The GAP

The GAP

"Between you and us, a great chasm has been fixed."

Gospel for Sunday September 29th : Luke 16.19-31

Reflecting on this Sunday's Gospel,  Jesus presents us with the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. It goes like this:

Lazarus (whose name means "hope in God"), is a helpless beggar who lies every day at the gate of the "rich man". (Isn't it interesting that the rich has no name and the poor have the honor of one?). The rich man ignores Lazarus, who dies and goes to heaven. Soon, the rich man himself dies, and finds himself in Hades, begging to have his thirst quenched. Alas,  a great chasm (GAP) has been fixed and there is no crossing. When the rich man asks that Lazarus be sent to his brothers as warning, Abraham reminds him that they have Moses (The Law) and the prophets. When the rich man says that they would believe someone who is from the dead. Jesus ends the parable with one of his best punchlines: "neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead..." 

When we reflect on this parable we must first remember the mission of Jesus - he proclaimed the Kingdom of God at hand!  So, while this may be a moral parable to remind us of our everlasting destiny, it is really more concerned with us here and now. Today. 

We must first recognize that we ourselves are separated by a GAP.

Our ambitions, greed, and ultimately our fear, keep us from connecting with the poor and downtrodden.
In our western free market culture we can do a great job in keeping the GAP really BIG! 

When I reflected on the parable I was reminded of an overarching irony in the name  "The GAP".  

It was just six years ago when the newspapers were full of stories about the giant clothing chain's use of child labor in sweatshops in India. The GAP responded by stating they were unaware of the problem and would deal with it. 

If you go to their web site you will find all kinds of links to their code of conduct, global sensitivity, environmental friendliness etc.

Look at some other sites and you will find that it still keeps happening
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yafZp8VTbc

The tragedy of the Bangladesh garment fires this summer has brought the problem to our consciousness again- different corporate giants, same GAP.
But here's the problem- we are all standing on the other side from Lazarus.
Who is it that wants the newest style at lowest possible price? As long as we continue to feed our own selfish materialism, we'll continue to have sweatshops and tragedy.

But that's not the only GAP in our life, especially for us as Catholic educators in Catholic schools.

Bridging the GAP
When we can conveniently throw some money into charity, or bring in a bunch of cans of food for the Thanksgiving school liturgy, without any real connection to the poor, then we are not hearing our Church's teaching on social justice.

We are called to solidarity. That means we need to teach our children, and ourselves, that Lazarus is at our doorstep. Lazarus is in our community. Without being in relationship with the downtrodden, there is no chance for social justice.
For this week: Think of ways how you and your students can connect with those who have less than us. When you work on your next charity drive, ask questions about why the poverty exists, and what small steps can you as an individual or as group do.

And always pray- with your heart, mind, soul... and hands.
Let's begin to bridge
The GAP.
 

Would Jesus use a Smart Board?

Would Jesus Use A Smart Board?

Gospel for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time:
Luke 16.1-13


In educational circles in Alberta and elsewhere, 21st century learning has been an important vision. To get a sense of it, go to 
http://education.alberta.ca/teachers/aisi/themes/21-century.aspx

So lately I've been spending a great deal of time asking myself, and others, the question, "what does the 21st century religion classroom look like?" I'm glad, for example, that we are finally moving on a new national program for grades 1-9, since the curriculum has not changed for over twenty years.

But will the new curriculum reflect 21st century learning? Will we truly engage our students in the subject, that subject being Jesus Christ?

One of my concerns is that in the rush to get textbooks and manuals into classrooms, there will be little thought to the fact that textbooks and manuals are "more of the same". And jazzing it up with technology does not make it 21c learning and teaching either.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE using tech, but we have to be very careful not to equate it with learner engagement. Case in point:

1. 30 years ago, a teacher writes all the notes on the chalkboard and gets the kids to write it down. Kids heads hit the desk and they begin to drool (remember Ferris Beuller's Day off? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhiCFdWeQfA)
 2.  25 years ago same teacher gets an overhead. Puts notes on overhead. Same result.
3. 10 years ago, Teacher gets computer and LED projector in his room. Puts notes on Powerpoint. Same results.
4. 3 years ago. Smart board gets installed in the room. Guess what happens? 

If we've learned anything, it's that engagement is the key to successful learning. 
To learn about learner engagement, I suggest we take our clues from the Master Teacher himself.

No not the guy from Ferris Beuller. From Jesus!!

