A GRAIN OF WHEAT

We all know that prayer is important. Prayer strengthens our relationship with Christ and helps us find peace. Prayer keeps us open to the graces that Christ may wish to give us. Why, then, is praying so difficult sometimes? Speaking with our Creator should be a very natural act, yet we all struggle to communicate with Him. We often think that we are too busy or we think that our needs are petty compared those of other people. At least, these are some things that I think sometimes.

The more I learn, the more I realize that prayer is not just a good idea, it is absolutely necessary. The connection between us and God needs to be open at all times. I suppose that too often we let the world block those lines of communication. Then we try to justify our actions to God by saying things like, “I’m just so busy right not” or “I just can’t get into the right frame of mind to pray”. What is often difficult to remember is that prayer is not for us. Prayer is designed for us to offer praise and worship to God. So as I tell myself that I am too busy to pray, God knows better. I imagine he is saying something like, “Come on, I was with you today. You were not that busy. Why are you avoiding me?”.

I guess the way around a shortage of time is to integrate prayer into our daily lives. Whether we are working or driving there are ways to pray. Just realize that God is with you and enjoy His presence.

The setting: A twelfth grade class in the year 2835.

Fr. Williams: Alright class, today we are going to learn about the ancient civilization of America.

Johnny: Oh, I’ve read about them! They were the most advanced civilization in the world for a while!

Fr. Williams: Well, that’s true, but they also had a dark side.

Johnny: What do you mean?

Fr. Williams: Well, did you know that if you were born 830 years ago in America that your mother could have killed you in her womb just because she didn’t want a baby? And it was perfectly legal.

Johnny: That’s barbaric! Did they realize that it is a big sin to kill another person? Especially an innocent baby? How could they just blantanly break the laws of God?

Fr. Williams: Well Johnny, back then not everyone believed in God. As sick as it sounds, some of these people thought that it was their right to kill their child. The Church tried to talk some sense into these people but it did little good. Countless lives were lost because of the arrogance of those who supported abortion.

Johnny: I can’t understand someone not believing in God, but even if they didn’t, how could they kill a baby?

Fr. Williams: Well, the first thing they did was dehumanize the child. It is a little easier to “terminate a fetus” rather than “kill a baby”. The next thing they did was convince women that since the child is growing inside of them, then they have supreme control over the life of the “fetus”. After an incredible amount of propaganda, many women began to believe this.

Johnny: Well, I’m thankful to God that I did not live back then. I couldn’t live in a society where people place themselves above God.

Fr. Williams: I agree. Well class, that is all for today. We will continue this discussion tomorrow. Let us pray for all those children who were killed so long ago:

Almighty God, our Father,
you who have given us life
and intended us to have it forever,
grant us your blessings.
Enlighten our minds to an awareness
and to a renewed conviction
that all human life is sacred
because it is created
in your image and likeness.
Help us to teach by word
and the example of our lives
that life occupies the first place,
that human life is precious
because it is the gift of God
whose love is infinite.
Give us the strength to defend human life
against every influence
or action that threatens or weakens it,
as well as the strength
to make every life more human
in all its aspects.

Give us the grace…
When the sacredness of life
before birth is attacked,
to stand up and proclaim
that no one ever has the authority
to destroy unborn life.

When a child is described as a burden
or is looked upon only as a means
to satisfy an emotional need,
to stand up
and insist that every child is a unique
and unrepeatable gift of God,
a gift of God
with a right to a loving
and united family.

When the institution of marriage
is abandoned to human selfishness
or reduced to a temporary conditional arrangement
that can easily be terminated,
to stand up and affirm
the indissolubility of the marriage bond.

When the value of the family is threatened
because of social and economic pressure,
to stand up and reaffirm
that the family is necessary
not only for the private good of every person,
but also for the common good of every society,
nation and state.

When freedom is used to dominate the weak,
to squander natural resources and energy,
to deny basic necessities to people,
to stand up and affirm
the demands of justice and social love.

