy of http://www.catholic.net/index.php?option=dedestaca&id=3465)
Welcome Home,
Nazareth Farm
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Advent Preparation
Why is it So Difficult to Enter Into Advent?
It happens every year, as predictably as drawing up a shopping list, decorating the tree and planning the Christmas Dinner. Every year we think, “Now THIS is the year when I really will enter into Advent.” And there it stays. Nothing happens. We know in our hearts that Advent can be more than a "pre-Christmas" season, more than those four weeks of getting ready for the Big Day on December 25th. We sit in Church and hear the different readings, the darkness and the promise of hope.
We ponder in our hearts: Our lives are full, our families are good, our homes beautiful. We have everything, simply everything we could want. But in the quiet darkness, we are aware of something stirring in our hearts, a longing we can't name. Something that no trip to the store, no decorations, Christmas dishes or new ornaments can fill. The longing might be risky, even dangerous, so we push it away — quickly — and busy ourselves again. There is so much to do in these weeks.
The days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will fulfill the promise
I made to the house of Israel and Judah.
Jeremiah 3
frustrated manThe stirring returns. What is this promise for us? What does it mean for us in our comfortable, complicated and messy lives? We want to be better people, and our lives are not perfect. We don't want to delve into our relationships at home because we don't want to upset the way things are. We are so often impatient with our children, unreasonable with our spouses and we might even admit, disappointed in our lives. We echo the disciples' confusion and disappointment after the crucifixion: “We had thought it would be different." But we have everything we could want. What else is there?
The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken.
On that day it will be said:
“Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.
Isaiah 25
HopeWhat if this Advent, we allow ourselves to imagine a life that is different? What if our hearts were at peace and our lives more satisfying? That longing in the most hidden corners of our hearts is something holy, a Holy Longing, a desire for a deeper relationship with God.
We might squirm at that and stammer all of the excuses we know: "Not now. I'm really busy. I'm not a very holy person. I'm going to get to a serious relationship with God as soon as my kids are gone... when I don't have to care for my parents; when I get the promotion at work; when we move to a new house." There are dozens of ways we can evade the issue, but still, that longing is there for something more.
candlesAdvent is a time to recognize both our holy longing and the healing love God has for us, despite the many barriers we put up between ourselves and God. We can start simply and just rest at the edge of our beds in the mornings, open our hands and whisper, "Come, Lord Jesus!" If we let ourselves feel what is in our hearts, we know they are filled with love. We can carry that experience with us as we go through even the busiest of our days. We may not know exactly where to begin or how to fill this longing in our hearts but it is simple. God waits with infinite love and with arms outstretched to meet us. The words we say don't matter. We can speak as if God is a friend we have not seen in a long time, but one with whom we can sit in a comfortable silence.
It's just about taking the first step. Even if we are fearful about this next step, we can say to God what is in our hearts. In this Advent season, it's time to risk, to make the first step, to find our way back home.
Loving God, I don't have the right words. I'm not sure where to begin, but I know you are the hope and promise of the peace to come in my life. Be with me this day. Let me look at my life and my day today and open my heart completely as I begin, "Come, Lord Jesus."
(taken from this website: http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent/difficult-entering-Advent.html)
Welcome Home,
Nazareth Farm
It happens every year, as predictably as drawing up a shopping list, decorating the tree and planning the Christmas Dinner. Every year we think, “Now THIS is the year when I really will enter into Advent.” And there it stays. Nothing happens. We know in our hearts that Advent can be more than a "pre-Christmas" season, more than those four weeks of getting ready for the Big Day on December 25th. We sit in Church and hear the different readings, the darkness and the promise of hope.
We ponder in our hearts: Our lives are full, our families are good, our homes beautiful. We have everything, simply everything we could want. But in the quiet darkness, we are aware of something stirring in our hearts, a longing we can't name. Something that no trip to the store, no decorations, Christmas dishes or new ornaments can fill. The longing might be risky, even dangerous, so we push it away — quickly — and busy ourselves again. There is so much to do in these weeks.
The days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will fulfill the promise
I made to the house of Israel and Judah.
Jeremiah 3
frustrated manThe stirring returns. What is this promise for us? What does it mean for us in our comfortable, complicated and messy lives? We want to be better people, and our lives are not perfect. We don't want to delve into our relationships at home because we don't want to upset the way things are. We are so often impatient with our children, unreasonable with our spouses and we might even admit, disappointed in our lives. We echo the disciples' confusion and disappointment after the crucifixion: “We had thought it would be different." But we have everything we could want. What else is there?
The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken.
On that day it will be said:
“Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.
