euphemos

This is part five of a short series on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary as a guide for discernment. The introduction and “index” are here. The previous mystery, The Presentation in the Temple, is here. The conclusion is here.

The Finding in the Temple

William Holman Hunt – The Finding of the Saviour in the Temple

Joseph and Mary lose track of Jesus on the way home from Jerusalem after the feast of Passover. They look everywhere for three days, then find him in the temple, in “my Father’s house,” and “about my Father’s business.” Also, you might find interesting my previous thoughts on why this is a joyful mystery.

• The revelation, call, or idea takes on a life of its own.
• It surprises us.
• It’s “ours” no longer.

With most things we might discern, there’s a long phase of participating in the daily work following the pondering, preparing, perceiving, and presenting. This hidden time, like the childhood of Jesus, is precious. It’s a time of both difficulty, and of joy, as we participate in the growth of our idea, vocation, or call. It’s real, now, we’re just nurturing its growth.

The day should come, however, when we are surprised that this thing we pondered, prepared, perceived, presented, and participated in, takes on a life of its own. If it is a theological insight, another may revise, improve, or clarify. Perhaps they even refute the insight. That doesn’t mean the insight was bad, nor that we discerned incorrectly whether we should share it. It may only mean that it was incomplete. Perhaps it was a stepping stone God chose to use. If it is a call to vocation, we will likely discover there is yet another call within the call. If it is a call to establish a ministry, others will likely take on the mantle of leadership, perhaps even leading it, like St Peter, in ways we wouldn’t have envisioned or preferred.

Anxiety is a reasonable response to this turn of events. Yes, I know, we are instructed to be anxious for nothing, but… Joseph and Mary were anxious… so.. yeah.

Ultimately, this should be our greatest joy, and the most certain consolation affirming that we’ve correctly discerned God’s will.

An excessive sense of ownership is perhaps the greatest obstacle to that joy.

This theological insight, vocation, call, or whatever it is we’ve discerned, is a gift.

A gift.

Do not cling to it too tightly. Cling to the giver.

Do not stifle its growth with a hovering sense of self-importance. This is God’s thing. We were just the conduit through whom God chose to poor out some blessing.

For that, give thanks!

This is part four of a short series on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary as a guide for discernment. The introduction and “index” are here. The previous mystery, The Nativity of Jesus, is here. The next mystery, The Finding in the Temple, is here.

The Presentation in the Temple

Ambrogio_Lorenzetti_ Presentazione di Gesù al tempio

Joseph and Mary bring Jesus to the temple. Simeon identifies him as the messiah. Anna evangelizes.

• Present your revelation, call, or idea to the church. No, not just your tio Juan.
• Do they receive it joyfully, but realistically?
• Does it call them to action?

The time has come. Jesus needs to be presented at the temple (more on that in my earlier post, here). Whatever we’re discerning, the time comes that we have to take concrete next steps, or discern that we should not. It’s time to commit, one way or the other.

For many things we might need to discern, there’s “a way” to do that. For a vocation, there’s ecclesiastical or religious authority. For a new ministry, there’s the pastor and community. For a theological insight, there are experts we should consult. With very rare exception, discernment does not lead to disobedience. With very rare exception, we are not called to cry “torpedo’s be da*ned, full speed ahead!” Most of the time, we should present our discernment to the appropriate ecclesial institution or authority, and trust the Holy Spirit to work. That said, sometimes we must be like Mel Gibson’s William Wallace in Braveheart, and recognize the difference between “No!” and “No the now, anyway…”

Simeon is a righteous and devout man. The Holy Spirit brings him to the temple that day, where he praises God, affirms this child as the salvation of the world, and gives a dire warning that the road ahead will be marked with suffering. His response is not an empty “you go, girl!” – but is both joyful and realistic.

Anna is a prophetess, continually living in the temple. Her response is first to give thanks to God, then go share the good news.

How is our call, idea, or vocation received by ecclesial authorities? How is it received by righteous and devout people? Do they praise God in response? Are their affirmations substantive, and meaningful? Are a few inspired to pick up the banner, and march with us? I may be a misunderstood holy genius, but if nobody accepts my theological insight, call, or vocation, I’m probably just misunderstanding… Jewish law required a pair of witnesses to establish the truth of a claim. That’s a good minimum standard for us, too.

This is part two of a short series on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary as a guide for discernment. The introduction and “index” are here. The previous mystery, The Visitation, is here. The next mystery, The Presentation in the Temple, is here.

The Nativity of Jesus: Nobody wants to be helpful, the timing is awful, but… the baby is here.

Matthias Stomer’s Adoration of the Shepherds

• The revelation, call, or idea is clearly perceived.
• There’s no way to delay bringing it to light
• As the internet lady says – does it spark joy?

As we ponder an insight, call, or vocation, it either becomes obvious this is a dead end, or matures sufficiently that it demands to be shared with others. If we do not, it will die. What is this idea doing to us? Does it cause us to grow in faith, hope, and love? Do we find ourselves joyful? These are good signs we’re on the right track. Are we anxious, stressed, or obsessed? Perhaps we need to seek spiritual direction. Actually, yes, we should seek spiritual direction in either case.

This doesn’t mean there are no difficulties, nor that obstacles should be assumed to suggest we’re off track. What are the nature of the obstacles we encounter? Do they seem like the kind of obstacles the Holy Spirit would place in an effort to gently redirect us, or the kind of obstacles our enemy would introduce, in order to steer us off course? Joseph faces the obstacle of an apparent conflict between his understanding of what it means to be righteous, and his desire not to shame or distress Mary. God has to resolve that obstacle. Joseph and a very pregnant Mary have a significant (at least 70 miles, if they go through Samaria, otherwise closer to 90 miles) journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. This is an obstacle they simply have to tackle head-on. Mary and Joseph arrive in Bethlehem, where there’s no room for them. No room with any of their cousins and kinfolk, and no room in the inn. That’s a pretty serious obstacle, and one they had to urgently and persistently face, until the God’s provision became clear.

While Marie Kondo has it wrong, in that she thanks the object, and not the giver, and encourages us to look to things as our source of joy, she’s asking a great question: does it spark joy? As Jesus arrives, Joseph and Mary welcome him joyfully, but so do the shepherds to whom the angel announces his arrival. How does our heart respond as we begin to describe this thing we’re discerning to those closest to us? A blend of joy and trepidation is entirely appropriate, but does joy dominate? Are we and others inspired to praise God? Perhaps we are not yet ready to discuss the insight, call, or vocation broadly or formally, but whom does God send to affirm and confirm us in our discernment process?

This is part two of a short series on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary as a guide for discernment. The introduction and “index” are here. The previous mystery, The Annunciation, is here. The next mystery, the Nativity of Jesus, is here.

The Visitation

Cory Eisbacher’s Jump for Joy

Mary (now pregnant) heads up to the hill country to see her kinswoman, Elizabeth, who is both old and pregnant. Elizabeth recognizes there is something special about Mary and the child she’s carrying. Elizabeth calls her “blessed” for believing what the Lord told her.

This second stage, is perhaps summarized as – go about your business, and prepare yourself, but don’t focus on yourself.

Sometimes, the call of God is an immediate call to action. Many times, however, we receive some insight or calling, then need to ponder it while we prepare ourselves, or while we await God’s timing. In the case of Mary’s visit to her kinswoman Elizabeth, it says Mary got up in haste, and went to visit her in the hill country. She didn’t loiter about, go tell everyone about her amazing experience, or otherwise delay. Instead, she did the same thing she always does when a need is brought to her attention – she went to help.

There can be a temptation, I think, when we are in the process of discernment, to obsess a bit. “Did that really happen?” “What exactly did God mean?” “When, exactly, will I conceive?” “How will I know it happened?” “Did it already happen?” “Am I crazy?” “What about X, Y, and Z?” “How will I… ” While we certainly want to ponder those things that need pondering, we don’t want to make an idol of the message or the experience of receiving the message. Mary offers an excellent example – she hid these things in her heart, pondered them, and went about serving others.

Mary also received the gift of a consolation from St John, 6 months in utero, via St Elizabeth. Mary arrives, and greets Elizabeth, and barely begins her greeting before St John leaps within Elizabeth’s womb. Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and inspired to bless God, and proclaim Mary most blessed among women. The language suggests that “as soon as” Mary’s voice sounded in Elizabeth’s ears, her son leapt, and she knew why. It doesn’t suggest this understanding came as a result of a protracted middle eastern greeting ritual, but rather by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

A note on Saint Elizabeth. I really admire Saint Elizabeth in this situation. Here she is, living through a miracle, 2/3 of the way through carrying a son promised to be “great,” and the beneficiary of a notable (and perhaps unique in its time?) miracle. She is not jealous that a greater miracle has occurred. She is not ready to tell Mary all about it, since she’s older, and 6 months pregnant, and all, or to compare stories. She humbly celebrates the arrival of the mother of her Lord, and celebrates Mary’s faith.

Often, I think, the best response to a possible call is to go about our business, making an extra effort to focus on others, and not on ourselves, but daring to hope God will give some consolation to affirm our discernment. God is often kind to provide consolations to strengthen our faith while we seek understanding. Perhaps there are things we can do to become better prepared for this calling – do them!

This is part one of a short series on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary as a guide for discernment. The introduction and “index” are here. The next mystery, The Visitation, is here.

The Annunciation of Our Lord

This first stage of discernment, corresponding to The Annunciation, we might refer to as reception and pondering. We receive a message that we’re “pretty sure” is from the Lord, give our assent to God’s intervention, then are left to ponder what just happened.

• Gabriel appears to Mary at an unexpected time and place. This is Nazareth, after all, in Galilee. A place of which Nathaniel asks “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” As far as we know, Mary wasn’t banging on God’s door looking for answers. There’s ancient tradition that hold Mary was devoted to service in the Temple, but for now, at least, the angel Gabriel “was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth.”
• When the Angel arrives, he finds Mary’s heart well prepared to receive the message he bears. He is able to greet her as “favored one,” and to repeat, in case she wasn’t sure, or was afraid, “you have found favor with God.”
• The message of the Lord is specific, but it is not exactly laid out step by step. It is a bit unsettling. It requires faith to receive. Parts of it need to be pondered.

The messenger (that’s what angel means) of the Lord appears to us, wherever we are. Occasionally, the messenger is obviously miraculous or supernatural, perhaps an angel visibly present, or a locution. Many times the message comes to us through a “regular ‘ole person,” but there’s something within our spirit that recognizes “this is a message from the Lord.”

There’s something about Gabriel, too. He doesn’t explain himself at all. There’s no “hey Mary, don’t worry, I’m one of the good Angels, you can trust me. See, look, I have a halo, not horns.” It’s simply “Hail, favored one, the Lord is with you.”

Sometimes, we are called to be a messenger, an angel of the lord (but not “The Angel Clarine”, just “a messenger”). When we’re so called, our response should be the same as Gabriel. Go to the person where they are (don’t wait for a convenient time or place), greet them in the name of the Lord, deliver the message, and skedaddle. Don’t stick around to see what they do next, don’t try to explain what you think is going on, and don’t try to add anything to what you’ve received to pass on.

Usually, this message of the Lord, unless it is a call to repentance, comes to a heart that is prepared. Did this great idea come at 2AM after killing off three 30-packs and a bottle of fireball? Good chance it’s my great idea. Am I in a state of grace? Have I been to confession recently? Did it come during adoration? Odds are higher it might be God’s great idea. On the other hand, God speaks of God’s own free will, and comes to us where we are, so hold this idea gently.

What about the message itself? Is the message one of joy and hope, or one of fear? Consistently, even when the message is dire, the first words out of an Angel’s mouth are “fear not.” Our enemy condescends to whisper sour nothings of fear and doubt in our ears, but our God consistently speaks of faith, hope, and charity. Gabriel’s message was super clear; “you will conceive… bear a son.. name him Jesus… he will be Son of the Most High… called holy – the Son of God” Where Mary had innocent questions “um… but I’m a virgin…” the angel pointed to the power of God, and offered the example of God’s faithfulness and power (Elizabeth’s conception at an advanced age).

There’s plenty left unsaid, lots of unanswered questions we might wonder why she didn’t ask (e.g. what should I tell Joseph?). Ultimately, however, the first stage, this stage of reception and pondering, is about trust. The word of the Lord comes to us. We believe it’s the word of the Lord. Are we willing to submit our will? Will we trust God, knowing that we don’t understand everything, and we have plenty to ponder, but without using that pondering as an excuse to delay giving our trust and assent?