“Hidden Face”
Painting: Ronald Raab, CSC

Athirst is my soul for the living God. When shall I go and behold the face of God? (Psalm 42)  

Drug addiction is often hidden behind the faces of lovers, spouses, friends and neighbors or even our children. Our own faces may conceal such addictions. This addiction corrodes relationships, rips love apart and separates families. I have learned from addicts across the country that the only thing that heals such addiction is a deep, honest and profound relationship with God. Seeking the face of God is a life-long project for those in the trap of such addiction. The hidden face is destructive and hopeless, a life of secrecy, self-hatred and shame. Only the face of God heals. God’s love is available to us.

In this Lenten season, I invite you to pray for and learn more about those of us who suffer from such addictions. We may very well become the face of God as we reach out to other people. Addiction knows no boundaries of relationships, or status or education. Please reach out to people who need you during this Lenten time. Learn more:

Click here to learn more about drug addiction. 

Click here to learn more about substance abuse in high schools.

Click here to learn about addiction and faith-based recovery. 

“Respect”
Painting: Ronald Raab,

The gospel today is about the cleansing of the temple, (John 2:13-25). Jesus is angry that the house of prayer is not respected. Jesus himself becomes the new temple, the new place and cause of worship. His own body will be destroyed in death and risen for us, for the redemption of his people and forgiveness of sin. We are called to respect our human lives since we now bear the name of the Body of Christ here on earth. Today, I invite you to ponder the rich lives and stories of our older members of our communities.

Pope Francis challenged us this week to respect the elderly, to cleanse our negative opinions especially about people who age without good health, without adequate money for housing, food and healthcare. Here is the article from the Vatican:

Vatican City (AFP) – Pope Francis urged his followers at his weekly prayer on Wednesday to show affection and respect for the elderly, saying they must not be treated as “aliens”.

“It’s a mortal sin to discard our elderly,” said the pope, seen by his supporters as a champion of the poor and marginalized.

“The elderly are not aliens, we are them, in a short or in a long while; we are inevitably them, although we choose not to think about it,” he told 12,000 followers gathered on Saint Peter’s Square.

“A society where the elderly are discarded carries within it the virus of death,” said the 78-year-old Argentinian pontiff.

The pope said that while life expectancy has increased in recent decades, old age is treated like “an illness to be kept at arm’s length”.

He warned his followers: “If we do not learn to look after and to respect our elderly, we will be treated in the same way.”

Click here for another article on the lack of respect for the elderly.

Click here for another good article on why we disrespect the elderly. 

“Women in Poverty”
Charcoal: Ronald Raab, CSC

Pope Francis’ intention for evangelization during the month of March is:“That the unique contribution of women to the life of the Church may be recognized always”. I want to add to his request that we especially pray for elderly women in poverty during this Lenten season.

Click here to learn more about the rise of elderly women in poverty. 

Click here for an article from CNN Money about elderly women.

Click here for a radio interview on homeless women. (Please take seven minutes to listen to this radio interview about homeless women in San Francisco)

For women who live on the streets, the circumstances are even more dire. Women experiencing homelessness are vulnerable and invisible. Women tend to hide and sleep during the day and stay awake at night no matter their age, so not to get robbed or beaten or raped. Women also become caretakers of children, grandchildren or great grandchildren no matter where they live. The burdens put on women in poverty in our country are breathtaking.

Today, remember the strong and vital women that keep the Church alive but also learn more about the invisible women who are surviving longterm poverty.

Give a hearing to the poor, and return their greeting with a deference; Deliver the oppressed from their oppressors; right judgement should not be repugnant to you. Be like a father to orphans, and take the place of a husband to widows. Then God will call you his child, and he will be merciful to you and deliver you from the pit. (Sirach 4:7-10)

“Perseverance”
Drawing: Ronald Raab, CSC

I sketched this image yesterday before the morning Masses. I am really struck by this face because he represents a man who has spent this lifetime doing the work of prayer. The hard work of living every aspect of life shows on his face. His wrinkles reveal discouragement and sadness and the weariness of his perseverance.  However, there is also a real and authentic trust that settles into his expressions. I see myself in him but he also reveals to me the many faces of people who struggle to make ends meet, those who work so hard to forgive themselves, those who are unsettled in their life decisions, and those who are looking to God for help because they finally realize they cannot fix their unfortunate situations. He reminds me that we all need God.

The gospel today (Luke 6: 36-38) gets to the core of our Lenten journey:

Jesus said to tis disciples: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and your will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you; good measure, packed together, shaken down and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

The work of forgiveness is real. The work of mercy is God’s work within us. However, I am not saying that any of this spiritual work is easy. In fact, the work of forgiveness might just be the most important job we will ever have. This work may even settle into every wrinkle on our skin. Persevere in you spiritual tasks of forgiveness in all of your relationships. Persevere in this Lenten journey. Your rewards will be authentic and everlasting.

