Ash Wednesday

What to do for Lent?

"My advice is that henceforth we live no more in ourselves, but that in heart, intention, and confidence we lodge forever in the pierced side of the Saviour." - St Francis De Sales

How do we do this? 

By living in joy.

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.…" - 1 Peter 4: 12-14

Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium - 1.5

The Gospel, radiant with the glory of Christ’s cross, constantly invites us to rejoice. A few examples will suffice. 

“Rejoice!” is the angel’s greeting to Mary (Lk 1:28). 

Mary’s visit to Elizabeth makes John leap for joy in his mother’s womb (cf. Lk 1:41). 

In her song of praise, Mary proclaims: “My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour” (Lk 1:47). 

When Jesus begins his ministry, John cries out: “For this reason, my joy has been fulfilled” (Jn 3:29). 

Jesus himself “rejoiced in the Holy Spirit” (Lk 10:21). His message brings us joy: “I have said these things to you, so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete” (Jn 15:11). Our Christian joy drinks of the wellspring of his brimming heart. He promises his disciples: “You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy” (Jn 16:20). He then goes on to say: “But I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (Jn 16:22). 

The disciples “rejoiced” (Jn 20:20) at the sight of the risen Christ. In the Acts of the Apostles we read that 

the first Christians “ate their food with glad and generous hearts” (2:46). Wherever the disciples went, “there was great joy” (8:8); even amid persecution they continued to be “filled with joy” (13:52). 

The newly baptized eunuch “went on his way rejoicing” (8:39), while Paul’s jailer “and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God” (16:34). 

Why should we not also enter into this great stream of joy?

Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium - 1.4

The books of the Old Testament predicted that the joy of salvation would abound in messianic times. The prophet Isaiah exultantly salutes the awaited Messiah: “You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy” (9:3). He exhorts those who dwell on Zion to go forth to meet him with song: “Shout aloud and sing for joy!” (12:6). The prophet tells those who have already seen him from afar to bring the message to others: “Get you up to a high mountain, O herald of good tidings to Zion; lift up your voice with strength, O herald of good tidings to Jerusalem” (40:9). All creation shares in the joy of salvation: “Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth! Break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his suffering ones” (49:13).

Zechariah, looking to the day of the Lord, invites the people to acclaim the king who comes “humble and riding on a donkey”: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he” (9:9).

Perhaps the most exciting invitation is that of the prophet Zephaniah, who presents God with his people in the midst of a celebration overflowing with the joy of salvation. I find it thrilling to reread this text: “The Lord, your God is in your midst, a warrior who gives you the victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing, as on a day of festival” (3:17).

This is the joy which we experience daily, amid the little things of life, as a response to the loving invitation of God our Father: “My child, treat yourself well, according to your means… Do not deprive yourself of the day’s enjoyment” (Sir 14:11, 14). What tender paternal love echoes in these words!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is the joy which we experience daily, amid the little things of life, as a response to the loving invitation of God our Father: “My child, treat yourself well, according to your means… Do not deprive yourself of the day’s enjoyment” (Sir 14:11, 14). What tender paternal love echoes in these words!

 We can only do this by existing in the nunc, in the now.  If we love each moment, and the people who are in each moment, and are fully present in this moment, then we will partake in the day's enjoyment. 

God meant us to be happy. If we are stuck in the past or worrying about the future, happiness will pass us by. Let this not be our fate. Look around you. Take in the positive. Respond to it. Be a light where you are, right now, to whomever you are with. You will light up yourself.

“Remember that there is only one important time and it is Now. 

The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion. 

The most important person is always the person with whom you are, who is right before you, 

for who knows if you will have dealings with any other person in the future? 

The most important pursuit is making that person, the one standing at you side,

 happy, for that alone is the pursuit of life.” -- Leo Tolstoy

Family Portrait - Pink

To be torqued or not to be torqued, this is the question...

Just recently one of my friends asked me a question that challenged me: "Have you ever been so torqued that you acted out in revenge?"

The question was not novel; I have been asked this before, but never have I heard the word, "torqued" used in this way.

I understood in context, but the word struck me as highly intriguing.  As soon as I was able, I looked up its meaning.

torque

  [tawrk]  Show IPA

noun

1.

Mechanics . something that produces or tends to produce torsionor rotation; the moment of a force or system of forces tending to cause rotation.

2.

Machinery . the measured ability of a rotating element, as of agear or shaft, to overcome turning resistance.

3.

Optics. the rotational effect on plane-polarized light passing through certain liquids or crystals.

4.

Also, torc. a collar, necklace, or similar ornament consisting of a twisted narrow band, usually of precious metal, worn especially by the ancient Gauls and Britons.

verb (used with object), torqued, torqu·ing.

5.

Machinery . to apply torque to (a nut, bolt, etc.).

6.

to cause to rotate or twist.

verb (used without object), torqued, torqu·ing.

7. to rotate or twist.

Origin: 
1825–35;  < Latin torquēre  to twist; (def 4)  < French torque  < Latintorques torques ( torc  perhaps < Irish  ≪ L)

I think that this word is phenomenal especially in the way my friend used it, because there is a impetus innate in it that is not in "pissed", "angry", or in similar words. It more appropriately explains what is happening.

The emphasis in torque is on the undergoing of the soul in the moment of relationship. In other words, there is a turning or twisting in me in a single instant; I am touched in such a way as to be taken from rest into (e)motion. To be "torqued" is to have had enough "external force" applied to me to pivot me around my base (fulcrum) of stability, my comfort zone, to change my frame of perception or even ability "to act".

(Do I fly into emotion with the lightest touch?  How much resistance do I have to the actions, judgments, etc., of others? Can people get into my head and mess up my game, simply by a look or a comment?)

The way that this was used was initially to imply a negative emotion, but I think that I can also be brought from rest into positive emotion-- and the word torque is likewise, equally effective.

(What touches me now that will cause me to turn in a positive rotation? What is my moment of force? Or do I have such a hardness of heart that nothing will pierce me and impel me to act?)