First Semester Almost in the Bag
I'm nearing the end of my first semester of diaconate formation. My last class of the semester is this Wednesday. Last paper is due then and I'm off until the end of August. I'll need to do 10 hours of "shadowing" with another deacon over the summer, which is in the works. Not sure what I expected this semester, but it's been very interesting. Academically, it's been no sweat. I've been able to block out the time to get the work done and don't feel like I've been ignoring other areas of my life. My grades are fine and I have no worries about passing the course.
Spiritually it's been quite a semester. It's not that there's been anything challenging or that I've learned something that I didn't know previously. It's just that I've never thought about my faith in the way we've been discussing it. I've never thought about theology as a subject and it's really broadened my thinking. And it's left me hungry to learn more. As in I almost can't wait until the fall to get into it again.
I think the biggest impact on me has been reading Pope Francis' book The Joy of the Gospel. Part of it is the text itself but part of it is the way he approaches teaching and ministering. One of the things we learned about in class was Liberation Theology. Bet you didn't know there were different kinds of theology, did you? I didn't. Liberation Theology began in the 1970's in Latin America (think Bishop Oscar Romero). It's basically a theology of the poor and underprivileged. The focus is on how does theology help those that are poor and persecuted. Hence liberation.
The central theory behind it is the praxis method. You see a problem that needs addressing, you consider ways in which the problem can be solved, then you take action. Then you repeat. Pope Francis, being a Jesuit and Argentinian, is steeped in Liberation Theology and praxis methodology. Once you know what it is, it's so obvious in his writings. Francis' methods, primarily from Jesuit training, is to observe, discern what God wants you to do, then act. It's the heart of his message for the Church to focus on the people that are hurting first and foremost.
It was such an "ah ha" moment for me when all of that came together. I'm a person of action. I think if we want to improve our country and our world we need to stop saying something should be done and start doing it. Focus on our own communities. Get involved with people one on one. It's one of the things that I believe called me to begin this process. I have no idea how that will translate into ministry or what God has planned for me, but I'm starting to see the outlines. I'm keeping myself open to whatever the Spirit is calling me to do.
To me, this is the beauty and wonder of God's grace. Give God a little bit of yourself and stay open to God's grace. God will take what little we give and multiply it far more than we could have imagined. I'm looking forward to where this journey is leading.
Spiritually it's been quite a semester. It's not that there's been anything challenging or that I've learned something that I didn't know previously. It's just that I've never thought about my faith in the way we've been discussing it. I've never thought about theology as a subject and it's really broadened my thinking. And it's left me hungry to learn more. As in I almost can't wait until the fall to get into it again.
I think the biggest impact on me has been reading Pope Francis' book The Joy of the Gospel. Part of it is the text itself but part of it is the way he approaches teaching and ministering. One of the things we learned about in class was Liberation Theology. Bet you didn't know there were different kinds of theology, did you? I didn't. Liberation Theology began in the 1970's in Latin America (think Bishop Oscar Romero). It's basically a theology of the poor and underprivileged. The focus is on how does theology help those that are poor and persecuted. Hence liberation.
The central theory behind it is the praxis method. You see a problem that needs addressing, you consider ways in which the problem can be solved, then you take action. Then you repeat. Pope Francis, being a Jesuit and Argentinian, is steeped in Liberation Theology and praxis methodology. Once you know what it is, it's so obvious in his writings. Francis' methods, primarily from Jesuit training, is to observe, discern what God wants you to do, then act. It's the heart of his message for the Church to focus on the people that are hurting first and foremost.
It was such an "ah ha" moment for me when all of that came together. I'm a person of action. I think if we want to improve our country and our world we need to stop saying something should be done and start doing it. Focus on our own communities. Get involved with people one on one. It's one of the things that I believe called me to begin this process. I have no idea how that will translate into ministry or what God has planned for me, but I'm starting to see the outlines. I'm keeping myself open to whatever the Spirit is calling me to do.
To me, this is the beauty and wonder of God's grace. Give God a little bit of yourself and stay open to God's grace. God will take what little we give and multiply it far more than we could have imagined. I'm looking forward to where this journey is leading.
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