Learning to Share

I was recently reading "Ramona the Pest" by Beverly Cleary with my children. A classic from a generation ago, it features a five-year-old Ramona and the trials and tribulations of Kindergarten. One chapter features a battle between her and her neighbor and fellow classmate Howie. She and Howie are really not friends, but their mothers are. Therefore, they end up spending a great deal of time together. In this particular scene they are fighting over a red ribbon. They both have what they perceive to be a rightful claim of ownership to the ribbon. As mothers are prone to doing, one of them tells the two children to share the ribbon. She even suggests that they can cut it in half, thereby solving the problem. About the only thing that Ramona and Howie can agree on is that this is a bad idea! They do not want to share.

As parents, we spend a lot of our time telling our children to share. Sharing does not appear to be an inborn trait. We humans like to own things and keep them for ourselves. Even as adults, sharing is not always easy. This week's Gospel (Lk 9:11b-17) features that very problem. Jesus and the disciples have 5,000 hungry people on their hands. The disciples want to dismiss them so that they can go find food for themselves. Jesus in turn tells them to feed them. They counter with the fact that they only have 5 loaves and two fishes available. Yet, somehow, once that choice is made to share, there is plenty for everyone. Over the years, I've heard different explanations for this. The most obvious one is that Jesus performed a miracle and multiplied the food that was available. Another explanation is that once the disciples started sharing, the people in the crowd started sharing as well. Everybody shared what they had with their neighbor and then there was plenty. I wasn't there and I don't know what happened, but, if that was the scenario, then I would say that was a miracle unto itself.

Sr. Kathryn James Hermes reflects on this Gospel in "Living Faith." She writes that the disciples in wanting to send the people away were guilty of "stingy thinking." Some of the time, maybe even most of the time, each one of us is guilty of that mindset. We worry that if we share, we won't have enough for ourselves, instead of trusting that God will multiply our gift freely given and return it to us. If we share, we will always have enough. That's a tough lesson for both children and adults to comprehend and accept. I am as guilty of it as the next person. When money is tight, there is always that temptation to cut back on charitable giving. What I have found is that those are times I actually need to increase it. When I finally make the decision to be brave and trust that God will provide, the financial pressures ease a bit. Learning to share is one of those things that takes a lifetime to master.

Book Review: "Our Jewish Roots"

Our Jewish Roots: A Catholic Woman's Guide to Fulfillment Today by Connecting with her Past

by Cheryl Dickow
BezalelBooks, 2010

Many Catholic women are ignorant of the Jewish roots of our faith and the rich tradition that we share with our Jewish brothers and sisters. Cheryl Dickow seeks to correct that with "Our Jewish Roots: A Catholic Woman's Guide to Fulfillment Today by Connecting with her Past." The book is divided into two parts. The first focuses on "Traditions, Teachings, and Truths Rooted in the Jewish Faith." This section makes for fascinating reading. Topics such as marriage vows, baptismal waters, the role of angels, the importance of good deeds, the power of prayerful intercession, mysticism, and holy feasts are explored from the perspective of their Jewish beginnings. These pages help one realize just how much we do share with our Jewish brethren and how much we Catholics owe to their traditions.

The second portion of the book centers on "Role Models for Today's Catholic Women." This is where Dickow truly shines. She begins by discussing a woman's worth, not our worth as the world often chooses to measure it, but our worth in the eyes of God. "From Eve to Sarah to Deborah to Mary, Scripture assures every woman who has ever lived that her life is both special and valuable. Her life has a purpose and a meaning set by God and necessary to His plan for humankind. Each and every one of us came here with an extraordinary set of gifts and a particular set of circumstances. Our births were the intentional acts of an affectionate, devoted God whose love for us is truly immeasurable. We are as unique and varied as stars in the sky. Our gifts and talents are limitless - even if they sometimes feel non-existent or without value." Dickow defines true feminism as support of a woman's vocation, whatever God may have called that particular woman to be. She then goes on to explore the lives of several women from Scripture to illustrate that there is a role model for each one of us.

These women come to life through Dickow's words and reflections. One will rediscover well-known women such as Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel, and will perhaps become acquainted for the first time with less famous, but no less important, women such as Lot's wife, Zipporah, Shiphrah and Puah. Each of these women that Dickow profiles has something to teach us, if we only take the time to reflect on their stories.

"Our Jewish Roots" has much to offer to modern Catholic women struggling with where they fit in God's big plan. By knowing our history, we can better understand ourselves, our own faith, and the dignity which God has bestowed on women throughout the ages.

Last Day of School!

The boys and I wrapped up our second year of homeschooling today. I'm pretty sure the people on the next block heard their excitement when they finished that last spelling test! Learning continues over the summer, of course. They still need to read and do some math, plus they get to experience all the wonderful learning that takes place during "down-time." We'll take part in our library's summer reading program and go to free shows at the local museums. We are also planning a trip to Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. It is someplace I've always wanted to go and they are old enough to remember it and have it be a worthwhile activity.

