The Visitation

During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled."

And Mary said:

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.
He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy
according to his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. (Luke 1: 39-56)

Responsibilities

The air outside has been unsettled tonight, as it has been inside. Escape is to be avoided, and the issues faced.

How long must I wait until my vocation is sealed? I want to move now, but domestic responsbilities grow. My dad is not ready for me to leave (neither am I, likely), school is not finished, and parish duties are being accepted. Ah... the parish, the ship that is taking on water and may not make it. There's the temptation to jump ship, but I have not as yet convinced myself to do that. This is painful, as I have friends that are dear to me (whether they know it or not) that are relocating to the sturdiest and grandest ship in the harbor. However, I feel that I have an obligation to stay and try to fix holes.

What can I do? Well, I'll be teaching CCD this fall. Heh, that should be interesting, but doable. Second, I have the decision before me to be in Parish Council (three year commitment... a long time). Both will be challenges, as my experience in volunteering, especially in areas of leadership and responsibility, is EXTREMELY limited. I really can't think of anything that I've organized or lead outside of a classroom or computer game. Funny how I ask God for guidance and growth, and He answers me.

I don't mean to complain about the duties and all. I'm not looking for sympathy (consciously); just venting a little. And these are good things after all. God's blessing does not usually involve living an easy life, or encountering few challenges. And besides, these "challenges" will likely be stepping stones for future ones.

More so than these practical activities, my best use in the parish may be to pray, to pray for Father Jim and Father Bob. They are the linchpins for any renewal of the parish. I will remember them during my visit to New Melleray.


Lord, please renew our parish, that Your people may give You glory and praise. Above all, Your Will be done.

A "Trilemma"

An interesting quote, by C. S. Lewis from Mere Christianity:

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of thing Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic -- on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg -- or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."

Aaron's Birthday

Yesterday was my brother's 29th birthday. We all went to Texas Roadhouse, including BOTH of my parents! Luckily, there were no awkward moments, so maybe this can happen more often.

I got Aaron Super Smash Brothers Melee as a gift. A bit selfish perhaps, but I like to leave my mark on gifts. Besides, I'm not over to play games with him much. Anyway, it's a nice game to play with a group that's not over-involving. Asher should get a kick out of it too.

Aaron and Jennie watch American Idol, so Dad and I were treated to our first full episode of the show. I'll have to say, we left with better impressions of the show than we had before. However, I thought that there was a lot of cruelty and mockery in the show. That, and it's just a bit too much Hollywood for me to stomach in one sitting.

Divine Providence

So I had to decide whether to go to Bible study on Saturday or to the Archdiocese's Ordination Mass of five new priests. Someone pointed out to me that I can't go to see priests be ordained every weekend, which helped simplify the decision. I sure am glad that I went. Besides the unique experience of witnessing the lifelong commitments made by these five men, I happened to make some chance encounters. First, a little back story...

A fellow student at Gateway is a Benedictine monk, which I did not discover until the last week of our class in December. His name is Nicodemus, and he's from Africa. Over this last spring semester, he had asked me to visit the monastery he lives in on several occasions. There's a time limit, as he had to go back to Africa after the semester. True to form, I procrastinated... until this last weekend.

After the ordination, during the gathering after, I recognized a priest (Father Donald) from afar. I recognized him from the Benedictine monastery's website. I told him that I knew Nicodemus, and so I was invited to visit. I went to the monastery the next day for Mass (it's only about 45 minutes away) and stayed for quite a while. After lunch, Nicodemus had to go to a dentist appointment, so that left me with Father Donald. We talked for, oh... I don't know, maybe three and a half, four hours. Man, he could read me like a book. He was able to point out what needs work in my life, and how to accomplish it. It was a talk that I very much needed, and one that I would not have partaken in if not for several circumstances coming together at once. Divine Providence is powerful.

Yeah, Another Vinci post

Steven D. Greydanus (or SDG as he's known in some places) has a telling review up on The DaVinci Code. The review has renewed my interest in seeing the movie again, as there is still much that I do not know about the movie that can only be known through direct experience. SDG's reviews are usually very insightful, and this one's no different.

