Tonight, I had the blessed opportunity to attend the Knights of Columbus, Austin Chapter Meeting at St. Thomas More Catholic Church (see picture below of their banner). My Spiritual Director Report focuses on men's faith sharing small groups.
I shared with my brother Knights how during Lent, we had the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that help us to grow in our Catholic faith and our spirituality. We also had the weekly Stations of the Cross and Fish Fry. However, while the Church celebrates the Easter season for 50 days, many of us become like the rest of society and celebrate Easter Sunday only, forgetting to carry the joy of the Resurrection beyond Easter Sunday. Perhaps its because we do not have similar practices for Easter that we have for Lent (pray, fast, and almsgiving) and so we return to our old ways, just like the apostles did after the Resurrection and returned to their life of fishing.
So how do we keep the joy of Easter for more than one day, perhaps even more than 50 days. Well, as a start we can live out the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love (charity). Our Lenten practice of praying can transform and grow our faith. Our Lenten practice of fasting can give us hope that there are certain things in our lives that we can let go of so that we have more time and room for Christ. Our Lenten practice of almsgiving should increase our desire to love our neighbors through acts of charity.
With these things in mind, I shared the below quotes from the Supreme Chaplain of the Order and the Bishop of Austin and challenged my brother Knights with the following. I encouraged them to celebrate the Easter season with your family, to keep the Resurrection alive in your hearts and the hearts of your family, and to read and reflect on Scriptures together (using lectio divina). I also encouraged them to start men’s small groups for faith sharing with brother Knights in each council, and to practice lectio divina.
I commended them for their acts of service - the first pillar of the Order (charity) - to their parishes and communities. However, I also reminded them that they are first and foremost Catholic gentlemen and leaders and teachers of the faith in their families. I invited them to break open Scriptures with their family by reading Scriptures, allowing the words of God to permeate their body, heart, and soul, and allow the Holy Spirit to open their hearts to how God's words speak to them and call them to Him. I encourage them to take time during their Council and Assembly meetings to break into small groups for faith sharing so that they can support each other with prayers. As Scriptures tell us: iron sharpen iron.
. . .
Report of the Spiritual Director, K of C Austin Chapter (4/24/2023)
The need for men’s faith sharing small groups and the practice of lectio divina - oratio, mediatio, contemplatio. Conversation with the man who organized Exodus90 and their struggle to keep the men together in faith and fellowship post-Exodus90.
- Lent ⇒ Easter
- Pray ⇒ Faith
- Fast ⇒ Hope
- Almsgiving ⇒ Love (Charity)
Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William E. Lori (Columbia, April 2023): “The Church encourages all to read, study and pray over the sacred Scriptures. Not everyone can be a Scripture scholar, but each of us can learn to read the Bible prayerfully, and to listen to the Lord speaking. . . Father Michael McGivney, who preached the Word of God and who followed Christ so closely, would want us, his Knights and families, to allow Jesus to open our minds and hearts to the Scriptures. As we encounter Christ in Scripture, we will see him give form and substance to the principles of charity, unity, and fraternity that are at the heart of the Order and lead us to celebrate the Eucharist with ever greater joy and devotion. . . I recommend the practice of lectio divina, the prayerful reading of Scripture. . . to [read] short passages, ponder them carefully, listen to the voice of Christ, and respond with a grateful heart.”
Bishop Joe Vásquez (Catholic Spirit, April 2023): “In the Easter season, during the first reading at Mass instead of reading from the Old Testament, we read from the Acts of the Apostles. These readings tell us the story of the church’s earliest days and how the faith spread through the work of the apostles and the Holy Spirit.”
Deacon Phúc’s challenges for all Knights for the month of May
PERSONAL & FAMILY: Celebrate the Easter season with your family. Keep the Resurrection alive in your hearts and the hearts of your family. Read and reflect on Scriptures together.
COUNCIL: Start men’s small groups for faith sharing with brother Knights in each council. Practice lectio divina.
No comments:
Post a Comment