Overall, I'm looking forward to the slightly less hectic pace of summer, even as I have to still do my report for the city and plan for next year. It's hard to believe I'm now the mother of a 4th and 3rd grader respectively. The years are going by so quickly. I'm glad that I get to share them with them.

Definition of Feminism

Another good quote from Our Jewish Roots: A Catholic Woman's Guide to Fulfillment Today by Connecting with her Past:

Feminism, then, must be defined as a woman filling her vocation - a vocation to physical motherhood, spiritual motherhood, and/or serving the community - with and through her own unique feminine genius.

A Woman's Worth

I'm currently reading Our Jewish Roots: A Catholic Woman's Guide to Fulfillment Today by Connecting with her Past by Cheryl Dickow. I wanted to share with you these two paragraphs which focus on a woman's worth. They are well-worth reading and an important reminder for all of us, regardless of our role in life.

From Eve to Sarah to Deborah to Mary, Scripture assures every woman who has ever lived that her life is both special and valuable. Her life has a purpose and a meaning set by God and necessary to His plan for humankind. Each and every one of us came here with an extraordinary set of gifts and a particular set of circumstances. Our births were the intentional acts of an affectionate, devoted God whose love for us is truly immeasurable. We are as unique and varied as the stars in the sky. Our gifts and talents are limitless - even if they sometimes feel non-existent or without value.

The seasons of our lives, our experiences, and our dreams are a thing of beauty and honor. We may lead or we may follow. Some of us will feel exhilarated while others of us will feel exhausted, and then the experiences revers. And those whose time it is to reap will reap while those whose time it is to sow will sow. We share more than a common faith heritage with the women of the Bible. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow we remain the same in that our life has an anointed meaning and a distinct purpose.

Psalm 90

The Responsorial Psalm for today is from Psalm 90. I'm sharing the Psalm here. It is a powerful reflection on the brevity of our life on earth compared to eternity.

A prayer of Moses, the man of God. Lord, you have been our refuge through all generations.
Before the mountains were born, the earth and the world brought forth, from eternity to eternity you are God.
A thousand years in your eyes are merely a yesterday,
But humans you return to dust, saying, "Return, you mortals!"
Before a watch passes in the night,
you have brought them to their end; They disappear like sleep at dawn; they are like grass that dies.
It sprouts green in the morning; by evening it is dry and withered.
Truly we are consumed by your anger, filled with terror by your wrath.
You have kept our faults before you, our hidden sins exposed to your sight.
Our life ebbs away under your wrath; our years end like a sigh.
Seventy is the sum of our years, or eighty, if we are strong; Most of them are sorrow and toil; they pass quickly, we are all but gone.
Who comprehends your terrible anger? Your wrath matches the fear it inspires.
Teach us to count our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Relent, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants!
Fill us at daybreak with your love, that all our days we may sing for joy.
1Make us glad as many days as you humbled us, for as many years as we have seen trouble.
Show your deeds to your servants, your glory to their children.
May the favor of the Lord our God be ours. Prosper the work of our hands! Prosper the work of our hands!

Book Review: Why God Matters

Why God Matters and How to Recognize Him in Daily Life
by Deacon Steven Lumbert & Karina Lumbert Fabian
Tribute Books, 2010

"Why God Matters and How to Recognize Him in Daily Life" is designed for those just beginning to take their faith life more seriously. Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter Karina Lumbert Fabian share stories and lessons learned from their own spiritual journeys in the hope of helping others. Deacon Lumbert tells of his own conversion experience. After years of attending Mass with his Catholic wife and children, he was in his 40s when he finally decided to take the big step of becoming Catholic himself. That road would eventually lead him to becoming a deacon. Today, he is the associate director of the Deacon Formation Program for his diocese. Karina speaks from both the perspective of daughter and mother. They both speak of the importance of seeing Christianity as a way of life. They offer this quote from 1 Corinthians 10:31 as words to live by: "So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God."

Perhaps the most important lesson of this small book is that God is always working in people's lives, calling them to a deeper relationship with Him. This holds true in Deacon Lambert's journey. Karina's husband is also a convert. She shares the need to have faith in this when guiding our children's faith lives. Her oldest son doesn't believe. While trusting "that faith comes in its own time," she "respect[s] his right to make his own decision, but insist[s] that he respect the family by accompanying us to Mass and participating in the customs of our faith. In the meantime, I pray for him, especially the Anima Christi, and I make small sacrifices on his behalf. When I feel despair creep in on me, I remember his father and his grandfather, and I trust in God that he will eventually find his way. . . There is a time for apologetics. There is a time for education. Always, however, is the time for example." That is something for all of us to remember.

"Why God Matters" is a perfect dose of encouragement for those seeking a deeper relationship with God. Deacon Lumbert and Karina Fabian offer practical and helpful advice and inspiration.