Falling Short

Even during the wonderful season of Easter; even as we enjoy living in the Light of the Resurrected Lord – we may find ourselves facing that we are still sinners. Yeah during Lent, we spent 40 long days of anguishing over our sinfulness, asking for forgiveness, making amends with those we’ve hurt, doing penance to discipline ourselves … BUT … NOW we are supposed to be “above” all that – Christ rose from the dead and conquered sin. We are supposed to be living in the power of the Risen Christ, and BAM we fall short – a venial sin here, a couple missed prayer times there, and we allow ourselves to be disillusioned – the evil one plays his twisted little games and gets us all depressed and down on ourselves.

I know Lent is over but we are still human – we make mistakes. Never forget that God still loves us and forgives our sins – it wasn’t a “one-time” forgiveness. Confess your sins, Say you’re sorry, Do your penance, and … move on. Falling short is just God’s reminder to us that we are human, we need to constantly be humble, be vigiliant, and ask God for His help each day. Just as forgiveness is not a “one shot” deal, following Christ is not a “one shot” decision – we need to work on it everyday; we need to build our relationship with Christ, we need to rely on His help and accept it with all humility. So we fall short – who cares? Get back up again and keep following the Way, “one day at a time” … sometimes even “one moment at a time.” Even Christ fell as he was carrying the Cross; we too, must keep going even when we falter!

May the Peace of Christ be yours! -jdp

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What is Contemplation?

Greetings all, may the Peace of Christ be yours! I’ve been re-reading Thomas Merton’s New Seeds of Contemplation, probably for the fourth or fifth time since the mid-1980’s. It always seems to reveal something new with each reading…maybe it’s where I am in my journey at the time of each reading? Maybe it’s words are alive, as is Scripture, since it constantly reveals something about “The Word” – Jesus? Maybe the book reveals nothing, but it is the actual practice of Contemplation that reveals God in a way beyond reason, beyond intellect, beyond knowing, beyond unknowing, where we discover deep inside ourselves – our ‘true self,’ which is where God touches each of us and dwells there with us. Ultimately, we can not get there by our own doing or our own practice…this so-called practice or being with God, is actually a gift from God, where He calls out to each of us without voice; He is revealed to us without our sensing; He is known without our knowing; His Spirit touches our spirit where time stands still, yet our real self is found, life is real and our yearning is quenched.

Merton calls Contemplation “the highest expression of man’s intellectual and spiritual life. It is life itself, fully awake, fully active, fully aware that it is alive. It is spiritual wonder. It is spontaneous awe at the sacredness of life, of being. It is gratitude for life, for awareness and for being. It is a vivid realization of the fact that life and being in us proceed from an invisible, transcendent and infinitely abundant Source. And is awareness of the reality of that Source.”

Oh that we could put aside the busyness of ‘everyday’ life and spend more time in the quiet, more quality time, if you will, with God – our Creator, our Father, our Source, our Center of real life and our true selves, not the false life be spend busying ourselves each day with inconsequential concerns! Spending more time with our God – making that relationship better, will ultimately make all our relationships better, since God is Love. Our lives should be spent loving God, and loving our neighbor. Life is about relationships not about making money, storing up ‘toys,’ and becoming ‘successful’ in our jobs. At the end, our Lord won’t ask us how successful we were at work or how much money we earned…he will simply ask how we loved our neighbor! Let’s renew our hearts and minds. Let’s give our whole selves to God today…only then, will we find our true selves and be able to live genuine lives! -jdp

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Glory, Alleluia (to be sung aloud, adapted to JMT’s Psalm 95)

Glory, Alleluia

 

Glory and Praise to You,

My Lord and Creator.

Here am I for You,

Alone with my Savior.

And I hear You,

In the stillness of my heart.

Alleluia, Al-le-lu-ia!

 

You called me from the womb,

My Lord and Creator.

You spared me from the tomb,

Oh, oh, my Savior.

And I hear You,

In the stillness of the night.

Alleluia, Al-le-lu-ia!

