Daily Meditation - Sunday 29June 2008 - MANY SAINTS WERE NOT ALWAYS THE BEST OF ROLE MODELS

[BarbaraTherese]

Solemnity of
[Peter and Paul (http://www.catholicculture.org/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2008-06-29)
here

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http://www.wau.org/images/spacer.gifSunday, June 29, 2008

2 Timothy 4:6-8,17-18

Today in Rome, Pope Benedict XVI will inaugurate a special year honoring the life and works of St. Paul. It is a year dedicated to celebrating a man who went from hating Jesus to loving him and giving his life so that everyone would come to know Jesus’ love.

• The story of Paul’s conversion can fill us with great hope.
• He was guilty of a very serious wrong, hounding the followers of Jesus to their deaths.
• Yet Jesus showed him mercy and turned him into one of the greatest evangelists of all time.
• If he could do that for the “Terror of Tarsus,”
  imagine what he can do for us!
• With St. Paul, however, we remember not only the dramatic conversion at the beginning of his walk with Jesus
• but also the ongoing work of conversion in his life.
• We might imagine Paul as a man who never lost his temper,
• was always kind and gentle,
• and never made a mistake.
  But the New Testament gives us a rather different picture.
• Paul publicly humiliated Peter in Antioch (Galatians 2:11-14).
• He got into a fight with Barnabas over John Mark that led to a division between these once-close brothers (Acts 15:36-40).
• He even called the Galatians—people he was called to pastor with the love of Christ—“stupid” (Galatians 3:1).
  Like all of us, Paul had some character faults that took years for God to iron out.
• He was not always a model of perfection.
• He was a real human being who developed from self-love to love for Jesus.
  It may have taken a lifetime, but God remained faithful.
• And Paul kept fighting,
• pressing on to become more like Jesus.
• No matter where we are in our walk with the Lord,
• even if we fail miserably over and over again,
• God will work in us if we keep turning back to him.

We can all be transformed just as powerfully as Paul was.

“Jesus, how great is your mercy to sinners!
I am grateful that you bring about conversion
and deep transformation by your Holy Spirit.
**Make me a saint, **
even as I see how great a sinner I am.”

 

[ncjohn]

Hi Barb,

Our pastor said quite a bit on this topic this morning as an encouragement to all of us that change is never too late.

I certainly have had my own checkered past, with the present providing its own challenges. I have been the arrogant Saul, been knocked off my horse to find myself becoming more like Paul, and have then occasionally found myself with some of that arrogance that Paul fought, even while “knowing” the risen Lord.

And I can most certainly find myself identifying with the impulsiveness of Peter, being more than willing to “step out of the boat” without thinking what the heck I’m doing, only to find myself WAY out of my depth.

We likely aren’t going to find statues of us beside the doors of some cathedral, but hopefully in at least a few peoples hearts there will be some monuments to our genuine desire to care and to help bind their wounds, even if we wallowed around in the muck a bit along the way.

Peace to you Barb,

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Quoting John:

Our pastor said quite a bit on this topic this morning as an encouragement to all of us that change is never too late.

Hi John…I really love these stories of some of our saints that make them so human - well at least if knowing myself as I do is a quality of the rest of humanity. There is a book floating round “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” about famous men from the Old and New Testaments (excepting of course, Jesus) which speaks of their “dark side” as well as their virtue. I bought it for a priest I knew who at that time was suffering cancer (now in remission)…I have been meaning to get it and it is somewhere on my list of “to gets”. I keep re arranging priorities!

I certainly have had my own checkered past, with the present providing its own challenges. I have been the arrogant Saul, been knocked off my horse to find myself becoming more like Paul, and have then occasionally found myself with some of that arrogance that Paul fought, even while “knowing” the risen Lord.

Ahhh … perhaps women…or should I say “this woman”…are slow learners - I keep getting back on that horse and regularly find myself yet again biting the dust, which is why saints who have and had faults and failings are such a joy to me.

And I can most certainly find myself identifying with the impulsiveness of Peter, being more than willing to “step out of the boat” without thinking what the heck I’m doing, only to find myself WAY out of my depth.

Peter is the Apostle I identify most with, while Paul is my favourite New Testament writer. I absolutely love the humanity of Peter - continually getting things wrong but continually pushing onwards and trying again.

We likely aren’t going to find statues of us beside the doors of some cathedral, but hopefully in at least a few peoples hearts there will be some monuments to our genuine desire to care and to help bind their wounds, even if we wallowed around in the muck a bit along the way.

Ahh let’s go for broke, John - Our God is The God of The Impossible too … as well as The Absurd! Mine has to be a 15ft. statue (i.e. larger than life!!!) near the confessional with a lop sided halo hanging over one eye. There will be a canon at my feet - as when Rome canonized me they rolled out real canons and tried to shoot me out the skies before I do any more damage. I was once accused of continually letting my imagination run away with me. “Flights of the imagination” St. Teresa of Avila called this. My premise is that if one does not dream big, then achievements will stay small. A psychiatrist once said to me “You always have an answer, don’t you” and I replied “If you were in my shoes, you would know why!” and he just frowned at me while I laughed. The one word a psychiatrist hates to put to a patient methinks is a simple “Why?”…

Blessings and Peace, John…Barb

 

[ncjohn]

Hi Barb, I have to admit you had me laughing out loud to a point where my wife had to come and see what was going on.

