Called to build a spiritual house

		Living the Scriptures  with St. Paul University  Catholic Center  Fr. Randy Timmerman

When constructing a new home, the first phase of a construction project involves digging into the ground, establishing the foundation. One must go down in order to go up.

Digging in the earth is muddy, dirty, and can be a heavy task, a task of moving mounds of dirt. Big dump trucks, crawlers, diggers - models for the toys little boys love to play with in sandboxes - are the right tools. For many people, the desire to build a new home is a long awaited dream, one they have been anticipating for years.

What about your spiritual home? How is that building going? St. Peter exhorts "let yourselves be built into a spiritual house."

Fifth Sunday of Easter (April 24, 2005) Acts 6:1-7 Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19 1 Pt 2:4-9 Jn 14:1-12

Recognize that we are more than our bodies; we are spiritual beings with earthly bodies. The body is sacred as it houses the spiritual dimension of our lives, the soul. It is the soul that lives forever.

St. Peter then speaks of a cornerstone: "a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame. Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith: the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, and a stone that will make people stumble, and a rock that will make them fall. They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny."

This cornerstone is Jesus the Christ. He is the one who speaks, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me."

This cornerstone in Jesus is the foundation of God's house. Jesus came into the depths of the earth and shook away the grasp of sin. By his obedience to the will of his Father even to the place of death, he established a firm hold for the cornerstone of God's house.

We are called to be this house, this holy priesthood by virtue of our baptism in Christ. We are to offer up again and again spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving and ultimately the Eucharist as the mortar of our lives.

	Reflection questions • What part of your "spiritual house" is not anchored with the teachings of Christ? • Recognizing that building a house takes time, trial and error and some redecorating, reflect on an area of your "spiritual house" that has undergone a new look.

Advice from Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop:

Practice prayer from the beginning. Paint your house with the colors of modesty and humility. Make it radiant with the light of justice. Decorate it with the finest gold leaf of good deeds. Adorn it with the walls and stones of faith and generosity. Crown it with the pinnacle of prayer. In this way you will make it a perfect dwelling place for the Lord. You will be able to receive him as in a splendid palace, and through his grace you will already possess him, his image enthroned in the temple of your spirit.

Fr. Randy J. Timmerman is pastor of St. Paul University Catholic Center on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.

St. Paul's Web site is www.stpaulscc.org

Faith Alive!

In a Nutshell Research on teenagers' beliefs shows that what parents believe matters: Teenagers' faith today greatly resembles their parents' faith. Would teens want to know about the Bible if it isn't relevant in the lives of those around them? The "clutter" of too many things to do along with noise at home can get in the way of parents' efforts to share faith with their children. Catholic News Service 3211 Fourth St NE Washington DC 20017 202.541.3250 cns@catholicnews.com	Food for Thought   I imagine many parents hope that their faith is contagious -- that their children simply will "catch" it from them. To a certain extent I think it is contagious. Children "pick up" a lot in homes where faith lives. Still, I think there are things that need to be said at home, things to be "confessed" (not just things to teach, though that too likely is needed). The things needing to be said openly may vary with the situation. Examples might include: "Faith has brought much happiness to my life." "God is with us; I believe this." "I'm at Mass Sundays because I really want to be there." "I want Christ's way to be my way." Don't children need to hear this? And beyond things to say are things to do -- things children are able to "see" in parents' actions: that parents care about others' lives; that we pray; that protection -- shelter -- of vulnerable people (expectant, abandoned mothers; lonely, hungry people) is something we will sacrifice for. Faith that is lived is contagious. And, I think, children need to hear why faith matters to their parents and that it changes how their parents live. full story   Handing on the faith: Don't fumble the handoff! By Daniel S. Mulhall Catholic News Service Recent national research on the beliefs of teenagers shows that what parents believe matters: The faith of teenagers today greatly resembles the faith of their parents. Teens are looking to parents to show them how to live their faith. While that is a scary thought, it is also a sign of great hope. What I believe matters to my child. I'm convinced that children have built-in hypocrisy sensors. They seem to know immediately when someone says one thing but does the other. So if parents preach respect, they have to show their children respect -- and to show others respect as well. full story  Speaking of faith with teens By Father Paul J. Campbell Catholic News Service The outside shell of indifference and periodic hostility displayed by some teens often masks the sensitive, searching person inside. We can learn something about teens and their faith journey by looking at Jesus' encounter with the woman at the well. full story  Obstacles met in sharing faith with one's children By Scott J. Rutan Catholic News Service It's fairly common to hear that when today's parents were children, their parents had an easier time sharing faith with them than we do with our youngsters. But it's true! Theirs was a simpler time, with fewer obstacles. Today we face hurdles as we try to pass on what we believe and treasure about God, grace and eternal life. What are some of these obstacles? full story
	Faith in the Marketplace   This Week's Discussion Point: In specific terms, how have you passed faith on to the next generation in your home?     Selected Response From Readers:
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