11.19.24 - Lady Philosophy, JC King of the Universe, Confirmation

Opening Prayer:   A morning prayer…

Lord, today I will walk in your worn shoes and selfless garments…

taking nothing with me and taking nothing from anyone else, because I need nothing but You.

I will seek to find You in others. I will employ mercy, not judgment, in all my thoughts and encounters.

I will improve my listening and speak only if you think my words are true, necessary, helpful, and kind.

Lord, as You taught us to pray together:

Our Father Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily Bread;

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Tuesday night preview: Lady Wisdom defines Happiness, Jesus Christ is King, Confirmation

Upcoming major holy days:   The Season of Advent begins Sunday, Dec 1 to Dec 24.

Quote of the Week:

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 

Even a fool is thought to be wise when he is silent, and intelligent when he keeps his mouth shut. Proverbs 17:28

TODAY:     

·        The pursuit of happiness according to St. Boethius and Lady Philosophy

·        Sunday’s Reading – (11/24) Jn 18:33-37 – The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

(This Solemnity of Christ the King is the last Sunday of Ordinary Time before the start of Advent).

·         The Sacrament of Confirmation

The pursuit of happiness according to Lady Philosophy and St. Boethius, in prison, in 642 AD, in Rome.

I am finishing a course on the Fathers of the Church, and we just completed St. Boethius, a late Father of the Church at the end of the original Roman Empire. Boethius was brilliant, eloquent, fluent in Latin and Greek, and wrote hundreds of essays, commentaries, and homilies, which we still have today.

He was a man of high integrity and during his many religious, charitable, and civic activities, he did not hesitate to expose corruption in government or even in the church. This made him many enemies along the way, eventually including the king himself (King Theodoric).

Since many politicians in the Senate were glad to be rid of him, they contributed greatly to trumped up charges against Boethius, causing the king to gladly imprison him and have him sentenced to death.

While in prison, Boethius was depressed and despairing the injustice being done to him, for he had lost everything and soon his life. Meanwhile, the people who perpetrated the evil were the happy ones, remaining in their high positions to do as they pleased. What good had serving truth and charity done him? Where was God?

This was Boethius’ state of mind before the majestic Lady Philosophy appears to him in prison. She offers herself as the only true source of consolation in so extreme a case of human misery.

His discussions with Lady Philosophy ultimately cause Boethius to change his mind and heart and see that he was exactly where he should be, whereupon an indescribable peace and happiness come to him. 

Philosophy is from the Greek: Philo=love + Sophia=wisdom – the love of wisdom, or you could say the active pursuit of fundamental truths about life using critical thinking. Wisdom is portrayed in the Old Testament in various ways:  sometimes female, sometimes male, sometimes neither (“it”). In the Book of proverbs, wisdom is a woman.

Portrait of Lady Wisdom

Discussion with Lady Philosophy, synopsis

Lady Philosophy explains to Boethius that happiness cannot derive from the transitory. “Transitory” means always in the process of coming and going, which describes everything in this world. We may think happiness is a lot of money and possessions, but when we get there it’s never enough, and often people don't even like you, and you’re the last to know.

We may think happiness is attaining a certain reputation, but reputations are very transitory. We quickly become slaves to them and to the anxiety of retaining them. To add insult to injury, the more you care about your reputation, the more obvious it is and the more nobody cares. Depending on this world for our happiness isn’t much different from drinking too much or taking drugs to get happy.

Since happiness does not originate in us, we must depend on some other thing to get it. The devil would like us to think it’s from the world around us and keep us in the 6th day. 

What does it mean to remain in the 6th day?

In Genesis 1 – the story of creation – humans arrive at the end of the 6th day. God breathes His spirit into us, which makes us in His image and likeness. The 7th Day is the Lord’s Day, and because we have a spiritual nature from God, we are invited into it. We get one foot in it and God is training us to be stewards of the earth, but then we fall. We didn’t make it then (the Fall), and we never would have had the chance to make it had not Jesus Christ come back for us. Jesus entered the 6th Day as one of us to become a new Moses and lead us into the 7th Day.

Why does Satan want to keep us in the 6th Day?

            One of the reasons 666 belongs to the name of Satan is the 6th Day. If he can keep us distracted from the 7th Day, he will be able to hold onto us once we die. The 6th Day is where we are now, and it has lots and lots of goodies and distractions. Satan couldn’t possibly have more tools at his disposal. Sex, money, power, control, self-glory!  We love them all, but the one common denominator is they are all transitory. No happiness, just fool’s gold. 

Lady Philosophy tells Boethius that the happiness we seek is not transitory but a permanent state. This can only be found in the self where God is. God gave it to us to find Him. Finding God inside us depends on our free will and our divinization, which is our journey to become more like Christ (more loving, forgiving, honest, charitable, etc.).

