Tag: redemption

From darkness to light

January 13, 2025
Photo of Seattle at night

In the words of (Cardinal) Timothy Radcliffe, “We are all radically incomplete.”

In our incompleteness, each of us have areas of darkness. The fact, though, that all of us are radically incomplete provides comfort – we aren’t alone in experiencing the human condition (in Radcliffe’s statement that we are all radically incomplete, he immediately goes on to say “And we need each other”).

It is in the embrace of God’s love for us that we move from darkness to light.

It is because of all of this – such compelling aspects of our human experience (darkness, love, light) – that there are repeating threads of “from darkness to light” within the Christian faith tradition.

We celebrate the redeemer’s birth at the darkest time of the year (northern hemisphere) – the earthly appearance of the one who provides us with hope and light through the Resurrection (the Risen Christ).

We are now into January: each day is lighter and longer than the previous day. Joyousness. This is how I choose to look at the daily time of darkness and contrasting light at this time of year. In contrast, I met a person several years ago (2013?) who talked about – and focused on – “how short and dark the days are from October through February” (an accurate but dreary assessment!). I, on the other hand, choose to start counting in November who many weeks and then days there are until days start getting lighter and longer (i.e., counting toward the Winter Solstice). Then, I take joy each day after the solstice in having more light that day.

Days are getting longer now – for those of us in the northern hemisphere. When I drive to work in the early hours of the morning, I see the Seattle skyline in contrast to the night sky – a lovely image. I recently made a point of taking the photo of this Seattle skyline shown here before it gets too light in the early morning to take such a photo. In the midst of my dark drive to work, though, I also feel the joy of increasing light and God’s love for us.

A loving relationship with God does bring us from the darkest corners of our human experience to hope and love. Personally, I find the experience of this loving relationship in the stillness and deep surrender of contemplative prayer. And in being good to other people.

Photo of Seattle at night

Kim Burkhardt blogs at A Parish Catechist (and is a member of the Association of Catholic Publishers). Blogging is sustainable via blog readership (i.e. readers/subscribers). If you are a new visitor, it would be great to have you subscribe to follow this blog (thank you!). If you know someone who would like this blog, please share it with them and invite them to subscribe (thank you!).

Acknowledging our sins at mass: The Confiteor

July 27, 2024
Photo of a red apple

At Catholic masses, we acknowledge our sins at the beginning of mass:

The Confiteor

I confess to almighty God,
and to you my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and what I have failed to do,
through my faults, through my faults, through my most grievous faults;
therefore I ask the blessed Mary ever-virgin,
all the angels and saints,
and you my brothers and sisters
to pray for me to the Lord our God

–

We all know that we’re imperfect – part of “The human condition.” Lately, I’ve been commenting “If anyone is wondering about human sinfulness, just turn on the evening news” (i.e, human sinfulness is reported on daily!).

Our human imperfections are not viewed universally as caused by sin or by human brokenness. Some would argue that while we humans aren’t perfect, calling us sinful has an unnecessary harmful emotional effect; some counter-argue that an alternate and better route to improved well-being is that human effort is all we need to overcome our imperfections: social training, psychological and social supports, a good family environment, and “pull yourself up by your bootstraps.” Thes things, in and of themselves, are all important and good (and, arguably, not enough).

Again…..turn on the evening news. We humans do plenty wrong. The longer I sit in pews, the more convinced I am that we’ve inherited a sinful nature (Adam and Eve, the apple….). However, this view isn’t one for keeping us down (“I’m unredeemable, horrible!”). Rather, there’s freedom. When we surrender and allow God to work in our lives, God redeems us. Allowing God to transform us is an unequivacal path to becoming better people.

Several years ago (2016), I surrendered in prayer to allow God to do whatever he wanted in me. This occurred after a re-conversion experience in which I felt God’s love….. Yet, part of me was apprehensive. “What’s God going to do to me (or in me?)?” In hindsight, this fear was ridiculous. God is love, God loves us, God wants the best for us. What exactly did I think that a loving God was going to do “to me” or “in me?” Now that I’ve had some time following that surrender, I’m seeing the result of God working in me. I am becoming happier and I am starting to be nicer to other people. Pretty good results.

As time unfolds, I am also finding deeper meaning in confessing The Confiteor at mass. Confessing publicly that we have sinned is an acknowledgement of our human imperfection and an education into who we are and Church teaching. Further, such public confession has social value. When we acknowledge together that we are all sinners, then we have to forgive one another – none of us holier (above our neighbor in the pew next to us), nor can we condemn the person in the pew next to us. Further, we call others to pray for us while we also pray for everyone else. The Confiteor is a great prayer!

Join A Parish Catechist’s Zoom call on Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm Pacific to discuss topics of faith – such as the Nicene Creed and The Confiteor. Small group sharing is one of the ways we broaden and deepen our faith. You are welcome: Zoom sign in passcode is 898 322 8983 .

