April 2001
Index
- How to Resist Temptation by Fr. Bob Camuso
- Epiphany Experience by John Dupras
- In Praise of Testimony by Marion Slawiatynsky
- Music Review: No Greater Love Michael Joncas, c. 1988 GIA Publications
- Book Review: Unexpected News - Reading the Bible with Third World Eyes
HOW TO RESIST TEMPTATION
by Fr. Bob Camuso
A friend called me not long ago and said he wanted to see me about something that disturbed him. We met and he told me that he found himself just starting to look at pornography on the Internet. We spoke about the risk of this becoming an attachment-an addiction-and that his best chance to avoid more suffering would be to commit to a promise to no longer visit such sites on the Internet. Thomas a' Kempis put it this way:
"We must be watchful, especially in the beginning of temptation, because then the enemy is more easily overcome if he is not allowed to come in at all at the door of the soul, but is kept out and resisted at his first knock. " -The Imitation of Christ, I,13
I then suggested to my friend that what might help him resist temptation is the ancient practice of spiritual detachment. Spiritual detachment is a process that frees us from whatever interferes with our spiritual growth. Detachment helps us avoid disordered inclinations and relationships with persons or things. Detachment can help us avoid negative memories and thoughts that keep us from God's love.
In the Bible, much is written on spiritual detachment. For example, the story of Abraham shows his spiritual detachment when he is willing to obey God's command to leave his country and sacrifice his son, Isaac. This same spiritual detachment is found in Jesus when he sacrifices his human life to fulfill his Father's redemptive plan of salvation. Jesus calls each of us to spiritual detachment when he says, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow to me" (Mt 16:24). In other words, in order to follow Jesus we must detach ourselves from worldly attachments (deny yourself); and detach ourselves from any fear over what it might cost to be a disciple (take up your cross).
Jesus gave us an example of the cost of discipleship when he said to the rich official who asked what he must do to inherit eternal life: "Sell all you have and distribute it to the poor and you will have a treasure in heaven. Then come follow me" (Lk 18:22). With spiritual detachment, we recognize the cost of discipleship but, at the same time, we acknowledge the promise of something greater, which might be freedom of heart, freedom to be one's true self or freedom to love.
When we read the hard sayings of Jesus, we may wonder if he is too severe in his call for us to be detached from the world. We may even think of self-denial and mortification as a rejection of the goodness of God's creation. But this is not the case. Jesus wants us to be free from the burden of attachments so that we might be happy and enjoy life. That is why he said: "I came so that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (Jn 10:10b)
When Jesus said he wanted us to have life in abundance, he didn't mean for us to indulge abundantly in disordered desire. We know what happens when, for instance, we overindulge in food or alcohol. The misuse of God's abundance, because of disordered desire, results in sin and the consequent separation from the love of God, neighbor and self.
It's important to note that there is nothing wrong with having natural desire. We must have desire in life or life will be empty. Some religious traditions teach that all evil comes from desire, and that one must empty oneself of desire. But to empty oneself of desire is itself a desire. Part of God's creation was to hardwire us with desire, especially with the desire for God. An abundant life is a life that balances desire with self-discipline. Self-discipline requires one to maintain a constant attitude that "I am enough as I am. I am enough as God created me!" Self-discipline is a vigilant attitude of contentment with the providence of God, with what God has given us.
Without self-discipline, spiritual detachment cannot withstand temptation. Self-discipline keeps us from clinging to things and to people. But in being detached, we are not contemptuous toward material things. To possess things is not, in itself, a bad thing. Problems occur not because we possess things but because we come to base our self-esteem on what we have. Our identity can be based on ownership of property or other possessions, and not on the identity given to us by God, which is that we are God's beloved children.
Here are five other common temptations and attachments that require self-discipline and detachment:
- The lust for power and control over others.
- The lust for power over nature.
- The lust for knowledge to be used to manipulate others.
- The lust for intense excitement or sensation.
- The demand to have the last word.
These attachments might be summed up as one:
Being attached to our ego-to having our way
To become detached from one's ego is perhaps the greatest detachment of all. But as we seek to become detached and self-disciplined, how do we know when we have achieved our goal? The greatest sign that detachment is working is that we feel a sense of peace about who we are and about the choices we make.
But to find this peace requires work. Self-discipline comes, for instance, when a controlling person makes the choice to "let go," and trust in God. But the hard choice to let go is a choice that needs to be made over and over again. Thus, detachment requires self-discipline and self-discipline holds open the door to the fresh air of detachment. In a way, the two are one.
