Defensiveness, denial, rationalization, avoidance. What do these things have in common? It’s what we do when we avoid shame. None of us like to experience shame. None of us like to experience suffering. And we love to avoid. We love to deny. We love to distract ourselves because shame does not feel good. Here is the gospel, though, where Saint Peter does the same thing. He tells Jesus, “No, you cannot die. You cannot suffer. You cannot experience shame. I will protect you. I will defend you. We will avoid this.” But the reality is that Jesus Christ embraces all of these things. He embraces shame. He embraces suffering for us. This is what makes Christianity so radical that our God is not afraid to embrace shame and suffering for us. So the next time that you experience some shame or suffering, you know that your God has gone before you experience this with you.
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Spiritual Coziness
Okay, what are the top five things Americans attribute to the word cozy? Number one, soft sofas. Number two, hot beverages. Number three, books. Number four, blankets. Number five, fireplaces. For us as Catholics, what is the thing that brings us coziness? It’s not a fireplace; it’s the sanctuary lamp because whenever we walk into a church and see it lit, we know that our friend Jesus is present. And there is…
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Ascension Day
Have you ever been away from home for a long time? And then you finally get back home, and suddenly, you walk into your house, and all of the fears, anxieties, and worries dissolve, and you feel safe. It’s amazing. And this Sunday, we celebrate the ascension, which is Jesus Christ going back home. The crazy thing is that this is not just for Jesus. This is for us. We one day will be…
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Face to Face with Jesus
What happens when you come face to face with the God of the universe? You don’t want to leave.
At a recent retreat, students encountered Jesus in a powerful way and many of them said the same thing: “I don’t want to go. I just want to stay.” In His presence, everything else fades.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Peter, James, and John experience that same reality at the Transfiguration. Overwhelmed by glory, they want to pitch tents and remain there with Him.
This Lent, keep it simple: make space to sit in the presence of Jesus. Stay. Listen. Let Him meet you there.
