Walking on Water

J.M.J.A.T.K.G

I'm going to safely assume that it's hot where ever you are. So to help cool things down I though I would post a Gospel mediation that I wrote when I was a sophomore in College. For your listening pleasure I provided a video of ocean sounds to make it more realistic. (just a little warning, it may play a commerical in the beginning) So turn up the volume and take some time out to chill with Jesus.

Image you are Peter the apostle, you have been fishing all day. You are tired. So you take a break and enjoy the scene around you. It’s a beautiful day.  The water is a prefect blue. So calm. You look around at this magnificent scene.

Then your eyes rest upon Jesus. He is out in the middle of the sea. Just standing there. He tells you to come to Him. You step out of the boat and began to walk on water.

But this time you do not lose faith.

The water feels so cool against your tired feet. It soothes all the soars which have accumulated that day. Your eyes are totally on Jesus And for the first time in your life you know exactly what Jesus wants from you; He wants you to walk on water to Him. To be with Him. To do something miraculous yet so simple. Just walk to him on water.

You are at peace, the breeze cools you down. The water so soothing. Yes you change this story, you don’t lose faith instead you walk to Jesus. He greets you with a hug. And says “look my child look around you.” You began to notice all the birds in the air and fish in the sea. Everything becomes so clear. You are not confused anymore. You have found your place. Right by Jesus Christ, your savior. Now take a moment of silence to image this very scene describe to you. Image what you would do, or say.   After taking this all in, Jesus leads you back to the boat. Then back to shore.

So if you feel like you're drowning, losing faith just remember to W .O. W. Walk On Water. Like that little three letter. It maybe simple but it says A LOT. Just like following Jesus can be. He makes the most miraculous yet difficult task seem so simple.  So I’ll leave you with this quote by St. Katharine Drexel. “God wants saints. That is why we are here. It is great thing to realize that in order to be saints we have only to be what God made us to be."

Catholic Life and Thought: Dancing

J.M.J.A.T.K.G

Last weekend a friend invited me to an event he helped organize called "Praise Jam". It's where local Christian artists sang and danced to Christian music. I was asked to sit at a booth and give out information for a high school retreat I used to be involved in.
When I arrived about half way through, the "praising" was going strong.
The other churches had a huge turn out- the Catholics...not so much.

(Though in their defense there was a huge benefit auction at the Knights of Columbus Hall at the same time- with alcohol and air conditioning.)
Many people were standing in the hot sun raising their hands, eyes closed...in praise. I was truly amazed.
I was so amazed I just sat there feeling bad that I didn't have the nerve to get out there and do the same thing. It was like something glued me to my chair. It reminded me of what a very wise priest once told us about Catholics...

We are the frozen chosen.

As I sat there I reflected on why this was. I mean, I have been to many praise and worship services and have danced right along. Every time "Waves of Mercy" or "Days of Elijah" or "Trading my Sorrows" started to play I was the first one doing the dance moves...

Then it hit me...

Those dances were choreographed.

Of course I wasn't out there dancing with everyone at the "Praise Jam". Their songs didn't have dance moves! They free styled.

...Something this Catholic doesn't do unless she has alcohol in her. (And even with alcohol all I can do is clap and move my hips slightly...sometimes even to the beat!)

We Catholics need choreography! We need our dance movements to mean something. Just look at the Mass...there are concrete reasons why we sit, stand, make the sign of the cross, shake hands and kneel.

Of course, some of our "moves" are being changed this Advent. And you better believe this Awkward Catholic is geeked about the almost certain awkwardness.

Awkward Catholic Moment #5: Losing Jesus

J.M.J.A.T.K.G

I lost Jesus once. Literally I lost Jesus, not in some spiritual sense, like physically lost Jesus.

I was the sacristan for a college retreat so I was in charge of arranging the Adoration Chapel- the place where Jesus was supposed to hang out during the retreat.
On the morning of the retreat I had successfully decorated the chapel. It was beautiful. But something was missing. I couldn't figure it out.
Fortunately the retreat leader's husband (and former seminarian) asked where the Blessed Sacrament was.

My heart sank.

The one thing I was in charge of...the most important part of the retreat...I didn't have a clue where the Blessed Sacrament was.
You see we had a Mass the night before the retreat so that we could pray together and for the priest to consecrate the Host for Adoration.

But where in the world did he put the Blessed Sacrament? I saw him consecrate the bread, I knew what it looked like but where was Jesus? I completely spaced out after Mass. Didn't even get a chance to talk with the priest.
The retreat couldn't start. Not without Jesus.

So I got into my car and went directly to the priest's office. And there he was, sitting in a chair without a care in the world joking with the secretary.
When I ran into the room he just looked up and calmly asked "what's wrong?"
"I lost Jesus!" I exclaimed.
"Umm what?" He asked.
"I can't find the Blessed Sacrament that we use for Adoration!" I said.
"Oh. I'm sorry. I put it in the retreat center's sacristy. Here's the key. I'll be there in a few." He said.
I left and sped back to the retreat center, unlocked the sacristy and finally was able to put the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance.

The retreat started and was the best retreat I had ever been on.
I guess the moral of the story is: don't freak out when you lose Jesus. He's a lot closer than you think. You just have to ask where He is sometimes.

The End.

Awkward Catholic Moment #4: Forgetting the Mass parts when you have help out with Mass.

J.M.J.A.T.K.G

A couple of months ago while I was walking into church someone asked me collect money and to bring up the gifts during Mass. Simple enough so I said yes.
As I was walking away I realized I hadn't done this in a long time. I then started wrecking my brain trying to remember when I was suppose to do all of this.
I've been Catholic all of my life yet I couldn't remember when when to do my job.
This happens everytime I have to do something for Mass.

Good thing I'm not a priest.

Of course, when the time came I just knew the right time to go and help collect the money. It was all instinct. This is what I like about the Catholic Mass. It's always, basically, the same.
Another thing I like about the Mass is that even if I did mess up...no one would care if I would have forgotten to take their money. ;) (Though they probably would have been alittle upset if I forgot to take up the gifts...those are kinda important...)
 Mistakes happen. It wouldn't have been the end of the world.

Now if the priest messed up...