Kim Burkhardt blogs at A Parish Catechist and The Books of the Ages (and a member of the Association of Catholic Publishers). If you are a new visitor, it would be great to have you follow this blog (thank you!). If you know someone who would like this blog, please share it with them (thank you!). Also, your support ($$) to help sustain this blog is welcome.

Pondering Judas, Job, and the Prodigal Son

March 18, 2024

Every year. we hear the salvation story at Easter . God loved us so much that he sent his only son to die for our sins.

Our salvation involved Jesus’ death, so his death was predestined. So, someone – some human – had to somehow be complicit in Jesus’ death?

When Judas came to realize what he had done – that he had betrayed Jesus such that this betrayal was to involved in the circumstances of Jesus’ death – he took his own life.

Given that it seems that one of us – some human – had to somehow be complicit in Jesus’s death…. Hmmm…. This raises difficult questions about the circumstances involvingJudas.

It’s fine for God to decide to die for our sake. But to necessitate that some human(s) be complicit? Have some human(s) end up with Jesus’ betrayal on their conscience? How fair is that?

When I raised this for discussion with someone recently, I heard it argued that Judas had free will. He didn’t have to betray Jesus. Further, Judas repented to the chief priests and elders when he realized the consequences of what he had done (that Jesus was to be crucified). But, somehow someone had to be complicit in Jesus’ death (betrayal, hanging Christ on the cross)? So, someone was going to have this on their conscience – somehow? I also heard it said that free will means that Judas didn’t have to take his own life. He could have asked God for forgiveness (in fact, he did go so far as repenting to the chief priests – Matthew 27: 1 – 10).

What would you or I have done if we saw that we had betrayed Jesus toward death? Would we give in to despair the same way Judas did and take our own lives? Would we request forgiveness? Become bitter? Or??? It feels to me that such a burden would be worse than being Job.

Is there a way that Christ could have died for us without any individual humans ending up with a burden heavier than Job?

It didn’t occur to me until this week – when pondering Judas’ perspective – that Judas had the option of asking God’s forgiveness rather than giving into despair to the point of taking his own life. Requesting such forgiveness would have been amazingly difficult to do!!!! It took some effort to wrap my head around this. If Judas had the option of asking for God’s forgiveness – “The Prodigal Son on a much grander scale” – then what of us?

When we fall into despair – whether because of challenging circumstances seemingly beyond our control or because of difficult results of our own choices – how well do we turn to God and accept God’s love – and redemption, when necessary – in our lives? Compared to Judas [“Anguish beyond that of (of course, innocent rather than guilty] Job!” is my new phrase to contemplate guilty Judas), what’s so impossible in our circumstances that we can’t turn to God…. and to enter into a healing relationship with God in whatever form is necessary (forgiveness, redemption, allowing God to love us toward wellness, etc.)?

Kim Burkhardt blogs at A Parish Catechist and The Books of the Ages (and a member of the Association of Catholic Publishers). If you are a new visitor, it would be great to have you follow this blog (thank you!). If you know someone who would like this blog, please share it with them (thank you!). You can also support this blog by clicking here when you are going to shop on Amazon (that lands A Parish Catechist a commission on Amazon sales).

Lent in 40 Days: Day Five (repentance)

February 18, 2024

I was in the confessional earlier this month.

Blessed Sacrament Parish in Seattle does a great job of “setting the mood” for reconciliation on Friday evenings – low lighting, the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, brief song.

Among other items on my list that evening, I told the priest “I hate crows.”  I went on tell him about my road rage about crows who hop around in the streets of Seattle.

In addition to not liking crows, I don’t like going to reconciliation (i.e., “confession”). I know a person who says they like going to reconciliation because they feel forgiven when they’re done. I know that reconciliation is about being sorry for what we’ve done and being forgiven. I don’t feel forgiven when I’m done in the confessional. Despite that, I go because I’m trying to really live my faith.

While I don’t feel forgiven when I go to reconciliation, I do often feel closer to God afterward. In my case, the act of my living out my faith by doing something I don’t want to do is a good thing….. Somehow, I think God likes that I’m doing what’s asked of me despite my grumblings about attending reconciliation (i.e., confession). Also, having to tell another human how I’ve sinned is good for humility (there are ways in which I’m stubbornly vain).

I considered a key point while in the confessional. After saying, “I hate crows” and told the priest about my ongoing road rage about crows, the priest made a comment geared toward trying to get me to ease up about crows. An act of contrition happened at the end of reconciliation and my sins were forgiven. However, I hadn’t fully gotten done with my animosity toward crows-in-the-streets-of-Seattle. ”Why,” I was thinking, “can’t crows just wise up and stay out of the road! Sociologists who study crows talk about how smart crows are!

