 God Wants Your Happiness...now!
An old Catholic prayer describes life this side of heaven as a "valley of tears." Much of Catholic piety has been focused on suffering with Jesus in this life and being happy with him in the next. But Jesus' birth in human history was not merely about getting us to heaven. Jesus proclaimed a kingdom of God's outrageous love, mercy, and justice that was breaking into this world of time and space. Jesus came to bring heaven to earth.
A measure of happiness, peace, and joy are possible now, in this life in spite of and even because of the pain, sorrow, and suffering that might come our way. Yet few of us, by the time we have settled into a life of responsibilities and commitments maintain the hope and enthusiasm of our youth. We slip into routines of quiet desperation and madness that keep us excessively busy, always tired, and spiritually empty. Often we medicate ourselves through TV, Internet activities, and alchohol to keep away the pain.
We need to learn to walk on water!
Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea.
 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. At once (Jesus) spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come."
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how (strong) the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Mt 14:22-31 NAB)
This is an amazing story that gives us a critical insight to the spiritual life. Following Jesus ought to give us a measure of freedom from the chaos and turmoil that threatens our inner peace. "Freedom from" doesn't mean we don't have chaos and turmoil, but that they do not dominate our existence and destroy our inner peace and well being.
Interestingly enough, Peter is the only one who had the courage to leave the boat. All the others were simply too afraid. The intensity of the storm and the very real possibility of being tossed into the tempest made them cower in fear.
Peter is invited out of the boat into the "tempest" and walks on water and through the chaos as long as he keeps his eyes fixed on Jesus.
Can this happen to us in through the storms of our lives? YES!
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Robert and Lori Fontana, the directors of Catholic Life Ministries Northwest, have been working in ministry since 1981. With the help of friends, they organized Catholic Life Ministries to address areas of ministry that were being inadequately served by Catholic parishes: evangelization of adults, family camps and retreats, intentional Christian community, and empowerment of the laity.
Through Catholic Life Ministries Northwest, the Fontanas, often with the help of their six children, offer the following:
Camp St. Francis - a weekend for families to serve the poor and elderly in the Yakima Valley (Memorial Day Weekend);
Catholic Family Camp - a weekend for families to celebrate and learn an aspect of Catholic life and doctrine (two camps offered during the summer).
Come Into the Heart of God - a weekend of prayer offered in the fall.
Spring Conference for Catholic Adults (these retreats are offered on a cycle for couples, men, and women).
Taize Youth Community - a weekly gathering of prayer, faithsharing, Catholic study, and fun for high school age youth
In addition, the Fontanas write a monthly newsletter and publish a bi-monthly reflection paper called The Troubadour (see link to monthly and Troubadour). They are available as workshop, conference, and retreat presenters on most any topic related to Catholic life and doctrine. For more information see "CLM for Hire" or "Curricula Vitae for the Fontanas." |
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