When I was in the 2nd to 5th grade, my family lived in Mundelein, Chicago. I have really great memories of the house that our family resided in at 701 Hillside dr. The greatest part about that time was that my brother Jason was my absolute best friend! We did everything together. Sure, me being the younger brother by a year and 3 months, he may not have liked it. He might have felt like there was a new born puppy following him around everywhere. He probably felt this even more because I wagged my tail every where we went, slobbered on anything we passed by, and often pooped where I wasn't supposed to... But let's not get into that. I like to believe he enjoyed me being his best friend as much as I enjoyed him being mine. We definitely had our moments of fighting, but we always came out hugging and forgetting.
I have many memories with him during that time. In our mischief, we broke a few items around the house that mom and dad didn't necessarily appreciate. We shared a room together with a bunk bed in which, when it came time to clean it up, my brother always had the brilliant plan that I, being the younger brother, should clean up everything that was touching the floor, while he cleaned up everything that wasn't touching the floor. For some reason I fell for this, and ended up cleaning up pretty much our whole room while he watched and giggled. Good move Jason! We spent our mornings, eating breakfast, waiting for the bus, watching the Bozo the clown show or Scooby Doo.
How could I forget the moment that really showed me his love and thoughtfulness towards me as a brother? In 5th grade I was in band (I played a mean trumpet... No doubt I sounded horrible.) and we had practice after school. One afternoon, as I got out of practice, I was waiting outside for my mother to pick me up. Many minutes later, realizing that everyone had left, and I was the only one there. I decided it was best for me to hike it home. So, I picked up my trumpet case, put on my backpack and began the long trek back to our house. When I was about half-way home, I saw a distant figure riding towards me on a bike that had blonde hair like mine. As this figure got closer, I realized it was my brother Jason. When he finally got up to me, he mentioned something about how our mom forgot to pick me up (Surprise, Surprise! Just kidding mom!). He then suggested that I ride the bike home, and he would carry my trumpet case and backpack as he walked the rest of the way. Without hesitation, I took him up on his offer and coasted back home on what I'm sure was none other than a "Dyno" stunt bike. We were really cool! Especially my brother for doing such a great deed such as that! That's the kind of selfless, thoughtful guy my brother Jason is. I truly look up to him.
There's one last story I want to share. It was on a wonderful winter day in Illinois, which meant it was really cold! We had a park across the street from our house that had a pond and a gazebo. Every winter, when it would get well below freezing, the pond would freeze over, and in our adventurous hearts, we would always walk across it to different parts of the pond and just slide on it for fun. The one afternoon I recall now, it wasn't well below freezing, but just a few degrees below. Still VERY cold! As Jason and I and our friend Jay (this guy was awesome! Ask any of my family members about him and their response will probably be something along the lines of "oh man... he was a character!") were walking on the frozen ice of the pond. We came to a spot that was close to the land and started to "test the ice". Although, throughout my years I have always been kind of dense and not necessarily caught on to what's really happening around me, there was part of me that was sensing some mischief in Jason and Jay's attitudes. We came to a spot where they started jumping up and down next to each other. Then, they started to encourage me to do the same! "Come on Chris! Just jump up and down! Look! The ice is really thick here..." Trusting in these two dear friends of mine, and one of them being my older brother who would NEVER want any harm for his little brother, I had faith in their suggestions. So, I took the liberty in joining them, even though I was standing about 7 feet or so away from them. Little did I know, the spot I was currently standing on, they realized was thinner then the rest and should not be jumped on. Low and behold, after the third jump, the ice gives way underneath me, and I fall into the pond water below me that went about waist deep! FREAKING OUT because the water was freezing, I do my best to get out hurriedly, shuffle to the side and proceed to run home. All the while, my brother Jason and our friend Jay are laughing in such a way that it seemed their plan had been achieved. Once I got feeling back in my legs, you better believe I was looking to exact my revenge on my brother Jason. But, he definitely got the best of me that day. After that, my faith in his suggestions somewhat dwindled. I say "somewhat" because, again, I'm pretty dense, so I still bought in from time to time.
