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Stretching our Comfort Zones

Written by Abby Braun on the Second Sunday of Lent

Growing up, my family spent most of our vacations camping.  Staying overnight at a hotel was a rare treat, even when we were traveling for more than a week or two.  This was, in part, a financial decision because camping is cheaper and allowed us to travel further and longer than if we had stayed in hotels.  Mostly, though, we camped because my dad loved the outdoors and pitching a tent provided us an avenue for experiencing the natural world in the most basic and lovely ways.  Of course my sisters and I were thrilled anytime we were able to enjoy the luxuries of a hotel stay: hot showers, swimming pools, comfortable beds.  But my dad always reminded us that camping was good for the soul, not only because it allowed us to experience God’s creation more directly than we could when sleeping indoors but also because it stretched us outside our comfort zones to sleep on the ground and go without indoor plumbing.

I don’t camp nearly as much as I did when I was younger, and sometimes I wonder if I’m missing something important, if I’ve gotten too attached to the physical comforts of life… if, in general, I’m too attached to all of the familiar and comfortable patterns in my life.  And so I relate to Peter’s response to seeing the glorified and transfigured Jesus conversing with Moses and Elijah.  “It is good that we are here, let us make three tents!”   He wants to pitch a tent, not to step out of his comfort zone but as a way of holding on to a good moment, to keep the beautiful version of Jesus contained up on the mountain.  Oh, how I do this in my own life.  I want to hold onto the glorious moments and not let them go.

Of course, as the Scripture tells us, Peter doesn’t have a clue what he’s talking about.  And what is God’s response to Peter’s idea?  God sends a cloud and casts a shadow over them, and it is within this place of darkness and discomfort and confusion that we arrive at the most important part of the story.  They hear a voice say, “This is my chosen Son.  Listen to him.”    It wasn’t until their vision was clouded that they heard the message that they needed to hear.  For me, the lesson in this Scripture is the same lesson my dad taught me about camping: do not be afraid of the places that stretch you, the unknown places, the places that make you uncomfortable, the places where you cannot see a way forward.  Go to these places, for it is there that you will hear God speaking to you most clearly.

Questions for Reflection:
When have you had an experience of transfiguration, of seeing something glorious and wanting to hold on to that moment?
What are the places in your own life where you feel like you are in a cloud, like a shadow is hanging over you?  What might God have to say to you from within that place?

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Abby Braun
Abby has served as a campus minister at St. Mary’s since 2012.  After studying theology at the University of Notre Dame (BA ’05) and Pastoral Ministry at the University of Dayton (MA ’08), Abby spent four years as a Campus Minister at Saint Louis University where she met her husband, Bob.  She is especially grateful to be a part of a Jesuit Parish that serves a University community.  Abby works part-time at St. Mary’s and spends the rest of her days at home/toddling around Ann Arbor with her (almost) two-year-old daughter, Eleanor.
Email: aabraun@umich.edu

Love them, but not THEM

Written by Jessica Montgomery on Saturday of the First Week of Lent

“But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father.”

These words from today’s Gospel always challenge me.  Yes, I can love my friends who are nice to me, but Jesus challenges me to do more.  He challenges me to love the girl in my group project who doesn’t do her fair share of the work.  He challenges me to love the little boy in the catechism class I teach that does not pay attention and teases his classmates.  He challenges me to love my coworker that shows up late for work, making me stay for 45 minutes beyond my shift.

Yet as much as these moments challenge me, they are often relatively easy to overcome.  I can imagine that the girl in my group project may not understand the material as well and is afraid to admit it, or maybe she has other stresses in her life and can’t do as much work.  Maybe the little boy does not receive any attention at home and thinks that acting out is the only way to get any attention.  Maybe my coworker had an emergency at home and got to work as soon as he could.  And even if none of these hypothetical situations are true, I can still find it in my heart to love them.  Although I may not be able to find a reason for their faults, I can see their vulnerabilities and recognize that they, like me, are not perfect and make mistakes.

But Jesus does not just challenge us to love the people that we have met.  He challenges us to love the person that stole our credit card information and has charged thousands of dollars to our cards.  He challenges us to love the shooter who killed his fellow university classmates.  He challenges us to love the suicide bomber who killed hundreds of innocent bystanders. No matter how awful the actions and how difficult it may be to find Christ in their lives, God calls us to pray for and love them.  Why?  Because like us, they are children of God who, no matter what mistakes they make, deserve to be forgiven and loved.

Reflection Questions:
Who in your life do you find difficult to love?
How can you challenge yourself to love them?