“Wisdom Matters”
Drawing: Ronald Raab, CSC

The Second Sunday of Lent 2015

In Mark’s gospel (9:2-10) today, Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a mountain. Jesus is transfigured before them. Moses and Elijah appear. Then the Father’s voice breaks through a cloud and claims Jesus as the beloved Son. In this text, we are connected to the many sources of wisdom. We capture a glimpse of Jesus’ resurrection, the ancient prophets and our Heavenly Father. On this journey, wisdom matters and those who are wise have something to teach us. Wisdom is not something we sit back and enjoy as the disciples did when they wanted to build three tents. Instead, we are called to live that beyond the mountaintop, in the darkness of daily life, in the muck of our inept decisions, in the chaos of what it means to be truly human. On this journey of Lent, Jesus continues to lead us but we are called to live the wisdom of followers of Jesus, to become peacemakers, the doers of forgiveness, the prophets of new life for people who are poor or neglected or imprisoned. Be wise. Live the truth. Follow Jesus. Listen to the Father. Befriend your ancestors. Be the voice of hope for all people. Let wisdom show on your face.

“Hearing Voices”
Sketch: Ronald Raab, CSC

Thursday of the First Week in Lent:

“Lord on the day I called for help, you answered me.” (Psalm 138)

“Ask and you will receive; seek and you shall find; knock and the door will be open for you.” (Matthew 7)

Today’s gospel is so beautiful and consoling. There is a profound richness in the realization that God hears us and is willing to give us good and fulfilling things. However, if we are poor, if we are ill throughout our lives, if we have yet to be satisfied by God, we can hear this gospel and believe that God does not listen to my concerns.

Today, I also want to focus your attention on people who ask God for relief and hear other voices in return. Many people hear strange and violent voices in their minds. These voices lead to despair and unimaginable suffering.

I invite you today in the Lenten season to learn something new about schizophrenia. This disease is severe and lifelong. We need one another to become educated about this disease so to learn about people who are marginalized, especially among people who cannot afford medication. During this Lenten season we are all called to extend our awareness into areas of life that challenge us.

Here are some links to further our conversations:

Click here: On hearing voices

Click here: video from a woman who was treated for hearing voices

Click here for an article from Mayo Clinic on schizophrenia. 

“A Humble Heart”
Drawing: Ronald Raab, CSC

Wednesday of the First Week of Lent

“Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.” (Psalm 51)

“Loneliness”
Painting: Ronald Raab,csc

Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

“I sought the Lord and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears…When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all of his distress he saved him…” (Psalm 34)

The liturgical readings today speak beautifully of our relationship with God and our call to prayer. The gospel unites us with our Heavenly Father in the simple and bold words of the “Lord’s Prayer.” And Psalm 34  expresses what God can do in our longing, in our own poverty if we have the courage to remain in relationship with God.

I want to focus on another aspect of our poverty in our prayer and that is “loneliness”. The greatest need in the world is connection, to belong, to believe that our voices are heard. However, many people do not live in circumstances to believe that people care or certainly that God could care about them. I remember Mother Teresa saying that the greatest killer in the world is loneliness. My years of ministry would certainly back this up, that no amount of possessions or money or social status takes away the human reality of loneliness. Today, we hear of our profound relationship with God and how to pray, but we need to be willing to let people in on this profound reality that God cares for us and our Christian witness to people to take that care into the world.

Click here for an article about how loneliness is a killer.

Click here for another article about how loneliness is a silent killer.

Click here for a spiritual practice to counter loneliness. 

Click here for an article from a Catholic perspective to overcome loneliness.

Depression Divides
Sketch: Ronald Raab, CSC

“The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan.” (Mark 1:12-15)

Jesus entered the desert and was tempted by the devil. The image of the desert is still ours today in this Lenten season. We enter the desert but not one in our world, we enter the various forms of deserts within our lives, souls and relationships. We have many forms of deserts in our lives, where despair looms and hope seems lost. One such desert is “depression”. The devil and Jesus in the desert speaks of the combination of darkness and light within our very lives.

I have learned a great deal about faith and God’s revealing love from people who suffer depression. I learn that I cannot blame people for their diseases and cannot control or fix their suffering. I can listen to the depths of loss, grief and self-loathing. I can be part of the solution on the journey with people who face the unknown deserts in life. The desert will lead us all more clearly to the joy and love of Easter.

However you can learn more about depression, please do so. Here are some articles and resources to get you started. Please consider learning more during these Lenten Days.

Click here for some statistics about depression. 

Click here for an article on being Catholic and suffering depression. 

Click here for National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) in Colorado Springs

“Hear my cry”
Charcoal: Ronald Raab, CSC

Lent 2015: Thursday After Ash Wednesday

Entrance Antiphon:

When I cried to the Lord, he heard my voice; he rescued me from those who attack me. Entrust your cares to the Lord and he will support you. (Psalm 55)