Hi John…I really love these stories of some of our saints that make them so human - well at least if knowing myself as I do is a quality of the rest of humanity.

I have to agree. As I know we’ve both discussed before I’m no fan of the “prettied up” stories that make saints look like they were born with little miniature halos. I like to know that they mucked around as much as I did and had the same struggles, even if they might have done a better job of getting it right at some point. At least that gives me something realistic I can shoot at.

Ahhh … perhaps women…or should I say “this woman”…are slow learners - I keep getting back on that horse and regularly find myself yet again biting the dust, which is why saints who have and had faults and failings are such a joy to me.

Actually that would probably far better express the reality for me too. I’ll start to get back up on that horse only to hear a “not so fast little buddy…” and find myself right back on the ground again.

Mine has to be a 15ft. statue (i.e. larger than life!!!) near the confessional with a lop sided halo hanging over one eye. There will be a canon at my feet - as when Rome canonized me they rolled out real canons and tried to shoot me out the skies before I do any more damage.

ROFL

I think I’ve posted this before but it’s kind of what I envision things looking like for me…St. Pigpen.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

I imagine that when our time comes that we’ll have quite the time up there. I’ll be the one setting off the cherry bombs while you snatch Sr. Mary Francis’s apple. Poor St. Peter will never know what hit him!

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Quoting John:

Hi Barb, I have to admit you had me laughing out loud to a point where my wife had to come and see what was going on.

I have to agree. As I know we’ve both discussed before I’m no fan of the “prettied up” stories that make saints look like they were born with little miniature halos. I like to know that they mucked around as much as I did and had the same struggles, even if they might have done a better job of getting it right at some point. At least that gives me something realistic I can shoot at.
Actually that would probably far better express the reality for me too. I’ll start to get back up on that horse only to hear a “not so fast little buddy…” and find myself right back on the ground again.

Yeah mate, we have pretty well affirmed each other I think about “prettied up” stories of the saints that takes them right away from the ordinary type person in the street onto some great height so that really one can no longer quite see them so high up are they. Human saints of the human variety is what we need to speak to all us very ordinary people in ways that we can truly identify with.
I can sometimes catch myself lamenting that I am now almost 63…same old horse, same old dirt, same old rear in the dirt…but then I remind myself that our God is not only that of The Impossible and of The Absurd but also of the Absolutely Mirculuous and Unexpected and that is where my money is!!! I also frequently remind Him that He really does need people like me…how else can He reveal the extent of His Great Loving Mercy and Power. - while I often literally cringe that I can be so forward and cheeky!

I think I’ve posted this before but it’s kind of what I envision things looking like for me…St. Pigpen.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b280/ncjohn51/stpigpen.jpg

I imagine that when our time comes that we’ll have quite the time up there. I’ll be the one setting off the cherry bombs while you snatch Sr. Mary Francis’s apple. Poor St. Peter will never know what hit him!

Love it, John!…you wanna be on the other side of the Confessional? I think we should aspire to being the patron saints of laughter and boo boo’s (Aussie for mistakes)…how does that go down with you?

Nahhhh…not after St. Mary Francis’s apple - they are too dangerous, these apples, I hear! I’m after her title!
I have all these little stories about Heaven that I sometimes relate which contain an element of the truth but do so in a funny way or at least I seem to be able to get others laughing while sighting (I hope!) a truth…I have poor St. Peter literally almost having a breakdown from frustration.

Good to talk with you again, John…we quickly seemed to have developed that knack of being straightforward with each other, verging I know on the outrageously so! Ahhh to laugh…a by product of Joy and Peace - with a heartfelt thought for those who suffer and know the cross only. It can almost make one feel guilty about Joy and Peace…but it also brings one in a heartfelt way to one’s knees ardently for those who do suffer daily and day in and day out and know nothing else…the real unsung heroes and true saints in our midst. These have a very special place in Heaven I am convinced with our St. Augustines, St. Rita’s, etc. etc. the next row down. We shall be astounded and overcome to discover all the good they have done here on earth and the souls they have saved … and never even knew it or remotely guessed at it, and with outstanding wondrous humility.

Regards and blessings, John…Barb
(PS I had to remove some of your Smileys, John… Apologies!..the Board tells me I had too many images with no “get out of jail free” card - Darnit! )

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Actually that would probably far better express the reality for me too. I’ll start to get back up on that horse only to hear a “not so fast little buddy…” and find myself right back on the ground again.

