faith journey

Catholic Girl Journey

The power of a name

It’s just two words, but the mention of them can cause a variety of reactions: Jesus Christ. To some, it’s the name above all other names, holy and sacred. To others, it’s the name of a fairy tale. And for more than just a few, it’s profanity.

The name Jesus is from the Greek form of Emmanuel, the Hebrew for “God is with us.” To all Christians, it is the name of the second person of the Trinity. It is so powerful, that Peter uses it to cure a man (Acts 3:6). Christ is also from the Greek and means “the anointed.”  In ancient times, priests, prophets and kings were anointed as a symbol of their office. Jesus is the anointed since he is all three (priest/prophet/king) in one. Christ is not so much a last name as a title given to Him as His occupation being a priest, prophet and king. However, it is part of the name identity by which He is known.

Jesus is hard to ignore. Evidence of his life and teaching is everywhere.  For example, He is the basis for holidays like Christmas and Easter. Whenever you see a church, a priest or a cross, there is an understanding of a religious affiliation with Christianity.

For those who don’t believe, or who don’t know the details, Jesus is a story. Written down thousands of years ago just like Hercules or Odysseus, His name is no more than a myth or legend.

In today’s culture, the name of Jesus Christ  is  used all too often as profanity, particularly on TV where other words would get bleeped out. It has spilled from those boxes into our homes, our workplaces, our society and our culture. And no one seems to mind. No one except other faith-filled people like me.

For me, Jesus Christ is a name that is sacred not just because He is divine, but because He is my friend. I view faith as having a personal relationship with God; my religion — in this case Catholicism — is the practice of that relationship. I wouldn’t want the name of a person that I care about used profanely  and am horrified that so many Christians not only appear to find it acceptable, but are often the ones using it that way! I doubt than any Muslim would use Allah in that type of context.  Would you allow another to take either your name, your parent’s name, your spouse’s name or your child’s name and use it in that manner? Perhaps the next time you are about to use Jesus’ name as profanity, try substituting it for a name of someone you really love and care about. Even if you don’t believe, there are many out there that do believe Jesus Christ is more than just a name; He’s someone we love and care about.

Catholic Girl Journey

Excuse me, do you know the way to heaven?

They are our constant companions. They are our lifeline to the world. They are smartphones. Without them, we would be, well… LOST.

There was a time when I would search a map for the best route to get to my destination.and carefully write down the directions, turn by turn. Then I would notate the reverse, so that I could drive home without driving in endless circles. Now, I don’t have to prepare a thing. I just type in an address and the map in my phone will take me there. Don’t like the way it’s taking me? I can turn down a different road and it will re-route me. As long as I have my phone charged up, I can go anywhere.

We put faith in an electronic gadget that it will get us where we want to go. We might get frustrated with our phone for dropping a call or sounding a notification without cause, but we trust that whatever map app we have, we can make our journey. We may make fun of the way it takes us, sometimes the long way around, but never do we really question if we will make it.

How do we make the journey to heaven? Do we trust God enough to lead us there? Or would we rather put the address into our smartphone and drive there? I don’t think of myself as a person who has to be in control all the time. However, since I drive on a daily basis, I think some of that need for control creeps into other areas of my life, like my faith journey. Can I let God take the wheel and lead me to heaven? Do I think I’ll get lost on the way? Well, if I insist on driving, I very well may get lost! But if I let God drive me, how can I ever think I won’t make it? It sounds so easy, but it does require trust on my part.

I have to trust in God’s Word. I may not be able to enter an address for heaven, but I know the way because it has been mapped out by Jesus.  “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6). I need to be open to way that Jesus is directing me. I open up myself to a relationship with God through Jesus in the Mass, in prayer and in trying to follow Jesus’ life example.

It’s not about what I want, it’s about what He wants for me. I need to stop being a backseat driver, telling God where I want to go and how I want to get there. I need to trust that He will take me where He wants me to go. Sometimes it may be a direct route and sometimes it may be the scenic way. What I need to remember, is to just sit back, relax and enjoy the view and the journey.

Catholic Girl Journey

Practice Makes a Saint

We’ve all heard the saying, “Practice make perfect.” So what does that mean in the life of faith?

When you think of practice, what comes to mind? Is it sitting at the piano, playing the various scales to the beat of a metronome? Or is it throwing a ball through a hoop again and again, making small changes to hand placement, balance, and body movement? Maybe it’s drawing a circle over, and over, and over again until it is perfect.

Just like any activity at which you want to become better, faith is all about practice. It’s not about doing things correctly all the time, it’s about practicing so as to continuously improve, coming closer to perfection. And just like with any other activity, you don’t tackle all the skills needed at once, but rather concentrate on perfecting one and slowly applying what has been learned to more advanced skills.

Since faith is a relationship with God, how can one “practice” a relationship? By getting to know him, by seeing God in every person, by recognizing his handiwork in all of creation. That’s why a life of faith is more than just following rules, treating people nicely or going to Church on Sundays.  It’s important to be at Mass on Sunday, not just to cross it off the list, but to be filled with God’s message, to help you hone the skill you are perfecting and to encourage you as you practice throughout the week.

Often in our culture, people who claim to be of a particular religious affiliation are held to a different standard. Part of that is understandable; it is good that a person can be known by their faith. Other times, it’s an expectation of perfection, forgetting that faith is  a journey and people can have good days and less than ideal days as they practice. It’s not an excuse to do whatever, but a call for mercy towards those that do not meet to the standards yet.

We are all on this faith journey, so it’s okay if you’re not perfect. It will take a lifetime to get to your goal. Practicing faith is continuing to deepen that relationship with God.  One day you may join Him in heaven. Since all who reach heaven are saints, then practice helps make a saint!

Catholic Girl Journey

Catholic Girl Journey

I have been inspired by the adult education at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Girl Journeyto learn more about my faith and to share it with others. My faith has always been something personal and I see it as a one-to-one relationship with my Creator. However, in this time and place, there are many who do not know God or realize the personal relationship that He has with them. I want to share my perspective via a blog, not just to add to the noise and opinions, but to let Him speak through me to touch those that may not have experienced Him otherwise.

I’ve been a regular Sunday church-goer and do my best to go to at least one Mass during the week. I also spend an hour each week in our adoration chapel. But God has so many more dimensions than just those outlets. To know Him better is to seek Him out in many different ways. Sometimes it’s in the day-to-day activities, or through spiritual reading,sometimes it’s through a retreat or an educational setting. The Catholicism series from Fr. Robert Barron  offered in our parish was one such opportunity to be inspired, to talk about the points he made and reflect upon the perspective that he gives. Fr. Barron  has a way of taking very intellectual information and bringing to a level  I can understand. I was eager to  follow up with his New Evangelization series, which ended with a challenge to become disciples and spread the Word of God.

I consider myself a shy person; I’m not the one that initiates a hello. Sharing something so personal as my faith with others is rather intimidating to me. The adult education series has allowed me to “dip my toe” into sharing within a safe environment of my parish community. I  find it fascinating to hear others’ experiences with God (whether they believe or just call it coincidence) and I marvel about all the ways He touches people.

So how can a shy girl participate in the new evangelization of the Catholic Church? With a background in websites, it only makes sense that I try blogging for God. In the blog I will share my perspective and thoughts about the amazing faith that I try to practice everyday. Practice may make perfect, but it does not imply that my practice is perfect. It’s one step at a time, one day at a time that makes up life’s journey. Everyone’s life journey is also a journey of faith, and I’d like to invite everyone to walk with me.