God is perfect and unchanging, so when we root our “self” in God, our happiness finds its home. The permanence of this relationship allows us to be happy, regardless of our circumstances. This is what the Saints discovered, and it’s why they could go to their deaths with a smile on their face. Or with humor…

Boethius accepts that but then asks about all the people committing evil in his life. Why do they get to be happy?

Lady Philosophy explains that all humans want the same good and happiness, but they get addicted to the easy path. Even those who commit adultery, are they not looking for some happiness they don’t have? The problem is that they seek it in themselves (without God) or in the world’s fool’s gold. Consequently, they are never really happy because everything they pursue is transitory. Happiness continually remains out of their reach, like the horse and carrot and like Sisyphus.

Like Sisyphus, they will condemn themselves to an eternity of never finding happiness.

This brings Boethius to ask humanity’s favorite question, why does God allow evil?

That Boethius was sentenced to prison and death seemed evil at first, or at least that evil had won. But in his discussion with Lady Philosophy, he finds through this evil that had befallen him brought him closer to the truth and to God. Moreover, he now found true happiness which lies in being permanently rooted to God, and how nobody can ever take that away from him again, not even jail or death.

She asks Boethius whether suffering or punishment (loss, pain, etc.) doesn’t bring humans the opportunity to detach from their dependency on themselves and the world? And lead them to depend on God? Depending on God is path of divinization, and the only good, for God is our source of perfect good, love, knowledge, and wisdom.  

Finally, Boethius understands that even bad people want the same good and happiness that he does; and to their own (potentially-eternal) detriment, they choose to remain on transitory path of Sisyphus. They need our prayers.

Conclusion:  Reality is indeed rich but only because God underlies all things, for everything in existence is conditional on Him. That leads us to today’s reading and celebration, because all things (and therefore all their contingency) come from Him. Jesus therefore is not only our loving Savior, but our source of permanent happiness.

The devil would have us believe the half glass of water in life is half empty, and that God doesn’t exist or, if He does, He has abandoned us. God wants us to understand that the half glass of water is always half full, whether it be pure wonder and joy or simply the silver linings of wisdom hiding in adversity.

“Half full” people seek to be part of the solution, not the problem.  

  Written by St. Boethius in prison before his execution.

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, John 18:33-37

We have come to the end of our liturgical year – the end of “Ordinary Time.”

Who remembers what Ordinary Time means?

            The “order of events” in the Scripture. For the Gospels, it is the order of events in the life of Christ.

            Ordinary Time is separated by the holy seasons of Easter/Lent and Christmas/Advent.

Seasons of the Liturgical Year

This coming Sunday (Nov 24) is the last Sunday of Ordinary time and we always celebrate the Feast of Christ the King on this day (properly known as the “Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe”).

Reading scripture seeks to raise our sights and this Sunday’s Feast of Christ the King brings to mind something we don't give a lot of thought to. We may think of Jesus as the carpenter’s son, the Messiah, our Savior, and even as the Son of God, but King of the Universe?

As St. John reminds us at the beginning of his Gospel, Jesus is the Word of God made flesh, through whom all things were made:

     In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.      

     Through him all things were made, and apart from him not one thing was made that had been made.

     In him was life and that life was the light of mankind. – John 1:1-4

What does John’s very first phrase remind you of?

            “In the beginning,” is also is the way creation story in Genesis begins

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” – Genesis 1:1

What other key words or imagery link John’s passage to Genesis?

            And God said, “Let there be light.” – Genesis 1:3  

John is showing that all things came to be through God’s word. During the creation story, “God said” is repeated eight times, like a refrain in a poem.

This light in Genesis refers to the light of faith and knowledge of God, which God gives to those whom He wishes to reveal Himself. The angels were the first to receive this light. Humans will come later when He breathes His Spirit into us.

John says above that in the Word (Jesus) “was life and that life was the light of mankind.”  

What life is John referring to?

This life is not only the biological life that came to be through the Word, but eternal life through the light of faith.

John is explaining that this is the same Second Person of the Trinity who came to us through Mary to show us the way and reopen the gates of Heaven to us.  

This is the same Second Person of the Trinity – Jesus Christ – who is the true King of the Universe. But as we learn from Jesus’ humility, the King is not the way we think of kings on earth.

What was his last act before going to the Garden of Gethsemane to be arrested?

            He offered himself as a sacrifice for the sins of mankind at the Last Supper and washed the feet of his Apostles. A different kind of kingship called love. 

John 18:33-37

Pilate said to Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?" 

Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?" 

Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?" 

Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here." 

Pilate said to him, "So then, you are a king?" 

Jesus answered, "You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.

Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

Pilate responds, “What is truth?” but doesn’t wait for an answer. That is why some call Pilate the patron saint of relativism.

Who was Pilate?

            Pontius Pilate was the Roman Prefect (governor) of Judea who presided over the trial of Jesus.

Pilate said to Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?"                                                

His question was a political one, not religious. In other words, he was not interested in whether his being their “Messiah.” If he was a religious leader, he would leave that to the Jews.

Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?" 