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Jessica Montgomery
Jessica is a senior from Plymouth, Michigan majoring in Biomolecular Sciences and Spanish and is the intern for St. Mary’s Hispanic/Latino Sacramental Preparation Program. She is also involved in the Alternative Spring Break program at St. Mary and loves volunteering at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. After graduation, she will pursue her medical degree and would love to work with Doctors Without Borders.
Email: jessannm@umich.edu

Love Casts out Fear

Written by Toni Morales on Friday of the First Week of Lent

The other evening, I was walking home.  It was dark.  A man with a dog was walking towards me, and then passed me.  We were both silent, but after he passed me, he said with irritation, “What kind of a neighborhood is this that you won’t say hello?”  Flustered, I said that I was sorry and wished him good evening.  The fact that I did not know him, and that I was a woman walking alone in the dark did not inspire my friendliness.  Yet, his response pointed to a truth: fear, justified or not, works against community and towards isolation.

Our readings today focus on our interactions with others.  Is our behavior virtuous or wicked?  Do we express anger toward others, or talk about others disparagingly?  While we would never consider murdering anyone, how many times have we committed “character assassination” with our words?  As Jesus notes in the gospel, such actions make us “liable to judgment” or “answerable to” religious authorities, or condemned to eternal punishment.  Knowing this, why do we persist in our coldness, verbal sniping, or irritation?

I attribute my own isolating behavior to my tiredness, busyness, or fear.  If I call a friend or family member, how much of my precious little leisure time will that cost me?  If I try to have a discussion with someone who has hurt me, will I be able to control the outcome?  Isn’t it just easier to stay away from that person and feel better by complaining to my friends?  If I bring these hurt/sad/angry feelings to prayer, will Jesus ask me to do something I’m too fearful and weak to do?

Yet Jesus calls us to act beyond our fear.  He offers us moment to moment His love and strength, especially at those times when we find ourselves least able to give.  Rather than resorting to behavior that is “safe” and self-justifying, Jesus invites us to take the joyful risk of loving our sisters and brothers as we join them to build the kingdom of God.

Question for Reflection:
In what situations or with whom do you find it most difficult to give of yourself?
What do you believe Jesus is telling you in these situations?

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Toni Morales
Toni is a long-time resident parishioner.  She works at UM helping undergraduate students determine their academic goals and the ways to reach them.
Email: weena@umich.edu

We are Called

Written by Evan Brennan on Thursday of the First Week of Lent

During Lent we are called to listen. We put away some of our daily distractions in the hopes of hearing God’s words to us during this special time. In the Gospel today we hear what I have always been told is the Golden Rule: “Do onto others whatever you would have them do onto you.” To me, this is a call to action. In these words I hear God wanting ME to be better and holier and also to make those around me better and holier.

From a more personal standpoint, I see Lent as a time to reflect on what God’s plan is for me. I try to guide my personal goals in academics and personal life more towards what God wants for me. We are called, each one of us, to something special for our lives here on Earth.

As Mother Theresa once said, “Many people mistake our work for our vocation. Our vocation is the love of Jesus.”

And American poet and novelist Wendell Berry said these words that are particularly poignant,“The old and honorable idea of ‘vocation’ is simply that we each are called, by God, or by our gifts, or by our preference, to a kind of good work for which we are particularly fitted.”

I hope that you take this Lenten time to think and listen. Find somewhere where you feel comfortable and really ask God what he wants from you out of this life. How can you make yourself better and/or the people around you? Use the daily readings to inspire your thoughts and prayers and most of all have a blessed and holy Lenten season.

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Evan Brennan
Evan is a sophomore mechanical engineering student at U of M and is originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan. He’s been a catechist in St. Mary’s Family Faith Formation program for two years.  Evan plays soccer and golf and loves nothing more than hanging out with his four siblings back in Kzoo!
Email: evbren@umich.edu

Guard your Hearts

Written by Elaina Jo Polovick on Wednesday of the First Week of Lent

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend Mass at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California (a women’s prison in the Bay Area of California). As it drew time for Mass to start every seat in the chapel was filled and the women in the choir began to sing with great joy. It was my first time visiting a prison and although I didn’t know what to expect I was surprised by how joyful Mass was.

Prison is a place we do not want to be, and yet I felt at home there in that chapel. The women extended their hands to hold mine as we prayed the Our Father and with gentle smiles offered me a sign of peace. When I looked around the room I was struck by the beauty of every woman there. They, just like me, are children of God who came to the chapel to grow closer to our loving Parent. These women who are guarded in many ways by others rise above this to guard their hearts. They stand firm in their faith and are not shaken by the struggles they face.

In today’s Gospel Jesus says, “This generation is an evil generation.” There are many who may look at a prison and say that those inside are evil people, but the women I met were not evil. They prayed with joy and longing for the love of God. They prayed not only for themselves but also for their families, friends, and other incarcerated women they do not know. These women who are so often judged, criticized, and cast out welcomed me without any hesitation. They showed me that we can not give up and we can not isolate ourselves – we must be in community with others and guard our heats wherever we are.

Questions for Reflection:
In what ways do you guard your heart?
Are you being called to guard your heart in a new way this Lenten season?

