Running the Race

     As time forms the exciting experiences of World Youth Day into fond memories, I can't  help longing to be back in Brazil again with my fellow pilgrims. However, myself and the other three million WYD attendees must not linger in our longings, but go and pass on our encounter with Christ and the Church to others.
     When I am asked about what I took away from the pilgrimage experience, I think back to the moment I first saw Pope Francis with my own eyes. For several hours I stood waiting near the barricades lining the avenue along Copacabana Beach; then later as the popemobile started its way up the street, I was pushed even closer in by the swelling crowds. I was a mere twenty feet away from our Holy Father when he passed by amidst camera flashes and chants of "Papa Francisco" and "Esta es la juventud del Papa". In that moment, I thought "this is what I've been planning and waiting for over the past year". I was surrounded by millions of Catholics from all parts of the world gathered in Rio for one thing: to encounter Christ through His Church entrusted to the successor of St. Peter, Pope Francis, and to all of us. I was so joyous to be there and to see the Pope, that I sprinted up the beach to get as close as possible to the altar to see and hear Papa Francisco address us for the first time.
     Each of us must continue to run towards the altar everyday, to where Christ brings Heaven and Earth together. We are on a race in which Heaven is our finish line, and we are to invite whomever we meet to run beside us. Pope Francis imparted many words of wisdom upon us but the ones that impacted me most are from the closing Mass: "Jesus is speaking to each one of us, saying: 'It was wonderful to take part in World Youth Day, to live the faith together with young people from the four corners of the earth, but now you must go, now you must pass on this experience to others.' Jesus is calling you to be a disciple with a mission!" So as I settle back into my community, I am aware that because I was given many blessings and graces during the pilgrimage, much is expected of me in order to help carry out Christ's mission! If each of the three million WYD attendees joins in this mission to be a disciple, we can change our parishes, our communities, and our world by inviting others to run the race with us!



Myself and Holly after our run towards the altar



Papa Francisco



at the closing Mass

Here is Pope Francis' homily from the closing Mass. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/homilies/2013/documents/papa-francesco_20130728_celebrazione-xxviii-gmg_en.html
    

This Could Sting a Little

Have you ever been called by someone who had the wrong number? For most of us this is a regular occurrence and we do not think too much of it. What if you were busy caring for a loved one, say a son or daughter, or a mom or dad, and someone kept calling you away? Sounds like a frustrating situation right? Now let's say that it is someone you know calling you and then not saying anything. They know you are busy taking care of your family or loved one, but still they call you over and over never uttering a word. I know this doesn't seem like a real situation. You are wrong!

But wait who would do something like this? It seems so childish and even cruel.

WE are the ones on the cell phone not saying anything! Every single time you utter the Almighty's name He comes rushing to your aid.

We talked about how we serve a Jealous God. He would DIE for a relationship with us, to talk to us! How do we repay Him for this yearning for our presence in His Kingdom? We call Him up and then never say a word to Him. He loves us so much and is jealous for us because He knows that in order to spend eternity with Him we must first come to know Him through our personal relationship with Jesus. What kind of relationship will we have if we prank call him and never say anything?

"Oh My God! I love this song!
First of all, no you do not "love" this song, and second of all, before Jesus came and forgave us, this statement was a one way ticket straight to the fiery pit for all ETERNITY! In the third commandment God tells us through Moses to not ever take the Lord's name in vain. Let's not forget that God knows all things. You do not have to tell Him if you like something or if you are uncomfortable. And because he is all-knowing do you think we can fool Him by saying, "Oh My Gosh!"? He knows that we almost called Him into our lives, if for only an instant. But instead tainted His Holy Name with a cheap substitute. Before you said, "Oh My,"he was rushing to the phone to listen to what you had to tell Him.

How do we fix this?
I have been blessed greatly, in that I have a companion who is trying to stop using our Lord's name in vain as well. It has worked well for us, so partner up and pray for one another that you will both remain  vigilant over the most powerful muscle in our body. The muscle that can call down the heavenly host and even the King of the universe. (your tongue)

He Loves you. YAHWEH is caring for you and leaving only one set of footprints in the sand. So next time you think you need to call out His name let it end in a prayer. A short conversation. Or even just a, "Oh My God....I Love You!"

WYD: Watching Arkansas Youth Discern

Brian Cundall, Diocese of Little Rock

This week, I had 3 seminarians with me. One, Brian Cundall, a recent graduate of Catholic High School for Boys in Little Rock, is slated to study at UD at Holy Trinity Seminary this next semester. Brian had gone to Catholic School all his life. The idea about being a priest was always before him. But he didn't really consider it until Junior Year of high school, when Patrick Friend (current seminarian), Brian's chemistry teacher started talking about it. Something started stirring in his heart. Unknowingly, Patrick said one day "I think you have a vocation." But he put it on the back burner. 

He was captain of Catholic's football team, and had other priorities. After Christmas this past year, Brian went to the Diocese of Little Rock's "Come and See" retreat. However, he came away certain that he was called to marriage! He started looking for signs to confirm this decision. But they were ambiguous. As soon as he was set on marriage, he'd receive a sign that he was supposed to be a priest. And then the next day he'd receive signs that he was supposed to marry. 

After months of oscillation, he finally said enough with the signs. A few seminarians came by Catholic High and talked to the students about just saying yes to God's will. This day, Brian was changed forever. He stopped trying to figure out what God wanted for his life. He stopped seeking that booming voice from the heavens proclaiming which vocation was his. He resolved to simply ask God for whatever His will was for Brian that day. "Lord, let your will be done today, not mine. I prayed that every morning to start off the day." Still scared at the fact that God was tugging at his heart, Brian openly waited for God. And God answered. Msgr. Friend providentially asked him for a meeting to discuss the priesthood. God always takes the initiative. "It is not you who have chosen me, but I have chosen you (John 15:16). From that meeting onward, everything fell into place. A quick visit to Holy Trinity in Dallas, which felt like home already, and paperwork, and a signing day ceremony, and we have a new seminarian. And a month later here Brian is today. 


To hear what God's saying to us, we have to change the conversation to what God wants to talk about. He doesn't like to talk about long-term plans. He is totally interested in TODAY. And only today. This is the only day that is present to us. To hear God speaking to us, we have to give him a topic that he loves to talk about. So instead of asking him "God, what do you want my life to be like in 10 years?" or "Should I marry", ask him "God, who should I bless today? God, tell me today about how you love to forgive, or bless, or heal. God, where do you want me today?" And he will surely respond. Days and months with this attitude, you will find yourself doing God's will and he will make everything else fall into place.