 

Glory and Praise to You,

My Lord and Creator.

Glory and Praise to You,

Oh, oh my Savior.

And I see You,

In the stillness of the Light.

Alleluia, Al-le-lu-ia!

 

You have formed all the earth.

Dry land and the waters.

You have fashioned all mankind,

As Your Created.

We Adore You,

In the stillness of Your Might.

Alleluia, Al-le-lu-ia!

 

Glory and Praise to You,

My Lord and Creator.

Glory and Praise to You,

Oh, oh my Savior.

Help me love You,

In the stillness of Your Heart.

Alleluia, Al-le-lu-ia!

 

You have called me by name,

My Lord and Creator.

You have taken all my blame,

Oh Lord and Savior.

Help me love You,

In the stillness of my heart.

Alleluia, Al-le-lu-ia!

 

-jdp

 

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John Michael Talbot coming to Sacred Heart Parish

May 10, 2010 7:00 to 9:00 PM 

Sacred Heart Church, Mount Holly, NJ …

Free Concert (Good Will Offerings Accepted)

 

New Itinerant Ministries Planned:

In the fall of 2009 we began an exciting new direction in JMT ministry! We are returning to my radical gospel roots. I am very enthused by the fruit we are seeing from this already. We are experiencing a fresh and powerful new wind of the Spirit in my ministry and community. I want to share that enthusiasm and joy with you!

Specifically this means that we are going to local regions and staying there for several weeks doing many events throughout the area. These events range from a single evening of Music, Teaching, and Contemplation, to three night missions, retreats, and teachings in a parish. The beauty of the three day ministry is that excitement builds from night to night, and more and more people come each night as the word spreads from person to person.

Our biblical model for this is St. Paul, who went to a local area a stayed there evangelizing and building up the local community before moving on to another region. The more primary model is from Jesus himself, who went from village to village in spiritual simplicity to preach the Good News to all God’s people. Of course, the example of the saints like St. Francis of Assisi and the early Franciscan preachers is also a great inspiration for this ministry. They went in gospel simplicity from village to village and church to church, preaching the Gospel of Jesus using music, art, and proclaimed words.

This model allows me to bring the full spectrum of my music and teaching ministry gifts to a local area. Often in the past, audiences may have only seen the music and more meditational aspect of my ministry. But I have also written numerous books and fulfilled a daily teaching role as Spiritual Father of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity. As well as leading musical worship, this ranges from teaching to leading seated meditation. National audiences now get an opportunity to experience this aspect of my ministry. I am thrilled at this opportunity.

We are also using free-will offerings to financially support the ministry. This is in radical contrast to the ticketed events of the past. In past years of national prosperity ticketed events worked well for our ministry and sponsoring churches alike. But with the recent recession I want to offer these concerts and teachings to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. This way all can come to an event that presents the gospel of Jesus Christ as a free gift. It also allows those who are able to give a little more. Between these two we are walking by faith that God will take care of our legitimate ministry needs. So far we have not been disappointed, though we are certainly not getting rich!

So we need your help! We need you to support these events by coming when we are in your area. We also need you to get the word out when we are close by. Lastly, we are open to ministering in your church. Ask your pastor to sponsor a John Michael Talbot ministry in your local area. We are excited about what God is doing in our midst! We want to share it with you!

In Jesus,
John Michael Talbot
Founder and Spiritual Father
The Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage

Come out for an evening of music, praise & peace … Franciscan style! I met JMT when I was an OFM Novice, he stayed with us while on a similar ministry tour. His music speaks to your soul.

Please support him along the way, especially in your prayers. -jdp

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Deep in the Woods

Deep in the Woods

 

Light hidden behind dark clouds,

Gentle breezes whisper aloud.

No word is heard yet a Presence felt

Upon damp ground where I have knelt.

 

Deep rooted trees stretch toward the sky,

So too, my soul reaches up high.

Mercy and Love wash away all sin;

The Light beyond now dwells within.

 

Once unseen far past the cloud,

Now shines inside and sings out loud!

