Month: August 2019

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The Humility of ‘The Higher Position’

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (C): Luke 14:1, 7-14

Psalm 131
Humble Trust in God
A song of ascents. Of David.

Lord, my heart is not proud;
nor are my eyes haughty.
I do not busy myself with great matters,
with things too sublime for me.
 
 Rather, I have stilled my soul,
Like a weaned child to its mother,
weaned is my soul.
 
Israel, hope in the Lord,
now and forever.

Humility.

When we think of humility, we usually think of people who live in stealth mode: they do not call attention to themselves. We think of people who do the right thing because it is the right thing, and not because there is anything in it for them.  We think of people who practice the “Little Way” of St. Therese of Lisieux: small things done with great love.  We think of people who prefer to take the last place, the back pew.  Those who are “the wind beneath the wings” of someone else.  The unsung heroes. Continue reading “The Humility of ‘The Higher Position’”

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The Autistic Image of God

Towards a Spirituality of Autistic Life

The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. – Psalm 118:22-23

A thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”  I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. – 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God. – 1 Corinthians 1: 26-29

What does it mean to be Catholic and autistic? How can autistic people encounter the Lord in their lives? What do autistic Catholics offer to the rest of the Church, to the entire Body of Christ? How does an autistic person exist in the image and likeness of God?  Can God have an autistic face?  If so, what might such a face look like? Continue reading “The Autistic Image of God”

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The Number One Answer

Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time (C) – Luke 12: 49-53

There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.  – Ecclesiastes 3:1

You are undoubtedly familiar with the TV game show Family Feud. This popular show has been on the air almost continuously since 1976. In it, two families square off in an attempt to win the most money.  They do this by trying to guess the most popular responses to the questions the host asks.  The family member who comes up with the number one answer gives the family control of the round and a better chance to win.  The family that wins the game then has a chance to win more money in the Fast Money round.  The key to winning that round and the cash prize is to come up with as many number one answers as possible. Continue reading “The Number One Answer”

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Eccentric Faith

Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time (C) – Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19

But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?  – Luke 18:8

No man can serve two masters. – Matthew 6:24

 

“Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Thus begins this Sunday’s second reading.  It goes on to bring before our eyes Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as exemplars of this faith, with a particular emphasis on Abraham and his wife Sarah.  This is not surprising to us.  Abraham is often praised as an example of great faith in both Old and New Testaments. We often refer to him as our father in faith.  By faith, Abraham left his native land and took up a nomadic life in the land of Canaan, believing God’s promise that, one day, this land would be given to him and his descendants.  Abraham is one of the central characters in the Scriptures. Continue reading “Eccentric Faith”