I mention this because, not only do I love my brother so much and truly enjoyed those times we had in Illinois, but mainly because I was reminded of this last story in my prayer today. My meditation was focused on faith. The Holy Spirit was really working within me to ask and plead to God to help me and increase my faith in Him. It was based off the Gospel passage for today from Mark. The reading was from Mark 9: 14-29. In this reading, as Jesus was coming down from the mountain where He was transfigured in all His glory before Peter, James and John, a crowd approached them as they were arguing. Upon asking them what they were arguing about, Jesus comes to find that a man had brought his son who was possessed by a mute spirit to his disciples so that they would drive it out, but they could not. So, he brings the boy to Jesus and immediately the boy goes into convulsions. Jesus then asks the father how long this has been happening to him and his reply and what continues after it I will write to emphasize the point:
"'Since childhood. It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.' Jesus said to him, ''If you can!' Everything is possible to one who has faith.' Then the boy's father cried out, 'I do believe, help my unbelief!' Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, 'Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!' Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out..."
Could you just imagine this scene? Jesus, coming down from the mountain, where He had just revealed the beautiful glory of His divinity to Peter, James and John (all of them being on a "God high" if you will...) is immediately confronted by a large, arguing crowd. Thrown into the mix right away, Jesus is approached by a man who has a son that no one else can help. Jesus is this man's only hope. As Jesus confronts the man about his situation, the man shows his lack of faith in his statement "But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." Questioning whether or not Jesus, this man's only hope, could do anything to help his situation. But should we fault this man for such a comment? He approached several others before Jesus. Others who had worked miracles in the name of Christ before for other people. These same people who had helped countless others, could not help him and his son. When your faith is shaken in such a way, it is hard to have faith at all! Yet, he still reached out to Jesus for help! And asked for His compassion. Jesus responds in such a way where He points out the man's lack of faith, and then proclaims such a statement of faith that would bring hope to anyone when He says "Everything is possible to one who has faith".
This man then realizes his own lack of faith and cries out to Christ for help with this weakness. "I do believe, help my unbelief!" What a BEAUTIFUL cry for help!!! In Christ's great compassion, he recognizes this man's cry for help and responds in such an amazing way. He commands the mute and deaf spirit to come out of this man's son, and it does. Now imagine what is going on in the heart of that man. That same man who questioned Jesus's ability to help him, Jesus Christ's ability to do anything for him. That same man who realized his lack of faith, and cried out in his weakness and complete vulnerability "HELP MY UNBELIEF!" What do you think this situation has done for his faith? What do you think his complete vulnerability and his cry out to the Lord for help has done for his faith? What do you think seeing his son, who was abused by this mute, deaf spirit for years, ever since his childhood, now upright and healthy? How do you think this whole situation affected the faith of all those who were in the crowd witnessing this situation?
If Christ were to say to you "Everything is possible to one who has faith", what would your response be? Would you respond as the father did saying "I do believe, help my unbelief!"? Or would you respond in a different way?
Faith can be a touchy subject for many. This may be the case for some because their situation may be like the father's from this Gospel. They have spent years, ever since their childhood, searching for faith. Going to people that have helped others in their lack of faith. Seeing many people having their prayers answered, yet finding no answers to their own. Looking for some one to help them in their lack of faith, yet finding no one who could give them the answer they want. Striving to find some reason to believe that their situation can be helped, yet never feeling as if it will be resolved.
Or, maybe their situation is like mine with my brother when we were playing on the ice. They had great faith in some one whom they believed was leading them down the right path. They believed they were concerned for their greater good. They would follow them anywhere, even on thin ice. Yet, despite their great concern for them, they for one reason or another, let them fall. They find themselves cold, bitter and untrusting because this person let them fall. And their faith has been lost in the frostbite of their hurt.
Whatever the situation might be, let us learn from the man in the Gospel. When we are most vulnerable, when we have exhausted all other options, when we are completely broken, let us go to the only one who can truly proclaim "Everything is possible to one who has faith." Let us go to Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ alone and proclaim "I do believe, help my unbelief!" For, as it says in the meditation for today from "In Conversation with God vol. 3":
"Faith is a gift of God, and only He can increase it in the soul."
