StCYM: Moving Forward! II (29 APR 18)

This week we met, once again, to continue our series called "Moving Forward!". And, once again, we had no time for games because of the good discussions we were having. Next week, I promise, we will have time for games. I love how the discussions are going! I can see the underclassmen really opening up to the upperclassmen and a bond is growing and discipleship is beginning to exist. This is a beautiful direction that I envisioned the group going in. God is certainly good!

Before we entered into the discussions we played a decision making game called "bomb shelter". In this game the group is in a post-nuclear scenario where they are in a bunker with two years of supplies until the radiation goes away. However, the shelter can only sustain a certain number of individuals. The group had to decide who had to go. The purpose of this exercise is to analyze how decisions are made. The goal was to identify those methods and question their moral rigidity. We learned that most decisions were made due to stereotypes. 

Last week we discussed our disposition before making big decisions. This week we looked at how to go about making decisions. We asked ourselves three questions when facing a big decision; "what does my heart say?", "what does my mind say?", and "what does God say through His Church?". In the small groups we then discussed how fears and peer pressure can impact our decision making abilities. Among the major decisions were dating, post high school endeavors, and friendships. We also discussed how Church teaching should influence our decisions and how it can challenge us when society teaches differently.

Next week we will discuss taking action, since clarity requires that we do. We will go into how to move forward after big decisions are made and what the consequences are. We will also prepare for the 8th graders that are returning on 20 May for their second open house visit to StCYM. It will be a great time. And, yes, we will have time for games!

Pax,

Johannes

Easter, Race, Ukraine

It has been a while since I last posted. I thought I would be more committed to blogging during Lent. I had many ideas, but it seems my Lent needed to be a quiet one. Lent was challenging, but also rewarding. It was nice to do a lot of contemplation and self reflection, because it was certainly needed, but now that it is Easter it is time to be alive. Many things happened during Lent and some have spilled over into Easter. Easter is my favorite time of the year which had me celebrating, Russia is surrounding eastern Ukraine, and an NBA owner is being essentially exiled, picking at the racism scab all over again.

Easter is a time of renewal; a time to celebrate the victory we share in Christ! It was great to celebrate this blessed season with our Orthodox brothers and sisters in Christ! Knowing how I lived in college, I certainly enjoy this season. I don't even want to imagine what my life would be like without Christ. I have absolutely fallen in love with the Easter Vigil. To be in total darkness amidst a great flame and then to process in as the light of Christ spreads from candle to candle is a magical moment. I am honored to be part of the RCIA team, helping people come in or back to the Church is truly rewarding. I remember my reentry very fondly. I was wide eyed with eyes filled with tears of joy, because of the incredible journey I was on. The journey continues, and hopefully it continues at St. Mary's Seminary on my way to becoming a Priest. Please pray for me. Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia!

Earlier this week the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, Donald Sterling, was banned from the NBA for life. This race stuff is really getting annoying. There will always be people who are racist. Always. What he said is wrong, absolutely. However, why aren't we also discussing comments made by former NBA star Larry Johnson? He wants an all black league? Why is it OK to say that? Isn't that the exact opposite of what Martin Luther King Jr. wanted? Yes, it is. His dream was for all races to be able to work together and judge each other by their "character". How does the rhetoric by Mr. Johnson help King's cause? It doesn't. I have a proposal similar to King's; actually it is the same. Why don't we all just get along. King is remembered for his demonstrations of peace. He did not seek vengeance, he simply sought equal opportunity. We ought to work toward the same. We should not work for an all black league, or forced affirmative action. We should work for solidarity and opportunity. Enough of this vengeance seeking! It only fuels the fire of racists. It divides, not unites.

The Catholic Church is a shining example of how people of all walks of life work together for the glory of the Kingdom of God. The Universal Church is global, covering all races and cultures. The Catholic faith is applicable to every nation and tribe. It is absolutely beautiful. I can go into a Catholic Church in any country and celebrate the Eucharist with a multitude of people. I encourage you to look up footage from World Youth Day, where Copa Cabana Beach is filled with three million people from all over the world celebrating Mass. It is an amazing site.

And then we get to Russia and Ukraine. Putin is asserting his power during a time of US weakness. The United States has been drained by over a decade of war (three years of which there were two concurrent wars), and continues to build up trillions of dollars of debt. The United States is tired. It shows by our political climate. Each side continues to grow farther and farther apart, and the same can be said for the people of America. So while America continues to fight within, Russia is making moves. I also wonder what China is doing. We need to pay attention to the crisis in Ukraine. We are seeing incredible witness by Catholic and Orthodox Priests who are standing up for peace. Let us focus on this issue. Instead we are focused on what some old racist man said, and it is quite disappointing. I couldn't care less about the race "issue". Did Mr. Sterling's racism hurt anyone? Did his players get paid? Yes. Was his team all white? No. Is he wrong for being racist? Yes! However, instead of moving on and moving forward we let that bog us down. While this all happens Putin continues to move. We need to be paying attention, before China surpasses us as the world's largest economy. Yeah, that may happen in a decade as well. Did you hear of that? Probably not.

