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Monday, May 16, 2011

Tim Gray (who likes to play Settlers of Catan) on Discipleship at the College Student Summit in Colorado

First, let me paint you a picture of where I am sitting right now. I am kicked back in a big comfy leather chair looking out huge windows that overlook a quaint little pond, pine trees with the ice melting off of them as the sun rises up over the peaks of the mountains. There is steam rolling up off the water and birds swirling in the air. Basically perfect.

Our first opening address was given by Dr. Tim Gray. This talk is to lay the foundation for the entire week, always draw us back to this first topic and see how it relates to it with everything else we learn from him and the other professors we will be going to class with. Dr. Gray began by speaking mostly on discipleship and stressing the importance of it and how we can be the best disciples we can be. So often we begin to think about how we can become the best discipler, but in all reality the most logical thing to do is for all of us to strive to become the best disciples. This talk was so thought provoking, and inspiring- I couldn’t believe it when I looked over and saw the kid next to me sleeping! I was tired myself, but I could never bring myself to sleep through a talk with Dr. Gray, especially being front row! Well, in his defense he had only been Catholic for three weeks, he will learn soon enough.

The first point Dr. Gray made was about the Church. He stated that, “The Church is centered on Jesus Christ, not ideas, doctrines, writings, and rules. A person is at the center.” He referenced a few specific points in scripture where this comes alive. When Thomas put his hands in the wounds of Christ- he was not discovering an idea, he was discovering a person. This same thing happened when Peter realized that it was Jesus standing on the shore and he swam out to greet him- a person! He was not following an idea, but a person. Too often we begin to build our faith around the rules and the doctrines and the writings. That’s not what faith is about! It’s about a person! Jesus! Faith is believing that Jesus died and rose for our salvation, not believing the idea of it. Once we know the person, only then can you truly get to know the other facets of our faith such as doctrines and ethics, etc. We cannot truly understand the teachings of the Catholic Church unless we know Jesus as a person and have a relationship with him. Otherwise, all these rules, and writings mean nothing.

So, how do we get to know the person of Jesus? We must be covered in his dust. Way back in the day when people were learning a new trade and wanted to be an apprentice of someone they would go work with them right? Well, back in Jewish tradition since not many people were educated, if one wanted to learn more about the Jewish faith they would ‘apprentice’ a rabbi. It was common for rabbis to travel around, so typically rabbis had a few men following them on their journeys while they taught. They would travel on dirt roads and as the rabbi kicked up dust on the path it would cover his followers. Much like when we drive behind someone on a gravel road, our car becomes caked in dust and dirt. Well, same goes here. We should be covered in the dust of our rabbis. If we are truly covered in the dust of our rabbi, it means we have followed them through everything- not just listened to what they said or learned their teachings, but lived the way in which they lived. We should follow them anywhere and everywhere. So, the next question to ask ourselves is: whose dust am I covered in? Whose disciple am I being? Make it Jesus. Ultimately, we need to be covered in the dust of Jesus- living the way he lived. This of course is a very radical decision to make and so the world is going to try to shame us out of discipleship.

He also made another point, a smaller one, but important nonetheless about discovering our stories. The way we become great is by discovering our stories (and as he always says- every great story has a plot). In order to truly discover your story you must discover the person at the center of your story. And surprise- that person is NOT you. It’s Jesus. So, discover your story and make sure it is being built around Jesus Christ, which technically should be easy to do if you are following Him and being covered in his dust. Technically.

Now for the really mind-blowing part of the talk. This last part Dr. Gray Focused on was some Lectio Divena on Mark 8:22-26.

And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man, and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see men; but they look like trees, walking.” Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and saw everything clearly. And he sent him away to his home saying, “Do not even enter the village.”

Dr. Gray said he had done some research on Bethsaida, and at the time that he made this discovery through this Lectio Divena, he was actually in Bethsaida overlooking the city. Pretty cool place to contemplate. So, he was focusing on Jesus’ words “do not even enter the village”. Why? What’s with Bethsaida, why can’t he return? Well, through his research he discovered that Bethsaida had turned into a huge worldly and secular city- not a place for one’s faith to flourish. So, Jesus led the blind man away from Bethsaida, a worldly place that blinds us from seeing Jesus. Heals him. Then tells him, “ Listen buddy, that place is no good for you just steer clear.” We cannot follow Jesus if we are blind and cannot see where he is. So, in order to follow Jesus means we must be cured of our blindness. What is your Bethsaida? What is blinding you from seeing and following Jesus.