It is Christ and Christ alone that can give us the faith our heart and soul is searching for! It is Jesus Himself who can break the walls of unbelief that surround our heart and bring faith into our soul! It is God alone who can transform an unbelieving heart into one that's full of faith!
But, He will not do it unless we sincerely ask Him. He will not go against our free will. And, for some reason, it's only in our brokenness that our prayers become sincere. Embrace your brokenness... God does.
We must also have an open heart to receive the faith Christ longs to give us. "For our part, humility, purity of soul and openness of heart towards the truth will enable us to receive those gifts which Jesus never denies to souls who place no obstacles in the way of his granting them." (In Conversation with God, vol. 3 p. 360-361)
If we know of others, "if the faith of our friends, brothers and sisters or children were to waver or weaken, we should imitate this good father in the Gospel account" (ibid, p. 360). We should approach Jesus Christ for their sake and pray that He may open their heart so that they may receive the supernatural light that is faith in Him!
So, let us pray along with the man from the Gospel despite what faith we have in our hearts and say "I do believe, help my unbelief!".
Let us pray along with each other and say "Lord, increase my faith! Don't allow my faith in you ever to be shaken!"
Let us pray for those we know whose faith has been weakened, wavered or left wanting and say "Open their hearts, Lord, so that they may receive Your supernatural light"!
And let us believe that "everything is possible to one who has faith."
Monday, February 21, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Freedom!!!
There are only a few movies that make me cry. Yes! It's true. I do cry. I know many of you were thinking that you could replace "Chris Walters" with "Chuck Norris" in the hilarious quip "I heard Chuck Norris's tears could cure cancer... Too bad he never cries..." Well, I haven't submitted my tears to a medical research lab to see if they could cure cancer or not, but I certainly do cry. NOT OFTEN! Let me at least hang on to that little bit of masculinity so that no one thinks I'm what some might call a complete "sensie" (overly sensitive male). But back to the topic at hand.
There are a few movies that make me cry every time I watch them. One that gets me every time is the Mel Gibson classic "The Patriot". You all know what scene I'm talking about if you've seen that movie. Not to ruin it for anyone who hasn't (which there is NO WAY me explaining this scene to anyone who hasn't seen the movie would ruin it for them, it's too beautiful) but it's when his youngest daughter who hasn't spoken a word to him this whole movie runs towards him as he is riding away on his horse with tears, and the cutest pigtails look ever, saying "Daddy, don't go! I'll say anything you want, just please don't go!" Oh man... Every time it gets me! I could try to think of the manliest thoughts in the world as I watch that scene, yet that girl would crack me as a pair of eggs ready to make breakfast every time! Makes me hope and pray every time I see it that God is calling me to be a father...
Other movies include:
-"The Lord of the Rings: The fellowship of the ring" when Boromir continues fighting despite falling and failing his comrades just a few scenes prior, to save the life of Frodo whom he was almost attacking in the scene mentioned, as he has arrows shot into him repeatedly. That fight and resolve I hope is the same fight and resolve I have towards fighting the good fight for the Kingdom of Heaven, despite what falls I may have and arrows I take from the enemy.
-"A Walk to Remember"... yeah, I know, you may take my man card away from me for mentioning this, but hey, I'm not afraid of admitting the truth. Besides, I still hold my boyhood crush on Mandy Moore. How could I not cry with what happens to her character?
-"Man on Fire" The ending, with Denzel Washington and that embrace on the bridge where he says "with all my heart". Makes me think of what an embrace with Jesus Christ Himself would be. And how hard Jesus Christ will fight to save that one lost sheep... Well, without all the killing and unnecessary violence of course.
