PRAYER AND REFLECTION
Catholic theologian Dr. Anthony T. Padovano spoke
on "Hope in the Church" prior to the VOTF National Representative
Council on Oct. 16, 2004 in Pompton Lakes, NJ. Hat follows
is a recap of Dr. Padovano's remarks.
His presentation, balanced, critical and affirming,
was divided into four sections.
In part one, he surveyed the first century and emphasized
its focus on Christ. The Gospels deal with Christ's
Life; the Epistles with the cross and Resurrection;
Acts, with preaching about Christ. The first part of
the talk emphasized the person of Christ, the parables,
the Paraclete, and the Church as the People of God and
the Body of Christ. This first century is the norm for
all subsequent Church development.
In the second part, Dr. Padovano surveyed the two millennia
after the first century and gave an analysis of twelve
values that surfaced in the Catholic Church after the
first century. These included: papacy, sacramental system,
law, ecumenical councils, monastic and religious communities,
the New Testament, longevity, global connections, Marian
Theology, the university system, social justice, and
spiritual teaching.
Dr. Padovano, in the third part of his talk, indicated
that, over these centuries, there were negative Church
influences that made the proclamation of the Gospel
difficult. He noted eight concerns: an imperial papacy,
the dominance of canon law, the hierarchical non-accountability
of Church leaders, mandatory celibacy, divorce and remarriage
policies, preoccupation with sexual issues, gender inequality,
and a non-inclusive magisterium.
In the final part, Dr. Padovano gave reasons for hope
in the future. Collegial thinking and expectations are
part of the Church's life. The Gospel and the sacramental
system are deeply valued by Catholics. There is a hunger
for spirituality, a sensitivity to the priesthood of
all believers, ecumenical yearnings and a desire for
community at all costs. The Catholic community is moved
by ministers who stress healing and hope and is open
to the charisms of women. It is still Christ, as in
the first century, who is the center and heart of our
love for the Church.
Amazing Grace A
prayer
from Billie Bourgeois
When I think of grace, I think of rain. Sometimes here
in the south in the summer on very hot, sultry afternoons,
the dark thunder clouds gather and give us a break from
the unrelenting sun. They roll, clap and pour the forgiving
monsoon. Then the air becomes tolerable and the yards
remind me of a voluptuous woman just bathed and primped.
The gardens grow with such vigor and self righteousness!
The banana trees burst out of the ground faster than
the squirrels can nibble away at their sweet nectar.
The elephant ear leaves become the size of shopping
carts. It's like grace, the never ending gratuitous
showering of gifts and reminders from our ever-loving
Creator.
Our job is to be like children in the rain. We must
run out, barefooted in the mud, with our arms raised
and our heads up and our tongues out, ready to be showered
upon! We must be ready to run into life's mud, barefooted.
When do we get chances like this? When does grace happen?
All day, every day, grace happens. God's giving is even
more voluminous than the southern afternoon downpour.
The showering never stops! But we sometimes stop running
and dancing with our arms up and our tongues out. We
are reluctant to get soaked and muddy. We decide it's
easier to stay dry and neat. It's more comfortable to
not feel wet and sticky and have to change our clothes.
But once we run in the rain there is refreshment and
relaxation that cannot come any other way.
Then, of course, grace can come like those soft February
showers. In the quiet moments when we rake leaves, pull
weeds, watch fire, rock a sleeping baby, listen to water,
watch leaves fall, watch snow fall, sift sand, soak
in a bath, listen to birds. I think a Zen Buddhist would
call it "like raking sand."
"Our Father, Who art in Heaven …." Where is heaven?
Heaven is here inside us when we take time to do those
seemingly useless things, the things that make us stop
for a moment and touch Heaven. I think God created those
little automatic daydream mechanisms so that we, without
thinking, give God a chance to sit and hold us, the
way we like to do with a sleeping child.
These thoughts came to me during the past year when
I became a grandmother. Jacob was born on October 16,
2003. During his first two weeks of life I had many
chances to just sit and hold and watch his precious
little face. Time stopped. Eternity was right here.
In those not long enough moments, I didn't care about
anything else. It quickly dawned on me that this is
what God loves to do with us. The Divine Spirit tricks
us with such things as daydreaming so S/He can
hold us and look upon our faces, and into our souls.
God especially loves it when we allow ourselves some
space in our busy-ness to stop, be still and be graced.
While in my studio the other day, I found myself daydreaming
about grace. Rain was falling and I was doodling, playing
with my pencil. I noticed I was making falling marks,
little invented shapes and lines that fell from
the top edge of the composition down to the bottom edge.
What is this about, I wondered? Then it dawned on me....grace.
I was trying to draw grace. Amazing grace! I should
have run outside and danced with my arms up and my tongue
out!
Prayer for the Survivors and Those
Who Did Not Survive
Good and gentle Shepherd, Sweet Spirit
of God, Creator divine
In Your infinite tenderness comfort the survivors of
sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy.
Deliver them from sorrow, anoint them with hope, sustain
them with the Body of Christ.
Take to your sacred heart those who have committed suicide.
Make of us ambassadors of Your justice, Your lifting
of the oppressed and Your desire for all of us to live
and move and have our being in Your abundant grace.
Amen.
Written by Kristine Ward, National Vice President
and Dayton Affiliate Co-founder/Co-chair
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