Reinvigorating Social and Spiritual Life
Stand by the earliest roads and ask the way to the good. Then you shall find rest for your souls. – Jeremiah 6:16
There are two ways to foster the well-being of a community at large; one is to engage in the work of healing, so that those suffering from psychological trauma or spiritual wounds come to a place of integration and peace. Every soul experiences some ‘lack’ insofar as we are deprived of our true fulfillment: the beatific vision. Healing brings someone to a spiritual posture of: (1) Seeing yourself as God sees you, (2) Seeing others in their wholeness, and (3) Longing to love and serve God as the source of all good.
For those burned, nothing beats aloe. So too, those burned by the world, the flesh, and the devil seek the Church, knowing she alone can heal with the full power of Christ. There are many avenues today for people to find greater inner healing through the ministry of the Church.
Besides restful waters He leads me.
Sacramental practice, of course, is the most important foundation. The sacraments both heal and guard the sheepfold of the Good Shepherd; they are the still waters that refresh the soul of Christ's faithful.
Yet many “sheep” regularly partake of confession (the Shepherd's washing), but all too quickly return to pits of mud. We must rebuild social habits of greater relational fulfillment, so that sinful habits stemming from isolation lose their appeal.
You make me lie down in green pastures; the Lord restores my soul.
The second way to foster the well-being of a community involves keeping people away from fire, so as to avoid burning or re-burning. We must make the ‘green pastures’ of Psalm 23 more attractive and easy to engage, so that the Lord can restore the soul.
If the green pastures are not present in someone’s life, the question quickly arises: "What can I get away with while still attaining to heaven?" And all too soon they are stuck in the mud, in need of deep cleaning.
However, the “what can I get away with” question only occurs to those who do not experience the richness of communal life that has its foundation in a rich spiritual life. So, I here propose a way to revitalize the integration of the social and spiritual life.
Living the Communion of the Church
To enter the green pasture is to have a communal lifestyle that fosters habits of virtue, recollection, and the comfort of living out one's Christian identity without doubt or embarrassment. These pastures can be in a community living in proximity, such as a women's or men's home with intentional practices of community and prayer. They also may be integrated simply by practices among friends: hosting brunch each Sunday after Mass, engaging in ministry together, or meeting for Holy Hours and larger communal events.
In the last century, there has been an unfortunate division for many Catholics between "social life" and "spiritual life" -- in which the spiritual life is considered one's own private affair, and one's social life does not incorporate spiritual conversation in any intentional way. In the earliest days of Christianity, this was not so. Each week, they would host an "agape meal" in which they would share food and then have a time of communal prayer and sharing, grounded in the scriptures.
Something Anyone Can Do: Agape Meals
To host one of these meals, the formula is simple:
First, invite people to an agape meal (5-10 is ideal). Let the guests know that it involves dinner / brunch followed by a time of scriptural meditation and sharing. Explaining the meal ahead of time ensures all are comfortable as you have the meal together.
Second, as people arrive (perhaps bringing dishes, if it is a potluck) welcome them graciously and allow for the ordinary social conversation. Do not rush to spiritual topics.
Third, enjoy dinner together, having intentional conversation that is free flowing.
Finally, move into the "agape" portion of the night.
- Begin with a brief prayer (or, for those who are bold, a song such as "Come Holy Ghost").
- Each person asks Jesus for the grace he/she desires: "Jesus, give me the grace of patience, peace, wisdom in navigating a hard circumstance, etc.”
- The leader reads the coming Sunday's Gospel. Read it through twice, taking time for silence as well (about 7-10 minutes).
- The leader leads off sharing -- either insights into the scripture, sharing moments of grace or need from one's own life, memories, or prayer intentions. This should be free flowing -- you can respond to one another or allow prayerful silence to return after someone shares.
- Conclude with Night Prayer or a Decade of the Rosary.
Dessert and Drinks are highly encouraged to wrap up the evening!