Deep in the woods, I praise my Host:

Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

 

jdp

 

 

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So much to chat about; so little time!

How was everyone’s Lent? It has now come and gone. So has Holy Week and Easter Sunday … the full scope of this season seems overwhelming to me. There are so many points to ponder – but mainly, to reflect and dwell on the fact that our Lord IS Risen. WOW! As St. Augustine says, “We are a people of the Resurrection.” We are saved, we are redeemed, He is with us ALWAYS! That’s Good News indeed.

My mind has not kept up with all the prayerful insights of our Lord’s Last Supper, Agony, Crucifixion, being placed in a tomb … and then the miraculous Rising on Easter Sunday. He shocked His followers, the Apostles, all the Disciples, His poor Mother who had to witness the horror and pain of His brutal death. He brought about a different kind of Kingdom. He chose the weak to spread the Good News. He sends Peter (who denied Him) forth to head His new church … the Way of Jesus. We are called to die to our old selves, and rise again to a new life in Christ. No one could have figured out this “story.”

And this Risen Lord can now be with us always, to lead us, guide us, correct us, & forgive us. He has freed us from the burden of sin and tears away the veil that separates us from God the Father, and shares with us in that Father/Son relationship. He sends the Holy Spirit to console and to counsel, to set us “on fire” to do God’s Will. Right now, here on earth, for each of us, uniquely personal. WOW … no one could have figured this ending to the “story.”

I’m excited about this new life! But let’s look for a moment what’s happening around us: the world economy sucks, President Obama is hurting more than helping this country, people are depressed, unemployment is a staggering 9.7 percent, the GWOT rages on in both Afghanistan and Iraq – our troops are risking their lives each day for our freedom, Headline news still tells the tales of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding, fires, death & destruction, etc. Where do people turn for relief? March Madness – Does Duke winning the title put food on our table? Major League Baseball, the pro season has started – 165 games from now, will baseball save my soul or bring about world peace? The NFL Draft – my Eagles are finally getting rid of Donovan McNabb (probably should have 5 years ago) and are hoping to build a powerful new team by player trading and choosing new players during the upcoming draft – who cares? … I will watch football every Sunday next Fall, yet it will not better my life in any way. It’s an eight billion dollar industry but will not put a single dollar in my pocket, provide for my family, or put a roof over our heads.

There is a glimmer of hope though: Jesus Christ has died for us, and is Risen from the dead to bring us all to new life. Is life tough? Yes. Do we suffer injustice, hardship, inequality? Yes. Are we subjected to toil, labor and suffering? Yes.  BUT Jesus has shown us the way to peace, the way to freedom, the way to happiness, the way to holiness. He has called us, each of us to follow him … the simple beckoning, “Come follow me.” Say yes, take the first step, follow Him today! -jdpater

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Silence is Golden

In today’s modern world there seems to be a need for constant mind-numbing sound. How many people fall asleep with a television broadcasting mindlessness into the sanctuary of their bedrooms? Only to wake up to a blaring radio alarm clock? Shower and get ready for the day while listening to news or morning radio? Commute to work or school while plugged into iPods or other headphone devices, and droning along amid the noise of traffic – engines, exhausts, screeching tires, & blaring horns? All day long, people chatter on cellular phones about such important topics as which contestant got voted off of  American Idol or Dancing with the Stars, who won last night’s game, or what movie is premiering next weekend.

If we are not actually chatting, talking, or listening to music – we seem to be “texting” some urgent message to a compadre that is not present, even while we are spending time with someone else. Our minds are constantly at work wondering about the useless “necessities” and worrying about events that have not yet come, while consumed in a whirlwind of constant activities that some call “multitasking.” Were we really meant to talk on the telephone, work on the laptop, send texts, listen to music, watch tv, and read a magazine all at the same time? I wonder if anyone ever actually concentrates anymore – or will that word disappear from the dictionary someday?