-Why not give a shout out to a couple animated greats! "Finding Nemo" How could you not cry at the beginning with what happens to that fish's family!?!?!? And to see that Dad's love for his son. Wow! I have no doubt my father loves me that much! Both my earthly and especially my heavenly! "Up" Man, PIXAR really just wants to get the water works within the first five minutes of their movies huh? To see the love that man had for his wife, again, makes me hope God calls me to marriage so that I can image that same love for my own wife! And to do something great for her too! And I'll even throw in "Hercules" to this. I love this movie! And I have teared up at the fact that Hercules desires with all his heart to find where he belongs and will do GREAT things to get there, even sacrifice great things! And to sacrifice even his own life for love.... Sounds kind of like Jesus huh? Except I'm sure Jesus didn't ride around on a mythical creature like Pegasus. Nor did he have such hilarious snoring habits as a baby with that same mythical creature. (Hercules: "Snorrreeee..." Pegasus: "Weeweeweeweeweewee"...
-"Armageddon" With that ending, where Bruce Willis is talking to his daughter Liv Tyler while he's on the asteroid. The things he says and the love he has right before he makes such a great sacrifice makes the magnanimity in my heart burn within me that I may, one day, be able to make such a great sacrifice out of love for some one else. To imitate the love of Christ.
-There are plenty of others too (please don't make fun of me for admitting there are plenty of movies that make me cry). Such as "Remember the Titans". What happens to Gary, and what happens after that. "Cinderella Man" or "Gladiator". Russell Crowe portrays a man of sacrifice very well! How could I not mention "The Passion of Christ"? The story of Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection? Cry every time! And I'm sure, if I really put some thought into it I could think of others.
But the one movie that I really love. The one movie that I have watched 3 times within a 24 hour period and still could have watched it a 4th. The one movie that any time it is on TV in any way, I will sit down and watch the whole thing despite the length of this movie being a shade under 3 hours. The movie that could make me cry in several different spots. This movie being none other than "Braveheart". Yes, another Mel Gibson movie. And the movie that holds the quote that this blog is entitled for: at the end when William Wallace shouts with all that he has left, the one thing that he has given everything fighting for... Freedom!!! I love this movie.
The quote that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MOST in this movie is at the beginning, when, in a dream, William Wallace's dad says to him as a little boy: "Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow it." And I bring that up because that is what I want to talk about as the meat of this blog. Except, I have a different quote that lays closer to the bone. And that is from St. Paul's letter to the Galatians, chapter 5, verses 13 and 14 where he says:
"For you were called to freedom, brothers; only do not use your freedom as a pretext for living according to the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law finds its fullness in a single commandment, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
This... This is what life is all about. For the greatest gift, I believe, that God has given us all is the gift of life. And, just after that, the greatest gift He has given us is the freedom to choose. That we were called to freedom. That one word William Wallace yells at the end of "Braveheart". The thing that resides on all our hearts, we must have the courage to follow it. The thing that justifies the first greatest gift God has given us, our own life. Freedom.
My question is: How are you living this freedom?
Are you living it as Paul exhorts us not to? According to the flesh? Are you living your freedom in such a way that you give into the desires and wants of the flesh? Are you freely feeding the disordered desires of your heart? Giving into whatever sensual cravings your bodily being desires? Whether that be lust, or gluttony, or sloth, or greed, or envy, or anger, or pride? Selfishly seeking and doing what you can to please yourself so that you can be "happy" or "fulfilled"... This "freedom" ends up being more of an enslavement, for how many of us are enslaved to these desires and choose them out of our attachments to them rather than out of the freedom of our own heart.
Or do you live a heroic freedom? A freedom that brings others to tears as they witness with wonder and awe? A freedom that movies glorify to make epics that captivate audiences? A freedom that brings true fulfillment and true happiness? A freedom that imitates the very act of our God made man in Jesus Christ? The freedom to sacrifice...
As I thought of all the movies that make me cry, I couldn't help but wonder why these films would bring me to tears. And, I realized, that in every movie, in every scene that would make me cry, it was because of one thing. Sacrifice. The character freely choosing to sacrifice for the good of another. Every time I witness this act, I get all choked up.
For once, Hollywood has gotten something right. And that is that they have realized this truth. The beauty of sacrifice, and freely choosing this. They have realized how this has been written on the human heart. As St. Paul says "For you were called to freedom..." We have all been called to this freedom to sacrifice and it is written on our hearts. And it was lived out for us in the greatest way imaginable with God made man offering Himself up freely for the sake of all of us on the Cross with Jesus Christ's Crucifixion. This heroic love. As Christ Himself says: "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." (John 15: 13)
This is heroic love... This is true freedom... This is what we are called to... This is what fulfills us...
