Where ae CORPUS folks "stuck"?
WHERE ARE CORPUS FOLKS STUCK?
Let me first tell you a story.
After the Prodigal Son returned, he was so grateful at being accepted back in his Fathers graces, that he vowed to be forever obedient to his Fathers wishes. Tho he was eager to undertake much work to atone for
his going astray, yet his Father felt that because of this outrageous betrayal of the family honor, he could not be trusted. So his Father refused to give him new work even tho the family farm was hurting badly for workers.
Slowly the son became somewhat of a couch potato. Yes, he wrote letters and found companions of his lot. Yes, he would bitterly complain to others, but he could not gain the trust of his Father. He found others would sympathize, even sympathize mightily, with him. So even though he saw much work to be done, he felt like because he did not have permission of his Father, he could not act. He felt a combination of reactions: being stuck, being unrecognized, resentful, and wavering between anger and resignation. But he
was also consoled that the welfare of the farm was still on his Fathers shoulders and that of his older brother. Some day, in time, it would be his turn; sooner or later, it had to be. Those in charge would one day realize,
or maybe die off or eventually change. Yes, he looked in the mirror and said, "In the meantime, I will be ready, forever ready."
Now let me tell you another story.
The Prodigal Son returned to his Fathers house, but he soon recognized that his leaving was considered such a betrayal that he could and would NEVER be forgiven, even though he was now "accepted." For awhile he felt very stymied, as he knew he had been given talents and energies for the work of the farm. For a long time he fretted, but then one day . . . . He entered into himself, and although he felt disloyal in his thoughts, he began to hear a different Voice. This voice had echoes from his past which stirred his heart. As he listened more,
he found his heart stirred mightily. The Voice said, "Come follow me wherever I go. My grace is costly, not cheap-there is much work to be done. You have other brothers and sisters who have fallen by the wayside. They are hurting. If you think you need your Fathers permission for this work, then you are still a boy, not a man ready to risk and to be vulnerable for my sake. These others are also your Fathers relatives, often disowned, but still blood relatives. Who will serve them if you cannot get up and leave, come follow my example, and risk once more your Fathers displeasure." The Prodigal got up and left to follow this Voice. After a while, he felt great joy and freedom in finding and serving others. He rediscovered his own heart. He realized that until he decided to follow this Inner Voice, he had still been in bondage. Of course, his older brother and father and sisters considered him an outlaw to the family honora traitor. But as he looked back years later, he realized that it was he alone who took responsibility for the entire family--the Extended Family, and that, in the end, the entire farm was healthier, smarter, richer and more promising because of his Second Rebellion. Oh, yes!
Question 1. Is it possible that the bishops are sitting on a mountain of Denial, refusing to accept their responsibility, in locus Christi, for the health and welfare of the entire Church? "The salvation of souls is the supreme law of the church." (Canon 1752).
2. Is it possible that married priests waiting for permission to re-activate their priestly orders from Roman Catholic authorities are waiting for Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and Camelot?
3. Is it easier to see denial, bondage and fault in others than recognize it in ourselves? Why do you notice the speck out there...."
4. If it is He who calls me, how can I refuse? One must follow ones own conscience even when it goes against authority, against family and against society. Shall I prefer cheap grace or costly grace? "
While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak to him. Someone told him, Your mother and your brothers are waiting outside, asking to speak to you. But he said in reply to the one who told him, Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" And stretching out his hand towards his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother." (Matthew 12, 48-50). The ultimate question is To whom shall we listen?
Paschal has been associated with Corpus, FCM and CITI.
Let me first tell you a story.
After the Prodigal Son returned, he was so grateful at being accepted back in his Fathers graces, that he vowed to be forever obedient to his Fathers wishes. Tho he was eager to undertake much work to atone for
his going astray, yet his Father felt that because of this outrageous betrayal of the family honor, he could not be trusted. So his Father refused to give him new work even tho the family farm was hurting badly for workers.
Slowly the son became somewhat of a couch potato. Yes, he wrote letters and found companions of his lot. Yes, he would bitterly complain to others, but he could not gain the trust of his Father. He found others would sympathize, even sympathize mightily, with him. So even though he saw much work to be done, he felt like because he did not have permission of his Father, he could not act. He felt a combination of reactions: being stuck, being unrecognized, resentful, and wavering between anger and resignation. But he
was also consoled that the welfare of the farm was still on his Fathers shoulders and that of his older brother. Some day, in time, it would be his turn; sooner or later, it had to be. Those in charge would one day realize,
or maybe die off or eventually change. Yes, he looked in the mirror and said, "In the meantime, I will be ready, forever ready."
Now let me tell you another story.
The Prodigal Son returned to his Fathers house, but he soon recognized that his leaving was considered such a betrayal that he could and would NEVER be forgiven, even though he was now "accepted." For awhile he felt very stymied, as he knew he had been given talents and energies for the work of the farm. For a long time he fretted, but then one day . . . . He entered into himself, and although he felt disloyal in his thoughts, he began to hear a different Voice. This voice had echoes from his past which stirred his heart. As he listened more,
he found his heart stirred mightily. The Voice said, "Come follow me wherever I go. My grace is costly, not cheap-there is much work to be done. You have other brothers and sisters who have fallen by the wayside. They are hurting. If you think you need your Fathers permission for this work, then you are still a boy, not a man ready to risk and to be vulnerable for my sake. These others are also your Fathers relatives, often disowned, but still blood relatives. Who will serve them if you cannot get up and leave, come follow my example, and risk once more your Fathers displeasure." The Prodigal got up and left to follow this Voice. After a while, he felt great joy and freedom in finding and serving others. He rediscovered his own heart. He realized that until he decided to follow this Inner Voice, he had still been in bondage. Of course, his older brother and father and sisters considered him an outlaw to the family honora traitor. But as he looked back years later, he realized that it was he alone who took responsibility for the entire family--the Extended Family, and that, in the end, the entire farm was healthier, smarter, richer and more promising because of his Second Rebellion. Oh, yes!
Question 1. Is it possible that the bishops are sitting on a mountain of Denial, refusing to accept their responsibility, in locus Christi, for the health and welfare of the entire Church? "The salvation of souls is the supreme law of the church." (Canon 1752).
2. Is it possible that married priests waiting for permission to re-activate their priestly orders from Roman Catholic authorities are waiting for Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and Camelot?
3. Is it easier to see denial, bondage and fault in others than recognize it in ourselves? Why do you notice the speck out there...."
4. If it is He who calls me, how can I refuse? One must follow ones own conscience even when it goes against authority, against family and against society. Shall I prefer cheap grace or costly grace? "
While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak to him. Someone told him, Your mother and your brothers are waiting outside, asking to speak to you. But he said in reply to the one who told him, Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" And stretching out his hand towards his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother." (Matthew 12, 48-50). The ultimate question is To whom shall we listen?
"Hope has two lovely daughters :
anger at the way things are and the courage to
change them." -Augustine
anger at the way things are and the courage to
change them." -Augustine
Paschal has been associated with Corpus, FCM and CITI.
posted by Paschal Baute at 1:27 PM
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