Scripture tells us, “Be still and know that I am God.” It’s one thing to actually take time to slow down but how can we be still if we can’t be quiet for at least a few minutes. Quiet involves silence. Ok, that makes sense but how? Take a few moments to stop “doing” a thousand and one things. Next turn your attention to finding a quiet place – this could be in your home, in a church, maybe even out in nature. Now that you’ve stopped doing and have found a quiet place to sit, you’ll find a couple other distractions begin to creep in upon your solitude: ambient noise will now be heard, a car passing by or a plane flying overhead, a dog barking, birds singing, or children laughing in the distance. Let them go, place them in the background. If you’re lucky enough to find quiet from these types of things, you may now find it difficult to shut off your own mind: a thousand and one worries or cares may now pop into your consciousness – offer those cares up to the Lord, ask Him to help quiet your mind. He will, those cares do not need to be addressed right now!

Now that you have found some peace and quiet, you may become aware of your own heartbeat, or breathing … don’t let those distract you but enter into the rhythm; control your breathing with deliberate inhales and exhales, allow your heartbeat to slow, there are no cares, no worries, no future concerns. There is just you & you God, alone in the quiet, in the solitude, in the silence … just be at peace and listen. Ah, silence is golden! -jdpater

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Zen and the Art of Finding Your True Self

The Christian Tradition is filled with stories of Saints & Mystics, Theologians & Philosophers, Warriors & Activists, Monks & Mendicants, Hermits & Wanderers, Writers & Psalmists, priests, religious, and lay people of every background and profession. We have the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Fathers of the Church, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and thousands upon thousands of books on spirituality and theology and religions from around the world. Yet what is at the heart of the message? That there is One God, who is Creator, Father, Lover of all. He not only created us but saved us; sent us the example – the Way to follow in His Son Jesus; He empowers us with His own Spirit; sends us grace, blessings, forgiveness; gives us faith, hope & charity; teaches us real Love by loving us in His own Person … the constant action of the Trinity, calling us back to Him, freeing us from all obstacles, helping us along the way, and is ever present to us! BUT we are all sinners and constantly sever ourselves from God. We seperate ourselves from God! Why?

If God is Present always, in all things, in all people – why do we not see Him clearly and continually thank & praise Him? The answer is found in a simple word: “I” … our sense of “self” is false. There can be no I without the God who is, who was, and will always be. We must die to ourselves, whereby we lose ourselves and become Christ-like to find our true selves. We do not exist alone, we are all one in God. A deep concept and difficult to understand in this world of me, myself, and I.

In the Eastern religions, there is the concept of Nothingness – of finding self as one with all and all is nothing – this world is passing and our true self can only be experienced within that cloud of nothing, which is the center of everything. Again, this is a deep concept and seems to ignore the idea of God, yet it is precisely where God exists … not “out there somewhere” but within each of us. Once our God is experienced within, then we can easily see God in nature, in other people, in both good and bad experiences, in all.

Our Christian mystics speak of this in difficult concepts to express: the Dark Night of the Soul, the Cloud of Unknowing, “infused contemplation”, “meditation of the soul” etc. Thomas Merton, a twentieth century Trappist Monk, and popular spiritual author and poet, did much research into Eastern spirituality, to help him reconcile his own experience of contemplation within a fully Christocentric theology. His findings – we must die to ourselves, struggle in this “darkness” where God reveals Himself in His own time, and thus we find our true selves, as being one wth Him and each other. This metanoia, this changing of our old selves is true conversion, however, it is only a small taste of what we can share for all eternity.

Merton takes it a step further – after this “experience” of God, we cannot help but live for others. We must concern ourselves with helping others, social action, peace and justice, and constantly dying to self – for it is the only way we can surely live “until it is no longer us that lives but Christ that lives in us.”

So, as we complete this 3rd week of Lent – look around, look within. What concerns are pressing? What is leading us toward Christ, or away from Him? How can we die to our old selves? Ask the Lord to guide you back to Him, to feel compunction for your past sins, to lose your false sense of self, to open you to His Spirit, to transform you! Ask and you shall receive … that’s a promise.

