Be an Ambassador for Christ

29 Wednesday Nov 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Christian Life

Tags

Ambassador for Christ, Christian Life, Friendship, Missionary Discipleship, Spiritual friendship

It’s been a while since my last post, and tonight seems like a good time to make amends. I’m going to do something new – reach back into my “draft” file and dust off one of the many unfinished reflections which never got posted because I ran out of time. This one took shape back in September but I don’t think it’s lost any relevance in the two months it’s sat incubating.

Be an Ambassador for Christ

One of my responsibilities as an alumni staff member at the Catholic Spiritual Mentorship Program in Kansas City is to be hospitable and get to know as many of the participants as I can. Since much of our days are structured, we have to be intentional about taking advantage of breaks and mealtimes to get to know one another.

I thought I’d done a decent job of meeting everyone, but today I found myself at the coffee bar standing behind Charlie and Julie, husband and wife, a couple with whom I’d not yet had the pleasure of officially meeting. I realized that this week of classes would be over in two days and I’d probably never see them again. Then and there I thought, “I need to get to know these folks”. So, I waited for Charlie to fill his cup and then said, “Charlie, I apologize but we’ve spent all this time together in the same building and we haven’t had a chance to talk. Let’s change that and have lunch together.” He and Julie both lit up with smiles and replied they would like that very much.

We walked and talked on our way to the dining hall and I learned a little about them. I said I wanted to hear their story and was surprised to hear Julie say that they already knew much of mine because someone had introduced them to this blog. Then, over lunch we had a beautiful conversation. Charlie and Julie shared some of their personal life with me, their love for Jesus and their desire to lead others closer to Him. Like the spiritual mentors they are training to be, they asked me good questions that prompted me to share more of my story with them, too.

Charlie and Julie are very nice people with warm smiles and gentle eyes. Like many folks, however, they are slightly uncomfortable in meeting new people and making the first move to initiate a conversation. But, all it took was someone to take the initiative, to be intentional, and to express an interest in them, and they were ready to welcome a new friend.

Charlie and Julie are not unique in this world, There are millions of people just like them who are eager for friendship and the chance to tell their story if only someone would be interested enough to listen. These people are not elsewhere. They are in our parishes, our neighborhoods and our workplaces. They are the people sitting next to you in the church pew, or the new parishioner who’s just moved to town and doesn’t know anyone. They could be someone who is lost and despairing, and God put you in their path on purpose.

As Catholics, we need to be ambassadors of friendship. We need to be Ambassadors for Christ. We need to be welcoming and hospitable and help others find happiness in the world by delighting in them and helping them feel relevant, and affirming that they are beloved sons and daughters of God.

To take the first step in becoming an Ambassador for Christ, it may require you to get out of your comfort zone. You may need to prepare by thinking, “I’m going to intentionally meet someone new today!” When you do, you’ll need the courage to reach out for a handshake and say, “Hi, I’m [name], I don’t think we’ve met before. What’s your name?” You may need to be ready with a follow-up question that will propagate the conversation such as (if they are new in the parish), “Oh, welcome, we’re glad to have you! Where are you from?” It’s actually pretty simple. Some of my closest friendships began just this way.

Although your next best friend might just be the person you’re about to meet, you don’t have to approach someone with the intention of becoming best friends. One can enter into a friendship with nothing in common except knowing that you have a shared love for our Lord. A friendship such as this allows you to open up about your successes and struggles in your walk with Jesus. It’s a friendship in which you accompany each other on your journeys.

Each one of us can have a spiritual friendship with another person. Whether we admit it or not, we need each other. God made us for each other. He shows His love for us through other people. We just have to seek and be open to opportunities, be open to where and to whom the holy Spirit is leading us, and invest in another person by listening to their story.

Charlie and Julie and I spent less than an hour together. We may never see each other again. But I know we could pick up the conversation right where we left off. The friendship we built in those few minutes will endure. I think we brought each other just a little bit closer to Christ. I am grateful for the grace to get out of my comfort zone and meet someone new, and I’m grateful to Charlie and Julie for enriching my life by sharing their story with me.

Charlie and Julie, peace to you both, my friends! I know your love for Jesus and others will enable you to be amazing Ambassadors for Christ. God bless!

“Dear God, thank You for the grace to set aside my personal discomfort and introverted-ness to become a better missionary disciple, an Ambassador for Your Son, Jesus. May the examples I set encourage others to also reach out and become Ambassadors who in turn will proclaim the Good News of the Gospel. Amen.”

(Be an Ambassador for Christ was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

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Grace, God-Moments, and First Graders

30 Monday Oct 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Grace

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God-moments, Grace, Lk 12:35-38, Predominant Fault, Third Watch, Vice and Virtue

Last Tuesday’s Gospel (Lk 12:35-38, NAB) had Jesus telling his disciples, “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who wait their master’s return….Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.” Jesus is giving a warning that we shouldn’t wait til the last minute to live virtuous and holy lives. We should live as such every day because we don’t know when that last day will be.

He then goes on to say, “And if he should come in the second or third watch and find them prepared, blessed are those servants.” The second or third watch. Jesus is implicating those who are in their middle years or towards the end of their lives. He’s placing an importance on becoming more virtuous and growing deeper in relationship with Him as we age.

I think I’ve entered into the third watch of my life.

To me, being vigilant at my stage of life is synonymous with being virtuous – doing the right things, for the right reasons and in the right amount. And, the deeper I grow in my relationship with the Lord, the more my predominant faults, those bad habits and things to which I’m attached – my vices – become apparent to me. I’ve found it is getting more difficult to summon up the gumption to combat those to which I’m especially attached.

There is one particular bad habit that raises its ugly head over and over – my eating habits and my lack of exercise – the two things that should go hand in hand for better health. I admit it, I love to cook and I love to eat. I snack too much, and I don’t push away from the table as quickly as I should. I don’t get as much exercise as I should, either. Since I returned back to work six months ago, I have a lot more “desk time” than I do “up and moving around time”. It shows.

So, Tuesday morning during my morning meditation, I prayed for God to help me get better, to find the strength to overcome the inertia. I resolved especially to carve out a little time each day for some form of exercise. I didn’t have a plan other than to just try to find some time.

Later that morning I was sitting at my desk and I glanced out my office window. My window looks out over our school playground. There, about ten feet from my window, two young girls, probably first graders, were sitting on the ground. It was their recess and they were eating their snacks. One girl was nibbling on cookies and the other was dipping a breadstick in a Nutella tub. (And, no, I did not secretly want to run out and steal their snacks!). In unison they took their nibbles and then set their snacks down and did five sit-ups. They’d take another bite, and then do five leg lifts. They did this until their snacks were gone and then they jumped up and ran off to play the rest of recess with their friends. It was quite fun to watch and it made me laugh. As I returned my attention to my work, I wondered why these two little ones with all their energy felt they needed to work off their snacks.

An hour or so later it was lunch time and I unwrapped the sandwich I’d made for lunch. I was about half way through my ham and cheese on wholewheat when I recalled my resolution. And then, those two first graders came back to mind and it occurred to me that they had found a way to carve out a few moments to exercise. And then it hit me, I had just received a beautiful grace-filled God-moment. I had asked for help and God didn’t waste any time. He sent me two first grade girls to show me the way. Never before had any children sat outside my window to play. But that morning they did. It could have been two boys playing rock-paper-scissors, or something worse, but instead it was two skinny six-year old girls worried about their figures.

I looked at my sandwich and then looked at the floor to see if there was room for me to do some sit-ups, but then I imagined how sad I would look as I tried to get up off the floor. It was a beautiful autumn day outside, sunny, and the air was beginning to get crisp. I thought about those kids running and playing on the playground. I looked again at my sandwich and decided I would finish it and then go outside for a walk.

Twice around the school soccer field gave me time to earnestly thank God for answering my prayers, for sending me a simple sign – perhaps more of a challenge – that if little girls could do it, then I could, too!

“Loving God, I know that I cannot amend my life on my own. You hear and answer my prayers…sometimes in simple but always awesome ways. Thank You for Your love and for the grace to realize Your presence in my life. I pray for continued actual grace to match my will with Yours. Amen.”

(Grace, God-Moments and First Graders was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Iris and the Botanical Hitchhikers

05 Thursday Oct 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

God-moments, Grace, Hiking, Psalm 46:10

It’s been a while since my friend Bob has provided me with one of his Random Musings. But, good things come to those who wait, and I’m happy to offer his latest reflection. I don’t think his James Joyce stream of consciousness literary style is intentional, it’s just the way his mind, and heart, works. I love him for that, and it makes for some good conversation when we get together.

Iris and the Botanical Hitchhikers – by Bob Magness

We went for a hike this weekend. Well maybe ‘hike’ is a bit too ambitious of a term, let’s call it a nice walk through the forest of a local state park. This fall season so far has been a continuation of summer – warm and dry. The cottonwood trees are already dropping their dry brown leaves, but some of the maples are showing off their autumn colors. This hike was on a bridle trail that we’ve been frequenting for the last 25 years. In those years, we rarely come across other hikers and seldom see horses. It’s a nice quiet trail.

We take the opportunity to cut the dogs loose and let them burn some energy by running ahead. We are back to having two dogs. Tilly is a wire-haired pointer – I like to tell people she is my dog. Iris is a pointing griffon; she is Robyne’s dog. Iris is a good girl but sometimes she doesn’t hear me so well and other times she just flat out ignores me. They’re both still pups – less than 18 months so they have plenty of energy and this hike gives them a chance to run and explore and to just be a dog. It’s fun to watch.

The inventor of Velcro is said to have made the discovery after walking through a field and was picking burrs off his wool sweater. I would have guessed that he had a dog a like Iris. She is a magnet for all varieties of these prickly seeds. But she’s a thinking kind of dog – she thinks that rubbing up against the forest floor or patch of grass will free her of these botanical hitchhikers. And before long her long hair is wrapped around these tiny seeds, and she is completely matted. Our peaceful walk through the woods is now interrupted as we attempt to free her from this predicament. She doesn’t seem to enjoy our efforts of pulling the seeds from her fur and before long a wrestling match breaks out. For a thinking dog she doesn’t seem to realize that we are trying to help.

Wrestling. I wrestled in high school. It is a tough and brutal sport with absolutely no shortcuts or hacks to success. The sport teaches you about yourself – what you’re willing to sacrifice to be better, and what you can endure. In wrestling there is only one person to blame if you lose a match. I look back at those days fondly and mostly grateful that they are behind me. I used to think I was pretty good but for some reason most everybody I wrestled was better. It’s good to be humbled. I found it more than interesting that one definition for “Israel” is “he who wrestles with God.” I’ve thought about that for some time now. It certainly feels appropriate for all my struggles with attempting to understand life and His creation. Wrestling against all those times I thought I knew the better path. Wrestling to understand why my sacrifice was not sufficient for what I thought I wanted. And suddenly, I’m back in the Garden of Eden and there’s the Tree. I’m a thinking dog too… I know how. I know what’s best…

Maybe the hardest thing about wrestling with God is that He doesn’t play fair. Maybe He shows me how silly and futile my actions are while walking a dog through the woods. He gives me a forest and pats me on the head with a resounding “Go get’em boy!” And I come back to Him with all the burrs of life stuck on me while I thrash about trying to shake them loose – so much like Iris. And as I cry out to Iris, “You silly dog just be still, I’m trying to help”, it hits me and I can’t move. I’m pinned as I hear Psalm 46: 10, “Be still and know that I am God.”

(Iris and the Botanical Hitchhikers was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

From the Archives: Soil Conditioning for the Heart

23 Saturday Sep 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Bible Reflections, Faith, Prayer, Scripture

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Faith, Jesus, Luke 8:4-15, Mark 4:1-20, Parables, Prayer, Reflection, Resolution, silence, solitude, The Parable of the Sower

Every now and then I recall from my morning meditation something about which I’ve already written. Today’s Gospel from Luke 8:4-15, the Parable of the Seed and the Sower, rang a bell. I found what I was looking for from January 2018, except that it was a reflection from Mark’s Gospel, Mark 4:1-20. As I re-read it, I thought the message from over five years ago was still as relevant as ever, if not more so, and it needed to be shared again. I hope it will lead you to a fuller prayer life.

Peace and blessings to you all!

Soil Conditioning for the Heart

In my previous life (pre-2012 and pre-Catholic) I would occasionally crack a Bible and read a passage or two before losing interest and closing it up. This didn’t happen often, mostly when I was traveling, alone and bored in a hotel room somewhere and there was a Gideon Bible in the nightstand drawer. I remember reading from the Gospels and wondering why Jesus talked to the people in parables. As far as I could tell, it was all a riddle that nobody in their right mind could understand. It made no sense.

This recollection came back to me today as I read and meditated on today’s Gospel, Mark 4:1-20, the Parable of the Sower. A lot has changed over the last six years. I understand this parable today – that Jesus is the sower, the Word of God is the seed, and the different types of soil are the dispositions of the diversity in our faith. Or at least I think that’s what it’s about.

But, as I meditated on this today, my thoughts were more on why Jesus spoke in parables rather than the message in the parable.

I have learned that the Jewish rabbis and teachers in Jesus’ time, taught using stories with familiar images and experiences to which the learner could relate. The messages in these stories were not explicit but, instead, were designed to make one think. The answers were complex and seldom simple. If you thought you had it figured out, you probably didn’t. You needed to think about it more, and think more deeply.

Jesus’ parables were similar to what we call allegory today. He always had a hidden complex spiritual meaning or moral lesson embedded within his parable. And, depending on one’s level of faith, you either got it, partially got it, or you were totally lost.

