Smell like the sheep...
All of a sudden between innings the song “Boyfriend” by Justin Bieber came over the loud speakers as I was sitting in the stands of a high school baseball game with a group of parents. By instinct I commented “Oh. it’s the Bieber!” I immediately drew the stares of my peers who quickly commented “you knew that’s Justin Bieber?” I replied – of course. The rolling eyes told me that while these parents may be my age, they may not be as keyed into the lives of middle school and high school aged teens music. You see if you hang out with and around teens enough you are going to pick up on things.
I recently heard a story of a priest who heads up youth ministry for a diocese who went to his spiritual director and the conversation came up about spending time with teens. The spiritual director made the comment – “If you’re a good shepherd your going to smell like the sheep.” Of course, the more you spend time with and around teenagers, the more you are going to “smell” like them.
This isn’t to say we will dress or act like teens, it’s more that as we reach out to form relationships with young people we are going to naturally start having more conversations about young people and an awareness of the youth culture in our lives.
I recently heard a story of a priest who heads up youth ministry for a diocese who went to his spiritual director and the conversation came up about spending time with teens. The spiritual director made the comment – “If you’re a good shepherd your going to smell like the sheep.” Of course, the more you spend time with and around teenagers, the more you are going to “smell” like them.
This isn’t to say we will dress or act like teens, it’s more that as we reach out to form relationships with young people we are going to naturally start having more conversations about young people and an awareness of the youth culture in our lives.
- We are bound to talk more about teenagers.
- We will tend to check out TV shows and Youtube videos teens are talking about.
- We will pause and read news articles that have the word “teens” in the title.
- We will start noticing the group of teens standing in the store parking lot rather than just driving by and not noticing.
- We find ourselves talking longer to the teens working at the local store rather than quickly checking out.
- We start praying for specific teens and teens families we know.
- We start showing up at high schools to eat lunch with teens.
- We decide to take a day of vacation so we can go with the teens on retreat.
- We wear the rope bracelet that a teen made for us at a Life Night to work, even though it doesn’t match our business attire that day.
- We start attending high school plays to see teens we know perform, even though we disliked school plays when we attended high school.
- We start reading the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church more so we can make sure the teens we are journeying with don’t pass us spiritually.
- We find ourself in a ridiculous outfit for a skit, all because it’s for the teens.
- We stay up late editing a video for Life Night all because it could impact a single teen.
- We pay more attention to the things teens are “liking” on Facebook and “retweeting” on Twitter.
Flame 2012
Well it was a wonderful day - 8,500 young people from all over England, Wales, Scotland and I believe from Jersey & Guernsey too, descended on the Wembley Arena for a day to celebrate being a young Catholic. The theme - not surprisingly the Olympics. A wonderful blend of music, humour, teaching and prayer. Praise God!
Why do Catholics abstain from eating meat on Friday? (Adapted from the blog by Mark Hart, www.lifeteen.com - adapted because in England and Wales we no longer eat meat on any Friday)
Picture it: You’re in a hurry. You’re focused on school or work or family or friends, where there are a thousand things going on. You stop “real quick” to eat in the middle of the day. Halfway through the meal – or a little while after – you remember it’s Friday. And it’s Lent! And that’s a burger in your stomach!!
In the words of Homer Simpson, “D’oh!”
This has happened to me before, and odds are that it has happened at one time or another, to you. A side note here to anyone who may be worrying or feeling guilty right now: If you forget, then no, it is not a sin.
So why exactly do Catholics abstain from eating meat on Fridays?
Actually, people offer several reasons for why the church embraces this discipline, a tradition that dates back hundreds of years. Some say it was because the church was trying to support the fishing industry when times were tough. The church was trying to keep fishermen “afloat” (yes, pun intended). There is some historical evidence of that, dating all the way back to the second century.
Some say it was safer to eat fish than meat. Everyone knew the specific time frame in which it was safe to eat fish, while people tended to test that time frame with beef. There’s some historical evidence to that too, dating back to about the seventh century.
Some point out that hundreds of years ago only the very wealthy could afford meat. Fish (in comparison) was the poor man’s meal. It was cheap, humble food that you had to catch yourself.
Some say that not eating meat helped folks to focus on the humility of Christ, who lived a simple man’s life. There are literally dozens of other examples for this disciplines evolution over the years and the Church’s maintenance of it. They are good to know, but they didn’t help me a lot when I was teenager. I just knew that I wanted meat.
If we aren’t focusing on Jesus and on the cross when we abstain from the meat, then the matter can become less about Lent and more about “should I have the meatless pizza or the grilled cheese sandwich?” We all know that it’s so much more than that.
I prefer to look at it like this: Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Savior, gave up His own body, His own flesh, that Friday so many years ago, for me and for you. He went through the pain of that self-sacrifice, completely mindful of God the Father. When I go through the incredibly minor act of abstaining from meat on Fridays, it is just one tiny act of self-sacrifice that points me back to that awful but Good Friday. That was the Friday when God loved me so much that He gave up His flesh in the most selfless act in history.