Perhaps, however, some good is now being achieved by my acknowledgement of hating crows-in-the-street – and then blogging about it. I am blogging about this to illustrate the need for us to focus on repentance during Lent (we’re all called to be penitent during Lent).  I started to explain the following: “This ‘hating crows’ matter is a case of ‘road rage.’ Crows hang out in the road, getting in the way of traffic. Do they think they own the road? What business do they have interrupting my day and the days of other drivers by hopping around in the road?” This got me to thinking. Hmmm…. “Perhaps this is about me being self-absorbed. How am I suppose to expect crows to take into the consideration drivers’ self-perceived needs to drive around uninterrupted by crows hopping around in the street? Crows are a part of nature. They have as much right to live in Seattle as I do. I can’t reasonably expect crows to figure out human perceptions (i.e., about drivers not wanting our driving to be interrupted by hopping crows). I should be able to co-exist with crows.”

Yes, Lent is a time for us to be repentant. One small positive outcome of Lenten reconciliations this year (okay, I actually went to reconciliation just before Lent started….) is that Seattle’s crows and I may end up on better terms (including these crows that I photographed at Seattle’s Green Lake – they had no idea that I’ve been experiencing road r). We’ve all got something for which to repent.

Kim Burkhardt blogs at A Parish Catechist and The Books of the Ages (and a member of the Association of Catholic Publishers). If you are a new visitor, it would be great to have you follow this blog (thank you!). If you know someone who would like this blog, please share it with them (thank you!). You can also support this blog by clicking here when you are going to shop on Amazon (that lands A Parish Catechist a commission on Amazon sales).

Lent in 40 Days: Day Four (more on temptation)

February 17, 2024
Two rows of trees

Lent is a time when we anticipate Christ’s death and resurrection. We experience the wonder of Christ’s death and resurrection for our salvation.

Christ died for our salvation due to our fallen nature. It could be tempting to look at Christianity’s focus on our fallen nature as Christianity taking a needlessly dark view of humanity that doesn’t build us up. Not the case. The fact is that all of us do things we shouldn’t do. We all know that we all due things we shouldn’t do. Original sin and the opportunity of redemption through Christ is actually freeing. Christianity – through Christ – offers us a tangible pathway to becoming the best of the people we are meant to be.

Due to our fallen nature, temptation (temptation to do what we shouldn’t do) is one of the themes we consider during Lent.

In Matthew, Mark, and Luke’s gospels (depending on whether we are in Year A, Year B, or Year C of the liturgical cycle of readings), we hear in the first Sunday of Lent about Christ spending 40 days in the desert and being tempted by the devil. He resisted the devil’s temptations.

How do we deal with temptation when we find ourselves faced with temptation in our own lives? In my previous Geography of Faith post, I make poetic reference to the times we wander down detours in our lives. 

For starters, succumbing to temptation leads us into the wilderness. Not in a good way. Giving in to temptation to behave as we shouldn’t can take us where we ultimately don’t want to go. Keeping that in mind can sometimes be an effective deterrent from doing what we shouldn’t do.

Sometimes, the temptations we face are clear.  Eat that extra sugar we don’t need. Lie to avoid unwanted consequences. Walk away rather than be a Good Samaritan in a difficult situation. Other times, temptations are more subtle. C.S. Lewis’ classic book The Screwtape Letters creatively presents the subtle and alluring nature of many temptations. If we don’t recognize something as a wrongful temptation or as guaranteed to cause trouble, so much easier to succumb to it….. For example, we sometimes find ourselves attracted to negative temptations – to sin – precisely because we think we’d benefit from it. ”It’s okay for me to ‘carry tales’ against another because it will achieve a greater good” (when we actually want to slander the person because we don’t like them – eather than holding ourselves to a standard of evaluating whether what we are going to say is true, necessary, and kind). As another example, no one slides into an alcohol problem intending to become an alcoholic. ”Life’s hard right now, I can have a few drinks to relax until this current situation gets easier……” (years later…rehab). ”Yes, I can take out that extra credit card” (when I already have enough funds to meet my needs and the unsolicited credit card being offered is designed to entice me to buy things I don’t need and can’t afford….).

When we are tempted to do something that we clearly know we shouldn’t do, how do we avoid temptation? If we can walk away on our own, great. Sometimes, getting moral support from someone we know is needed (and usefully helpful!). An active prayer life is also essential. Going to reconciliation before succumbing to temptation can also be an effective deterrent. An active prayer life is also always a good idea! An active prayer life and involvement in a faith community helps with many kinds of temptation. Read more about prayer in this prayer post….. Surrendering to allow God to lead us in the direction God wants us to go has positive outcomes in all kinds of ways!

Kim Burkhardt blogs at A Parish Catechist and The Books of the Ages (and a member of the Association of Catholic Publishers). If you are a new visitor, it would be great to have you follow this blog (thank you!). If you know someone who would like this blog, please share it with them (thank you!). You can also support this blog by clicking here when you are going to shop on Amazon (that lands A Parish Catechist a commission on Amazon sales).