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Elaina Jo Polovick
Elaina Jo worked at St. Mary’s as a peer minister (campus ministry associate) last year. She is currently studying at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, CA in the Maters of Divinity program.
Email: elainajopolovick@gmail.com

We are All One

Written by Bill Sbordon on Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

Lent is time for fasting and deepening our relationship with God. During this time we’ll give up unnecessary (or unhealthy!) things, and maybe say an extra prayer or two a day.

In today’s Gospel (Matthew 6:7-15), Jesus teaches the disciples the “Our Father”. How appropriate that we call God, “Our Father”, and not, “my Father”! We are all children of God. We are all brothers and sisters – and we should treat each other as such. Family members do not look at their own and see someone with lesser value.

It may be difficult to see your value in today’s world. We’re constantly bombarded with commercials, articles, and pictures of what we don’t have. Those reminders show us that there is always someone who is of more value than you, or, that who you are or what you’ve done lessens your value as a human being.

At the end of today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us this:

“If you forgive men their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

He stresses the importance of forgiveness. As we are all of the same value to God, neither of us is greater than another, no matter how many times we fall down.

This Lent, we should see the value in everyone around us, and not just those who are close to us. Let’s treat those, young and old, as we would our own brothers and sisters – with love and forgiveness.

Questions for Reflection:
When have you felt of lesser value than others?
What actions can we take to show others of their value when they are down or hurt?

Bill Sbordon
Bill is a young professional and part of the Grad Student & Young Professionals group at St. Mary’s. He graduated from the University of Michigan as an industrial engineer in 2012, and has been a part of the St. Mary’s since 2014.
Email: bsbordon89@gmail.com

Do’s and Don’ts

Written by Christine Convery on Monday of the First Week of Lent

In The Brothers Karamazov, Fyodor Dostoevsky recounts “The Parable of the Onion.” A woman dies and finds herself in Hell after living an evil and selfish life. Her guardian angel recalls that once she gave an onion to a beggar, and God agrees that she may be saved from the lake of fire if she can grab hold of this onion as the angel pulls her out. The woman is nearly saved when the other souls in Hell begin to grab on to her to also escape, and rather than allow the onion to pull them all out the woman selfishly kicks them off and in doing so loses her own grip and her chance at salvation.

It’s a dark and perhaps harsh view of the afterlife, but it matches well with Jesus’ own parable found in today’s readings. I find myself reflecting this jubilee year especially on the Mercy of God, but fail too often to recognize my call as a Christian to live out that mercy. As a child of God I count on my Father/Mother for unconditional love in response to my shortcomings and failures, but children grow up. We learn from a young age the “don’ts”:

You shall not steal.
You shall not lie or speak falsely to one another.
You shall not swear falsely by my name,
thus profaning the name of your God. (LV 19:11)

The more difficult challenge for me is discerning what I should be doing, and the Bible’s advice in this area is typically more abstract, and very few of us get an audible call in the night and instead search anxiously for Vocation. Mercy and its corporal and spiritual works are one concrete example of our universal call to Holiness, to be Holy as our Heavenly Father is Holy. In giving of ourselves, of our time and our possessions, we minister to Christ Himself.  The direct command of Jesus to care for our neighbor is comforting to me as I constantly struggle with decisions and discernment and reminds me to move away from selfishness towards family-hood with my fellow children of God.

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Christine Convery
Christine is a graduate student in the School of Public Health studying epidemiology, as well as a graduate of LS&A.  She served as St. Mary’s first Intern for Retreats during the 2012-2013 academic year.  Christine was named for St. Christine of Belgium, aka Christine the Astonishing, who came back to life at her own funeral!  
Email: converyc@umich.edu

Taking Temptation Seriously

Written by Matt Rejniak on the First Sunday of Lent

Ever since I was a little kid I’ve always imagined the devil as this large goat-man that hides in people’s shadows and whispers bad and hurtful things to them. He tells you that you aren’t good enough, tempts you to break the commandments, and tells you to distrust your relationship with others and with God.

I think that I don’t give Satan enough credit. In today’s Gospel, Satan tempts Jesus not only with the necessities he needs to live or wealth, but also with something more subtle, and in some ways, more dangerous. Satan tempts Jesus with proving himself to be who he says he is. More so, he does so by quoting the tool that Jesus has used thus far to rebuke him, that of Scripture.

I sometimes notice that I fall into this temptation in my life. On some days, as I do my evening examen, I find the moments that I saw my own sinfulness the clearest were moments where I should have been my best at. Moments where the gifts I was given by God were used to further my own pride and interests, moments where I take the wrong path because I know better than everyone else in my life.

As we enter more deeply into Lent, let us pray that the same Spirit who accompanied Jesus into the desert will give us the strength to resist temptation and the grace to use our gifts for the greater glory of God.

Questions for Reflection
How are you feeling tempted in your life right now?
How have you used your gifts in a way that falls short of their intended purpose?  How might you better use your gifts for the glory of God?

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Matt Rejniak
Matt is one of St. Mary’s Campus Ministry Associates for the 2015-2016 academic year.  He works with the special events team, RCIA and liturgy.
Email: mrejniak@smspnewman.org