Thinking about how often my physical body can lead me into sin and away from God, it is great to have a chance to let my body help lead me out of sin and toward God. That’s the essence of what St. Peter was saying when he wrote:
“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same thought, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin…” (1 Peter 4:1)
You see? Abstinence from meat is more than just “going without” during Lent or just a reminder that Christ offered His flesh for us on the cross. Abstinence is a form of prayer, a discipline. When we abstain from meat, we focus on Christ and on our souls, rather than on self and on our bodies. It is faith in action, placing our attention on Jesus and offering Him “our flesh” as a sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2), a vessel through which He can and does work.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. I guess you could say that abstinence makes the body (and soul) grow holier…if we embrace it and allow it. Meat is great, but Jesus seemed to do pretty well with just bread and fish, and so did everyone else who received the feast that day (Mt 15:34-37). Remember, God made vegetables, too. ☺
In the words of Homer Simpson, “D’oh!”
This has happened to me before, and odds are that it has happened at one time or another, to you. A side note here to anyone who may be worrying or feeling guilty right now: If you forget, then no, it is not a sin.
So why exactly do Catholics abstain from eating meat on Fridays?
Actually, people offer several reasons for why the church embraces this discipline, a tradition that dates back hundreds of years. Some say it was because the church was trying to support the fishing industry when times were tough. The church was trying to keep fishermen “afloat” (yes, pun intended). There is some historical evidence of that, dating all the way back to the second century.
Some say it was safer to eat fish than meat. Everyone knew the specific time frame in which it was safe to eat fish, while people tended to test that time frame with beef. There’s some historical evidence to that too, dating back to about the seventh century.
Some point out that hundreds of years ago only the very wealthy could afford meat. Fish (in comparison) was the poor man’s meal. It was cheap, humble food that you had to catch yourself.
Some say that not eating meat helped folks to focus on the humility of Christ, who lived a simple man’s life. There are literally dozens of other examples for this disciplines evolution over the years and the Church’s maintenance of it. They are good to know, but they didn’t help me a lot when I was teenager. I just knew that I wanted meat.
If we aren’t focusing on Jesus and on the cross when we abstain from the meat, then the matter can become less about Lent and more about “should I have the meatless pizza or the grilled cheese sandwich?” We all know that it’s so much more than that.
I prefer to look at it like this: Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Savior, gave up His own body, His own flesh, that Friday so many years ago, for me and for you. He went through the pain of that self-sacrifice, completely mindful of God the Father. When I go through the incredibly minor act of abstaining from meat on Fridays, it is just one tiny act of self-sacrifice that points me back to that awful but Good Friday. That was the Friday when God loved me so much that He gave up His flesh in the most selfless act in history.
Thinking about how often my physical body can lead me into sin and away from God, it is great to have a chance to let my body help lead me out of sin and toward God. That’s the essence of what St. Peter was saying when he wrote:
“Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same thought, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin…” (1 Peter 4:1)
You see? Abstinence from meat is more than just “going without” during Lent or just a reminder that Christ offered His flesh for us on the cross. Abstinence is a form of prayer, a discipline. When we abstain from meat, we focus on Christ and on our souls, rather than on self and on our bodies. It is faith in action, placing our attention on Jesus and offering Him “our flesh” as a sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2), a vessel through which He can and does work.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. I guess you could say that abstinence makes the body (and soul) grow holier…if we embrace it and allow it. Meat is great, but Jesus seemed to do pretty well with just bread and fish, and so did everyone else who received the feast that day (Mt 15:34-37). Remember, God made vegetables, too. ☺
We went to meet the Pope!
In October 2010 we went to London to be with our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.. He spoke to us (well ok, it was also to the other few thousand young people from Britain, but we're sure he was looking straight at US), and he reminded us to strive to be holy as Jesus is holy.
Wow! It was awesome! Alison and Adam were interviewed for the British news, Peter was interviewed by EWTN, and Holly was photographed and became an overnight sensation as chief cover girl for this event in many papers :)
Did you know - Benedict XVI is from Germany and was called Joseph Ratzinger. He was a great friend of Blessed John Paul II :) He's in his 80's (!) and still going strong. He beatified John Henry Newman at Cofton Park during this visit and - .we were there!!!!
Pope John Paul II is now Blessed John Paul II - yay!
Wow! It was awesome! Alison and Adam were interviewed for the British news, Peter was interviewed by EWTN, and Holly was photographed and became an overnight sensation as chief cover girl for this event in many papers :)
Did you know - Benedict XVI is from Germany and was called Joseph Ratzinger. He was a great friend of Blessed John Paul II :) He's in his 80's (!) and still going strong. He beatified John Henry Newman at Cofton Park during this visit and - .we were there!!!!
Pope John Paul II is now Blessed John Paul II - yay!