Almighty Father,
give us courage to proclaim the supreme dignity
of all human life and to demand
that society itself give its protection.
We ask this in your name,
through the redemptive act
of your Son and in the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

I went to 6:00 pm Mass this weekend. Our evening Mass is for the youth, so instead of the traditional choir we have a full band with guitars and drums. The band isn’t half bad, but I just find it inappropriate for Mass. As I was kneeling trying to pray, all I could here was the tat-tat-tat of the drums. The entire atmosphere was not conducive to prayer. It was made even worse when I saw two guys, one of them a liturgical minister, chewing gum!

Hey, I don’t mind doing something for the youth. I’m not an old man (I’m only twenty three), but I favor a more traditional mass. I see a problem in the way that the young people are worshipping. “Jamming out” and chewing gum are probably not the best ways to grow closer to God, especially during this Easter season. So why don’t I do something about it? I am. I’m throwing my hat into the race for Parish Council. I don’t want to totally scrap the youth Mass; I just want to put it in context. The solemnity of Christ’s death should not be overshadowed by a nonchalant attitude. One day these kids are going to grow up and they will need to know how to worship like an adult.

Am I being too puritanical about this? I understand that if I don’t like the mass that I don’t have to go. There are four other masses celebrated throughout the weekend that suit my tastes. I guess my problem is that when I heard the band, the first thing that came to mind was a fundamentalist service. The last thing I want to see is the Church trying to “look cool” so that kids will come. Any input?

As I said in my last post, my wife is a newly confirmed Catholic. She was accepted into the Church on April 7 at the Easter Vigil Mass. Her family, who are all southern baptists, was kind enough to attend to offer their support. Everything went great and everyone was happy.

Fast forward to last night.

My wife and I were at her parents’ home because they invited us to dinner. While I was in the kitchen talking to my father-in-law, I hear my mother-in-law and my wife arguing about birth control. Here is where the fun began.

You see, my mother-in-law is concerned that we are going to have too many children so she asked my wife if she is on birth control. Of course my wife informed her mother that it is a mortal sin to use birth control and that we use NFP. Well, according to my mother-in-law, that is just the silliest thing ever! You can’t regulate the number of children you have without drugs! And what is a mortal sin?!?

Hey, I love and respect my mother-in-law, but I never thought that she would be the first to attack my wife about her faith. My wife is a new convert and already she is being called to defend the faith, however unprepared she may be. So I went to my favorite apologetics website and gave her the information as to why birth control is a sin. So at least she will be prepared for the next battle….with her mother.

Have you ever really experienced a renewal of your faith? I have been Catholic all my life and I love my faith. I have always defended the Church and done my best to explain Her teachings to anyone who would listen. I have always thought of myself as a being a good Catholic. Of course, I was wrong and here’s how I realized that.

My wife spent her childhood in the baptist church and she has told me on many occasions that she never thought she would leave that church. Over time she began to ask questions about Catholicism and attend Mass with me. Then one day, after years of contemplation,  she told me that she would like to enter RCIA. I was so suprised and happy that I called my entire family to tell them. My grandmother asked to sponsor Carrie (since she probably had more of an impact on my wife that I did because she is a plethora of knowledge and she is eager to share it). So began our journey toward God together.

I attended classes with my wife at first, but eventually I had to stay home with our son. Although I wasn’t going to the classes with my wife, I was still enthusiastic and I began to read extensively on my Catholic faith. It did not take me long to realize that going to Mass and owning a Rosary do not make you Catholic. I began to realize that my prayer life was nonexistent. Sure, I babbled something if I was in dire need, but I never made a real connection. I began to crave something more. I wanted to live my faith to the fullest and humble myself before God with daily prayer and reflection. I love Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God…”. That is how I want to pray. It took me a long time to realize, but prayer is about God, not about our wants.

I have shared this with my wife and it is such a great thing when we get on our knees every night and say the Holy Rosary. Carrie was accepted into the Church during the Easter Vigil Mass this year. She may be the newest Catholic in the family, but she is also one of the proudest. I am happy to say that she has a very strong prayer life and she truly loves her new faith. As for me, I have discovered a renewed sense of faith rooted in prayer and obedience to God.

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