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CIS
NEWSLETTER
No.
55 - June 2008
Christian Sport
Once every four years, I allow myself to spend more time watching
television. This is because I like watching the Olympic Games. And
the time for these games is approaching again. I’m sure I’m not
alone in this. There’s a certain fascination about all those groups
taking part from all over the world. The part I find most moving is
the moment when the winners receive their medals. They stand on
their little podium and then the national anthem of that particular
country is played. We can see how some of the athletes at that
moment live through very intense emotions. They had been training
for years and years. They had been carrying the burden of publicity
and responsibility in representing their country. And then, all that
energy is concentrated into that one, single moment. Some of them
break down in tears: sometimes tears of joy, sometimes tears of
sorrow because they hadn’t managed to get a better medal. The
national anthem represents something very important for such
moments.
Is there anything that can be considered a kind of national anthem
for followers of Jesus, a kind of theme that encapsulates all that
Christians live for? What comes to mind is that passage in the
Gospel we call the beatitudes. In these short verses coming from our
Lord, we have in a nutshell all that Christianity has represented
through the centuries. It reads like a national anthem: ‘Blessed are
the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are
those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and
thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the
merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in
heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they
will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted
because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely
say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be
glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way
they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’
Scripture scholars tell us that Jesus in this part of the Gospel is
being presented as the new Moses. Just as Moses had handed down the
Law for the people of Israel, so also Jesus is presenting his new
Law. The text of the beatitudes is often considered a rather gentle
discourse of Jesus. But in fact is a very powerful statement, which
is appreciated only if seen in contrast with what people often
think.
The world often tells us, ‘You’re better off when you’re rich and
you show it, and when you centre all your life on getting richer and
richer; this way you’ll feel superior to others and make your
superiority felt by those around you.’ Jesus in contrast is telling
us, ‘God prefers the poor and the gentle, the humble, those whose
heart is centred on what lies beyond material riches.’ The world
often tells us, ‘You’re better off when you’re not involved in the
failures of this world, when you give up looking for justice, when
you engage in injustice if you can get away with it; this way you’ll
be respected by the leaders of this world who will bestow upon you
more and more prestige and power.’ Jesus in contrast tells us, ‘God
prefers those who hunger for justice, those who search for a better
world, those who feel the loss of life and the loss of peace.’ The
world often tells us, ‘You’re better off when you are aware of your
enemies in life, when you keep track of those who hurt you in some
way, when you are able to protect yourself and hurt them in return,
to teach them a lesson. This way you’ll be recognised as a
potential, powerful leader, and you’ll have honours heaped upon
you.’ Jesus in contrast tells us, ‘Happy are the merciful, the pure
in heart and the peacemakers.’ The world often tells us, ‘You’re
better off when everybody talks well of you, when everybody applauds
you, when you organise your life so that everybody is satisfied,
even if you lose your integrity; this way you will become famous,
satisfied and proud of yourself.’ Jesus in contrast tells us, ‘God
is with those who are persecuted and abused because of their stand
for justice and for truth; God prefers those who, because of their
integrity, are placed by society on the margins of history, and are
even cast out.’ Jesus continues, ‘When that happens, rejoice and be
glad because the world’s way of thinking is not God’s way of
thinking.’
The stark contrast makes the message of Jesus seem idealistic. Is it
possible for us to live according to this teaching in today’s world?
I think it is, but we must also admit that it’s not always easy. In
most situations, our society supports personal honesty and
integrity; and this is a great blessing. We need to thank God for
this. There may be situations in our lives, however, where we need
to stick our neck out on some point or other, where we need to
denounce injustice or defend the dignity of human beings, or to
indicate that money is not everything. When we find ourselves in
such situations, we may experience fear: fear of being inadequate,
fear of being taken for fools.
Just like the athletes taking part in the Olympic Games, we take on
this challenge by planning ahead. If we want to adopt the Beatitudes
as our identity, we need to engage in training, self-discipline and
sometimes personal struggle. This may need years of training. There
may be successes and failures. But it is not unreachable. St. Paul
reminds us: ‘Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but
only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They
do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown
that will last forever’ (1Cor. 9: 24-25).
Reflection and Prayer
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Do the Beatitudes
encapsulate everything that being a Christian means for you, or are
there other aspects they do not include?
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Sometimes athletes break
down in tears because they hadn’t managed to get a better medal. Do
you ever feel this way in your relation to God?
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Does it help you when a
sharp contrast is drawn between what the world wants and what God
wants?
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If you’re popular with many
people, you’ll have great influence to do good. If you become
unpopular, you’ll lose your influence. So, one should always seek,
first and foremost, to be popular. Do you agree?
Fr. Louis Caruana
SJ
Book Review
Centering Prayer
Renewing an Ancient Christian Prayer Form.
M. Basil Pennington OCSO
Doubleday 1980. ISBN 0385-14562-4
I have known about this
book for a number of years, but only lately have I felt the impulse
to take it up and read it. “Centering Prayer”, is based on and has
its roots in that other book, “The Cloud of Unknowing”. It is about
contemplation i.e. going beyond words, images, reasonings,
fantasies, and resolutions; in prayer, and insisting on just being
with the Lord, in union with him. Memory, reasoning and will, are
used just enough to remain in God’s presence. A word, sacred to the
user, would be enough to keep the person centred on God. “Centering
Prayer” can be summerised in St. Catherine of Siena’s: “He is the
one who is, I am the one who am not.”
“Centering Prayer” is like a handbook to be used by the one who
would like to go deeper into prayer, into contemplative prayer: what
is meant by this prayer, difficulties and joys of this way of
praying. The author’s contention is that today more and more people
are seeking a deeper spiritual life. Modern life has tended to
trivialize or marginalise the spiritual in man, rendering him more
like a machine than a person. So people are increasingly seeking the
deeper part of self. A number go to the East for this. There is no
need to do so because we have it right within Christianity. Books
like “The Cloud of Unknowing and The Book of Privy Counselling”,
Walter Hilton’s “The Ladder of Perfection”, Julian of Norwich,
Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, and Ignatius Loyola – all are
evidence that Christians are called to live their faith at a deep
level, with God. “Centering Prayer” is an answer to this need.
It is best to read this book together with the “Cloud of Unknowing”
and Thomas Keating’s, “Open Mind, Open Heart” (ISBN 0-8264-0696-3)
subtitled: “The Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel”. (Continuum
Publishing Group, 2006)
Fr. Victor Degabriele SJ
Prayer
Lord, our God, help us to walk with you on the pathway of the
beatitudes and to live your mission in today's world. Bind us to all
men and women of our time so that together we may bring the Good
News to the ends of the earth. Open our hearts and our Christian
communities to the needy, the afflicted, the oppressed. May we
radiate the Living Christ and transform our lives in the hope of the
Resurrection. This prayer we make to you who are living. God now and
forever. Amen.
From the CIS Programme
ĠUNJU
Personalità, Spiritwalità u Talb
Kull wieħed minna mhux bħall-ieħor. Il-Psikoloġija tagħtina
strumenti biex
insiru nafu lilna nfusna aħjar. Fost dawn hemm l-indikatur Myers
Briggs (MBT).
F’dan is-seminar nużaw dan l-instrument biex insiru nafu aħjar lilna
nfusna u wkoll nifhmu liema modi ta’ talb l-aktar li jaqblu mal-personalità
tagħna.
Data: Mill-Ġimgħa 13 ta’ Ġunju filgħaxija sal-Ħadd 15 ta’ Ġunju,
wara nofs in-nhar.
Imexxi: Fr Alfred Micallef S.J.
Post: Mount St Joseph Retreat House, Mosta
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