If we live our freedom in a way where we "live according to the flesh", we will end up enslaved and unfulfilled. Our freedom will be taken away from us, and we will be constantly searching for joy and happiness and never finding it.
But, if we have the courage to live out our freedom in such a way where we truly sacrifice ourselves out of love for another. If we love our neighbor as we love ourself. If we choose to live for others and love others in such a way where we sacrifice feeding the desires of our flesh, to feed the freedom of their hearts and souls, what great fulfillment and joy we will find! What freedom we will live!
Yes, it is hard. And yes, it takes great courage. A hero's courage. But, as I heard in a movie once, nothing worth having comes easy. It is not easy... But it is most certainly worth it!
So again, I ask: How are you living this freedom?
And I end by using that great quote from "Braveheart":
"Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow it."
There are a few movies that make me cry every time I watch them. One that gets me every time is the Mel Gibson classic "The Patriot". You all know what scene I'm talking about if you've seen that movie. Not to ruin it for anyone who hasn't (which there is NO WAY me explaining this scene to anyone who hasn't seen the movie would ruin it for them, it's too beautiful) but it's when his youngest daughter who hasn't spoken a word to him this whole movie runs towards him as he is riding away on his horse with tears, and the cutest pigtails look ever, saying "Daddy, don't go! I'll say anything you want, just please don't go!" Oh man... Every time it gets me! I could try to think of the manliest thoughts in the world as I watch that scene, yet that girl would crack me as a pair of eggs ready to make breakfast every time! Makes me hope and pray every time I see it that God is calling me to be a father...
Other movies include:
-"The Lord of the Rings: The fellowship of the ring" when Boromir continues fighting despite falling and failing his comrades just a few scenes prior, to save the life of Frodo whom he was almost attacking in the scene mentioned, as he has arrows shot into him repeatedly. That fight and resolve I hope is the same fight and resolve I have towards fighting the good fight for the Kingdom of Heaven, despite what falls I may have and arrows I take from the enemy.
-"A Walk to Remember"... yeah, I know, you may take my man card away from me for mentioning this, but hey, I'm not afraid of admitting the truth. Besides, I still hold my boyhood crush on Mandy Moore. How could I not cry with what happens to her character?
-"Man on Fire" The ending, with Denzel Washington and that embrace on the bridge where he says "with all my heart". Makes me think of what an embrace with Jesus Christ Himself would be. And how hard Jesus Christ will fight to save that one lost sheep... Well, without all the killing and unnecessary violence of course.
-Why not give a shout out to a couple animated greats! "Finding Nemo" How could you not cry at the beginning with what happens to that fish's family!?!?!? And to see that Dad's love for his son. Wow! I have no doubt my father loves me that much! Both my earthly and especially my heavenly! "Up" Man, PIXAR really just wants to get the water works within the first five minutes of their movies huh? To see the love that man had for his wife, again, makes me hope God calls me to marriage so that I can image that same love for my own wife! And to do something great for her too! And I'll even throw in "Hercules" to this. I love this movie! And I have teared up at the fact that Hercules desires with all his heart to find where he belongs and will do GREAT things to get there, even sacrifice great things! And to sacrifice even his own life for love.... Sounds kind of like Jesus huh? Except I'm sure Jesus didn't ride around on a mythical creature like Pegasus. Nor did he have such hilarious snoring habits as a baby with that same mythical creature. (Hercules: "Snorrreeee..." Pegasus: "Weeweeweeweeweewee"...
-"Armageddon" With that ending, where Bruce Willis is talking to his daughter Liv Tyler while he's on the asteroid. The things he says and the love he has right before he makes such a great sacrifice makes the magnanimity in my heart burn within me that I may, one day, be able to make such a great sacrifice out of love for some one else. To imitate the love of Christ.