If we look at Sunday's Gospel, Jesus grabs the attention of his listeners by telling a parable that praises the shifty dealings of a dishonest manager! To this day we struggle with this parable. I noticed that the reflection in Living With Christ actually avoided the Gospel all together! I don't blame them!
Jesus was reminding his listeners of the reality that surrounded them - that even the most dishonest of us merits praise, because, they can make a "profit" from that which does not belong to them. We, the children of the light, have given the the gift of eternal life.  Are we doing everything in our power to share that gift? Are we actively proclaiming this GOOD NEWS? Do we spend the gift of our time serving God or the Almighty Dollar? That's how Jesus sums it all up, and leaves it us to move forward and change.
Would Jesus use a Smart Board? Maybe. But in the end, we would all leave the classroom changed.
For us as Catholic educators, let's keep that as our ultimate lesson plan.
It goes waaaaaayyyyy beyond the 21st century! 

Touching Heaven

Touching Heaven

Gospel for 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time:

Luke 15.1-32

Now that school has been in for two weeks (or longer if you are in a year-round school community), most likely the honeymoon is over. I mean, all attempts by students (and staff??) to be on their very best behaviour has started to wear thin. Why? Simple- we're back into a world of relationships, differences, change and conflict.

Now there are timeouts, written apologies...

And worse.

 

School discipline can be one of the most stressful parts of teaching and learning. Are we being "too lenient"? "Too tough"? How many staff meeting have we attended where this is the number one topic? Achieving consensus is a monumental task. 

But a necessary one.

As Catholic educators, we must make our decisions on school discipline based on Gospel values. Somehow we must strike the balance between justice, 

mercy,  and 

forgiveness.

I do not claim to have the answer for any school or district. Because they all have a particular culture.

But, I do know that Jesus gives us some insight on what it means to forgive in the 

Parable of the Forgiving Father

Considering the Parable of The Forgiving Father.

Traditionally known as the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the emphasis is really on the mercy and love of the Father. Read the parable again. Read it carefully
 

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2015:%2011-32&version=NRSVCE

Like all of Jesus' parables, there is much that can be gleaned. I would like us to consider the depth of love shown by the Father. What do we discover?

First of all, the younger son has found himself at the bottom of the heap after squandering his inheritance. He decides to go back to his Father, not because he is repentant but because he is hungry!! He even makes up a good line about sinning against heaven, and no longer worthy blah blah blah... Initially, he just wants get back to some comfort.

But then something happens.

The father runs to him "while he was still far off". Yes, he is far off physically, but he is also far off in the relationship!! When the Father puts his arm around him and kisses him, the prodigal says his rehearsed lines. Whether he is sincere or not doesn't matter to the Father.

His son is back from the dead!!

Now, Jesus is not implying that forgiveness is cheap. What He is showing is that the love of the Father overpowers our weakness and excuses. 

I love the last part of the parable, because we can relate so closely to the elder brother. Remember that the firstborn has all the rights of inheritance, so he must have been angry from the get go when the Father gave half to the younger son. 

The elder brother hears the music, but does not enter. Rather than asking the Father what is going on, he asks a slave. The Father goes out to him  when he doesn't go to the party. Then the elder son complains that the "fatted calf" the best of the best, is given to the "sinner". He complains " you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends..."

 Interesting that he didn't want to celebrate with his Father???

The Father then insists that celebration is in order because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.

In other words, we touch heaven when we celebrate forgiveness. It is at the heart of who we are. It is also, of course, at the heart of our greatest Christian prayer, the Our Father.

An Important Question

As Catholic educators, and especially teachers and administrators of Catholic schools, an important question must be asked:

Is my school a school of forgiveness?

When children break the rules, and they receive consequences, do they also receive forgiveness? Is the forgiveness explicitly said, or is it "you're back. we'll carry on as if nothing happened."

And what about the adults in the building? 

Are we models of forgiveness? Do we continually judge our peers based on mistakes they made last week, or last month, or last year?

We've all heard of the seven deadly sins. But the eight is the deadliest. It is the sin of withholding forgiveness.

For this week, ask the Holy Spirit to give you the courage to forgive others. Be explicit in your forgiveness. Go to them, or write them a letter (no texts or emails).

And maybe the first step is to allow yourself to be forgiven. Don't sit on the doorstep of God's love. Turn to him. He'll come running.

And you'll touch heaven.

  

Eye on the Prize??

Eye on the Prize?

