Father
John
J. Lombardi
This past week's beautiful and
snowy weather causes this chaplain to meditate on the
thing we talk about the most, but, in fact, do the least
about-the weather!
First point: Thanks to the many
people-seminarians, locals, homeschoolers, snow-shovelers
who helped "liberate" the Grotto paths, chapel
and parking lot of the snow-it was a lot of work and
could not have been done without all of them…I noticed
how God provides in difficult situations the grace
needed, especially when least expected… "All
things work together for those who love God." Rm.
8:28
One of the
Mount-seminarians--Darin from Dakota--wisely said
during the snowstorm, "Well, the weather must be
God's will because we can't do anything about it."
How true-what a lesson!…God hands us many gifts and
myriads of graces--how do we, as spiritual creatures,
respond to these knowing that the given situation or
activity is God's will? Or do we miss His will and grace
because we think it is coming somewhere or sometime
else? Do we respond to Him, and His succesionless and
perfect will-in a (check one): cranky, complacent or
cooperative way?
Paralysis of analysis: Are you
"glued to the tube"-so fixated on the weather
forecasts that you are missing the weather itself (that
God is providing). Are you unreasonably attending to
what people are saying about the weather versus being in
it, or so caught up in the forecasts you are missing
other duties and joys in life? Are you so addicted to
the "forecasting syndrome" that it takes on a
"life of itself"?…God wants us to use common
sense-to know when weather conditions are favorable for
travel, for a picnic or some other activity-but does He
want weather forecasting and communications to become so
unreasonable that they cloud out (pardon the pun)
reality itself, our inner peace and our discipleship?
Americans have a great propensity for excess (esp. at
Christmas and in winter weather storm watches), and it
is easy during this time to become obsessively
excessive-call it the snowball effect (pun intended!),
whereby one story and forecast builds upon another and
we are entrapped by it all. It seems the more technology
and communications systems we get, the more we can get
mired by them; they are meant to help us, not overwhelm
us.
Missing reality for the map:
Forecasts are like maps-they point to reality, not
replace it. When we hear "the weather is supposed
to be 'x'…," and have this particular expectation
implanted irrevocably in our minds like a
"filter," and when the actual weather God
brewed up for us arrives, and we are waiting for
"weather x" which was forecasted, we cannot
accept the God-given weather because of our filters and
forecasts which seem to "demand" a different
reality (i.e., "the weather should be…");
our technology, minds and ignorance become oppressive:
the more we impress upon "reality" our fixed
ideas and forecasts-- the less we are happy, capable of
enjoying the present moment God gives us; we become
"overburdened moderns" incapable of enjoying a
beautiful world.
A "Winter Spring":
When I arrived early last Sunday morning after the
snowfall, the sun was shining brilliantly and
pristinely, and the vast sky was deep blue; the Virgin's
golden statue on Pangborn Belltower beamed in a dazzling
radiance; and the birds-they sung! One bird was cooing,
and another-a finch, I think-was warbling a song that
melodiously echoed and complemented the other bird; an
ornithology choir it was a stunning chorus of God's
creation right in the middle of-Winter. Occasionally I
would see a turkey vulture silently soar over our Holy
Mountain. As I looked into the distance of St. Joseph's
Valley, the virginal and unfiltered sun drenched the
snow-covered world in a new, transformed day…It seemed
to this wayfaring-chaplain that nothing could match the
scene-this Winter scene and snow was like a grace,
manifested somehow faintly how God covers a seeking
soul, completely transforming it in an entrancing and
mystically crystalline union of brightness!
MEDITATIONS: Am I often
"waiting for reality" and, when "it
arrives," I find myself still waiting?…How can I
practice the presence of God in my life more-by offering
up and accepting every moment, as a gift from-and
to-God?…Am I overly attuned to the media and
"communications networks" so that I am not
praying, not doing my spiritual reading, not conversing
with God? "Frost and chill, bless the Lord."
Daniel 3.
PRO LIFE: last week many
students and Mt. St, Mary's folks went to the March For
Life in Washington--a couple observations. On the way
down we heard a radio report intimating that thousands
FOR LIFE and FOR ABORTION would be there. No. I didn't
see or hear one pro-abortion person. The next day The
New York Times had a beautiful picture of some
angelic-like nuns glistening in the sunshine marching
FOR life. The caption basically suggested there were
equal numbers there for and against Roe v. Wade: these
half-truths and distortions by the media are damaging
and should remind us of the great Catholic author,
George Orwell's novel, "1984," which warned us
of those who control the language system of government
and culture will also control people's minds…Despite
this, I am always impressed and inspired by the many,
myriad and majestic marchers who bravely travel to march
for and uphold life-against such great odds and
opposition. I am especially thankful for the joyous
young people (I feel like a Grey Panther!) who
enthusiastically brighten our hearts and refreshingly
witness to the sanctity of human life…
ABORTION and OCNVERSION: about
every ten seconds a child is killed in our country
alone. Let us always remember that anyone who has had-or
helped procure-- an abortion, is forgivable and able to
reconcile to God and our Church-the Lord wants you back
in His graces!…Remember that the infamous Dr. Bernard
Nathanson performed thousands of abortions and professed
his right to do so. Later, after the Lord touched Him,
he stopped this, saw his dark path, and eventually
repented; and then he became a devout Catholic!
Actually, the lady who presented Roe versus Wade to the
Supreme Court in 1973 admitted she was victimized into
the case, repented and became a Christian and then a
Catholic…No matter what we have done in life God can
change us-and keep changing us-let's thank Him for His
Divine Mercy!
QUOTE(s) of THE WEEK: "I am
not I, nor You / yet You are I in me. / And so my God /
I pay all homage sole to Thee." Angelus Silesius,
Polish priest-convert. (See St. Lk 9:23)
SPIRITUAL QUOTE: