The God of Surprises

Posted on October 21, 2014 by William Ockham
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Teilhard de Chardin Quote of the Week (October 20, 2014): Religion and Mysticism

Posted on October 20, 2014 by William Ockham

 

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Due to travel schedule, this week’s quote is not from Teilhard de Chardin but is from another one of my favorite authors, Philip St. Romain in the spirit of Teilhard de Chardin:

“To emphasize the pivotal role of faith in relation to mystical experience is not likely to be a popular position these days, however, for to speak of faith is to invoke religious language. The awakening and formation of faith is also the responsibility of religious traditions, and there are many today who seek mystical experience while holding themselves apart from a religious tradition. Although the God of the mystic does, indeed, go beyond the dogmas and rituals of religions, the intellectual, affective, and volitional dimensions of the faith of the mystic are both nurtured and supported by such beliefs and practices. Indeed, it is doubtful that mystical experience can flower and be integrated apart from the wisdom of religious traditions. (The New Age and Transpersonal mysticisms, for example, generally degenerate into pantheism.) On the other hand, it is easy to understand the disgust with which many today view religion, especially in the West. Apart from a mystical tradition, the exoteric dimension of religion makes little sense, producing instead [mere] ideologies, liturgists and dogmatists. This is not true religious faith, however, only a counterfeit. Many Churches are more aware of political developments in the world than of the mystical aspect of Christianity, which is frustrating to those who seek spiritual growth. The best situation, of course, would be for the Church to view mystical union as the goal of religion itself, and to provide formation for all unto this end. This day is coming, but we’ve a long way to go.

— Philip St. Romain, Critical Questions in Christian Contemplative Practice

 

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Sunday Reflection, 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 19, 2014): Meeting Malice with Kindness that Heals

Posted on October 18, 2014 by William Ockham
jesusbreadline “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion, for you do not regard a person’s status.” — Matthew 22:16

This Sunday is the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time.  The readings can be found here. Once again, the Pharisees attempt to trap Jesus by asking him about his loyalty to the Roman Empire and his loyalty to the oppressed subjects of the Roman Empire.

The egocentric part of me is sympathetic to the Pharisees (perhaps because I have no small part Pharisee in me).  Unlike other Jews they upheld the Mosaic laws passed on to them by tradition. Unlike other Jews they did not collaborate with the Romans. Unlike other Jews, they did not hang out with sinners.

It is an interesting psychological question as to why the Pharisees were antagonistic towards Jesus.  Were they jealous of his popularity? Were they concerned that Jesus’ message of radical love and mercy would weaken the Mosaic law that had survived brutal occupation and exile from numerous empires? Perhaps rather than using tradition as a pathway to God, the Pharisees substituted these very traditions for God?

This week’s reflection comes from John Predmore, SJ.  You can find the entire reflection here, but set forth below is an excerpt:

It is easy for us to look down upon the Pharisees and condemn them for plotting against Jesus because they have malice in their hearts. We notice the many time when they were in the wrong. We wonder, “How could they do this to Jesus? Did they not know who he was?” If we have these types of thoughts, then we are much like the Pharisees. We cannot be looking for the reasons people are wrong. We have to use the example of Jesus when he detects their malice and leads them to choose a loftier path to take.

We probably all know someone whose life is defined by conflict. These people are not happy unless they are angry with someone. Sometimes, they cannot even remember the reason they are angry with you and over time their anger has morphed into an altogether different reason. It is important to know that we cannot fix these people’s situations. They may always be angry, controlling people. They are fighting with themselves, even though we may be the recipients of their misplaced anger. It is not our fault. The best we can do is to meet their malice with kindness. Memories of kindness linger. Kindness heals.

Pope Francis is teaching the bishops and cardinals about the virtues of kindness. In Rome, he is helping them soften their attitudes about people in contentious social situations – divorced and remarried Catholics, those who cohabitate, and those who are gay and lesbian. While no doctrine is being changed, a fundamental shift occurs when the church no longer labels its own faithful members as adversaries and enemies.

Some will argue that rules must be upheld. Of course, that is true. However, look at the many ways we break the rules daily and if we get caught, we want mercy granted to us. We are overeager in our driving, we can be aggressive pedestrians, we might be silent if a store does not charge us for an item we intend to buy, or we seek inaccurate tax advantages. Some of us take great offense if a neighbor questions our motives or actions. Get off your high horses. We like laws when it is to our advantage, but we all seek to have our minor infractions overlooked. We pick and choose which laws we obey and disregard and we criticize others when they disregard a law we value. Strive for consistency and integrity so that you do not seek the fault in others, but try to bring a balance to your values.

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Toward a Post-Materialistic Science

Posted on October 14, 2014 by William Ockham

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I came across a recent article by Dave Pruett in the Huffington Post discussing a “Manifesto for a Post-Materialistic Science” that was published in the Fall Issue of Explore. I had not previously heard of the “Manifesto” but it was written by eight reputable scientists and is long overdue to challenge the “religion” of materialism that is prevalent in many scientific circles and segments of modern Western society.