Even Jesus’ disciples and His chosen Apostles didn’t always understand. In today’s Gospel, His disciples questioned Him about the parables. Jesus answered them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables so that they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.” Jesus continued, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?” (Mk 4:11-13)

We often think that the Apostles were all totally on board and on the same page as Jesus. But, the reality was that they never did quite figure it out until Jesus’ resurrection and eventual ascension into heaven. No, they were quite often lost regarding the mysteries of Christ’s life (e.g. Mk 8:32-33, Peter’s response to the first prediction of Jesus’ Passion; and, Mk 9:28-29, the healing of a boy with a demon).

Jesus wanted everyone, His disciples included, to think deeply about His message. He wanted them to look beyond the obvious, below the surface, and outside of the box. He challenged them to compare and relate His stories, His parables, with their own lives. The extent of their understanding and ability to relate often depended on their faith.

Nothing has changed. It still depends on faith. The reason I didn’t understand the Gospel as I read while lounging on a hotel room bed was because I had no faith. The difference between then and now for me is that I now believe the Word of God to be the truth. I have a deep desire to understand it so that I can apply it to my life.

Jesus still challenges us to understand God’s Word within the context of our own lives, our own experiences. He wants to sow the Seed on fertile soil so that it may grow and produce fruit. How do we prepare that garden plot in preparation for His sowing?

First, we need to create an atmosphere in which we can listen to God through His Word in the scripture, an atmosphere of silence and solitude that is conducive to deep thought without distractions. Author Henri J.M. Nouwen in his book, The Way of the Heart, describes silence as, “not not speaking, but listening to God”; and solitude as, “not being alone, but being alone with God.” Finding that time and place is critical.

Once you’re there, open up your heart in prayer. Give thanks to God for the opportunity to be with Him in that moment. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to receive the Word of God, and for the grace to understand His Word as you read and reflect upon it.

As you read the scripture, think deeply about what it is God is telling you at that moment. Maybe there is a verse or a phrase or just a couple words that jump out at you. Stop and reflect on that which catches your attention and let the Holy Spirit take you deeper to reveal God’s unique message for you. Say a prayer of thanksgiving once you’ve absorbed His revelation.

Next, ask yourself how that message relates to your life today. Is there something you can do to change? What can you do today to be more virtuous, to grow in holiness, and to become a better disciple, spouse, parent, and friend? How can you condition your soil to make it more fertile? The Holy Spirit will convict you and show you the way!

Finally, take that one thing, that one change for the better, and write a concrete resolution that will effect an improvement that day. Make it easy but make it concrete. Think baby steps instead of leaping tall buildings. Something that you can, at the end of the day, look back on and say with a sense of accomplishment, “Yes! I did it!”

And then go do it.

This is how you grow in faith. This is how you begin to understand the Word of God and not get confused in the complexity of the parables. And, this is how you gradually grow in holiness on your way to becoming a saint just like the Apostles.

“Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me the deep desire to understand Your Word, and for Your Son, Jesus, to sow that Seed in my heart. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for the gift of faith that has conditioned my heart to be fertile ground for producing fruit for Your kingdom. I pray that, through Your grace, the harvest is abundant. Amen.”

(Soil Conditioning for the Heart was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Pray Like Saints Paul and Timothy

06 Wednesday Sep 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Prayer, Thanksgiving

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Colossians 1:1-8, Prayer, St. Paul, St. Timothy, Thanksgiving

In today’s first reading from Paul’s letter to the Church in Colossae (Col 1:1-8), St. Paul writes that he and Timothy offer prayers of thanksgiving for them because of their faith in Jesus and their hope for heaven.

We say prayers of petition asking for God’s help, often for the intentions of someone we love to grow deeper in their faith. We say prayers of thanksgiving for all the grace and mercy we receive but don’t deserve. But, how often do we give thanks and pray for those who already know the love of Christ, who follow Him, and who proclaim the Gospel at every chance? Do we tell them and affirm them that, by glorifying God with their words and in their actions, they are making the world a better place, that they are doing their part to grow His Kingdom? Maybe not so much.

We are one Church, one Body, and, if we practice the theological virtue of charity as we ought, we look outside of ourselves to other people. Usually our focus is on the poor and needy, the sick, and those who are far from our Lord. But, we can’t forget to recognize the good that people do, especially the good that results from those who have a deep faith and love for Jesus. Without them, there would be no proclamation of the Gospel and no propagation of the faith.

Our world today presents us with endless disorder and distractions that work to diminish the faith of even the strongest among us. Couple this with the natural force of entropy, and the faithful are faced with a constant uphill battle. Is there any wonder why Christianity, and especially Catholicism, in America is on the decline? Perhaps one reason is that we do not affirm, accompany, and pray specifically for continued courage and strength for all of our holy brothers and sisters, especially our priests, who are committed to making disciples and bringing the love of Christ to all people.

