You Can Do What I Can Do!

The Holy Gospel according to Luke 2:41-51- 06/08/2013

Each year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,
and when he was twelve years old,
they went up according to festival custom.
After they had completed its days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem,
but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan,
they journeyed for a day
and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances,
but not finding him,
they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.
After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers,
listening to them and asking them questions,
and all who heard him were ASTOUNDED
at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him,
they were astonished,
and his mother said to him,
“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”
And he said to them,
“Why were you looking for me?
Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
But they did not understand what he said to them.
He went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them;
and his mother kept all these things in her heart.

Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ!

     We have all heard this story many many times. As far as I can remember I have always heard this story used by church leaders as an example of Jesus following His parents and being obedient. While this is a very important lesson, I feel that there is an equally important lesson to be learned in this story. A lesson that will have implications in almost every other New Testament and Gospel reading. 

     Before we go any further lets discuss who Jesus was as a 12 year old boy. In His time, education was structured much differently from our own. In fact their grade school's one and only focus was the Word of God as it was presented Moses. As children of this time period, they would all study the first five books of the bible or the Torah until about age ten. This first studying of the Torah was called Beit Sefer (Bait Se-fair), and at its completion the children would have memorized the first five books in the bible. They would know the words of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy by heart! Once they had each finished Beit Sefer, 90% of the children would go on to become apprentices in the family trade or business. Only the very best of these would go on the continue their study of the Torah in what was called Beit Talmud (Bait Tal-mood). 

     In this second tier of the education system, the children would finish memorizing the Torah. So that by the time they were about 14-15 years old they would have all of the books from Genesis-Malachi memorized. They would also learn the different traditions and applications of the Torah. The young teens would then learn the interpretations of the word of God. 
     
     I realize that in all of this talk of the education system of Jesus' time I have yet to mention the teachers. The ones teaching the children of the Torah were in fact Rabbi, and in as much were the very pinnacle of Jewish society. No one was as revered as a Rabbi, one who knew the word of God and how to teach it to the people.

     Now lets look at who this young 12 year old Jesus was. He was in among those who would be His teachers if He had been a child of the city of Jerusalem. These guys were the Harvard professors, and here is this pre-teen from some tiny working town talking with them. And not just asking question after question as you might expect, He was giving them answers. Not just regular old answers straight out of your text book. Jesus gave them answers and they were ASTOUNDED! They didn't dismiss some annoying young kid, they sat and listened to Him! For me, the lesson to be learned here is that my Jesus was the best of the best. He was in the 99th percentile. So what happened next?

     It's true we know very little about our King's childhood. We do know, however, about what those who completed Beit Talmud did. Most of them went home. In fact even the best of these didn't always move on. Only those who were truly put on this Earth to be Rabbi went on to the next stage of education. This was called Beit Midrash (Bait Mid-rash). And in this final stage of the education process, the 14-15 year old kids went and petitioned a Rabbi. They went and told the Rabbi, "I want to learn to do as you do." Immediately the Rabbi would grill the student on their knowledge of the Torah, of the prophets, on the oral traditions, and many other things. Once this test was over the Rabbi usually told the youngster, "It is clear that you know the Torah very well, and that you love God. Go now and ply your family's trade." What a let down, right? Sometimes, however, The Rabbi was impressed with the students knowledge, astounded even. It was at these times, when the Rabbi thought the pupil had what it took to do what the Rabbi himself did, that the Rabbi would say, "Come,follow me." The Rabbi wasn't just saying lets go on a walk and I'll teach you a few things. He was telling this pupil, "Come be my disciple, for I believe you can do what I can do." Let's put this in perspective. Here is this wise Rabbi, respected above every other person in the community, telling this 14-15 year old boy, "You have what it takes to be at the pinnacle of society, let me show you how." How could you not follow him?! 