Watch the news: Rain storms, mud slides, snow storms, hurricanes, earth quakes, volcanic erruptions, plane crashes, poor economy, high crime rates, terrorist attacks, famine, war – our troops are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan … you get the idea. It’s bad out there – the world needs God’s peace, we need God’s peace … it’s already within you, and you can bring it to the rest of the world – right now, today, this minute! Ask God to transform you into your true self – what you were meant to be; the reason you were created.

Don’t be afraid; Christ already died on the Cross, and Rose Again! We are called to die too – like Christ but the Good News is – it works! There is more to life than I, I, I, me, me, me … it’s time for change. If you are reading this blog, you are searching for something … your soul is restless. It’s time for your true self to be set free. There is only one Way – through Jesus; just ask Him to lead the way. To quote Nike “just do it” … sit in the quiet, in the darkness of your interior, the Light will shine. Do it today! jdpater

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40 Days of Lent

We are told that in Biblical studies the term “forty days” was used to denote “a long time.”  Jesus went into the desert for forty days to fast and pray. Forty days of fasting? That’s a long time indeed! Most of us have a hard time not snacking in between meals let alone fast for a day, but forty days? WOW.  Time, of course, is relative … is 40 days a long time out of a lifetime? Is 40 days a long time out of 365 days each year? Is 40 days a long time in a new relationship? How about during an illness or when suffering with a painful disease? We work 40 hours per week and it sometimes feels like a lifetime. A 40 minute comute each day takes the life out of us before we even get to work. Try telling a child to wait 40 seconds before you can get them their candy! Yikes! Yet 40 seconds gazing into our lover’s eyes can stop time and even make our heart skip a beat. See what I’m getting at? Time passes by – each moment ticks away from the moment we are born until the moment our last breath leaves our body. But how do we utilize our time? What do we accomplish in our lifetimes?

Forty days of Lent is celebrated each year leading up to Easter Sunday! It is a time of grounding ourselves in the reality of who we are and what we are meant to be as Catholics, Christians, followers of The Way of Jesus. How do we spend our time each day? How many trivial tasks do we perform each day, week, year? How much quality time do we spend with family and friends? Work, chores, schedules, lack of sleep, lack of exercise, eating on the run … day after day, week after week, month after month. Sound familiar? It’s the way of the modern world – it adds up to a lot of stress and ultimately disaster. We all have the excuse that we are too busy … but what are we missing out on if we keep living like this? In a word, EVERYTHING; that is, everything important.

Life isn’t meant to be an endless rush of chaos. If we do not slow down enough to nurture ourselves, we will all die broken, unhappy, depressed, and lost … for eternity. Our lives are meant to be so much more. Start slowly, take 5 or 10 minutes today to stop and just be still. Sit quietly in the Presence of our Creator. Your soul is restless within you and cries out like the deer seeking to quench its thirst. Ask our Lord to help you. Ask for a few minutes of quiet with no interuptions. Ask Him to help you find that time each and every day, for the remainder of Lent. You will find that suddenly things will fall into place better, tasks will become easier, stress will melt away and you’ll be able to see more clearly what is really bothering you.

It is not I but God who invites you to take this time with Him. We try to do so much; to be accomplished; to be successful … but what is God calling for us to do and be? We were each created to be special and unique. We each have many talents and gifts to use for the benefit of all. Our lives are much too short to kill ourselves with worry and anxiety! Acknowledge your faults, weaknesses and failings, and offer them to God. He wipes away our sin and frees us, empowers us to be so much more. But the clock is ticking. Today is already the second Sunday of Lent. Time is passing you by … if you are reading this blog, take the first step today. Say yes to God’s call and spend some time with Him. He gave us these 40 days of Lent, specifically to return to Him. Let’s start the renewal right now. What do you say? Yes or No? -jdpater

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Hello world!

Welcome to the inaurgural post from the Mind of a Mendicant Marine. I am looking forward to sharing the journey through life with other like-minded persons who wish to discuss religion, spirituality, politics, history, writing and any other topic, which springs up from the mind and perspective of this Franciscan Warrior.

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