The greatest sign that detachment is working is that we feel a sense of peace about who we are and about the choices we make.
When we "let go" to detachment, we return to God to direct us to our destiny. As we surrender control to God, we release anxiety and fear. As we release anxiety and fear, we come home to ourselves, to that place in our hearts where we know we have all we need in the present moment, that all is well and that life is good. Spiritual detachment can help us find this holy place and self-discipline insures that we remain there for the remainder of this life and into eternity.
Epiphany Experience
by John Dupras, St. Andrew Parish, Sumner
Epiphany - Webster's defines this as "(1): a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2): an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an evet) usually simple and striking (3): an illuminating discovery" An epiphany is just what I had at a recent SacraMentor's meeting.
Over the past year or so, I have been reading "Theology and Sanity" by Frank Sheed. One of the concepts that he addresses is the concept of Christ as a being with two separate natures. He possessed, in it's entirety, the nature of man and also in it's entirety, the nature of God. This is why there are instances in the Bible where Christ speaks in terms that may seem incongruous. At times He was speaking in the nature of a man, and at times in the nature of God.
This was, for me at least, a difficult concept to grasp. I wondered how it could apply to us as men and women? If we only possessed the nature of man, and all of it's shortcomings, how could we even glimpse what God has in mind for us? For it is true, that in our hearts and souls, we know what glory lies ahead The question was how?
One of the great parts of our program is the section on study. We are asked to share what we have learned so that others may gain insight and may find the answers they are looking for through our brothers and sisters. That happened at a recent meeting. One of my brothers had been reading a book by Thomas Merton. In it, Merton talks about the physical body of Christ and the mystical body of Christ. In dying for mankind, the mystical body was brought to bear through the infusion of the Holy Spirit to all so that, by believing and through Grace, the Holy Spirit was infused into men's souls and all were apart of that mystical body.
Another brother then talked about attending a Bible study where they were discussing Matthew and the denial of self. Matthew's contention was that once we belong to Christ, we discover that in a sense we have two identities There is the "old nature", that identity or self that represents all that I was before I knew Him or all that I am apart from Christ. This self operates by it's own desires for personal physical comfort, for acceptance by the world around it, for ambition, power; fame, etc.
The second identity, a "new self" is created by the Holy Spirit when becomes to indwell in a person at conversion. This new identity, or new self, is the only part of us that will endure to all eternity. Also this new self, created in true righteousness and holiness, represents the true fulfillment of ones personality as the Creator intended (Ephesians 4:24) Therefore, the old self is the self we must deny. God never intended that "denial of self" meant denial of every good thing that He created within us and that craves expression, but the denial of everything of the old nature that opposes Christ's Lordship and God's will. This means that to identify myself with Christ, even though it means the denial of my old self and it's desires, is to discover my true identity, my true leads God originally intended it to be. Which leads me to ask, since I too have two identities, which one am I going to follow?
In Praise o f Testimony
by Marion Slawiatynsky
In John 14:12 we read the words of Jesus, "in all truth 1 tell you, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as 1 do myself, and will perform even greater works..." (emphasis added). Did you ever wonder what greater works you might be able to do? One example is your testimony, for example, your story of how SacraMentors changed your life. Jesus Himself cannot give a testimony, because He is the Savior. But we can. Please consider sending us your SacraMentors testimony so that we can use it to help further the SacraMentors movement. You can collect them from your group and send them electronically - go to www.driveway.com and logon as "SacraMentors", password "blessing". Double-click on the "Testimonies" folder and select Browse to select your testimony file. Be sure to select "Files of type..." "All Files", select Open, and then press Upload to send it.
Blessings to you all! Marion, St. Brendan PC
Music REVIEW
This is a new column. Like the book reviews, if there is music which moves you, please write a review to share with your brothers and sisters Send your review to Tricia Mann at mann-1@emaiI. msn.com
No Greater Love Michael Joncas, c. 1988 GIA Publications
Review by: Bob McKenzie-Sullivan, St. Michael Parish, Olympia
I was thrilled when Jay asked me to write a review of music for our newsletter! Being a human being (most of the time), I find that praying with music is essential. I use music as a means of turning my morning walks into prayer that has some focus. I do believe that my copy of "No Greater Love" is just about worn out and I just may have to break down and buy a new CD.
