HEWITT Perhaps Catholics can learn something about how to weather the storms of life from an Apostle, who actually battled the winds and waves of a gale on the Lake of Galilee: St. Peter.
One morning, the disciples are surprised and terrified to see Jesus walking on the water of the lake. He urges them to “Take courage…Be not afraid.” At Peter’s request, Christ invites him onto the water. As he walks, Peter notices the wind, becomes afraid, begins to sink and then asks for Jesus’ help. Immediately, Jesus reaches out his hand and catches Peter, before admonishing him: “You of little faith. Why do you doubt?” (Mt 14: 22-33)
“Just because we are doing God’s will, that doesn’t insulate us from the storms of life. But Jesus is always with us, even if we don’t always recognize him, because we have fear. We need to keep our eyes of Jesus, not on the water like Peter did. If we pray, Jesus will lead us to dry land as he did with Peter and the disciples,” said Mary Beth Osiecki, coordinator of ministries, outreach and evangelization at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish (OLQP) in the Hewitt section of West Milford.
Osiecki was paraphrasing some of many poignant insights that about 20 OLQP faithful have been gaining through a DVD series, “Keeping the Fire Alive: Navigating Challenges in the Spiritual Life,” by Franciscan Father Albert Haase. These sessions, with lively discussions, have been helping participants who have caught “that fire for God,” to “keep that fire burning.” Osiecki has been leading these gatherings on Wednesdays, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., in the parish center annex. The final session took place on Aug. 12.
“Father Albert tells great stories that relate to growing in the spiritual life. He hones in on something unique and says something that grabs you. He is very inviting,” said Osiecki, who noted that, last year, some OLQP faithful explored another DVD series by Father Haase, “Catching Fire, Becoming Flame.”
OLQP participants have been journeying with Father Haase as he covers the following aspects of “Keeping the Fire Alive”:
• “Near Occasions of Grace and Spiritual Direction.” The priest speaks of the value of having a spiritual director, “who can help you become aware of God’s presence and then share that with someone,” Osiecki said.
• “Resisting Temptations.” This requires more than “just saying ‘no’.” Jesus did conquer sin and the devil, but we must live that reality. There are cracks in our souls that we want to fill. That can lead us to sin, she said.
• “The Four Ds of the Spiritual Life.” “Dryness” normally happens in our spiritual lives, causing us to ask “What am I doing wrong?” Nothing is wrong; just stick to your prayers and practices. In “Darkness,” we cannot find our way, which can be a great grace — “an invitation to feel God’s presence and to surrender to Him.” Feeling “Desolation,” we are tempted to give up on our spiritual and personal selves. If we suffer “Depression,” we have suicidal thoughts and want to give up on life. At that point, we need to seek help, Osiecki said.
• “Making Sense of Suffering.” Father Haase talks about how his mother had to work hard to support the family after his father’s suicide, but was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in retirement — shattering his dreams that she finally would have an easier life. Scripture suggests that we suffer for many reasons, among them that God punishes us for our sins and that we are meant to suffer as disciples. But the truth is that “suffering is a mystery,” she said.
• “Living in the Present Moment.” “The present moment is a sacrament, a doorway to God and an ambassador that declares the will of God.” Father Haase tells the story of a lucky man, who receives $500 ticket to the symphony. As he sits in his seat, he realizes that he left his keys in the car. “Instead of enjoying the moment, he worries about his keys,” Osiecki said.
One OLQP participant, Kathy Flynn, said that her “faith has been growing, listening to and sharing with other people.”
“You might have simmering in your gut, when you come in [to a session], but when you are there, you can see the fire dance in your heart. You burn with a love of the Lord. You just want to spread that flame to other people, who don’t know it or don’t know that they have it,” Flynn said. “It’s awesome.”