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Month: April 2020
A Reflection on Jesus Washing the Feet of His Apostles
Talking about sin can make many of us feel uncomfortable. Especially when it comes to talking about specific sins.
Have you ever had a conversation with someone who was criticizing an act, which he or she believes to be amoral, only to feel judged because that criticism can apply to you?
I know I have!
It’s so much easier to talk big as apposed to act big.
I’m sure we’ve all experienced moments where we shared with others our optimistic plans only to ask ourselves, “What have I gotten myself into?” when it’s time for the rubber to hit the road.
Have you ever sold yourself short?
One of the fears I had growing up was failure. As a teenager I was hesitant to set myself ambitious goals because I believed I could never reach them. Instead, I settled for goals that I knew were safe.
The people that surround us don’t always help, though they may have perfectly good intentions. For example, my parents were less than encouraging when I didn’t do well on a test (I think this was just a product of the culture they grew up in). When people say negative things about us enough times, we can start believing them, even though they’re untrue.
In today’s gospel Jesus says the following to his Jewish interlocutors: “If you continue in my word you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).
The word “freedom” is thrown around a lot today. On a retreat I asked students what they thought freedom meant, to which they responded “to do whatever one desires” or a cheesy statement like, “following your heart.” Ultimately, it boils down to the rejection of some kind of authority – whether it be a teacher, parent or government official.
Auschwitz survivor and author, Corrie Ten Boom once said the following:
“When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.”
When we find ourselves in a place of despair it’s hard to see any purpose behind it, or if any good can be brought out of it. When we are being suffocated by darkness it’s extremely difficult to think of the light, just as someone drowning finds it difficult to pull air into her lungs.
My Brush with Death
In 2009, for the first time in my life I swam in the ocean at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I made the mistake of carelessly going deeper into the water where the waves were bigger and more unpredictable. Without warning, a giant wave swept me off my feet and dragged me under the water. As soon as I poked my head above the water, another wave came and once more dragged me under.
My biggest vice is impatience.
In my mind, I’m always a million steps ahead of my current situation. I always just want to get going.