If you don't recognize the name, Michael Joncas, perhaps the setting of Psalm 91, "On Eagle's Wings" will ring a bell. Fr. Joncas is a priest of the Minneapolis Archdiocese. He has been composing music for the liturgy for many years and continues to do so.
I would like to focus on his Mass setting, "No Greater Love". The recording uses a full complement of strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, organ harp, presider, cantors, choir, and assembly. The first of the eight pieces is the processional. Many of us remember reciting Psalm 42 in Latin in the prayers at the foot of the altar before Vatican II happened. Michael has set this text in English as a powerful gathering song for the assembly that affirms that all of our lives are in God hands and that he is our joy. The gathering rite continues right into the "Kyrie" which combines the liturgical Greek text with the English acclamations of God's love with which we are familiar. The "Glory to God" has always lifted my heart in praise. And now I am happy to say that for the first time since I heard this Glory to God, our community at Southside St. Michael's is singing it. The responsorial psalm is Psalm 19 with Peter's, "Lord, to whom shall we go?" (Jn. 6:68) as the psalm refrain. The Gospel Acclamation is disappointing, given the richness of the earlier selections. The centerpiece of the CD is the eucharistic prayer, which is sung from beginning to end and involves the assembly throughout the prayer. The text is the second eucharistic prayer for reconciliation and is itself a magnificent meditation on the ministry of reconciliation between God and the human race through Jesus Christ. It is made richer by the shared roles of the various ministers of the assembly, presider, choir, cantor and, of course, the assembly. The "Fraction Rite: Agnus Dei" is intended for use when there is homebaked bread that takes time to break. It focuses on the mystery of the unity that is brought about by the celebration of our eucharistic sharing. The communion hymn is from the Last Supper discourse of John' Gospel. My recommendation is that you listen to this recording frequently during Lent. Let it be the Spirit's invitation to Easter. The melodies will sink into your mind and become a part of your prayer as you go through the day singing the tunes.
BOOK REVIEW
Have you read a good book lately. Would you like to share it with your brothers and sisters? Here's your chance. Write a review of 300 words or less and send it to Tricia Mann at mann-1@email.msn.com
Unexpected News - Reading the Bible with Third World Eyes
Robert McAffee Brown, 1994, The Westminster Press
Review by: Steve Egge, St. Andrew Parish, Sumner
Have you ever had a book call out to you from the shelf? I was visiting St. James Cathedral with the RCIA candidates and popped into the bookstore after mass to see what they were promoting. I glanced around and was glad to see the Orbis Spiritual Master Series book on De Mello there. On the shelf below it were two copies of a small book. The author, Brown, caught my attention as I thought it might be by Raymond Brown, the noted Catholic biblical scholar. I picked it up and immediately was drawn by the cover that contained a Latin American depiction of The Good Samaritan. The back cover read "This is a mind changing book that should transform attitudes... ": I picked it up, and barely made it back to the bus before it headed back to St. Andrew. On the trip back, I scanned the book and read the introduction. Each of the 10 chapters centered on a bible verse. There was the curious epilogue "For those who feel personally assaulted" and a suggested bibliography for further study. In the Cathedral at Mass we said the Magnificat so I started with Chapter 5 "Mary's Song. Whom do we hear?". This was the beginning of a new journey for me as the book forced me to look at the verse from the perspective of the poor and the oppressed in Latin America. For the first time I heard the words "God ... put dozen the mighty fro m their thrones, and exalted those of a low degree; has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich has sent empty away" and really understood the words. The author uses supporting scripture, imaginary role playing, actual commentary from a base Christian community in Nicaragua, and viewpoints of Latin American biblical scholars to transform the readers understanding of the bible. This style makes the book easy to read. It is the message that is difficult, and for that reason is best read at a pace of a chapter a day. This book, like SacraMentors, must be approached with a beginner's mind, and through it you experience the bible through third world eyes. This is not a viewpoint that is comfortable for many of us in the United States. It is similar to the realization that my son came to when, while working in an orphanage in Nicaragua, was told how the United States supported rebels who caused a political upheaval in that country. He would not have believed it if he had heard it in a classroom, but hearing it from those whose lives it affected changed him. With the help if Dr. Robert Brown, I have heard the Word of God proclaimed by those whose lives are affected daily by social injustice and poverty. The Biblical message is now much more emblazoned in my heart. Like Mary, who carried "these things" in her heart, I now carry a more global understanding of the scriptures, and hope I allow it lead me closer to Christ and His love for all his children.
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