Monday, November 19, 2007

Priests, Bishops and personal conversion

I read an interview in the National Catholic Register with Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana. In his response to a question about a Synod on the Bible, he gave what I consider to be one of the most straightforward, true commentaries on the priesthood. He said:

"We priests and bishops need to recognize that many of us are products of notional Christianity. Quite a sizable number entered seminary, received formation and got ordained, but might not have experience any personal conversion. When that is the case, we are missing something that is very basic for the life of a Christian."

Amen. Amen. Amen.

Although it wasn't clear to me if he was speaking primarily about the African priests and bishops, it is clear to me that his comments are universal.

If we are to evangelize--which is an incredible responsibility--our ordained leaders of the Church must, must, must speak to us from their personal relationship with Christ, their personal conversion experience, and, their struggles as well.

It is simply not enough to have the information and live it without an underlying conversion. For those who have had this personal conversion experience, they would do well, in humility, to offer it as testimony to strengthen their flock.

It's hard to imagine that there exists the possibility that one might be able to live the life of an ordained priest without such experience, but I think the good Cardinal alludes to the fact that this situation does indeed exist.

His other responses in the interview reflect his thoughts on what non-Catholic churches are doing that is working. He identifies "the need to celebrate the gifts of the Holy Spirit more . . . ." and says that he tells the students in the diaconate that they have to "develop a personal prayer life and deepen their spirtuality," and that "Christianity goes beyond the theology and terms that we have learned to something more relational."

Amen. Amen. Amen.

The time is now. We MUST get this right.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Beware of the latest dance craze

Children today are latching onto a popular rap song and making the associated dance tremendously popular. Although the dance doesn't appear to be particularly offensive, the lyrics attached to "Soldier ("Soulja")Boy" are devastatingly so.

If your children are getting into this, go to YouTube and type in the title to see the video, but don't stop there. Go to Google and search for the lyrics, and then, you must go one step further and check out the popular slang definitions for the major phrases in the song at urbandictionary.com.

We have a responsibility to our children and it begins at home. Be knowledgeable about what they are participating in. It often isn't as innocent as it would appear and sometimes the children themselves do not have a clue.

God bless,
Janet

Sunday, November 4, 2007

On the Right Path

Sometimes when I am driving on an unfamiliar road, I depend on the lines on the road to help me determine if I am going the right way. Is this a one-way road? I look to see if the lines are white. Is this a two-way road? Yellow lines will help me there.

It occurred to me that life is like this.

If we follow the markings that God has set before us, we can be assured of taking the right road. What are these markings? I suppose they could be tangible things like the Ten Commandments, but also, I think, they are the messages that come from His parables and the teachings of the Church.

I have observed that whenever we step away on our own and take one small act toward sinfulness, it leads to more. If we can just stay focused and strong, committed and faithful, we simply cannot go down a path that endangers our journey to eternal life.

May God bless you with a clear mind and heart so that you can know which way you are to go.

God bless,
Janet