CHECK IT OUT.

This excerpt in particular made me think:

Catholic writer Mark Shea tells an anecdote about a college bull session among students at Central Washington University over The Da Vinci Code. “Even if it’s just fiction,” a student opined, “it’s still interesting to think about.”

To which another student replied: “Your mother’s a whore.” And then, to the first student’s stunned incredulity, he added, “And even if that’s just fiction, it’s still interesting to think about.”

Make it so.

Captain Picard has a blog. All bloggers shall cower in awe before him. This one's going in my links.

I bet Captain Janeway was in on the secret

I originally intended to watch The Da Vinci Code. Not right when it came out, but perhaps a matinee a week after release. I figured that seeing it would give me more credibility with others when they ask me questions or if I comment about the movie. I no longer think this is necessary, for several reasons.

First, there are TONS of resources out there, be they Christian or secular, which discredit the claims Dan Brown makes in his story. Whether I see the movie or not, I can easily refer to others' research and knowledge.

Second, I don't feel comfortable seeing it. Besides the emotional ride, I fear there could be some flashbacks. I used to be pretty involved in New Age ideas; Jesus being married became just one of many different stories and ideas I've heard and read about. I've been down that road, and I'd rather not put myself in such a vulnerable position. It would sort of be like Captain Janeway a former chain-smoker walking into a smoke filled bar. The smoke is now very annoying, but accompanied by an odd craving.

Third, the word is that the movie is pretty bad. Not only do I not want to subject myself to a bad movie, I suspect others also won't, and those that do see it won't be as likely to believe it (Note: I know that the moviemakers say that the movie is pure fiction, and that the book is listed under fiction, but that hasn't prevented many from believing it anyway).


Like I said in the previous post, I'll still be going to the movies. Aaron, Jennie, Asher, Dad, and I are going to see Over the Hedge tomorrow, which sounds like an OK/good movie. Hmm, I wonder how close the two movies will be for the weekend box office numbers??

Too po' for the theater

If you boil everything down to black and white, is it fair or accurate to say that half of movies are good and half are bad? Well, from a very limited sampling of 4 movies, I'll say....yes.

So first up is Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. We watched this with my nephew Asher, who more or less had his attention held. I liked this movie, and seeing as how I don't like British humor, that's saying quite a lot. Visuals were nice, story was entertaining, and voice acting was top-notch. The humor swung from blatant to subtle and back again - rather Simpsons-like, but without the cynicism. I'd recommend this movie regardless of age.

After Asher went to bed, we watched King Kong. Ugh, it was pretty bad. The story and writing were hokey, the acting was bad, and the (otherwise impressive) effects totally outlandish. However, one character completely broke all these mentioned complaints, and that was Kong himself. His character was the best written, best acted, and most impressive in the movie. Credit goes to Andy Serkis and visual effects people. Regardless though, it was a long and tedious movie to watch. (Oh, just remembered, the music was torturous. Just listen to the DVD intro for a while to hear what I mean.)

More recently, I saw The Chronicles of Narnia for a second time (saw it in the theaters), followed by the third time the next day. Granted, the movie had some flaws (I cheered inside when the wolf with the uber-annoying voice was finally slain), but all in all it was a great film. Except for the slow middle of the film, it was very entertaining, with great effects, acting (the youngest girl and the witch were excellent), music, and story. It also doesn't hurt that the movie is filled to the brim with Christian allegory, which I found more and more of each time I watched it. I mean, the entirety of salvation history is in there, from the fall through the Redemption to the final victory. Heck, perhaps I'll do a post sometime just on that.

Lastly, I saw Fun with Dick and Jane starring Jim Carrey. I usually like Jim Carrey movies, like Ace Ventura, Dumb and Dumber, and Liar Liar. But this one didn't do it for me. The movie seemed forced and contrived, as was my laughter. Perhaps my expectations were too high for this one. If you see this movie not expecting too much, you just might like it.


