GOING FOR THE GOLD

"Life without leisure is like a bird without wings, unable to soar and find its true purpose."
-Joseph Pieper

While attention turns towards the upcoming Summer Games in Paris the Lord invites us this summer to enter more deeply into His rest: “Come away and rest awhile…” The vast majority (if not all) of the events which make up the Olympics require meticulous focus, vigorous movement and sustained energy. The Olympics, it could be said, are all about “Going for the Gold”, but Jesus’ word to us is “Come…draw close to me, quiet your heart, learn from me, rest awhile”.

Jesus does indeed send us on a mission, but this follows something more fundamental: spending time with Him. Mark’s Gospel beautifully speaks to these two moments: “He appointed twelve [whom He also named apostles] that they might be with Him and that He might send them forth to preach” (Mk 3:14). Although we imitate Christ and His apostles in both ways, discipleship must precede apostolate. Only after we have drawn close in communion with Him can we go in haste on mission to accomplish the goal for which we are sent.

Reaching the goal, hitting the target, running to win are all about Christ’s working in us to a great and beautiful achievement. Our vigor comes from Him, thus any victory is really His. St. Augustine said as much as he wrote using an image evocative of the crowning of ancient athletes with laurel crowns, “In crowning our merits, He crowns His own gifts.” St. Philip Neri likewise insisted, “Never say ‘What great things the Saints do!’ but rather ‘What great things God does in His Saints!’” This is countercultural, especially as the Olympics is perhaps the pinnacle expression of basing a person’s worth on their drive, determination and accomplishment. To be the best in this mode is an achievement which beats out the achievements of all the others. Jesus wants even more for us—not mere self-actualization but receptivity of His gifts which leads us into holiness of life and ultimately joy. We are much more than the sum of our accomplishments; our real value is His gift to us, for “grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (Eph 4:7).

I conclude with three book recommendations for summer and an invitation for all.

Leisure: The Basis of Culture by Joseph Pieper

A Mind at Peace: Reclaiming an Ordered Soul in an Age of Distraction by Christopher Blum and Joshua Hochschild

The Lighthouse: A Novel by Michael D. O’Brien

The invitation: Join us for our summer ‘Parish Pilgrimage’ to Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, two hours west of Minneapolis on Saturday, August 10th—the Feast of St. Lawrence, patron saint of BBQ! Watch for details on a wonderful opportunity to foster community as a parish as we visit beautiful St. Mary’s Church in Sleepy Eye for prayer and enjoy a potluck and cookout in the nearby park with fun for all ages. One of the greatest parts of summer is the opportunity to do things that take us out of the ordinary routines of normal life. May we experience this summer as a graced time when the Lord invites us simply to be with Him. He Himself is the truest gold we can find in this life.

Let’s go for the gold together!

-Fr. Howe, Pastor