)kl ARKANSAS CATHOLIC
JANUARY 13, 2001 PAGE 7
BY FATHER RONALD
ROLHEISER, OMI
ore than 2,500 years ago, Moses
gave us the Ten Commandments.
The centuries since, the
h'ghtenment notwithstanding, haven't
n us a single reason to doubt the validity
and importance of any of those precepts.
However, as we struggle to live them out,
it might be helpful if Moses again descend-
ettfa, om that same mountain with two new
tablets of stone, spelling out some rules for
better befriending each other, God, life and
ourselves. Perhaps this second set of com-
mandments might read like this:
1. Befriend humanity ...
itudg To be human is to be fallible, wounded,
[frog scarred, sinful and living in a far-from-per-
fect history, body, family, church. Don't look
anyone to blame, to sue, to be angry at.
1'his is called the human condition. Make
friends with it. Grieve, don't rage. Think of
chaos, not blame.
Our parents called this "original sin." We
b?e of"dysfuncfional families." It has ever
n thus. Don t live in a sulk.
3. Befriend those
who love you ...
There are only two potential tragedies in
life: To go through life and never love and
to go through life and not express love and
affection to those who love us. We need to
make better friends with our friends, to
express more readily our affection, our grat-
itude, our appreciation and our contrition.
Thank those who love you for loving
you. Never take their love for granted, or as
owed. Give out a lot more compliments. Say
thank-you constantly.
4. Befriend chastity ...
So much of our pain and restlessness
comes from our lack of chastity and much of
our subsequent rationalization and bitterness
come from not admitting this. We have
sophisticated ourselves into unhappiness. For
all of our knowing, we aren't happy. Make
friends with chasti . Children and virgins,
Scripture assures us, enter the kingdom easily.
Be post-sophisticated. I.earn to believe in
lg Santa and the Easter Bunny again. Enjoy
m 2. Befriend what's second-naivete. Rideamerry,o-round.
ay bestinyou ... Make a searing, honest confession soon.
; sai As long as we look out at the world
Ms thr. ough our wounds we will always fall with 5.BefTi,,end your own body ...
t tgpity, bitterness andjealousy, if, however, Don t be afraid ofyour own body, of its
ty.i ,'look out through the prism of what s goodness, its sexuality, its pleasures,, its tired-
ung! all'tict in us, our jealousy can turn to appreci- ness, its limits. It's the only one you ve got
:tud others'U°rt andoodneWe can again be astomshed" at in any case. Befriend it. Don t put, is," h it,
g ss" don't spoil it, don t denigrate it. It s a
We have two souls, a grand soul, where
[l church, a temple. Give it enough rest,
]ais We carry the image of God and the memo- enough exercise, enough discipline and
ifts ry of our blessings, and a petty soul, where enough respect.
aye we Carry the bitterness and jealousies that
COme from our wounds. We need to attach
nod Our eyes, our ears, our speech and our atti- 6. Befriend the other gender ...
i des to our grand soul. We need to be bet- The mothers and the fathers, the wives
i r friends with what's best in us.
See FRIENDS page 10
UNDERSTANDING
OUR
CHURCH
g he new year is her and the jubilee year has come to
a close. Pope John Paul II had us prepare three years
r " prior to this past jubilee year so we would be fully
ea~ to celebrate it.
Remember, Pope John Paul II hopes we now nave a
eWed zeal for evangelization after these past four years.
Were also intended to help prepare us for the fut e:
the line from the prayer Go and Make Disciples
, nited States Catholic Conference 1993) used in the cele-
b •
rati'on to close the Jubilee vear in the United States, "That
.t °lic people wil(be set ablaze with a desire to live their
and share it freelv with others."
_ Now is a good time
to look back and look forward con-
.e ag how we live our faith. The jubilee theme was Open
ale the Doors to Christ." So-what doors did you open? Use
following questions to examine your conscience, medi-
and spark new ways to live your faith and share it with
dpyoU open your heart to Christ's coming? Did you
time in your schedule to serve others and God? Did
Open wide the Holy Scriptures and meditate upon his
v!tol,~ .
,,r Did you otmn your hand and reach out to shake that
,1"a stranger's or n" ewcomer's? Did you open your home so
,use kids had a safe, loving place to come? Did you open
AWon
on SCril re
and Sacred
Tradition
Betsy Wiederkehr Huss
parents a hug and a "thank you"? Did you open your e-mail
and send a word of encouragement to that college smdent.
Did you open your mind and learn something new ... maybe
about a different culture? Did you open your eyes and truly
see God in others?
Just because the jubilee year is over and that door has
recently been closed does not mean we are to close the
"doors" we opened anew this past year. In fact, we are to keep
opening doors. Keep sharing the Good News. Sharing the
Gospel usually takes more that just words if it is to take root
and grow into a fiafifful plant. So, what is your gift? Are you a
waterer, a weeder, a pruner, a fertilizer, a harvester?
Be sure and check out this weekend's reading from 1
Corinthians 12 or look up Romans 12 for additional insights
on your gifts and the body of Christ. Please continue to open
your heart and life to the Spirit and use the gifts and talents
that God has given to you. You can use them to share the
r Good News to people everyday in all kinds of ways. I realize
the theme said "Open WIDE the Doors" (my emphasis), but
even if you open doors to Christ just a little more than in the
past, that is a beginning.., a new and good beginning.
Betsy Wudmkehr Huss has a master degree/n tha and has
been invoh in campus and youth miniu for 19 yea' . She lives
your mouth and speak kindly and with acceptance to the
unwantdt or exduded? Did you open your coat, roll up your
sleeves and work so justice could be done? Did you open your
ears and hear nature's symphony and praise God?
Did you open your mailbox and send cards or notes to the
lonely, sick or homebound? Did you open your oven and take
a meal to a new morn or widow or widower? Did you open a
book and read to a child instead of turning on the TV and
sticking in a video? Did you open. your. ,mLrm...an.d giv ...........................