Isaiah 25
HopeWhat if this Advent, we allow ourselves to imagine a life that is different? What if our hearts were at peace and our lives more satisfying? That longing in the most hidden corners of our hearts is something holy, a Holy Longing, a desire for a deeper relationship with God.
We might squirm at that and stammer all of the excuses we know: "Not now. I'm really busy. I'm not a very holy person. I'm going to get to a serious relationship with God as soon as my kids are gone... when I don't have to care for my parents; when I get the promotion at work; when we move to a new house." There are dozens of ways we can evade the issue, but still, that longing is there for something more.
candlesAdvent is a time to recognize both our holy longing and the healing love God has for us, despite the many barriers we put up between ourselves and God. We can start simply and just rest at the edge of our beds in the mornings, open our hands and whisper, "Come, Lord Jesus!" If we let ourselves feel what is in our hearts, we know they are filled with love. We can carry that experience with us as we go through even the busiest of our days. We may not know exactly where to begin or how to fill this longing in our hearts but it is simple. God waits with infinite love and with arms outstretched to meet us. The words we say don't matter. We can speak as if God is a friend we have not seen in a long time, but one with whom we can sit in a comfortable silence.
It's just about taking the first step. Even if we are fearful about this next step, we can say to God what is in our hearts. In this Advent season, it's time to risk, to make the first step, to find our way back home.
Loving God, I don't have the right words. I'm not sure where to begin, but I know you are the hope and promise of the peace to come in my life. Be with me this day. Let me look at my life and my day today and open my heart completely as I begin, "Come, Lord Jesus."
(taken from this website: http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent/difficult-entering-Advent.html)
Welcome Home,
Nazareth Farm
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Saints
At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.”
Matthew 18:1-5
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
Matthew 6:3-4
This past Sunday we celebrated All Saints Day. To celebrate this feast day we as a staff decided to plan our prayers around the Saints. We reflected on the lives of new saints and old saints, famous saints and the unknown saints of everyday life. I have always loved hearing these stories. To me they affirm the authentic nature of our faith. It is more than a vague acknowledgement of a spiritual realm; it is more than abstract theological concepts. Our faith is something real and it can be seen and experienced in the ways we act upon it. The Saints remind us that the Body of Christ is made of people, people who have doubted, dreamed about, danced because of, and died for their faith. Their lives serve as examples of, among other things, wisdom, courage, compassion, sacrifice, and usually a healthy amount of stubbornness. We take these virtues and apply them to our own unique journey. It can be very intimidating to model the lives of people that cured the sick and raised the dead to life. However, I feel that we can find comfort it the fact that God does not quantify our deeds. Through one of us the sick may be healed and through another the sorrowful may be comforted. Both of these acts demonstrate God’s love and that is what matters.
In my reflections on the Saints I was led to research a bit about a saint that I am sure many of us have heard of but may not know much about, Saint Nicholas. As it turns out he was not from the North Pole but rather near present day Turkey and therefore most likely did not own any reindeer. However, all the pictures I found do show him with a pretty nice beard and there is a good chance that he had at least one red coat. From what I read of his life it is easy to see how he evolved into the icon that we know as Santa Clause. St. Nicolas was born into a wealthy family but like many other saints he found himself called to faith rather than fortune. He received a large inheritance upon his parent’s death, but committed his wealth to acts of charity. He is remembered as a very modest man and would therefore give gifts in secret. Many citizens of Myra would wake up to find gold coins in their shoes or other gifts from an anonymous giver. In particular he directed his generosity toward children. In one well known story he a poor man is unable to provide for his three daughters. The specifics of this story vary but, what is known is that St. Nicholas secretly gave three bags of gold, one for each daughter. In one version of the story St. Nicholas drops the gold down the chimney to avoid detection.
Reading about St. Nicholas got me thinking about our annual Christmas party. For those of you that don’t know, each year we throw a party for the people of Doddridge County. We hope that it is a time when people can come together for food, fun, and Christmas festivities. Each year St. Nicholas (the rosy-cheeked, bowl full of jelly variety) comes to visit the children. We acknowledge that for many of the low-income families in Doddridge County the holidays can put a strain on the budget. For this reason we make sure that every child that attends leaves with a gift and at least one book. In the same way that St. Nicholas assisted the father and his daughters we hope to be a helping hand to the parents in our community. Not to mention it is always a joy to celebrate with friends and neighbors. However, because we are a non-profit we can do nothing without the generosity of others. We are incredibly blessed to have so many people who, like St. Nicholas, give of what they have. At the Christmas party the staff is fortunate enough to be there to see the faces of the children light up as they play games and receive their gifts. However, most of the people that make this party possible are not there with us. Though in Matthew we are reminded that the Lord sees all that we do and will repay us for our kindness.
We are still planning for this years Christmas party and encourage everyone connected to the farm to consider joining us in our efforts. If you have volunteered recently you may want to sponsor a family that you worked with. Otherwise, we are looking for books, new educational toys, or monetary contributions. Our party is on December 13th and we would like to have gifts in by the end of November. Please consider sending us unwrapped gifts in the mail or contact us at 1-304-782-2742 (by phone) or Nazarethfarm@gmail.com (by email.) As Jesus says, “whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me”. We are grateful for anything you modern day St. Nicholas’s can do. We pray that you are blessed and, like the Saints, that your lives might be examples of how our faith is made real and how a real faith can change the world.
Welcome Home,
Nazareth Farm
Matthew 18:1-5
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
Matthew 6:3-4
This past Sunday we celebrated All Saints Day. To celebrate this feast day we as a staff decided to plan our prayers around the Saints. We reflected on the lives of new saints and old saints, famous saints and the unknown saints of everyday life. I have always loved hearing these stories. To me they affirm the authentic nature of our faith. It is more than a vague acknowledgement of a spiritual realm; it is more than abstract theological concepts. Our faith is something real and it can be seen and experienced in the ways we act upon it. The Saints remind us that the Body of Christ is made of people, people who have doubted, dreamed about, danced because of, and died for their faith. Their lives serve as examples of, among other things, wisdom, courage, compassion, sacrifice, and usually a healthy amount of stubbornness. We take these virtues and apply them to our own unique journey. It can be very intimidating to model the lives of people that cured the sick and raised the dead to life. However, I feel that we can find comfort it the fact that God does not quantify our deeds. Through one of us the sick may be healed and through another the sorrowful may be comforted. Both of these acts demonstrate God’s love and that is what matters.
In my reflections on the Saints I was led to research a bit about a saint that I am sure many of us have heard of but may not know much about, Saint Nicholas. As it turns out he was not from the North Pole but rather near present day Turkey and therefore most likely did not own any reindeer. However, all the pictures I found do show him with a pretty nice beard and there is a good chance that he had at least one red coat. From what I read of his life it is easy to see how he evolved into the icon that we know as Santa Clause. St. Nicolas was born into a wealthy family but like many other saints he found himself called to faith rather than fortune. He received a large inheritance upon his parent’s death, but committed his wealth to acts of charity. He is remembered as a very modest man and would therefore give gifts in secret. Many citizens of Myra would wake up to find gold coins in their shoes or other gifts from an anonymous giver. In particular he directed his generosity toward children. In one well known story he a poor man is unable to provide for his three daughters. The specifics of this story vary but, what is known is that St. Nicholas secretly gave three bags of gold, one for each daughter. In one version of the story St. Nicholas drops the gold down the chimney to avoid detection.
Reading about St. Nicholas got me thinking about our annual Christmas party. For those of you that don’t know, each year we throw a party for the people of Doddridge County. We hope that it is a time when people can come together for food, fun, and Christmas festivities. Each year St. Nicholas (the rosy-cheeked, bowl full of jelly variety) comes to visit the children. We acknowledge that for many of the low-income families in Doddridge County the holidays can put a strain on the budget. For this reason we make sure that every child that attends leaves with a gift and at least one book. In the same way that St. Nicholas assisted the father and his daughters we hope to be a helping hand to the parents in our community. Not to mention it is always a joy to celebrate with friends and neighbors. However, because we are a non-profit we can do nothing without the generosity of others. We are incredibly blessed to have so many people who, like St. Nicholas, give of what they have. At the Christmas party the staff is fortunate enough to be there to see the faces of the children light up as they play games and receive their gifts. However, most of the people that make this party possible are not there with us. Though in Matthew we are reminded that the Lord sees all that we do and will repay us for our kindness.
We are still planning for this years Christmas party and encourage everyone connected to the farm to consider joining us in our efforts. If you have volunteered recently you may want to sponsor a family that you worked with. Otherwise, we are looking for books, new educational toys, or monetary contributions. Our party is on December 13th and we would like to have gifts in by the end of November. Please consider sending us unwrapped gifts in the mail or contact us at 1-304-782-2742 (by phone) or Nazarethfarm@gmail.com (by email.) As Jesus says, “whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me”. We are grateful for anything you modern day St. Nicholas’s can do. We pray that you are blessed and, like the Saints, that your lives might be examples of how our faith is made real and how a real faith can change the world.
Welcome Home,
Nazareth Farm
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