-There are plenty of others too (please don't make fun of me for admitting there are plenty of movies that make me cry). Such as "Remember the Titans". What happens to Gary, and what happens after that. "Cinderella Man" or "Gladiator". Russell Crowe portrays a man of sacrifice very well! How could I not mention "The Passion of Christ"? The story of Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection? Cry every time! And I'm sure, if I really put some thought into it I could think of others.
But the one movie that I really love. The one movie that I have watched 3 times within a 24 hour period and still could have watched it a 4th. The one movie that any time it is on TV in any way, I will sit down and watch the whole thing despite the length of this movie being a shade under 3 hours. The movie that could make me cry in several different spots. This movie being none other than "Braveheart". Yes, another Mel Gibson movie. And the movie that holds the quote that this blog is entitled for: at the end when William Wallace shouts with all that he has left, the one thing that he has given everything fighting for... Freedom!!! I love this movie.
The quote that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MOST in this movie is at the beginning, when, in a dream, William Wallace's dad says to him as a little boy: "Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow it." And I bring that up because that is what I want to talk about as the meat of this blog. Except, I have a different quote that lays closer to the bone. And that is from St. Paul's letter to the Galatians, chapter 5, verses 13 and 14 where he says:
"For you were called to freedom, brothers; only do not use your freedom as a pretext for living according to the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law finds its fullness in a single commandment, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
This... This is what life is all about. For the greatest gift, I believe, that God has given us all is the gift of life. And, just after that, the greatest gift He has given us is the freedom to choose. That we were called to freedom. That one word William Wallace yells at the end of "Braveheart". The thing that resides on all our hearts, we must have the courage to follow it. The thing that justifies the first greatest gift God has given us, our own life. Freedom.
My question is: How are you living this freedom?
Are you living it as Paul exhorts us not to? According to the flesh? Are you living your freedom in such a way that you give into the desires and wants of the flesh? Are you freely feeding the disordered desires of your heart? Giving into whatever sensual cravings your bodily being desires? Whether that be lust, or gluttony, or sloth, or greed, or envy, or anger, or pride? Selfishly seeking and doing what you can to please yourself so that you can be "happy" or "fulfilled"... This "freedom" ends up being more of an enslavement, for how many of us are enslaved to these desires and choose them out of our attachments to them rather than out of the freedom of our own heart.
Or do you live a heroic freedom? A freedom that brings others to tears as they witness with wonder and awe? A freedom that movies glorify to make epics that captivate audiences? A freedom that brings true fulfillment and true happiness? A freedom that imitates the very act of our God made man in Jesus Christ? The freedom to sacrifice...
As I thought of all the movies that make me cry, I couldn't help but wonder why these films would bring me to tears. And, I realized, that in every movie, in every scene that would make me cry, it was because of one thing. Sacrifice. The character freely choosing to sacrifice for the good of another. Every time I witness this act, I get all choked up.
For once, Hollywood has gotten something right. And that is that they have realized this truth. The beauty of sacrifice, and freely choosing this. They have realized how this has been written on the human heart. As St. Paul says "For you were called to freedom..." We have all been called to this freedom to sacrifice and it is written on our hearts. And it was lived out for us in the greatest way imaginable with God made man offering Himself up freely for the sake of all of us on the Cross with Jesus Christ's Crucifixion. This heroic love. As Christ Himself says: "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." (John 15: 13)
This is heroic love... This is true freedom... This is what we are called to... This is what fulfills us...
If we live our freedom in a way where we "live according to the flesh", we will end up enslaved and unfulfilled. Our freedom will be taken away from us, and we will be constantly searching for joy and happiness and never finding it.
But, if we have the courage to live out our freedom in such a way where we truly sacrifice ourselves out of love for another. If we love our neighbor as we love ourself. If we choose to live for others and love others in such a way where we sacrifice feeding the desires of our flesh, to feed the freedom of their hearts and souls, what great fulfillment and joy we will find! What freedom we will live!
Yes, it is hard. And yes, it takes great courage. A hero's courage. But, as I heard in a movie once, nothing worth having comes easy. It is not easy... But it is most certainly worth it!
So again, I ask: How are you living this freedom?
And I end by using that great quote from "Braveheart":
"Your heart is free. Have the courage to follow it."
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