So, yeah. That was just a simple surface talk. Just wait until I post on his Psalms lecture.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Letter to Thune to DEFUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD

Senator Thune,

With the recent activity in the House of Representatives regarding the passing of the bill to defund Planned Parenthood, I feel obligated as a taxpayer to notify you of my strong support for this bill to pass in the Senate as well. It is with my deepest prayer that you take a strong stance not only for the state of South Dakota, but for young women, and the lives of millions of unborn babies and vote for this bill to pass. Not only does Planned Parenthood perform abortions that kill millions of lives every year, they break many laws regarding statutory rape issues and sex trafficking as well. I have done immense research on the topic using liveaction.org. Live Action is an organization founded by a young woman by the name of Lila Rose who as a college freshman began going on undercover "stings" to prove the scandals happening inside the walls of multiple Planned Parenthood agencies. She would pose as a minor who was pregnant by an older man and seek an abortion. The videos she captured clearly show that, even though they are obligated, Planned Parenthood would not report these cases of statutory rape. This is just a small reason for my plea for you to stand firm in a vote to pass this bill. I know I am among many of you constituents who believe the same as I do.

Please, do not take my word for it, log on to liveaction.org and see for yourself the tragedy that Planned Parenthood really is. It would be doing our state, country, and society- born and unborn a great disservice to vote any other way. The truth is black and white for this case- no US taxpayer should be funding such illegal actions that cause such cutting wounds in the lives of our young people. I will continue to pray that God's mercy and justice will fall on this bill in abundance.

In great faith,

Meghan O'Connor, SDSU Student

Friday, January 14, 2011

Lord, grant me grace to die

†JMJ†

Happy new year! This year's resolution is to die and find new life.

When Christ went to the River Jordan to be baptized by John, it marked the beginning of His ministry. Those same waters that touched Christ now have the power to mark the beginning of our lives as Christians. We enter the waters with original sin and as the waters sweep over us, we die and are reborn into the family of God. Our sin is washed away and we gain our salvation, should we choose to accept it. Christ purchased that for us; He died so that we may have new life! We owe everything to our humble King, yet we still live for that which the world has trained us to live for: ourselves.


How sad is it to live like that? There is no way to find peace when we desire to have control over all things. Think of the false bubbles of security we create at the expense of love. We seek our security in worldly things: counterfeit pleasures that do not fill the void of the heart. Over and over we indulge in false delight, in hopes that it will bring us lasting joy, but find ourselves at a loss. We are restless, broken, duped by sin. But we have a choice to either float on down the mediocre river of self indulgence or to turn around and battle the current towards sanctity.

Why not sanctity? If we can admit that monetary wealth and material possession is just not cutting it, then we can stop pursuing those things and start seeking lasting happiness. True happiness can only come from God! He will ask us to trust Him, and we will suffer for Him, and we will suffer for each other because we will truly appreciate and love those around us! Our commitment to this will lead to pain and desolation at times but we will forever have joy and peace!

Let’s keep our eyes off ourselves and keep them on each other! Let’s nurture the souls of our friends and enemies, dying to self so that they can truly experience the love of Christ through us!

I want the world to know Jesus. I want death to vanity and birth to humility. What do you want this year?

Pax Christi

Friday, December 10, 2010


+J.M.J+

"The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I certainly did teach the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason I die. I believe that I am telling only the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you to become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ’s example I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.”

St. Paul Miki, martyr (as he was hanging on a cross about have a lance driven through his heart)

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

J+M+J
Jesus is the only thing that will fulfill us. The ONLY thing. Our spouse will not, our children will not, or boyfriend or girlfriend will not, chocolate will not, and a warm shower will not fulfill us- only Jesus.
We get to receive that fulfillment EVERY SINGLE DAY, most especially when we receive the Eucharist. We receive the one and only true person who can fulfill our EVERY need. He is in our hands, and on our tongue- PERFECTION, in tangible form.
And we reject that! Out of apathy we decide to skip Mass. We choose sleep, or food, or T.V. over Our Lord Jesus Christ because we are looking for fulfillment, we are looking for love in all the WRONG places. Nothing, nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing can fulfill us except for Jesus. We cannot be fulfilled by imperfect things. Our spouse is imperfect, our children are imperfect, our boyfriends and girlfriends- IMPERFECT and so is chocolate and a warm shower! JESUS is perfect- He is unblemished and pure- and He is all that we can be fulfilled with.
Why do we reject Him in the Eucharist? In the confessional? In all these sacraments?! Get behind me Satan! So I may fully receive the love from the one who is love.
- Meghan

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

"Silence is a sword in the spiritual struggle. A talkative soul will never attain sanctity. The sword of silence will cut off everything that would like to cling to the soul. We are sensitive to words and quickly want to answer back, without taking any regard as to whether it is God's will that we should speak. A silent soul is strong; no adversities will harm it if it perseveres in silence. The silent soul is capable of attaining the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. God works in a silent soul without hinderence."

St. Faustina's Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul