I didn't sleep well last night. My first church meeting was at 7am this morning and it was another busy day. I also had to take allergy medicine, which always makes me feel tired. Needless to say, I'm running on fumes a couple hours before my normal bedtime.

I have good moments on these busy Sundays, but I spend much of the day feeling overwhelmed and inadequate. I also feel hypocritical. Like I'm putting on a show when a battle is raging inside me. I'm as conflicted as ever.

I'm not sure how much longer I can keep up appearances. Should I ask to be released from my calling while I focus on figuring things out? Or should I hang on and trust that things will get better?

I'm just tired. Physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.

But I know I'm not the first to feel this way. I also know that there is One who knows exactly what I'm experiencing because He also experienced it on my behalf. Jesus Christ has been the one unfailing constant through all of this turmoil. I may feel like I'm going to sink beneath the waves any moment, but I know that as long as I do my best to keep my gaze focused on Him and follow Him, He won't let me drown.

#100DaysToOffload (No. 142) #faith #Lent #Christianity

I woke up to the news that the USA and Israel launched a major military strike against Iran. It is natural to feel worry and fear over what this might mean not only for innocent people in Iran, but of the surrounding region and even the world. And then I read the Daily Readings from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Today's Gospel reading is from Matthew 5:43-48.

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers and sisters only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

It is heartbreaking that this is still a radical idea almost two thousand years after it was taught by Our Lord.

War is incompatible with the teachings and example of Jesus Christ.

I am a proponent of nonviolence and have been following several organizations dedicated to activism, teaching, and promotion of peace and nonviolence.

One of the organizations I have learned about is a Catholic organization called Pax Christi International. From their website:

Pax Christi International is the global Catholic peace movement dedicated to promoting Gospel nonviolence, justice, and reconciliation rooted in Catholic social teaching.   For decades, Pax Christi International has been calling for a deep reflection on the failure of war and violence and for investment in effective nonviolent tools for reconciliation to nurture the just peace essential to alleviating intense human suffering.

Today, Pax Christi issued a statement condemning military strikes against Iran and calling for deescalation, dialogue, and respect for human dignity.

Pax Christi also referred to their Pax Christi International Declaration on Iran, published on February 11th. I encourage you to read it.

I am grateful that there are Christians of good conscience everywhere who are willing to stand up and state clearly the doctrine of Christ, calling for love, understanding, and peace in the face of war.

#100DaysToOffload (No. 141) #faith #Lent #Christianity #politics

I have started to watch the television series “The Chosen” again during this Lenten season. I think this will be my fourth time watching these earlier seasons. It's easily one of my favorite TV shows of all time.

I do enjoy TV and movies. I subscribe to a couple video streaming services. I still collect DVDs and Blu-rays. I even still have a VCR. But, few shows have inspired and me as much as “The Chosen”, which is a depiction of the people invited by Jesus Christ to follow him during his mortal ministry.

I know artistic liberties have been taken and talented, imaginative writers have filled in gaps. But I love it because it has made the names and people and culture so much more real to me. Reading the Bible is good and important – I believe we should be reading the scriptures daily. And it is good to use your own imagination to try to visualize what you are reading. But we are so far removed from that place and time. We lack experience, context, and knowledge.

Seeing depictions of how people lived during the time of Christ, the dynamic between the Jews and the Romans, the dynamic of the different groups within the Jewish community, the political and religious and cultural tensions and drama – this has provided some very illuminating context to sacred scripture and made it that much more meaningful to me.

I highly recommend “The Chosen” to anyone. Whether you are Christian or not, it's extremely well-written and produced. A compelling story with endearing characters. It's good TV.

#100DaysToOffload (No. 140) #faith #Lent #Christianity #media #TV