Many of you know that I work within the higher education sector, American colleges specifically. A common refrain among those who work with university students is that far too many kids lack the skill of friendship.
As a result, the ability to make and maintain friends must be taught. It’s fascinating when 18 year olds discover (again) what it means to be a good friend as opposed to being a follower on Instagram.
In parishes too, there is a need to re-teach the faithful certain life (and faith) skills. One such skill is what I call “holy spontaneity”, or the ability to respond, in freedom, to a need of another.
This could look like any of the following:
-inviting your pastor over for a coffee after Mass
-getting together with another parishioner just for fun
-donating joyfully when a particular need is presented to the parish
-supporting a parishioner who is going through a hard time
Covid has made all of this more difficult. More things are scheduled. Many kids have play dates, carefully arranged and organized. Adults now too have become, far too often, overly scheduled.
The result: little margin for spontaneous acts of charity and holy spontaneity.
I’m preaching to myself here as well. A neighbor suffered a horrible tragedy recently. Rather than immediately going over to her house to lend support, I delayed two days. Finally, after coming home from Mass one morning, I just walked across the street and knocked on her door.
Holy spontaneity is just a moment away and can be activated at a moment’s notice. Parishes can teach this to its members in order to mobilize the faithful for action. Still, we need not wait for a formal program in order to be spontaneous.
And, individuals can pray for this grace and as I said, respond to various opportunities whenever they present themselves.
As a result, the ability to make and maintain friends must be taught. It’s fascinating when 18 year olds discover (again) what it means to be a good friend as opposed to being a follower on Instagram.
In parishes too, there is a need to re-teach the faithful certain life (and faith) skills. One such skill is what I call “holy spontaneity”, or the ability to respond, in freedom, to a need of another.
This could look like any of the following:
-inviting your pastor over for a coffee after Mass
-getting together with another parishioner just for fun
-donating joyfully when a particular need is presented to the parish
-supporting a parishioner who is going through a hard time
Covid has made all of this more difficult. More things are scheduled. Many kids have play dates, carefully arranged and organized. Adults now too have become, far too often, overly scheduled.
The result: little margin for spontaneous acts of charity and holy spontaneity.
I’m preaching to myself here as well. A neighbor suffered a horrible tragedy recently. Rather than immediately going over to her house to lend support, I delayed two days. Finally, after coming home from Mass one morning, I just walked across the street and knocked on her door.
Holy spontaneity is just a moment away and can be activated at a moment’s notice. Parishes can teach this to its members in order to mobilize the faithful for action. Still, we need not wait for a formal program in order to be spontaneous.
And, individuals can pray for this grace and as I said, respond to various opportunities whenever they present themselves.