Notice Jesus gives the question back to Pilate. Jesus does this a lot. It often helps them answer their own question, but it also helps reveal the true nature of the inquiry, which is sometimes hidden by the one asking the question.

            Sometimes, Jesus is eliciting a confirmation of faith. See the question again. Although that seems kind of funny given it is Pilate.

Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?" 

Pilate sounds offended…

Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here." 

            Even Jesus’ disciples didn’t understand this yet. Remember Peter in the Garden pulls out his sword to defend Jesus and cuts off the ear of the soldier? Jesus told him to put it away and healed the soldier’s ear.

Pilate said to him, "So then, you are a king?" 

Jesus answered, "You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” 

            Some translations say, “You say so,” but either way it is understood as an affirmative "Yes" to Pilate's question. In this dramatic exchange Jesus does not deny his royal status and explains his mission to the Pilate as a non-political mission. In fact, his coronation begins with his Passion, which is at hand, and will be completed in His Ascension.             

Pilate had no idea he was interrogating the King and Creator of the Universe. How would you like to be him?

The Church created the “Solemnity of Christ the King” in 1925. What was the reason?

After WWI, waves of nationalism and secularism were on the rise across the globe so Pope Pius XI instituted the Solemnity of Christ the King in 1925 as a reminder that it is Christ who reigns above all earthly rulers. While temporal powers will fade away, Christ’s reign and his Kingdom remain eternal. This day reminds believers who is the real King, not only in this life but in the next.

“The kingdoms of this world are too often sustained by rivalries, arrogance, and oppression. The reign of Christ is a kingdom of justice, love and peace.”

The Sacrament of Confirmation

One of the reasons Catholic occasionally have to defend the Sacrament of Confirmation is there is a general lack of understanding about it. And certainly our Protestant friends will say to us, “Where is that in the Bible, and why do you have this thing? Is this another tradition of men?” Even some Catholics are baffled by how to talk about confirmation.  So, what is it?

First, it is connected to our Baptism. Baptism and Confirmation kind of make a double-sacrament. It is simply understood as a perfection of our baptismal grace, a strengthening of the Holy Spirit. We use the words “sealing of the Holy Spirit” to signify this. 

If we received Sanctifying Grace and the Holy Spirit at Baptism, why do we need more? Isn’t that perfect enough?

Sanctifying Grace is the most important grace, to be sure, but it’s the beginning of our salvation. The journey to God may now get underway – it is called the process of our sanctification – and we will need courage, strength, and wisdom. According to Thomas Aquinas, in Confirmation we receive certain graces and gifts of the Holy Spirit so that we are more perfectly equipped to go out and witness to the faith. 

You’ve heard Paul talking about Spiritual Warfare in Ephesians 6 – going out to battle with the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit – it’s like that. There’s a special sealing and strengthening in Confirmation that you didn’t quite have in baptism.

What about the support for Confirmation in Scripture?

It starts in Acts 2:1-11 when the Holy Spirit descends upon the disciples at Pentecost. They had already been baptized. This is the beginning of the Church and the Holy Spirit brings them added faith, strength, and knowledge to spread the Gospel, which the start doing immediately. 

Next, we see the Apostles going around giving the Holy Spirit to those already baptized by a “laying of the hands,” which is exactly how the Bishop gives Confirmation today.

Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit – Acts 8:14-17.

This occurs again in Acts 19:5-6.  

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

So the answer is that Confirmation completes one’s Baptism. Baptism opens the gates of Heaven, and Confirmation gives us the tools to get there.  

What are the gifts we receive in Confirmation?

This is also in Scripture. Paul speaks of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are the areas that He assists us with, especially when we call upon Him:  Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, Fear of the Lord. 

Q:  We are given chrism as part of the Sacrament. What does this sanctified oil represent?

            The oil represents abundance of grace, healing, and the sealing of the Holy Spirit.    

Q: What practical value does the Holy Spirit bring to us?

            We spend our lives talking to ourselves in our minds – judging situations, judging others, solving problems, anticipating actions to take, etc. But who are we talking to? We are talking in the mirror with our inner self (ego). How self-referential or circular is that?  What do we expect to hear but self-confirmation, (no pun intended).

But with very little effort, we can talk to the Holy Spirit instead. He is already inside our consciences waiting for us to open his door. Our free will is the key to that door; we only need to ask. Now we have the source of all Wisdom as our sounding board, rather than own selves. “What do you think about this?” “I could have done this better, right?” “I am getting ready to do such-and-such. What do you think?”  Do this regularly and see what thoughts come back to you. Give it time and don’t rush it. Sometimes answers will come immediately, or later unexpectedly, or sometimes through other people. But one thing is sure, it won’t be you talking in the mirror any longer. We will now be working with our own Trinitarian GPS.

The closing prayer

HS Prayer of St. Augustine

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,

That my thoughts may all be holy.

Act in me, O Holy Spirit,

That my work, too, may be holy.

Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,

That I love but what is holy.

Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,

To defend all that is holy.

Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit,

That I always may be holy.

Amen!