[kuh m-pley-suh n-see] -noun - a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc.
i've really been thinking about this word a lot in the last month. and now, on the eve of ash wednesday and the up coming lenten season, i struggle with how it applies to my current state. i firmly believe that sunday homilies should always light a little fire in us, make us feel uncomfortable, and inspire us to act a differently when we walk out of church and back into the world. the gospels and homilies i've been hearing the last month have been a resounding "call to action" of sorts.
a week ago (i think) we heard about the recruitment of peter and the other fishermen to be apostles. fr mark discussed his call to priesthood and said we're all out there "just fishing" and waiting for to receive that call to service, to fulfill God's plan. and just this past sunday, a visiting priest from nj (who sounded like a ny mobster) said a big problem with young people is that we expect to live a long life and therefore put off change until 'tomorrow.' rather, he says, we should step up now! especially during lent, to work at changing our hearts and reaching up to God.
i know i've written before about my 'rut.' a cloudy haze of seemingly insignificant monotony that i can't break free from. in the rush of school and research i've become complacent with my stale spiritual life and overall 'direction.' but i hear these sunday words, both from the gospel and from the homilist, and it stirs something in me; something that i can't ignore... at least for the next few hours, or in those waning hours when i can't fall asleep. i feel stuck "fishing" and waiting to receive a call... any call. it doesn't have to be a huge, life-altering call. it could just be a little whisper of "hey, go volunteer to serve soup this week."
the first step to solving a problem is admitting you have one right? i've done that. i've identified my own complacency, now i need to get my hands dirty trying to crack out of it. seems all to appropriate that tomorrow, ash wednesday, starts the long season of lent. a perfect time for reflection, self inspection, and hopefully correction. everyone (i.e. all my non-catholic colleagues) keeps asking me what i'm giving up for lent. but this year it's going to be more about what am i adding for lent. i want these 40 days to be more about positive steps, additions to my daily life, that i'm going take in order to break out of spiritual complacency. (it's funny how so many people misunderstand the traditions of lent) so what are they? i haven't ironed them out yet... like i would tell you anyway? but hope, no expect changes, because what's the point if no real progress is made?
i've really been thinking about this word a lot in the last month. and now, on the eve of ash wednesday and the up coming lenten season, i struggle with how it applies to my current state. i firmly believe that sunday homilies should always light a little fire in us, make us feel uncomfortable, and inspire us to act a differently when we walk out of church and back into the world. the gospels and homilies i've been hearing the last month have been a resounding "call to action" of sorts.
a week ago (i think) we heard about the recruitment of peter and the other fishermen to be apostles. fr mark discussed his call to priesthood and said we're all out there "just fishing" and waiting for to receive that call to service, to fulfill God's plan. and just this past sunday, a visiting priest from nj (who sounded like a ny mobster) said a big problem with young people is that we expect to live a long life and therefore put off change until 'tomorrow.' rather, he says, we should step up now! especially during lent, to work at changing our hearts and reaching up to God.
i know i've written before about my 'rut.' a cloudy haze of seemingly insignificant monotony that i can't break free from. in the rush of school and research i've become complacent with my stale spiritual life and overall 'direction.' but i hear these sunday words, both from the gospel and from the homilist, and it stirs something in me; something that i can't ignore... at least for the next few hours, or in those waning hours when i can't fall asleep. i feel stuck "fishing" and waiting to receive a call... any call. it doesn't have to be a huge, life-altering call. it could just be a little whisper of "hey, go volunteer to serve soup this week."
the first step to solving a problem is admitting you have one right? i've done that. i've identified my own complacency, now i need to get my hands dirty trying to crack out of it. seems all to appropriate that tomorrow, ash wednesday, starts the long season of lent. a perfect time for reflection, self inspection, and hopefully correction. everyone (i.e. all my non-catholic colleagues) keeps asking me what i'm giving up for lent. but this year it's going to be more about what am i adding for lent. i want these 40 days to be more about positive steps, additions to my daily life, that i'm going take in order to break out of spiritual complacency. (it's funny how so many people misunderstand the traditions of lent) so what are they? i haven't ironed them out yet... like i would tell you anyway? but hope, no expect changes, because what's the point if no real progress is made?
