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We all know the story of Adam and Eve. We could almost tell the story of their creation and subsequent eviction from Eden all the way through by heart. We know the story and we tell the story because it our story; it is the story of us.
Most of us can remember our own loss of innocence – the time you saw your father’s change lying on his dresser and slid one quarter into your pocket, only to turn around and find him standing at the door; the time you were arguing with a sibling only to find yourself so filled with rage that you lifted your fist in the air and brought it down across their face.
In flashes of anger or rage, in coveting relationships, in jealousy and lies, in these ways and so many others, we rupture relationship. Perfect bonds are broken. And while moments pass, and we move on with our lives, things are never quite the same again. We lose our innocence.
Sin, at its very core, is the rupturing of relationship - with God, with neighbor - the turning in on ourselves to feast on our greed and impatience, our lust and our anger, our power and our selfishness.
From the first moment we lose our innocence, sin becomes easier and easier. It becomes our natural way of life. And so, to disrupt the natural way, a savior was born. We call him Emmanuel, God-With-Us. And this Christ has not just told us, but showed us, that our way was wrong, all wrong. And that he is the means by which the rupture of relationship is mended, the rupture of sin is healed.
Our upcoming Lenten season is a beautiful time to re-enter a deep and real relationship with God and one another. A time that is set aside, set apart, to shift the way in which we think, moving our thoughts from simply being about me and mine, and into the recognition of us. The rebuilding of our personal encounter with the Living God remains key to the Lenten Season – the God who waits for us in the beautiful silence of the coming Lenten season.
Regardless of where we have come from, and where we are going, let us take time over the next few days to witness those pieces of ourselves that are rooted in self-interest, self-aggrandizement, and self-promotion. Let us prepare our hearts this Lent to encounter the patient God, who never tires of offering us mercy, and wholeness, a relationship of love.
Have a question about a program or event going on in Campus Ministry? Got an idea for something you'd like to see happen? EMAIL US at ministry@sau.edu.
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We have hit the point in the semester when routines aren’t new anymore, but the end isn’t near either. There isn’t a checkpoint to say: “Congratulations! You’ve made it to the in-between.” There are assignments to complete, papers to write, and exams are on the horizon. This is the point where tiredness starts to creep in, and you have a decision to make: either give up or push through.
What if there's a third option? To rest and replenish ourselves. The second reading at Mass this Sunday is from 1 Corinthians. Paul writes about the duality of humanity being both spirit and flesh. He says, “Just as we have borne the image of the earthly one, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one” (1 Cor 15: 49). We are not in-between heaven and earth; we have a home in both since we are both body and soul. As we wait to enter our eternal home, we must take care of our whole self in this temporary home.
How do we take care of ourselves in this busy in-between time of the semester? I have asked myself this question a lot in the last few weeks. Lately, I’ve gone on walks, while listening to podcasts in order to care for both my body and my spirit. These 20 minute breaks give me time to rest my mind and replenish my energy to keep working. What’s one thing you can do each day to give yourself the break you need in order to take care of your whole self, body and soul?
And even though there isn’t technically a checkpoint, I’ll say it anyway: Congratulations! You’ve made it to the in-between. Rest, replenish, and keep going.
Have a question about a program or event going on in Campus Ministry? Got an idea for something you'd like to see happen? EMAIL US at ministry@sau.edu.
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“Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man."
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus shares the Beatitudes with the twelve apostles and the disciples who followed him. In these words we are reminded of the people Jesus serves in his ministry. Among these people are the poor, the hungry, the weeping, the excluded and unloved.
Growing up, there were times I felt that to be a Christian, I had to be a squeaky clean person with no sins and no faults. Throughout my life I have felt shame and guilt for decisions I have made and things I have done because I think back to those squeaky clean and pure expectations. As I have gotten older and learned more about who Jesus is and the people he serves, I have realized that he serves the poor, the vulnerable, and the outcasts - people who are not rich, not fulfilled, and sometimes not even loved or accepted.
Through my years at St. Ambrose, I have learned more about the Catholic Social Teachings and realized that the church is not made up of squeaky clean people. The saints and followers of Jesus either were or served the poor. Many left their comfortable lives to live among the poor, the hungry and the brokenhearted. They found richness, fulfillment, and comfort in their faith and through service of others.
As we grow forward in our faith, I hope we all can see God in the poor, the vulnerable, and those who are mistreated. May we hang on to our faith in the times we may be poor, hungry, or experience hatred and know that God will bring us his riches. He will fulfill our hunger, and He will always show us the love we are searching for.
Last Sunday we celebrated the Rite of Acceptance with SAU students Lauren Hoesly and Taylor Smith! Their sponsors, Katherine Greening (on the left) and Jordan Robinson (on the right), presented them to our faith community. During the celebration, we promised to support them with our prayers as they continue to prepare for Baptism, Confirmation and receiving the Eucharist. Lauren and Taylor meet weekly with their sponsors and our initiation team to reflect on the Sunday Scriptures proclaimed at Mass and to learn about the Catholic faith and way of life. If you are interested in learning more about joining the Catholic Church, please contact us at ministry@sau.edu.