America needs to drastically discern its priorities. We are very concerned about social issues, but what about the economy and national security? How good are our arguments about social issues, if we can't keep our people employed and safe? They will all be for not. There is a solution. The solution is simple and many people know the solution, but choose the wide gate because it's easy. Let us choose the narrow gate. Let us choose Christ and seek to live by His commandments. If we all did this, the world would be a much better place. Well, at least it would have a better chance of being a better place. Credo Domine.

Into the Light: Coming Out

I would like to discuss coming out as a homosexual and tearing down other facades. From reading the title of this post you may be thinking that I am coming out as a homosexual. If you are, do not let go of those thoughts just yet. If you did not think this, consider it. I am not a homosexual, however, but keep those initial reactions or thoughts in mind. What did you think? How did you feel?

Once you answered these questions, now move on and discern what may be irking you in your own soul. Is there something in your soul that is dark and covered up from the rest of the world, even your closest friends and family? I wish to address those deep dark spots of our souls. I want to bring to light what may be ailing us in hopes to renew our lives. I will discuss what I feel our society should embrace, and how we can aid in this endeavor on a local level.

One of the biggest social issues today is the issue of homosexuality. There is no doubt that elections are filled with discussions on laws regarding homosexuality, the veil has been removed, and society is now addressing the issue of homosexuality in the open. This is certainly good. To bring something out of darkness you must bring it into the light. More secrecy and darkness does not bring light to anything. Satan certainly knows this. Satan can operate most effectively in darkness, and this is precisely where our most sensitive parts of ourselves often reside.

After the fall of Rome and the rise of Christian Europe, homosexuality and other sexual openness was covered. Ancient Rome and Greece made the 1960's sexual revolution look like amateur hour. Sexuality was a great part of these two societies, and so much so that St. Paul would often address sins of the flesh in his Epistles. In fact, for anyone that is struggling with sins of the flesh, I highly recommend diving into the Epistles. Great strength can be found in the words of the great Apostle, and I have benefited from them so much so, that that is one of the main reasons I made him my Patron on Holy Saturday 2013.

Bottom line up front (or in the middle I guess), is that we need to carefully uncover the veil Christians often place on sexuality (homosexuality in particular here). As a Catholic, I think we can absolutely share a beautiful message regarding homosexuality. Over the past several years there has been an on going "it gets better" campaign. I think Catholics can certainly be added to this message with its own beautiful teachings. If you are a person with homosexual tendencies, I urge you to come out. Sounds easy enough, but I am aware that it definitely is not. While it should be easier, it must also be said that coming out should be calculated amidst a world of confusion regarding the issue.

The first step is to run to Christ. Christ should be the center of our lives, and thus we should bring everything to him. This should not only include all of our joys, but also our darkest deepest parts of our sinfulness. If we continue to bury troubling thoughts or feelings, we will only hurt ourselves more in the long run. Bringing the darkest of sin into the light of Christ is the first step in sending Satan back to the drawing board (it is naive at best to think Satan will run from us forever; he is foolish and determined). Running to Christ has several steps in itself, but they are available to us. Being Christocentric is absolutely vital.

In running to Christ it is very beneficial to run to the Sacraments Christ gives to us through his Church. Reconciliation (Confession) and the Eucharist are the two Sacraments that will feed you Spiritually as you grow in Christocentrism. I must make absolutely clear that the Church does not hate the homosexual. Anyone who acts out in hate against a homosexual child of God is acting out of their own sinfulness, and not in accordance with Church teaching. This is a good time to introduce Church teaching on the matter. It is important to know that the Church does not teach that homosexuality is grounds for being hated or ridiculed.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church (source: www.vatican.va):
Chastity and homosexuality
2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,141 tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered."142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.
Foot notes:
141 Cf. Gen 19:1-29; Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:10; 1 Tim 1:10.
142 CDF, Persona humana 8.

To sum up 2357; homosexuality exists and always has, not everything is known about homosexuality, and Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition hold that homosexual actions are sinful. Paragraph 2358 is the most overlooked piece of Church teaching regarding homosexuality. It states, "They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition." Homosexuals are called to be active members of the Body of Christ. They should not be cast out like lepers used to be. They are called to share in the beauty of the Gospel. What a beautiful message!

Paragraph 2359 is arguably the largest point of contention between the mainstream homosexual community and the Church. This is the second step; pursuing chastity. This may be the most difficult step, because it requires more action from us versus receiving grace from God through the Sacraments. Chastity is holy and beautiful. Our society seems to teach us that sex is the ultimate fulfillment of ourselves. It makes perfect sense that the world can only offer satisfaction of the flesh, because that's all that it truly possesses. The world cannot possess the spiritual, because the spiritual comes from God not the world.

The Church has responded to the need of supporting homosexuals and their call to chastity. Apostolates such as Courage (for the homosexual person) and EnCourage (for families and friends of homosexuals) exist, bloggers are beginning to voice their journeys, and of course the Sacraments offer assistance in this endeavor as well. I must stress that the Church loves everyone. Simply because some teachings don't mesh with popular culture, doesn't mean the Church hates people. This argument is used to belittle the beauty that is the Bride of Christ. The resources I mentioned are below. Credo Domine.

Resources:
1. Catechism of the Catholic Church
2. Courage
3. EnCourage
4. LifeTeen
5. Steve Gershom
6. US Conference of Catholic Bishops