“Heavenly Father, I give You thanks for all the holy priests, deacons, religious, lay leaders and evangelists, and spiritual directors who proclaim the Gospel in their words and deeds. I don’t encourage them and pray for them nearly as much as I should. Thank You for opening my heart and mind to Your Word today. I resolve to sow the seeds of this Word by making a concrete resolution to pray daily for, and give thanks for all those who are leading the charge in the battle to win souls. Amen.”

(Pray Like Saints Paul and Timothy was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Envy, Unfairness, and Grace

23 Wednesday Aug 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Vice, Virtue

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Envy, Grace, Mt 20:1-15, Tooth Fairy, Unfairness, Vice, Virtue

The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, Andrey Mironov

As I sit down to write it occurs to me that it’s been two months since my last post. Time flies when you’re having fun! Since June I’ve road-tripped about seven thousand miles and I hope to write soon about some of the blessings received on both sides of the windshield. But, mostly, I’ve been busy at my new job trying to find ways to evangelize and bring people to Jesus through other people. I told a friend the other day that, for the first time in a couple decades, I look forward to going to work every morning! I am blessed!

Just because I haven’t written doesn’t mean I’ve not been inspired through reading Scripture and daily meditation. Quite the contrary, my prayer life has been amazing. But, I’ve put other things of importance ahead of writing. Let’s see if I can fix that tonight.

In today’s Gospel from Matthew, Mt 20:1-16, Jesus tells his disciples the parable of the landowner hiring the laborers for his vineyard. He hires some in the morning and then more every three hours during the day. The last hired, at five o’clock, received the same daily wage at six o’clock as those who were hired first thing in the morning. Those laborers who worked all day grumbled about the unfairness of it all, comparing their labor to those who only worked one hour. The landowner reminded them that they were paid what they had agreed on and asked them, “Am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?”

Can you imagine that scene? How would you feel if you were one of the laborers hired early and had worked hard all day only to be paid the same as someone who’d not yet broken a sweat? If you’re like me, you’d have grumbled, too. And we both would have succumbed to the deadly sin of envy.

Envy is the vice of finding sorrow in the good fortune of someone else. It can also be the feeling of joy at someone else’s misfortune. It’s the vice associated with comparing one’s self to another. And, when we grumble about the unfairness, we are directing our complaint to God.

As I read this passage this morning I recalled a moment some twenty-one or twenty-two years ago. My youngest daughter, Grace, was five or six years old. She had lost a tooth and placed it under her pillow in hopes of finding money left by the Tooth Fairy when she awoke the next morning. The “Tooth Fairy” was, I think, very generous with the dollar he left under her pillow. But, when Grace awoke and found the dollar, she threw it across the room and exclaimed, “Hannah (her best friend) got five dollars for her tooth!”, and, sobbing, buried her head back in her pillow.

Of course, Grace was too young to really understand the concept of finding joy in another’s good fortune; and too young to understand, appreciate and be grateful for the blessings generously bestowed upon her that others may not receive. She was too young to understand that we have to combat the vice of envy with the virtues of gratitude and generosity. She was only five or six years old.

Sadly, many folks haven’t improved much by the time they reach 25, or 40, or 65 years old. They often still feel envious over someone’s larger and fancier house, of their new high performance car, of their luxurious vacation, or simply that they have more friends and get more likes on their social media account. I think, though, that I’ve made some progress now that I’m 66. I find that I am happy for another when they receive special recognition, or when it seems that luck has found them instead of me. I’m happy with my state in life and don’t desire more than I need. Through grace, I know that I am loved and that the Lord has been super generous to me, more so than I deserve. And, I know it’s His business to decide the blessings He gifts to each one of us. He’s free to do as He wishes with His own graces. It’s not for me to compare what others receive to what He gives me.

Well, to be honest, maybe It’s more truthful to say that I feel that way most of the time.

Oh, I didn’t mention that my daughter Grace not only received a dollar that morning for her tooth, but she also received the truth about the Tooth Fairy.

And the Easter Bunny.

And Santa Claus.

And then I went and had a talk with Hannah’s dad.

“Gracious and loving God, thank You for all the blessings You so generously bestow on me. I know that I do not always say ‘thank You’. Help me to always be joyful and sincerely grateful over another’s good fortune and the blessings they receive from You, knowing that You willed it out of love for them. May I always rejoice in the many ways that You bless all Your children. Amen.”

