A Sunday Suggestion on How to Spend Some Special Time with Our Lord
Most of us celebrate birthdays - either our own or that of others close to us - in a special way. Yesterday was the birthday of one of our children. He doesn't live with us anymore; in fact he lives a great distance away. But while we weren't able to share a slice of cake after singing "Happy Birthday" as we once did when he was here, we did celebrate in our own way this wonderful day. And even though he's far away, with today's technology we can talk and even see him in a way that people in times past could only wish. Of course, we still miss his physical presence.
While we call Sunday "the Lord's Day" so many of us hardly observe it any more. Oh, some go to Mass for sure. But frequently our time with Our Lord on His special day begins and ends there. Shouldn't we take a little more time on Sundays to celebrate His day, at least as much time as we might celebrate a birthday? Maybe some extra prayer or reading some Scripture or good spiritual works? Oh, you do that every day already? Hmmm...OK, how about something else, something a little different?
Last Sunday we talked about the relationship between pop culture and the great treasury of the True, the Good and the Beautiful inspired by our Catholic Faith. And while so much of pop culture really isn't worth the time we put into it, some inspired contemporary artists and artisans have in fact used popular culture in ways that reflect or expand that great treasury. Maybe we can take a slice of this Sunday, mixed with our desire to spend more time with Our Lord, and combine that with some good pop culture in the form of a movie delivered by that same kind of marvelous technology that brings our loved ones who live at a distance closer to us. It turns out that recently I found a good, solid Catholic movie on Youtube that could fit the bill perfectly here. It's about St Charbel Makluf, whose feast day we celebrated July 24th.
Oh, you don't know St Charbel? You missed his feast day last month? No worries. Most of us don't know a thing about this holy man. That's OK. This movie could be the perfect way to both learn about him and spend more time with Our Lord this Sunday. The reason you'll be spending more time with Our Lord, rather than just watching a movie is simple. The people who made this movie portray St Charbel as a man in love with God, a man who dedicates every moment of his life to God. And as we watch him grow in this love from birth to death, we wind up spending time with God as we watch him spending time with God. Makes sense?
You don't even have to watch the whole movie all at once. After all, maybe you don't have an hour and forty-three minutes to spare this Sunday. So just do as I've done and watch it a chunk at a time. In fact, it might even be better if you do. It's the sort of film you can take in for a bit and pick up another time, as long as you really pay attention. It's almost a form of meditation if you watch it that way - maybe 20-30 minute chunks at a time. Slow down, pay close attention for 20 minutes and you'll see what I mean.
Click HERE to get to the movie on Youtube.
Happy Sunday!
While we call Sunday "the Lord's Day" so many of us hardly observe it any more. Oh, some go to Mass for sure. But frequently our time with Our Lord on His special day begins and ends there. Shouldn't we take a little more time on Sundays to celebrate His day, at least as much time as we might celebrate a birthday? Maybe some extra prayer or reading some Scripture or good spiritual works? Oh, you do that every day already? Hmmm...OK, how about something else, something a little different?
Last Sunday we talked about the relationship between pop culture and the great treasury of the True, the Good and the Beautiful inspired by our Catholic Faith. And while so much of pop culture really isn't worth the time we put into it, some inspired contemporary artists and artisans have in fact used popular culture in ways that reflect or expand that great treasury. Maybe we can take a slice of this Sunday, mixed with our desire to spend more time with Our Lord, and combine that with some good pop culture in the form of a movie delivered by that same kind of marvelous technology that brings our loved ones who live at a distance closer to us. It turns out that recently I found a good, solid Catholic movie on Youtube that could fit the bill perfectly here. It's about St Charbel Makluf, whose feast day we celebrated July 24th.
Oh, you don't know St Charbel? You missed his feast day last month? No worries. Most of us don't know a thing about this holy man. That's OK. This movie could be the perfect way to both learn about him and spend more time with Our Lord this Sunday. The reason you'll be spending more time with Our Lord, rather than just watching a movie is simple. The people who made this movie portray St Charbel as a man in love with God, a man who dedicates every moment of his life to God. And as we watch him grow in this love from birth to death, we wind up spending time with God as we watch him spending time with God. Makes sense?
You don't even have to watch the whole movie all at once. After all, maybe you don't have an hour and forty-three minutes to spare this Sunday. So just do as I've done and watch it a chunk at a time. In fact, it might even be better if you do. It's the sort of film you can take in for a bit and pick up another time, as long as you really pay attention. It's almost a form of meditation if you watch it that way - maybe 20-30 minute chunks at a time. Slow down, pay close attention for 20 minutes and you'll see what I mean.
Click HERE to get to the movie on Youtube.
Happy Sunday!
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