"For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost?" Luke 14.27

 I have spent the last week in New York City and am just getting ready to head back to Alberta tomorrow. it was a great trip- we saw lots of the classic sights went to see some shows, ate all the classic foods- and I had a chance to go into the Sam Ash ( formerly Manny's) music. A perfect trip.

One of the more memorable sites was of course the WolrdTade Center Memorial. It was extremely moving. Two large squares where the towers once stood, now waterfalls. The water reminding us of all the tears shed, but also of new life.

I wondered though, what lessons were learned.

For although there was great sorrow and grief, there was tremendous pride that the city bounced back, and are creating a whole new trade center.

The "freedom tower is even TALLER than the previous two.

And more buildings are being constructed!!!

But, well, they have to stop, because there is not enough money to complete it.

WHICH IS EXACTLY THE PARABLE FROM SUNDAY'S GOSPEL!!!

What is Jesus saying to us?

I think it is pretty simple, and pretty tough at the same time.

Keep your eye on the prize, and remember the priority.

THE KINGDOM.

It is the same message given to the rich young man. if you can't give God all of your true self, then you can't be a disciple.

The problem is, we don't even know our true selves.
We fool ourselves into thinking that we are something that we are not. We are sold a bill of goods by the media saying we are not young enough, good looking enough, thin enough etc etc etc.

Then we try and live up to expectations of who others think we should be, pressures that come from even the ones who love us.

That's why Jesus' "hard saying" about hating family and our own lives is found in Luke. 

It's really all about finding our true self.
and our true self only rests in God.

It is only through prayer, and our life in Christ through His Church, that will allow us to "sit down and estimate the cost".

Otherwise, we build empty towers.

For this week: In your daily prayer and meditation time, invite the Holy Spirit to help you with your priorities. Maybe the first one is to be disciplined enough to have some silent prayer time every day. I especially like "Pray As You Go" podcasts, and my daily email from Richard Rohr. Google "Center for Action and Contemplation"

It's the most wonderful time!

It's the most wonderful time...

Monday September 2nd 2013

Dear friends:

Despite the fact that I am (semi) retired, I still feel it. 

That certain something in the air (although in our neck of the woods, we're getting another blast of summer. No crisp fall air yet...)

Remember the Staples ad? Well I think for us as educators it is the "most wonderful time of the year". I actually use to resent that ad. Not because of the joyful parent, but the tragic sadness of the children as they (gulp) return to hell... er school.

But we can't avoid that reality I guess. I mean, it is  part of our culture.

The death of summer heralded by the Grim Reaper called education. 

I remember every Labour Day Monday, our next door neighbours would invite us over to shoot off some fireworks
The ending would always be the same. The last fire work was...

And we loved it!!! But then it was time to go to bed, because the next morning, our freedom was gone.

Happy New Year!

As educators (I hope!) we have a slightly different espirit. This is a time of new hope and promise. Of energy and enthusiasm. Of mission and vision. Happy New Year!!

It is ironically a time when we need to pause.  We all hit the ground running don't we? Year plans, lesson plans, staff meetings, student lists, getting our own kids ready for school. Pausing is the last thing on our minds.

I felt it just last week when I was at an opening PD session at Red Deer Catholic. The energy was incredible! Education was on the move for another year!

No time to pause for us as educators.

But Scripture is very clear

Psalm 46:10

Be still and know that I am God 

The School Bus on the Road To Emmaus

So really this is what this blog is about. Taking just a little time each week to pause and reflect, asking ourselves:

What does God have in store for me this day/week/month/year/?

How can Jesus show me the way?

How can I let the Holy Spirit guide my life?

Sometimes we drive our school bus at breakneck speed. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we risk missing the story. And the Storyteller.
 So this blog is an invitation to, as Terry Hershey would say "press the pause button." 

Change is good. 

(Especially if it's in your pocket)

Last year, I devoted all the posts to the Sunday Gospel, and provided some reflections and action plans for the week. This year, I'll do some of that, but also connect with Church teachings on education, liturgy, sacraments, social issues- you name it.

 Please.

You name it! 

Because, if, as an adult Catholic educator, you have some burning/troubling questions, odds are you are not alone. Drop me an e-mail at mmarien@me.com 

and I'll include the idea/question/issue in and upcoming blog.

For this week:
Read Luke 24:13-35 sometime tomorrow. Write down a line that speaks to you. Pray it like a mantra.
On Friday, read it again.