    Once a student had become the disciple of a Rabbi he left his entire life behind. The teen would have left his town, his synagogue, and even his family. He followed the Rabbi everywhere, yearning to become what his teacher was. He would usually spend the next decade and a half learning to be a teacher of the Word of God to the Jewish people. Then at about age 30 the disciple would go out and begin their ministry. Coincidentally this is the same time that Luke tells us that Jesus began his ministry. (LUKE 3:23)

     I'm almost done, I just want to tie-in what we have learned, to put it in perspective. Lets start from the top, Peter and Andrew are off in their boat, just fishing like they would any other day. Then they here some guy call from the beach. They recognize him as a Rabbi. What does Jesus tell them? Come, follow me! Come you lowly fishermen for I believe you can do what I can do! Matthew tells us they dropped their nets and left immediately. Of course they did! Here was this guy who has all the knowledge of one of the premiere members of their society, telling them that they can do all that he can do. Of course Peter stepped out onto the raging water! Jesus said I can do what he can do, and by Him I'm going to walk on that water. When Peter sinks, Jesus asked why did you doubt? Peter wasn't doubting Jesus. Jesus wasn't the one sinking. Peter doubted himself and that he could do as Jesus did.

     We have been told thousands of times that Jesus calls each one of us to,"Come, follow Him." I hope you hear now what I hear when someone tells me those three little words. Jesus is telling me that I can do what He can do. I can pick up my cross, cast down Satan and all my shame, and carry that cross all the way to gates of the Kingdom of Heaven where I will be the child He is so infinitely proud of and will wrap in His Eternal Embrace. Oh how He loves me. 

Unforeseen Moments

At this time in my life as a college student, still technically undeclared as a junior, I am completely confused as to where God is leading me and where my future lies. I would like to be able to say that I know all the answers, but of course that is not the case. I've learned the hard way that God doesn't like long-term plans. So that leaves me constantly trying to have faith and trust in Him and His plan for me. It is in unforeseen moments where I have found God working the most.

Last year right before Lent, my friend Holly and I were approached and asked if we would be willing to take up an adoration hour on Friday nights at 8. As a young college student you can imagine my initial thought of heck no! But it didn't take long before I decided that it was only an hour a week. What better way to sacrifice than to give up my precious free time on a Friday night when I would rather be hanging out with friends? Plus it was only a temporary commitment for Lent, then Holly and I could decide whether we wanted to continue. Lent went by quickly and I looked forward to having that quiet time to sit, reflect, and pray with Jesus. Needless to say we continued to keep our hour. Consequently, my faith has grown exponentially, and I am able to see the impact God has had in my life. Flash forward a year later and now I am reflecting on how generous and glorious Our God is that He would have given me such a life changing opportunity that would help me to become a more committed Catholic. I never would have thought that I would have such a desire to know God, to love Him, and to learn about my Catholic faith back in high school. I was a "good" Catholic, but I still didn't grasp what being Catholic meant, until now.

It is events such as this one that has transformed my faith life in remarkable ways. I still struggle to maintain my relationship with God on a daily basis, but I know that daily Mass and adoration are constant reminders of why God has put me on this Earth. We are all here for a purpose. I just hope when its all said and done that I can say my purpose was to grow close to God so that I can bring others to Him. He has blessed me beyond words. Having this opportunity to participate in WYD with millions of other Catholics with the same struggles who also have the same purpose sets me on fire. We are all united under Him. It is our duty as Christians to bring others to Him, and to do that, we must love. St. Augustine once wrote, "What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like." My purpose is to love. What is yours?

Passenger

I’m a college Junior. I’m unsure about my major, my vocation, my plans for life, even my plans for next semester. And I’m a planner. Not having a plan makes me pretty anxious. So the assumption that I think and pray a lot about what God want’s me to do, is very true. I go through stages of trusting in Him, thinking I have it all figured out, and being extremely confused. At certain points in my life I have focused too much on what God wants from me in the future instead of focusing on Him. This can be very distracting. 

The other day I was driving home from adoration and OneRepublic’s song, Passenger, came on. I’ve heard the song a hundred times before, but this time a particular line of the lyrics really caught my attention. It said, “All that you want is standing right in front of you. All that you need is love.” I was reminded, after listening to that line, that I’m constantly searching. I’m searching for what my future will be, what God wants it to be, what I want it to be. But I can’t do or be who God wants me to be if I’m constantly looking ahead instead of living in the moment and focusing on what He wants from me NOW. If I truly want to be who God wants me to be, I need to realize that God has plans for me now, today, at this very moment, and that I need to be working on following those instructions instead of focusing my time and attention on what is to come. 

