[Chapter Review]
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:19)
In the past several weeks these words have been spoken to me in my prayer time and as I go about my day. Most often they are spoken to a deep desire for something, anything new to happen in my spiritual life. These words have taunted me and I have yelled back, “No God, I don’t “perceive” anything new.” The Lord and I have been wrestling. Last week I read an article in the newsletter for the National Eucharistic Revival by Julianne Stanz. Julianne was reflecting on preparing her speach for last years congress. Her words pierced my silent cries.
From the Latin, “Re” can mean “again.” My talk needed to be about our constant need to return again and again and again in the Lord. We so often chase the new in our spiritual lives that we forget the source from which all renewal flows, the seed from the Word of God and Eucharist.
Jesus clarified things for me this past Sunday with His words in the Gospel,
I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. (John 16:12)
As I prayed the promise of that line over and over in prayer, “I have much more to tell you, I have much more to tell you…” Jesus drew my attention to the second half of his promise with the words, [Chapter Review]. Do you remember chapter review days in school? I both loved and dreaded them! I loved that I didn’t have to pay close attention. It felt like a “blowoff” class. On the other hand, they were BORING! I hated that I wasn’t learning anything new. It should come as no surprise that the book that sits unfinished in my bookcase is Matthew Kelly’s, Slowing Down to the Speed of Joy. Matthew Kelly addresses the endemic of “busy” that we as a society suffer from. God certainly knew what He was doing when He placed that book in my hands to read. The enemy certainly knew what he was doing when he convinced me I was too busy to finish it. The irony! Like Julianne Stanz states, I have been seeking something shiny and new to jump start my spiritual journey. Like Jesus says (Jack Nicholson style in A Few Good Men), “You can’t handle new.” He’s right. I have lost the discipline of the last several chapters in my school of discipleship. I need a chapter review. I need to re-engage my core practices which have sadly been neglected. Last week Jeff and I took first steps. We attended Thursday night Mass, adoration, and confession: a trifecta of renewal! I have been resisting the discipline of spiritual routine believing the lie that it will restrict my freedom of time. Here’s the question, are you ready?
“Time for what?”
Right now, and on our walk as Christians, there isn’t anything more important than the disciplines that we undertake so that we can love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. God will not ever stand beside me and look upon my time at Mass, in adoration, in spiritual reading, writing of His glory, or praying as time wasted. Jesus is calling me once again to be Mary, to sit at the feet of the teacher, and pay attention to His chapter review. Jesus has so much more to tell me. He has so much more for each and every one of us. Let us commit ourselves anew with the renewal and revival of the discipline of discipleship. Amen.