I encourage you to read the entire article here, but set forth below is an an excerpt:

“Science is at its best when open to the potential significance of “damned facts.” It’s at its worst when, constrained by dogma, it ignores them. History records that some of Galileo’s contemporaries, having peered through the telescope to observe the moons of Jupiter, denied the witness of their own eyes, believing these moons “illusions of the devil.” Such is the power of dogma.

Classical physics, which is based upon a mechanistic and materialistic view of nature, has been wildly successful. It’s brought us the Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, mechanization, automobiles, air travel, and space exploration.

Quantum mechanics, however, supersedes Newtonian mechanics and undermines the classical assumption of materialism. Nevertheless, many, if not most scientists, remain as firmly locked into the ideology of “scientific materialism” as Galileo’s contemporaries remained in the thrall of Aristotle and Ptolemy.

The newest frontier of science is the study of consciousness, for which a materialistic bias is particularly prejudicial. That is, investigations of consciousness reveal phenomena that appear to violate the existing materialistic paradigm. Materialistically oriented scientists typically reject these so-called “paranormal” phenomena out-of-hand because they fly in the face of cherished preconceptions. The refusal to accept the “damned facts” at face value and confront them head-on is, according to the authors, “antithetical to the true spirit of scientific inquiry.”

The authors then propose a radical, post-materialistic paradigm: “Mind represents an aspect of reality as primordial as the physical world. Mind is fundamental in the universe; i.e., it cannot be derived from matter and reduced to anything more basic.”

* * *

The idea is neither original nor new. One can find intimations of this point of view in the philosophy of Immanuel Kant and Friedrich Hegel, and articulation of it in the writings of paleontologist-priest Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955) and “geologian”Thomas Berry (1914-2009). What’s new, however, is the naming of the science of the future as “post-materialistic” and that the idea is gaining traction.

* * *

The post-materialistic paradigm grants equal primacy to mind and matter. In the words of Teilhard de Chardin: “There is neither spirit nor matter in the world. The stuff of the universe is spirit-matter. No other substance but this could have produced the human molecule.”

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Teilhard de Chardin Quote of the Week (October 13, 2014): Spirit, Matter and God

Posted on October 13, 2014 by William Ockham

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“There is neither spirit nor matter in the world. The stuff of the universe is spirit-matter. No other substance but this could have produced the human molecule.” — Teilhard de Chardin (cited by Dave Pruett)

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Sunday Reflection, 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 12, 2014): Detachment and Freedom

Posted on October 11, 2014 by William Ockham

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 “I know how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I can do all things in him who strengthens me.” Phil 4:12-13

This Sunday is the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings can be found here.  The themes relate to the great wedding feast that God invites us to. The initial guests  are so attached to their daily lives that they ignore the the gift that God is offering them. I have this to be so true in my own life. During the early part of my adulthood, I was so focused on my career and external “success” that I completely neglected the wondrous gifts that God has given me. The guests in the Gospel parable contrasts with the second reading where he so eloquently talks about detachment (quoted above). Detachment is a foundation of Ignatian spirituality. If we are detached from the chains of worldly outcomes: whether it be wealth or poverty, health or sickness, or anything else, we are more free to love God and our neighbor.

This week’s reflection comes from John Bucki, SJ of the Center for Concern. I encourage you to read the entire reflection here, but set forth below is an excerpt:

“The vision of Isaiah is the vision of a God who wants good things for all people.  In a world of poverty and injustice, Isaiah paints a vision of a God who provides for everyone generously. In a world of nationalism and ethnic & racial division, Isaiah paints a vision of a God who destroys the veil/web that covers over and divides all people.  In a world in which people are focused on money and the problems of the economy, Isaiah talks about discovering a God who saves us – a God with a liberating set of values. In a world which continues to see so many tears and so much injustice, Isaiah paints the vision of a God who wants to wipe away those tears and bring us together in a new way.

This vision is repeated in Jesus’ story of the wedding feast.  What God wants is a great wedding feast – a feast that is open to all. God is unhappy when folks don’t accept the invitation. “The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests.”  The vision is expressed in what we call today the “option for the poor.”  The vision is made concrete whenever we work to include those on the outside – those without power – minorities, women, immigrants, refugees, the elderly, the sick, those who don’t fit our expectations and priorities.

In our fast paced and busy world, the story of Jesus reminds us of what can prevent us from sharing in the vision of Jesus.  We get too busy with other things. We miss the invitation. Instead of taking advantage of the feast, we end up going our own way to buy a farm or manage a business. We become preoccupied with money or possessions. We can get separated from the vision of Jesus; we can miss out on the great wedding feast.  We can be distracted by the various ideologies of our culture – consumerism, discrimination, militarism, sexism, racism, fear, isolation, rugged individualism, nationalism, etc.  We can be distracted by wealth or financial security or entertainment or prestige.”