(Envy, Unfairness, and Grace was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Heart Emoji Colors for Catholics

26 Monday Jun 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Love

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Agape, Emojis, Eros, Friendship, Heart Emojis, Joy, Love, Philia, Reconciliation, Sorrow, Storge

A good friend and I often text each other about parish functions and she occasionally includes a colored heart emoji within her text. A couple months ago she responded to a text of mine and it included a blue heart emoji. I couldn’t remember ever getting any message with anything but a red heart emoji so I wondered, “why blue?” I did an internet search on what the different colored emojis mean and, whoa!, I wasn’t prepared for what I found.

The first site I went to indicated that a blue heart alluded to a desire for BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism, masochism). I won’t even mention what the other colors signified. Then I realized I was looking at a site devoted strictly to sexual connotations. (Don’t get any ideas, we are both happily married to our own spouses!) Continuing on to two other sites, I read where blue indicates trust, confidence and loyalty. Phew, that sounded much better!

In perusing the various sites I found that each color has a general, but not universal, loosely accepted meaning. For example: Green might mean jealousy; Purple, sensitivity; Yellow, happiness; and, of course, Red universally means true love; but there are no consistently recognized conventions for each color.

Well if that’s the case, I thought, why can’t I devise an emoji color scheme for Catholics? It might catch on or at least keep my good friend out of trouble.

The heart symbol is synonymous with a feeling of love for something. In our faith, we know that love means more than just a feeling, and love takes a different form depending on the object of our love. To begin, we can fall back on the four types of love expressed by the Greeks: Eros, or Romantic love; Storge, or Familial love; Philia, or Friendship; and Agape, Unselfish love for mankind (enemies included) because they are simply children of God.

Let’s start with Eros, romantic, passionate love. No question about it, it has to be red.

The love we have for our family ought to be green. It’s fresh and fun and is always growing.

I like what others say about blue – a friend is loyal, someone in whom you have confidence, someone you can trust.

Yellow should be for Agape love – warm and caring for our fellow humans, and a love that desires the other’s good.

Orange makes me think of autumn leaves, pumpkins, and Thanksgiving. This heart should be used to express love and gratitude to someone for the gifts they bring, especially to show your gratitude for how God has worked in your life.

Purple is the color of the priest’s vestments worn during reconciliation and so this heart has to be used to express forgiveness from one person to another.

In Catholic tradition, the fourth Sunday of Lent is called Laetare Sunday, or Joyful Sunday, and rose colored vestments are worn. Thus, the pink, or rose, colored heart ought to be used to express joy.

And to wrap things up, the black heart needs to be used to express sorrow for another’s loss.

What do you think? We need some morality and consistency among Christians when using emojis. We can’t just attach any color emoji to a text or social media post without making it mean something. And, when the uninformed (the rest of the world) questions why you used a color that they think means something different, you can correct them and even use it as an opportunity to evangelize!

Share this with everyone you know. Let’s get the word out and take back the internet! Can I get an “Amen”?

(Heart Emoji Colors for Catholics was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Prayer and Potted Plants

24 Saturday Jun 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Evangelization, Prayer

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Acts 17:28, Contemplation, Evangelization, Jesus, Jn 4:10, Living Water, Meditation, Prayer, St. Photina, Vocal Prayer, Woman at the Well

I’ve been settling into my new office in our parish center and trying to make it functional for my use. My computer and phone are conveniently located, files are arranged in the file cabinet, and books are in the bookcase. I have a crucifix and a cast figure of the Blessed Mother holding the child Jesus hanging on the walls, and I hope to get some pictures hung soon. Finally, I’ve adorned it with a couple house plants to make things look more inviting.

My wife has exclusive ownership of a ‘green thumb’ in our family and I had to ask her advice for how often to water the plants. She told me in a not so endearing tone of voice, “If the soil feels dry, water it!” From experience, I know that if you pour water on the soil from the top, it often comes out the hole in the bottom of the pot and makes a mess on whatever surface it’s sitting. So, my master gardener better-half gave me a shallow plastic tray in which to set the potted plants and then told me to fill the tray with water. She said the soil in the pot would soak up the water through the hole in the bottom of the pot.

The other morning, when I checked, the soil was somewhere between dry and parched. It needed a drink. I heeded her advice, filled the tray with water, and set the pot in it.

I then went about my business of sketching out a plan of how to create an evangelizing culture in our parish, to wit: how to develop a more welcoming and hospitable community where people will intentionally build relationships with each other; how to grow an attitude of charity towards “neighbors”; and how to encourage people to not be afraid to share their faith with others.

After an hour or so, I noticed that the half inch of water I’d poured into the tray had disappeared. Just as I was told, the soil had soaked it up. I envisioned the water molecules defying gravity as they flowed upwards, saturating the soil. I thought about how thirsty that plant must have been.