“All that you want is standing right in front of you. All that you need is love.” If God is love, all that I need is God. 1 John 4:18 says, “perfect love casts out fear,” I don’t have to worry about what I need to be doing if I am following God and listing to what He wants from me at the moment. If I’m with him, loving Him and allowing Him to love me, He will take away my fear. If I’m following him, how can I get lost? It’s when I get impatient that I try to take the wheel that I end up getting lost and confused. I know many people my age, like myself, struggle with letting God be in control and them be in the passenger seat. But thank God for the little reminders He gives us throughout the day like the OneRepublic song. And thank God for His grace that opens our ears and eyes to hear and see what is right in front of us when our eyes are looking so far ahead.

Lately I’ve been looking to Mary as a role model. The trust that she showed in saying “yes” to God is beautiful, and it is the kind of faith I pray to have. Yesterday I read a quote by Pope Francis that really goes along with being patient and letting God be in control. He said, “Mary is not in a hurry… She does not get carried away by events, but when it’s clear what God asks of her she does it quickly.” I pray that I can have the faith, trust, and patience that Mary has always had. And I pray that I let God be the driver, while I stay in the passenger seat.  

Who I am and why catholic is lower case

        Hello, my name is unimportant. I have been raised in the Roman Catholic church for almost as long as I can remember. My mom has always been RC, and so I was placed in a private Catholic school during grade school. Upon reaching the 7th grade, I was uprooted and placed in a significantly larger public school. To make sure my siblings and I didn't lose our faith, my mother made a great effort to keep us involved in church activities. These of course included P.R.E. on Sundays, youth group activities on Wednesday nights, and even the occasional retreat to the local Four-H center. I was for the most part a stereotypical teenager and could usually think of about 14 other places I would rather be than these "church events". With that said, I always seemed to be glad that I had attended the event when it was over. Through high school I continued to attend these events, sometimes even on my own accord (once I could drive). To a spectator I was a prime candidate for becoming the next good catholic in the family.

       Soon after I graduated in May of 2009, my mother and I had a bit of a falling out. Neither of us acted as  we should have, and long story short I went to live with my good friend and father. Not much changed because of my new living arrangements. I was still going to church on Sundays. Didn't that  constitute being a good Catholic? I began college and soon began dating more and visiting other churches. I never received their communion, so I was still a good Catholic, right? It was then that I began seeing all the upsides of a more liberal faith. At one point I even began believing I was more protestant than Catholic. Eventually, God and church took a back seat and I drove my life towards what I thought I wanted. This continued until everything came to a screeching halt in the summer following the Spring 2012.

       I had become loosely affiliated with The Wesley Foundation, which is the Methodist Campus Youth Ministry, through a friend I had dated. When the summer began to get closer, and it came to light that I would be working in the same town I attended school in, she encouraged me to ask about the ministry housing that was available through the Wesley. To my great surprise my summer stay would be free so long as I cut the grass and did any necessary chores. Little did I know that I would be joined by the exact person HE wanted as my roommate. D.J. and I were going to share a room that was about 12 feet by 10 feet all summer long. D.J. is a long haired, brother of three, non-denominational, skateboarding, drum banging, metal head, who will never be described in front of me as anything less than a Christian.

        D.J. and I hit it off immediately. We seemed to have an infinite number of common experiences. We had brothers, corporal punishing parents, love for music, and earthly struggles all in common. The one and only difference it seemed we had was that D.J. was ON FIRE! He was facing all of his earthly battles with the bible in the one hand as his sword and wearing the breastplate of righteousness in all that he did. I saw it and knew that I wanted the happiness and peace that seemed to radiate from D.J.

        It happened, just as I should have expected. I was kneeling after Communion during the farewell mass of that summer's charismatic conference. I had asked for that which D.J. had, and here in a room, filled mostly with old people, I heard that voice from within. To say I heard anything, is misleading. Rather, I was filled with a knowing of what was required of me. This knowing told me that this time had to be different. I could not just be sorry for my transgressions until I left and then continue on driving my life where I wanted it to go.  And in light of what I saw in my roommate, I agreed to the terms set out before me. I have yet to look back! That is Not to say I haven't stumbled, but now I leap back to my feet rather than wallowing in my shame. I have overcome my earthly battles for the most part and continue to become a better Christian.
       
