Seeking our identity

Who am I? Who are you? Who is anybody?

These are the kinds of questions that seem to be in constant play - we're always seeking to "find ourselves."
I read an article last week by William Barry SJ, in "Presence," the journal of Spiritual Direction International. Dealing with this matter of discovering our true selves, he quoted a homily by Fr. John Jerdiejus, in which he quoted "an old southern gentleman.  It sums it up for me - so much so that I've used it several times over the last week in journal and sermon:

You gotta be who you is, and not who you ain't! Because if you ain't who you is, than you is who you ain't. And that ain't good.

I wish I'd said that.

There is a truth involved here - that we never truly know ourselves until we let go of all the facades we erect around ourselves and allow ourselves to be our selves.

Likewise, we can never truly know God until we know - are are ourselves.

"To be, or not to be; that is the question." In all due respect to Will Shakespeare, perhaps the more complete question is to be me - or not . . . that is . . . .

Just a thought . . . .

Rev. JimmyDave

Honoring our Sacred Spaces

I haven't blogged in some time now - but was hit this morning in my Lenten devotionals by a quote from Francis of Assisi - in "The Testament."

And the Lord gave me such faith in churches that I would pray with simplicity in this way and say: "We adore You, Lord Jesus Christ, in all your churches throughout the whole world and we bless You because by your holy cross You have redeemed the world."

I was reminded of how cynical we become about the church - how easy it is to be critical of what we feel the church has become. I too am guilty of taking this easy road.

It is well for us to reminded, however, of the value the church holds in our lives - and in the life of the world. I once had a professor of World Civilization that told us that the greatest single influence on Western Civilization was Christianity.  And lest we forget - or avoid remembering - the core presence of Christianity is the church.  We may bemoan the weaknesses and sins of the church over the centuries, but perhaps we need to balance that criticism with thanksgiving that Christ gifted us with his Body - that we might carry out his Great Commission to carry his good news to all the world.  Quite simply, there has been no greater transmitter of His gospel than the church.

So the next time we're tempted to lament the diminishing numbers in attendance, let's recall once more the words of Jesus as spoken in Matthew 18.

Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in Heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.

Next time you're in worship - give thanks for God's gift of the Body of Christ - for where we are, he is there among us.