Then it struck me – plants aren’t the only thing that thirst for water, we humans do, too. Except, our thirst is for the Living Water (Jn 4:10). We may not understand it, but our souls yearn for it. Our deepest desire, and the only true way of living a spiritually healthy life, is to seek God, the one in Whom we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). It is God Incarnate, Jesus, that sustains our life.

I had omitted from my notes the most crucial element about a culture of evangelization – a deep relationship with our Lord. Without it, evangelizing amounts to a worthless attempt. If the ultimate reason for evangelizing anyone is to bring them into a relationship with Christ, we are hypocrites if we try to evangelize without having our own personal relationship with Jesus. How can we lead someone to a place which we haven’t been ourselves?

What is a deep and loving relationship with Christ? Well, what makes up a deep and loving relationship with anyone? Basically, it’s friendship. The essence of friendship is spending time with each other, getting to know each other, having enlightening conversations, and loving and wanting the other’s good. Friendship with Jesus is really no different. We do that through prayer.

Us Catholics are good at Vocal prayer, that is, prayers of petition, thanksgiving, intercession and praise (CCC2700-04). And, we’re good at rote prayers that have been memorized and recited since childhood. But, there are two other expressions of prayer that are mostly overlooked – Meditation, or Mental prayer (CCC 2705-08), and Contemplation (CCC 2709-19). Vocal prayer is talking to God. Meditation, on the other hand, is using our God-given intellect and imagination in seeking to understand what God is asking of us. Meditation is often accomplished by reading Sacred Scripture, especially the Gospels, reading about the lives of the saints, and other spiritual writing.

Contemplation takes meditation one step further. St. Teresa of Avila said, “Contemplation is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him Who we know loves us.” During this time of Contemplative prayer, we draw very close to Jesus; we tell Him what’s on our minds and we listen to Him telling us how we can grow closer to Him by becoming more virtuous disciples, spouses, parents, children, and friends.

If you are a married person, you know how important it is to listen to your spouse. A relationship in which one person does all the talking but never listens is doomed for failure. In Meditation and Contemplation, we quiet our minds and relish just being with Him, ready to respond to whatever He says.

Meditation and Contemplation is immersing ourselves into the font of Living Water. It is soaking up His Word and seeing how we can follow Him more nearly and love Him more dearly. It is this Living Water we desire to drink. But, have you ever tried talking and drinking at the same time? It doesn’t work very well.

The Woman at the Well – Carl Heinrich Bloch

St. Photina, the biblical woman at the well, listened to Jesus tell her about her life. She drank of the Living Water. Then she hurried back to her Samaritan village, spread the Good News, and evangelized the entire town.

Evangelization involves many things. True evangelization begins with having a deep friendship with Jesus and a desire to introduce others to Him, your closest friend.

Spend at least thirty minutes a day quietly immersed and soaking in the presence of our Lord. Tell Him what’s on your mind and then listen for a response. When you hear His inspiration, resolve to act on it that day. Then repeat. Unlike the plants in my office, we need watering every day.

“Loving Lord, help us to draw closer to You by spending time with You, the One we love. Send us Your Spirit to open our hearts and minds to Your Word, and inspire us to act with virtue in carrying out Your will. Help us remove the shades from our lamps, the hang-ups we have in spreading the Good News. Amen.”

(Prayer and Potted Plants was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

A Father’s Love

07 Wednesday Jun 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Love

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

A Father's Love, God's Love, I Thirst, Love, Meditation, Prayer

Sunday night I posted Road Trip Reflections: Technology and Time Zones in which I mentioned I’d spent the weekend helping my daughter, Grace, relocate from Memphis to Nashville, Tennessee. It was a busy weekend with lots of strenuous physical activity, lifting furniture and heavy boxes. It was also tiring from the mental awareness required for driving almost 1,200 miles. By the time I got home I was exhausted.

As tiring as it was, I have to say it was one of the most pleasurable and fulfilling three days I’ve spent in a long time. It was an opportunity to spend valuable time with Grace. For the most part, it was just she and I working side by side, spending eight hours together in my truck, and sharing meals and life for a couple of days. We talked and I got a glimpse or two of what’s on her mind, what her concerns are, and what makes her happy. Even when we weren’t working or in conversation, it was nice just to be in her presence.

Grace is the youngest of our four daughters. The others are all married with children. None of them live close to us and consequently we seldom get to see them or our grandchildren. When we are able to get together, the days are centered around the grandkids, leaving little time to simply reconnect with my daughters. I love my grandchildren dearly, but I do miss quality time and good conversation with their parents.

There is a certain loneliness that goes along with being a parent once all the kids have flown from the nest and are living their own adult lives. While my head tells me it’s the way it should be, my heart still desires that closeness.

