A Thirst for the Incarnate

Last week, a lovely article entitled "18 Things Everyone Should Start Making Time For Again" was making the rounds amongst some friends of mine. I read it, thought it was perfect (minus one subtle suggestion that there might be a time and a place for drunkenness - but we will overlook that one minor flaw in a sea of perfection), and therefore shared it on my own Facebook wall.

As a side note (sorry, we're taking a detour already!), can I just say that, not feeling comfortable with using both "perfect" and "perfection" in that last sentence, I Googled the definition of "perfection" and found this?

a person or thing perceived as the embodiment of perfection.

"I am told that she is perfection itself"

synonyms:

the ideal, a paragon, the ne plus ultra, a nonpareil, the crème de la crème, the last word, the ultimate, the best; informalone in a million, the tops, da bomb; dated,the bee's knees, the cat's meow/pajamas/whiskers "for him, she was still perfection"

Huh-larious, no? Next time I shall use "crème de la crème" or "da bomb." By the way... am I the only one who thinks that Google needs to chill with the special days of celebration? I miss the days of the basic Google, in all its blue, red, yellow and green-lettered glory. These days, it's as if we have mandated celebrations, practically daily, of the birthday of every obscure famous person and the anniversary of their obscure, albeit apparently important to their field, work! (I realize that "obscure famous" is sort of an oxymoron, but just go with it. Life is a paradox.) It used to be special to see a nifty little animated Google hompage, decorated for the day's event; now it's simply normal and confusing. Bring back the magic, Google! Celebrate real holidays! Or at least, include some saints! (Sorry about all this... I have had a beef with Google ever since they changed the definition of the word "literally" to mean, literally, "not literally." Check it out here. But despite my pent-up personal issues with the world's most famous search engine, I still probably use it 5,682 times a day. Ah well.)

Back to the wonderful article about eighteen lovely things! After I shared it, I was struck by how several others were sharing it and liking it, and seemingly struck by it as well. And they weren't all Franciscan girls in love with Jane Austen and accustomed to regular coffee dates with household sisters, either. I'm used to talking about such things with that sort of crowd; I identify with handwritten letters, good conversation and cookie-baking. That's kinda my scene, you know? My friends own tea-sets. But this article didn't only pique the interest of those particular friends!

(Update: Google has slightly redeemed itself. The sample sentence for the word "struck," when I was looking for a synonym, is "Lucy was struck by the ethereal beauty of the scene." Very nice, Google dictionary people. You get one point back.)

What is so striking to me is that it's nearly universally acknowledged that we are losing a sense of presence, culture, and humanity. How often do you have a conversation with someone about everyone always being on their phone, over-sharing their personal business on Facebook, constantly taking a picture for Instagram instead of actually enjoying the beauty before our very eyes? At least in my life, the topic comes up all the time! No one gasps when you bring up the thought that we spend too much time online, or that we all feel so super crazy busy and wish we didn't. More or less, everyone agrees!

And everyone continues to thirst.

For presence. For culture. For beauty. For real, incarnate humanity, in all its tangible goodness.

We are all thirsting for reality.

A few weeks ago, I was going through a very stressful, busy period; so was a dear friend of mine. We had both been so on edge, and not particularly present to each other, when something dawned on me. "I don't think God wants us to live this way," I suddenly thought. "I think Jesus wants more for us." And doesn't he? Didn't he make us to be genuinely free, truly human, full of beauty and grace? Ready at all times to love, to really see the other person in front of us.

What does it say about our culture, that reading a real book, writing a real letter, listening to music instead of making it mere background music to our multi-tasking, making a true commitment, thinking before responding to others, and just taking time to be with people are all seen as unreachable ideals? Beautiful, of course; our grandparents once knew these arts in the past, but sigh, things that no one has time for anymore and that we can never truly recover. Sigh, sigh. Like those little wispy clouds that you wish you could float around in, but that it's probably not possible to reach and experience for yourself (does anyone else wish this, besides me? Also, if you take a hot air balloon ride, can you play in the clouds? Just curious). At any rate, we all seem to be wistfully longing for something past, something better than what we have now. Yes? Do you sense this, too?

So, here's the sitch, as I see it (Kim Possible reference, yes ma'am):

On one hand, we have gotten ourselves into quite a cultural predicament, up in hurrr (this phrase is another example of the degeneration of culture... ha, ha).

On the other hand, this is so extremely hopeful!!! Let me explain.

When we all have a common longing, that is an incredible opportunity! If everyone wants ice cream, for instance, it's a perfect time to bring out the banana splits! If we are all longing for presence, thought, art, and incarnate reality (aka Jesus Christ)... this is the perfect entry point into the human heart! People are actually receptive to this stuff!!

Ergo, I'm pretty excited.

Just like Surprise Party Sue... I'm so freakin' excited!!!

The great thing about all of these things is  that they are tangible, concrete, not out of our reach at all! We can sit down and write a letter to a friend; we can intentionally make time to listen to music, and just appreciate it; we can actually stand outside and look at the sky and marvel at its unique beauty for a while! We can all sit down and actually take time to really, genuinely pray.

I'm not even going to pretend to tackle the whole issue of technology, being overly busy, lack of real art and culture, etc., in our world today; it's way too big for my little brain. But I do know this: it's time! Let's go! If the people we know are thirsting for a reclaimed humanity, let's start making the decisions and commitments it takes to put beauty and presence back into our lives.

I heard a story on the radio yesterday about a restaurant owner who is doing his own small, super creative part! Check it out... he is offering his customers a 50% discount on their meals if they agree to one small thing: to turn off their phones during their dining experience! Isn't that incredible? In one restaurant, in one little corner of the world, this guy is making an effort to reclaim personal relationships, to get people back in touch with humanity. I think he is awesome!

So, in the spirit of all this incarnational awesomeness, I have one last thought. Advent is coming up... the season of preparing for Christ, the fullness of true humanity, the Incarnation Himself! What if, for Advent, we tried to be more present as well? For instance (and I can't take credit for this idea), what if we decided to write a letter each day of Advent? Or really, any of the 18 items on that list... or, make up your own list! Whatever floats your boat. But what if, while we are preparing to celebrate Jesus taking on humanity, we became more human, too?

Set Apart

I don't know if you've noticed, but there's something fishy about young Catholics these days. We have been called the JPII generation, Generation Benedict, and Catholic hipsters. We listen to music like this, because we appreciate real art, and we believe that beauty really will save the world. We love orthodoxy, liturgy, the Word of God (in both Scripture and Tradition, of course) and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. We read theology for fun, quote popes like it's our job, and are seriously re-thinking how to evangelize. In fact, we like to think, and to probe more deeply into these thoughts with others. And we tend to get really pumped about authentic Catholic devotions and traditions and our favorite saints ("OHMYGOSH, St. Therese has been stalking you too?!?! I thought I was the only one!")

When it all comes down to it, we simply love being Catholic!

"Here is a lesson applicable for all Christians, in every vocation in the Church. Be rigorous, be loyal, be proud of who you are. The radiance of the Bride is the most convincing proof of the love of the Bridegroom." (Ryan N.S. Topping, Rebuilding Catholic Culture)

I have been fascinated by a single question for quite some time now: how do we form a Catholic culture, like the one I just described? Although I still feel like I've barely scratched the surface, I've been spending lots of time trying to gain insights from others. I've witnessed this kind of culture, and I've lived in it... but how do we get there in the first place? How does it happen?

Start trying to answer the question and you might immediately feel daunted (or at least, I did/do). I've learned a lot, but I still can't say that I have it - whatever "it" may be - or that I've discovered a nifty top 10 list for you. But I am 100%, unequivocally convinced of one thing: we need a distinctively Catholic culture. We need to rediscover our identity, our calling, our mission! As Christians, we can no longer remain the same, amorphously blending into the world like everyone else. We are anointed for a purpose; the world needs us to stand out:

"Here we discover the original and fundamental meaning of 'consecrated' and 'holy,' which in Hebrew is the word qadosh. Because of their consecration, Christians are qadosh, that is, different, separate, set apart. We need to reacquire a sense of being qadosh." (Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M. Cap., Sober Intoxication of the Spirit, emphasis mine)

And that, my friends, is the short version of where the new blog name came from. I guarantee that there is more to come on this topic!

Redefining "Normal"

If you and I are friends, chances are we've talked about evangelization and/or catechesis and/or ministry and/or parish life before! To be quite honest, I can't go more than a day or two without talking, reading or thinking about it - which can sometimes include some complaining, letting go of my frustrations, and overall just banging my head against a wall. This is sometimes accompanied by shouts of "Let's throw a wrecking ball into the current structures!!!! Subvert the dominant paradigm!!!!!" That part in particular is a lot of fun, and it gets my frustration out (yes, I am a dork. A dorky, Catholic, dorky, catechetical, dorky, theological, dorky dorky dorky dork). Such rants are also sometimes followed by Confession, so that I can throw a wrecking ball into my pride instead (Father, I started thinking that I know how EVERYTHING should be done in the Church again... crap. Mea culpa). 

My current food for thought is called Forming Intentional Disciples by Sherry Weddell. I've been highlighting up a storm! However, there is one overarching concept in the book that I am very much struck by:

WE ARE NOT NORMAL.

We aren't! In the sense of what a Catholic community should be, the majority of parishes in 'Murica are simply not what they should be. What are we talking about here? Sherry's statement really packed a punch for me:

"A Church that understands itself as possessing the 'fullness of the means of grace' must yearn for the fullness of the manifestation of that grace."

