Reflections on Mount 2000

I apologize for the lack of a post for the last couple of days. The retreat was a teriffic experience that had a trememdous impact on me spiritually – despite some of the peripherals.

One of the things that impacted me the most was the graces (yes literally, graces) poured out. I know, some of you are rather skeptical that such a thing happens or exists. Mass hysteria (pun unintended), psychology, going with the crowd. . . anything other than divine grace. But that is exactly what was felt.

Despite my goings and comings, despite my focus on things other than God, despite even my own shortcomings, I walked away with the knowledge that God loves. And not just in a distant, unconcerned way – God loves in a very personal, intensive, and compassionate way. My only regret was not making use of the Sacrament of Confession earlier, because one point was made very clear to me; sin – my sin – interferes with my relationship with God. If I had gone to Confession on Friday when I arrived (or earlier) rather than Sunday, would I have experienced three times the grace? Probably not, but that just tells you the depth, intensity, and longing God has for souls.

There were also a good number of humbling moments as well. On Saturday morning, I was surrounded with my small group during Adoration continuing a conversation on the way to the ARCC (an athletic complex) concerning Biblical references to Catholic teaching. So there I was, teaching from the Bible. Along came a tap on the shoulder. Now imagine yourself teaching in front of the Blessed Sacrament – Jesus Himself – surrounded by several other conversations not necessarily about God, and being stopped by a participant (40+ years old) and asked to stop. Of all the conversations to stop, the one about Scripture? The brief conversation ended with her storming off and balling up in prayer, while we continued.

I discussed it later with my group and those around me, and I thought about it in prayer later on that evening. There I was, surrounded by several groups of people in Adoration, and there were many that were talking about things other than God. Then there were several groups that were counseling one another, talking about what they were getting from the Eucharistic Retreat in a prayerful fashion, and other quiet conversations that were worthwhile. I thought to myself, would Christ want to stop this? I recalled (and I hesitate to say ‘recalled’, I prefer to say ‘was shown’) Christ on the Sea of Galillee during a storm, walking on the water towards the Apostles in the boat. Peter climbs out, and so long as he is focused on Christ, he walks on water. But the moment he pays attention to the world around him, he sinks. Peter cries out to Jesus, and Jesus pulls him out of the water.

Now there is a parable here that was important to me. If that lady was focused on Christ, then all of the peripherals wouldn’t have mattered. That’s powerful to me, because I’ve been there spiritually where you just want to throttle people who were not focused, who were indeed irreverent to the Blessed Sacrament, people who did not care. But the moment you take your eyes of Christ and remove your focus, then you’ve lost the game.

That message stuck with me the rest of the retreat, because it teaches me something about patience and charity that I needed to hear. Arlington is a conservative diocese, and things that are different are regularly shunned. Teaching Scripture in front of the Eucharist; that’s different. But irreverent? Not in the slightest.

Just because it is different, does not mean that it is irreverent. And things that are irreverent don’t necessarily have to be different. I’m sure that lady thought she was doing something very pious, but unfortunately she took her eyes off of Christ and turned her attention to the world. She lashed out at what was closest. Teaching Scripture in front of Christ was different for her, and therefore irreverent. Not her fault necessarily – I admire her tenacity. But there is a scope and a propriety to it all that must be recognized. An important lesson for both her and myself.

Beyond this, there is of course the Eucharist. You realize immediately that Christ is present in the midst of the assembly, not in some ethereal or philosophical sense, but tangible. Real. Physically present. That is powerful, and something that with my experience in Baptist or evangelical houses of worship simply is not there. Sure they have Scripture, but where is the Eucharist? If you truly believe that the Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, how could you not bow? How could you not kneel? How could you not make Him a focus of your life? His flesh given up for the life of the world. . . and He is right there.

There were humorous moments – and a few that were truly sad. The Eucharist was placed on a platform in the middle of the assembly for Adoration, so naturally everyone gathered in a circle to pray. Typically, the teenagers gathered around, extended their arms (a foreign practice to we conservatives in Arlington, but again difference v. irreverence), cried and prayed. When it was time for Mass, the priest would carry the Eucharist back to the altar along the back wall. Exactly half of these kids – eyes open and knowing full well what was going on – did not move. They didn’t turn around at all – they stayed focused on the center. The MC had to remind everyone to “turn and face Jesus,” at which point the collective “oh yeah” popped into their minds and the kids turned around. All you could do was groan.

Another occasion (still concerning the orientation of the Eucharist to the assembly) was when Cardinal Keeler asked where representatives from the different diocese were located in the audience. Keeping in mind the previous example of people not turning to face Jesus, when asked where the Arlington Diocese was, hands were raised along the back wall in a half circle – all of them facing both the platform where the Eucharist was exposed and the altar. Not one straggler. . . and I had to laugh.

Of course, the decorum of the Arlington contingent was markedly different than that of other diocese. Arlington merely raised their hands; other diocese whooped and screamed when their diocese was named. Another opportunity for a slight smirk.

All in all, a good retreat that I would recommend again. The seminarians were outstanding, the food could have been better – but it was adequate and in the end reminded you that one should be happy to eat at all. Many opportunities for introspection, and many more to find Christ.