This morning, as I entered into my daily prayer and meditation, I invited the Holy Spirit to open my mind and heart to the Word of God, and I placed myself in His presence. As always, I could sense Him asking me to open up and share with Him what’s on my mind and heart. In that moment, I felt His extreme love for me, a beloved son. It was a love that I could relate to, much deeper, I’m sure, but akin to the love I feel for my own children and the desire to spend time with them. God wants to spend time with me. He wants to know what is on my mind, what are my struggles, what makes me happy (am I happy?), and how He can help me.

In light of my weekend with Grace, I thought how God must long for those similar experiences with us when we get to spend time together. And, I thought how sad and lonely it must be when we are too busy to spend time with Him in prayer.

God gave His only Beloved Son, Jesus, so that we would know His love for us and find unity with Him. Jesus reflected that love from the crucifix when He uttered, “I thirst”.

God thirsts for your love. Love Him by spending time with Him in prayer and daily meditation.

“Heavenly Father, I love You. And, as an adult father, I know Your love for me. I thank You for the grace to spend time with You each morning in prayer, for the conversations we have, for your gentle promptings when I need help. But, I know, too, that the world I live in gets in the way sometimes, keeping me away from You. I pray for Your understanding. Amen.”

(A Father’s Love was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)

Road Trip Reflections: Technology and Time Zones

04 Sunday Jun 2023

Posted by Jerry Robinson in Road Trips

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Mass, Most Holy Trinity, Roat trips, Time Zones

A month ago I posted Jesus, The Spiritual Roadmap in which I accused younger folks of not knowing what a road atlas or accordion-fold highway road map looks like because they simply plug in an address on their cell phone GPS, hit start and go where the cute voice tells them to go. Well, today, the hand that had one finger pointing and poking fun at their dependence on technology had three fingers pointing back at me.

I spent Friday and Saturday helping my daughter relocate to Nashville, Tennessee, from Memphis, hauling her furniture and other belongings to her new residence. Then, this morning I left Nashville to drive home to Ohio.

Before leaving her house, I checked the app MassTimes.org to see if there was a church nearby where I could attend mass before getting on the road. Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity and I didn’t want to miss mass. All of the nearby Catholic churches had mass times at 7:00, 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. It was currently 9:10 a.m., so I decided to not wait until an 11:00 a.m. mass, thinking I’d find a convenient one somewhere between there and home.

Around Bowling Green, Kentucky I checked the app again and found no convenient masses near there. I checked Elizabethtown, Kentucky and, Aha!, I found one just eight miles from Elizabethtown. St. John the Baptist Catholic Church advertised an 11:30 a.m. mass. The app lets you get directions to the churches so I tapped on that and discovered I could get there about ten minutes early. Perfect!

I took the exit off of I-65 just as the cute little voice told me to do. I made several turns and with each one I seemed to be getting further into rural Kentucky. Eventually, the GPS told me I had reached my destination. I stopped on the narrow country road and looked to the right where “she” told me the church was. Miraculously, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church had either disappeared or became transfigured into a nice pasture of healthy looking angus cattle.

I drove another mile down the road and turned around. Coming back, the voice told me my destination was on the left. Still nothing but cattle. I went on down the road a couple miles to a convenience store/gas station and pulled in. I put in the actual address of St. John the Baptist Church and, lo and behold, it was about four miles further down the road. I concluded that somehow someone loaded the wrong X:Y coordinates of the church in the mapping program.

I thought, if I hurried I might be able to make it before the Gospel reading. It was then that I noticed the time on my phone said 12:31 p.m. And that’s when it hit me: the time zone line between Eastern and Central time runs along the western and southern borders of Hardin County in which Elizabethtown sits. St. John the Baptist Catholic Church was just inside the eastern time zone line…and mass was just ending!

I couldn’t help but laugh at the situation. I’d added at least a half hour to the day’s drive time and now, once I got home, I’d have to drive another half hour each way to St. Mary’s for 6:00 p.m. mass. I thought, okay, if that’s what God wants me to do, then that’s what I’ll do.

Before putting my truck in drive I checked my fuel gauge and saw that I was nearing empty. That’s when I noticed the price of gas at the station where I was parked was $2.99 per gallon…40 to 50 cents per gallon cheaper than any prices I’d seen along the interstate. My truck has a 32 gallon tank. I chuckled when I thought how divine providence may have just rewarded my unsuccessful effort to attend mass by saving me $15.00 on a fill-up.

“Heavenly Father, once again my plan was not Your plan. You had a better one that resulted in me not only saving money at the gas pump, but by allowing me to attend a beautiful mass where I ran into a friend who needed to talk to me about some matters. You saved us a phone call. Thank you for Your providence! Amen.”

(Roadtrip Reflections: Technology and Time Zones was first published on the blog Reflections of a Lay Catholic)