...relatively speaking. In conjunction with an Easter trip home, I visited my pre-maturely born nephew (who has taken up residence at a Cincinnati hospital). Looks like he'll be there another four weeks, poor piker. But it's sobering to look around and see babies in worse shape than him, such as a baby named "Mryacle", which, as the name suggests, was born in big trouble at 1 lb and a some ounces and has made a "mryaculous" recovery so far.
Also had an exchange with a relative over the weekend concerning religion. Whenever that comes up I'm on edge since this - and only this - is truly important in life and I tend to say things unguarded and "without a filter", although I am getting better. "First, do know harm" is crucial.
The Church has such a difficult job with disciplinary practices, doesn't She? Too loose and the salt goes flat, too stringent and the salt despairs. Maybe we have to just be comfortable with failure (and putting it in the Lord's hands where it belongs) because I tend to think that our "good" Lents wouldn't reach the level of John Henry Newman's worst Lent, for example. Ideally, for me, fasting leads to more prayer and more spiritual reading in order to stay sufficiently motivated to keep the fast (however weakly 'the fast' is defined, emphasis on 'weak'). It becomes a "gracious cycle".
These thoughts were triggered by a family member who lamented the "hard" six weeks' of Lent just past. He complained about the fish on Fridays (he doesn't like fish). I tell him that this was nothing compared to the way it was in the past. Before Vatican II every Friday was a Lenten Friday. And he said he would surely become an Episcopalian if they still had that rule. I'm tempted to say, "That's why there was Vatican II...to keep us schlubs in the church." My father, unlike me, encouraged him. I told him basically, "you don't know easy we got it" and my father basically said, "well, you made it, good job". I think my father probably chose the better way.
But more in tune with the season is this wonderful Easter sermon from St. John Chrysostom (of all people!).. (link via Amy & Thomas):
Are there any weary with fasting?
Let them now receive their wages!
You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,
rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!
Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.
Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.
Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!
No comments:
Post a Comment