A couple more reviews are coming soon. We saw Ice Age 2 with Asher and Co. some time ago, and this Friday we're going to see Over the Hedge. Will you find a DaVinci Code review here anytime soon? Good question; I'll get back to you on that one.

Neglect of the blog

It starts by missing one day here, one day there. Then BAM... no blog for four days. So ashamed, must commit seppuku.

Well, maybe not.

The brief stay with the Augustinians took care of things pretty well. As I sort of figured, that "doubt" on Sunday was basically an emotional hiccup that I had to ride out, with the assistance of Rob (Augustinian novice). His telling of his vocation story was very helpful in bringing my own vocation into focus. The whole deal basically boils down to this: perhaps paradoxically, the desire for marriage has greatly strengthened my vocation to the priesthood/religious life. So I'm good now.


Ugh, you wouldn't believe how long it took me to write that little bit. Writing is not my favorite thing.... Next post will be on a different subject; the whole vocation subject is exhausting, especially when I'm trying to keep it short (short = nonsensical (see profile)). Keeping it short is probably the problem. Anyway, signing off.

Not again...

Someone please punch me in the gut. Don't worry about me; in the worst-case scenario, I'll die of internal bleeding. I won't hold you responsible.






On the brighter side, perhaps I won't need anymore punches after this visit to the Augustinians.

Ugh, never study on a Friday night.

I was invited tonight to play poker with the Augustinians again. If I had accepted the invitation, it would have been my third time. But Rob and I worked out something even better. I will instead spend the whole day at the novitiate on Monday, thus experiencing the day to day activities of an Augustinian novice firsthand. Poker's all fine and good, but it doesn't give you too much insight about the prospect of dedicating your whole life in a religious order.

Tomorrow will be a busy morning. Our men's group will be having First Saturday Devotions (Confession, Mass, Rosary) and our monthly breakfast meeting. Follow that up with Bible study and we get a very tired Alan and Dad who will likely not get much done in the house afterwards. Well, perhaps I'll be proved wrong... for my room's sake.

Anyway, it will be a good morning. Now, I have to go and accidently fall asleep while preparing for the Bible study.

It's late...

Look up at the stars. You won't regret it.

Perseverance

Have you ever had a period of time of heightened awareness, a time of feeling closer to God, of increased purpose? And then did that time, after a day, week, or year, ebb and flow back into normalcy? Normalcy didn't quite cut it, did it?

Sometimes we are given wonderful graces from God, graces that we are sure we do not deserve and do not merit. These come with great consolations, to prepare us for the road ahead. The consolations pass, and we are confronted with ourselves and the world again. But we must not forget about the new graces that are infused in us, whether or not we can "feel" them. We can not fall back into old habits and mindsets during these times of (mini-)trial, otherwise the gifts we've received are for naught. Just remember: God's Presence and His graces are still with us.

Oh, it also helps to stay out of sin and do God's will.

Sleep is Good

I've had this bad habit lately (last several months) of falling asleep while driving. Sure, I had that one good week in March, the week before I started this blog, and the next couple of weeks were decent. But otherwise, most trips home from work has been adventures, and today it was particularly bad. I have the faintest memory of one stretch of roads, that involved multiple turns, up until I heard a car horn (likely directed at me).

So, short-term solution: pull over already! Just take the 5 minute nap and avoid killing others and myself.

Long-term solution: spend less time on the computer. My online hours have crept up since Easter, which is exactly what I did not want to happen (paradoxically, there's been a corresponding drop in the length and quality of blog posts). I work on this starting tonight, by logging off after this post is finished. My responsibilities will be picking up soon, responsibilities that I'm not used to having, but responsibilities I need to learn for my future and the futures of others.


P.S. Tomorrow is my nephew's 3rd birthday! Aaron and Jennie put together a nice birthday party yesterday for Asher. Unfortunately, I have NO up-to-date pictures of Asher, so here are two older pictures of him. The first is from last year's Fourth of July, and the second is from Halloween.