…I had to come back to this comment, John - I really identify with it and it really strikes my sense of the funny, and hope you won’t mind if I hold it close and occasionally quote it if opportunity presents! …no one here to wonder why the laughter is so louuud and longgg. Of course, The Lord is here - but He’s used to it! …I have a saying when things go wrong as they often do : “Keep working on it, kid, until you start laughing” and I literally work and walk around Bethany talking to myself out loud until suddenly I am in fits of laughter…Bipolar occasionally has a distinct up side! …

 

[ncjohn]

…I had to come back to this comment, John - I really identify with it and it really strikes my sense of the funny, and hope you won’t mind if I hold it close and occasionally quote it if opportunity presents! …no one here to wonder why the laughter is so louuud and longgg. Of course, The Lord is here - but He’s used to it! …I have a saying when things go wrong as they often do : “Keep working on it, kid, until you start laughing” and I literally work and walk around Bethany talking to myself out loud until suddenly I am in fits of laughter…Bipolar occasionally has a distinct up side! …

By all means Barb, if you find a use for it.

“Keep working on it, kid, until you start laughing” and I literally work and walk around Bethany talking to myself out loud until suddenly I am in fits of laughter…Bipolar occasionally has a distinct up side!

Umm, if this is a sign of Bipolar maybe there’s something about myself I didn’t know…

 

[ncjohn]

It can almost make one feel guilty about Joy and Peace…but it also brings one in a heartfelt way to one’s knees ardently for those who do suffer daily and day in and day out and know nothing else…the real unsung heroes and true saints in our midst.

I have thought about this often Barb. And while I certainly don’t wish the pain and suffering on anyone, I do recognize that in some ways those who don’t have the “options” I do for distraction and “making myself happy” in many ways have a great leg up on me in being able to surrender themselves to God. They also often have a tremendous ability to find joy in the very, very simple things such as having someone just notice their pain and be willing to sit with them, or the crust of stale bread that someone shares out of their own need.

There is certainly the potential for great despair to come out of such suffering, but also the potential for great saints who persevere and trust totally that God will make all things right, binding their wounds and taking away their pain as He tells them “Well done good and faithful servant. Come to the home I have made for you from the beginning of time.”

Of course in my weakness, even knowing the possibility of such a wondrous result, I have no desire to switch places. I don’t mind carrying my cross, but as Fr. Groeschel says, I’d rather it be styrofoam if that’s ok, and maybe have a little wheel on the back so I don’t have to drag it.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Quoting John

I have thought about this often Barb. And while I certainly don’t wish the pain and suffering on anyone, I do recognize that in some ways those who don’t have the “options” I do for distraction and “making myself happy” in many ways have a great leg up on me in being able to surrender themselves to God. They also often have a tremendous ability to find joy in the very, very simple things such as having someone just notice their pain and be willing to sit with them, or the crust of stale bread that someone shares out of their own need.

…Amen to all that, John!.. …

There is certainly the potential for great despair to come out of such suffering, but also the potential for great saints who persevere and trust totally that God will make all things right, binding their wounds and taking away their pain as He tells them “Well done good and faithful servant. Come to the home I have made for you from the beginning of time.”

And Amen again! St. Paul tells us that nothing at all in our wildest imagination can prepare us for the Glory that awaits us in Heaven, where every tear will be wiped away. Now and then I try to get my head around that, but can never quite make it. I think those who suffer deeply are saints already … in a double sense because they share in the Passion of Christ, and because for many The Lord withholds from them the knowledge and insight of their priviledged state here on earth. My very real prayer is that the Glory and tear wiping that awaits them will indeed be momentous and total. I reason that if people understood the greatness and majestic royalty of sharing in the Passion of Christ they would insight the truth of matters, but that The Lord withholds this understanding from them and not at all at their own volition. Hence they are doubly blessed and spread blessings everywhere.
But my heart really does go out to them and I would wish I had the gift of healing…and one can try wherever able with a prayer and whatever one may feel one can do.

Of course in my weakness, even knowing the possibility of such a wondrous result, I have no desire to switch places. I don’t mind carrying my cross, but as Fr. Groeschel says, I’d rather it be styrofoam if that’s ok, and maybe have a little wheel on the back so I don’t have to drag it.

Having been to a place that was surely a type of Hell in psychosis, I am terrified of ever going back there or any place remotely near there. I do have one consoling thought. When I was in the Convent during my teens, my director told me that God would not grant me the Grace in all likelihood of dealing with imaginary only type of matters…but at the actual time, His Grace would be with me. That stayed close to me and still is and whenever I find my imagination taking over, this comes back to me. I have long been terrified (since 7yrs. of age) of a violent death and it is only what Father said to me that keeps me sane on this score. I live alone, and every single night putting my head on the pillow and the lights out is a truly scarey matter for me…it still is too a stunning thought to me that I have come back from that place of psychosis - no one thought I would, not even the medical people at least in the early years. “I was punished, I was punished justly by The Lord, but not doomed to die” (Psalms)
I am not the one to long for suffering and a share in the Passion of Christ either…but I do pray that when the cross comes and in some form or other, probably most mild, it will come, that I will be more faithful to Grace next time than the last time.

Blessings, John…regards…Barb