        Because I came to know D.J., I am the Catholic I am today. I had Religion class, mass twice a week, P.R.E., retreats, and a ton of adult Catholics to help guide me to this spot. But not one of those things or people will ever see the credit list. Because of D.J. a non-dom I embraced my own faith with vigor. Though my mother and my home church I have connected with other young Catholics who have helped be develop my own beautiful faith. Thank you SP. I now have become an important part of a pilgrimage to see the Vicar of Christ at WYD. And D.J. is the reason I am going. Not just because of what he has done for me, but because I know that if I let The Shepherd use me, I can be the light that D.J. was for this lost sheep.

        If I had been waiting on a member of the Catholic church to come and find me and be my light, I might still be waiting. Thank God, I believe in One Holy catholic and apostolic church, for it was a member of this one body comprised of all true Christians that saved me from living a life of mediocrity. It was God who brought D.J. into my life and it was HIS light I saw shining in him. I pray that one day I may be the light for another lost sheep in this world.

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.

Less than 50 days to go...

Well, folks, here we are, less than 50 days from World Youth Day. We leave July 17th. We have all our passports and visas, and most of our payments in. We have done our final fundraiser, and now all that is left is paying for our Mission week in São Paolo and tying up loose ends. We have applied for a Challenge grant through Catholic Extension and look forward to hearing soon how well we did for that. We should finish with all the visa/airline/international work with Catholic Pilgrim Office this week. I have to clear my "good standing" for the Diocese of São Paolo and Rio this week, and we should be set for everything. Stay tuned for more experiences and preparation from our group! Here's a great video for motivation...

Sister Mary Clare's Love of the Pope and Understanding of Obedience Solidified at WYD 1993

Sister Mary Clare Bezner is a sister of the Olivetan Benedictine’s of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Her openness and perseverance to be a bride of Christ began at World Youth Day in Denver in 1993. 

She was a senior in high school, and she finally had to put the question to herself: “Do I want to be Catholic for me or just for my parents?” As she was searching for the answer, she hears that there’s going to be this big youth gathering out in Colorado. And unknowingly this decision to go would help her answer not only this big question of her faith, but would also decide everything else for her life.

“I felt during my time at World Youth Day, I fell in love with the Catholic Church. I Believed!” Although she had been baptized years ago, she personally chose to be Catholic through this experience.  “My sense of the magisterium after that changed. I saw Pope John Paul II and I know the Holy Spirit was present in his personage. I knew that the pope really spoke for Christ. And I know now that God does that. He gives specific graces to people for a reason.”

Sister Mary Clare decided once and for all that she was an “all-in” Catholic. Although her calling to religious life was still inchoate, she became a disciple, open to whatever Jesus wanted for her. 

At the time, she was still scared of nuns and wasn’t thinking of becoming one at all, “So I can’t say that I came back knocking on the convent’s door! But because of WYD I was much more open and solidified in my faith, so that I didn't leave when tempted and knew God was working through my Church. When I finally decided I was really called to religious life I remembered my experience well and it gave me the courage to move forward.”

Her World Youth Day experience engrained in her the truth that God does give specific graces to people, especially those in authority in the Church. “Obedience. I understand the virtue of obedience because of World Youth Day. I know for certain that God gives those specific graces to those in authority. Seeing Pope John Paul II allows me today to remember that my own superior, that our own bishop has the grace to be a bishop. My ability to be obedient is so much greater.”

To those going to World Youth Day, Sister Mary Clare explains: “The Holy Father is going to talk to you. Personally. There’s a bond that forms between the youth and the pope. I remember the crowds in Mile High Stadium shouting in English “JPII, We love you!” and Blessed Pope John Paul II answering back, ‘JPII, he loves you, too.’ It was like Jesus saying: ‘I love you.’ ” The experience for Sister Mary Clare is a very profound one, where she saw God bursting with love in His Church. She gained a true knowledge of the love of God, of the love of the Holy Father, the unity and love of the Catholic Church for the pope.  Your prayers and support for our World Youth Day trip to Rio will have a similar effect on twelve Arkansans who have now finished their fundraising and are now in the process of applying for visas to Brazil. Imagine twelve youth on fire, deeply in love with the pope and with the Church, setting others aflame with divine love right here in Arkansas. Several of them are possibly seeking entry into a convent. All are asking God for guidance as young Catholics. They want to become disciples and to make more here in Arkansas and wherever they are sent.