In other words, what do we expect? My pastor is really big on the idea of expectations: getting across to parishioners what we require of them, and not being soft about said requirements. While that initially rubbed me wrong, I eventually realized that this isn't being inflexible - this is calling on God's people to a higher standard! Herein lies the crux: do we expect Jesus to change lives? Do we realize that the treasures we have in the Church can actually bear fruit? If we did, I think that we would approach everything differently.

As Catholic parishes, what is our job? I would say that it is to evangelize our communities, and to form those who are being evangelized (probably written down in more awesome words by a Pope or two somewhere). Yet, according to Weddell's book, "Asked whether spreading the faith was a high priority of their parishes, 75 percent of conservative Protestant congregations and 57 percent of African-American congregations responded affirmatively, whereas only 6 percent of Catholic parishes did the same."

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?! (About to start head-banging rant... pulling back to constructive thinking...)

Here's the thing, Sherry says. Catholics don't talk about their faith (shocker)! They don't talk about their conversion experiences, they don't talk about their personal relationship with Jesus - often, they don't even know that they can have this relationship in the first place! However, to quote a famous Catholic guy:  

"But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?" (Romans 10:14).

To paraphrase: how the heck is anyone supposed to learn how to follow Christ, if no one around them is following Christ, living our their baptismal call to be a priest, prophet and king??

Yeah, I just went there.

It was a huge eye-opener for me in college when I learned that "The Church exists in order to evangelize" (Evangelii Nuntiandi). Did you catch that? Exists in order to evangelize... as in, the whole purpose of the Catholic Church is to bring people to Jesus. It's not to do good works, although that is essential. It's not to run a bunch of programs, although we do need structures. It's not to keep the teenagers busy, so they don't get into trouble somewhere else (sorry, had to throw that one in there!). The purpose of the Church is to evangelize - to preach the Good News of salvation! If we're not spreading the faith, what are we doing?

As Sherry says, "Widespread neglect of the interior journey of discipleship has unintentionally fostered an immense chasm between what the Church teaches is normal and what many Catholics in the pews have learned to regard as normal. Many lifelong Catholics have never seen personal discipleship lived overtly or talked about in an explicit manner in their family or parish. It is difficult to believe in and live something that you have never heard anyone else talk about or seen anyone else live. It is also very difficult to openly hold a minority opinion or speak of a minority experience in the midst of a group that does not understand."

What if this describes our parishes, the very places where Catholics should be able to find people that understand their passion for Jesus Christ? It is a tragedy if a faithful Catholic, striving to be a saint, is the minority among their parish - or worse, even among the parish leadership.

Every person is supposed to be a disciple, not just those who are "really into that stuff" or "too religious." As Weddell says, many people think there exist "two basic spiritual 'tracks': 'ordinary Catholic' and 'saint.'" I read that and I thought, YES! So many people do think that way. I want to follow Jesus... but I don't want to do that one thing that makes me uncomfortable. I want to go to heaven... but I don't want the Church to tell me what to do in my personal life. I like belonging to St. So-and-So Parish, but I'm not like those crazy people who are really into it. I just want to be a nice person, and going to church makes me feel like I'm doing good things. Etc. etc. etc.

I think we need to spread the concept that being Catholic = trying to be a saint! Following Jesus Christ = striving for holiness, and sometimes being a little weird in the world's eyes! You can't go half-way... it's all or nothin'. We allow for weaknesses, of course; but the point is to be striving.

In our own parishes, we need to create a culture where this is "normal." Church should be a place where it is safe to be totally sold out for Christ, a place where we can go when we're weary from the world's nagging and teasing and criticism. How to create this culture is a constant discussion, and the task belongs to the creativity and insights of Catholics everywhere... but it needs to happen.

Sherry talks about how in the early 90's, she and some friends got together and decided to come up with a support group for lay Catholics. They drew up a mission statement, which included this excerpt:


Our Values
It is NORMAL for lay Catholics to have a living, growing love relationship with God.
It is NORMAL for lay Catholics to be knowledgeable about their faith, the Scriptures, the doctrinal and moral teachings of the Church, and the history of the Church.
It is NORMAL for lay Catholics to know what their charisms of service are and to be using them effectively in the fulfillment of their vocation or call in life.
It is NORMAL for lay Catholics to know that they have a vocation/mission in life (primarily in the secular world) given to them by God. It is NORMAL for lay Catholics to be actively engaged in discerning and living this vocation.
It is NORMAL for lay Catholics to have the fellowship of other committed lay Catholics available to them, to encourage, nurture, and discern as they attempt to follow Jesus.
It is NORMAL for the local parish to function consciously as a house of formation for lay Catholics, which enables and empowers lay Catholics to do #1-6 above.


It seems like we need to redefine "normal," eh?