Monthly Spiritual Message, November 2006
By Friar David M. Huebner OFM Conv,
As we try to follow the footsteps of Francis and Clare in the post modern world, we can at times be taken aback by our lack of progress living the Gospel. Often times I feel the struggle of time: not enough to go around. At other times I am all too aware of the disparity between what I would like to do (the spirit is willing), and what I actually do (the flesh is weak). At times do you feel the same? Very often we struggle in our relationships with others. Many times these relational flaws occur within our own fraternities. These can become ongoing wounds that sap us of energy and strength. What to do?
Often prayer does not seem to be enough and we grope for guidelines to imbue us with renewed sense of purpose. Some such guidelines occur in Pick More Daisies pp 15-16: “Franciscans have a lot of work to do.” If we are to relate to our brothers and sisters in our fraternities, and to others in the world, “we need a sense of courtesy, understanding, compassion (the ability to suffer with someone), listening and dialogue. … It is a daily challenge to maintain a life-giving union with them.”
Yes, it is a daily challenge to maintain life-giving relationships, because more often than not we allow negative opinions of others to flourish within ourselves. This makes it very hard to forgive, extremely difficult to love people who cause us problems, and nearly impossible to be life-giving to those we disagree with. Again I pose the question, what to do? It is precisely during such moments of insight that we realize our need for healing. We need to receive the healing touch of God deep within ourselves. We need a renewal of peace, joy, goodwill, and also a sense of well-being for ourselves coupled to renewed trust and acceptance of others.
So how does one open the door anew to Christ and receive God’s healing touch? Francis instinctively knew that he had to go before the Crucifix. For him and for us the Crucifix is focal point and source for healing. Why? Because its always tempting to try to avoid the death to self that is part of allowing God to prune us of the old attitudes, thought patterns, and routine behaviors that that keep us from being life giving, that keep us from receiving new gifts of life. By looking at Love hanging upon the Cross we see the way forward to everlasting life.
As a way of moving away from what saps our strength, what causes problems and perplexity for others, and as a way of moving towards a renewal of life I offer six insights, some of which may be helpful to you, while spending some quality time before a crucifix:
- Pray and ponder the scriptures every day, especially the gospel accounts of the passion of Christ.Ask Jesus for the grace, with absolute trust and confidence in the power of the Cross to forgive others and to give up any anger or desire for retaliation. Offer quality prayer for those you are having difficulties with.
- Be alert to the thoughts in your mind.This may sound silly but very many people are not in tune with the negative thoughts going round and round in their head.
- The true meaning of repentance –metanoia– involves a change in the way we think. One of the ways I re-programmed some of the negative tunes playing in my mind was that as I became aware of them I spoke out loud that I repented of them and rejected them. I then started to sing an appropriate Christian song or antiphon. Eventually all the negative thought processes I tackled in this way disappeared, replaced with Christian sentiments.
- Practice forgiveness through faith in Christ.At one time someone did me tremendous harm and willful damage. I knew that I had to forgive, but I just couldn’t do it. My spiritual director at the time told me to pray for the person three times a day: morning, noon and night. This I did. At first they were the most miserable and difficult prayers you would ever hear. I prayed for the grace to forgive that person from my heart. It took nine months of faithful perseverance to do it. It was worth it. I am extremely grateful to God that I was able to forgive, and the bounteous new life, joy and vitality that I received when I forgave.
- Pray for God to heal you of your negativity and wrong attitudes.Healing can be immediate or take some time. That is why it is important to make a daily habit of opening up your heart to God. What better place to do it than before the Crucifix? Satan loves confusion, isolation, and division. If you recognize these signs as being active in your life why not ask God to heal your memories and cleanse you of wrong attitudes. Why does the other person always have to be in the wrong or make the first move?
- Seek help.Go to confession. Seek a personal spiritual director. Perhaps the intervention of a health care professional is needed? Seek help, after all you only have negativity to loose and life to gain. Always remembering that when new life is gained it can be passed on.
Advent is around the corner and is a time of preparation for a renewed encounter with Emmanuel, God-with-us. Renewed encounter is not superficial, nor is it fleeting, nor is it able to be purchased with tokens. Renewed encounter, indeed ongoing encounter with God through Christ depends on how poor one is. After all, Francis teaches that Gospel poverty lives in the heart. It looks at life, and all that fills ours, from the perspective of Jesus. All created things are a gift from God to be used in a conscious and wise way. Relationships are to be fostered, or at very least not passive/aggressively or actively hindered.
Let us strive for renewal then, after all Franciscans have a lot of work to do. We need to give of what we have. This is what we need to have in order to give: a sense of courtesy to all, compassion, understanding, an active listening ability, genuine concern, and the ability to dialogue. Impossible for the worldly motivated. Absolutely possible for those who open their hearts to God, and who on a daily basis welcome the ongoing gift of renewal and wholeness available through God’s pruning, love, support and encouragement. After all this is what life-giving-union with God is all about, and in life-giving union with Him we then have the ability to enter into life giving union with others.
May the Lord give you Peace!
Friar David M. Huebner OFM Conv,
National Assistant SFO – Oceania.