Read Full Reflection

Other Resources:

Living Space
Creighton Online Ministries
John Predmore Reflection
Fr. Robert Barron Podcast

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Big Bang, Darwin, and Evolutionary Images of Divinity

Posted on October 10, 2014 by William Ockham

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Benediction LightIn the words of our ancestors as they grappled to tell the story of the Divine Mystery we call God, it is written. “Then God spoke all these words, and said, “I AM YAHWEH who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Do not worship any gods except me! Do not make for yourselves any carved mage or likeness of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters of the earth, and do not bow down to them or serve them! For I, YAHWEH, am a jealous God.” (Exodus 20:1-5)

Joan Chittister, a Roman Catholic nun and brilliant theologian, tells a story about a little girl named Katie who was a second-grader in one of the schools of Chittister’s community. One Friday during art class as the teacher roamed the aisles checking progress, she stopped at Katie’s desk…

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Condemnation Does Not Convert Atheists

Posted on October 10, 2014 by William Ockham

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It is easy to become self-righteous or defensive when I feel attacked by atheists. It is a natural, human reaction. However indignant rants which bludgeon the unbeliever with the ‘truth’ treats them as an object and not an intelligent person who is also loved by God.  When I am  secure in the Love of God, I can love and respect everyone because I do not feel threatened.  Then it is possible to encourage real dialogue which actually listens to the crux of  atheists’ concerns and doubts. Such dialogue opens the door for the Holy Spirit to become the Divine Moderator of the discussion.

1 Corinthians 13:

4 Love is always patient and kind; love is never jealous; love is not boastful or conceited, 5 it is never rude and never seeks its own advantage, it does not take offence or store up grievances. 6 Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but…

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Teilhard de Chardin Quote of the Week (October 6, 2014): Overcoming Suffering

Posted on October 6, 2014 by William Ockham

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“By no means the least disturbing aspect of the problem of evil, is this powerlessness of the world to develop successfully, I won’t say the best, but at any rate a good part of itself. . . When you’re confronted with this mystery, it’s a good thing, as you so well said, to abandon yourself to the masterful current, as divine when it cancels out our efforts as when it carries us forward. After all, what really matters is surely to be united with God, and to fall in with the movements He imposes on us, whatever they may be. And is it not as beautifying to feel the influence of Him we love exert itself to make us less (as his wisdom plans) rather than greater?—to go back to Blondel’s words that you copied for me, ‘ the action of others on ourselves ‘ is more clearly seen in sorrow than in enjoyment, and the same is thus true of the resulting joy.”

— Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, The Making of a Mind; Letters from a Soldier-Priest (p. 176)

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Sunday Reflection, 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 5, 2014): What Fruit Are We Producing?

Posted on October 4, 2014 by William Ockham

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Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. — Phil 4:8

This Sunday is the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings can be found here. This week’s reflection comes from Living Space of the Irish Jesuits and, using the biblical metaphor of a vineyard, calls us to ask what type of fruit are our local parishes and communities producing. You can read the entire reflection here but set forth below is an excerpt:

[W]hat kind of grapes do we as a parish community produce? Are they sweet and luscious or are they pinched and sour? Is our parish a real sign of Jesus’ presence and love in this part of our city? What kind of impact do we have?

Are we living out the words that Paul proposes to the Christians of Philippi in today’s Second Reading:

Fill your minds with everything that is true,
everything that is noble,
everything that is good and pure,
everything that we love and honour,
and everything that can be thought virtuous
or worthy of praise.

He goes on:

Keep doing all the things that you learnt from me
and have been taught by me
and have heard or seen that I do.
These last words are quite a challenge for all of us. But if we can live them out, then, says St Paul, “the God of peace will be with you.”

Parish vineyard

Our parish is our vineyard. It must not produce sour grapes that no one can eat. It must be open to the various ways the Lord speaks to it, whether those people are Church leaders or prophetic voices which may sometimes say things which are painful to hear.

There is always a temptation for a parish to become a security blanket for those who do not want to face up to the challenges facing every society. When that happens, it tends to cling to old, fixed ways of doing things and to resist change. People who propose changes that are necessary in serving a constantly changing society may be resisted and resisted very strongly. Each parish can find itself producing its core of “chief priests and elders” (who, by the way, may not be the clergy) who will make sure that prophetic voices (who may be the clergy) and people with real vision will be effectively blocked.

It is just as easy for us in these times to fail to recognise the voice of God in the messengers he sends us, just as the Jewish authorities of Jesus’ time failed to recognise the Word of God in him. It was Cardinal Newman who said more than 100 years ago that “To live is to change; and to be perfect is to have changed often.” If we are not really making sure that our vineyard produces rich grapes, not only for us but for others, too, to enjoy, then we are falling short as “tenants”. It may well happen that the Lord may ask others to come and take our place.

If our church was closed down, sold off and turned into a dance hall what real difference would it make to our district? Of course, we who come here regularly would miss it, but what of others who never step inside? Are we really concerned about that impact or do we think more of our own personal religious obligations and needs? Do we measure the quality of our parish by what goes on in this building or by what happens when we leave it? Obviously, both are important but there cannot be one without the other.”

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